Food allergies have become increasingly common, affecting roughly one in 13 children, as reported by Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE). With such a rise, scientists continue to explore how maternal diets might influence allergy risk in infants. 



Recent research in Finland sheds light on a surprising connection between avocado consumption during pregnancy and reduced food allergy risk in infants.



A study involving 2,272 mother-child pairs, conducted over nearly a decade, uncovered a striking finding. Infants whose mothers consumed avocados during pregnancy had a 43.6% lower chance of developing food allergies by 12 months. 



The study accounted for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-omega-3-deficiency-is-rising-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">variables</a> such as maternal age, smoking status, and education - yet the link remained consistent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avocados-lower-allergy-risk">Avocados lower allergy risk</h2>



For years, researchers have explored how specific dietary patterns during pregnancy might influence infant allergy risk. However, individual foods like avocados have not received the same level of scrutiny. 



The Finnish study aimed to fill that gap. The team utilized an online food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess maternal avocado intake during the first and third trimesters. 



Participants who reported any avocado <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-production-more-difficult-climate-change-plant-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consumption</a> were classified as consumers, while those who did not became non-consumers.



The analysis revealed a significant contrast. Among non-consumers, 4.2% of infants developed food allergies. In comparison, only 2.4% of infants whose mothers consumed avocados experienced the same outcome.



The reduction in allergy risk remained significant even after adjusting for various maternal health factors .



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avocado-research-offers-hope">Avocado research offers hope</h2>



“As a caregiver, the growing prevalence of food allergy feels very scary and out of my control,” said Sari Hantunen, senior lecturer at the <a href="https://www.uef.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Eastern Finland</a>.



“There is no cure for food allergy, but promising prevention and therapeutic strategies are in development as well as emerging research such as this."



”Based on these findings, it’s encouraging to know that eating avocados may provide even more value to maternal and children’s health, beyond the benefits that have already been established through scientific research.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-avocado-and-allergy">Tracking avocado and allergy</h2>



The Kuopio Birth Cohort (KuBiCo) provided a rich dataset for analysis. Researchers recruited pregnant women during routine first-trimester appointments at <a href="https://pshyvinvointialue.fi/web/en/kuopio-university-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kuopio University Hospital</a>. Data collection continued until November 2022, capturing dietary intake throughout the first and third trimesters.



Mothers completed FFQs that detailed food consumption over the past three months. The FFQ specifically assessed avocado intake, classifying participants as consumers or non-consumers.



After birth, researchers tracked infants to assess allergic outcomes, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-therapy-may-help-reduce-peanut-allergies-in-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> allergies, eczema, rhinitis, and wheezing. Even after adjusting for variables like maternal age, smoking, and breastfeeding duration, the data maintained its significance. 



Infants of non-consumers showed a 4.2% allergy rate, while those of avocado consumers showed a 2.4% rate .



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-choose-avocados">Who choose avocados?</h2>



Avocado consumers shared common traits that distinguished them from non-consumers. They tended to be older and more educated. They also reported longer breastfeeding durations and higher diet quality scores.



These women generally had lower BMI levels in the first trimester and were less likely to undergo caesarean deliveries. Researchers noted that these trends might reflect broader health-conscious behaviors rather than avocado <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-transforming-pollen-science-and-health-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consumption</a> alone .



Avocados pack essential nutrients that may benefit both maternal and infant health. Each serving provides 9.25 grams of dietary fiber, supporting gut health and potentially influencing immune responses.



Additionally, avocados contain 2.6 mg of vitamin E, an antioxidant linked to immune function, and 0.93 mg of zinc, which plays a role in immune development. Lutein, a carotenoid crucial for eye health, also features prominently in avocados.



The nutrient profile aligns well with dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet, previously associated with lower allergy risks in offspring. While the study focused solely on avocados, researchers suggest that other nutrient-dense foods may offer similar protective effects .



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consuming-avocados-for-allergy-prevention">Consuming avocados for allergy prevention</h2>



The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that pregnant women consume 2 ½ to 3 ½ cups of vegetables daily. Avocados, with their nutrient density, count as a full cup per serving.



For toddlers aged 12-23 months, the guidelines suggest 2/3 to 1 cup of vegetables each day. With its rich nutrient profile, a single avocado serves as a practical choice to meet these recommendations without the need for supplements.



Despite the promising findings, the study did not identify any significant links between avocado consumption and other allergic conditions like rhinitis, eczema, or wheezing. 



The focus on food allergies yielded notable results, but the other conditions showed no significant differences between consumers and non-consumers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-the-research">Expanding the research</h2>



The researchers caution against overgeneralizing the findings. While avocados may contribute to reduced food allergy risk, the mechanisms remain unclear. 



Further studies could clarify whether specific nutrients within avocados influence immune development and whether similar effects extend to other foods .



The study opens doors for future research that could extend beyond infancy. Tracking infants beyond the first year of life may provide insights into how early dietary exposures shape allergy risk throughout childhood.



Additionally, examining other nutrient-dense foods with similar profiles, such as nuts, seeds, or leafy greens, could help determine whether the observed effects result from specific nutrients or broader dietary patterns. 



Understanding these connections could refine dietary recommendations for pregnant women, offering clearer guidance on foods that may reduce allergy risk in infants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-nutritional-choice-with-potential">A nutritional choice with potential</h2>



As food allergies continue to rise, identifying preventive strategies during pregnancy remains a critical focus. This Finnish study suggests that avocados, with their nutrient-rich profile, may play a role in reducing food allergy risk in infants.



While the study does not establish causality, it highlights the potential impact of nutrient-dense foods during pregnancy - a time when maternal diet can leave lasting imprints on infant health. 



Further research will clarify whether these findings hold across diverse populations and whether other foods offer similar benefits.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-025-03968-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pediatric Research</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.&nbsp;



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.



-----

Eating avocados during pregnancy reduces baby's allergy risk

Food allergies have become increasingly common, affecting roughly one in 13 children, as reported by Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE). With such a rise, scientists continue to explore how maternal diets might influence allergy risk in infants. Recent research in Finland sheds light on a surprising connection between avocado consumption during pregnancy and reduced food allergy risk in infants. A study involving 2,272 mother-child pairs, conducted over nearly a decade, uncovered a striking finding. Infants whose mothers consumed avocados during pregnancy had a 43.6% lower chance...

Our addiction to our phones has been linked to several problematic negative health trends and has been found to impact <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/addiction-smartphones-imbalances-brain/">brain function</a> and increase feelings of unhappiness. 

Now, a new study has found that blue light emitted from smartphones, laptops and tablets damages the eyes and increases the risk of macular degeneration. 

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.utoledo.edu/">University of Toledo</a> in Ohio conducted a study examining how blue light is absorbed and processed by the eye. 

Our eyes contain a kind of vitamin A called retinal which converts light into signals that the brain can then process. 

The eye is well prepared to combat UV light, as UV rays from the sun are reflected off of the eye. But blue light is absorbed by the eye and this can trigger cell death which can eventually lead to macular degeneration.

“The human eye reflects UV light (such as from the sun) very well but it allows blue light to enter and the retinal can absorb blue light very well,” Ajith Karunarathne, the lead author of the study, told <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6044469/Cellphones-blue-light-DOES-affect-vision-wearing-retina-time.html">Daily Mail Online.</a>

Macular degeneration occurs when part of the retina of the eye is damaged. Over time, blurred vision and blind spots can lead to blindness because of this damage. 

Millions suffer from macular degeneration in the United States, and as we continue to increase our exposure to blue light, millions more could cause irreversible damage to the retina. 

For the study, the researchers tested retinal cells that had absorbed blue light by injecting the cells into other cancer and heart cells. The blue light in the retina jumpstarts a reaction in the eye that converts oxygen into a molecule that attacks and kills photoreceptor cells in the eye. 

As the blue light cells interacted with other cells, the researchers noticed toxic molecule killed any cells it came in contact with. 

The cancer and heart cells were unaffected by exposure to just blue light alone and the vitamin A retinal alone. It was the absorbed blue light in the retinal that triggered cell death. 

While the researchers did find that a vitamin E molecule called alpha-tocopherol can prevent cell death in the eyes, the researchers say more study is needed to find out of the eye has other more effective protective measurements against blue light damage. 

For now, the researchers advise against using cell phones in the dark and wearing sunglasses outside to protect against UV rays and blue light. There are also blue light filters that you can download on your phone which will help reduce the amount of blue light absorbed by the eye. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Becca Tapert

Blue light from smartphones damages your eyes over time

Our addiction to our phones has been linked to several...

A new study from <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a> has found that young black males do not feel as safe in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. The research revealed that black youths felt fearful in areas with a larger population of white people compared to places where they normally spent the most time.

The research team equipped 506 young black males and females with smartphones to track their locations for a week in Columbus, Ohio. The participants reported on relevant topics, such as how safe they felt, five times per day.


Sociology Professor Christopher Browning is the lead author of the research, and also heads the Adolescent Health and Development in Context (AHDC) study. 

“It doesn't have to be a majority white neighborhood for African American boys to feel more threatened,” said Professor Browning. “It just has to be more white than what they typically encounter.”

While they were outside of their own neighborhoods, black teens in the study visited areas that had an average of 13 percent more white people. Unlike the male participants, the females did not report feeling significantly less safe in these regions.

According to Professor Browning, the results of the study are consistent with the theory that young black males expect increased scrutiny, surveillance, and even direct targeting when they are in white areas.

“We've seen a lot of stories in the media lately about the police being called on black people going about their business in white areas,” said Professor Browning. “This may help explain why black youth felt more threatened in parts of town where they were exposed to more white people.”

Professor Browning explained that most previous research on feelings of safety among black youths has been focused on the neighborhoods that they lived in. The findings of this analysis, however, suggest that this is not the best approach.


In the current study, the level of safety reported by the participants seemed to be dependent on how much the places they visited differed from the areas where they spent most of their time.

“Part of the experience for black kids is having to leave their home neighborhoods to go to places that might not be as welcoming,” said Professor Browning.

“They are typically going to places with amenities like restaurants and movie theaters that may not be available in their neighborhoods. And these places are probably going to be whiter than the places they live.”

The investigation was based on data from the AHDC, which provides insight into the lives of 1,405 youths living in 184 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kids-walkable-neighborhoods-healthier/">neighborhoods</a> across Franklin County, Ohio.

The research was presented by Professor Browning at the annual meeting of the <a href="http://www.asanet.org/">American Sociological Association</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Young black males feel less safe in whiter neighborhoods

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

Scientists have analyzed the chemical composition of some of the tools used to construct the iconic stone sculptures of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clues-easter-island-mysteries/">Easter Island</a>, a remote region located 2,300 miles off the coast of Chile. The team found new evidence to suggest that the ancient society was much more sophisticated and cooperative than previously thought.

Study co-author Laure Dussubieux is a research scientist at the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a>.


“For a long time, people wondered about the culture behind these very important statues,” said Dussubieux. “This study shows how people were interacting, it's helping to revise the theory.”


Study lead author Dale Simpson, Jr. is an archaeologist from the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a>.


“The idea of competition and collapse on Easter Island might be overstated,” said Simpson. “To me, the stone carving industry is solid evidence that there was cooperation among families and craft groups.”

The first settlers, known as the Rapa Nui people, arrived on Easter Island about 900 years ago. “The founding population, according to oral tradition, was two canoes led by the island's first chief, Hotu Matu’a,” said Simpson.

The population eventually grew into the thousands, and a complex society emerged that carved the island’s well-known statues, or the moai. These statues, which are also referred to as “Easter Island Heads,” were once figures with full bodies that became partially buried over the years. 

There are nearly 900 known figures, and the largest one is over 70 feet tall. Simpson explained that the size and number of the statues represent the complexity of the early society.

“Ancient Rapa Nui had chiefs, priests, and guilds of workers who fished, farmed, and made the moai,” said Simpson. “There was a certain level of sociopolitical organization that was needed to carve almost a thousand statues.”


To gain a better understanding the Rapa Nui society, the team analyzed about 20 of the 1,600 stone tools made of volcanic stone called basalt that had been recovered in excavations. Some of the tools, called toki, were fragments that gave some indication of how they were used.

“We wanted to figure out where the raw materials used to manufacture the artifacts came from,” explained Dussubieux. “We wanted to know if people were taking material from close to where they lived.”

There are at least three different basalt quarries that the Rapa Nui used for material to make their stone tools. The tools from these various sites, which cover twelve square meters, provide insight into the movement and collaboration among the people.


“The majority of the toki came from one quarry complex - once the people found the quarry they liked, they stayed with it,” said Simpson. “For everyone to be using one type of stone, I believe they had to collaborate. That's why they were so successful - they were working together.”


This level of cooperation contradicts the popular theory that Easter Island's inhabitants ran out of resources and were driven to extinction by heavy conflict. 

“There's so much mystery around Easter Island, because it's so isolated, but on the island, people were, and still are, interacting in huge amounts,” said Simpson. 

Even though the society was dominated by colonists and slavery, Rapa Nui culture has persisted. Simpson added, “There are thousands of Rapa Nui people alive today -the society isn't gone.”

The study is published in the <a href="http://pacificarchaeology.org/">Journal of Pacific Archaeology</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: Dale Simpson, Jr.

Ancient society of Easter Island may have been more sophisticated

Scientists have analyzed the chemical composition of some of the...

Are your future job prospects keeping you from getting the tattoo of your dreams? No need to hesitate: a new study shows that body art is no longer stopping job seekers from landing a career.

The researchers, from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> and the <a href="https://www.uwa.edu.au/">University of Western Australia</a>, set out to find out how tattoos might affect getting a job. They found that body art doesn’t have much of an effect anymore – at least, not a negative one. In some competitive markets, it may even make job candidates stand out in a positive way.

“Our research surprisingly found no empirical evidence of employment, wage or earnings discrimination against people with various types of tattoos,” the researchers wrote in their study, published in the journal <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0018726718782597">Human Relations</a>. “In our sample ... not only are the wages and annual earnings of tattooed employees in the United States statistically indistinguishable from the wages and annual earnings of employees without tattoos, but tattooed individuals are also just as likely, and in some instances even more likely, to gain employment.”

Even the U.S. military has begun allowing tattoos, with the <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/01/10/air-force-relaxes-tattoo-policy-allows-sleeves.html">Air Force allowing full sleeves</a> – though in most cases, offensive body art is strictly forbidden and tattoos must be able to be hidden under uniforms.

The study authors began collecting information about how body art affects employers’ perceptions of employees in 2016. They found that, while past studies showed tattoos could negatively affect earnings and a candidate’s ability to get a job, that has radically changed. Now – at least in the United States – even visible tattoos aren’t linked to employment or wages.

"Hiring managers who continue to discriminate against job candidates with tattoos may be settling for a less-qualified pool of applicants," lead author Michael French told the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/dont-worry-about-getting-that-tattoo-study-shows-it-wont-affect-your-job-prospects/articleshow/65353660.cms">Economic Times</a>. "The long-held stigmas associated with having tattoos, and particularly visible ones, may be eroding, especially among younger individuals who view body art as a natural and common form of personal expression."

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Does body art keep job seekers from their dream careers?

Are your future job prospects keeping you from getting the...

On Friday, a jury made a stunning decision in a lawsuit against chemical giant Monsanto: it awarded almost $290 million to a former school groundskeeper who said his use of the weedkiller Roundup led to untreatable cancer.

Dewayne Johnson was awarded $39 million in compensatory damages and $250 in punitive damages in the case. He believes that his use of the weedkiller, which he applied 20 to 30 times per year at the San Francisco-area school where he worked, led to his now terminal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

The case could set a precedent as hundreds of other cancer patients turn on the chemical company. <a href="https://monsanto.com/">Monsanto</a> was facing more than 800 lawsuits from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/">CNN</a> reported last year.

While the cause of cancer is difficult to prove, Johnson’s attorney said, there appears to be a link between Roundup and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

"You can't take a lung cancer tumor and run a test that proves that tobacco caused that cancer. ... You're seeing the same thing here," lawyer Timothy Litzenburg told CNN. "I think we're in the beginning of that era of this dawning on us as a country – as a public – the connection between these two things."

Johnson, 46, believes that his use of the weedkiller Roundup led to his terminal cancer, which has left him near death and covered up to 80 percent of his body in painful lesions. He testified in court that on two occasions, he accidentally spilled the chemical on himself, the first in 2012. His cancer was diagnosed in 2014.

Monsanto denies that allegations despite the ruling.

"More than 800 scientific studies, the U.S. EPA, the National Institutes of Health and regulators around the world have concluded that glyphosate is safe for use and does not cause cancer," said Scott Partridge, Monsanto's vice president of strategy. 

One of those studies, he pointed out, looked at the effects of pesticides – including glyphosate – on farmers and their families between 1993 and 2013.

The <a href="https://www.iarc.fr/">International Agency for Research on Cancer</a>, part of the <a href="http://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a>, announced findings that linked glyphosate to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in March 2015. But Monsanto shows that other studies have refuted that, finding no links between the weedkiller Roundup and cancer of any kind, including lymphoma.

"We all have sympathy for Mr. Johnson," Partridge said. "It's natural he's looking for answers. Glyphosate is not the answer."

Litzenburg says it’s the combination of glyphosate and other chemicals in Roundup that make it dangerous, but Monsanto spokespersons argue that regulatory agencies have tested the weedkiller and judged it to be safe.

Litzenburg and his attorneys have found more than 2,000 cases in states around the U.S., and another 400 have been filed in federal multidistrict litigation.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Cancer patient wins $289 million over weedkiller Roundup

On Friday, a jury made a stunning decision in a...

The recent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heatwaves-severe-frequent/">heatwaves</a> many people have been suffering through in the United States have been affecting our friends in the United Kingdom as well. Britain has been experiencing high temperatures in excess of 90°F as an “Iberian plume” moved in from the continent, resulting in a heatwave that has been responsible for hundreds of deaths. During the height of the heatwave in a 15-day period in June and July, almost 700 more deaths than average resulted due to excessive heat.

Unfortunately for the Brits, a shocking new study gives evidence that these heatwaves are not likely to end as the years go on. Scientists at the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> used computer simulations from around the world to determine the probability of future occurrences of a heatwave with the same temperature as 2018, using the predicted changes to future global temperatures set out in the Paris Agreement. 

Their models showed that if temperatures increase by 2.7°F, heatwaves such as these would occur every other year. And if global temperatures increase by 3.6°F, almost every summer will have a heatwave at least as hot as this year.

“'As the extreme European heatwave persists into August, with notable droughts, wildfires and impacts on human health, the question being asked is how often would a similar heatwave re-occur in the future? We show that in our current climate, heat waves similar in temperature to the present one would occur about once every five to six years, on average,” explains Dr. Dann Mitchell, one of the researchers on the study. “Our climate models are not perfect, and they cannot capture all aspects of the current heatwave, but they can give us a reasonable estimate as to what to expect in the future.”

There would be numerous consequences to continued heatwaves – heat-related mortality being one of the more obvious ones. Mitchell also believes migration would be another issue, as people in less developed countries may migrate from rural to urban areas during long heatwaves and droughts. Agricultural practices could also change, and productivity could drop as it would be less practical and more dangerous for people to be working in high heat.

The researchers point to cutting greenhouse gases as the best way to curtail this warming. This would mean governments coming together to determine how to go about reduce their country’s carbon footprint, as well as citizens reducing their own carbon footprint on an individual level. With this summer having the potential to be the hottest on record in the UK, it seems like time is running out for us to maintain a planet where these types of heatwaves are not a common occurrence.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

UK heatwaves show no sign of slowing or disappearing

The recent heatwaves many people have been suffering through in...

Globally, around 300 million people suffer from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/depression-diagnosed-blood-test/">depression</a> – which is almost the entire population of the United States. Needless to say, depression is a wide-ranging and crippling public health concern, and scientists around the world are seeking to better understand the disease. Now, researchers from <a href="http://www.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> have pinpointed the region of the brain responsible for stress and anxiety, which could potentially lead to better treatments for depression in the future.

In their study, the researchers determined that by stimulating the caudate nucleus – a region of the brain linked to emotional decision-making – they were able to make animals place much greater weight on the drawbacks of a given situation when weighed against its benefits.

The study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/neuron/home">Neuron</a>, was based around the animals being offered a reward (juice) paired with an unpleasant stimulus, which was a puff of air to the face – so not too unpleasant. In each trial, the ratio of reward to unpleasant stimuli varied, and the animals could choose whether or not to accept the reward. If the reward was worth receiving the puff of air, the animals would choose to accept it. But when the ratio was too low, they rejected the reward.

However, when researchers stimulated the caudate nucleus with a small electrical current, the animals’ cost-benefit calculation became skewed. The test subjects now began to avoid combinations that they had previously accepted. Even once the stimulation ended, the effects remained the following day, until they gradually disappeared. The researchers believe their results show that the animals began to devalue the reward they had previously wanted, and focused more on the cost of the unpleasant stimulus.

According to the researchers, this type of behavior may be reproducing the effects that are seen in people with depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with these conditions tend to put more weight on the potential negative outcome of a given scenario.

“We feel we were seeing a proxy for anxiety, or depression, or some mix of the two,” says Ann Graybiel, an MIT professor and senior author of the study. “These psychiatric problems are still so very difficult to treat for many individuals suffering from them.”

Graybiel is currently working with psychiatrists at <a href="https://www.mcleanhospital.org/">McLean Hospital</a> to study patients who suffer from depression and anxiety. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have already shown abnormal activity in two regions of the medial prefrontal cortex that are connected to the caudate nucleus. Scientists think that the abnormal activity seen in this region of the brain may be disrupting dopamine activity.

If it is determined that the caudate nucleus truly is the region of the brain responsible for stress and anxiety in humans, this research may be one of the first steps towards finding effective treatments for people suffering from these conditions.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists find the part of the brain responsible for depression

Globally, around 300 million people suffer from depression – which...

Women form closer bonds with cats than men do. While research has shown that dogs go out of their way to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-comfort-owners-upset/">comfort their owners</a> and could provide much-needed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/service-dogs-veterans-ptsd/">support for veterans suffering from PTSD</a>, there has been considerably less attention paid to the bond between humans and cats.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/">Eötvös Loránd University</a> in Hungary noticed this gap in pet companionship studies and decided to examine the differences between how women and men and their relationship with their cat.

The results show that women are able to form closer relationships with their cats because they have more empathy for cats and enjoy talking to their pet. 

According to the research, women are more likely than men to initiate nearly all types of interactions with their cats. 

“Women were found in general to have more intense connections with their pets,” the study authors said. “Their interactions involve more repeating, complex behavioral patterns and women are also more empathic with their pets.”

For the study, 157 cat owners were asked to fill out a questionnaire on their pets and the bond they shared with their cats. 

The researchers found that women were more likely to talk to their cats, explain things to them, smile at the cats, and greet them. 

Compared to men, women cat owners were also more likely to think their cat wanted attention and that the cat could recognize when their owner needed comfort.

This is called emotional matching and the study showed that women with older cats were more likely to report an emotional match than men who had younger cats. 

“In the case of older cats, there could be more opportunity for learning the subtle signs of emotional matching to each other, and it is also possible that female owners feel stronger emotional bonds with their cat,” the researchers concluded.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Women form closer bonds with cats than men do

Women form closer bonds with cats than men do. While...

A recent study is demonstrating how digital technology affects our lives and relationships. The research has revealed that digital media is not only distracting, but also leaves us feeling more distant and drained. 

For example, even slight <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smartphones-classroom-hindering-learning/">phone use</a> during a meal with friends was found to reduce the enjoyment of the experience.

The team conducted a trial in a restaurant that involved more than 300 adults and students in Vancouver, British Columbia. Participants were either instructed to place their phones in a container on silent during the meal, or to keep their phones visible on the table with the ringer or vibration turned on.

Afterward, the individuals completed a survey to report on their feelings of social connectedness, enjoyment, distraction, and boredom. The participants also detailed how much time they spent on their phones and what the devices were used for while dining.


The investigation revealed that the individuals who had their phones easily accessible during the meal used them more often and reported feeling more distracted and less pleased with the overall experience.

“People who were allowed to use their phones during dinner had more trouble staying present in the moment,” said study lead author Ryan Dwyer from the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/">University of British Columbia</a>. 

“Decades of research on happiness tell us that engaging positively with others is critical for our well-being. Modern technology may be wonderful, but it can easily sidetrack us and take away from the special moments we have with friends and family in person.”


In another phase of the study, the team conducted a survey that included more than 120 participants from the University of Virginia. The individuals were questioned five times a day for one week about how they were feeling and what they had been doing in the 15 minutes before completing the survey.


The researchers found that students felt more distracted during interactions that took place over a smartphone compared with face-to-face interactions where they had not used their smartphone. The participants also reported feeling less enjoyment and interest in the interactions that involved a phone.

“The survey findings were especially notable because of the negative effects of phone use among university students, who are commonly known as digital natives,” said study co-author Dr. Elizabeth Dunn. 

“We assumed that this generation would be more adept at multitasking between using their phones and interacting with others, but we found out even moderate levels of phone use undermined the benefits of engaging with others.”

The research was presented by Dr. Dunn at the annual convention of the <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How much does digital media distract and drain us?

A recent study is demonstrating how digital technology affects our...

A series of studies presented at the annual convention of the <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a> has revealed what makes some people more susceptible to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/twitters-fake-news-disasters/">fake news</a>, and experts are advising on how this can be avoided.

According to some psychologists, the thought processes we develop early in life to help protect against the stress of uncertainty may help explain why some individuals fall victim to “fake news.”

Dr. Mark Whitmore is an assistant professor of Management and Information Systems at <a href="https://www.kent.edu/">Kent State University</a>'s College of Business Administration. 

“At its core is the need for the brain to receive confirming information that harmonizes with an individual's existing views and beliefs,” said Dr. Mark Whitmore.

“In fact, one could say the brain is hardwired to accept, reject, misremember or distort information based on whether it is viewed as accepting of or threatening to existing beliefs.”


Dr. Mark Whitmore explained that the driving force behind the acceptance of fake news is a phenomenon known as confirmation bias, which is a tendency to seek out information that confirms one's own views and reject information that contradicts those beliefs.

Dr. Eve Whitmore, a developmental psychologist with <a href="https://www.westernreservepsych.com/">Western Reserve Psychological Associates</a>, said that many of our beliefs and biases are formed in childhood as we begin to distinguish between fantasy and reality. 

“From the beginning, parents reinforce to their children the skill of pretending in order to cope with the realities inherent in culture and society. Children's learning about make-believe and mastery of it becomes the basis for more complex forms of self-deception and illusion into adulthood.”


Dr. Eve Whitmore explained that a flip side to playing make-believe is that children are encouraged to believe that it is okay to pretend things are true when they are not.

According to Dr. Mark Whitmore, conscious decisions can eventually lead to unconscious decisions based on false beliefs from childhood instead of critical examination.

“In this way, childhood beliefs persevere throughout a person's life and serve as a framework for processing information in adulthood. In attempting to confirm preconceived ideas, a person may resort to both fiction and reality in order to preserve these beliefs.”

Dr. Mark Whitmore said that the rise of social media has compounded the issue of fake news.

“In today's media environment, the channels are multiple, and the messages are often simultaneous and contradictory,” he said. “The receiver is often faced with paradoxical and seemingly absurd messages. It becomes easier to cling to a simple fiction than a complicated reality.”

“One positive defense strategy is humor. Watching late night comedy or political satire, while not actually altering or changing the source of the stressor, can help reduce the stress and anxiety associated with it.”

“Another is sublimation, where you channel your negative feelings into something positive, such as running for office, marching in a protest or volunteering for a social cause.”

Dr. Mark Whitmore also recommends that people keep an open mind and expose themselves to different points of view, which can help to moderate viewpoints and make them less extreme.
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

What makes people believe fake news?

A series of studies presented at the annual convention of...

For lions, voluntourism trips often do more harm than good. August 10th is World Lion Day, and in honor of these beautiful big cats, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> takes a look at how a misleading trend known as voluntourism can actually help the lion hunting industry.

For many animal lovers, traveling to South Africa to help hand-raise lion cubs may sound like a dream come true, but these voluntourism trips are often more nefarious than they sound. Captive breeding facilities, which breed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rhino-poachers-killed-lions/">lions</a> for the canned hunting industry, can disguise themselves as animal sanctuaries in order to lure in volunteers and tourists.

These facilities often attract volunteers by allowing visitors to become intimately involved with the daily care of lions. While the lions are young volunteers can cuddle, feed and play with them. Tourists often visit the facilities as well to take selfies with the cubs. Once the lions get older, volunteers and tourists go on “lion walks” with them.

According to <a href="https://www.responsiblevacation.com/copy/canned-hunting">Responsible Travel</a>, volunteer interactions are not for the animals’ welfare but instead to ensure the animals are habituated to humans when they are sold to canned hunting facilities. Volunteers may be told they are caring for orphaned lions who will reintroduced to the wild but lions who become accustomed to human presence are unlikely to survive in the wild. 

In reality, the lion cubs may have been taken from their mothers at a young age resulting in suffering for both the cubs and their mothers. Volunteers are also at a risk because they are interacting with wild animals who may become agitated and attack or bite.

Once the lions become too old for continued human contact, they may be sold to canned hunting facilities where they are shot in enclosed spaces by hunters who pay large fees for a guaranteed kill. If they are not sold to canned hunting facilities, the lions may be sold for their bones in the wildlife market. Lions sold to canned hunting facilities can also end up in the lion bone trade after they are shot.

African lions are currently protected by the international treaty, the <a href="https://www.cites.org/">Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora</a>. African lions are listed on Appendix II with a zero export quota for lions in the wild for commercial purposes. South Africa is allowed to export lion parts from captive breeding facilities within an established quota. The country made <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/lions-bones-south-africa-tigers-ramaphosa-exports-poaching-canned-hunting-traditional-chinese-a8459216.html">headlines</a> last month when it almost doubled its annual quota for lion bone exports to 1,500 skeletons.

“Hunting is part of South Africa’s policy of sustainable utilization of natural resources – a principle supported by multilateral environmental agreements such as CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). All activities involving the African lion, including hunting, possession and trade are regulated through a permit system; and our policies are supported by solid scientific evidence,” said Minister of Environmental Affairs Dr. Edna Molewa.

An estimated 7,000 lions live in around 260 captive breeding facilities in South Africa alone. While the facilities are still legal in South Africa, some in the tourism industry are fighting back.

<a href="https://discovercorps.com/">Discover Corps</a>, which offers wildlife and cultural vacations, stopped offering lion tours in 2016. The website says, “Babies are taken from their mothers early so they can be hand-reared, getting them used to human touch. As they get older, many are either beaten or drugged into submission. So even if they aren’t eventually going to be hunted, there’s virtually no chance they’ll ever be returned to the wild.”

While the laws against captive breeding and canned hunting facilities may not change soon, animal lovers can help quash the industry by refusing to visit these inhumane attractions.

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

For lions, voluntourism trips often do more harm than good

For lions, voluntourism trips often do more harm than good....

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mood disorder that can affect as many as 1 in 7 women after giving birth, according to the <a href="http://www.apa.org/pi/women/resources/reports/postpartum-depression.aspx">American Psychological Association.</a>

PPD is often treated as an isolated incident among new mothers, but a new study shows that this is an inaccurate portrayal of the problem and overlooks many new fathers who experience some form of depression after the birth of a child. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.menexcel.com/">Center for Men’s Excellence in San Diego</a> and the <a href="https://www.drsara.com/">Center for Reproductive Health Psychology</a> recently presented research on the prevalence of postpartum depression among men at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. 

“Recent research has shown that roughly 10 percent of new dads experience postpartum depression, and up to 18 percent have some type of anxiety disorder,” said Dan Singley, a presenter of the research.

Their research shows that men are excluded from the treatment and care options provided to women who suffer from postpartum depression and that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/depression-diagnosed-blood-test/">depression screening</a> in new fathers is just as important as it is for mothers. 

“Much has been written about women's experiences of pregnancy and postpartum, most of it exploring negative reactions, ranging from clinical depression to postpartum psychosis, and attributing them to unique physical changes women experience during pregnancy,” said Singley.  "But the incidence rate of depression is comparable between new mothers and fathers.” 

One reason PPD in men might have been overlooked for so long is that postpartum depression is often said to be caused specifically by the hormonal changes and fluctuations that happen during pregnancy and birth.

However, as the research shows, men also face an increased risk of depression post-birth, so hormonal changes cannot be the only driving factor behind PPD. 

Another reason PPD has not been commonly considered a problem for new fathers is that men are less likely to seek mental health services after the birth of a child.  

PPD prevalence in new fathers might be related to the phenomena of sympathetic pregnancy that affect some men. In emotionally close relationships anthropologists have found that some men experience pregnancy symptoms like nausea and changes in appetite. 

Lack of sleep, according to the researchers, is one of the biggest driving factors behind PPD among fathers. 

New fathers may also struggle with the gender norms and societal expectations which can increase anxiety and depressions. 

The researchers say that more attention must be paid to new fathers who also suffer from serious postpartum depression and anxiety. People need access to regular screenings to monitor depression and anxiety and help find treatment. 

“But screening is not enough,” said Sara Rosenquist a co-presenter of the research. “Screening does not distinguish between major depressive disorder, which sometimes requires treatment with medications in addition to psychotherapy, and adjustment disorder, which is more commonly better treated with psychotherapy alone.”

New fathers should also seek out the support of friends and family during pregnancy and after the birth of their child. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Men can suffer from postpartum depression, too

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mood disorder that can...

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



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



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<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...

News coming your way