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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Eating avocados during pregnancy reduces baby's allergy risk

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

The <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) may soon announce a new plan to rollback automobile fuel economy and emissions standards.

According to a new report by the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/climate/epa-cafe-auto-pollution-rollback.html?smid=fb-nytimes&amp;smtyp=cur">New York Times</a>, the plan not only sets the precedent for an increase in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/capture-conversion-carbon-emissions/">carbon emissions</a> in the United States, but could create a chain reaction of undoing emission and fuel policies worldwide. 

The plan also directly conflicts with an allowance in California that lets the state make their own decisions about fuel and emissions, with several states typically following suit including New York. 

California can require automakers to adhere to stricter standards and with the new EPA decision, there is a chance the state could end up fighting in court for the right to continue the practice.

“We’re going to defend first and foremost existing federal greenhouse gas standards,” Xavier Becerra, the Attorney General of California, told the New York Times. “We’re defending them because they’re good for the entire nation. No one should think it’s easy to undo something that’s been not just good for the country, but good for the planet.”

The new EPA plan directly contradicts policies put in place by the Obama Administration.

Dubbed Obama’s “climate change legacy,” the previous Administration's efforts included a plan to reduce tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions that would have drastically cut down on CO2 pollution and fuel consumption. 

The shift would have pushed the automotive industry towards making fuel-efficient cars, but after Trump’s inauguration, auto company executives argued that the new standards were unreasonable. 

Now, with the help of Scott Pruitt, now head of the EPA, the new plan will create fewer restrictions in the hopes of making cars more affordable. 

However, in doing so, carbon emissions and fuel consumption will increase and put the United States further behind in the battle against climate change. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

EPA set to rollback fuel and emissions standards for cars

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may soon announce a new...

A little more than a month after a 7.5 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, a 6.9 magnitude tremor occurred near the coast and triggered a tsunami warning earlier today. 

Papua New Guinea’s location within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pressure-released-earthquakes/">Pacific Ring of Fire</a>, a horseshoe-shaped string of volcanoes along the edges of the Pacific Ocean, makes seismic activity common. 

According to<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ring-fire/"> National Geographic</a>, 90 percent of all earthquakes occur in the Ring of Fire and 75 percent of the world’s active volcanoes are located in that region. 

Although no damage was reported, resort goers near where the quake struck felt the shaking and ran out of buildings in fear of collapse. 

“We felt the earthquake, everything was moving so we went out of the building,” May Dovon, a receptionist at the Rapopo Plantation Resort told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/30/earthquake-papua-new-guinea-tsunami-warning">The Guardian</a>. “Nothing was damaged.” 

The earthquake struck around 100 miles southwest of the town of Rabaul on New Britain Island. 

According to the Guardian, the area where the quake was felt was much remote than where the earlier 7.5 quake struck. 

The latest earthquake triggered a tsunami warning that was issued by the <a href="http://ptwc.weather.gov/">Pacific Tsunami Warning Center</a> which went out to all coastlines located within 200 miles of the epicenter of the earthquake. 

The tsunami warning was later called off, but while no damage has been reported for this quake the country is still recovering from the earlier quake. 

The February earthquake caused major landslides, damaged water supplies and killed 100 people. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Earthquake near Papua New Guinea triggers tsunami warning

A little more than a month after a 7.5 earthquake...

When we take pictures of special moments and events in our lives, we are hoping to preserve those memories for a long time. But now, researchers have found that the excessive use of smartphones to capture and share pictures not only takes some of the pleasure out of our experiences, but also alters the way that we remember them.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-sleep-social-media/">Social media</a> is undoubtedly the driving force behind a growing obsession with sharing, and often oversharing, images of our daily lives with others. A team of experts set out to investigate how social media use may affect or even change the experiences that we share online.

The researchers developed an experiment in which participants were instructed to take a self-guided tour of a church. Some individuals were given iPods to take pictures throughout the tour, while others were asked to simply take notes along the way without using any media.

After the fact, the participants were given an unexpected memory test and asked to report about their levels of engagement and enjoyment during the tour.

“Across three studies, participants without media consistently remembered their experience more precisely than participants who used media,” wrote the study authors. 

Emma Templeton is a researcher at <a href="http://home.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a> and the lead author of the study. She explained that smartphones have now become a “giant source of distraction” in our lives.

According to the experts, using a smartphone takes us out of the moment and ultimately changes the way we remember what has happened in our own lives.

The researchers concluded: “Together, these findings suggest that using media may prevent people from remembering the very events they are attempting to preserve.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-experimental-social-psychology/">Journal of Experimental Social Psychology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Taking pictures for social media causes you to miss the moment

When we take pictures of special moments and events in...

As experts and elected officials across the globe are developing and implementing strategies to offset the harmful impacts of human-induced climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to doubt the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">reliability of climate science</a>.

In a memo obtained by <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/">HuffPost</a> this week, regional staff members of the EPA are encouraged to openly question the impact of human activities on climate change.

The email includes eight talking points on how to discuss preparedness for natural disasters while emphasizing that the driving force behind our growing climate crisis is uncertain. 

According to HuffPost, one of the talking points recommended by the EPA states: “While there has been extensive research and a host of published reports on climate change, clear gaps remain including our understanding of the role of human activity and what we can do about it.”

Another talking point in the memo reads:

“Human activity impacts our changing climate in some manner. The ability to measure with precision the degree and extent of that impact, and what to do about it, are subject to continuing debate and dialogue.”

EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman defended the email, stating that the document is “not an official memo,” but is “simply an email among colleagues.”

President Trump and EPA administrator Scott Pruitt have consistently expressed doubt about climate change. 

Earlier this month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its latest four-year action plan without any mention of the phrase “climate change,” just as the EPA had done in its own strategic four-year plan last year. 

More recently, the EPA announced a new policy that will greatly limit the type of research that can be used as the basis for new environmental regulations. 

Critics argue that the policy, which requires raw data to substantiate scientific research, will enable the EPA to disregard important studies that are necessary to protect Americans from serious threats such as air and water pollution.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

EPA staff encouraged to question human impact on climate change

As experts and elected officials across the globe are developing...

How much would you be willing to pay for clean water, forest conservation, or flood control? For the people of <a href="http://time.com/4634937/flint-water-crisis-criminal-charges-bottled-water/">Flint, Michigan</a>, the recent water crisis has made access to safe drinking water a top priority. 

Some ecosystem service programs trade environmental protection services for a fee, but researchers from the <a href="https://missouri.edu/">University of Missouri</a> set out to determine which services the public was willing to pay for in different parts of the United States.

It turns out people are willing to pay more for improved water quality more than anything else, but the results show that when looking to implement an ecosystem service program, it’s important to start local as priorities change in different regions. 

For example, people who deal with frequent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-roads-flooding-frequently/">flood</a> damage would likely be more interested in programs that provide flood control. 

“People in different areas of the country have different priorities, and that's hard to coordinate at a national level,” said Francisco Aguilar, a member of the research team. “If someone lives in a floodplain, they are going to be a lot more willing to pay for flood controls. Still, people from around the nation consistently seem to be willing to pay for water quality improvements.”

The results were published in the journal Ecosystem Services.

For the study, the researchers surveyed more 1,000 U.S households nationwide. The participants in the survey were asked about their preferences for various hypothetical ecosystem services with a fee added to monthly utility bills. 

The results showed that clean water was a top priority nationwide but other services such as habitat protection and flood control programs had different levels of importance depending on each participant's locations. 

Landscape beauty was one of the services ranked least important for all the survey responders. 

The results show that location and attitude toward the environment are better indicators than income and demographics when it comes what services people are willing to pay for.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Study: Public willing to pay more for clean water, flood control

How much would you be willing to pay for clean...

A decade-long project set out to understand what life was like during the Triassic period all around the world. 

The Triassic period, 252 to 199 million years ago, followed a great mass extinction and saw the arrival of the earliest mammals and reptiles. These terrestrial species lived on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-mass-extinction-coal/">Pangea</a>, an early supercontinent where all the world’s land masses were connected. 

Researchers led by geologists from the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> wanted to find out what kind of evidence of the mass extinction and the Triassic could be found in other geographic regions. Their findings were released in a collection of articles published in Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.

“Most of what we know about the major mass extinction is from the South African Karoo Basin. I was always interested in understanding, do we see the exact same pattern around the world, or do we not?” Said Christian Sidor, a UW Biology Professor and curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the <a href="http://www.burkemuseum.org/">Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. </a>

The project resulted in the discovery of exciting new fossils and ecological breakthroughs.

A new lizard-like species called a procolophonid and an early dinosaur called a Teleocrater were both discovered as a result of new fieldwork. 

Sidor and a team of paleontologists visited the Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania five times and the Luangwa and mid-Zambezi basins of Zambia four times since 2007. 

The researchers collected fossils and examined museum specimens in order to fill in the gaps about Triassic life in different regions around the world.

The researchers were primarily looking for similarities in the fossil record across varied locations. 

“These papers highlight what a regional perspective we now have -- we have the same fossils from Tanzania, Antarctica, Namibia and more,” said Sidor. “We're getting a much better Southern Hemisphere perspective of what's going on in the Triassic.”

The fieldwork, studies, and articles also help explain how dinosaurs grew to be such a dominant group of reptiles. 

“This was a time when dinosaurs were just stepping onto the stage, and they were not very big and not very remarkable animals then,” said Sidor. “These papers really round out what dinosaurs were competing with before they became the dominant reptiles on land.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Christian Sidor/<a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a>

Piecing together what life was like during the Triassic Period

A decade-long project set out to understand what life was...

A new study from Dutch scientists has revealed that learning how to play an instrument enhances cognitive abilities in children and improves academic performance. Planning and inhibition, vocabulary, and memory were all found to be boosted by structured music lessons.

“Despite indications that music has beneficial effects on cognition, music is disappearing from general education curricula,” said lead author Dr. Artur Jaschke from <a href="https://www.vu.nl/en">VU University of Amsterdam</a>. 

“This inspired us to initiate a long-term study on the possible effects of music education on cognitive skills that may underlie academic achievement.”

The study was focused on 147 primary school <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kids-view-scientists-female/">children</a> with an average age of six, who were divided into four groups. The first group received music lessons at school, the second group received private lessons, a third group received only art lessons, and the final group received no music or art lessons.

After two and a half years, cognitive skills and academic performance were evaluated.Regardless of their skill level or the type of lessons taken, children who played music demonstrated the most brain improvement. 

“Children who received music lessons showed improved language-based reasoning and the ability to plan, organize and complete tasks, as well as improved academic achievement,” said Dr. Jaschke. 

“This suggests that the cognitive skills developed during music lessons can influence children's cognitive abilities in completely unrelated subjects, leading to overall improved academic performance.”

In addition, children who took visual arts classes showed significant improvements in visual and spatial short-term memory compared to students who did not take art classes.

Dr. Jaschke said: “Even though not everybody is a professional musician in the beginning, practicing an instrument and the discipline it takes can increase brain function.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience">Frontiers in Neuroscience</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Kids who learn an instrument have improved cognitive skills

A new study from Dutch scientists has revealed that learning...

A DNA analysis of humans from the late Stone Age revealed that contrary to previously held theories, our early ancestors interacted across large distances. 

An international team of researchers led by the <a href="http://www.shh.mpg.de/en">Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History</a> in Germany sequenced the genetic material from people who lived in Morocco during the late <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-humans-stone-age/">Stone Age</a>, around 15,000 years ago. 

The results of the research was published in the journal Science. 

A burial site in the Grotte des Pigeons near Taforalt in Morocco was chosen because it is an area known for periods of habitation throughout the years. 

“Grotte des Pigeons is a crucial site to understanding the human history of north-western Africa, since modern humans frequently inhabited this cave intensively during prolonged periods throughout the Middle and Later Stone Age,” said co-author Louise Humphrey from the <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/">Natural History Museum</a> in London.

The burial site, in particular, is associated with the Iberomaurusians who lived around 20,000 to 10,000 years ago. 

Previously, it was not believed that stone age people interacted across long distances but after sequencing the DNA of nine individuals found at the site, the researchers found genetic similarities between the Iberomaurusians and people from Sub-Saharan and Near East Africa. 

The DNA was the oldest DNA ever analyzed from Africa which according to the researchers is no small feat. 

The individuals from the Grotte des Pigeons likely interacted with populations from the Levant, a region made up of what is now Cyprus, Israel, Iraq, and parts of Turkey. 

In fact, the researcher found that two-thirds of the genetic heritage of the early humans from Morocco was similar to Levant populations and one third was related to Sub-Saharan Africans. 

This potentially means that populations across Africa and Eurasia were far more connected to each other than previously realized. 

What’s notable about this new discovery is the different barriers like the Sahara desert that would have made it difficult to make those kinds of connections possible. 

 “Clearly, human populations were interacting much more with groups from other, more distant areas, than was previously assumed,” said Johannes Krause, a co-senior author of the study. “This illustrates the ability of ancient genetics to add to our understanding of human history.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Stone age humans were connected across continents

A DNA analysis of humans from the late Stone Age...

The split between the Democrat and Republican parties in the United States seems to be widening every day. Divisive issues span from taxes and gun control to healthcare and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a>. Now, a new Gallup poll – detailed in <a href="about:blank">The Washington Post</a> – has found that fewer Republicans say they believe in a scientific consensus on climate change, while an increasing number of Democrats believe that the effects of global warming have already begun.

Unfortunately, it’s rather unsurprising that Republicans would trend this way. In the past year, President Trump withdrew from the 2015 Paris climate accord and removed climate change from a list of top national security threats, while also referring to global warming as a “hoax.” Luckily, for all those that side with the scientists on this issue, the results of the poll show that 9 out of 10 Democrats worry about global warming and believe it is caused by human activities. Despite this trend on the left, only one in three Republicans share that sentiment. Over two-thirds of Republicans believe that the seriousness of global warming is “generally exaggerated,” while only 1 in 25 Democrats do. Over the past year, these positions have shifted even further apart.

Of the more than 1,000 adults nationwide surveyed by Gallup, 45 percent believe that global warming will pose a serious threat in their lifetimes. This happens to be the highest overall percentage recorded since Gallup first asked the question over 20 years ago. This means that, even with these partisan divisions, almost half of Americans believe that effects of climate change have already begun. Still, the split between Democrats and Republicans on this question was 82 percent versus 34 percent agreeing respectively. For Democrats, that number is up almost 10 percent since early 2017. But for Republicans, the number dropped from 41 percent in 2017, to 34 percent for this poll.

One of the more worrying responses from Republicans was for the question of whether they agreed that most scientists believe global warming is occurring. Only 42 percent of Republicans said yes, which is down almost 10 percent from a year earlier and returns to a level last seen in 2014. Furthermore, only 35 percent of Republicans said they believe global warming is caused by human activities – down from 40 percent last year. While the point of science is progress, it seems like Republicans are regressing in their belief of a scientific consensus.

Individuals caught in the middle between the two parties also regressed in their beliefs about climate change. The number of Independents who believe global warming is caused by human behavior fell from 70 percent to 62 percent in the past year. 

Given these intensely partisan times, unfortunately it’s not very surprising that the public perception of science has also become political. This poll is really a microcosm for how divide our nation has become in the past year, and just like our changing climate, it doesn’t seem like it will get better anytime soon.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/03/28/partisan-split-on-climate-grows-even-as-u-s-fears-are-on-the-rise-poll-finds/?utm_term=.df7ceb16504a">Washington Post</a>

New poll shows widening political split on climate change

The split between the Democrat and Republican parties in the...

The largest organ in the human body is the skin, but researchers may have discovered a new organ that’s even bigger. 

A team of researchers from the <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/">New York University School of Medicine </a>happened upon the discovery while studying bile ducts in cancer patients. 

What the researchers found was a vast network of connected fluid-filled compartments held together in a web of collagen and elastin. 

Called the interstitium, it is found all over the body just beneath the top layer of skin and lines the digestive tract, arteries, and lungs. The researchers say that the organ acts as a shock absorber. 

The results were recently published in the Journal Scientific Reports. 

According to the researchers, the interstitium acts as a fluid highway and drains into the lymphatic system. The amount of fluid moving throughout the compartments could also help explain how water in the body is dispersed. 

“You're talking about the remaining extracellular fluid that's unaccounted for,” said Neil Theise, the co-senior author of the study in an interview with <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/interstitium-fluid-cells-organ-found-cancer-spd/">National Geographic.</a>

Scientists have long known that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/body-temperature-obesity/">human body</a> is made up of 70 percent water, two-thirds of which is found in the cells. Where the remaining fluid originates in the body has not been well understood until now. 

The reason the interstitium has gone undetected for so long is that traditional methods of examining tissue samples under a microscope drained the interstitium’s compartments leaving it flat. 

Studying a tissue sample involves treating thinly sliced tissue with chemicals. The chemicals dye certain features in the tissue but drain away all fluid. Theise and his colleagues happened across their discovery by looking at live tissue samples. 

“This fixation artifact of collapse has made a fluid-filled tissue type throughout the body appear solid in biopsy slides for decades, and our results correct for this to expand the anatomy of most tissues,” said Theise. “This finding has potential to drive dramatic advances in medicine, including the possibility that the direct sampling of interstitial fluid may become a powerful diagnostic tool.”

[caption id="attachment_1177873" align="aligncenter" width="780"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/new-organ.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1177873" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/new-organ.jpg" alt="" width="780" height="438" /></a> Image Credit: Jill Gregory/Mount Sinai Health System[/caption]

First, the researchers used a new technology that allows scientists to view living tissues with a camera probe. 

The research team was originally studying the spread of cancer in the bile duct of several patients, but in doing so the team noticed a connective web of cavities. Upon further inspection, this web of fluid-filled compartments was found all over the body. 

The new discovery is exciting with a lot of promising implications for furthering our understanding of the human body. 

However, because it is such a radical finding, future studies will need to be conducted before the interstitium is officially recognized as a new organ. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Newly discovered organ may be the largest in the human body

The largest organ in the human body is the skin,...

Woman Eating A Burger

Frequently eating out or grabbing something on the go increases your risk of exposure to potentially harmful levels of chemicals called phthalates, according to a new study. 

Phthalates are common in food packaging and processing materials such as to-go boxes, sandwich wrappers, and even the rubber gloves used for food handling. 

These chemicals have been associated with a wide range of health-problems, particularly affecting hormones. 

Researchers from the <a href="http://sph.berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health</a> and the <a href="https://publichealth.gwu.edu/">Milken Institute School of Public Health </a>compared levels of phthalates of people who reported eating out alot to those who preferred to eat at home. 

The results were published in the journal Environment International. 

“This study suggests food prepared at home is less likely to contain high levels of phthalates, chemicals linked to fertility problems, pregnancy complications, and other health issues,” said Ami Zota, the senior author of the study. “Our findings suggest that dining out may be an important, and previously under-recognized source of exposure to phthalates for the U.S. population.” 

The researchers collected data from the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm">National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey</a> (NHANES) between 2005 and 2014. 

There were 10,253 participants in the study who were asked to remember what they ate and where their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/filters-smoked-food-safer/">food</a> came from in the previous 24 hours. 

Once the data from the NHANES had been gathered and examined, the researchers made connections between the food that was consumed and the levels of phthalates found in the participants’ urine samples. 

The researchers found that those who had eaten out, particularly adolescents, had higher levels of phthalates. 

The results also showed that certain foods had higher levels than others in restaurants and fast food places. 

To limit your exposure to phthalates, the researchers suggest cooking more meals at home and buying food from the grocery store.

The study is a cause for concern as the researchers say two-thirds of the U.S population eats out every day, and future research is needed in order to find effective ways to remove the risk of phthalate exposure. 

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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

Image Credit: The Milken Institute School of Public Health

Eating out increases your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals

Frequently eating out or grabbing something on the go increases...

According to previous research, during the last ice age, humans migrated from Asia across a former land bridge to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-snow-north-america/">North America</a>. While making this move almost 12,000 years ago, they reached what is now the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, as well as coastal regions to the south. Unfortunately, much of this shoreline is now covered in dense forest and is only accessible by boat, which makes it tough for archaeologists to dig up evidence that supports this research.

However, a new study published in the open-access journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a> by Duncan McLaren and colleagues from the <a href="https://www.hakai.org/">Hakai Institute</a> <a href="https://www.uvic.ca/">and University of Victoria</a>, Canada, details the discovery of human footprints found off the Pacific coast of Canada, which could be 13,000 years old.

[caption id="attachment_1177854" align="aligncenter" width="996"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/canada-footprints.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1177854 size-large" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/canada-footprints-1024x832.jpg" alt="" width="996" height="809" /></a> Image Credit: Duncan McLaren[/caption]

For the study, the researchers excavated intertidal beach sediments along the shoreline of Calvert Island, British Columbia. In this area, the sea level is two to three meters lower than it was at the end of the last ice age. The researchers found 29 human footprints of at least three varying sizes in the sediment. Using radiocarbon dating, the team estimated the footprints to be roughly 13,000 years old. Through measurements and digital photographic analysis, they determined that the footprints likely belonged to two adults and a child, all of whom were barefoot.

This discovery indicates that humans were likely present on the west coast of British Columbia about 13,000 years ago – while the region was emerging from the last ice age. The research adds to a growing body of evidence that supports the hypothesis of humans using a coastal route to migrate from Asia to North America during the most recent ice age. 

The study’s authors believe that further excavations using more advanced methods would likely uncover even more human footprints around this area, and these discoveries would serve to help us better understand the patterns of early human settlement along the coast of North America.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

13,000-year old footprints discovered of Pacific coast of Canada

According to previous research, during the last ice age, humans...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[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

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" 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> 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

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" 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.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

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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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