The Haenyeo of South Korea’s southern coast continue a centuries-old tradition that sets them apart. These remarkable women - free divers of Jeju Island - plunge into the sea without oxygen tanks to collect abalone, seaweed, and other marine life.



Often in their 60s or 70s, they dive year-round, even in winter, sometimes to depths of 60 feet. Their way of life is disappearing, but new research suggests their legacy may stretch far beyond tradition - it might help unlock new insights into human health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-genes-in-extreme-divers">Unique genes in extreme divers</h2>



Scientists from the <a href="https://healthcare.utah.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Utah Health</a> and UCLA have studied the Haenyeo to understand how they handle the extreme physical stress of deep diving.



The findings reveal unique genetic features that could help <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-gold-the-vitamin-packed-fruit-that-regulates-blood-sugar-and-blood-pressure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regulate blood pressure</a> and improve pain tolerance.



These traits may not only explain how the Haenyeo endure their harsh environment but also offer promising leads for treating blood pressure-related disorders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-haenyeo-advantage">The Haenyeo advantage</h2>



The study began with a simple question: Do the Haenyeo have a biological edge that helps them survive repeated dives into cold, deep waters? 



Researchers looked at their heart rate and blood pressure during simulated dives, then sequenced their DNA. What they found were two genetic variants potentially tied to diving-related stress.



“They’re absolutely extraordinary women,” said Melissa Ilardo, an assistant professor of biomedical informatics at the University of Utah Health. 



“Every day, they head out and get in the water, and that’s where they work all day. I saw women over 80 diving off a boat before it even stopped moving.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-divers-with-protective-genes">Divers with protective genes</h2>



One of the most significant findings was a genetic change linked to lower blood pressure during dives. This change was more than four times as common in the Haenyeo compared to mainland Koreans. 



Lowering blood pressure while diving may help protect them - and their unborn children - during pregnancy. While the dangers of breath-holding are well-known in other situations, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-apnea-may-lead-to-worse-brain-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep apnea</a>, the researchers believe diving poses a unique challenge.



“This is not something that every human or every woman is able to do,” said Diana Aguilar-Gómez, a postdoctoral researcher in evolutionary biology at UCLA. “It’s kind of like they have a superpower.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tolerance-for-the-cold">Tolerance for the cold</h2>



The second genetic difference relates to pain sensitivity, particularly to cold. Jeju Island winters can bring air temperatures close to freezing, yet the Haenyeo dive regardless of the chill.



“I asked them once if they would stop diving if it got cold enough. They said that as long as the wind alarm doesn’t go off, they’ll still get in the water," noted Ilardo. “The wind alarm is to keep them from blowing out to sea.”



Although the researchers didn’t measure the women’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cold-plunges-may-keep-you-feeling-alive-and-healthy-longer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cold tolerance</a> directly, the team suspects this gene may play a role in how the Haenyeo manage to dive year-round. 



Future studies will look deeper into this genetic marker and what it might mean for pain management in colder climates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experience-still-matters">Experience still matters</h2>



Genes alone don’t tell the whole story. Diving changes the body over time, and the Haenyeo show this through their powerful reflexes. 



When anyone submerges underwater, the body slows the heart to conserve oxygen. In untrained individuals, the heart rate drops by about 20 beats per minute during a simulated dive. For the Haenyeo, this drop is nearly double.



This physiological adaptation likely comes from decades of diving, a skill that’s as much about muscle memory and discipline as it is about biology. 



The team found that even people from Jeju Island who weren’t Haenyeo had a weaker version of this reflex, suggesting the full benefit comes only with practice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-the-island">Looking beyond the island</h2>



One of the most exciting possibilities is that these findings might help others. The genetic trait linked to lower blood pressure could aid in managing conditions like hypertension and stroke. 



Jeju Island already has one of the lowest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dramatic-temperature-changes-linked-to-half-a-million-stroke-deaths/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stroke mortality rates</a> in South Korea. The researchers wonder if the same genes found in the Haenyeo divers might be partly responsible.



“If there’s something about it that actually reduces the risk of stroke mortality, then we could help people everywhere by understanding what’s special about these women," said Ilardo.



While the Haenyeo’s way of life may be fading, their legacy might shape how we think about heart health for generations to come.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(25)00348-1?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2211124725003481%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Reports</a>.



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Legendary divers in Korea have inherited 'superhuman' genes

The Haenyeo of South Korea’s southern coast continue a centuries-old tradition that sets them apart. These remarkable women - free divers of Jeju Island - plunge into the sea without oxygen tanks to collect abalone, seaweed, and other marine life. Often in their 60s or 70s, they dive year-round, even in winter, sometimes to depths of 60 feet. Their way of life is disappearing, but new research suggests their legacy may stretch far beyond tradition - it might help unlock new insights into human health. Unique genes...

Vinegar has been part of human life for a very long time. It appears in kitchens, pops up in home remedies, and gets passed around as a so-called cure-all.



Vinegar’s reputation stretches far and wide. People say it can soothe a scratchy throat or help clean a cut. Others claim it helps the belly handle food a little better.



Folk tales and family traditions often link vinegar, especially apple cider varieties, to dozens of health benefits. 



Some call it a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oxytocin-cuddle-hormone-fosters-love-boosts-memory-and-may-cure-addiction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wonder drug</a>, while others remain skeptical. And now, there is scientific proof that vinegar can even play a role in curing depression.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vinegar-and-depression">Vinegar and depression</h2>



According to research led by <a href="https://www.asu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arizona State University</a> dietician Haley Barrong and colleagues, a daily portion of vinegar might have more to offer than expected. 



Recent work suggests that it may play a role in easing depression symptoms, an idea that takes vinegar from the kitchen cabinet into conversations about everyday wellbeing.



Vinegar’s main ingredient is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientifically-proven-tips-for-better-kombucha-brewing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acetic acid</a>. It is what gives this sour liquid its sharp taste. Centuries ago, people thought that vinegar’s bite held the key to better health. 



Nowadays, modern research looks deeper. One recent study took a closer look at vinegar’s effects on mood. 



The team took steps to connect vinegar intake not just to self-reported feelings, but also to shifts in metabolic activity. Metabolism turns food into energy and other vital <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/visual-diets-of-infants-provide-the-building-blocks-of-human-vision/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">building blocks in the body</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlled-experiment-on-mood">Controlled experiment on mood</h2>



The research involved 28 overweight but otherwise healthy adults. They were divided into two groups. 



One group took two tablespoons of red wine vinegar twice each day, while the other took a daily pill that contained a very small amount of vinegar.



During the four-week period, participants answered questions about their mental health, using surveys that health professionals know well. 



They completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (<a href="https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/practice-settings/assessment/tools/depression-scale" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CES-D</a>) questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire (<a href="https://med.stanford.edu/fastlab/research/imapp/msrs/_jcr_content/main/accordion/accordion_content3/download_256324296/file.res/PHQ9%20id%20date%2008.03.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PHQ-9</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-vitamin-b3-levels">Boosting vitamin B3 levels</h2>



A noticeable increase in the levels of nicotinamide, a form of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/molecule-in-coffee-trigonelline-keeps-muscles-young/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vitamin B3</a>, appeared in the group consuming vinegar daily. 



This group showed an 86 percent boost in that nutrient, which researchers previously linked to anti-inflammatory effects. 



The published paper states, “This data provides additional support that daily vinegar ingestion over four weeks can improve self-reported depression symptomology in generally healthy adults and that alterations in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vitamin-b-paradox-supplement-linked-to-heart-disease-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[vitamin B3] metabolism</a> may factor into this improvement.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-depression-the-basics">Understanding depression -- the basics</h2>



For many, depression affects mood, energy, concentration, appetite, and sleep. It often makes life feel heavy. 



Some people might feel hopeless, while others lose interest in things they once enjoyed. Some struggle to get out of bed, while others find themselves awake all night. 



Depression varies, and it does not follow a single pattern. It is not a sign of weakness. It may develop from a mix of factors, such as shifts in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-or-exercise-a-chemical-in-the-brain-helps-us-decide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain chemistry</a>, family history, health conditions, or life events. It lingers, often making everyday tasks feel harder than they should.



Some individuals might not show obvious signs. They could manage a smile for friends or get their work done without hinting at the weight they carry inside. 



Identifying depression early matters because there are many ways to find support. Information about new approaches to treat depression, such as a daily dose of vinegar, draws attention because depression is not a one-size-fits-all fix.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vinegar-s-impact-on-depression-symptoms">Vinegar's impact on depression symptoms</h2>



The results from the recent study were interesting. There was no significant difference between the groups on the CES-D. 



However, on the PHQ-9, the group consuming a higher level of vinegar saw an average drop of 42 percent in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-adult-depression-linked-to-worse-memory-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depressive symptoms</a>, while the control group that took the vinegar pill saw an 18 percent drop. 



The findings were based on self-reported symptoms over the month-long trial.



Depression involves many moving parts. Even a small shift in mood might open a door for improving quality of life. 



Smaller pilot studies like this one can sometimes spark interest in following up with larger groups of people, different durations, or other forms of vinegar. 



The size of this study was small, and participants only had mild symptoms, but the differences the team found have attracted attention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-research-on-vinegar-and-depression">More research on vinegar and depression</h2>



The authors acknowledge that bigger, longer-term research would be ideal to get a better grasp on exactly how vinegar is able to ease depression symptoms in many people. 



They note that their secondary analysis, which adjusted for initial survey differences, was not significant. Still, they believe the link between daily vinegar intake and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/confirmed-magic-mushrooms-can-effectively-treat-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported mood changes</a> deserves more focus. 



“Depressive disorders are the most prevalent mental health conditions in the world," the authors explained. 



“The commonly prescribed antidepressant medications can have serious side effects, and their efficacy varies widely. Thus, simple, effective adjunct therapies are needed.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-all-of-this-mean">What does all of this mean?</h2>



Studies often look beyond a single variable. Factors like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-color-of-light-impacts-our-internal-clocks-and-circadian-rhythms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep patterns</a>, body temperature, and overall lifestyle might matter. 



This work hints at a different angle. It might prompt questions about whether vinegar or its components could work alongside other treatments. 



The researchers say, “Future research examining the effects of vinegar administration in clinically depressed or at-risk populations, and those on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-antidepressants-could-help-treat-brain-tumors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antidepressant medications</a>, is warranted.”



They add, “A focus on mechanisms and large patient samples will strengthen the science and provide the evidence to more firmly demonstrate vinegar’s role in health promotion.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vinegar-depression-and-human-health">Vinegar, depression, and human health</h2>



It remains to be seen if vinegar will ever become a regular part of a care plan for depression or depressive symptoms. 



Although initial results are encouraging, the current information does not prove it is better than other approaches. 



Still, the exploration of vinegar as an everyday element that might influence mood feels notable. 



Individuals who deal with depression often seek a variety of options. Having extra tools makes sense, given that what works for one person may not help another. 



Human health involves many complex processes, and adding many small steps into a routine can often prove beneficial. This research gives another hint that everyday items might be worth a second look.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/14/2305" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nutrients</a>.



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Vinegar adds another surprising health benefit to its long list of perks

Vinegar has been part of human life for a very...

Memory, a phenomenon that has fascinated scientists and psychologists for generations, remains a puzzle with many unanswered questions. 



A recently published review paper provides fresh insights into why certain experiences are retained, and explores the factors that shape what people remember.



Authored by Fernanda Morales-Calva, a graduate student in psychological sciences, and Stephanie Leal, an adjunct assistant professor at <a href="https://www.rice.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rice University</a>, the review appears in a special issue of the journal Cognitive, Affective &amp; Behavioral Neuroscience.



The researchers investigated the "three Ws" of memory - what, where, and when - while addressing the vital question of why certain experiences become memorable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiences-that-we-remember">Experiences that we remember </h2>



The researchers examined existing studies to develop a comprehensive understanding of how emotional significance, personal relevance, and individual differences shape <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-human-brain-decides-which-memories-to-remember/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory retention</a>. They emphasized that memory is deeply subjective.



“Memory is not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. What’s memorable for one person might be entirely forgettable for another, depending on their unique background and cognitive priorities,” explained Morales-Calva. 



The researchers categorized the study into three core domains: what, where, and when we remember.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-memory-how-we-remember-traumatic-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emotionally significant events</a>, personally relevant experiences, and focused attention emerged as critical factors shaping recall. 



For example, individuals are more likely to remember events that are imbued with emotional resonance or details they consciously focus on.



Moreover, individual circumstances such as cultural, cognitive, and personal differences further highlight the fluidity of how experiences are retained.



“This review highlights the importance of considering subjectivity and context in memory research. By accounting for these variables, we can develop more accurate diagnostic tools and effective interventions,” noted Leal, stressing the importance of this variability. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spatial-memory-and-timing">Spatial memory and timing</h2>



The researchers also emphasized the importance of where events occur. The concept of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-have-remarkable-spatial-memory-and-sense-of-direction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spatial memory</a>, often studied in animals, is highly relevant to human experiences as well.



According to Morales-Calva and Leal, new environments demand more attention and leave stronger imprints on memory compared to routine, familiar settings.



Additionally, the timing - or the when - of an event impacts memory retention. Humans tend to sequence events and recognize transitions, which aids in recall.



“Specific events are often compartmentalized into distinct episodes, making them easier to remember,” the researchers explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinical-implications-of-the-research">Clinical implications of the research </h2>



The researchers highlighted the critical implications of their findings for clinical and real-world applications, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of memory that takes into account individual variability.



Assessments often rely on standardized tests that may overlook individual differences, particularly in culturally and cognitively diverse populations. 



This limitation can lead to skewed results and inadequate diagnoses that fail to address the unique needs of these groups.



By incorporating subjectivity and context into experimental designs, researchers can create more accurate diagnostic tools and personalized interventions. This could lead to more effective treatments for memory-related impairments such as dementia and cognitive decline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-remember-certain-experiences">Why we remember certain experiences </h2>



The review also stresses how memory influences decision-making, particularly through the "why" of memory retention.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/memory-is-shaped-by-both-past-and-future-experience-and-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Memorable experiences</a> often serve as cognitive reference points that guide individuals when they encounter similar situations.



For example, emotionally significant memories can shape decision-making in areas such as relationships, professional settings, and even high-stakes scenarios like healthcare choices.



The researchers suggest that understanding these connections can lead to practical applications, such as improving decision-making frameworks or designing targeted interventions that help individuals make more informed choices based on their unique patterns of recall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emerging-technologies-to-study-human-cognition">Emerging technologies to study human cognition </h2>



Advancements in neuroscience and technology are providing researchers with new tools to study human recall.



Techniques like functional MRI (fMRI) and machine learning are helping visualize how memories are encoded, stored, and retrieved. 



These tools are enabling researchers to identify patterns in memory retention and recall with unprecedented precision.



The integration of these technologies into studies of human cognition could lead to significant advancements in diagnosing and treating conditions such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-disease-attacks-the-brain-in-two-separate-phases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer's disease</a>.



Additionally, personalized cognitive training programs that leverage these insights could enhance retention strategies, particularly for aging populations or individuals with cognitive challenges.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13415-024-01234-4#:~:text=The%20why%20of%20episodic%20memory,-Whereas%20extensive%20research&amp;text=We%20speculate%20that%20the%20why,together%20the%20other%20three%20Ws." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cognitive Affective &amp; Behavioral Neuroscience</a>.



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Memory mystery: Why we remember some experiences but not others

Memory, a phenomenon that has fascinated scientists and psychologists for...

As the Earth gets warmer, the assumption that elderly individuals have the highest risk of succumbing to heat is being challenged.



The findings from a recent study in Mexico show a contrasting reality: three-quarters of heat-related mortalities are happening among individuals who are under the age of 35, with a significant proportion being between 18 and 35.



This is an unexpected outcome, considering this age group is thought to be most resilient to heat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mortality-rates-and-wet-bulb-temperatures">Mortality rates and wet-bulb temperatures</h2>



Jeffrey Shrader is a key expert behind the study, which was conducted by researchers from the Center for Environmental Economics and Policy affiliated with <a href="https://www.climate.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University's Climate School</a>.



“It's a surprise. These are physiologically the most robust people in the population. I would love to know why this is so,” said Shrader.



Mexico, with its comprehensive geographical data on both daily temperatures and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hot-nights-could-increase-the-mortality-rate-by-60-percent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mortality</a>, proved to be an ideal place for this exploratory study.



The researchers scrutinized the correlation between excessive mortality rates and wet-bulb temperatures - a scale measuring the amplified effects of heat when combined with humidity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-adults-and-heat-related-deaths">Young adults and heat-related deaths </h2>



According to the analysis, Mexico averaged around 3,300 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-than-70000-deaths-in-europe-were-heat-related-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat-related deaths</a> each year from 1998 to 2019. 



A shocking third of these deaths were observed among 18 to 35-year-olds, a figure that is wildly disproportionate to the representation of this age group in the population size.



Infants and children under 5 were found to be highly vulnerable as well. On the other hand, people aged 50 to 70 suffered the least heat-related mortality.



“We project, as the climate warms, heat-related deaths are going to go up, and the young will suffer the most,” explained R. Daniel Bressler, the study's co-lead author and a Ph.D. candidate in Columbia's Sustainable Development Program.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-that-influence-heat-vulnerability">Factors that influence heat vulnerability</h2>



Several factors could be contributing to this unexpected trend. Young adults are more likely to be engaged in outdoor labor, such as farming and construction, which may expose them to dehydration and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeling-the-heat-rising-temperatures-push-the-limits-of-the-human-body/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat stroke</a>.



This vulnerability is also applicable to indoor manufacturing in spaces that lack air conditioning. 



The researchers highlighted that younger, less experienced workers face greater heat risks due to their low position and strenuous work. Participation in rigorous outdoor sports was another risk factor linked to young adults.



The susceptibility of infants and small children may be attributed to the fact that their smaller bodies absorb heat more quickly and their underdeveloped sweat glands limit their ability to cool off.



The still-developing immune systems of these children also put them at risk to illnesses that are more prevalent in humid heat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-heat-mortality-trends">Surprising heat mortality trends</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-temperature-threshold-can-the-human-body-handle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wet bulb temperatures</a>, often converted into Fahrenheit "real-feel" heat indexes by the media, play a crucial role in understanding this mortality pattern.



Young people experience the least mortality at wet-bulb temperatures around 13o C (71o F with 40% humidity).



However, the researchers found that the highest number of deaths occurred at somewhat lower wet-bulb temperatures, primarily due to the higher frequency of these temperatures - which expose more people to harmful conditions.



The experts also found a surprising trend in the among older adults, who mainly died not from heat but from modest cold.



Elderly individuals have lower core temperatures that make them sensitive to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-shattered-extreme-cold-records-during-global-heat-wave/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cold</a> and they consequently stay indoors, increasing their exposure to infectious diseases.



Although global warming receives extensive attention, cold weather is currently the leading cause of temperature-related death globally, including in Mexico.



However, the proportion of heat-related deaths has been steadily increasing since 2000, and this trend is likely to persist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-implications-of-rising-temperatures">Global implications of rising temperatures</h2>



The implications of the research extend far beyond Mexico, shedding light on a global issue with potentially devastating consequences.



Countries in Africa and Asia that are predominantly hotter, poorer, and with youth that engage in manual labor could see massive heat-related mortality rates in the future.



The researchers plan to validate their findings by extending the research to other countries, including the United States and Brazil. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of this alarming trend.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq3367" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Rising heat is disproportionately killing young adults

As the Earth gets warmer, the assumption that elderly individuals...

Circadian rhythms are your body’s built-in 24-hour timer that keeps everything running smoothly, from your sleep schedule to your mood and even how you digest food. It’s like an internal clock that syncs you up with the world around you. 



These rhythms are mostly guided by light and dark -- sunlight tells your brain it’s time to wake up, while darkness signals that it’s time to wind down. 



The boss of this system is a tiny part of your brain called the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/syncing-brain-muscle-circadian-rhythms-slows-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)</a>, which sits in the hypothalamus. It’s basically the control center that keeps you on track with the day-night cycle.



Your internal clock doesn’t just decide when you should sleep -- it also impacts your energy levels, hormones, and how your body works throughout the day.



We know that the brightness of light surround us plays a major role in regulating your circadian rhythms, but what about the color of the light?



Dr. Christine Blume from the <a href="https://www.chronobiology.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centre for Chronobiology</a> of the University of Basel has examined how these signals to the light receptors in our eyes might involve not only brightness but also color.



“There is reason to believe that the color of light could also be relevant for the internal clock,” says Dr. Blume.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lights-colors-and-circadian-rhythm">Lights, colors, and circadian rhythm</h2>



Human eyes rely on specialized cells to gather light information. Rods work best in dim conditions, providing vision at low brightness levels. 



Cones function under brighter conditions, aiding color perception. Light-sensitive ganglion cells, responding strongly to short wavelengths at around 490 nanometers, help inform the internal clock that it is daytime. 



When exposed to light consisting solely of short wavelengths between 440 and 490 nanometers, individuals perceive it as blue. If this triggers ganglion cells, the internal clock receives signals associated with daytime conditions.



“The light-sensitive ganglion cells also receive information from the cones. This raises the question of whether the cones, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colors-of-sunset-and-sunrise-reset-our-circadian-rhythms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thereby the light color</a>, also influence the internal clock,” says Dr. Blume.



“After all, the most striking changes in brightness and light color occur at sunrise and sunset, marking the beginning and end of a day.”



Previous research on mice suggested that yellowish light might affect the internal clock differently than bluish light. 



The idea was that the color aspect of light, not just brightness or wavelength intensity, might shift human circadian timing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-lights-and-colors-in-the-lab">Testing lights and colors in the lab</h2>



To test this possibility, a study exposed 16 healthy volunteers to either bluish or yellowish light for one hour late in the evening. A white light served as a control condition. 



The light stimuli were designed so that differences in color-sensitive cone activation occurred without altering the stimulation of the ganglion cells. 



“This method of light stimulation allows us to separate the light properties that may play a role in how light effects humans in a clean experimental way,” says Manuel Spitschan, Professor of Chronobiology and Health at the <a href="https://www.tum.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Munich</a>.



In a controlled sleep laboratory, researchers assessed whether the color differences influenced each person’s internal clock and sleep. 



They measured how quickly each volunteer fell asleep, examined the depth of their sleep, noted how tired they felt, and recorded their reaction times, which drop as sleepiness grows.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-did-the-study-teach-us">What did the study teach us?</h2>



Study results indicated that the color difference between bluish and yellowish light had no meaningful impact on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/goodbye-jet-lag-using-a-protein-to-reset-the-body-clock/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human internal clock</a> or on sleep patterns. 



The findings ran counter to earlier mouse-based research that suggested color might matter. 



“We found no evidence that the variation of light color along a blue-yellow dimension plays a relevant role for the human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-circadian-disturbances-trigger-mental-health-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">internal clock or sleep</a>,” says Dr. Blume. 



“Rather, our results support the findings of many other studies that the light-sensitive ganglion cells are most important for the human internal clock,” she adds.



“Our findings show that it is probably most important to take into account the effect of light on the light-sensitive ganglion cells when planning and designing lighting. The cones and therefore the color play a very subordinate role,” says Spitschan. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



The study’s outcome focuses attention on reducing short-wavelength light if the goal is to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/link-between-sleep-and-mood-explains-the-wrong-side-of-the-bed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">support healthy sleep</a> and stable circadian rhythms. 



The presence of certain wavelengths matters more than shifting the color balance along a blue-yellow range.



Health advice often emphasizes reducing so-called blue light from device screens in the evening. Many people rely on night shift modes, which add a yellowish tint, believing it lessens the impact on sleep. 



The research suggests that such color changes may not be as necessary as once assumed. 



“Technologically, we can reduce the short-wavelength light in these displays without altering the color, but commercial mobile phones have yet to adopt this approach,” says Dr. Blume.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-circadian-rhythms-and-human-health">Circadian rhythms and human health</h2>



This work leaves questions for future studies, such as whether longer exposure times, different testing periods, or other conditions could reveal effects not seen in this setup. 



In short, results here highlight the complexity of human vision, sleep regulation, and internal timing. The sensitivity of ganglion cells to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/circadian-medicine-light-therapy-could-help-millions-of-heart-patients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">short-wavelength light</a> remains central to maintaining the body’s daily rhythms.



In everyday life, people still receive frequent advice to limit exposure to bright, blue-rich screens before bedtime. The takeaway from this study is that color adjustments may not hold the key. 



The intensity and type of wavelengths that affect these specialized ganglion cells appear to be what truly matters. 



Designers of lighting systems may focus their efforts on controlling the properties of short-wavelength light, rather than shifting colors along a blue-yellow axis.



For now, the findings bring attention to which aspects of light should be managed to keep the internal clock running smoothly.



The full study was published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01791-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Human Behavior</a>.



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How the color of light impacts our internal clocks and circadian rhythms

Circadian rhythms are your body’s built-in 24-hour timer that keeps...

Winter brings about a heartwarming urge to make our homes cozy and festive, with the help of delightful home fragrances. 



Gingerbread, cinnamon, and pine-scented candles, as well as frankincense and myrrh diffusers, are often used to set the Christmas mood.



It's no wonder the UK home fragrance market recently skyrocketed, earning a staggering $685.5 million in revenue in 2023. 



However, one could not help but question - are these fragrant products affecting the air quality in our homes? How do they impact our health?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fragrances-mask-more-than-odors">Fragrances mask more than odors</h2>



In an effort to mask unpleasant odors and uplift the ambiance of our homes, we turn to items like scented <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scented-candles-toxic-particles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">candles</a>, air fresheners, and incense sticks. But contrary to their purpose, they do not eliminate harmful <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/gas-stoves-create-dangerous-levels-of-indoor-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">indoor pollutants</a>.



A recently published <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950362024000559" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> reveals that some of these fragrance products could potentially compromise the freshness of the air we breathe.



The research was focused on Irish homes post-energy retrofits. The results showed that home fragrances - combined with smoking and blocked wall vents - detrimentally affect indoor air quality.



Furthermore, our indoor exposure to air pollutants worsens when scented candles are used in rooms with closed windows and blocked vents.



The fine particle concentration can spike up to 15 times beyond the limits set by the World Health Organization, taking considerable time to return to standard levels in poorly ventilated areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trapped-in-a-vortex-of-chemicals">Trapped in a vortex of chemicals</h2>



Burning candles or incense sticks results in a complex mix of chemicals and particulate matter. They produce toxic gases like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen.



Home fragrances also emit harmful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-household-products-expose-people-to-dangerous-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volatile organic compounds</a> (VOCs), with particulate matter that can cause coughing, sneezing, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.



Prolonged exposure heightens the risk of serious health conditions like heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic bronchitis. It may also exacerbate existing conditions such as asthma.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-navigating-through-the-scented-maze">Navigating through the scented maze</h2>



According to the researchers, scented candles likely produce more fine particulate matter compared to unscented ones. Nitrogen oxides, the primary gaseous pollutant from scented candles, can harm our lungs and airways.



In the U.S. and the EU, manufacturers do not have to disclose all of the ingredients used in scented candles. Research suggests that the U.S. discloses less than 10% of home fragrance ingredients to the public.



Air fresheners have been linked to adverse health impacts such as migraines, asthma attacks, and dermatitis. 



Additionally, home fragrance products could emit cancer-causing organic compounds like benzene, phthalates, and formaldehyde. 



A decline in cognitive function has been linked to short-term candle smoke exposure and to long-term incense smoke exposure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-home-fragrances-and-indoor-air-quality">Home fragrances and indoor air quality</h2>



The incense sticks produce about four times as much particulate matter as cigarettes when equal weights are burned. In non-smoking households, candle usage might be a significant source of particulate matter pollution. 



Aerosol air fresheners introduce fine and ultrafine particles into the home air, alongside a range of VOCs.



Similarly, a candle's flickering flame emits larger particles and increases black carbon emissions, further affecting indoor air quality.



Using scented candles or air fresheners in small spaces like bathrooms or bedrooms exposes us to higher concentrations of the generated pollutants, boosting health risks. 



In poorly ventilated areas, pollutants like formaldehyde can reach levels causing upper airway irritation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-natural-fragrances-a-misleading-safety-tag">Natural fragrances: A misleading safety tag</h2>



Many consumers opt for home fragrances made with natural ingredients to avoid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/4200-harmful-plastic-chemicals-hidden-in-everyday-objects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">harmful chemicals</a>, but even these can release significant levels of pollution when burned. 



As the popularity of home fragrances grows, further research is needed to fully understand their long-term impacts on air quality and health.



The adverse effects of chronic exposure may only become apparent after many years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safe-use-of-home-fragrances">Safe use of home fragrances </h2>



For home fragrance enthusiasts, there are safer ways to enjoy these products. Try using them in larger spaces like the living room, and ensure windows are open. 



Check to make sure your home vents are unblocked, especially in rooms where you plan to burn scented candles. 



It's worth noting that most smoke from candles is released when the flame is extinguished. To play it safe, always snuff out candles outdoors.



In&nbsp;a world&nbsp;that&nbsp;is filled with&nbsp;home fragrances, it is highly important to understand their impacts on indoor air quality.



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Home fragrances impact indoor air quality, and the health risks are alarming

Winter brings about a heartwarming urge to make our homes...

Have you ever wondered about the impact of a father's health on the birth weight of his newborn baby? Well, a recent study from Brazil involving 89 families draws a fascinating connection. When it comes to a dad's weight, it seems the heavier the father is, the lower the baby’s birth weight.



The study was led by Mariana Rinaldi Carvalho, a researcher at the University of São Paulo’s Ribeirão Preto Medical School. She has bravely challenged the conventional understanding surrounding parental health and birth weight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-father-s-health-matters">Why the father's health matters</h2>



"There is a great deal of discussion and research on the link between fetal development and maternal health, including issues such as overweight before and during pregnancy, but the fact is that the father’s health also has a significant impact on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-baby-food-isnt-nutritious-despite-what-the-label-says/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development of the baby</a> both during pregnancy and after birth," explained Carvalho.



"Our study was the first involving Brazilian families to show that the higher the father’s BMI, the lower the baby’s birth weight, evidencing the father’s importance to the baby’s health and development."



Birth weight is a crucial indicator of health. Babies born with low or high weights face higher risks of developing serious illnesses later in life, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adding-fathers-to-the-birth-weight-equation">Adding fathers to the birth weight equation</h2>



The study builds on earlier research that focused mostly on maternal health. Carvalho’s team included fathers in their analysis to see how their health and habits might affect their babies. 



"Having noticed that most studies involving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-do-babies-start-gaining-their-consciousness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fetal</a> and neonatal health fail to take the parents’ lifestyle into account, we set out to include paternal anthropometry as a factor affecting fetal development," noted Daniela Saes Sartorelli, Carvalho’s advisor.



The researchers plan to study how a father’s diet, including components such as ultra-processed foods and unhealthy fats, impacts a baby’s weight and fat levels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifestyle-and-environmental-factors">Lifestyle and environmental factors </h2>



The study highlights the role of epigenetics - changes in how genes work due to environmental factors. The father's lifestyle, including a poor diet or lack of exercise, can alter the quality of his sperm and pass on risks to his children.



"We now know that environmental stressors such as overweight can influence the structure and quality of the father’s sperm, altering gene expression and affecting the DNA of his children," Carvalho explained.



While a mother’s health remains critical, Carvalho stressed the importance of fathers making lifestyle changes before conception. 



"Our research findings show that, just as maternal nutritional counseling is important, so is the need for a preconception change in paternal habits," she said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dad-s-role-in-newborn-health">Dad's role in newborn health</h2>



Maternal overweight has long been known as a public health issue. It increases risks like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and complications during delivery. 



For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-infants-connect-with-the-world-it-all-starts-with-the-feet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">babies</a>, it raises the likelihood of abnormal birth weights and childhood obesity. This study shows that fathers also play a key role in their child’s health, even before conception.



The study also found that babies of fathers with higher BMIs had smaller head circumferences at birth. While this doesn’t necessarily indicate problems, head size is an important growth marker. More research is needed to fully understand these findings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions </h2>



The researchers from the <a href="https://www5.usp.br/english/institutional/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of São Paulo</a> noted a few limitations to the study, such as not tracking how long the baby stayed in the birth canal during vaginal deliveries.



This could temporarily affect head circumference. They plan to explore how paternal diets, particularly the consumption of processed foods, affect newborn growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-influencing-birth-weight">Factors influencing birth weight</h2>



Several other factors contribute to a baby’s birth weight. Genetic predispositions play a major role, with parental genes influencing growth patterns. 



Maternal nutrition during pregnancy also significantly affects fetal weight, with deficiencies in key nutrients potentially leading to lower birth weights.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-climate-change-is-impacting-infant-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental exposures</a>, such as pollution or toxins, can also disrupt fetal development and impact weight.



Additionally, socioeconomic factors like access to healthcare and quality prenatal care can determine outcomes. Stress levels in the mother, influenced by psychological or physical challenges, can also alter birth weight through hormonal changes that affect the placenta.



Lastly, maternal age is a crucial factor, with very young or older mothers more likely to have babies with atypical weights. These factors, along with paternal and maternal health, highlight the complex interplay of genetics, environment, and lifestyle in shaping a newborn’s health.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-024-01639-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Obesity</a>.



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Fathers have a surprising influence on their baby's birth weight

Have you ever wondered about the impact of a father's...

For many of us, it seems like the memory-stealing disorder dementia is an inevitable part of aging.



Over time, countless theories have been proposed, linking this incurable condition to every aspect of our lives, from bedtimes to alcohol consumption. 



However, a recent review has suggested that only three factors significantly affect your risk of developing dementia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-dementia-the-basics">Understanding dementia -- the basics</h2>



Dementia is a condition that affects the brain, making it harder for people to think, remember, and communicate over time.



It’s not a single disease but more of an umbrella term for a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-a-brain-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s disease</a> is the most common cause of dementia, but there are others, like vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia. 



People with dementia might forget important things, struggle to follow conversations, or have trouble doing everyday tasks they used to manage with ease. 



It’s like their brain’s wiring gets tangled, making it harder for signals to get through.



What’s tough about dementia is that it doesn’t just affect memory -- it can also change behavior, mood, and personality. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moving-up-social-status-can-lower-dementia-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Someone with dementia</a> might get confused or frustrated more easily, or they could withdraw from social activities they once enjoyed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-health-and-preventing-dementia">Brain health and preventing dementia</h2>



The research was led by scientists from the <a href="https://www.rand.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RAND Corporation</a>, a non-profit, research institution based in California. 



The team examined data of over 20,000 senior citizens gathered in an impressive span of 30 years.



Out of the numerous factors they explored, the experts found that the absence of a hobby, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-obesity-rates-are-surging-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a>, and sedentariness post-60 are the most influential elements that could predict the development of dementia.



"This work provides additional evidence about actions that individuals can take to pursue a lifestyle that promotes brain health across the lifespan," explained Peter Hudomiet, the lead economist of the study.



“Other lifestyle and health behavior factors are not strong predictors of dementia, such as smoking, checking cholesterol levels, having flu shots, and getting mammograms, pap smears, and breast or prostate exams."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hobbies-weight-and-physical-activity">Hobbies, weight, and physical activity</h2>



Why is it important to pick up a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hobbies-keep-the-brain-sharp-and-slow-cognitive-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hobby</a>, stay active, and watch your weight?



The researchers found that hobbies help people feel they have a purpose in life and allow them to exercise their cognition, which essentially keeps the brain active and healthy.



Similarly, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/regular-exercise-makes-your-brain-bigger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regular physical activity</a> is vital for healthy blood circulation, which in turn is crucial for the brain's long-term health.



On the other hand, obesity often leads to problems with blood circulation, which could enhance the risk of dementia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proactive-measures-for-preventing-dementia">Proactive measures for preventing dementia </h2>



The importance of understanding and mitigating the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia-by-cutting-out-this-type-of-meat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">risk of dementia</a> cannot be overstated, as it represents one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time.



It's estimated that roughly 10 percent of adults over the age of 65 suffer from dementia.



That's over 7 million people, a number projected to hit 12 million by 2040 if current trends persist, placing immense strain on families, healthcare systems, and social services worldwide.



Proactive measures are crucial to addressing this growing crisis and ensuring a better quality of life for future generations.



This discovery has significant implications on a broader societal scale, promoting a new emphasis on brain health.



Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth, after discovering his heightened risk of developing dementia, has renewed his commitment to maintaining sleep quality, managing stress, and promoting nutrition and fitness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-surprising-role-of-alcohol">The surprising role of alcohol</h2>



While some factors, such as smoking or flu vaccinations, showed little impact on dementia risk, alcohol consumption revealed a surprising trend.



Drinking alcohol can definitely affect your chances of getting dementia later in life, and it all depends on how much you drink. 



Some studies suggest that light to moderate drinking -- like one drink a day -- might actually lower the risk of dementia for some people, especially when it comes to types linked to cardiovascular health. 



On the flip side, heavy drinking is a big red flag for brain health. 



Drinking too much over time can lead to serious issues like alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which directly impact memory and thinking. 



It also increases your risk of vascular dementia by damaging blood vessels and making strokes more likely. 



Even binge drinking, where you down a lot of alcohol in a short time, can hurt your brain over the long term.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dealing-with-a-dementia-diagnosis">Dealing with a dementia diagnosis</h2>



The researchers didn't stop at finding the crucial factors for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-onset-dementia-can-actually-be-prevented-through-lifestyle-choices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dementia prevention</a>. They also explored the responses and barriers of people diagnosed with dementia.



The experts found that, upon receiving a diagnosis, many patients took steps for future preparation, such as arranging financial help and planning for safer living conditions.



However, the cost associated with memory care was cited as the largest barrier to treatment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proactive-steps-for-preventing-dementia">Proactive steps for preventing dementia </h2>



Understanding your risk factors for dementia and taking action to mitigate them can be an important step towards healthier aging. 



"Assessments provided individuals with information that may facilitate actions to prepare for the future," said Susann Rohwedder, a senior economist at RAND, and an author on the study. 



While the research does not guarantee prevention, it does provide us with a clearer picture of what might help ward off dementia. 



Maintaining an active lifestyle, caring for our physical health, and keeping our minds engaged through taking up hobbies might be the secret recipe for a healthy brain, regardless of our age.



The findings are published in a <a href="https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3207-1.html">RAND research report</a>.



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Preventing dementia: These three factors matter most

For many of us, it seems like the memory-stealing disorder...

Clothing is more than just fabric and fashion -- our clothes tell stories about who we are as humans, where we've been, and how we've adapted over time. 



But when did our human ancestors first decide that we needed to cover up and wear clothes? 



This question has puzzled scientists for years. David Reed, associate curator of mammals at the <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Museum of Natural History</a>, has been digging into this mystery by studying an unlikely source: lice.



Reed's work focuses on these tiny parasites that have been our unwelcome companions for thousands of years. 



"We wanted to find another method for pinpointing when humans might have first started wearing clothing," Reed said. 



"Because they are so well adapted to clothing, we know that body lice or clothing lice almost certainly didn’t exist until clothing came about in humans."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lousy-clues-hidden-in-our-hair">Lousy clues hidden in our hair</h2>



By examining the DNA of modern human lice, Reed and his team have calculated that we started wearing clothes about 170,000 years ago. 



This was a significant technological leap that allowed our ancestors to migrate out of Africa into colder climates. 



"It’s just interesting to think that humans were able to survive in Africa for hundreds of thousands of years without clothing and without body hair," Reed noted. 



"And that it wasn’t until they had clothing that modern humans were then moving out of Africa into other parts of the world."



This research, funded by the National Science Foundation (<a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NSF</a>), suggests that there was a substantial period when humans roamed the African continent without the warmth of body hair or the protection of garments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lice-humans-and-the-first-clothes">Lice, humans, and the first clothes</h2>



Lice are more than just a nuisance; they're evolutionary markers. Unlike many parasites, lice stick closely to their hosts over long periods. 



This host-parasite relationship allows scientists like Reed to trace changes in human history based on changes in lice populations. 



"We use these lice as a marker, if you will, as a marker of their host’s evolutionary history," he explained.



Interestingly, the study shows that we began wearing clothes around 70,000 years before venturing into colder regions -- a move that started about 100,000 years ago. 



This gap implies that clothing wasn't just a response to colder climates but perhaps a development that had other social or practical motivations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-humans-got-cold-too">Early humans got cold, too</h2>



Back in 2003, geneticist Mark Stoneking from the <a href="https://www.mpg.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute</a> estimated that clothing use began around 107,000 years ago. 



Reed's study, however, includes new data and refined calculation methods, offering a different perspective. 



"The new result from this lice study is an unexpectedly early date for clothing, much older than the earliest solid archaeological evidence, but it makes sense," noted Ian Gilligan, a lecturer at <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Australian National University</a>.



The timing of clothing's emergence seems to align with the harsh conditions of the Ice Ages. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/disastrous-climate-changes-of-the-last-ice-age-could-happen-again/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Last Ice Age</a> occurred about 120,000 years ago, but Gilligan suggests that humans started bundling up during the preceding Ice Age, around 180,000 years ago. 



With modern humans appearing about 200,000 years ago, this period was crucial for developing technologies that would ensure our survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-humans-needed-clothes-to-survive">First humans needed clothes to survive</h2>



Clothing wasn't the only advancement that helped our ancestors thrive. Reed pointed out that other innovations played a role. 



"The things that may have made us much more successful in that endeavor hundreds of thousands of years later were technologies like the controlled use of fire, the ability to use clothing, new hunting strategies, and new stone tools," he said.



One of the challenges in studying ancient clothing is the lack of physical evidence. Early garments wouldn't have survived millennia buried in the earth. 



Direct evidence like eyed needles only appeared about 40,000 years ago, and tools suitable for scraping animal hides date back to about 780,000 years ago. 



Reed's lice research fills in the gaps, offering a biological clue where archaeological evidence is scarce.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lice-aren-t-often-seen-as-heroes">Lice aren't often seen as heroes</h2>



Collecting lice samples from around the world, including places like homeless shelters and health clinics, was essential for the study's success. 



These parasites provide a unique dataset that can be applied across various fields, from medicine to ecology. 



"It gives the opportunity to study host-switching and invading new hosts, which has everything to do with diseases that do the same thing, like emerging infectious diseases that affect humans," Reed explained.



"From an evolutionary standpoint, it’s interesting to learn about the evolutionary histories of a mammal and its parasite that are so intertwined, so interconnected over vast, long time scales. They just generate such interesting evolutionary questions," he continued.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



To sum it all up, by examining lice, Reed and his team found clues about when our early human ancestors first decided to wear clothes.



This was a pivotal moment in Earth history that allowed humans to migrate around the globe and adapt to new environments and extreme weather.



If our distant relatives hadn't figured out how to create and wear clothes roughly 170,000 years ago, chances are the species would not have survived, and we wouldn't be here today reading this article.



This fun but important research highlights the fact that humans have always been resourceful, even the very first ones. 



The incremental survival steps they took during the Last Ice Age led to the complex societies we have today. Whether that's a good thing, or a bad thing, will be left open for discussion on another day.



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Study co-authors were Melissa Toups, previously with UF and now at Indiana University, Andrew Kitchen, formerly with UF and presently at The Pennsylvania State University, and Jessica Light of Texas A&amp;M University. The researchers completed the five-year project with the help of Reed’s NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award, which is granted to researchers who exemplify the teacher-researcher role.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/28/1/29/984822" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molecular Biology and Evolution</a>.



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When did early humans first start wearing clothes, and why?

Clothing is more than just fabric and fashion -- our...

Ultra-processed&nbsp;food&nbsp;products&nbsp;are convenient to eat, and&nbsp;there is no denying that the combination of sugar, salt, and fat is extremely enticing.



These food items,&nbsp;from ready-to-eat meals to packaged snacks and soft drinks,&nbsp;not only appeal to our palates but also&nbsp;affect&nbsp;our brain's reward system, thus leading us to crave&nbsp;more.



Yet&nbsp;have we ever stopped&nbsp;to think about what this convenience costs us in terms of nutrition?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ultra-processed-foods-and-muscular-health">Ultra-processed foods and muscular health</h2>



A fresh perspective has emerged from recent research that casts a shadow over the consumption of ultra-processed foods.



The study revealed that people who consume a diet with high levels of such foods tend to store more fat inside their thigh muscles. This occurs regardless of our calorie intake or physical activity.



What&nbsp;makes this study unique is its approach in&nbsp;analyzing the role of ultra-processed foods in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/molecule-in-coffee-trigonelline-keeps-muscles-young/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">muscle health</a>.



But why focus on thigh muscles? This choice isn't random. Higher amounts of intramuscular fat in the thigh could escalate the risk for knee osteoarthritis, which is a prevalent and costly global health issue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quality-of-diet-quality-of-life">Quality of diet, quality of life</h2>



The researchers, from the <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, San Francisco</a>, set out to assess the potential correlation between ultra-processed food intake and intramuscular fat in the thigh.



"This is the first imaging study looking into the relationship between MRI-based skeletal muscle quality and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-diet-quality-in-adolescence-linked-to-lifelong-health-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quality of diet</a>," said Dr. Zehra Akkaya, a researcher in the UCSF Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging.



The&nbsp;results&nbsp;were&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;data&nbsp;from&nbsp;more than 600&nbsp;participants who had not developed osteoarthritis and were part of the Osteoarthritis Initiative. The participants had an average age of 60, and an average BMI of 27, which is generally considered obese.



The&nbsp;disturbing&nbsp;news,&nbsp;however,&nbsp;was&nbsp;that nearly&nbsp;40% of&nbsp;the food they had eaten within the past year was ultra-processed.



The researchers concluded that the more ultra-processed foods participants consumed, the more intramuscular fat they had in their thigh muscles, irrespective of their overall energy (caloric) intake or level of physical activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-onset-of-knee-osteoarthritis">The onset of knee osteoarthritis </h2>



Furthermore, an intriguing correlation was observed - the fat in thigh muscles might be linked to the onset and progression of osteoarthritis in the knees.



"Research from our group and others has previously shown that quantitative and functional decline in thigh muscles is potentially associated with onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis," said Dr. Akkaya. 



"On MRI images, this decline can be seen as fatty degeneration of the muscle, where streaks of fat replace muscle fibers."



With the muscle fibers in the thighs being replaced by fatty tissue, muscular weakening and degeneration may precede the onset of osteoarthritis. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-smarter-choices-for-better-health">Making smarter choices for better health</h2>



Until now, the approach to fighting osteoarthritis has focused on modifiable lifestyle factors such as sufficient exercise, a healthy diet, and obesity prevention.



But this study indicates that the consumption of ultra-processed foods may also be a modifiable factor in the prevention of this health condition.



"Since this condition is highly linked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-the-epidemic-crisis-of-our-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a> and unhealthy lifestyle choices, there are potential avenues for lifestyle modification and disease management," noted Dr. Akkaya.



Understanding the relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and muscle composition can help us make better dietary choices, ultimately leading to enhanced musculoskeletal health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visceral-fat-and-chronic-diseases">Visceral fat and chronic diseases </h2>



The effects of consuming ultra-processed foods extend far beyond thigh muscles and the link to osteoarthritis.



A growing collection of evidence shows that these foods contribute significantly to the development of visceral fat - the fat stored around internal organs. Visceral fat is very closely linked with the prevalence of chronic diseases such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweetener-erythritol-sugar-substitute-linked-to-blood-clots-heart-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart disease</a>, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.



Subcutaneous fat, by contrast, is metabolically inactive and cannot induce an inflammatory response that increases systemic disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addictive-nature-of-ultra-processed-foods">Addictive nature of ultra-processed foods</h2>



Another issue is that ultra-processed foods affect the brain's reward system, making us resistant to reducing the consumption of these foods.



The addictive&nbsp;nature&nbsp;of the high sugar, salt, and fat content rewires&nbsp;our brains to crave more of these substances, leading&nbsp;to overindulgence and a vicious cycle of poor dietary choices.



The&nbsp;researchers stress that&nbsp;the reduction&nbsp;of these foods in our diet could help in improving muscle composition, as well as overall metabolic and cardiovascular health.



This broader perspective reinforces the&nbsp;need&nbsp;to&nbsp;lower&nbsp;dependence&nbsp;on ultra-processed foods and&nbsp;move&nbsp;toward nutrient-dense, whole foods that&nbsp;align with both musculoskeletal and systemic health.



The study was described in a <a href="https://press.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/14_pr_target.cfm?ID=2536">press release</a> by the Radiological Society of North America.



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Eating ultra-processed foods makes your muscles weaker and more fragile

Ultra-processed&nbsp;food&nbsp;products&nbsp;are convenient to eat, and&nbsp;there is no denying that the...

Centenarians, once a rarity, have now become common. They are the fastest-growing demographic group, doubling roughly every decade since the 1970s. 



How long humans can live and what defines a healthy, long life have intrigued us for centuries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decoding-the-longevity-mystery">Decoding the longevity mystery</h2>



More than two millennia ago, even renowned philosophers like Plato and Aristotle were captivated by the enigma of aging. 



Unveiling the secrets behind <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-with-high-resilience-live-up-to-ten-years-longer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exceptional longevity</a>, however, is no simple task. It involves understanding the intricate relationship between genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors, and how they interact throughout a person's lifetime.



A recent study led from <a href="https://ki.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karolinska Institutet</a> gives us more insight into this topic. The researchers have identified some common biomarkers, including levels of cholesterol and glucose, in individuals who have had the privilege of blowing out more than 90 candles on their birthday cake.



"Despite the claim that chance plays an important role in the achievement of exceptional longevity, it has repeatedly been shown that already earlier in life, centenarians are a selected group with fewer disabilities, comorbidities, hospitalizations, and better cognitive function compared to non-centenarians," wrote the study authors. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-centenarians-and-the-secrets-to-healthy-aging">Centenarians and the secrets to healthy aging</h2>



Scientists are fascinated by nonagenarians and centenarians, as they offer insights into living longer and aging in better health. These individuals may hold the secrets to understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/survival-of-the-friendliest-social-animals-live-longer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">longevity</a> and healthy aging. 



However, many previous studies on this topic have been limited in scope, often focusing on smaller or selective groups. 



For example, some research has excluded centenarians living in care homes, which can skew findings. By studying a broader and more inclusive range of participants, researchers aim to uncover the factors that contribute to both extended lifespan and improved quality of life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biomarkers-of-centenarians">Biomarkers of centenarians </h2>



Breaking away from small-scale studies, this recent research is the largest of its kind to date. It compares biomarker profiles between exceptionally <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/becoming-more-physically-active-could-add-11-years-to-your-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">long-lived individuals</a> and their shorter-lived peers.



The data includes information of 44,000 Swedes aged between 64-99 from the so-called Amoris cohort. Out of these people, 1,224 made it to the age of 100, and about 85% were female.



A dozen blood-based biomarkers related to inflammation, metabolism, liver and kidney function, as well as potential malnutrition and anaemia were included in the study.



The researchers found that people who reached their hundredth birthday generally had lower levels of glucose, creatinine, and uric acid after their sixties.



While centenarians and non-centenarians didn't markedly differ in median values for most biomarkers, centenarians rarely exhibited extremely high or low values.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-metabolic-health-nutrition-and-longevity">Metabolic health, nutrition, and longevity </h2>



When investigating which biomarkers were linked to the likelihood of reaching 100, the researchers found that all but two (alat and albumin) of the 12 biomarkers influenced the chances of becoming a centenarian. 



For example, people with the lowest levels of total cholesterol and iron had a lower chance of reaching 100 years compared to those with higher levels.



While the differences were generally small, these findings indicate a potential relationship between metabolic health, nutrition, and exceptional longevity. 



The study doesn't suggest any specific lifestyle factors or genes responsible for these biomarker values. Yet, it is realistic to believe that elements like nutrition and alcohol intake might have some role.



While chance may play a part in reaching an exceptional age, it appears that genes and lifestyle could also be important. Therefore, keeping an eye on your kidney and liver values, as well as glucose and uric acid as you age, might be a good idea. 



After all, who wouldn't want a chance at blowing out a centenary of candles?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-facts-on-centenarians">More facts on centenarians</h2>



Centenarians credit their long lives to a few simple habits: staying positive, building strong relationships, and having a sense of purpose. 



Many stick to plant-based diets with little processed food, stay active with hobbies like gardening, and occasionally enjoy a drink.



Genetics also play a big part, helping older adults recover from illness and avoid chronic diseases. Most live healthy, active lives right up until their later years, proving that it’s not just about living longer - it’s about living well.



The study on blood biomarker profiles and exceptional longevity is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-023-00936-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GeoScience</a>.



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Centenarians on the rise: Living over 100 is now more common

Centenarians, once a rarity, have now become common. They are...

The Mayan civilization was among the ancient societies that transitioned smoothly to a sedentary lifestyle in harmony with their natural habitats.



New scientific research on the Maya, specifically in Belize, has brought to light some fascinating facts about the lifestyle of these people.



This tale of survival, resilience, and environmental adaptation resonates today, as we grapple with pressing environmental issues.



It reminds us that our ancestors understood the essence of responsible resource management.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-maya-s-hidden-wetland-treasure">The Maya's hidden wetland treasure</h2>



The phenomenal findings focus on the earliest known, large-scale fish-trapping facility in ancient Mesoamerica.



Nestled within the heart of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest inland wetland of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deforestation-has-darkened-coastal-waters-off-belize/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Belize</a>, are fisheries canals that date back to between 2000 and 1900 years BCE.



That's a staggering thousand years older than similar facilities that have been discovered in the Amazon!



Even more impressively, this sustainable facility was in operation for centuries, and was utilized by the descendants of the original Mayan architects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-mayan-civilization-thrived">How Mayan civilization thrived</h2>



The study was authored by Dr. Eleanor Harrison-Buck, a professor of anthropology at the <a href="https://www.unh.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of New Hampshire</a>, and co-authored by Dr. Samantha M. Krause, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Texas State University.



This novel research offers a fascinating exploration of ancient resource management and sustainability methods, and sheds light on how early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-collapse-of-mayan-civilization-was-not-caused-by-drought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mayan communities</a> thrived in challenging environmental conditions.



"<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wetlands-day-the-hidden-potential-of-tidal-landscapes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wetlands</a> have always been a critical ecosystem for humans across the globe," said Dr. Krause. "Knowing how to manage wetland resources responsibly is essential for the continued resilience of these ecosystems, both in the past and today."



"The Archaic hunter-gatherer-fishers knew how to protect their resources and use them in a way that could sustain these habitats, not exhaust them, which explains their long-lasting occupation in this area.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harnessing-modern-technology">Harnessing modern technology</h2>



The researchers used drones and satellite imagery to identify an extensive network of linear earthen channels or weirs. These were designed to redirect annual floodwaters into source ponds for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-age-art-discovery-reveals-15800-year-old-fishing-secrets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish trapping</a>.



The clever constructions coincided with a long-term drought that hit Mesoamerica between 2200 and 1900 years BCE.



Excavations revealed a side to ancient civilizations from which modern society can indeed learn a lot.



In response to the drought, these communities intensified fish trapping and balanced it with other food sources, such as amaranth that thrives in the sandy, clay-rich soils typical of Belize's wetland-lagoon environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creating-a-sustainable-future">Creating a sustainable future</h2>



The hunter-gatherer-fisher groups were not only surviving but thriving during this challenging period. 



They even used controlled fire burns to encourage the annual regrowth of amaranth and other valuable plant species. 



To top it off, these controlled burns cleared away undergrowth to provide open access to fish canals and ponds while also fertilizing the fish-trapping facilities.



The data suggests that such environmental and social conditions likely supported larger social gatherings, communal feasting, and eventually the transition to permanent settlements.



So, these fish-trapping facilities, rather than maize-based agriculture, might have contributed to the emergence of Mayan population centers such as Chau Hiix, Lamanai, and Nohmul in northern Belize, and Itzamkanac and Aguada Fénix in Campeche and Tabasco, Mexico.



This intriguing research highlights how an ancient civilization balanced adaptation, innovation, and sustainability to thrive in changing climatic conditions – a lesson from which we could all learn.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-echoes-of-mayan-civilization-in-modern-practices">Echoes of Mayan civilization in modern practices</h2>



The ingenuity of ancient Mayan communities in managing wetland ecosystems offers a blueprint for modern sustainability efforts.



Their ability to adapt to environmental changes - such as prolonged droughts - while maintaining ecological balance demonstrates the potential of integrating traditional knowledge with contemporary strategies.



Today, wetlands around the world face significant threats from urbanization, pollution, and climate change. 



Yet, ancient practices like controlled burns to rejuvenate vegetation, or the creation of fish-trapping networks, can inspire solutions to protect these critical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-and-habitat-degradation-have-devastated-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a>.



Conservationists and archaeologists alike emphasize the importance of preserving such ancient wisdom as we seek innovative ways to tackle modern environmental challenges.



The Mayan system of resource management serves as a reminder that humanity's survival hinges not only on innovation but also on respecting and working in harmony with nature - a lesson as relevant today as it was over 4,000 years ago.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq1444" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Mayan civilization may have been shaped by ingenious fisheries

The Mayan civilization was among the ancient societies that transitioned...

An interesting new study has generated some unexpected results relating to how alcohol influences people's pain thresholds and the effect that this has on their subsequent behavior.



It seems that alcohol may make us less sensitive to pain and, at the same time, more aggressive towards others. This then may increase the possibility that we end up causing harm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unmasking-the-unsuspected-connection">Unmasking the unsuspected connection</h2>



The findings of this study are based on a well-established experimental design in operation since 1967.



A total of 870 volunteers who drink an average of 3-4 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-causes-women-to-consume-more-alcohol-than-intended/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alcoholic beverages</a> per occasion, at least once a month, took part in two independent laboratory experiments.



The study attracted a varied pool of participants through newspaper advertisements, which offered the added incentive of a $75 reward upon completion of the experiment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-experiment-a-tipple-for-tolerance">The experiment: A tipple for tolerance</h2>



After a thorough briefing and signing informed consent, each participant was given an indistinguishable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sugary-beverages-premature-death/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beverage</a>, either alcoholic or a placebo.



The drinks were cleverly designed to keep the participants in the dark about the nature of their drink. 



To maintain the illusion, placebo beverages included minute alcohol traces on top and around the rim to mimic the taste of an alcoholic concoction.



Once the drinks were downed, the researchers monitored the participant's pain threshold by administering one-second electrical shocks to their fingers, intensifying the shocks until the participant reported pain. 



This marked the participant's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/men-have-a-higher-pain-threshold-when-females-are-treating-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pain threshold</a>, a crucial aspect of the subsequent experiment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-outcome-when-alcohol-ignites-aggression">The outcome: When alcohol ignites aggression</h2>



Following their drinks, the volunteers were involved in an online competitive reaction time task. The winner had the liberty to shock the loser, with shock intensity and duration at their discretion.



Unbeknownst to the participants, the opponent was non-existent and the results were manipulated by the researchers.



The outcome was quite telling. Those who had consumed alcohol displayed higher pain thresholds. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increased-pain-tolerance-and-aggression">Increased pain tolerance and aggression </h2>



More concerning, however, was the direct correlation between their increased pain tolerance and how intense and long-lasting a shock they were willing to deliver to their supposed opponent. 



This suggested a pronounced tendency towards aggressive behavior, triggered by having an increased tolerance of pain themselves.



On the contrary, participants who consumed placebo beverages exhibited less aggressive behavior, as their pain threshold was comparatively lower.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-less-empathy-and-more-aggression">Less empathy and more aggression</h2>



This study took place at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ohio State University</a>. Insightful comments from co-author Professor Brad Bushman shed light on the findings.



“We’ve all heard the idiom 'I feel your pain.' But if intoxicated people can’t feel their own pain, they might be less likely to feel empathy when others feel pain, and that could lead them to be more aggressive," he explained.



Professor Bushman also noted that participants who had consumed alcohol had average blood alcohol concentrations of between 0.095% and 0.11%, just above the legal limit.



This led Bushman to suggest that the effects of alcohol on pain tolerance could potentially be exaggerated for those consuming alcohol beyond these experimental levels, making them even more susceptible to aggressive behavior.



Further research will continue to examine the myriad ways in which alcohol influences behavior, focusing specifically on the links between alcohol, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/no-pain-no-gain-physical-activity-enhances-pain-tolerance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pain tolerance</a>, and ensuing aggression.



The study was a collaborative effort, with contributions from C. Nathan DeWall from the University of Kentucky and Peter Giancola, a clinical psychologist based in Montreal. 



Funding was provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Center for Research Resources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alcohol-and-its-ripple-effect-on-aggression">Alcohol and its ripple effect on aggression</h2>



The study highlights how alcohol's ability to dull personal pain can ripple outward, influencing social interactions and behaviors. 



In settings like bars or gatherings, heightened pain tolerance paired with reduced empathy might escalate minor disputes into aggressive confrontations. 



Such insights emphasize the need for broader public awareness campaigns about alcohol's behavioral effects, and support systems for individuals prone to aggressive tendencies when intoxicated.



By understanding these mechanisms, policymakers and health professionals can design targeted interventions to address alcohol-induced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-struggle-to-predict-aggression-in-dogs-and-other-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aggression</a>, thereby reducing harm in communities and promoting safer drinking environments.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.jsad.com/doi/10.15288/jsad.24-00144" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs</a>.



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Alcohol increases pain tolerance and fuels aggression

An interesting new study has generated some unexpected results relating...

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...

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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

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

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (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



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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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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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



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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



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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 



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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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



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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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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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



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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



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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



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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



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Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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

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