It’s no secret that missing sleep can leave you feeling sluggish. But even just a few nights of poor rest may be silently working against your heart. 



A new study shows that limited sleep triggers changes at the molecular level, and that these are linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.



Scientists from <a href="https://www.uu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uppsala University</a> conducted the study in a carefully controlled laboratory environment. The goal was to uncover how sleep deprivation impacts specific proteins in the blood that are associated with inflammation and heart problems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-sleep-and-heart-health">A closer look at sleep and heart health</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-twenties-can-make-or-break-your-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heart health</a> depends on many things - diet, exercise, stress, and sleep. While large studies have linked chronic sleep loss to heart attacks and strokes, it’s been harder to pin down exactly what happens inside the body when sleep is lacking.



The research team worked with 16 healthy young men, all of whom had a normal body weight and no known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-problems-linked-to-higher-risk-of-stroke/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep problems</a>.



Over two sessions in a lab, participants were monitored under tightly controlled conditions. They ate identical meals, followed the same activity levels, and completed 30 minutes of intense exercise each session. 



The only difference was that one session included three nights of full sleep. The other allowed just four hours of sleep per night.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-body-s-reaction-to-sleep-loss">The body's reaction to sleep loss</h2>



By analyzing morning and evening blood samples, the team examined the levels of around 90 different proteins. What they found was striking.



The levels of many inflammatory proteins increased after <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-deprivation-increases-the-risk-of-stroke-by-70-percent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep deprivation</a>. These same proteins have already been linked to heart conditions such as coronary artery disease and heart failure.



“Unfortunately, nearly half of all Swedes regularly experience disturbed sleep, and this is particularly common among shift workers," said Jonathan Cedernaes, a physician at Uppsala University who led the study.



"That is why we wanted to try to identify mechanisms that affect how lack of sleep can increase the risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>. Ultimately, the purpose was to identify opportunities to address these problems."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleep-deprivation-and-heart-health">Sleep deprivation and heart health</h2>



The fact that these changes were found in young, otherwise healthy men after just a few nights of short sleep makes the finding even more significant.



Much of the research previously conducted on sleep deprivation and its impact on cardiovascular health has focused on older individuals who already have an increased risk. 



According to Cedernaese, this is why it was important to study levels of these proteins in younger individuals.



"It was interesting that the levels of these proteins increased in the same way in younger and previously perfectly healthy individuals after only a few nights of sleep deprivation," said Cedernaes.



"This means that it’s important to emphasise the importance of sleep for cardiovascular health even early in life."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-about-exercise">What about exercise?</h2>



The study also examined how physical activity affects the body under different rest conditions. Several proteins tied to the benefits of exercise increased regardless of rest levels. Still, the body's overall response to exercise showed some variation when rest was limited.



The researchers had already observed that working out without proper rest may place extra stress on heart muscle cells.



“With this study, we have improved our understanding of what role the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seven-hours-is-the-ideal-amount-of-sleep-from-middle-age-on/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amount of sleep</a> we get plays in cardiovascular health," said Cedernaes. 



"It’s important to point out that studies have also shown that physical exercise can offset at least some of the negative effects that poor sleep can cause. But it's also important to note that exercise cannot replace the essential functions of sleep." 



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



While this study was focused on young men, many questions remain. Could the same changes happen in women, older adults, or people with existing health issues?



“Further research is needed to investigate how these effects might differ in women, older individuals, patients with heart disease, or those with different sleep patterns," said Cedernaes.



"Our ongoing research will hopefully help to develop better guidelines on how sleep, exercise and other lifestyle factors can be harnessed to better prevent cardiovascular diseases.” 



In the meantime, the message is clear: getting enough sleep is not just about feeling well-rested - it could be one of the simplest ways to take care of your heart.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://biomarkerres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40364-025-00776-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biomarker Research</a>.



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Sleep deprivation has a bigger impact on heart health than expected

It’s no secret that missing sleep can leave you feeling sluggish. But even just a few nights of poor rest may be silently working against your heart. A new study shows that limited sleep triggers changes at the molecular level, and that these are linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Scientists from Uppsala University conducted the study in a carefully controlled laboratory environment. The goal was to uncover how sleep deprivation impacts specific proteins in the blood that are associated with inflammation and heart problems....

An upcoming report from the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a> (USGS) warns that a region of the Eastern Seaboard will be particularly vulnerable to devastating blackouts in the event of a solar storm. 

An explosion in the Sun’s atmosphere can cause solar wind to travel at high speeds. When this intense burst of energy interacts with Earth's magnetosphere, it can trigger a geomagnetic storm. 

Beneath regions of Interstate 95 from Virginia to Maine, there is a layer of 300 million-year-old rocks that would have a dangerous reaction to a solar storm. 

The rocks would behave like a shield, bouncing solar energy from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/california-sunny-fire-danger/">Sun</a> back toward the Earth instead of allowing it to pass through. Such an event could cause major communication systems and power grids to fail.

According to USGS research geophysicist and study lead author Jeffrey Love, the Eastern Seaboard is at risk for blackouts not only due to its abundance of these insulating rocks, but also due to the region’s proximity to the North Pole, where intense solar activity is most likely to strike.

Prior to this study, the central United States was the main focus of solar storm risk assessments, and the threat to the Eastern Seaboard was not yet known.

A study in 2016 reported that the upper Midwest is the region that faces the highest threat from a geomagnetic storm. The researchers found that surges could be up to 100 times more powerful in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin compared to other areas of the United States.


The largest solar storm in recent history struck in 1859, when auroras could be seen across the globe. A solar storm in 2012 passed through the Earth's orbit without a direct hit on the planet.

On March 10, 1989, astronomers witnessed a powerful explosion on the sun that was followed by the release of a billion-ton cloud of gas within minutes. Three days later, the resulting geomagnetic storm tripped circuit breakers across the power grid in Quebec, leaving the entire city without electricity for over nine hours. 

A large geological shield of ancient rocks beneath the city of Quebec may be similar to those in the vicinity of Interstate 95, but this has not yet been established.

The research from the USGS will be used to develop tests to measure how resilient the nation's power grids are to solar storms, which is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Major east coast cities face threat of blackout from solar storms

An upcoming report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warns...

Fish species are relocating at a pace that international fishing laws cannot keep up with, as climate change continues to warm the temperature of ocean waters. According to a new study from <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a>, this will cause increasing international conflict.

Study author Malin Pinsky is an assistant professor of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources in Rutgers-New Brunswick's School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

“Most people may not understand that the right to harvest particular species of fish is often decided by national and regional fisheries management bodies,” said Professor Pinsky. “Those bodies have made the rules based on the notion that particular fish species live in particular waters and don't move much. Well, they're moving now because climate change is warming ocean temperatures.”

The study has demonstrated for the first time that new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dolphins-are-being-killed-for-use-as-bait-in-fisheries/">fisheries</a> are likely to appear in more than 70 countries all over the world as a result of global warming. Historically, a large migration of fish species has sparked disagreement among fishing communities.

Such conflict leads to overfishing and subsequently reduces the food, profit, and employment provided by fisheries. Disputes over newly-shared fisheries can also impact international relations beyond the coastline.

In a previous study, Professor Pinsky and Rutgers postdoctoral associate James Morley reported that many major commercial fish species could move their ranges hundreds of miles northward in search of colder water. This migration is already underway, and the results have been highly disruptive for fisheries.

“Consider flounder, which have already shifted their range 250 miles farther north,” said Professor Pinsky. “Federal fisheries rules have allocated many of those fish to fishers in North Carolina, and now they have to steam hundreds of extra miles to catch their flounder.”

The team pointed out examples of international disputes caused by the disruption of fisheries, including the “mackerel war” between Iceland and the European Union (EU).

Lobster fishers from the United States and Canada are clashing over the lobster fishery, which is moving north from New England to the Canadian Maritime Provinces.


The study authors explained that, while the migration of fish is inevitable with changing climate conditions, the conflicts can be avoided.

“We need international agreements for the collaborative monitoring and sharing of fisheries as they move, much as the Antarctic conservation agreement has begun to do,” said Professor Pinsky. 

“We have a chance to avoid conflict over fisheries that could escalate international tensions, threaten our food supply, and reduce profit and employment worldwide. Avoiding fisheries conflicts and overfishing ultimately provides more fish, more food and more jobs for everyone.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</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: Malin Pinsky/Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Climate change disrupting commercial fish migration and industry

Fish species are relocating at a pace that international fishing...

A new study has revealed how your stomach can act as an internal global food positioning system, and the results could help shed insight on our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trust-your-instincts/">gut instinct</a>.

Humans are typically pretty good at remembering what we’ve eaten, especially if the meal was exceptionally good. 

For example, if someone asked you to remember where you had the best burger of your life, you could probably tell them more than just the restaurant name. 

A new study might have an explanation for this excellent memory recall, and it has to do with a gut instinct that dates back to our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a> conducted the study which was published in the journal Nature Communications. 

The researchers examined the vagus nerve in rats to see if there was any connection between the signals sent to an from the stomach and memory recall. 

The vagus nerve is the body’s longest nerve and it sends messages to an from the brain to the gastrointestinal-tract.

There’s a possibility that the vagus nerve also directs signals to the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory. 

The researchers think the roots of this gut-brain connection dates back to our ancient ancestors who would have relied on memories of abundant hunting and gathering sites. 

“When animals find and eat a meal, for instance, the vagus nerve is activated and this global positioning system is engaged,” said Scott Kanoski, a corresponding author of the study. “It would be advantageous for an animal to remember their external environment so that they could have food again.”

For the study, the researchers severed the gut-brain vagus nerve pathway in some rats to see if that impacted the rat’s  memory of its environment. 

“We saw impairments in hippocampal-dependent memory when we cut off the communication between the gut and the brain,” said Andrea Suarez, the study’s lead author. “These memory deficits were coupled with harmful neurobiological outcomes in the hippocampus.”

The results show how the vagus nerve influences memory, and the researchers say that future studies should examine if bariatric surgeries could impact memory as these surgeries, although a proven solution to weight loss, block signals to and from the stomach. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Our gut instinct is rooted in an ancient internal food GPS system

A new study has revealed how your stomach can act...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a> (OSU) are reporting that individuals with religious ties live an average of four years longer than individuals with no religious affiliation. The findings are the result of a nationwide study which was focused on over 1,000 obituaries from around the country.

“The study provides persuasive evidence that there is a relationship between religious participation and how long a person lives,” said study co-author Baldwin Way.

The experts first took into account sex and marital status, two factors that have a strong influence on lifespan, before calculating how many extra years of life corresponded with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/internet-mix-religious-beliefs/">religious people</a>.

“Religious affiliation had nearly as strong an effect on longevity as gender does, which is a matter of years of life,” said study lead author Laura Wallace.


The four-year boost was found to be even larger in a smaller study of obituaries published in a Des Moines newspaper, where religious affiliates lived an average of 6.48 years longer.

The experts found that the increase in longevity could be partially explained by the fact that many of the individuals with religious ties were volunteers and members of social organizations. Previous research has found that an active social life is also associated with living longer.

“We found that volunteerism and involvement in social organizations only accounted for a little less than one year of the longevity boost that religious affiliation provided,” said Wallace. “There's still a lot of the benefit of religious affiliation that this can't explain.”

According to Way, another possible explanation is that the rules and norms of many religions restrict unhealthy practices such as alcohol and drug use or having sex with many partners. He said that, in addition, “many religions promote stress-reducing practices that may improve health, such as gratitude, prayer or meditation.”

The main study conducted by the team included 1,096 obituaries from 42 major cities in the United States published on newspaper websites between August 2010 and August 2011. 

The analysis revealed that individuals who had religious affiliations mentioned in their obituaries lived an average of 5.64 years longer than those who did not. After accounting for the factors of gender and marital status, the number was adjusted to 3.82 years.

The study also showed that more religious people tended to live longer than non-religious people in highly religious cities where there is a bigger focus on conformity. In some cities, on the other hand, there is a spillover effect.

“The positive health effects of religion spill over to the non-religious in some specific situations,” said Wallace. “The spillover effect only occurs in highly religious cities that aren't too concerned about everyone conforming to the same norms. In those areas, non-religious people tend to live as long as do religious people.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/home/spp">Social Psychological and Personality Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Religious people live longer lives, study finds

Researchers at Ohio State University (OSU) are reporting that individuals...

A 20-year study by researchers at <a href="https://www.ru.nl/english/">Radboud University</a> has revealed that stress in early childhood causes the brain to mature faster during adolescence. On the other hand, stress experienced later in life causes the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brains-reward-center-fat-carbs/">brain</a> to develop more slowly during teenage years.

Beginning in 1998, the team began monitoring one-year-olds and their parents. The researchers studied play sessions and interactions with parents and classmates, while conducting regular MRI scans, over the course of two decades.

The experts used the data to investigate how stress in various life stages affected the adolescent brains of the children. In particular, they examined how stress affected cerebral maturation.

During adolescence, our brain improves the connections that have been made between brain cells, developing more useful and efficient networks. This refining process was found to be accelerated as a result of stress in early life.

The researchers focused on two types of stressors - negative life events and negative influences from the social environment - in the subjects when they were 0-5 years old and 14-17 years old. These stress levels were compared to the maturation of the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and the hippocampus.

Stress resulting from negative experiences during childhood, such as illness or divorce, was linked to faster maturation of the prefrontal cortex and amygdala in adolescence. However, stress resulting from a negative social environment during adolescence, such as low peer acceptance, was found to be associated with slower maturation of the hippocampus and another region of the prefrontal cortex. 

“Unfortunately, in this study we can't say with certainty that stress causes these effects,” explained study co-author and PhD student Anna Tyborowska. “However, based on animal studies we can hypothesize that these mechanisms are indeed causal.”


Tyborowska said that the study findings are also consistent with theories of evolutionary biology.


“From an evolutionary perspective, it is useful to mature faster if you grow up in a stressful environment. However, it also prevents the brain from adjusting to the current environment in a flexible way. In other words, the brain become ‘mature’ too soon.”

The researchers did not expect to find, however, a link between social stress later in life and slower maturation during adolescence. “What makes this interesting is that a stronger effect of stress on the brain also increases the risk of developing antisocial personality traits,” said Tyborowska.

The researchers continue to follow up on 37 of the study participants, who are now in their twenties.

“Now that we know that stress affects the maturation of brain regions that also play a role in the control of emotions, we can investigate how this development continues later in life.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/scientificreports">Scientific Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A rough childhood actually does make the brain mature faster

A 20-year study by researchers at Radboud University has revealed...

People with wrinkles around their eyes may be viewed as more sincere, according to a new study. 

Wrinkles that form around the eyes when a person smiles or frowns is known as a Duchenne marker, and it’s been shown that people who exhibit the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02699931.2015.1018817?src=recsys&amp;journalCode=pcem20">Duchenne marker</a> are considered more sincere and even attractive. 

Researchers from <a href="http://www.uwo.ca/">Western University</a> and the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> recently discovered that we prefer the Duchenne marker because our brains are hardwired that way. 

For the study, researches showed participants photographs of people smiling or frowning. It’s a method called visual rivalry, and participants were given two photographs to view at the same time, one with the Duchenne marker and one without. 

By looking at both images at the same time, the brain alternates between the two but will focus more on the one that is perceived as more relevant. The participants were also asked to rate the sincerity of the photos. 

The participants all showed a preference for the photos with Duchenne markers and felt those expressions were more intense and sincere. 

“The expressions involving the Duchenne marker were always dominant. So if the emotion is more intense, your brain actually prefers to bring it into perceptual awareness for longer time,' said Julio Martinez-Trujillo, the lead investigator of the study.

Being able to read and correctly interpret facial expression is an important social skill, and the results of the study shed insight into what factors influence the way we translate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushrooms-depression-emotions/">emotions</a>. 

“Since Darwin, scientists have wondered if there is a language of facial expression. This research suggests one key to this language is constriction of the eyes,” said Daniel Messinger, a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Miami.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study: Wrinkles make a person seem more genuine when they smile

People with wrinkles around their eyes may be viewed as...

If given a choice between fatty snacks, sugary sweets, or foods high in both fat and carbohydrates, a new study found that people prefer the latter. 

With obesity on the rise in the United States, researchers are working to pinpoint what exactly motivates our food choices and how our brain translates the caloric and nutritional value of food. 

Previous research has found that unhealthy foods not only cause weight gain but also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sugary-diets-increase-urge-eat/">change brain signaling </a>to inhibit the feeling of being full and make fatty foods more appealing. 

But now, researchers led by <a href="https://www.yale.edu/">Yale University</a>'s Modern Diet and Physiology Research Center have found that the reward center of the brain values foods high in fat and carbohydrates, even when given a choice between healthier options and favorite foods. 

The study could help explain what underlying mechanisms dictate obesity, and the results show that high fat and carbohydrate foods actually hijack the body’s signals that manage food choices.

“The biological process that regulates the association of foods with their nutritional value evolved to carefully define the value of a food so that organisms can make adaptive decisions,” said Dana Small, the study’s senior author. “For example, a mouse should not risk running into the open and exposing itself to a predator if a food provides little energy.”

206 adults took part in the study and researchers scanned the participants’ brains while showing them photographs of different foods and snacks high in fat, carbohydrates, and sugar. 

The participants were also told they could bid on a food item of their choice and were willing to pay more for the snacks that were high in both carbohydrates and fats. 

Foods high in both fats and carbs also triggered a stronger response in the reward center of the brain, even when the participants were shown a favorite food, a sweet, or a larger portion size of a different food. 

“Surprisingly, foods containing fats and carbohydrates appear to signal their potential caloric loads to the brain via distinct mechanisms,” said Small. “Our participants were very accurate at estimating calories from fat and very poor at estimating calories from carbohydrate. Our study shows that when both nutrients are combined, the brain seems to overestimate the energetic value of the food.” 

A possible explanation for why we value fat and carb combinations more could date back to our hunter-gatherer ancestry and the evolution of our brain’s response to different foods.

It’s believed that our past relationship with carbohydrates influences the release of dopamine in the brain when presented with certain foods. 

Highly processed foods have only been around for the past 150 years and as such our brains have not evolved a new response to them. 

The study was published in the journal Cell Metabolism. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The brain’s reward center values food high in fat and carbs

If given a choice between fatty snacks, sugary sweets, or...

What are the motives behind the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and how do we make a difference?

There’s been a line drawn in the hot desert sands of Southern Africa. On one side, you’ll find angry herds of biologists, activists, and conservationists stomping their feet; on the other – a pack of politicians and hunters bearing their teeth. Consequently, with the recent ban lift on the wildlife trophy importation of elephants, it’s become an all-out primal battle between them on who represents the animal kingdom’s best interests.

The <a href="https://www.safariclub.org/">Safari Club International</a> (SCI) announced that the <a href="https://www.fws.gov/">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</a> (FWS) has reversed protections on sport-hunted trophies, established during the Obama era, allowing imports of elephant mementos from Zambia and Zimbabwe. Needless to say, there’s been an uproar of debate on this controversial issue. 

Animal rights groups continue to argue the ethics and increased hunting of a threatened species in an already tainted trade, and how it will be regulated in a country riddled with corruption. Meanwhile, hunting advocates offer points on the how controlling proper wildlife stalking and killing can not only boost conservation in a species, but also keep its surrounding ecosystem sustained without overpopulation taking its toll. In their minds, since the going rate of a single elephant can range from $4,000 to $50,000, they, price-wise, deduce such a bounty could do great things in the funding of conservative efforts.  

For the status quo, there has been a growing distaste for wildlife hunting since the backlash of Cecil the Lion’s senseless murder in 2015. It also doesn’t help that President Trump has <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trump-allows-elephant-hunting/">wavered</a> his stance on the subject, either – combined with his own sons’ trophy-sporting pictures of elephant, leopard and buffalo carcasses being shared all over social media. To further contradict matters, Trump’s own International Wildlife Conservation Council is amassed with staunch hunting advocates. 

When you take out any personal morals and beliefs, you have to wonder if the FWS motives are indeed pure and selfless. One has to ask, can this ban lift logistically follow through with the growth of wildlife preservation through the financially-endowed operations of safari groups, and, moreover, can it be regulated in an principled and controlled platform?

Tragically, the number of Zambian elephants has depleted from 200,000 in 1972 to 21,000 in 2016. But, it’s important to keep in mind that these statistics are not nearly based on legal hunting. Similar to the rest of the world, the African continent has also seen a depletion in water and food, as well as a change in climate and survival requirements for all animals in the past several decades. Thus, even with a global community fighting against the ivory trade, the environment remains a common denominator in the imminent extinction of these beautiful creatures.

Still, while the FWS preaches, with the proper framework, these African countries could benefit wildly from this new focus, we have yet to see whether that would actually be for the conservative efforts leading their campaign, or the greedy undertones that naturally raise cause for concern. With Zimbabwe in military coup – its leader, Robert Mugabe, currently on house arrest – and a history of financial corruption in the hunting trade, it’s dubious to determine the FWS has any solid ground to stand on.

So, what can we do with this information? On the whole, turning our frustrations into logical forward motion is the best choice of action. In addition to signing the many circulating petitions to ban trophy hunting, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us">The Guardian</a> also provided 50 great resources that we can use in making impactful change on this important issue <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/13/what-can-i-do-to-help-elephants">here</a>.

Notably, Ellen Degeneres has launched a campaign #BeKindToElephants, in which all t-shirt proceeds will be donated to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, whose mission is to protect and preserve Africa’s wilderness and endangered denizens.

Whether you choose to donate, volunteer or take a frontline stance, your voice needs to be heard for the sake of an entire species. Let us remember the words of primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall, whom was an incredible ally to the ivory ban, “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help shall all be saved.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:drkcopy@gmail.com">Derek Kaplan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Behind the backlash on elephant trophy imports and why it matters

What are the motives behind the U.S. Fish and Wildlife...

Experts are reporting that teenage girls who binge drink on a frequent basis may fail to reach their peak bone mass. A study focused on 87 female college students revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-binge-drinking-causes-you-to-build-up-alcohol-tolerance/">binge drinking</a> in high school led to lower bone mass in the spine.

Dr. Joseph LaBrie is a professor of Psychology at <a href="https://www.lmu.edu/">Loyola Marymount University</a> who teamed up with Dr. Hawley Almstedt for the study. 

According to Dr. LaBrie, the research indicates that poor bone health can be added to the list of binge drinking risks for young women. Short-term risks such as alcohol poisoning, car accidents, poor academic performance, and sexual assault are more commonly associated with heavy drinking among young females.

The researchers found that lower bone mass was linked to heavy drinking even after accounting for other factors that influence bone density including nutrition, exercise, and smoking.

The female college students examined for the assessment were between the ages 18 and 20, when bone mass should still be increasing. Most women reach their peak bone density at the spine between the ages of 20 and 25.

The study participants reported on certain lifestyle factors, and measurements were taken of their bone density in the lumbar spine. The women were asked how often they had four or more alcoholic drinks within two hours during high school.

Women who had engaged in binge drinking frequently, which was considered to be about twice a month, had lower bone mass compared to those who had not. 

The results of this study expand upon previous discoveries that heavy drinking is associated with lower bone mass and higher fracture risk in older adults. In addition, previous research has demonstrated that the bones of young animals suffer from heavy alcohol consumption.

Dr. LaBrie pointed out that not reaching peak bone mass will increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis in the future.

“When we consider bone health, we always talk about things like exercise, calcium and vitamin D, and not smoking,” said Dr. LaBrie. “We may also need to talk about avoiding binge drinking.”

The research is published in the <a href="https://www.jsad.com/">Journal of Studies on Alcohol &amp; Drugs</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Girls who binge drink may not reach their peak bone density

Experts are reporting that teenage girls who binge drink on...

The ancient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/salmonella-poisoning-aztec-empire/">Aztec</a> and Mixtec civilizations of Central Mexico and Central America once revered the stunning, blue-green mineral known as turquoise, often including it in both artwork and jewelry. And for over a century and a half, scholars have believed that these civilizations attained the precious mineral through import from the American Southwest. 

But now, new research published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a> has revealed that the true geologic source of Aztec and Mixtec turquoise was actually Mesoamerica.

A research team led by geochemist Alyson Thibodeau, an assistant professor of earth sciences at <a href="https://www.dickinson.edu/">Dickinson College</a>, measured the isotopic signatures of Mesoamerican turquoise artifacts linked to both Aztecs and Mixtecs. Isotopic signatures act like fingerprints, and can be used to pinpoint the geologic origins of these minerals.

The researchers analyzed the lead and strontium isotopes from pieces of turquoise-encrusted mosaics, which were one of the major forms of ancient Mesoamerican art. They sampled dozens of turquoise mosaic tiles from the Templo Mayor – the ceremonial and ritual center of the Aztec empire. The researchers also analyzed five tiles associated with Mixteca-style objects from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Results showed that these artifacts had isotopic signatures consistent with the geology of Mesoamerica – not the Southwestern United States, as previously thought.

“This work revises our understanding of these relatively rare objects and provides a new perspective on the availability of turquoise, which was a highly valued luxury resource in ancient Mesoamerica,” says Thibodeau.

Thibodeau had doubted the 150-year-old belief that Mesoamerican civilizations imported turquoise from the Southwest, as she says it was never completely supported with evidence. Her new geochemical measurements in this study now prove her suspicions.

“These findings potentially re-shape our understanding of both the nature and extent of long-distance contacts between Mesoamerican and Southwestern societies,” Thibodeau says. “I hope this inspires people to be skeptical of claims.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Alyson M. Thibodeau

The surprising origins of ancient turquoise is revealed

The ancient Aztec and Mixtec civilizations of Central Mexico and Central...

People with an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/optimistic-patients-recover/">optimistic outlook on life</a> may be more susceptible to mass marketing scams, especially if there’s a large financial reward promised. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a> and <a href="https://www.scrippscollege.edu/about/">Scripps College</a> conducted a study to examine what factors drive people to fall victim to mass marketing scams, even when they understand the risks of identity theft and the scams themselves. 

If a mass marketing scam offers a large reward and the financial gains are looked at in a positive light, the researchers found that people are more likely to disregard the risks. 

“On the one hand, consumers are for the most part able to recognize potential scams. But the lure of the prize is largely driving individuals' behaviors, leading many of them to discount the possible risks,” Yaniv Hanoch, an author of the study, told the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5830827/Study-finds-people-glass-half-susceptible-scams.html">Daily Mail</a>. “The sentiment seems to be, ‘after all, what harm can be done by just responding to a letter?’” 

500 adults were asked to participate in the study and the researchers used 25 real scams that had been successful at baiting people in Los Angeles. The scams offered large rewards of up to $25,000. 

Some of the scams also had a fee that participants would have to pay to get the reward and the researchers wanted to see if activation fees deterred participants. 

Nearly half of all the participants said they were interested in responding to the scams, and the biggest determining factor was how each individual perceived the risks of the scam compared to the reward. 

Only a quarter of the participants indicated an interest in the scams that had activation fees which shows that fees do cause many people to lose interest. 

The researchers also found that people with less education were more susceptible to the mass marketing scams compared to people with higher degrees of education. 

“It's important to look at these factors so that consumer education can be improved and targeted,” said Hanoch. “Given that perception of benefits and risks were the most important factors in intention to comply in both experiments, one clear option is to encourage individuals to focus only on the risk and discount the benefits.” 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Optimistic people are more easily duped, study shows

People with an optimistic outlook on life may be more...

A new report from the <a href="https://www.plasticsurgery.org/">American Society of Plastic Surgeons</a> (ASPS) has revealed that body image is becoming more commonly discussed among men, and that more men are turning to plastic surgery to improve their confidence. The researchers found that over 1.3 million <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/risk-cosmetic-surgery-instagram/">cosmetic procedures</a> were performed in 2017 on men alone.

Dr. Lorelei Grunwaldt is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“More and more men are coming to my office to have an open discussion about their insecurities,” said Dr. Grunwaldt. 

“When I explain the wide range of surgeries and procedures available to help them achieve their goals, I can see the look of relief on their faces. For a lot of men, just having a procedure on an area of their body that they're self-conscious about can really make a positive impact on how they see themselves.”

According to Dr. Grunwaldt, a lot of young men are seeking out body contouring procedures. Statistics released by the ASPS showed that liposuction is up by 23 percent among males over the past five years, while tummy tucks are up by 12 percent. In addition, male breast reductions have increased by about 30 percent in that time.

Dr. Grunwaldt found that 19-year-old Landon Pringle had gynecomastia, a swelling of male breast tissue caused by hormones, and she performed surgery to remove the stubborn excess fat.

“After the procedure, his confidence went through the roof and led to even better results,” said Dr. Grunwaldt. “He felt more comfortable in his own skin and was motivated to get out and exercise and really take control of his weight loss.”

“Every time I step on the scale, I see a smaller number,” said Pringle. “In 2006, I was 299 pounds, and I had no idea what to do about it. Now I'm down to 204 pounds, and I know that wouldn't be possible without surgery to get the process started.”


Meanwhile, older men are more commonly enhancing their looks with minimally-invasive surgeries. In 2017, nearly 100,000 men had filler injections, which was a 99 percent increase compared to the year 2000.


“Some people call it the ‘executive edge’ because a lot of patients report that they want to look younger to continue to compete in the workplace,” said ASPS President Dr. Jeffrey Janis. “But I think, more often, men just want to look as young as they feel. That's where a board-certified plastic surgeon can help.”

Dr. Janis emphasized the importance of finding a board-certified surgeon to ensure that safe and ethical standards are used. These surgeons are also more versatile, offering a wide range of options to fit the needs of each individual patient.

“Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon is critical to your safety, your comfort and your happiness,” said Dr. Janis. “The extensive training that these doctors go through gives them the versatility to offer their patients more choices so that each person receives the right procedures to meet their goals.”

The ASPS is the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons, and is recognized as a leading authority on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

More men are turning to plastic surgery, new report finds

A new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[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;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[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"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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