You probably try to make the best choices you can when it comes to feeding yourself and your family – but is what you see in the grocery store or local market the healthiest or most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-diets-offer-health-benefits-and-lower-carbon-footprint/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainable option</a>? A new study out of <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a> has some troubling findings that reveal most human diets, high in meat and sugar, pose health risks and harm the environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-diets-then-and-now">Human diets, then and now</h2>



Just a few decades ago, modern human meals tended to be simpler, focused on home-cooked foods with less emphasis on year-round fresh produce. While fresh fruits and vegetables were enjoyed seasonally, variety was often more limited than today. 



Today, despite vastly expanded options and knowledge about nutrition, dietary habits have taken a turn for the worse. This begs the question: with supermarkets bursting with variety and nutritional information readily available, why haven't average human diets become healthier?



Researchers from McGill University and the <a href="https://www.ifpri.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Food Policy Research Institute</a> conducted a multi-year study to analyze the evolution of the Canadian food supply. 



Their goal was to understand how changes in food availability and consumption patterns impact human health and the environment. 



The findings indicate a troubling mismatch between what's available in the food system and what constitutes optimal nutrition for both individuals and the planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disappointing-reality-of-modern-human-food">Disappointing reality of modern human food</h2>



To assess how well the modern human food landscape supports healthy eating, researchers needed reliable benchmarks. They chose two highly respected sources:



<ul>
<li>Canada food guide:&nbsp;This government-issued resource provides Canadians with evidence-based recommendations about the types and quantities of foods needed to promote health and prevent chronic disease.</li>



<li>EAT-Lancet commission:&nbsp;This global commission of scientists convened to create a planetary health diet – one that emphasizes optimal nutrition for humans while ensuring long-term sustainability of food production and safeguarding the environment.</li>
</ul>



The researchers meticulously analyzed nearly 60 years of data from Canadian farms and food companies. They wanted to understand the complex relationship between what is produced, how it's processed, and what products end up readily available to consumers.



Unfortunately, this in-depth analysis revealed a disheartening trend: the food most easily accessible to the average modern human doesn't measure up to the standards of either the Canada Food Guide or the EAT-Lancet Commission's recommendations. 



This starkly shows that although we know about healthy, sustainable eating, our current food system does not consistently support those choices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-supply">Food supply</h2>



"One of the study's most striking findings is the evident imbalance in the food supply. There's a conspicuous overabundance of red meat and sugar, products that have long been associated with various health issues when consumed in excess," says Vincent Abe-Inge, Ph.D. student in McGill's Department of Bioresource Engineering and lead author of the study.



Sadly, we just aren't seeing a matching increase in healthier options. "Conversely, there's a notable deficiency in healthier alternatives like nuts, legumes, and vegetables," Abe-Inge continues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet-impact-on-environment">Diet impact on environment</h2>



We often overlook the environmental implications of what we eat. However, a meat-heavy diet has consequences far beyond individual health. 



Animal products, while representing a smaller portion of our overall food sources, leave a disproportionately large environmental footprint.



The study delved into the specific environmental costs associated with animal-based foods:



<ul>
<li>Greenhouse gas emissions:&nbsp;Livestock production is a significant contributor to greenhouse gases, which play a major role in climate change.</li>



<li>Water use:&nbsp;Raising animals for food requires substantial amounts of water for both the animals themselves and the crops grown to feed them. This high water demand puts a strain on water resources.</li>



<li>Land use:&nbsp;Animal agriculture requires vast areas of land, both for grazing and for growing feed crops. This land use often contributes to deforestation and loss of biodiversity.</li>
</ul>



In essence, the study highlights that our over-reliance on animal-based foods exacts a higher cost on the planet than is necessary to feed the population. A shift towards more plant-based <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-healthy-diet-can-reduce-brain-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diets</a> could significantly reduce these harmful environmental impacts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-better-diet-for-better-environment">Better diet for better environment</h2>



The study underscores that reducing meat and sugar consumption is beneficial, but there are broader steps humans in modern societies can take to enhance both their health and the environment:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-substituting-plant-based-proteins">Substituting plant-based proteins</h3>



While adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle is not necessary, incorporating plant-based proteins like beans or lentils instead of meat in several meals each week can make a significant difference. 



This shift not only supports personal health by reducing the intake of animal fats and cholesterol, but also lessens the environmental burden, as plant-based foods generally require fewer resources like water and land compared to meat.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-fruits-and-vegetables">More fruits and vegetables</h3>



Consistently increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables is not only a healthful choice but also an environmentally favorable one. 



These foods are packed with essential nutrients that promote health and are more sustainable to produce than many animal-derived products. 



Their lower environmental impact is due to factors such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less intensive land use.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-demand-better-diet-and-environment">Demand better diet and environment</h3>



Individuals have the power to influence the market by demanding more healthful, sustainable food options. This can be done through purchasing decisions and by voicing the need for changes in food policy. 



Consumers can encourage businesses and policymakers to prioritize the availability of nutritious and environmentally friendly foods, leading to broader changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-changes-in-diet-can-greatly-reduce-your-carbon-footprint/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> systems and policies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-change-is-possible">Change is possible</h2>



This study isn't designed to make individuals feel guilty about their dietary choices. Instead, it aims to bring widespread attention to the systemic issues within our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ditch-the-diet-trends-for-a-healthier-relationship-with-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diets</a> and their consequences on health and environment. 



Understanding these challenges is the first step towards positive change. By shedding light on the disconnect between the way we produce and consume food and its implications for health and the environment, the study empowers consumers, policymakers, and food industry leaders to take action.



The focus lies in advocating for solutions:



<ul>
<li>Informed consumer choices:&nbsp;Greater awareness of these issues can drive individuals to make small but impactful shifts in their own diets, creating a demand for healthier and more sustainable options.</li>



<li>Policy changes:&nbsp;The findings highlight the need for policy interventions that support a more balanced food supply, incentivizing the production and consumption of plant-based foods and potentially disincentivizing those foods with excessive environmental burdens.</li>



<li>Industry transformation:&nbsp;Food producers and retailers have a crucial role to play in evolving their offerings and practices to better align with the needs of both people and the planet.</li>
</ul>



"There's an urgent need to adopt a holistic approach that not only prioritizes public health but also the health of our planet. By aligning food supply more closely with recommended dietary guidelines, we can pave the way for a healthier, more sustainable future," concludes Vincent Abe-Inge.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211912423000664?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Food Security</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Modern human diets pose many risks to both health and the environment

You probably try to make the best choices you can when it comes to feeding yourself and your family – but is what you see in the grocery store or local market the healthiest or most sustainable option? A new study out of McGill University has some troubling findings that reveal most human diets, high in meat and sugar, pose health risks and harm the environment. Human diets, then and now Just a few decades ago, modern human meals tended to be simpler, focused on home-cooked foods...

Last summer I travelled with my partner Erin throughout the state of Colorado.  Most of our trip was climbing mountains but we also hiked to alpine lakes, camped in the woods, wandered Great Sand Dunes National Monument.  

At first I thought it was an isolated incident, someone hiking a 14er (mountain of 14,000 ft +) with a wireless speaker playing their music.  I cringed, myself preferring the sound of squeaking Pikas and Marmots to music while in the mountains.  

Then it happened again.  As I was descending Mt. Massive above tree line, a man playing loud rock music stopped me to ask how far it was to the summit.  I was polite but inwardly angry.  How is it this man’s right to impose his music on other hikers, much less wildlife, especially in a wilderness area?  Wandering on the sand dunes at night near the trickle of a stream, Erin and I went looking for stars and a place to lay on the sand and watch them.  Tourists played their music as they wandered on the dunes near us, shattering any illusion of solitude, destroying the remnant of quiet nature.

Finishing up with a bouldering session near Tucson this winter, a man with blonde dreadlocks asked us if it was ok to play music while he and his partner climbed on the other side of the boulder.  I felt a little better that at least I was being asked for my permission.  Erin and I were leaving anyway and said that music was ok, we were heading out.

Running through parks or even hiking on trails, headphones are omnipresent and they give an easy excuse for ignoring other people around you.  Headphones are a poor substitute for solitude though, they only create a wall, not a place of self-reflection or connection to the Earth.  I watched a woman moving up a mountain in Colorado, listening to her headphones; as the woman hiked quickly uphill, clouds gathered and thunder rumbled ominously.  Thunder is a dangerous situation at that elevation, especially when moving up the mountain.  I wondered if the woman was fool hardy, inexperienced or perhaps tuned out of her immediate environment by music, not being fully present on a mountain full of hazard.

The last time I went into REI to price and compare different climbing rope, something clicked.  It wasn’t that hundreds of people decided on their own that wireless speakers and music were good to carry into the outdoors.  Wireless speakers were being marketed for outdoor recreation.  I understand some music, especially if you’re out in a remote location for months, it can be comforting.  The main problem is when we never turn off our music and listen to our surroundings or connect to each other.  A mountain is NOT a gym, it is a sacred place, listen to it.  A fellow hiker is NOT a distraction or annoyance but a person with whom you might share more than you suspect.  Wildlife should be respected, watched, loved at a distance and not disturbed by your inconsiderate music. Can you imagine a world where music is always playing?  Would you replace bird song with Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds?  I love both and both have their place but bird song lives deeper within us than human music.

Some would argue that at least people listening to music are getting outside.  Isn’t what we want is more people outdoors?  I would argue that more people aren’t getting outside because of portable music, instead it’s changing the reality for people who already get outside.  

Stats from the National Parks Service suggest that in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-parks-trump-ghost-teddy-roosevelt/">National Parks</a> at least, a smaller percentage of the population is recreating out of doors.  I don’t think access to an iPod is going make a person take to a mountain trail instead of a gym treadmill but even if it does it highlights the problem.  Using portable music creates the illusion that you are in an environment, let’s say a gym, that is under human control.  As more and more people learn to rock climb not on a cliff face but inside of a gym, it’s ever more important to emphasize the difference between the two.  Climbing in a gym can be a real challenge and the hardest climbs are much harder than the easiest outdoor climbs but the outdoors offers so much more.  You aren’t likely to be surprised by an encounter with a wild animal or caught in a rainstorm inside of a gym.  

Cacti, trees, clouds, rattlesnakes and dirt are all minimized inside gyms.  A gym also has one major difference from outside, a gym can be anywhere.  A climbing gym in Rapid City South Dakota looks very similar to a climbing wall in Grand Junction, Colorado but the outside climbing is radically different.  In South Dakota you’d be climbing dark granitic rock surrounded by ponderosa pine.  In Grand Junction it’d be light colored sandstone surrounded by high desert piñon-juniper woodlands.  It’s the natural environment and the unobstructed, wild freedom that goes with it which is threatened, not a trip to the gym and not your music.  

Further down the line, I worry that people absorbed in their own music will miss wildlife.  In missing wildlife, there may be no awareness when the forests, mountains and deserts are bereft of wild creatures.  The scariest thing of all is a loss of a wild environment without anyone even noticing.       

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Is portable music ruining the outdoors?

Last summer I travelled with my partner Erin throughout the...

A new study has revealed that sandwiches are having a substantial impact on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-buffer-greenhouse-gas/">greenhouse gas emissions</a>. In the first study of its kind, researchers at <a href="http://www.manchester.ac.uk/">The University of Manchester</a> have tracked the carbon footprint of a sandwich by examining its entire life cycle including production, packaging, and food waste.

The research team focused on 40 sandwich recipes for their investigation. The highest carbon footprints were found in sandwiches that contained bacon, ham, or sausage, as well those made with cheese or prawns. 

The most carbon intensive process was discovered in sandwiches served on all-day breakfast menus that include eggs, bacon, and sausage. The study revealed that the production of just one of these sandwiches generates a carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq.) that is comparable to driving a car for 12 miles.

The lowest carbon footprint was found in a sandwich made at home with ham and cheese. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that sandwiches made at home could reduce carbon emissions in half compared to eating out.

According to the British Sandwich Association (BSA), more than 11.5 billion sandwiches are consumed each year in the UK. Around half of those are made at home and the other half are bought in shops, supermarkets, and service stations.

“Given that sandwiches are a staple of the British diet as well as their significant market share in the food sector, it is important to understand the contribution from this sector to the emissions of greenhouse gases,” said study co-author Adisa Azapagic.

“For example, consuming 11.5 billion sandwiches annually in the UK generates, on average, 9.5 million tonnes of CO2 eq., equivalent to the annual use of 8.6 million cars.”

The researchers established that the biggest contributor to the carbon footprint of a sandwich is the agricultural production and processing of the ingredients, which generates up to 67 percent of the CO2 eq. for fast food sandwiches. In addition, the refrigeration of sandwiches in the supermarket can account for up to 25 percent of their overall contribution to emissions.

“We need to change the labelling of food to increase the use-by date as these are usually quite conservative,” said Professor Azapagic. “Commercial sandwiches undergo rigorous shelf-life testing and are normally safe for consumption beyond the use-by date stated on the label.”

The study authors pointed out that reducing certain ingredients that have a higher carbon footprint such as cheese and meat would not only help to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, but would also contribute to healthier diets with less calories.

The research is published in the <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/sustainable-production-and-consumption/">Journal of Sustainable Production and Consumption</a>.

-

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Even your sandwiches have an environmental impact

A new study has revealed that sandwiches are having a...

Because young people today are the biggest users of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-sleep-social-media/">social media</a> of any age group, many are concerned about how social media may be impacting teens. 

Researchers from the<a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/"> University of Birmingham</a> set out to investigate what effect social media might have on healthy habits for young people. 

While social media can have a positive impact on health, with access to information and fitness apps, the researchers also found some dangers of social media pertaining to peer pressure. 

The results show that even though teenagers are often critical of celebrity-endorsed products and the airbrushed perfection of celebrity selfies, following their peers online can lead to negative body image, the feeling peer pressure, and low self-worth. 

The study was published in the journal Sport, Education and Society. 

The researchers asked 1,296 people ages 13 to 18 from British schools about their online habits with regard to health-related social media. 

The team outlined several health categories, including physical activity, diet/nutrition, body image and sleep. 

Interestingly, while the study participants proved themselves to be critical of celebrity health endorsements or celebrity selfies, content shared by peers had a much deeper impact. 

“'One of the issues we saw in this report were selfies, which, because they are coming from other young people, heighten the level of peer pressure,” said Victoria Goodyear, the study’s lead author. “They might compare themselves to others from school if they have low self-esteem or have had a bad day, although not every child will do so. These images may have been filtered, but they focus on body parts, diet, and exercise, which may create pressure.”

The study shows that due to social media, peer pressure is a problem that spreads beyond the classroom. While the younger generation has developed a critical eye, the accessibility of social media means they are confronted with social pressure even outside of school. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Young people are social media savvy, but still pressured by peers

Because young people today are the biggest users of social...

Many people pledge to reduce their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-alcohol-cancer-dna/">alcohol</a> intake in the month of January, and a team of researchers from the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> set out to determine how successful drinkers are in following through with these resolutions. The study revealed that very few individuals who attempted to reduce their alcohol consumption managed to do so after six months.

The experts analyzed data on the alcohol intake patterns of nearly 3,000 drinkers for the research, which was funded by the <a href="http://sphr.nihr.ac.uk/">NIHR School for Public Health Research</a>. Around 20 percent of the drinkers who were interviewed for the study reported a desire to cut back. The participants were most commonly motivated to drink less in an effort to lose weight, improve fitness levels, save money, or avoid health problems.

The researchers followed up with the individuals six months later, and found that those who had not set out to cut back on their drinking had reduced their alcohol consumption by the same amount as those who aimed to reduce their alcohol intake.

The study was led by Dr. Frank De Vocht from Bristol Medical School.

“Alcohol consumption is of particular concern to the UK's public health,” said Dr. De Vocht. “We wanted to find out if motivation alone changes limiting intake. Sadly, although people start with good intentions, our results suggest that something more is required for those intentions to make a difference.”

“For people who are serious in their intention to reduce consumption, obtaining structural support, for example by signing up to the Dry January campaign, may help. Alternatively, smartphone apps are also being tested as a way to help people reduce their intake, but it's too early to say whether these can make a difference.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/addiction">Addiction</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Most drinkers who wish to cut back struggle with follow through

Many people pledge to reduce their alcohol intake in the...

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States, and according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html">Centers for Disease Control</a> (CDC), it disproportionately affects children from low-income families. 

The CDC also reports that nearly one in five children between the ages 6 and 19 is obese. 

Many factors contribute to childhood obesity, but new research has found that poor sleep quality leads to a higher body mass index (BMI). 

The study was carried out by researchers from <a href="https://www.massey.vcu.edu/">The Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center</a>. 

As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rise-obesity-mortality-rates/">obesity</a> rates climb, so do the risks of cancer.

"Childhood obesity very often leads to adult obesity," said Bernard Fuemmeler, the study's lead author. "This puts them at greater risk of developing obesity-related cancers in adulthood."

It’s been previously proven that poor sleep is connected to adult obesity, but less research has been done on the link between childhood obesity and sleep habits.

The researchers enrolled 120 children from the Newborn Epigenetic Study, which examines how environmental exposures and nutrition affect genes. 

The children were asked to wear accelerometers for five days in order to track sleep-wake cycles and given the “eating in the absence of hunger test.” The hunger test asks participants to eat until they feel full and allowed the researchers to better understand the children's eating habits.

After analyzing both sleeping and eating habits in the study participants, the researchers discovered that shorter sleep and restless sleep was linked to a higher BMI and bigger waist size. 

If a child got more sleep, every extra hour of sleep was linked to a decreased BMI. The results also showed that less sleep led to a higher intake of calories.

"Today, many children are not getting enough sleep," Fuemmeler said. "There are a number of distractions, such as screens in the bedroom, that contribute to interrupted, fragmented sleep. This, perpetuated over time, can be a risk factor for obesity."

The researchers hope their results will help create new treatments to prevent childhood obesity and the increased risk of cancer related to obesity. 

-

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Poor sleep quality linked to childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States,...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.umkc.edu/">University of Missouri-Kansas City</a> set out to determine out what women perceive to be the ideal female figure in the United States. The study revealed that women are now finding muscular and toned bodies to be more desirable over extremely thin bodies.

The research team focused its study on the Miss USA competition, where contenders are primarily judged on their appearance and also how well they fit into today's beauty standards. The experts showed images of pageant winners from 1999 to 2013 wearing two-piece swimsuits to 78 undergraduate female students.

The study participants rated the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/women-neural-activity-sexually/">women</a> according to how muscular, thin, and attractive they were. The more recent pageant winners received the highest ratings, and the team noted that these particular women have become increasingly muscular over the past 15 years.

Next, the researchers analyzed whether the long-held ideal of extreme thinness is evolving to include enhanced muscle tone. A separate group of 64 undergraduate students were shown pairs of photographs featuring 14 women. Each pair of images was identical in every way except that the muscular definition of the woman's body was digitally removed in one picture, leaving a “thin only" image and a “thin and toned" image.

The images were first shown separately, and the study participants rated both versions of the picture as being equally attractive. When the pairs of images were shown side-by-side, however, the muscular images were more appealing to the participants.

“There is a shift in the thin ideal female figure to one that now includes the appearance of physical fitness via muscularity,” said Bozsik. She explained that the findings of the study are consistent with the growing preference for a toned and thin female figure that is commonly portrayed now in the “fitspiration" trend on social media.

“These websites allow individuals to collect images of women with whom they identify or admire, essentially allowing them to cultivate their own media repertoire of highly salient thin and fit media,” said Bozsik. “This process of selecting preferred images and then narrowing the media focus by placing these images on their 'boards' may inadvertently increase the risk of developing higher levels of body dissatisfaction, as well as subsequent disordered-eating behaviors that are linked to it.”

The study is published in Springer's journal <a href="http://www.springer.com/psychology/journal/11199">Sex Roles</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New beauty standards prefer healthy and toned over skinny

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City set out to...

Researchers at <a href="http://www.tcd.ie/">Trinity College Dublin</a> have taken a closer look at the genetic diversity of the Irish population. The experts have discovered a hidden genetic footprint that was formed by both geography and historical migrations.

Ireland has been inhabited for 10,000 years. While cultural and geographical differences have been established, there has been no distinction made between various genetic groups across the country.

The current study assembles a new image of the genetic landscape of <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/clew-bay-islands-western-ireland/">Ireland</a> which is quite complex. The findings clearly show the genetic signatures left behind within Irish populations by historical migrations.

“This subtle genetic structure within such a small country has implications for medical genetic association studies,” said study co-author Ross Byrne. “As it stands, current corrections for population structure in study designs may not adequately account for this within country variation, which may potentially lead to false positive results emerging.” 

The researchers analyzed genetic variation across nearly 1,000 Irish genomes and compared them with over 6,000 genomes from Britain and mainland Europe. The experts discovered 23 distinct Irish genetic groups separated by geography. 

The groups were found to be the most discernible in western Ireland, but less prominent in the east. In eastern Ireland,  historical migrations have eliminated the genetic divisions.

Genetic contributions from British people were found to drop off in populations to the west. Genetic input from Europe revealed the timeline of the historical migrations of the Norse-Vikings and the Anglo-Normans to Ireland, and these dates were consistent with historical records.

“The long and complex history of population dynamics in Ireland has left an indelible mark on the genomes of modern inhabitants of the island,” said study co-author Russell McLaughlin. 

“We have shown that, using only genetic data, we can accurately reconstruct elements of this past and demonstrate a striking correlation between geographical provenance and genetic affinity. Understanding this fine-grained population structure is crucially important for ongoing and future studies of rare genetic variation in health and disease.”

The study is published in <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/">PLOS Genetics</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Irish genetic patterns rooted in historical migrations

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have taken a closer look...

Scientists have moved the Doomsday Clock another 30 seconds forward, and it’s now just 2 minutes to midnight. This marks the closest we as humanity has come to a possible apocalypse since the Cold War. 

The Doomsday Clock was originally created by the <a href="https://thebulletin.org/">Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists</a>, a group of Manhattan Project veterans who were fearful of the consequences their work on nuclear weapons would have. 

The Doomsday Clock was first formed in response to the looming threats of nuclear warfare, and its movement is determined by the state of global affairs, the nuclear arsenals onhand, and the power wielded by government rulers

Today the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists is a wide-reaching organization of nuclear experts, scientists, and even Nobel Laureates who regularly meet to discuss the current global political and economic climate and the increased risks of nuclear threats. 

The Bulletin has also taken climate change into consideration, calling it as big a threat to humanity as nuclear weapons.

 In 2007, it was <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-removed-websites/">climate change</a> that inspired the move to five minutes to midnight. 

Today the clock lurched another 30 seconds forward thanks to rising temperatures and the increased rhetoric involving nuclear warfare. 

It's now two minutes to midnight, a sobering move since that last time the clock was that close to midnight, the panic of the Cold War was at its peak. 

One of the driving forces cited by the experts leading up the clock’s new position was the clashing of President Trump and Kim Jong Un, who have been locked in a seemingly petty quarrel while carelessly waving the threat of nuclear weapons back and forth. 

“We have members of Congress, White House advisers, and even the president implying that they think war with a nuclear state is not only likely, but potentially desirable,” Alex Wellerstein, an expert in nuclear weapon history told the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/01/25/after-a-missile-scare-and-insult-war-with-north-korea-its-time-to-check-the-doomsday-clock/?utm_term=.179f2804012b">Washington Post</a>. “That's unusual and disturbing.”

If the Doomsday Clock moves any closer to midnight, we as a globe will be in uncharted territory, even though the clock is not a predictor of the apocalypse, but a reflection of current events and imminent risks. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Doomsday Clock ticks closer to midnight apocalypse

Scientists have moved the Doomsday Clock another 30 seconds forward,...

Few things are more satisfying than swatting a particularly annoying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosquitoes-suck-blood-noticing/">mosquito</a> that’s been buzzing around you on a hot, summer day. And while it may seem like a missed swat attempt is a lost opportunity to get rid of the offending insect, new research finds that this may not be the case. 

A recent study published in <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a> found that mosquitoes were able to learn to associate a particular odor with the unpleasant feeling of being swatted — causing them to avoid the scent in the future. 

It’s been known that mosquitoes don’t exactly bite at random, as they show clear preferences for some people over others. They are also know to alternate hosts seasonally, generally feeding on birds in the summer and mammals and birds during the rest of the year. Researcher Jeffrey Riffell of the <a href="http://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington, Seattle</a> wanted to find out more about what factors influence a mosquitoes’ biting preferences.

Riffell and his colleagues trained mosquitoes by combining the odor of a specific person or animal species with a mechanical shock, simulating the shock by using a vortexer machine. Surprisingly, the insects quickly learned to associate a host odor with the mechanical shock, and would fly away from the odor once this association was made. “Once mosquitoes learned odors in an aversive manner, those odors caused aversive responses on the same order as responses to DEET, which is one of the most effective mosquito repellents,” says Riffell. “Moreover, mosquitoes remember the trained odors for days.”

It is well known that in many animals learning depends on dopamine in the brain. To test this in mosquitoes, the researchers glue the insects to a custom 3D-printed holder that allowed the insects to fly in place while the neuronal activity in the olfactory center of their brains was recorded. The neurons in the olfactory center of genetically modified mosquitoes lacking dopamine receptors were less likely to fire compared to normal mosquitoes. Because of this, these mosquitoes showed a decreased ability to process and learn from odor information.

These findings could have important implications for mosquito control and the eradication of mosquito-borne diseases that affect millions each year. 

“By understanding how mosquitoes are making decisions on whom to bite, and how learning influences those behaviors, we can better understand the genes and neuronal bases of the behaviors,” explains Riffell. “This could lead to more effective tools for mosquito control.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Swatting mosquitoes helps them learn to avoid your scent

Few things are more satisfying than swatting a particularly annoying...

As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/legal-recreational-marijuana-california/">marijuana</a> becomes increasingly legalized in states across the United States, it has created new challenges to policing the impairment level of drivers on the road. While recent studies have identified new biomarkers that can be used to estimate an individual’s cannabinoid intake, a commentary published by toxicologists in the journal <a href="http://www.cell.com/trends/molecular-medicine/home">Trends in Molecular Medicine</a> says that using these markers to judge cognitive and behavioral impairment can be complex.

“There is no one blood or oral fluid concentration that can differentiate impaired and not impaired,” explains Marilyn Huestis, who spent over 20 years leading cannabinoid-related research projects at the<a href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/"> National Institute on Drug Abuse</a>. “It’s not like we need to say, ‘Oh, let’s do some more research and give you an answer.’ We already know. We’ve done the research.”

Whether the primary psychoactive agent in cannabinoids – ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – is inhaled or consumed, there are a variety of factors that can influence how impaired an individual may be. And although alcohol can impair a driver more than cannabis, impairment is still a problem when it comes to driving while high.

One problem with trying to use blood tests for THC is that it quickly leaves the bloodstream. An occasional user may be impaired for 6 to 8 hours, but blood THC concentrations can drop to zero after just 2.5 hours, according to previous research by Huestis. “If someone is driving impaired, by the time you get their blood sample, you've lost 90% or more of the drug. So, we have to change what we do at the roadside,” she says.

Furthermore, long-term daily cannabis users – such as those who use medical marijuana – present additional challenges. THC accumulates in body tissues and then slowly releases over time. This means that chronic users can test positive for marijuana even if they’ve gone 30 days without using. Additionally, psychomotor impairment can be observed even three weeks after the last dose. “You want people to be taking medicinal cannabinoids and now you know that their driving is going to be impacted,” says Huestis. “So how do you handle that problem?”

Like most researchers, Huestis doesn’t support a legal driving limit for marijuana, like the one in place for blood alcohol concentrations. Rather, she believes the best solution is to train police officers to identify behavioral signs of impairment, accompanied by less invasive biological marker tests that can be immediately performed at the roadside to confirm the presence of a cannabinoid. Recent research has identified new blood and urine biomarkers to that end. Tests using breath and saliva markers are also under development.

Beyond just catching drivers who are under the influence, these new markers and tests may also be used to help treat drug dependence, as they can determine appropriate therapeutic levels of medical marijuana. They could also be used to help women monitor cannabinoid levels if they’re trying to become pregnant. While potentially tricky and complex, this new research is helping people who use or need medical marijuana, as well as the general public that want to stay safe on the road.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Developing a roadside marijuana DUI test has proven tricky

As marijuana becomes increasingly legalized in states across the United...

Musical genres, tastes, and sounds vary across cultures and serve a wide variety of purposes, from evoking the need to dance to expressing love or lulling a baby to sleep. It is a widely held belief that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/musical-training-perception-speech/">music</a> is mainly shaped by culture, but researchers from <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a> weren’t entirely sure that was the whole picture. Throughout the animal kingdom, vocalization carries links between form and function between different species – there’s a reason we experience fear after hearing a bear or lion roar. The researchers wanted to see if this same relationship between form and function was true for our human music.

After analyzing recordings from around the world, the research team found vocal songs tend to sound similar to one another, no matter which culture they come from. Their study involved two separate experiments to determine a relation between form and function in music, and the findings were published in <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

The first experiment involved 750 internet users in 60 countries being asked to listen to brief song recordings. These sound bites were selected pseudo-randomly from 86 predominantly small-scale societies – from hunter-gatherers to subsistence farmers. After listening to each piece, participants answered six questions indicating what they believe the function of each song to be on a six-point scale. These questions determined the degree to which the listener thought a song was used for dancing, soothing a baby, healing an illness, expressing love, mourning the dead, or telling a story. None of the songs were actually used in mourning or to tell a story, but these answers were included to discourage listeners from assuming each song fit into only four types.

Despite the participants’ lack of familiarity with the songs and their societies of origin, their ratings showed accurate and cross-culturally reliable inferences about the purposes of these songs. 

“We show that our shared psychology produces fundamental patterns in song that transcend our profound cultural differences,” says co-first author of the study Manvir Singh, of Harvard University. “This suggests that our emotional and behavioral responses to aesthetic stimuli are remarkably similar across widely diverging populations.”

In the second experiment, 1,000 internet users from the U.S. and India were asked to rate these same excerpts for three “contextual” features: number of singers, gender of singer(s), and number of instruments. They also rated them for seven “subjective” musical features: melodic complexity, rhythmic complexity, tempo, steady beat, arousal, valence, and pleasantness. The results of this second experiment showed that there was some relationship between these features and song function, but it could not explain the way people in the first experiment reliably detected a song’s function.

Overall, these findings are consistent with the existence of universal links between form and function in vocal music. 

“Despite the staggering diversity of music influenced by countless cultures and readily available to the modern listener, our shared human nature may underlie basic musical structures that transcend cultural differences,” says co-author Samuel Mehr, also of Harvard University.

The researchers are now conducting these tests in listeners who live in isolated, small-scale societies and have never heard music outside of their own culture. They are also continuing to analyze the music of many cultures in order to figure out how certain musical features relate to function, and whether those features themselves might be universal.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Science proves that music is truly a universal language

Musical genres, tastes, and sounds vary across cultures and serve...

There has always been debate surrounding whether people are born “smartypants” or if intelligence something that is attained through hard work and focus. Are human behaviors and development found in our DNA or do external environmental factors shape us? 

These questions make up the basis of the nature versus nurture debate, which has long been of interest to many in the scientific community. But now, new research has found that to some extent, intelligence is in our genes. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/">University of Edinburgh</a> and is the first-ever study to show how genetic differences, or variants as they are called, in DNA can determine intelligence. 

For the study, the researchers analyzed genetic markers in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-onvict-rhinoceros-hunters/">DNA</a> of 20,000 people looking specifically for any indicators that would match higher or lower IQs or reflect intelligence. 

The researchers identified rare genetic variants that appeared to have a determining effect on whether someone was intelligent or not, and these combined variants explained half of the differences in intelligence between the subjects in the study. 

The study examined and analyzed both common and rare variants, but it was the rare variants that appeared to have a greater impact on intelligence. 

“We used two methods to measure the effect that rare variants had on intelligence,” said Dr. David Hill, a member of the research team. “By combining the effect of both rare and common variants, more than 50% of the differences in intelligence between people could be traced to their genes.” 

While a person certainly can’t be born with information or an education, the new research shows that perhaps some get a headstart simply through a genetic gift.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Intelligence can be inherited through our genes

There has always been debate surrounding whether people are born...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...