Music often does more than entertain. It paints images in our minds, builds worlds, and stirs emotions we can’t always explain. A new study shows how even the tiniest human touches in sound can influence this inner world.



The findings from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/music/our-research/cross-disciplinary-research/sydney-music-mind-and-body-lab.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sydney Music, Mind and Body Lab</a>, reveal how subtle shifts in rhythm and tone may fuel imagination in ways technology alone cannot replicate. 



These delicate imperfections - tiny fluctuations in timing or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-and-the-mind-new-clues-about-how-we-experience-pleasure/">volume</a> - can transform repetitive beats into living experiences, sparking imagery that feels real and immersive.



Rather than simply hearing structured sounds, listeners create journeys filled with color, movement, and narrative. The study suggests that the human quality of music holds unique power to trigger creativity and emotional depth. 



The research also shows why live performances, with all their small variations, can feel more moving than flawless recordings, and why imagination often thrives when music carries traces of human touch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-musical-shifts-big-mental-impact">Small musical shifts, big mental impact</h2>



Researchers asked 100 participants to imagine a journey while listening to repetitive drumming. Some heard <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-use-rhythmic-drumming-to-communicate-in-forests/">drumming</a> with random micro-variations in loudness and timing, while others heard perfectly uniform beats or silence.



Those who listened to music with micro-variations reported richer imagery, longer imagined journeys, and more lifelike scenes. 



They often described environments filled with movement, color, or emotion that felt authentic and dynamic, which suggests these subtle rhythmic details significantly influence how the brain constructs vivid inner experiences.



"What excites me is that these little details in music are something we can all feel, even if we don't always notice them consciously," said lead researcher Ceren Ayyildiz.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-touch-makes-rhythm-alive">Human touch makes rhythm alive</h2>



The study, published in Scientific Reports, relied on computer simulations of drum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-music-tunes-the-emotions-in-our-memories/">sounds</a>. Researchers created two versions: one with flawless uniformity and another with tiny, natural shifts mimicking human performance.



They then analyzed participants’ mental imagery responses with Bayesian multilevel modeling. The results showed that small fluctuations, often unconsciously introduced by performers, significantly enhance imagination.



These subtle imperfections did not distract listeners; instead, they added depth and texture to the soundscape, making the music feel more organic. Participants reported that the variations encouraged richer narratives, longer journeys, and greater immersion in imagined experiences.



This demonstrates that even the smallest rhythmic nuances can transform sound from a mechanical sequence into something that resonates with the human mind, shaping how people visualize and emotionally respond to music.



"It's not just technical perfection but the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-touch-molecular-basis-elkin1-discovery/">human touch</a> that makes music feel more alive and sparks the imagination," Ayyildiz said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musical-skills-amplify-imagination">Musical skills amplify imagination</h2>



Listeners with musical training or strong immersion ability experienced even more vivid mental imagery. For them, micro-variations brought authenticity and richness missing from machine-perfect sounds.



"One possible explanation for this finding is that listeners may perceive drumming with tiny random changes - a core component of human music performance - as more natural and organic," said Ayyildiz.



The study highlights how human imperfections in rhythm bring authenticity and create a sense of connection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-and-sound-variations-aid-therapy">Music and sound variations aid therapy</h2>



The insights also suggest therapeutic and practical applications. "Mental imagery already plays an important role in many cognitive therapies," said senior author Dr. Steffen Herff.



"Deliberately tailoring background music - for example through subtle changes in timing and loudness - could be used to either stimulate or dampen imagination depending on the specific therapeutic target," 



For audio engineers and producers, the study provides a new perspective. Micro-variations are already used in studio production as key aesthetic drivers in many forms of music including electronic dance music and hip-hop.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-expression-drives-connection">Human expression drives connection</h2>



For musicians, especially drummers, the findings emphasize the creative weight of subtle timing shifts. 



"This study demonstrates how the tiny details in rhythmic timing and expression can greatly alter our perceptions of music," said researcher Dr. Simon Barker.



"The relationship between micro-rhythmic variations and imagination, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/physicists-make-bold-claims-that-time-is-an-illusion-question-its-existence/">illusion</a>, and connection are at the core of the art of drumming, and this study is a lovely example of this central aspect of rhythmic expression and communication."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-s-power-comes-from-touch">Music’s power comes from touch</h2>



The study adds to a growing body of work exploring music’s role in imagination, connection, and even loneliness. 



Its message is clear: even in a world of machine-perfect precision, the smallest human variations breathe life into sound, reminding us of music’s timeless power to shape emotion, enrich creativity, strengthen bonds, and nurture a uniquely human sense of presence and belonging.



"Even tiny fluctuations can make music more meaningful," said Ayyildiz. "It's a reminder that the human feel still matters."



<figure class="wp-block-embed 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/FEh_WfGeCTo?si=4ftg3JG20m5vyTxE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Here, tiny fluctuations in timing and loudness introduce a human touch that breathes life into the rhythm - the kind of nuance shown to spark richer mental imagery. Credit: University of Sydney </figcaption></figure>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-12604-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.&nbsp;



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Tiny human touches can make music sound more powerful

Music often does more than entertain. It paints images in our minds, builds worlds, and stirs emotions we can’t always explain. A new study shows how even the tiniest human touches in sound can influence this inner world. The findings from the Sydney Music, Mind and Body Lab, reveal how subtle shifts in rhythm and tone may fuel imagination in ways technology alone cannot replicate. These delicate imperfections - tiny fluctuations in timing or volume - can transform repetitive beats into living experiences, sparking imagery that feels...

Experts at the <a href="https://www.ugr.es/en/">University of Granada</a> have developed a lie detector test that monitors the temperature of the face to distinguish between true and false statements. The study has revealed that when a person is telling a lie, their nose actually shrinks from a drop in temperature. 

According to the researchers, the test is the “world's most reliable lie detector,” with an accuracy rate that is ten percent higher than widely-used polygraph tests. 

When someone is lying, the temperature of the tip of their nose drops by up to 1.2 degrees Celsius, while the temperature of their forehead rises by up to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The greater the temperature disparity between these two facial regions, the greater the likelihood that the individual is not telling the truth. 

“One has to think in order to lie, which rises the temperature of the forehead,” said study lead author Dr. Emilio Gómez Milán. “At the same time we feel anxious, which lowers the temperature of the nose.”

Although the change is not noticeable to the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/blue-light-smartphones-damages-eyes/">human eye</a>, the fluctuation in temperature causes the nose to slightly shrink. 

The investigation was focused on 60 students who were scanned using thermal imaging technology while they completed a number of tasks. For example, the participants placed a 3-4 minute phone call during which they told a significant lie to a close friend, parent, or partner.

A control group watched distressing videos that showed car accidents and mutilated bodies on a computer screen. These participants were also monitored using a thermal camera as they described what they were watching to someone over the phone. 

“In both cases, the circumstances made them feel anxious,” said Dr. Gómez Milán. “But the experimental group experienced the so‑called ‘Pinocchio Effect’ in the nose and the effect of ‘mental effort’ in the forehead, which allowed us to monitor the lie.”


The study results showed that the thermal imaging techniques successfully detected lies 80 percent of the time, which is more accurate than any lie detector test available. 

“With this method we have achieved to increase accuracy and reduce the occurrence of ‘false positives,’ something that is frequent with other methods such as the polygraph.”

Dr. Gómez Milán explained that current police interrogation methods could be combined with thermal imaging for the most reliable results. 

“The ideal case would be to combine both methods, strategic interviewing and thermography, moving our system to, for example, police stations, airports or refugee camps,” said Dr. Gómez Milán. “That way, it would be possible to detect if a criminal is lying or to know the true intentions of people trying to cross the border between two countries.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New lie detection technique: Your nose shrinks when you’re dishonest

Experts at the University of Granada have developed a lie...

People behave differently when their reputation is on the line, but which social norms lead to increased cooperation in a society?

Researchers have developed a model called indirect reciprocity that examines the way that people use social norms to evaluate a person’s actions. 

By studying indirect reciprocity and people’s behaviors, actions, and judgments researchers gain a better understanding of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-cooperation-healthier-environment/">cooperation</a> is achieved within society and what influences judgment bias. 

Indirect reciprocity models have always relied on the assumption that everyone in a hypothetical community has all the relevant information they need to judge someone’s reputation and actions. 

Everyone already knows who is good and who is bad in these models but this isn’t realistic, and most people in a population likely possess only some of the necessary information to make an informed judgment of character. 

This is why researchers from the <a href="https://ist.ac.at/">Institute of Science and Technology Austria</a> and <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a> developed a more realistic model for indirect reciprocity and found that cooperation is not as easily achieved as previous studies have found. 

The researchers published their new findings in a study in the journal PNAS. 

To find a more accurate model for indirect reciprocity, the researchers used a popular past model where two randomly selected individuals are chosen as a donor and a recipient. The donor is tasked with helping the recipient based on what he or she knows about the recipient and social norms. 

The donor may also want to ensure that he or she protects their reputation and so helping the recipient may gain favor among the population. 

Past researchers found that there were eight “leading” strategies that the donor could use to ensure cooperation within the population. 

For this recent study, the researchers decided to take assumptions out of the equation and model indirect reciprocity within a more realistic framework. 

“We wanted to explore how the leading eight strategies fared when faced with incomplete, noisy information,” said Laura Schmid, a member of the research group. 

The researchers meticulously modeled the different strategies a donor would use if given partial information about the recipient and the social norms. 

“For some strategies, even a single disagreement could lead to populations that were split into two polarized subgroups,” said Josef Tkadlec. “Other strategies could recover, but it might take them a long time.”

The team found that the more realistic model led to very little cooperation among a population. The researchers are now working on adding more simulations to the model to see how individual and community relationships influence opinions and actions, but the results show that communication is vital to cooperation because it can prevent misinformation from spreading. 

“Seen from this angle, our findings highlight the importance of communication and coordination for building and maintaining cooperation in a society,” said Christian Hilbe, an author of the study. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Communication is key for cooperation in society, study finds

People behave differently when their reputation is on the line,...

A recent survey conducted by the <a href="https://www.aafp.org/home.html">American Academy of Family Physicians</a> (AAFP) found that older adults prefer not to talk about life expectancy within a hypothetical scenario.

The survey, which was given to 878 adults over the age of 65, presented a hypothetical situation revolving around a patient with a limited <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/life-expectancy-2040/">life expectancy</a>. Told to look at the situation from the hypothetical patient’s perspective, participants were asked if they would ask their doctor about how long they have to live, if they believed this was an appropriate discussion for the doctor to bring up, if they would like their doctor to discuss their life expectancy with family and friends, and at what point should life expectancy be discussed.

Researchers who conducted the study found that 59% of the older adults surveyed did not want to discuss their life expectancy at all within the hypothetical situation. Furthermore, 291 participants believed the discussion to be inappropriate for a doctor to initiate, and 450 did not want their doctor discussing life expectancy with loved ones.

When the surveyors told the participants that their hypothetical life expectancy was increased — that is, they would live longer than initially suggested — fewer believed it should be discussed. 56% of participants only found it necessary to bring up life expectancy if it was less than two years.

Those who found it necessary to talk about life expectancy often had higher levels of education, faith in doctors to predict life expectancy, and had been involved with a life-threatening illness or had been down this road before with a family member. And those who felt the discussion was not needed often had firmer religious beliefs.

The authors of the study noted that the life expectancy discussion, both long- and short-term, is a heavy topic to broach, and perhaps best left until there is less time to dwell.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Older people don’t like to talk about life expectancy, survey reveals

A recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Family...

As you turn off the highway towards the long, remote road trip through ranches and deserts leading to Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico, you’ll likely encounter a roadside stand selling Navajo tacos and fry bread.  The local native food is just a small hint that the native peoples who’ve lived in the desert southwest haven’t vanished from the landscape as the centuries old ruins crumbling into the earth might suggest.

An hour-long drive along an increasingly rough road from Highway 550 leads at last to a small stretch of asphalt that represents the domain of the National Park Service at Chaco Canyon.  The turn from Highway 550 towards the park is itself nothing monumental, just a juncture of two relatively small roads in the desert marked by a lonely Sinclair gas station. The Sinclair station barely functioned at all when we visited, only one pump of four being operational and the prices set for tourists desperate for a fill up.  Nothing about the place suggests the cultural grandeur hidden in Chaco. 

In his book, <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/House_of_Rain.html?id=SWc2AQAAQBAJ">House of Rain</a>: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest, Craig Child’s describes the hostility of Chaco:

“Ochre- and straw-colored washes loop in and out for hundreds of miles, many seeing running water for no more than a day or two each year.  In some places dusty sagebrush steppes extend as far as the eye can see, and in others scabs of badlands lie naked under the sun, completely devoid of vegetation.” 

Cactus, yucca and salt brush dot hillsides, the road crosses dry, red dirt ravines that represent the presence of unpredictable flood waters at times.  Barbed wire fences and grazing livestock- horses and cows represent the sparse ranching community of the area. Other people once passed through this desert, walking very different roads towards what was a cultural center.

According to the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/chcu/learn/historyculture/index.htm">National Park Service</a>, the cultural highpoint of the Chacoan people started around the mid-800s AD and lasted more than 300 years.  During this time impressive buildings were constructed and dry agriculture developed in a place hard to imagine survival without modern technology.  The buildings and people of Chaco Canyon are a bit mysterious but they also represent a continuum from the distant past that stretches to the present moment.  Most archaeologists believe that the purpose of Chaco’s largest buildings were for ceremony and trade more than habitation. Called great houses, ruins like Pueblo Bonito and Una Vida were built in a landscape of sacred mountains and often aligned with careful astronomical observations.  

Pueblo Bonito is one of the most important great houses in Chaco and also the most accessible.  Built around 850 AD to 1150 AD, Pueblo Bonito contains more than 350 ground level rooms and reaches three stories in places, according to <a href="http://www.chacoarchive.org/cra_upgrade/chaco-sites/pueblo-bonito/">Chaco Research Archive</a>.  The whole structure of Pueblo Bonito is roughly shaped like the letter D and nestled close to the cliffs of the canyon wall.  

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/chaco-culture.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1861813" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/chaco-culture-1024x671.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="458" /></a>

The impressive nature of the great houses is hard to convey by words.  The walls of Pueblo Bonito and the other ruins in Chaco are made of gritty, tan, native stone but the lintels of doors and windows are made of wood, often amazingly intact.  In other places the decaying stumps of beams that once supported roofs and floors can be seen still set into stone walls. The wood in Chaco took enormous amounts of labor as seems apparent from the demanding desert environment of the place.  

According to <a href="https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/scientists-discover-where-ancient-builders-at-chaco-canyon-got-their-wood">University of Arizona News</a>, structures in Chaco used more than 200,000 trees to build.  The trees, Ponderosa Pine, Douglas fir and other trees native to the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dust-exposure-human-health/">southwest</a>, haven’t grown in Chaco Canyon itself for more than 10,000 years.  

The trees used in Chaco Canyon are a testament to the coordination of labor and the well-engineered systems of roads built in the area.  The logs might have weighed as much as 600 pounds and measured around 15 feet long, and were carried by hand more than fifty miles. The wood came from Chuska and San Mateo Mountains where the trees were felled, and prepared, allowed to dry before being carried to save on weight.  When you start considering the amount of hard work that the structures at Chaco represent, it’s difficult not to be impressed. 

The great houses at Chaco represent a connection between peoples of different cultures and indeed a connection to other parts of the continent.  Within the shadows of a room buried in one of the great houses, archaeologists found the most highly decorated burial in the southwest. Two skeletons lying on a bed of fifty six thousand pieces of turquoise were covered in a sheet made of shells imported from the Pacific coast.  Macaws were kept captive in Chaco, their skeletons found deformed by never being allowed sunlight, these birds’ feathers were used to create elaborate adornments. 

Remains of drinking chocolate in ceramic vessels show more evidence of trade routes converging on Chaco.  Despite being far removed from greater population centers of the Aztec, Maya or Inca in the Americas, the Chacoan people were connected to much of the rest of the new world.  In the context of the demanding environment of the American Southwest, Chaco Canyon was a hub of ceremony, trade and advanced civilization.

Physiological evidence shows that the people who came to Chaco were of different races, representing different languages.  These people came for trade or important ceremonies. Despite the large scale of buildings at Chaco, archaeologists estimate that only a few hundred to a couple thousand people lived at Chaco year-round.  The buildings it seems were constructed in part for temporary visitors: pilgrims or traders. Wandering through the stunning structures of Chaco set against the equally impressive starkness of the desert more questions come to mind than the Park Service’s pamphlets and signs can easily answer. 

Once the people at Chaco were commonly called the Anasazi, a term from Navajo which can be translated as ‘ancient enemy’ or ‘ancient people’.  The term is misleading though; it suggests that these people are one of antiquity, perhaps a people only remembered by the Navajo. 

Today throughout Chaco, the people are instead referred to as ‘Ancestral Pueblo’ or simple ‘Chacoan people’, less contentious terms.  Indeed the people who descended from Chaco still live in the area. Modern Puebloans are the Hopi, Zuni and many other tribes that are related to the people who once lived in Chaco.  Structures like the Kivas found in Chaco are still built for use in ceremonies by these people today. The video in the visitor’s center at Chaco Culture National Historical Park features many Native Americans, including Hopi, Zuni and Navajo who also left petroglyphs in the area.  

It’s easy to find statistics on how much visitors spend, how many jobs are supported by tourism at National Parks and related data, it’s harder to find solid numbers on the ethnic composition of visitors.  As I walk through the park, it becomes increasingly obvious that it’s an anomaly in the region. In surrounding towns, the presence of Native Americans is obvious. In Chaco, you could be in almost any national park in the United States; the visitors were mostly white and mostly older.  This simple observation made me a little uncomfortable at my own place in Chaco and crystalized into more questions as I perused the artifacts on display in the visitor’s center. 

Many of the display cases were empty of artifacts.  Instead of pottery or tools or jewelry, the empty glass cases featured a printed sign from the National Park Service.  The sign simply said that the park didn’t have adequately climate controlled display cases to house the artifacts from Chaco itself.  Some of the artifacts were in New York, some in other places on displays at other museums. Native traditions from many tribes maintain the importance of Chaco, not considering it abandoned at all, the National Park displays tell me.  I wonder what Native Americans might think of these empty display cases, I wonder what they would think of the artifacts housed in display cases at all. The visitor center also shows a large blown-up photograph of archaeologists at Chaco Culture National Historical Park, seemingly no Native Americans among them.  

In 2017, <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-dna-yields-unprecedented-insights-into-mysterious-chaco-civilization/">Scientific American</a> published a story on new research on remains found in Pueblo Bonito.  DNA was analyzed from human bones found and it was found that leaders in the Chaco Canyon region or at least Pueblo Bonito descended from a maternal line.  Mothers ceded their place as leaders to daughters. This is a stunning piece of information yet ethics overshadows it. 

The researchers didn’t consult Native Americans before desecrating the bones of their ancestors for science.  Actually, the human remains from Chaco mostly are housed in New York’s American Museum of Natural History, without permission from native groups.  Considering the relationship between European-American culture and Native culture as well as the history of the US federal government and native groups, I am saddened.  The more I consider Chaco Canyon; I wonder if it’s the place of my culture and indeed my federal government to tell the story of the Chacoan people at all. I am grateful the place exists but I wonder if it’s a place that is shared or stolen.                                                                                            

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

The beauty and significance of Chaco Culture National Historical Park

As you turn off the highway towards the long, remote...

Flu - Full Nose - Human Sinuses Anatomy

Researchers at <a href="https://www.masseyeandear.org/">Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary</a> are explaining how we can inhale bacteria in nearly every breath that we take without getting sick. The experts have discovered that tiny fluid-filled sacs called exosomes are immediately secreted from cells when bacteria is inhaled. These exosomes directly attack the bacteria and protect other cells from infection.

The research provides new insight into our <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fracking-harmful-human-health/">immune systems</a>, and could ultimately lead to the development of new drug delivery techniques that harness this natural transportation process from one group of cells to another.

Study senior author Dr. Benjamin Bleier is a sinus surgeon at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and an associate professor of Otolaryngology at <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/">Harvard Medical School</a>. 

“Similar to kicking a hornet's nest, the nose releases billions of exosomes into the mucus at the first sign bacteria, killing the bacteria and arming cells throughout the airway with a natural, potent defense,” said Dr. Bleier. “It's almost like this swarm of exosomes vaccinates cells further down the airway against a microbe before they even have a chance to see it.”

The study revealed that when cells at the front of the nose detect a bacterial molecule, they trigger a receptor called TLR4, which stimulates the release of exosomes. Within five minutes, an innate immune response doubles the number of exosomes that are released into the nose, and also doubles the amount of the protective enzyme nitric oxide synthase within those exosomes. Nitric oxide is an antimicrobial molecule that equips each exosome to defend against bacteria.

The “swarm” of exosomes is also moved along by another natural mechanism of the nose called the mucociliary clearance, which sweeps the stimulated exosomes - along with information about the presence of bacteria - to the back of the nose. The process prepares the cells in this nasal region to immediately fight off the bacteria before they get very far into the body.

According to the study authors, their findings could lead to more effective ways of administering drugs through the airway. For example, exosomes could be used to transport inhaled medications to cells along the upper airway, and possibly even into the lower airways and lungs.

Dr. Bleier said, “The nose provides a unique opportunity to directly study the immune system of the entire human airway - including the lungs.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jacionline.org/">Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Massachusetts Eye and Ear

How your body protects you from the bacteria you inhale

Researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary are explaining how...

When it comes to the effectiveness of echinacea in fighting colds, study outcomes have been very inconsistent. Some trials have found no benefits associated with the herbal supplements, while others have found that echinacea may help to boost immunity and prevent <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/susceptible-common-cold/">colds</a>. 

There are nine different species of echinacea, a flowering plant that can be found in the United States and Canada. The stems, leaves, flowers, and roots are used to make teas and supplements, which have been used as medicine for centuries. 

According to WebMD: “Extracts of echinacea do seem to have an effect on the immune system, your body's defense against germs. Research shows it increases the number of white blood cells, which fight infections.”

A 2015 study by researchers at <a href="https://www.mh-hannover.de/index.php?L=1">Hannover Medical School</a> in Germany found that echinacea could reduce the risk of colds by 35 percent. On the other hand, research from the <a href="https://nccih.nih.gov/">National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine</a> found no evidence that echinacea helps to fight colds in adults or children. 


The inconsistency among echinacea studies is likely due to the fact that there are so many different types and strengths of the supplements. 

Dr. Mark Moyad is the Director of Preventive and Alternative Medicine at the <a href="http://www.med.umich.edu/">University of Michigan Medical Center</a> in the Department of Urology. He is also one of the world's leading experts on dietary supplements.

Dr. Moyad told <a href="http://time.com/5446498/does-echinacea-work/?utm_source=emailshare&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=email-share-article&amp;utm_content=20181109">TIME</a> that echinacea may reduce the risk of a cold by around 10 to 20 percent. “This may seem underwhelming. But it’s not as if we have a lot of options to prevent colds - especially in people that get a lot of colds during the year.”


Dr. Moyad explained that while regular exercise, hand washing, and sleep are the best ways to prevent getting sick, echinacea may also provide some benefits without any major side effects. He recommends shopping for products that have been certified by quality control companies like NSF or USP to make sure that the supplement will be free of additives or contaminants. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Echinacea gets mixed reviews as a cold prevention therapy

When it comes to the effectiveness of echinacea in fighting...

When people experience major injuries that require hospital admission, such as car accidents or serious falls, their risk of being admitted for mental health disorders is significantly increased, according to a new study. The researchers found that these individuals are also at a much higher risk of suicide. 

The study was led by Dr. Christopher Evans, an expert in the Department of Emergency Medicine at <a href="https://www.queensu.ca/">Queen's University</a>. 

“Major trauma was associated with a 40% increased rate of hospital admission for 1 or more mental health diagnoses,” wrote the researchers. “The most common mental health diagnoses were alcohol abuse, other drug abuse disorders and major depressive disorders.”

There has not been a lot of research to examine the link between major injuries and subsequent <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-college-campuses/">mental health</a> issues. The current investigation was focused on more than 19,000 patients in Ontario. Most of the participants who had experienced major trauma were male, lived in urban areas, and had accidental rather than intentional injuries.

A higher number of admissions for mental health issues was associated with males, low socioeconomic status, rural residence, accidental injuries, and surgery for these injuries. 

The study revealed that children under 18 years old had the largest increase in admissions for at least one mental health issue after a traumatic injury. In addition, suicide was found to be higher in people with major physical injuries, with a rate of 70 suicides per 100,000 patients per year compared to 11.5 suicides per 100,000 people in the general population.

“Patients who suffer major injuries are at significant risk of admissions to hospital with mental health diagnoses in the years after their injury and of having high suicide rates during this period,” wrote the study authors.

The researchers are urging that mental health support should be offered to all trauma victims, particularly to high-risk patients such as children and youth.

The research is published in the <a href="http://www.cmaj.ca/">Canadian Medical Association Journal</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Traumatic injuries linked to higher risk of mental health issues

When people experience major injuries that require hospital admission, such...

Environmentalists have already called into question the safety of the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone. Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-island-bans-toxic-sunscreens/">Palau</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hawaii-bans-sunscreens-corals/">Hawaii</a> both banned sunscreens that include the chemical, citing evidence that it can wash off in the ocean water and harm coral. 

Now, scientists are questioning whether the sunscreen ingredient is safe for frequent use.

"What our research shows is that current safety testing procedures may be underestimating the amount of oxybenzone being absorbed into the skin considering heat and reapplication, such as someone sunbathing on the beach," author Paige Zambrana, a pharmacy graduate student at the <a href="https://www.umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a>, said in a press release. "Although sunscreens are intended for the entire body under higher temperatures with reapplication every 80 minutes, safety testing for setting UV filter limits only require single dose testing under baseline skin temperature of 32 degrees Celsius."

Tests performed by the researchers found that oxybenzone could permeate human skin. The sunscreen ingredient seemed to absorb more when applied as a lotion than as a spray. 

Adding heat caused the oxybenzone to permeate skin even more. With 24 hours of heat exposure and reapplications at 80 and 160 minutes, oxybenzone permeation increased 2.1-fold compared to a single application. 

Reapplying lotion significantly increased permeation of the sunscreen ingredient compared to reapplying spray-on sunscreen.

"Although sunscreen use is important and generally safe, our work suggests that some additional preclinical and clinical safety testing parameters should be considered before maximum UV filter levels are established," principal investigator Dr. Audra Stinchcomb said. "Also, given oxybenzone's potential environmental hazards and recently being banned in Hawaii, we are focused on how different factors affect people to provide accurate predictions of total oxybenzone absorption."

The researchers will continue to test both oxybenzone and sprays and lotions currently on the market that contain the sunscreen ingredient.

Their research was presented on Nov. 7 at the <a href="https://www.aaps.org/pharmsci/annual-meeting">2018 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists PharmSci 360 Meeting</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Study finds sunscreen ingredient soaks into human skin

Environmentalists have already called into question the safety of the...

A <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/summer-weather-wildfires-flooding/">fire</a> that erupted 90 miles north of Sacramento on Thursday and consumed 70,000 acres of land by 10 a.m. the following morning has now exploded into the most destructive fire in the history of the state. Strong winds had carried the fire to the south and southwest overnight, and it quickly tripled in size.

By Friday, over 6,700 structures had been destroyed, nine people had lost their lives, and 35 people were missing. The Camp Fire, which almost completely wiped out the small town of Paradise, is just one of three major wildfires that are currently burning across the state of California.

The fast-moving wildfires have prompted thousands of residents to leave their homes, and some people were even forced to run on foot to escape the devastation in Paradise, where 80 to 90 percent of homes were destroyed. 

The Butte County Sheriff's Office revealed that four people were found dead in vehicles that had been overwhelmed by flames, and another body was discovered near the vehicles. 

According to <a href="https://cnn.com">CNN</a>, Paradise Mayor Jody Jones said: “There's really not much left. There are very few homes still standing and we've been in multiple different neighborhoods this afternoon.”


Meanwhile, in Southern California, the Woolsey Fire and the Hill Fire are being fueled by howling Santa Ana winds and evacuations have been ordered for thousands of people, including residents of Malibu. 

In a matter of hours, the Woolsey Fire exploded from 2,000 to 8,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where at least 75,000 homes have been evacuated. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 


Image Credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/LASDHQ/status/1061073827021578240/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1061073827021578240&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.accuweather.com%2Fen%2Fweather-news%2Fevacuations-expand-to-malibu-as-firefighters-battle-growing-woolsey-fire-in-southern-california%2F70006567">LA County Sheriff's Office</a>

California on fire: Three fires destroy homes, force evacuations

A fire that erupted 90 miles north of Sacramento on...

An island nation in the western Pacific Ocean has banned certain types of sunscreen in an effort to protect coral reefs. Palau, which is known as one of the best diving destinations on the planet, is now the first country to outlaw reef-toxic sunscreens. 

The state of Hawaii recently initiated a similar ban on the sale or distribution of any <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sunscreen-chemicals-fish-embryos/">sunscreens</a> containing oxybenzone or octinoxate, which will take effect in January of 2021. Palau’s ban will also prohibit sunscreens that include these two chemicals, as well as eight other harmful substances that are commonly found in the products. 

The legislation follows scientific discoveries that reef-toxic chemicals in sunscreens accelerate coral bleaching, causing damage and ultimately death to corals when they are exposed. 

Sunscreen enters the water after moving through waste treatment facilities, but it is also directly deposited into the ocean when it is washed off swimmers. Overall, an estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter the world's oceans each year. 

Due to soaring temperatures in 2016 and 2017, bleaching affected around half of the corals across Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Scientists predict that 90 percent of the world’s coral will be threatened by 2030. 

According to the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/">World Wildlife Fund</a> (WWF), an estimated one billion people depend on coral reefs for food and income. “If properly managed, reefs can yield around 15 tons of fish and other seafood per square kilometer each year,” said WWF. Countries like Palau depend on the tourism revenues generated by coral reefs. 

Beginning in 2020, sunscreen products that contain the banned chemicals will be confiscated at airports, and anyone caught selling the illegal sunscreens will be fined $1,000. Palau’s President Tommy Remengesau said the law is designed to “walk a smart balance between educating tourists and scaring them away.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Pacific island bans toxic sunscreens to protect coral reefs

An island nation in the western Pacific Ocean has banned...

Melissa G. Hunt, psychologist and associate director of clinical training in the Psychology Department at the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a>, has found a direct connection between the use of social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, to decreased well-being. This study is the most comprehensive look at <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/social-media-beauty-standards/">social media’s</a> effects on mental health to date, and “also more ecologically valid,” Hunt noted.

Hunt and her team of University of Pennsylvania alumni tracked the usage data of the aforementioned three social media apps on 143 undergraduate participant phones. They had the participants take a survey about mood and well-being at the beginning of the study, before assigning participants to the control group, in which participants maintained their current social media usage, or the experimental group, in which participants were limited to spending 10 minutes on each of the three platforms each day.

The team collected data from the participants over a three-week period and used it to trace seven outcome measures, which included fear of missing out, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

“Here's the bottom line," Hunt said. "Using less social media than you normally would leads to significant decreases in both depression and loneliness. These effects are particularly pronounced for folks who were more depressed when they came into the study."

Hunt noted that stopping the use of social media entirely is not reasonable for young adults aged 18 to 22. However, limiting screen time could result in more positive moods. “It is a little ironic that reducing your use of social media actually makes you feel less lonely," Hunt continued. But, she said that “social comparison” via social media leads us to believe that everyone is living cooler lives than we are. 

Although it’s currently unclear how these findings relate to older age groups or different social media apps, Hunt and her team have found sufficient evidence to suggest cutting down social media usage will lead to a happier life. 

“When you're not busy getting sucked into clickbait social media, you're actually spending more time on things that are more likely to make you feel better about your life," Hunt concludes. “In general, I would say, put your phone down and be with the people in your life."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Direct link found between social media use and depression

Melissa G. Hunt, psychologist and associate director of clinical training...

If you’re a big fan of sushi, it’s likely you know all the different types and styles quite well – but it’s also highly likely that you’ve been served the wrong fish before, probably without even knowing.

In a 2017 study, researchers from the <a href="http://www.ucla.edu/">University of California, Los Angeles</a>, found through DNA analysis that the fish in 47 percent of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/tapeworm-salmon-sushi/">sushi</a> they ordered at 26 Los Angeles sushi restaurants were mislabeled. Other studies have found that this trend is common both nationally and internationally. But why is this the case? Are restaurants trying to trick you?

The same UCLA researchers have now published a study in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersinecology.org/fron/">Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment</a> in which they state that while “sushi mislabeling is pervasive; intentional fraud is much less common.” Their conclusion is due to the discrepancies they found between Food and Drug Administrations regulations and the actual biology of fish species. 

“Yellowtail has six species. The FDA says one can be called yellowtail and the five others have to be called amberjack,” explains Paul Barber, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA and senior author of the study. “In Japan, each of these six species of yellowtail prepared by sushi chefs is sold under a different name. These fishes vary in taste and cost. In the U.S., the FDA says five of these have to be sold under just one name. This is the equivalent of saying we know there are Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans, Rolls-Royces, Jaguars and BMWs, but you can call those only Toyotas or BMWs.”

By being only able to use the FDA-recognized names, it’s practically impossible for sushi restaurants to correctly identify what fish they are serving. Luckily, the researchers are working with the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, which manages the FDA’s seafood guidelines that restaurants follow, and they have already drafted recommendations for the labeling of yellowtail.

But until new regulations are passed, how can you know exactly what fish you may be ordering? 

“The best thing consumers can do is care and ask questions,” says Barber. “That will trickle down the entire supply chain. If enough people start asking where the fish is from, the restaurants will ask that of their distributors, and the distributors will ask this of the fishermen. This will work only if the people who pay the bills demand accountability.”

Some local restaurants are taking this study very seriously, and have already begun implementing suggestions from the researchers and identifying fish species’ names based on DNA sequencing. 

“Seafood mislabeling is a global issue, but by banding together, we can do something about it,” says Samantha Cheng, an Arizona State University assistant research professor who worked with Barber. “I’m excited to see how this partnership develops.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fake sushi: The fight against seafood fraud

If you’re a big fan of sushi, it’s likely you...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.



"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-astrobiology">Implications for astrobiology</h2>



The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.



The research, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.



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Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

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Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

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A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



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-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" 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> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" 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> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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