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...

Research examining the environmental impacts of logging are crucial for implementing regulations and conservation measures in order to prevent population loss and habitat degradation. 

The effects of the logging industry on large species such as jaguars can be particularly devastating.

The loss of habitat and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/land-partnerships-protect-biodiversity/">biodiversity</a> is becoming a serious concern among conservationists, which is why some countries have implemented reduced impact logging operations as a means to help protect certain species. 

A new study reviewing these well-managed logging concessions in Peru and Guatemala found that jaguars do well if policies are put in place to strictly regulate logging areas. 

The study was conducted by researchers from <a href="http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org/">San Diego Zoo Global,</a> <a href="https://bronxzoo.com/">The Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society,</a> and the <a href="https://www.serfor.gob.pe/">Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre</a> in Lima, Peru. 

The results, published in the online journal Biological Conservation, are hopeful and suggest that logging operations and conservation are not mutually exclusive.

“Our findings indicate that certified logging operations can play an important role in maintaining vital habitat for jaguars and other large wildlife species,” said Mathias W. Tobler, the lead author of the study.

For the study, the researchers set up large-scale camera trap surveys that would record and monitor the number of jaguars in certain logging concession areas in Guatemala and Peru. 

The cameras captured 23 jaguars Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve and 43 jaguars in Peru's Madre de Dios region. Jaguars have unique spot patterns, so the researchers were able to accurately calculate the individuals in an area without fear of counting the same jaguar twice. 

The number of individual jaguars in the different areas were then used to create spatial capture-recapture models that calculated the total jaguar densities, or the estimated number of jaguars in the protected regions. 

In Guatemala, the researchers estimated that there 1.5 jaguars per 100 square kilometers and in Peru the density was 4.5 per 100 square kilometers. 

The team also found that strictly controlled logging roads, previously thought a hindrance to certain species, was helpful for the jaguars to move through the area. 

All in the all the results show that well managed logging operations with a goal of protection and conservation are successful in maintaining biodiversity. 

“Controlling access into an area and hunting of prey are paramount considerations for the objectives of preserving biodiversity and ecological function, both of which are selling points for certified lumber products,” said John Polisar, a co-author of the study. “The presence of jaguars in a logging concession is testimony that environmental guidelines are being followed.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Logging and conservation efforts can successfully coexist

Research examining the environmental impacts of logging are crucial for...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a> has revealed that nearly 40 percent of childhood asthma cases in Bradford are caused by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fetal-exposure-air-pollution/">air pollution</a> each year. Traffic-related air pollution, in particular, is responsible for at least 12 percent of asthma cases.

The team used a newly-developed model to investigate the impact of the gases that make up air pollution, or nitrogen oxides, on the development of asthma in children. 

The model combines data on four distinct scenarios of traffic, emissions, atmospheric dispersion, and health assessments to track the pollution all the way from its source to its impact in children.

While the experts estimated that traffic-related pollution contributed to 12 percent of asthma-related illness in children, this estimate had to be adjusted.

Study co-author Professor Mark Nieuwenhuijsen is the Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at <a href="https://www.isglobal.org/en">ISGlobal</a>.

“We knew our model was underestimating the traffic related fraction of air pollution,” said Professor Nieuwenhuijsen. “When we adjusted our results using actual measurements of air pollutants we saw that up to 24% of the annual cases could be attributable to traffic related air pollution.”


Study lead author Dr. Haneen Khreis said that traffic pollution is a major concern to the community of Bradford.  

“Overall rates of childhood asthma cases in Bradford are higher than the national average as were emergency hospital admissions for asthmatic children under 16 years of age,” said Dr. Khreis.

“Our team's previous research has shown that children exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution have a higher risk of developing asthma. Quantifying the number of childhood asthma cases that are directly attributable to traffic-related air pollution has not been done in the past and as we show now, a significant portion of cases is largely preventable.”

Dr. Khreis emphasized that, while proposed initiatives such as providing routes with cleaner air for pedestrians are important, traffic pollution mitigation strategies should not be restricted to localized areas.


“New policies aimed at reducing the effects of traffic-related air pollution need to target each link in the full chain of events - from traffic volume and type, to exhaust and non-exhaust emissions, to dispersion to exposure.”

“There is very little research that explores the impact of different exposure assessments,” said Professor Nieuwenhuijsen.

“Cases of childhood asthma have been steadily increasing since the 1950s. Future progress with childhood asthma requires a focus beyond controlling and treating the disease toward asthma prevention starting with reducing traffic related air pollution.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international/">Environment International</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

UK study: 40 percent of child asthma cases due to air pollution

A new study from the University of Leeds has revealed...

Researchers at the <a href="http://www.cnrs.fr/en/home/news/events.php">French National Centre for Scientific Research</a> (CNRS) have determined how we form an impression of other people when we hear them speak for the first time. Our first judgments are made based on the rise and fall of the voice, which is also known as intonation. 

People form mental images that represent the personality of another person according to the qualities of the individual's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/part-brain-remember-voices/">voice</a>. Now, for the first time, experts have developed models to visually express these mental representations.

The researchers created a computer program for voice manipulation called CLEESE. The software can assess the audio recording of a single word and randomly produce thousands of different pronunciations with unique notes.

The team analyzed the responses of study participants to find out which intonations made the word “hello” seem the most sincere and determined. 

The researchers discovered, for example, a French speaker must pronounce bonjour with an emphasis on the second syllable in order to sound determined. On the other hand, the pitch must rise quickly at the end of the word to make the speaker sound sincere.

Using CLEESE, the team was able to visualize the “code” people use to judge others by their voices. The study revealed that the same code applied, regardless of gender.

The team members have already used their system to analyze how words are interpreted by stroke survivors, who often have an altered perception of intonation.

Ultimately, the researchers want to use their method to detect inconsistencies in how people perceive language and hope to use CLEESE as a tool for patient rehabilitation.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Vocal intonations have huge impact on first impressions

Researchers at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)...

In 2016, the UK successfully cut carbon emissions from electricity production by 25 percent with an unprecedented transition from coal to natural gas. This strategy ultimately had the same effect of taking one in three cars off the road.

Researchers at <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a> are reporting that global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-emissions-save-lives/">carbon emissions</a> could be cut by 3 percent, or one gigaton, in less than five years if other countries adopted this strategy.

“Switching from coal to gas is not a long-term solution, but it is an important step to start reducing emissions quickly and at minimal cost,” said study co-author Dr. Iain Staffell. “This will give us time to build up the required renewable energy capacity to permanently cut global carbon emissions.”

Government policy has made it cheaper to burn gas than coal in the UK, and burning natural gas produces less than half the carbon dioxide of coal. 

The researchers found that carbon pricing, or charging those who emit carbon dioxide, was the main driver in the UK’s successful switch from coal to gas. Stronger policies have made it more profitable to burn natural gas in power plants.

The strategy used by the UK is easy to implement because it does not rely on building new infrastructure or increasing the capacity of existing facilities.

“Having a longer-term view, it is likely to prove vastly cheaper not to emit a ton of CO2 into the atmosphere over the near-term, rather than to have to take it back out of the atmosphere after 2050,” said co-author Dr. Grant Wilson.

“This is especially the case if the infrastructure has already been built but is underutilized. This report suggests that the option of fuel switching in the power sector deserves greater consideration to reduce emissions.”


The researchers analyzed the 30 largest coal-consuming countries to see if these savings could be replicated. Based on existing underused capacity, they estimated that annual carbon dioxide emissions could be cut by 0.8-1.2 gigatons if natural gas was burned instead of coal.

“To avoid the worst impacts of climate change we cannot afford to build new fossil-fuel power stations. Building high-carbon infrastructure, such as new gas power plants, is at least a 30-year commitment, which will further lock countries into dependence on carbon,” said Dr. Staffell.

“The UK is leading by example. In the last year all new power stations were renewable; powered by the wind and sun. With the cost of these new technologies coming down rapidly, the economic case for eliminating carbon-based electricity is very strong, but there are still difficult political issues to tackle.”

The UK has committed to becoming the world's first country to completely transition away from coal generation by 2025.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nenergy">Nature Energy</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

UK cut carbon emissions from electricity by 25 percent in 2016

In 2016, the UK successfully cut carbon emissions from electricity...

Cannabidiol, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabidiol-sold-online-mislabeled/">CBD</a>, is used for medicinal purposes to treat everything from anxiety to joint pain. Recent research even found that cannabidiol <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/24/health/cannabidiol-epilepsy-study/index.html">reduces</a> the number of convulsive seizures in children with epilepsy. 

Now, a new study has discovered that CBD may one day be an effective alternative treatment option for cocaine addiction and could help prevent relapse. 

CBD is an active compound in the cannabis plant but doesn’t have any of the psychoactive THC, so CBD users don’t get the “high” that comes with taking typical marijuana. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.scripps.edu/">Scripps Research Institute</a> in La Jolla, California conducted a study using rats recovering from cocaine addiction. 

The results, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, show that the rats were less likely to relapse even months after the study was conducted. 

CBD helps treat anxiety, depression, and stress, which is why the researchers think that it effectively works to treat addiction and aid in recovery. Stress, anxiety, mood swings, and increased cravings are all common symptoms during cocaine withdrawal and recovery. 

For the study, rats who were addicted to cocaine or alcohol were given a topical treatment of CBD in the form of a gel every day for a week. 

The gel was applied to the skin and the researchers tested the rats in several stress-inducing scenarios like covered mazes that could trigger claustrophobia. 

Impulsiveness was also measured in the rats as this could determine the likelihood of relapsing. 

After three days of treatment, the rats were less likely to relapse and the benefits lasted months after the CBD was administered. 

“The results provide proof of principle supporting the potential of CBD in relapse prevention along two dimensions: beneficial actions across several vulnerability states and long-lasting effects with only brief treatment,” said Friedbert Weiss, the lead author of the study.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cannabidiol in marijuana could help treat drug addiction

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is used for medicinal purposes to treat...

Due in large part to a devastating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-battle-opioid-crisis/">opioid epidemic</a>, drug-related deaths have become a major public health problem in the United States in recent years. More than half a million drug-related deaths occurred in the U.S. between 2006 and 2015 alone. But this epidemic isn’t affecting all regions equally. Certain areas across the country are carrying the majority of the economic, social, and emotional burden brought on by drug overdoses and drug-related deaths. 

The first national study of county-level differences in drug deaths within the U.S. – reported in the <a href="http://www.ajpmonline.org/">American Journal of Preventative Medicine</a> – has determined that addressing economic and social conditions will be our best hope for stemming the rising tide of this public health crisis. 

“The drug epidemic is a pressing concern among policymakers,” says Shannon M. Monnat, and associate professor of sociology at <a href="https://www.syracuse.edu/">Syracuse University</a>. “The media portrayal of the drug overdose epidemic has largely been that it is a national crisis. However, drug deaths are not randomly distributed across the US. My analyses show that some places in the US have much higher drug mortality rates than others.”

Monnat used data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Multiple-Cause of Death Files (2006-2015), US Census Bureau, US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development in order to study the associations between county-level drug-related mortality rates and the economic, social, and health care environments of specific counties. The results showed that the average county-level age-adjusted mortality rate due to drugs was 16.6 deaths per 100,000 people. However, there were significant geographic differences for the range of mortality rates, with some counties having more than 100 drug-related deaths per 100,000 people. 

The highest mortality rates were clustered in Appalachia, Oklahoma, northern California, and parts of the Southwest. The lowest mortality rates were found in Texas, the Great Plains, the Black Belt, and parts of the Northeast. Monnat found that average mortality rates were much higher in counties with more economic and family distress, as well as counties that were dependent on the mining industry. For counties with the highest levels of family distress – like divorce, separation, and single-parent families – their drug mortality rates were eight deaths per 100,000 higher on average than counties with the lowest level.

Other factors associated with lower average mortality rates include larger presence of religious establishments, greater percentage of recent immigrants, and counties with economies that were more reliant on public sector employment. Although there were no differences in average mortality rates between rural and urban counties, some rural counties – particularly those in Appalachia – have the highest mortality rates in the nation.

Monnat believes that social and economic environments are imperative for preventing these deaths, as they play a role in stress reduction, healthcare investment, and citizens’ knowledge about and ability to access services and social support. They also facilitate opportunities for social interaction, creating positive environments and outlets for people in the area. But the most important change we need to make may just be getting honest about the nationwide health crisis.

“We need to get real with ourselves about the US drug problem. We are not going to Narcan our way out of this,” Monnat laments, referring to the widely-used “miracle” drug that revives people after they’ve overdosed. “Opioids are a symptom of much larger social and economic problems. Just as other chronic diseases have underlying social determinants, addiction is also a social disease. ‘Addiction does not discriminate’ is a soundbite that ignores the reality that overdose rates are highest in economically distressed communities, particularly places that have experienced declines in job opportunities for people without a college degree. Addressing economic and social conditions will be key to reversing the rising tide of drug deaths.”

[caption id="attachment_1170890" align="aligncenter" width="771"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Drug-map.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1170890 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Drug-map.jpg" alt="" width="771" height="579" /></a> Image Credit: Shannon M. Monnat[/caption]

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Drug-related deaths hit hardest in these parts of the U.S.

Due in large part to a devastating opioid epidemic, drug-related...

New research from <a href="https://www.fsu.edu/">Florida State University</a> has revealed that our instincts are actually working to protect us from making mistakes. The team found that signals traveling from the gut to the brain guide our behavior to help us avoid getting into bad situations.

Gut-to-brain signals bounce back and forth along a nerve that wanders throughout our organs called the vagus nerve. This nerve monitors a range of activities in our bodies including hormonal response, heart rate, and digestion.

Neuroscientist Linda Rinaman teamed up with James Maniscalco from the University of Illinois to examine published studies on the link between the vagus nerve and behavior.

“The neuroscience of gut feelings has come a long way in my lifetime,” said Rinaman. “And we are learning more valuable lessons every day.”

The team found that our gut instincts have a major influence on our emotional state and behavior, particularly when we are in a troublesome situation or feel threatened. 

The vagus nerve is part of a complex protective system that guides our decisions, prompting us to re-evaluate a situation or avoid it altogether.

Previous research has provided evidence that an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/salt-hidden-bread/">unhealthy diet</a> can obstruct this protective process, leading to altered mood and behavior. 

Rinaman explained that the bacterial content of the gut is shaped by our diet and these bacteria have a significant influence on our emotional and cognitive state.

“Evidence shows that modifying the diet, perhaps by consuming probiotics, can impact your mood and behavioral state,” says Rinaman.

“But how does that work? Does it involve the microbiome that you feed in your gut and how those bacteria send signals back to the brain through the vagus nerve? That area of research has exploded in the last few years and, currently, there are many more questions than answers.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14697793">Physiology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists reveal why you should always trust your instincts

New research from Florida State University has revealed that our...

Social scientists at the <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/">NYU School of Medicine</a> are warning that most of the food and beverage products advertised by sponsors of major sports organizations are unhealthy. These endorsements are likely worsening the issue of child and adolescent obesity in the United States

The researchers found that the 10 most-watched sports organizations, including the NFL and NASCAR, promote <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/salt-dangerous-healthy-diet/">food products</a> that have little nutritional value. They based this information on the guidelines of the Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), which is used in in the United Kingdom and Australia.

The NPM system assigns a score to all foods, which are categorized by a point scale called the Nutrient Profile Index (NPI). Products that receive an NPI score of 64 or higher are considered to be nutritious.

The experts discovered that over 75 percent of the foods most widely promoted by sports organizations had an average NPI score of around 38.

The investigation was focused on sports sponsorship agreements between 2006 and 2016 across the ten sports with the most youth viewers.

The NFL led all organizations with 10 food and beverage sponsors, followed by the NHL with seven. Little League Baseball was found to have six sponsorships, which was both surprising and concerning to the researchers.


The NFL was also found to project by far the largest number of impressions through advertising among viewers between the ages of 2 and 17. A total of over 224 million television impressions and more than 93 million YouTube impressions were generated by the NFL to youths.

Marie Bragg is an assistant professor of Population Health and the study's lead author.

“The U.S. is in the throes of a child and adolescent obesity epidemic, and these findings suggest that sports organizations and many of their sponsors are contributing, directly and indirectly, to it,” said Bragg.

“Sports organizations need to develop more health-conscious marketing strategies that are aligned with recommendations from national medical associations.”

The study did not account for certain impressions made on young sports viewers, such as in-stadium advertising and sponsorship appearances during games.

“Unhealthy food and beverage promotion through organized sports is pervasive,” said Bragg. “These organizations must put forth a better effort to protect their youngest and most impressionable fans.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/">Pediatrics</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Major sports leagues promote unhealthy products, study finds

Social scientists at the NYU School of Medicine are warning...

Your parent's income may have a determining factor in how much control you feel over your life later on, according to a new study. 

Dara Shifrer, a sociology professor at <a href="https://www.pdx.edu/">Portland State University</a>, conducted the research and found that the higher a family’s income, the greater a child’s internal locus of control was. 

Her findings were recently published in the journal Society and Mental Health. 

Locus of control is the degree to which people feel control or agency over their lives. For example, someone with a low locus of control may constantly feel at the mercy of fate or other people. Those who do feel control over their lives understand that their future is mostly their own making. 

Shifrer’s research explains the role that wealth plays in internal control as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kids-view-scientists-female/">children</a> from higher income families typically have a higher education, better access to healthcare, and more successful careers. 

For her research, Shifrer collected data from the <a href="https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/nels88/">National Education Longitudinal Study</a> from 1988 through 1990.

Survey responses from 16,450 eighth graders in the United States were reviewed for the study, and Shifrer focused on different measures of socioeconomic status to better understand which had the greatest influence on locus of control. 

Some of the measurements of socioeconomic status included family income, parent’s occupation, parents race, and education.

Having a higher family income was linked to an internal locus of control for the children because there were more opportunities afforded them. 

According to Shifrer, parents with higher income discussed school more with their children, there were more resources and books in the home, the children typically got better grades and felt safer at school compared to families with low socioeconomic status. 

“We know income shapes the way people parent, shapes the peers that kids have, shapes the schools they attend,” said Shifrer. “It's not just kids' perception -- their lives are a little bit more out of control when they're poor.” 

What’s unfortunate is that the children who most need to feel control over their lives lack a crucial foundation to do so. 

The research could aid in future studies that examine the influencing factors behind child development.

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Rich kids feel more control over their lives, study finds

Your parent's income may have a determining factor in how...

A few houseplants can turn a bare, sterile space into one that’s much more inviting. They can help relieve stress and improve concentration. They even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-air-quality-home/">clean the air</a>, filtering out toxins and releasing fresh oxygen. But what happens when you want to add some growing greenery to a  windowless room or office? Luckily, some low-light houseplants can survive and even thrive in dim areas.

As long as you have plenty of artificial light – and maybe a small, full-spectrum desktop growing light – the following plants can bring a little cheerful nature to a gloomy space.
<h3>Pothos</h3>
Pothos is a versatile plant. There are varieties that send out trailing vines, and varieties that remain bushy and compact. Some have lovely variegated leaves. They tolerate low light well, making them great for bathrooms or other badly lit spaces. One downside: pothos plants are toxic, so keep them away from children and pets.
<h3>Spider plant</h3>
When kept on a desk, spider plants can help remove pollutants from the air, according to the <a href="https://www.almanac.com/plant/spider-plants">Old Farmer’s Almanac</a>. They tolerate low light, but do better with moderate, indirect light. A couple hours a day with a growing light can help them thrive. Spider plants are also non-toxic, making them a good choice for homes with pets – although like catnip, their leaves have a chemical that can turn cats into addicts. Determined cats can turn almost any room into a hostile environment for a spider plant!
<h3>Ferns</h3>
Several types of ferns tolerate low light well – after all, many ferns grow on forest floors, where light is filtered through layers of tree leaves and needles, making them ideal low-light houseplants. Try a bird’s nest, button, maidenhair or autumn fern for a low-light area. Many ferns are pet-safe, but some are not, so check the <a href="https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants">ASPCA Poisonous Plants</a> page to be safe.
<h3>Calathea</h3>
These tropical plants have brightly patterned leaves, often with touches of pink. Too much light, and the leaves lose their beauty, but they do need a little light each day, even if it’s artificial. These plants are picky when it comes to water – keep their soil moist, but not soggy!
<h3>Peace lily</h3>
Despite their name, peace lilies are not really lilies; they’re part of the Araceae family, not Liliaceae. Their white, yellow and green “flowers” are actually modified leaves. They like moist soil with good drainage and temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and do well without a lot of light. 
<h3>Sansevieria</h3>
Also known as snake plant and mother-in-law’s tongue, the spiky, upright leaves of sansevieria make a striking addition in a cubicle or to a side table. A snake plant would do well in an office with artificial lighting that is on for much of the day, but not so well in a room that’s often dark. They don’t require much water. Like pothos, sansevieria is toxic to people and pets when ingested.
<h3>Parlor palm</h3>
Also known as Chamaedorea elegans or the neanthe bella palm, parlor palms are slow-growing, low maintenance plants that are native to rainforest climates. As low-light houseplants, parlor palms thrive – in fact, they seem to prefer low light to bright or direct light. Water sparingly.
<h3>Cast-iron plant</h3>
Cast-iron plants are well-named, because they can do just fine in conditions many houseplants wouldn’t survive – low light, unreliable watering and general neglect. They’re not quite as flashy as some other plants, but their bright green leaves add a touch of color and life to dim areas.
<h3>Chinese evergreen</h3>
Another easy plant for beginners is the Chinese evergreen. The hardy tropical plant can thrive despite dry air, low light and dry soil. They do best in low to medium light. The attractive, variegated leaves make them great low-light houseplants to add to a plain space.
<h3>Swedish ivy</h3>
While it doesn’t look much like its English counterpart, Swedish ivy can also be planted in a hanging pot, allowing trailing fronds to decorate a bare corner. This is another plant that will benefit from a small growing lamp to make up for a lack of natural light. It’s considered an easy plant for beginners, according to the <a href="http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/houseplants/swedish-ivy.html">University of Florida’s Gardening Solutions</a> website.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

10 low-light houseplants for dim rooms or offices

A few houseplants can turn a bare, sterile space into...

A study led by the <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/">University of New South Wales</a> has revealed that some symptoms of aging could be reversed by replenishing two molecules that occur naturally in the body. The discovery could help improve physical performance in older adults.

The two molecules can be boosted to reverse an age-related decline of blood flow to tissues and organs. This restoration process successfully increased exercise capacity and physical endurance in mice.

The research has demonstrated, for the first time, that the body's capacity for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/regular-exercise-slows-aging/">exercise</a> decreases as levels of the metabolite NAD+ decline. 

When mice were treated with the NAD+ booster NMN and increasing levels of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), physical endurance was improved by over 60 percent in both young and old mice.

The study revealed that endothelial cells, the cells that line the blood vessels, are the primary driver of aging and are most likely the reason that older people feel like they have less energy.

“We become weaker and less fit after 50, and eventually succumb to diseases of aging,” said senior author Dr. David Sinclair. “Remarkably, by feeding mice NMN and H2S it restores NAD+ levels in endothelial cells and makes them believe they are young and exercised.”

“With exercise, the effect is even more dramatic. We saw 32-month-old mice, roughly equivalent to a 90-year-old human - receiving the combination of molecules for four weeks ran, on average, twice as far as untreated mice. Mice treated only with NMN alone ran 1.6 times further than untreated mice.”

The researchers found that the protein SIRT1 was stimulated in the mice, which led to the restoration of capillary formation in muscle.

“Age plays a critical role in the links between blood vessels and muscle, and points to a loss of NAD+ and SIRT1 as the reason people lose the capacity to exercise as they age,” said lead author Dr. Abhirup Das.

“It has significant impact on frailty because one of the main reasons for frailty is reduced blood flow that affects every part of our body. And reduced muscle function makes us weak. Our bodies already make NAD+ in our cells, but after 50 its levels drop dramatically.” 

“Exercise is a way to prevent decline in blood flow but these findings show that by restoring the levels of NAD+ in mice equivalent to 60 year old humans, we can get the same benefits of exercise.”

Dr. Sinclair and Dr. Lindsay Wu have been working for five years to make NAD+ boosters into therapeutic agents. The ultimate goal is the development of NMN-based drugs that replicate the benefits of exercise by increasing blood flow and oxygenation of muscles.

“This new study adds to the body of work showing that the restoration of NAD in mammals can delay and reverse many of the effects of aging. NAD+ boosters, particularly when combined with H2S, are some of the most promising molecules in medical research today,” said Dr. Sinclair.

The research could ultimately lead to improved mobility in older adults, better athletic ability, and could help to reduce the risk of age-related diseases like dementia, liver failure, and stroke.

“If these findings translate from mouse to human, we could have a revolutionary impact on the quality of life of older people,and not to mention the benefits of avoiding diseases of aging,” said Dr. Wu.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.cell.com/">Cell</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Some aging systems can be reversed to improve quality of life

A study led by the University of New South Wales...

A new study led by <a href="http://www.rice.edu/">Rice University</a> demonstrates how people who live abroad gain a better sense of who they are and what they value in life. The perception of oneself becomes more clearly defined and stable with age, and the researchers found that living abroad can accelerate the process of self-discovery.

The experts conducted six studies involving 1,874 participants, including some individuals who had never lived outside of their home country.

The study revealed that, while living abroad, people reflect on the differences in cultural values at home compared to their host country. This reflection allows individuals to distinguish between the values which define them and the cultural norms that were merely a part of where they were raised.  

“In a world where living-abroad experiences are increasingly common and technological advances make cross-cultural travel and communication ever easier, it is critical that research keeps pace with these developments and seeks to understand how they affect people,” wrote the study authors.

The researchers also found that the length of time an individual lives abroad has more of an influence on self-awareness than the number of foreign countries the person has lived in.

The experts explained that the longer people live abroad, the more self-discerning reflections they experience. As a result, they are likely to develop a stronger understanding of themselves and ultimately make better decisions such as career choices.

Previous research has shown that going through a major life transition such as a divorce or the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hitting-rock-bottom-opportunities/">loss of a job</a> can take away from a person's self-understanding. According to the study, traveling abroad has the opposite effect and increases the extent to which self-beliefs are clearly and confidently defined.

“Our studies demonstrate that living abroad affects the fundamental structure of the self-concept by enhancing its clarity. The German philosopher Hermann von Keyserling wrote in the epigraph to his 1919 book ‘The Travel Diary of a Philosopher,’ ‘The shortest path to oneself leads around the world.’ Almost 100 years later, our research provides empirical evidence in support of this idea,” wrote the researchers.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/organizational-behavior-and-human-decision-processes/">Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Living abroad found to improve sense of self and decision-making

A new study led by Rice University demonstrates how people...

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

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

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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