Young,Female,Tourist,In,Friendly,Contact,With,Cow,Met,In

City dwellers in the Netherlands have a curious way of clearing their heads. Rather than see a psychologist or seek therapy through other means, they hop on a train, ramble into the green lowlands, and hug a cow.



The practice, known as “koeknuffelen,” sounds quirky until you try it; within minutes most visitors feel their shoulders drop and their pulse slow.



Scientists have long suspected that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-cats-make-excellent-therapy-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal-assisted therapy</a> works in part because soft noses, steady heartbeats, and wordless company nudge our nervous system toward calm. 



Until now, almost every formal study has focused on dogs, cats, or the occasional rabbit. Cows, though, linger on the fringes - huge, sweet, and largely untested.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cuddling-cows-as-therapy">Cuddling cows as therapy</h2>



Two researchers - Dr. Katherine Compitus of <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York University</a> and Dr. Sonya Bierbower of the United States Military Academy at <a href="https://www.westpoint.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">West Point</a> - set out to change that. 



Their paper, “Cow Cuddling: Cognitive Considerations in Bovine-Assisted Therapy,” appears in the journal Human-Animal Interactions and may tip the field toward larger pasture-mates. 



Conducted at <a href="https://www.shsanctuary.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Surrey Hills Sanctuary</a> in New York State, the pilot project paired 11 volunteers, ages 13 to 79, with two mellow steers named Magnus and Callum.



The work used the 24-item <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312371308_HAIS_The_Human-Animal_Interaction_Scale_Manual" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human-Animal Interaction Scale</a>, a survey that captures how often people stroke, lean on, or otherwise connect with an animal and records the animal’s own moves in return. Each session lasted 45 minutes to prevent fatigue on either side of the fence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-cows-and-people-respond">How cows and people respond</h2>



Magnus and Callum greeted their guests with slow sniffs, accepted hay pellets from open palms, and even settled onto the grass for a shared lounge. 



When interested, they licked sleeves - a bovine version of social grooming - and, when finished, they simply rose and wandered off. Unfriendly gestures were scarce. 



One teenager admitted she had expected headbutts but, instead, “fell in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grass-scarcity-alters-cow-feed-and-dairy-products/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">love with cows</a>” before the session ended.



The steers’ preferences turned out to be surprisingly specific. 



“We have discovered in the current study that bovine-assisted therapy may not only be an effective treatment model that benefits human participants but appears to be enriching to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-makes-dairy-cows-produce-less-milk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cattle participants</a> as well, as shown by their proximity to and continuous interactions with humans,” Dr. Compitus said. 



The data also revealed a gender twist: the animals spent more time beside women than men, and the women, in turn, reported stronger feelings of attachment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-calm-signals-from-cow-therapy">Measuring calm signals from cow therapy</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-a-pill-stop-cows-from-burping-methane/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stress in cattle</a> shows up as loud calls, quick tail flicks, or rigid backs. None spiked during these cuddle sessions. Instead, the animals’ easy breathing and willingness to lie down suggested comfort. 



“Two of the gaps in the research we address in this study are the inclusion of cattle in AAT and an examination of the cognitive processes of animals involved in AAT,” Dr. Bierbower noted. 



For a field that often views animals as passive tools, tracking the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farmers-want-to-talk-to-their-cows-so-ai-is-helping-them-interpret-moos-and-burps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cow’s point of view</a> marks an important shift.



Therapists already use dogs to ease anxiety during dental visits and miniature horses to coax speech from children on the autism spectrum. Cattle bring a different scale. 



A mature steer may top 1,500 pounds, yet these gentle giants lower their heads for scratches much like a Labrador does. That contrast - immense size, peaceful manner - can amplify the sense of safety that therapy animals provide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-size-matters">Why size matters</h2>



Touch triggers a release of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oxytocin-holds-the-keys-to-both-your-heart-and-your-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxytocin</a>, sometimes called the “bonding hormone,” in both humans and many mammals. The hormone slows heart rate, reduces cortisol, and boosts feelings of trust. 



While a purring cat can spark that reaction, leaning against a broad cow magnifies the tactile cue: more surface area, deeper vibrations, and a steadier baseline heart rhythm.



Researchers in earlier dog-based trials found that even brief petting lowers blood pressure. The current cattle study hints the same benefit may hold when the animal outweighs the participant by a ton. 



Because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cattle-gallstones-insanely-valuable-are-the-new-must-have-item-in-global-smuggling-rings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cows live in herds</a> and often groom one another, they may already possess social wiring that lets them extend calm to another species.



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



Dr. Compitus reaffirmed that the therapy appeared enriching for the steers, citing their close proximity and continuous interactions with humans. 



Yet she also cautioned, “It is unclear without further testing whether the animals sought out the attention of women in general or if the women were more likely to initiate the actions when compared to the men participants.”



Future work will need larger herds, more diverse volunteers, and perhaps heart-rate monitors on both sides of the cuddle. It will also need to check whether cattle enjoy the work long-term or simply tolerate it for snacks. 



Ethical guidelines already require therapy dogs to rest between client visits; similar safeguards for bovine partners will be crucial.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-cow-cuddle-therapy">What's next for cow cuddle therapy?</h2>



Animal-assisted therapy grew from a fringe idea in the 1960s to a mainstream adjunct in hospitals and schools today. 



Adding cows may seem like a pastoral gimmick, yet the early numbers suggest genuine promise. Eleven participants is small, but every study starts somewhere, and Magnus and Callum appear to have opened the gate.



As Dr. Bierbower and Dr. Compitus refine their protocols, mental-health clinics might soon book time at local farms, giving stressed-out teens and weary adults a chance to swap city noise for the slow beat of a cud-chewing companion. 



If larger trials confirm the soothing power of a 1,500-pound hug, the phrase “therapy animal” could soon conjure more than wagging tails - it might also bring to mind a soft-eyed steer waiting beneath an open sky.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2024.0016" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human-Animal Interactions</a>.



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Cows who are 'cuddled' as therapy animals strongly prefer women over men

City dwellers in the Netherlands have a curious way of clearing their heads. Rather than see a psychologist or seek therapy through other means, they hop on a train, ramble into the green lowlands, and hug a cow. The practice, known as “koeknuffelen,” sounds quirky until you try it; within minutes most visitors feel their shoulders drop and their pulse slow. Scientists have long suspected that animal-assisted therapy works in part because soft noses, steady heartbeats, and wordless company nudge our nervous system toward calm. Until now,...

The Mediterranean diet consists of eating primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish and poultry, replacing butter with healthy fats like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-chocolate-cardiovascular-health/">olive oil</a> and limiting red meat consumption.

Inspired by the recipes and food culture of the countries along the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean diet is a way to encourage people eat clean, healthy foods. 

But now, a new study has found that the Mediterranean diet also helps protect seniors from becoming frail and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

The study was led by Kate Walters and Gotaro Kojima from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> and published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 

The results show that the Mediterranean diet could help maintain muscle strength and health in older adults. 

Frailty is a common problem for senior citizens and can be linked to an increase in falls, fractures, dementia, disability, requiring hospitalization or even placement in a nursing home. 

Walters and Kojima were curious to see how important nutrition and healthy eating are in reducing the risk of frailty. 

The research team examined four studies that took place in France, Spain, Italy, and China and each showed some link between sticking to the Mediterranean diet and reducing the risk of frailty as people aged. 

“We found the evidence was very consistent that older people who follow a Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of becoming frail,” said Walters. “People who followed a Mediterranean diet the most were overall less than half as likely to become frail over a nearly four-year period compared with those who followed it the least.” 

The Mediterranean diet also promotes heart health, weight loss, and can help maintain muscle strength and energy.

Walters notes that because the study was only an analysis of previous research, further studies will need to be done to understand exactly to what extent the Mediterranean diet reduces frailty.

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Mediterranean diet can help seniors from becoming frail

The Mediterranean diet consists of eating primarily fruits, vegetables, whole...

Grocery shopping trends are shifting in America, and the result will be a faster, cheaper, and more streamlined experience for consumers. According to a new study, stores like European grocer Aldi are disrupting the market by offering better prices.

Walmart was once in a position to become the future of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/online-food-shopping-healthy/">grocery shopping</a> by offering customers an abundance of discounted options. Study co-author Sayan Chatterjee is a professor of Strategy at <a href="https://case.edu/">Case Western Reserve University</a>.


“It's all about limiting choice,” said Chatterjee.

He explained that Aldi has been successful by utilizing a single supplier for most of its products and targeting Walmart's customers.

This strategy has simplified quality control and has helped Aldi’s products consistently meet the standards of middle-class consumers. The company targets customers who are cost-conscious and do not mind a limited selection of products.

Large supermarkets stock around 30,000 products of varying degrees of quality, but Aldi has about 1,400 single-sourced products. Most of the products are labeled in-house, allowing Aldi to offer lower prices. As a result, Aldi increased overall sales by 15 percent in 2016, while Walmart only saw a two percent rise in sales during the same year.

“Aldi has invented a new business model that provides similar quality groceries at a price point well below others,” said Chatterjee. “They have taken enough of Walmart's customers to have forced the retail giant to lower its prices in response and refocus its strategy.”

The study highlights many other strategies used by Aldi, including the use of small stores to reduce overhead and speed up the shopping experience. In addition, Aldi charges for shopping bags and carts, and sets up stores next to supermarkets to attract some of their customer base.

“Price is increasingly winning over brand loyalty, and Aldi is winning on price,” said Chatterjee.

According to the researchers, Aldi is also trying to appeal to more upscale customers by accepting credit cards and offering more organic products.

“This competition is good for consumers and beneficial for the economy,” said Chatterjee.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/sl">Strategy and Leadership</a>.

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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

Grocery stores are changing to become smaller, cheaper, faster

Grocery shopping trends are shifting in America, and the result...

As many of us are aware, poor diet is a leading risk factor for obesity and life-threatening diseases like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. While we can encourage each other to have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/getting-sleep-healthier-diet/">healthier diets</a>, sometimes a little more incentive is needed to get someone to improve their eating habits. 

An original analysis from researchers at <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/">New York University</a> College of Global Public Health and <a href="https://www.tufts.edu/">Tufts University</a> Friedman School of Nutrition Science has found that a federal tax on junk food is both legally and administratively feasible. Published online in the <a href="http://ajph.aphapublications.org/">American Journal of Public Health</a>, the article indicates that enacting an excise tax paid by junk food manufacturers would be more effective than a sales tax paid for by consumers.

“Economic and social environments can influence food choice in beneficial and harmful directions,” says Jennifer L. Pomeranz, JD, MPH, an assistant professor of public health policy and management at NYU College of Global Public Health and the article’s lead author. “Our finding that a federal manufacturer excise junk food tax – defined through product category or combined category-nutrient approaches – appears to be legally and administratively feasible and has strong implications for nutrition policy.”

Although local taxes on soda and other sugary beverages are increasing in both popularity and political acceptance, a push for a national soda or junk food tax has yet to gain any traction. Important policy questions surrounding such a measure include how these taxed foods would be defined and what that appropriated taxing mechanism would be. To address these questions, the research team looked over scientific literature, recent legislative experiences from the U.S. and other countries on defining targeted foods, U.S. federal taxing and administrative mechanisms, and potential differences by tax type and purpose.

The team identified four methods of classifying foods: by product category (such as soda or candy), broad nutrient criteria, specific nutrients or calories, or a combination. Some of their findings recommended a graduated taxation strategy, meaning that the tax increases as the nutritional quality of the food decreases. Along those same lines, local U.S. junk food tax bills and laws, international junk food laws, and U.S. soda taxes supported taxing foods using nutrient-based, category-based, or combination approaches. The categories that were targeted for taxation most frequently were sugar-sweetened beverages, candy, processed meat products, and sweet and salty snacks.

Analysis also showed that between sales or excise tax, it was determined excise tax would be the most administratively feasible. Excise taxes are usually charged to the manufacturer, distribution, or sale of commodities – rather than the consumer. The U.S. manufacturer excise taxes on alcohol – based on ingredient levels and processing – presented the researchers with an informative model that could also be adopted for junk food taxes.

“One advantage of a manufacturer excise tax is that food companies may be incentivized to reformulate their products if nutrition criteria are incorporated into the tax,” says Pomeranz.

Ultimately, the research team found that a federal excise tax on junk food is both feasible and potentially beneficial to the general public. “Junk food taxes have the potential to substantially reduce the disease burden that results from unhealthy food and beverage consumption in the United States,” concludes Renata Micha, RD, PhD, an associate research professor at the Friedman School at Tufts and one of the study’s senior authors.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Could a national junk food tax curb obesity in America?

As many of us are aware, poor diet is a...

The phenomenon of urban agriculture has become increasingly more apparent over the years – whether the gardens and plants themselves are community projects or simply provide some greenery to the drab concrete and brick. While it may seem that the benefits of these plantings are only local and somewhat limited, they may actually provide a significant environmental impact when considered collectively.

New research from collaboration between <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State University</a> and Google provides an assessment of the value of urban agriculture, and the benefits it provides on a global scale. The findings are presented in “A Global Geospatial Ecosystems Services Estimate of Urban Agriculture,” in the current issue of <a href="http://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2328-4277/">Earth's Future</a>.

“For the first time, we have a data-driven approach that quantifies the ecosystem benefits from urban agriculture,” says Matei Georgescu, an ASU associate professor of geographical sciences and urban planning and corresponding author of the paper. “Our estimates of ecosystem services show potential for millions of tons of food production, thousands of tons of nitrogen sequestration, billions of kilowatt hours of energy savings and billions of cubic meters of avoided storm runoff from agriculture in urban areas.”

Using the Google Earth Engine, the researchers analyzed global population, urban, meteorological, terrain, and Good and Agricultural Organization (FAO) datasets to arrive at their global scale estimates – and then aggregated them by country. The estimated value of four ecosystems services resulting from existing vegetation in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-grow-faster-cities/">urban areas</a> was found to be roughly $33 billion. This includes a projected annual food production of 100 to 180 million tons and energy savings of 14 to 15 billion kilowatt-hours.

If urban agriculture is implemented on a global scale, the overall annual worth is estimated to be as much as $80 to $160 billion, and could help feed a world that faces future challenges to industrial agriculture as a result of climate change. “We’ve known there are benefits to having these small plots of land in our cities, but we found that the benefits extend well beyond having fresh food in the hands of those who will consume it,” explains lead author Nicholas Clinton of Google, Inc. These benefits include improved access to healthy foods, and increased urban nitrogen fixation, pollination and control of storm water runoff, among others.

“Relatively temperate, developed or developing countries with the right mix of crops are expected to have the greatest incentives for urban agriculture,” he said. “These would include China, Japan, Germany and the U.S.,” says Clinton.

Overall, the research team found that the environmental and societal benefits of urban agriculture extend well beyond what we once previously thought. It would stand for the benefit of everyone if cities and countries looked to improve their urban agricultural efforts.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The benefits of urban agriculture may be greater than we thought

The phenomenon of urban agriculture has become increasingly more apparent...

Researchers have found that many consumers choose to conveniently forget that products have been made unethically. A series of tests revealed that consumers chose to forget the knowledge that certain desks were made with wood from rainforests or that jeans were made by child laborers. 

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/group-accuses-tv-makers-of-misleading-consumers-about-energy-consumption/">consumers</a> not only forgot certain facts but also sometimes remembered the facts differently, stating that products were produced ethically when they actually were not.

“It's not necessarily a conscious decision by consumers to forget what they don't want to know,” said study co-author Rebecca Reczek, an associate professor of Marketing at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a>. “It is a learned coping mechanism to tune out uncomfortable information because it makes their lives easier.”

For one of the tests, 236 college students were asked to memorize descriptions of six fictitious brands of desks. The descriptions discussed quality, price, and the source of the wood, which was either obtained from sustainable tree farms or endangered rainforests.

Immediately after becoming informed of the source of the wood for the desks, the participants accurately recalled where the wood came from 94 percent of the time. 

After 15 to 20 minutes of distractions, however, participants could recall where the wood came from 60 percent of the time if the desk was sourced from tree farms, and only 45 percent of time when wood was sourced from rainforests.

“It is not that the participants didn't pay attention to where the wood came from. We know that they successfully memorized that information,” said study co-author Daniel Zane.

“But they forget it in this systematic pattern. They remembered the quality and price attributes of the desks. It is only the ethical attributes that cause people to be willfully ignorant.”

For a second evaluation, 402 online participants were instructed to put together an outfit that included a pair of jeans. Half of the individuals were shown a brand of jeans that was described as being made with child labor, while the other half were presented with a brand of jeans made ethically.

Much like the first study, people who saw the jeans made with child labor were much less likely to remember this information than the others.

A third study suggested that forgetting this type of information makes consumers feel better about themselves. 

For this analysis, a hypothetical person named Chris was described to the participants. Chris had bought a pair of jeans made with child labor and had prior knowledge of this. Some individuals were told that Chris forgot that the jeans had been made unethically when he bought them, while other participants were told that he did not forget yet simply ignored this fact. 

“What we found is that people judged the person who forgot the ethical information as more moral than the person who ignored the information,” said Reczec.”So, for most people, forgetting is seen as the more acceptable coping strategy.”

The study is published online in the <a href="http://www.ejcr.org/">Journal of Consumer Research</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Consumers think ignorance is bliss when it comes to child labor

Researchers have found that many consumers choose to conveniently forget...

Melatonin, produced in the pineal gland in the brain, is a key player in regulating sleep and the body’s natural sleep/wake cycle.

The sleep/wake cycle, also known as the circadian or biological clock, is present in many animals including mammals and single-celled organisms. 

The circadian clock’s main function is to monitor our bodies, helping us sleep when it’s dark and be active during the day. 

Jet-lag, an irregular sleep pattern, or shift-work can disrupt our biological clock and cause many health problems such as sleep disorders, a lowered immune system, weight gain, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Melatonin treatments have been successfully used to help circadian clock disruptions and improve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/getting-sleep-healthier-diet/">sleep</a> for shift-workers and those affected by jet-lag. 

Now, new research reveals that melatonin could also help promote healthy physical and mental aging, with exciting implications in Alzheimer's disease studies.

A new review of melatonin treatments in regards to sleep disorders published in the British Journal of Pharmacology highlights the links between melatonin, our circadian rhythm, and diseases. 

“Deviant circadian rhythms and poor sleep quality are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive diseases, as well poor quality of life and increased risks of premature death,”  said Dr. Nava Zisapel from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il/">Tel Aviv University</a>, in Israel, the author of the review. 

Zisapel shows that melatonin treatments could be used for more than just regulating healthy sleep and could help with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's because of the role sleep plays in memory and cognitive functioning. 

“In healthy humans, periods of sleep following learning, consistently enhanced retention of the learned material in a variety of memory tasks compared to wakefulness,” writes Zisapel in his review. “Considering the role of sleep in memory consolidation it is not surprising that insufficient sleep can reduce cognitive ability including attention and memory.”

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Melatonin can help promote healthy aging and regulate sleep

Melatonin, produced in the pineal gland in the brain, is...

A new study from <a href="https://www.duke.edu/">Duke University</a> shows that women are more likely to survive times of crisis than men. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prehistoric-women-stronger-arms/">Women</a> now live up to 10 years longer than men, and the new research suggests that this is also the case during the worst of circumstances.

The experts found that, in times of adversity, newborn girls are more likely to survive than boys. The researchers say that the fact that women have an advantage over men even in infancy, which is before behavioral differences between the sexes have developed, suggests that the explanation must be biological.

The research team analyzed mortality data for people who lost their lives to famine, disease, or other crises dating back around 250 years. The data covered seven different populations of individuals whose life expectancy was only 20 years or less, including slaves in Trinidad and the United States in the early 1800s and famine victims in Sweden.

Freed American slaves who were relocated to Liberia in the 1800s experienced the highest mortality rates ever recorded. More than 40 percent died during their first year, which was most likely the result of exposure to tropical diseases.

In the 1840s, a potato blight caused widespread crop failure in Ireland and life expectancy dropped by more than 15 years.

The study revealed that women live longer than men by an average of 6 months to 4 years even when mortality rates are very high for both sexes. For example, girls born during a famine that struck the Ukraine in 1933 lived 50 percent longer than boys.

When the researchers categorized their results by age group, they found that most of the female survival advantage comes from differences in infant mortality. Newborn girls are more resilient than newborn boys.

The findings indicate that the life expectancy gender gap cannot be fully attributed to social differences between the sexes, such as violence and risky behavior. The female advantage in times of crisis may be due primarily to biological factors such as genetics or hormones.

Estrogens, for example, have been shown to strengthen the body's immunity to infectious disease.

“Our results add another piece to the puzzle of gender differences in survival,” said the study authors. 

The research team was led by Virginia Zarulli, an assistant professor at the <a href="https://www.sdu.dk/en/">University of Southern Denmark</a>. The study is published in <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

Women live longer than men, even in the worst circumstances

A new study from Duke University shows that women are...

The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/index.htm">Centers for Disease Control</a> reports that roughly 36.5 million US adults smoke cigarettes and more than 16 million people in the United States have a smoking-related disease.

Even though <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heavy-drinking-visibly-age/">smoking</a> rates are going down, thanks to higher taxes, packaging and marketing tactics, smoking-related diseases and deaths are still a major health concern worldwide. 

A new study, conducted by researchers from the<a href="http://www.qmul.ac.uk/"> Queen Mary University of London</a>, found that at least 61 percent of people who try a cigarette become daily smokers, at least temporarily.

The main goal of the study was to show how prevalent experimenting with smoking during early adolescence and adulthood is in developing a smoking addiction. 

The researchers examined datasets from eight surveys collected from the <a href="http://www.healthdata.org/about/ghdx">Global Health Data Exchange</a> that dealt with smoking and trying a cigarette for the first time. 

The surveys took place in the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand and had combined over 215,000 survey respondents. 

“This is the first time that the remarkable hold that cigarettes can establish after a single experience has been documented from such a large set of data,” said Professor Peter Hajek, the lead researcher. 

After analyzing the data, the researchers’ calculations showed that 60.3 percent of the survey respondents said they had tried a cigarette and of those, nearly 69 percent admitted to transitioning to a daily smoking habit. 

However, because of the diverse nature of the data and the different methodologies employed by each survey, the results come with a wide margin of error.

Even with the study’s limitations, the research shows experimenting early on with cigarettes is a major factor in addiction later in life.

“In the development of any addictive behavior, the move from experimentation to daily practice is an important landmark, as it implies that a recreational activity is turning into a compulsive need,” said Hajek. “We've found that the conversion rate from 'first-time smoker' to 'daily smoker' is surprisingly high, which helps confirm the importance of preventing cigarette experimentation in the first place.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Most people who try cigarettes become smokers, study finds

The Centers for Disease Control reports that roughly 36.5 million...

Researchers from <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/">King's College London</a> are reporting that getting more sleep each night can help reduce a person's sugar intake and lead to an overall healthier diet.

Lack of <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/sleep-risk-depression-anxiety/">sleep</a> can make an individual more prone to certain conditions such as obesity and cardio-metabolic disease. According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, one out of every three adults is not getting enough sleep.

The researchers developed a trial for adults who were getting less than the recommended seven hours per night to see if it was feasible for them to get more sleep. The team also set out to investigate the impact that extended sleep may have on nutrient intake.

21 participants were given a 45-minute sleep consultation with the goal of extending their sleep by up to 1.5 hours per night. A control group, which was also made up of 21 participants, received no sleep intervention.

After the consultation, the individuals kept food diaries and wore sleep monitors for seven days. The sleep trackers measured how long the participants slept and also how long they were in bed before falling asleep.

The study revealed that getting more sleep resulted in a 10-gram reduction in sugar intake. The participants who extended their amount of sleep also reported a decline in their overall intake of carbohydrates.

“The fact that extending sleep led to a reduction in intake of free sugars, by which we mean the sugars that are added to foods by manufacturers or in cooking at home as well as sugars in honey, syrups and fruit juice, suggests that a simple change in lifestyle may really help people to consume healthier diets,” said study co-author Dr. Wendy Hall.


The study also showed that 86 percent of those who received a sleep consultation increased time spent in bed, while half increased their sleep duration by 52 to 90 minutes. Three participants achieved a weekly average within the recommended seven to nine hours.


There were indications, however, that the extended sleep may have been of lesser quality than the control group. The researchers concluded that an adjustment period is needed to get used to the new routine.

“Sleep duration and quality is an area of increasing public health concern and has been linked as a risk factor for various conditions,” said lead author Haya Al Khatib. “We have shown that sleep habits can be changed with relative ease in healthy adults using a personalized approach.”

“Our results also suggest that increasing time in bed for an hour or so longer may lead to healthier food choices. This further strengthens the link between short sleep and poorer quality diets that has already been observed by previous studies.”

“We hope to investigate this finding further with longer-term studies examining nutrient intake and continued adherence to sleep extension behaviours in more detail, especially in populations at risk of obesity or cardio-vascular disease,” said Khatib.

The study is published in the <a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/">American Journal of Clinical Nutrition</a>.

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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

Getting more sleep helps you keep a healthier diet

Researchers from King's College London are reporting that getting more...

A friend of mine, Sasa, volunteered at the UN climate change conference COP23.  While she was there, she emailed me about a group, Guardians of the Forest, who visited COP23 to be heard.  

Guardians of the Forest went on a bus tour, reaching at the end Bonn, the host of COP23.  Along the way, Guardians of the Forest organized events in Cologne, Brussels, Paris, London, Amsterdam and Berlin.  The goal of the tour was to raise awareness of the plight of native peoples and their unique position in preserving natural environments.  

Guardians of the Forest is a group of indigenous people from all over the world, dedicated to conserving the environments they live in, the very source of their lives and unique cultures.  Sasa and I met in Madagascar, where we worked with local people on reforestation efforts; involving indigenous people in saving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mining-deforestation-amazon-rainforest/">rainforests</a> seems essential to both of us.  It goes beyond just rain forests in exotic locations though, it’s something that applies to landscapes, environments and species in the US.  It is important not to fall into the trap of thinking of native people as ‘noble savages’ who always look out for the environment.  The picture is complex but native cultures can show us different perspectives on the environment, something we desperately need.  In our western, science saturated society, animals, plants, even mountains are often seen as objects or ‘resources’, something to be used.  It’s of incredible importance to talk to people who see these things as a part of home.  Would the apple tree under which you shared your first kiss or buried your dog be a resource?

Mina Setra, a Guardian of the Forest of Indonesia, says it eloquently, “We (indigenous people) look after our forest; it is our life, our home and home of our ancestors. We are the best Guardians of the forest."

According to the Guardians of the Forest website, 40% of murdered environmental defenders in 2016 were indigenous peoples.  At the same time, indigenous peoples make up only 5% of the world’s population.  Some of these were people fighting not only for the environment but demanding basic rights and respect from large corporations like oil companies and their own governments.  The brutality and ambivalence faced by indigenous environmentalists worldwide is also mirrored in how native peoples in the US are treated.  The Standing Rock Sioux were virtually ignored by the government in their demand that no pipeline be put through their land, endangering their water supply.  Police descended on the Standing Rock protestors with concussion grenades, tear gas and violence.  

We also see how governments ignore these marginalized people in reference to Bear’s Ears National Monument.  The monument was declared because of a request from an alliance of several Native American governments.  Bear’s Ears was set to be the first national monument co-managed by Native American groups.  When Donald Trump shrank the monument by 85% he ignored this Indigenous input.  Ryan Zinke, Trump’s secretary of the interior didn’t even meet with Native American leaders before suggesting the reduction of the National Monument.

Native groups are incredibly important to the environment the world over.  Some national parks in Africa initially forced local indigenous people out, only to the detriment of the environment.  Some ecological interactions involve humans; even you and I.  Traditional people are usually more keenly aware of being part of a bigger ecosystem.  Traditional knowledge, local specific knowledge of an environment is key to finding our way back to a natural balance within the environment.

In Brazil, large tracts of rainforest have been left alone for the time being, with traffic into them severely limited.  These forests are preserved not for the environment itself but to give the native peoples living uncontacted within the right to maintain their traditional lifestyle.  Working for these native people’s rights also has the added benefit of course of preserving pristine Amazonian forest.

The Guardians of the Forest make the problems indigenous people face very clear as well as the cause of it.  Olo Villalaz from Gunayala tribe in Panama, also a member of AMBP an alliance of native peoples and forests said, 

“People were very interested for our bus tour, we brought a message about situation in the rainforest, and how we all have to unite  to save the world and how they can help. People in Europe usually do not know that soya come from bloody place for us, indigenous people. However, when people in Europe became aware of that, they want to start using sustainable products. The other threat for indigenous people is a mining expansion; especially it is a problem in Colombia. In Hamburg and other ports in Europe, it is possible to see mountains of charcoal that was brought from these mines. 

Even that developed countries are looking for sustainable production and renewable energy, they still rely on the coal for the energy production, and many people in developing countries, especially indigenous communities, are suffering because of that. Many companies are still using destructive methods to extract the commodities. It is necessary to speak to politicians, to explain what is happening in our countries, and that sustainable development is a necessity”  

Environmental justice was a big subject at the round table the Guardians of the forest took part in.  It brings to mind that environmentalism isn’t just about creating a nice place to play, it is about a way of life and living itself for the most vulnerable.  We must remember that our actions as consumers as interconnected people in a web of species have long reaching consequences.  

David, from Guarani tribe in Brazil “Everything has its spirits, every single element of nature taught us how to live. People that are disconnected from the nature are trying to kill us, remove us from our home. We are only defending our way of living, which is the most sacred to us. We have wisdom to leave in the nature; we are all leaving in the big communities via the voices of our ancestors. Day by day. We need to respect our land, she is our mother, and she teach us how to live in the harmony”.

Most of the problems that Indigenous people face are coming from overconsumption of the developed world; palm oil, raw materials, soya, fossil fuels. There is a necessity to raise the public awareness and to reduce the consumption.

--

<a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Exclusive By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a> and Sasa Danon

Guardians of the Forest: Natives and ecological preservation

A friend of mine, Sasa, volunteered at the UN climate...

Advanced DNA sequencing has given researchers new insight into the origin of the first human settlers on the Scandinavian Peninsula. The new data suggests that these settlers came from two distinct regions, and the subsequent population evolved to survive extreme weather conditions.

Evidence shows that there was a human presence on the Scandinavian Peninsula beginning nearly 12,000 years ago, yet the routes and origins of the migrants have remained a mystery.

The research team sequenced the genomes of seven hunter-gatherers recovered from across Scandinavia, which dated back between 9,500-6,000 years old. The experts discovered that migrations into the Scandinavian Peninsula most likely followed two routes - one from central Europe and one along the Norwegian Atlantic Coast. 

The two populations mixed in Scandinavia, and created a genetically diverse group of individuals with many genetic variants that are not found in modern-day Europeans.

The experts analyzed the DNA evidence for signs of adaptation to the cold and low daylight conditions of high-latitude regions. They found several genetic variants which were linked to a gene associated with physical performance and, according to the researchers, are likely associated with physiological adaptation to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cold-environments-increase-cancer/">cold</a> as well.

The genomes also revealed a high frequency of genetic variants linked to reduced skin pigmentation, which is a known adaptation to the low UV radiation found in high-latitude environments.

Torsten Günther is a population geneticist at <a href="https://www.uu.se/en">Uppsala University</a> and one of the lead authors of the study.

“We used cutting-edge genomic approaches to investigate hypotheses about the early colonization of northern Europe after the ice-sheet of the last glaciation retracted,” said Günther. “It is really great to see how evidence from different disciplines can be combined to understand these complex past demographic processes.”

“Our findings are important for human genetics, archaeology and anthropology, and it will be interesting to see what similar approaches can tell us about the post glacial population dynamics in other parts of Europe and the rest of the world.”

The is published in the open access journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/">PLOS Biology</a>.

[caption id="attachment_992531" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/scandinavia.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-992531" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/scandinavia-300x140.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="140" /></a> Image Credit: Beate Kjørslevik[/caption]


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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

Migrants from two areas merged to become the first Scandinavians

Advanced DNA sequencing has given researchers new insight into the...

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.unimelb.edu.au/">University of Melbourne</a> recently reviewed phytotherapy medical studies to determine which herbs were beneficial in treating <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/sleep-risk-depression-anxiety/">anxiety</a>. 

Phytotherapy is a science-based approach to treatments using plants and herbs, and the Melbourne team focused on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is a key component of easing anxiety and the main target of most medications. 

According to the researchers, phytomedicines like chamomile or Indian ginseng could provide a desirable alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals that have unpleasant side effects. 

The study was published in the journal Phytotherapy Research and outlines the most effective plants and herbs scientifically proven to help with anxiety. 

The researchers reviewed studies involving the use of phytomedicines as a treatment for anxiety in both human and animal trials. 

The studies were compiled from several major online medical library databases, and the researchers only analyzed studies that showed evidence of GABA-modulating activity. 

The results showed several phytomedicines that could be effective treatments for anxiety and reducing stress levels including kava, valerian, chamomile, Ginkgo biloba, and passionflower. 

Kava, a plant grown in the Pacific Islands, was ruled as the most effective plant for reducing stress, and has been used as a mood enhancer for centuries on the South Pacific Islands.

Today, kava can be found in pills and teas but has been banned in some countries because of its link to liver damage. 

In the United States, any products with kava come with an <a href="https://www.fda.gov/">FDA </a>consumer advisory and researchers are unsure if the plant itself causes liver damage, or if in conjunction with liver medications or alcohol, the kava becomes dangerous. 

The study shows that several herbs are scientifically proven to help ease anxiety and stress, and provides a wider body of research for those looking to pursue the most effective anxiety treatments without negative side effects. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

These herbs are scientifically proven to help treat anxiety

Researchers from the University of Melbourne recently reviewed phytotherapy medical...

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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