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>.



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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...

Do you find yourself to be an angry person with a quick temper? If so, this personality trait probably comes with more problems than you think. A new study from the <a href="http://en.uw.edu.pl/">University of Warsaw</a> has found that angry people are more likely to overestimate their level of intelligence than people with a more mild disposition. Not surprisingly, this is because being angry is linked to higher levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/narcissistic-people-prone-success/">narcissism</a>, along with a greater belief in one’s abilities and competence.

“In a recent project, I examined the relationship between anger and various cognitive functions,” lead researcher Marcin Zajenkowski, a professor of psychology at the University of Warsaw, told <a href="https://www.psypost.org/">Psypost.org</a>. “I noticed from the literature review that anger differs significantly from other negative emotions, such as sadness, anxiety or depression. Anger is more approach oriented and associated with optimistic risk perception and generally optimistic bias.”

The researchers conducted two studies with a total of 528 participants. Study participants were asked about their temper and rated their own intelligence on a 25-point scale. Participants then took an intelligence test to determine if their self-reported intelligence level matched to the real deal. 

“Individuals with high trait anger have a tendency to overestimate their abilities, i.e. thinking that they are smarter than they actually are,” says Zajenkowksi. “This part of anger is associated with narcissistic illusions.”

Their data showed no correlation between a participant’s temper and their actual level of intelligence, the only correlation was between anger and how they perceived their own abilities. In addition, the study also found that angry people often have problems forming and maintaining stable relationships – to no one’s surprise.

“Individuals with high narcissism do not establish deep, intimate bonds with others, but rather surpass and dominate others,” the study’s authors wrote in their paper, which was published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/intelligence">Intelligence</a>. “Often, experiences of anger might result in thoughts such as, ‘I am smart’ and ‘You are stupid,’ which may, in turn, cause problems in creating positive relations with others.”

So if you’re an angry person who struggles to have healthy relationships with others, it’s probably time for some self-reflection. It can be a long, lonely life if you believe you know better than everyone else, when really everyone else knows that the best thing is to avoid you all together.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Angry people tend to overestimate their own intelligence

Do you find yourself to be an angry person with...

Human evolution is a double-edged sword in some respects. The same evolutionary processes that allowed us to walk upright, are also the root of many common back, knee and foot problems. 

Impacted molars can be traced back to our early ancestors smaller jaw and changes in diet through the millennia.

A new study found that evolutionary changes in the brain may be the driving factor behind an individual's predisposition toward certain neuropsychiatric diseases such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beef-jerky-meats-manic-episodes/">bipolar disorder</a> and schizophrenia. 

Researchers from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> identified long noncoding stretches of tandem repeats in our DNA that control how calcium is transported in the brain. 

This observation led to the theory that evolutionary changes in gene expression in the brain that dictate brain size, neural activity, and cognitive function created neurological disease prevalence. 

The results were published in the journal<a href="https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297(18)30238-6"> American Journal of Human Genetics</a>. 

“Changes in the structure and sequence of these nucleotide arrays likely contributed to changes in CACNA1C function during human evolution and may modulate neuropsychiatric disease risk in modern human populations,” said David Kingsley, the study’s senior author. 

Tandem repeats are long repeated lengths of DNA that occur in or outside of a gene’s coding sequence. 

When it comes to the variations in neurological function in people, researchers have turned to these repeats as an explanation, suggesting that the tandem repeats work as “tuning knobs” for gene expression. 

For this study, the researchers propose that tandem repeats also impact CACNA1C function in the brain as well. 

The researchers studied 181 human cell lines and postmortem brain tissue samples and discovered stretches of DNA much longer than expected. These DNA sections contained variant nucleotide base pairs in the CACNA1C gene. 

In the cell lines, the researchers noticed that variations of the repeats had different influences on gene expression and the genetic markers of bipolar disease susceptibility. 

Looking at these variants and repeats could help more accurately diagnose neurological diseases in patients. 

The researchers also say that focusing on these repeats could help with treatment options as calcium channel drugs are an option for neurological diseases. But these drugs have a history of mixed success because it is not well known if too little calcium or too much is connected to genetic variations of the CACNA1C gene. 

Kingsley and his team note that the variations in the CANA1C are the result of an evolutionary process, but whatever advantages the expanded repeats provides also opened up the risk of bipolar and schizophrenia. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Evolutionary brain changes may have caused bipolar disorder

Human evolution is a double-edged sword in some respects. The...

A new international study has found that moderate salt consumption is not a health risk for most people. Even for individuals who eat a lot of salt, health risks can be avoided by the regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and other foods that are high in potassium.

The study was focused on 94,000 individuals between the ages of 35 and 70 who were from 18 different countries. A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sauna-bathing-cardiovascular-disease/">cardiovascular</a> health risk was only found among those who consumed more than five grams, or 2.5 teaspoons, of salt on a daily basis.


Every country that was examined in the study, with the exception of China, had an average sodium intake of 3 to 5 grams per day. In China, 80 percent of the communities were found to have a sodium intake of more than 5 grams per day.

Study first author Andrew Mente is an associate professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at <a href="https://www.mcmaster.ca/">McMaster University</a>.

“The World Health Organization recommends consumption of less than two grams of sodium - that's one teaspoon of salt - a day as a preventative measure against cardiovascular disease, but there is little evidence in terms of improved health outcomes that individuals ever achieve at such a low level,” said Professor Mente.

The American Heart Association recommends only 1.5 grams of sodium a day for individuals at risk of heart disease, added Mente.

“Only in the communities with the most sodium intake - those over five grams a day of sodium - which is mainly in China, did we find a direct link between sodium intake and major cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke.”

“In communities that consumed less than five grams of sodium a day, the opposite was the case. Sodium consumption was inversely associated with myocardial infarction or heart attacks and total mortality, and no increase in stroke.”


According to Professor Mente, the researchers found a decrease in all major cardiovascular issues when there was an increase in the consumption of potassium, which is found abundantly in fruits, vegetables, dairy products, nuts, potatoes, and beans. 

Study co-author Professor Martin O'Donnell explained that most studies relating sodium intake to heart disease and stroke were based on individual-level information.

"Public health strategies should be based on best evidence. Our findings demonstrate that community-level interventions to reduce sodium intake should target communities with high sodium consumption, and should be embedded within approaches to improve overall dietary quality,” said Professor O’Donnell.

“There is no convincing evidence that people with moderate or average sodium intake need to reduce their sodium intake for prevention of heart disease and stroke.*

The team used data from the ongoing <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19540385">Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology</a> (PURE) study for the analysis.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/">The Lancet</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, Earth.com Staff Writer

Moderate salt intake is not harmful to health, study finds

A new international study has found that moderate salt consumption...

A recent analysis has found that adults who exercise report having fewer days of poor mental health each month compared to people who do not exercise. In the observational study, which is the largest of its kind, the experts linked the biggest mental health improvements with team sports, cycling, aerobics, and going to the gym.

On the other hand, the researchers discovered that more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-reduces-cancer-risk/">exercise</a> is not always better. The greatest mental health benefits were associated with 45 minutes of exercise between three and five times per week.

While exercise is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and mortality from all causes, its association with mental health has been somewhat of a mystery. Previous research has found that exercise may improve mental health, yet conflicting results have been documented.

Dr. Adam Chekroud is an assistant professor of Psychiatry at <a href="https://www.yale.edu/">Yale University</a>, and Chief Scientist at Spring Health.

“Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and there is an urgent need to find ways to improve mental health through population health campaigns,” said Dr. Chekroud. “Exercise is associated with a lower mental health burden across people no matter their age, race, gender, household income and education level.” 

“Excitingly, the specifics of the regime, like the type, duration, and frequency, played an important role in this association. We are now using this to try and personalise exercise recommendations, and match people with a specific exercise regime that helps improve their mental health.”

The investigation was focused on 1.2 million adults across the United States who had participated in the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.html">Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System</a> survey in 2011, 2013, and 2015. The individuals reported on their physical health, mental health, and exercise behaviors. 

On average, participants experienced 3.4 days of poor mental health each month. Those who exercised reported 1.5 fewer days of a struggle, which is a reduction of 43.2 percent.

For people who had been previously diagnosed with depression, the positive impact of exercise was found to be even broader. These individuals reported having 3.75 fewer days of poor mental health compared with people who did not exercise.

Exercising for 30-60 minutes was associated with the biggest reduction in poor mental health days. Small reductions were still seen for people who exercised more than 90 minutes per day, but exercising for more than three hours a day was associated with worse mental health than no exercise whatsoever

“Previously, people have believed that the more exercise you do, the better your mental health, but our study suggests that this is not the case,” explained Dr. Chekroud. “Doing exercise more than 23 times a month, or exercising for longer than 90 minute sessions is associated with worse mental health.”

“Our finding that team sports are associated with the lowest mental health burden may indicate that social activities promote resilience and reduce depression by reducing social withdrawal and isolation, giving social sports an edge over other kinds.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/onlinefirst">The Lancet Psychiatry</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Exercise can substantially improve mental health

A recent analysis has found that adults who exercise report...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> has found that, when men believe they have won a competition, they experience boosted levels of testosterone along with an inflated sense of value as a potential mate. After this hormonal and psychological shift, the men become more likely to approach prospective partners.

The investigation was focused on 38 men in their twenties. Before and after the participants competed on rowing machines, the experts measured their hormone levels, self-perceived attractiveness, and confidence in approaching <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/socioeconomic-age-gap-children/">women</a>.

The individuals were not made aware that the winners were randomly selected, regardless of who won the rowing challenges. 

Previous research demonstrated that winning affects hormone levels among men, but it has remained unclear whether this could be attributed to the effort it takes to win or simply to the idea of victory.

The current study revealed that men did not actually have to win the competition to experience a hormonal boost. This is referred to by experts as an example of “plasticity,” when the body rapidly adjusts without a change in genetics. 

According to the researchers, the body attempts to take advantage of the newly-acquired status by inducing chemical changes that promote a “short-term” approach to reproductive success. The subsequent change in sexual behavior targets more sex with new and different partners.

In this case, there was a perceived change in social status because the men believed they had defeated a rival.

“Much of evolution consists of trade-offs in energy investment,” said study lead author Dr. Danny Longman.

“A common trade-off for males both across and within species is between mating strategies. One reproductive approach is short-term, investing time and energy in attracting and pursuing many mates, and fighting off competition. Another approach is long-term, investing energy in raising offspring with a single mate.”

“We found that a perceived shift in social status can cause male physiology to adapt by preparing to shift mating strategies to optimise reproductive success.”

The men who believed they had won the rowing challenges experienced an average testosterone boost of 4.92 percent, while men who believed they lost experienced an average drop in testosterone by 7.24 percent. Overall, men who thought they had won rowing challenges had testosterone levels that were 14.46 percent higher than the “defeated” opponents.

The men who were declared as winners had a self-perceived value that was an average of 6.53 percent higher than their rivals. These participants were also found to be 11.29 percent more likely to approach and pursue potential mates that they found sexually attractive.

“The endocrine system that controls hormones is responsive to situational changes,” said Longman. “Previous research has shown that testosterone is lower when men are in a committed relationship, or have children, to promote long-term mating strategies.”

“Our results show that both testosterone and its corresponding psychological effects can fluctuate quickly and opportunistically, shifting towards short-term mating in response to a perceived change in status that may increase mating value.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/12110">Human Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

When men feel like winners, testosterone and confidence spike

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

Study: A good relationship may require similar texting styles. As we advance further and further into the digital age, the different ways that we communicate also change and adapt to new technology and our evolving habits. 

One main source of communication these days is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/emojis-replace-clues-communication/">texting</a>, and research on texting and relationships presented at the annual convention of the <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a> (APA) shows just how influential texting as a means of communication is in our personal lives. 

Leora Trub, a Ph.D. at <a href="https://www.pace.edu/">Pace University</a> presented studies on texting habits and found that when it comes to relationships, finding someone with your same texting style improves relationship satisfaction overall. 

Trub’s research team surveyed 205 adults in romantic relationships between the ages of 18 and 29 asking questions about emotional security, texting habits, and relationship satisfaction. 

The survey respondents who had the same texting style as their partner reported having more relationship satisfaction. It makes sense, as someone who texts frequently would probably only annoy someone who didn’t like communicating via text and vice versa. 

The surveys also showed that even if the messages were about complaints or an issue with the relationship, similar texting styles helped improve communication and satisfaction overall. 

“How couples texted was more important to the satisfaction of the relationship than how frequently they texted,” said Trub. 

Trub also conducted a study that found texting has the ability to either bring people together or drive a wedge depending on who we’re texting and why. 

For this study, the researchers surveyed 982 adults ages 18 to 29 on their addictive behaviors in regards to their phones, social anxiety levels, and personality. 

As much as texting can foster a stronger bond between people, Trub found that people also use texting as a way to avoid conflict or escape a boring or awkward situation. 

“We text to check in with our spouse during the work day and to stay connected with friends far away, but we also text to avoid dealing with relatives at the family party and to break up with someone,” said Trub. “Texting can become a crutch and eventually become a barrier to creating meaningful interactions,” said Trub. “Texting all the time can also come from being lonely or bored, and that can lead to isolation and alienation.”

Another study presented at the APA conference discussed sexting and its impact on a relationship. 

For this study, researchers from <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/">Purdue University</a> asked 615 adults from the US and Canada about sexting, self-esteem, texting habits, satisfaction, and pornography use. 

Sexting itself didn’t have an effect on relationship satisfaction, as the results showed that people who didn't sext in a relationship were just as happy as those who did. However, hyper-sexters and frequent sexters reported more conflict and ambivalence in their relationships. 

Sexters were also more likely to engage in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/micro-cheating-damage-relationships/">micro-cheating</a>, a form of cheating like behavior that occurs online through social media. 

While texting can spice up a relationship, the Purdue study found that too much increased the risk of instability and dissatisfaction. 

“Sexting may help couples with intimacy and to spice things up, but we definitely did see the negative side of too much of a good thing,” said Michelle Drouin, Ph.D., of Purdue University Fort Wayne, who presented the findings during the symposium at the APA convention. 

Understanding the impact of texting on our day to day lives and relationships is important and these studies show how integral texting has become to relationship satisfaction and effective communication. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study: A good relationship may require similar texting styles

Study: A good relationship may require similar texting styles. As...

Why does the body need to sleep? We spend roughly one-third of our lives sleeping, but what purpose does it serve? Scientists know that sleep is necessary for overall health and brain functionality, but the process by which sleep delivers these health benefits is still unknown. Researchers from the <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html">University of Lausanne</a> and the <a href="https://www.sib.swiss/">SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics</a> have recently been tackling new and unbiased approaches to breakdown <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quality-sleep-reproductive-success/">sleep</a> on a systems level.

One approach is “system genetics,” in which inferences about biological phenomena are made by connecting information about phenotype (our physical traits) with DNA (the code for these traits) through gene expression, proteins, and metabolism at the population level. Systems genetics is considered to be a critical part of predicting disease susceptibility due to its ability to interconnect biological phenomena on a global level. 

The researchers performed system genetics analysis in mice in order to identify the molecular signaling pathways that predict susceptibility or resilience to sleep loss. Over seven years, the researchers created an open access and interactive knowledge base that quantifies the effects of sleep deprivation. This quantification is of the genome at the level of the brain and liver transcriptome, of the blood metabolome, and of the sleep-wake phenome referring to a detailed dissection of brain activity and sleep-wake behavior.

The study revealed a number of groundbreaking insights. Researchers found that preventing sleep during the first half of the habitual rest phase affected all systems levels with 78 percent of all expressed genes in the brain changing their expression. Furthermore, it was found that many genetic variants only exerted their action after the sleep deprivation challenge. These variants not only determined the magnitude of the molecular or sleep response to sleep loss, but in some cases also determined the direction of the change. This gives insight into the variance between individuals in their ability to cope with lack of sleep.

One of the major observations to come out of the study was that molecules and metabolic pathways active in peripheral tissue only (the liver) may directly influence phenotypes believed to be strictly central, such as the frequency of oscillations know to come from specific areas of the brain. Researchers also found evidence from all four levels of organization that implicated fatty acid metabolism as the substrate of the negative consequences of sleep loss.

These findings challenge the brain-centric view of sleep that has dominated the scientific community in the past, and may lead to new therapeutic strategies for sleep disorders. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why does the body need to sleep?

Why does the body need to sleep? We spend roughly...

A review of scientific studies published by the <a href="https://www.heart.org/">American Heart Association</a> has revealed that encouraging people to eat a wide variety of foods may not actually help them meet all of their dietary needs.

Study lead author Dr. Marcia C. de Oliveira Otto is an assistant professor of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Science at the <a href="https://www.uth.edu/">University of Texas Health Science Center</a>.

 “Eating a more diverse diet might be associated with eating a greater variety of both healthy and unhealthy foods,” said Dr. Otto. “Combined, such an eating pattern may lead to increased food consumption and obesity.”


For decades, it has been recommended in the United States and elsewhere to eat a variety of foods. However, dietary diversity has not been defined or measured well enough to guarantee that it is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-at-work-is-usually-unhealthy-contributes-to-bad-habits/">healthy</a> goal.


Based on a thorough review of scientific studies published between January 2000 and December 2017, the experts have found nothing to substantiate the theory that greater overall dietary diversity promotes healthy weight or optimal eating.


There is actually some evidence that speaks to the contrary, suggesting that a wider variety of food options in a meal may delay the feeling of being full or satisfied, and may increase the amount of food that is eaten.


The experts also found some evidence which indicates that greater dietary diversity is linked to unhealthy eating patterns, including higher calorie consumption, and weight gain in adults.


The study authors concluded that dietary recommendations should emphasize adequate consumption of plant foods, such as fruit, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Low-fat dairy products, non-tropical vegetable oils, nuts, poultry, and fish should also be promoted. 

In addition, the public should be warned to limit the intake of red meat, sweets, and sugary drinks. The American Heart Association Dietary Recommendations and the DASH Diet - <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456">Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension</a> - are both examples of healthy eating patterns.

“Selecting a range of healthy foods, which fits one's budget or taste, and sticking with them, is potentially better at helping people maintain a healthy weight than choosing a greater range of foods that may include less healthy items such as donuts, chips, fries and cheeseburgers, even in moderation,” said Dr. Otto.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/circ">Circulation</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Eating a diverse diet may not be the healthiest, study shows

A review of scientific studies published by the American Heart...

A new study led by <a href="http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/">Lancaster University</a> has found that aging in worms is primarily caused by genes, and not by the physical or cognitive decline that is normally associated with getting older. 

The scientists found that biological processes, which are necessary during early life stages, can become detrimental when they continue running later in life.

The deteriorative part of aging known as “senescence” is the main cause of disease and death worldwide, leading to dementia, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-reduces-cancer-risk/">cancer</a>, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite the level of damage that it can produce, scientists have not determined exactly what causes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-identified-anti-aging-drugs-using-ai-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">senescence</a>.


To investigate, the researchers focused an aging study on Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode worm which lives on fruit and dies of old age after only two to three weeks.

“Discovering the causes of aging in these little creatures could provide the key to understanding human aging, and where late-life diseases come from,” said study co-author Professor David Gems.

“I've been studying aging in C. elegans for 25 years, and it's amazing to see its underlying mechanisms revealed. It is so important, because if you want to treat a disease you really need to understand what causes it. And senescence has really become the mother of all diseases, so understanding it is good news for all of us.”

The study revealed that the biological processes which improve the reproductive ability of young worms carry on pointlessly in older worms and cause disease.

“Since genes we've found driving the destructive processes of aging in worms are known to control lifespan in mammals, we think the findings are applicable to humans and mark a real paradigm shift in our understanding of aging,” said study first author Dr. Marina Ezcurra.


The experts specifically studied autophagy, a process where body cells consume their own biomass to recycle components and extract energy. 

The scientists found that the worm’s intestine consumed itself to create the yolk needed for eggs. In elderly worms, however, this process caused severe deterioration of the intestine and obesity from a buildup of fats. In turn, this further impacted the health of the worm by promoting growth of tumors in the uterus, and shortened their life spans.

“This really surprised us since autophagy is usually thought to protect against aging rather than cause it,” said co-lead author Dr. Alex Benedetto.

“It seems that worms crank-up autophagy, which is considered good, to maximize reproductive success, which is good too, but they end up overdoing it, causing senescence.”

The findings of this study are consistent with the results of previous research from the same team that showed how the activation of genes in unfertilized eggs caused tumors to form in aging worms.

“For decades scientists studying aging have thought of aging bodies as wearing out much like cars do, from a build-up of damage,” said Dr. Benedetto. “What's exciting about this new work is that it shows something completely different. It turns out that we are not like cars - what kills us when we're old is not random damage, but our own genes. It seems that natural selection is short-sighted and aging is the price we pay.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

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

Aging may be caused by biological processes that go on too long

A new study led by Lancaster University has found that...

Since the 1940s, hallucinogens have been closely studied in the United States, as scientists attempt to determine their potential healing benefits. Unfortunately, the quantity of research out there took a hit after psychedelics were outlawed in the 1960s. But there is hope on the horizon for those that believe in the benefits of psychedelic drugs. 

The drug MDMA – often referred to as ecstasy – is beginning its third and final phase of clinical trials, as researchers seek approval from the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/">Food and Drug Administration</a> (FDA) for the use of MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Research presented at the annual convention of the <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a> points towards the potential benefits of psychedelic drugs, particularly for treating disorders such as social anxiety and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushrooms-depression-emotions/">depression</a>. One study at this convention found that symptoms of social anxiety in autistic adults showed significant and long-last reductions when individuals were given two treatments of pure MDMA, along with ongoing therapy. 

“Social anxiety is prevalent in autistic adults and few treatment options have been shown to be effective,” says Alicia Danforth, PhD, of the <a href="https://labiomed.org/">Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute</a> at the Harbor UCLA Medical Center, who conducted the study. “The positive effects of using MDMA and therapy lasted months, or even years, for most of the research volunteers.”

In a study that had 159 participants report on their past use of hallucinogens, researchers found that hallucinogen use was related to higher levels of spirituality, which improved emotional stability and led to fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. “This study reinforces the need for the psychological field to consider a larger role for spirituality in the context of mainstream treatment because spiritual growth and a connection to something greater than the self can be fostered,” says Adele Lafrance, PhD, from <a href="https://laurentian.ca/">Laurentian University</a>.

One study found that ayahuasca could help to decrease symptoms of depression and addiction, and help people cope with trauma. “We found that ayahuasca also fostered an increase in generosity, spiritual connection and altruism," says Clancy Cavnar, PhD, of <a href="https://neip.info/">Núcleo de Estudos Interdisciplinares sobre Psicoativos</a>.

Yet another study showed that psilocybin could provide significant and lasting decreases in anxiety and distress for people suffering from life-threatening cancer. When it was combined with psychotherapy, psilocybin helped the study’s 13 participants better cope with loss and existential distress. Participants also reported that they developed a new understanding of dying, and better reconciled their feelings about death. “Participants made spiritual or religious interpretations of their experience and the psilocybin treatment helped facilitate a reconnection to life, greater mindfulness and presence, and gave them more confidence when faced with cancer recurrence,” explains Gabby Agin-Liebes, BA, of <a href="https://www.paloaltou.edu/">Palo Alto University</a>.

Overall, this symposium showed the numerous and diverse ways that psychedelics can improve the lives of people suffering from everything from depression and anxiety to cancer. The presenters at the convention stressed the need for more research in this field in order to better enhance our understanding of these substances.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The potential healing powers of psychedelic drugs

Since the 1940s, hallucinogens have been closely studied in the...

The rise in the use and popularity of emotional support animals is causing logistical problems everywhere from airlines to colleges and courtrooms. New research presented at the annual convention of the <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a> has shown that these institutions are questioning the need for the animals, and the effects they may have on the public, students, and juries.

“It’s not surprising that many schools are confronted with the growing phenomenon of emotional support animals. For many, the topic is a contentious one centered on whether students are taking advantage of the laws,” explains Phyllis Erdman, PhD, a professor at <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a>. “This is further compounded by the fact that laws pertaining to emotional support animals are different from those governing disability service animals and therefore schools may need to develop new policies.”

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/therapy-dogs-college-students/">Service animals</a> are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and are usually dogs that are specially trained to do work or perform tasks that help an individual diagnosed with a disability. Emotional support animals are not trained to perform specific tasks, and although they are allowed in campus housing, they may not always be allowed in classrooms or elsewhere on a college campus.

Although the study found that the number of requests for housing emotional support animals at universities isn’t exactly overwhelming, the majority of university counseling centers surveyed reported concern about having policies in place to handle these requests. 

“Even a limited number of requests for emotional support animals can cause stress for student affairs offices, housing offices, counseling centers and disability offices,” says Erdman. “Most schools wanted guidance and support for developing guidelines and navigating requests that come through.”

A similar level of uncertainty regarding the role of emotional support animals is happening in courthouses as well. Dolls and teddy bears have been used for decades to calm vulnerable witnesses, but courts began to include dogs in the mid-1990s to provide emotional support to victims of child abuse. These dogs assist victims with the anxiety of testifying in court.

Although supporters have said that dogs make a significant difference in helping children and vulnerable adult witnesses more comfortable on the stand, some defense attorneys believe that having a dog in the witness box may prejudice a jury against a defendant, as the dog can make the witness appear more believable and sympathetic. 

“The concern is that the presence of a courthouse dog emphasizes that the witness is a victim, thereby playing to jurors’ sympathies,” says Dawn McQuiston, PhD, lead researcher on the study from <a href="https://www.wofford.edu/">Wofford College</a>. “As a result, witnesses may be viewed as even more vulnerable or likeable, thus conflicting with a defendant’s right to a fair trial.”

However, when McQuiston tested this theory in a series of mock trials where “jurors” read transcripts of testimony and were shown pictures depicting the child witness with a dog, with a teddy bear, or with noting, there were no significant differences in the juries’ outcomes when a dog was depicted. In fact, the only biasing effect that could be determined was when the child was holding a teddy bear.

As emotional support animals are a relatively new phenomenon, it’s important these questions be asked and studied. The answers we find may also further our knowledge of how the presence of support animals exerts a positive influence on the lives of the owner as well.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Debate hovers over emotional support animals in school, court

The rise in the use and popularity of emotional support...

Whether or not you actually make it to the gym, most people would say they’re aware of the general <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-add-10-years-life/">health benefits of exercise</a>. We know it can boost your metabolism and help you lose weight, that you gain energy and sleep better, and improve your cardiovascular health.

But it turns out, most people may not realize that exercise decreases your risk of several cancers, as a new study found that people are largely unaware of the increased risk of cancers associated with lack of exercise. 

Research has found that exercise can <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/physical-activity-fact-sheet">decrease the risk of several cancers</a> including colon cancer, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer. 

A new study conducted by researchers from<a href="https://wustl.edu/"> Washington University</a> and published in the Journal of Health Communications shows that many people are unaware of these links between cancer risk and exercise. 

The researchers surveyed a diverse group of 1,161 participants in the United States asking what diseases people attribute to a lack of exercise. 

From these responses, the researchers randomly picked 351 surveys to get a feel for how most people in the United States view exercise and health risks. 

The team found that 63.5 percent of surveys said that lack of exercise was linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and 65 percent said insufficient exercise increased the risk of metabolic health problems. 

However, only 3.4 percent of the participants from the randomly chosen surveys said that lack of exercise was associated with an increased risk of cancer or other diseases.  

This represents a major blind spot in public health awareness and emphasizes the need for health campaigns to accurately inform people about the health benefits of exercise beyond losing weight or improving heart health. 

“Many people know that not getting enough physical activity can increase your chances of having heart problems or getting diabetes,” Erika Waters, the lead author of the study said. “However, few people realize that inactivity can also raise their chances of getting other diseases like cancer.”

The researchers say that public health campaigns are required to help raise awareness of the cancer risks connected to lack of exercise, and that even if people are unmotivated to change their lifestyle habits, at least they will have the necessary information they need to make informed health decisions.

The full report can be <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10810730.2018.1500658">accessed here</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study: Most people don’t know that exercise reduces cancer risk

Whether or not you actually make it to the gym,...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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