A recent study comparing how mothers in the U.K. and Uganda soothe their crying babies found something surprising: Ugandan babies calm down faster, even though their moms take longer to respond.



On the surface, this flips the script on common Western parenting advice. We often hear that faster is better when it comes to calming a crying infant. But this research suggests that the manner in which a mother comforts her baby matters more than how quickly she does it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-touch-versus-talk-to-calm-babies">Touch versus talk to calm babies</h2>



Researchers observed 147 real-life moments of distress in 82 infants across both countries. They focused on what mothers did in those moments, not just how quickly they reacted.



In both places, faster responses did help babies settle down. But here’s the twist: even though U.K. mothers typically responded more quickly, Ugandan babies calmed faster overall. That wasn’t random. The difference came down to the way mothers soothed their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conscious-awareness-when-does-our-sense-of-purpose-emerge/">infants</a>.



In Uganda, moms often used touch - holding, carrying, or <a href="https://www.afro.who.int/countries/uganda/news/safe-space-nourish-who-uganda-champions-breastfeeding-workplace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breastfeeding</a> - as their main method of comfort, even with older babies. In the U.K., mothers started with physical comfort when babies were young, but switched to using more words and less touch as their infants grew.



That shift in strategy seems to make a difference.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture-shapes-our-parenting">Culture shapes our parenting</h2>



The study was led by researchers from the <a href="https://www.dipf.de/en/frontpage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DIPF Leibniz Institute</a> in Germany, and Durham University in the U.K.. They wanted to understand how caregiving works in real life - outside of labs or parenting books - and across very different environments.



“Our findings show that maternal responsiveness is universally important. But how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mothers-can-use-singing-to-engage-with-infants/">mothers</a> respond, and the effectiveness of their strategies, varies in meaningful ways between cultures,” said Dr. Carlo Vreden of the DIPF Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education.



“Importantly, we are not making value judgments about which approach is better. Rather, we are highlighting that caregiving strategies are shaped by culture. It is not just about how quickly the mothers respond to their babies, but also the type of maternal soothing response which plays a crucial role in infant emotion regulation.”



In the U.K., many parenting norms are based on studies done in Western countries, often under very controlled conditions. But this doesn’t reflect the full picture of how most babies are raised around the world.



Professor Zanna Clay explained, “Most of what we know about babies’ early emotional development is based on studies conducted in Europe and North America. But of course, these Western settings don’t reflect the caregiving environments experienced by the majority of infants around the world, nor how they may have been historically.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babies-stay-calm-despite-slower-responses">Babies stay calm despite slower responses</h2>



One principal reason why Ugandan mothers would take longer to reply is plain: they’re frequently engaged in manual labor, such as working in the fields or taking care of household chores outside. In contrast to high-income environments, mothers in rural Uganda typically cannot abandon everything the instant their baby begins crying.



“Uganda is an interesting place to study <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/child-care-quality-has-direct-impact-on-later-success-in-science-and-math/">caregiving</a>,” Clay said, “as infants are typically cared for by multiple different caregivers and their styles of caregiving culturally differ, such as prioritising more physical contact with their babies.”



Even with slower response times, Ugandan mothers’ reliance on touch - especially breastfeeding - seemed to have a calming effect. The babies got comforted in a way that worked well for them, even if it wasn’t immediate.



Professor Clay added, “Our study also highlights the balance between responding to your baby while also having to manage daily tasks, which can be more challenging in rural low-resource settings.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-parenting-advice">Rethinking parenting advice</h2>



This research challenges the idea that there’s only one right way to raise emotionally healthy kids. It shows that parenting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parenting-may-help-keep-the-brain-younger/">strategies</a> can look different in different places - and still be effective.



“We’ve shown that Western ideas about optimal parenting don’t always apply in other settings,” said Dr. Vreden. “Even though the U.K. mums do seem to follow this sort of gold standard of responding as soon as possible, it's the Ugandan children, who don't get that quicker response, who actually recovered faster.”



“This emphasises the complexity of different strategies working in different ways and in different settings.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calm-babies-in-real-life">Calm babies in real life</h2>



By watching what happens in real-life settings - not just in labs - researchers can get a clearer picture of what helps babies <a href="https://www.eccpct.com/Resources/Child/Tips-for-Tots/Help-Young-Children-Regulate-Their-Emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regulate</a> their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/facial-expressions-arent-enough-to-understand-human-emotions/">emotions</a>. This matters for building parenting support programs that fit the realities of people’s lives, no matter where they live.



Future research may explore how these early caregiving approaches affect children as they grow and how parenting differs across even more cultures.



In the end, it’s not just about being fast - it’s about being effective. And effectiveness can look very different, depending on where you are.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-56898-001.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Developmental Psychology</a>.



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How, or how fast? Study examines fascinating cultural differences in how babies are calmed

A recent study comparing how mothers in the U.K. and Uganda soothe their crying babies found something surprising: Ugandan babies calm down faster, even though their moms take longer to respond. On the surface, this flips the script on common Western parenting advice. We often hear that faster is better when it comes to calming a crying infant. But this research suggests that the manner in which a mother comforts her baby matters more than how quickly she does it. Touch versus talk to calm babies Researchers...

Hand,Putting,Out,Cigarette,In,Ashtray.,Glass,Ashtray,With,Cigarette

Cigarette smoking has been on a steady decline across the United States. New research shows that young adults are driving this shift, especially in states where smoking rates were once the highest. However, there is still a long road ahead for older generations, whose slower progress in quitting may delay broader public health improvements. 



Scientists from the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California San Diego</a> published their findings in the journal JAMA Network Open. The study points to major differences in smoking habits depending on age, region, and background.



Although national smoking rates have dropped sharply, adults over 50 are quitting at a much slower pace. This slower change could keep smoking-related diseases like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-may-trigger-lung-cancer-in-non-smokers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lung cancer</a> and heart disease high for years to come.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smoking-rates-progress-and-persistence">Smoking rates: Progress and persistence</h2>



The researchers used data from the Tobacco Use Supplements to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. This large monthly survey gathers information from about 54,000 households across the country. 



The analysis, covering responses from 1.77 million people between June and October 2024, revealed some striking trends. Across the board, smoking has dropped. But the states that once had the highest smoking rates have seen the biggest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neighborhood-green-space-linked-to-lower-rates-of-smoking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">improvements</a>.



In contrast, places with historically lower rates saw more modest declines. One of the most important findings was the difference between younger and older adults. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cigarette-smoking-among-teens-has-declined-dramatically/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Young people</a> have quit smoking at much faster rates than those over 50.



Dr. Matthew Stone, the study's first author, is an assistant professor at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health.



“The rapid decline in smoking among young adults is clear evidence that the smoking epidemic will come to an end in our lifetime,” said Dr. Stone.



“Indeed, we project that the national smoking prevalence will be under 5% by 2035. However, the much slower decline in smokers over the age of 50, particularly in previously high smoking states, will mean that the high rates of lung cancer, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smokers-have-weaker-hearts-that-pump-less-blood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart</a> disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that are caused by lifelong smoking will take longer to decrease.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-far-we-have-come">How far we have come</h2>



Smoking in America has been on a steady decline for decades. In 1955, more than half of U.S. adults - 56.9% - were smokers. 



By 2000, that number had fallen by more than half. It dropped again by 50% by 2022. If current trends continue, smoking rates are expected to fall to under 5% by 2035.



Another important pattern has also emerged. States that cut smoking rates the most have seen the biggest drops in lung cancer deaths - though with a delay of about 16 years. This connection shows how public health efforts, policies, and education campaigns can pay off over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decline-in-smoking-rise-in-vaping">Decline in smoking, rise in vaping</h2>



While cigarette smoking is fading, other problems are taking its place. "The ongoing decline in cigarette smoking is a major public health success story," said study co-author Dr. John P. Pierce, a professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and Moores Cancer Center.



"Recent evidence suggests that the tobacco industry has successfully recruited a new generation of teenagers into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/e-cigarettes-linked-to-increased-risk-of-heart-failure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">e-cigarette</a> use and nicotine addiction. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impact of this shift."



As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vaping-epidemic-half-of-students-who-try-e-cigs-get-hooked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vaping</a> and e-cigarette use grow among teens, public health experts are concerned about what the next chapter in tobacco use might look like. Today's young adults may be turning away from cigarettes, but tomorrow's teenagers could be facing a different kind of addiction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smoking-and-public-health-the-future">Smoking and public health: The future</h2>



Public health efforts over the past several decades have made a real difference. Education campaigns, smoking bans, higher tobacco taxes, and smoking cessation programs have all played a role in driving down smoking rates. However, the work isn’t finished.



Addressing the slow decline among older adults will be key to reducing the burden of smoking-related illnesses. At the same time, understanding and managing the rise in e-cigarette use among younger people will be critical. 



As smoking habits shift, researchers and policymakers alike will need to adapt to ensure the next generation stays healthy and smoke free.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2833289" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JAMA Network Open</a>.



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Young adults lead dramatic decline in smoking rates

Cigarette smoking has been on a steady decline across the...

Understanding how human DNA mutates over time is key to decoding the origins of disease and the path of evolution. But until now, some of the most change-prone regions of our genome have remained out of reach. That’s beginning to change.



A collaboration between researchers at the <a href="https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Utah Health</a>, the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a>, <a href="https://www.pacb.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PacBio</a>, and other institutions has recently produced the most detailed map to date of how human genetic mutations pass from one generation to the next.



By combining multiple cutting-edge DNA sequencing methods, the researchers uncovered parts of the genome that mutate far faster than previously thought - findings that could reshape our understanding of both rare genetic conditions and the broader story of human evolution.



“It's mutations that ultimately differentiate us from other species,” said study co-author Lynn Jorde, a geneticist at the University of Utah. “We're getting at a very basic property of what makes us human.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hidden-speed-of-dna-mutation">The hidden speed of DNA mutation</h2>



By directly comparing the DNA of parents to that of their children, the team calculated how often new mutations occur and are passed on. Jorde calls the human genetic mutation rate a biological constant, as vital as the speed of light in physics.



“This is something you really need to know - the speed at which variation comes into our species,” Jorde said. “All of the genetic variation that we see from individual to individual is a result of these mutations.” These changes, over time, have led to diverse traits such as eye color, lactose tolerance, and certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-technology-could-safely-treat-hundreds-of-genetic-diseases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">inherited diseases</a>.



On average, every person inherits nearly 200 new mutations that are not present in either parent. While many of these are harmless or fall in regions of DNA that don’t code for genes, others can have profound biological consequences. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mutable-regions-of-the-genome">Mutable regions of the genome</h2>



Until now, the most mutable regions of the genome have remained largely unexamined. Aaron Quinlan, a professor and chair of human genetics at the University of Utah and co-author of the study, noted that the new research breaks that barrier. 



Previous studies focused on the genome’s most stable sections. The new work, by contrast, highlights areas that mutate rapidly - regions that Quinlan describes as “previously untouchable.”



“We saw parts of our genome that are crazy mutable, almost a mutation every generation,” said Quinlan. In contrast, other DNA segments were remarkably stable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-clues-to-disease">New clues to disease</h2>



The findings could be highly useful for genetic counseling. As Jorde explains, knowing whether a human genetic mutation is new or inherited helps doctors and families assess the likelihood of disease reoccurring in siblings.



“If you have a child who's affected with a disease, is it likely to be inherited from a parent, or is it likely to be a new mutation?” Jorde said.



If the mutation occurs in a so-called “hotspot,” it's more likely to be unique to that child, and the chance of recurrence in another child is lower. But if the mutation is inherited, other children may be at higher risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-four-generations-of-dna">Four generations of DNA</h2>



Central to the research was a remarkable Utah family that has worked with scientists since the 1980s as part of the <a href="https://cephb.fr/en/presentation_historique.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human Polymorphism Study Center</a>, also contributing to the original <a href="https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human Genome Project</a>.



Four generations of this family donated DNA and consented to its analysis, creating an extraordinary dataset for studying how mutations appear and are passed down. 



“A large family with this breadth and depth is an incredibly unique and valuable resource,” said co-author Deborah Neklason, a research associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Utah. “It helps us understand variation and changes to the genome over generations in incredible detail.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peeking-into-our-genome">Peeking into our genome</h2>



To capture a complete and accurate picture of genetic change, the team employed several DNA <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/complete-sequencing-of-the-human-genome-reveals-new-findings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sequencing technologies</a>. 



Some tools detect tiny changes like single-nucleotide variants, while others scan broader genome regions to catch large-scale alterations or structural variations.



Sequencing each family member using multiple technologies allowed the researchers to achieve both fine detail and broad coverage. This multi-platform approach gave them the clearest view yet of how our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-genome-size-impact-evolutionary-success/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genome</a> shifts across generations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-charting-the-future-of-dna">Charting the future of DNA</h2>



The researchers now plan to apply their comprehensive sequencing approach to more families. “We saw really interesting stuff in this one family,” Quinlan said. 



The next step is to ask: “How generalizable are those findings across families when trying to predict risk for disease or how genomes evolve?”



To encourage further discovery, the team is making its sequencing data freely available. By opening access to this unparalleled genetic atlas, the researchers hope others will continue to unravel the mysteries of human evolution, diversity, and inherited disease.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08922-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Most detailed map of human genetic mutations unveiled

Understanding how human DNA mutates over time is key to...

Lower back pain is one of the most widespread and debilitating conditions in the world. It affects millions of people, often reducing quality of life, limiting mobility, and draining healthcare systems. Despite its enormous impact, most available treatments only dull the pain; they do not fix it.



People with this chronic pain rely on painkillers, physical therapy, or invasive surgery. While these options may help some patients cope, they don’t fix the underlying problem. That may soon change, thanks to a team of researchers at <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a>.



In a recent preclinical study, the experts explored a radically different approach. Instead of masking the pain, they aimed to treat its root cause - damaged cells in the spine, known as “zombie cells.”



These senescent cells don’t die when they should. They accumulate in spinal discs, spreading inflammation and tissue <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-with-chronic-pain-have-high-rates-of-depression-and-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">damage</a>. The researchers tested two drugs that clear these cells from the body. The results, they say, could transform how chronic back pain is treated.



“Our findings are exciting because it suggests we might be able to treat back pain in a completely new way, by removing the cells driving the problem, not just masking the pain,” said Professor Lisbet Haglund, senior author and co-director of the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the <a href="https://muhc.ca/montreal-general-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Montreal General Hospital</a>.



This study is a step toward developing therapies that tackle the biological drivers of pain, not just its symptoms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zombie-cells-in-the-spine-fuel-inflammation">Zombie cells in the spine fuel inflammation</h2>



As people age, or experience stress and injury, senescent cells begin to gather in tissues throughout the body.



In the spinal column, they settle into the intervertebral discs - the cushion-like pads that lie between vertebrae, absorb shock, and help with movement. These cells release a cocktail of damaging molecules known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP).



This mix includes inflammatory cytokines, enzymes, and signaling molecules that degrade surrounding tissue. They create a toxic environment that promotes further cell damage, inflammation, and disc degeneration. 



As the discs deteriorate, spinal pain worsens and becomes more resistant to traditional treatments. The team at McGill focused on these zombie cells as the key culprits behind chronic lower back pain.



The researchers used a mouse model known as sparc−/− that lack a gene that is associated with healthy spinal disc maintenance.



As a result, they develop early-onset disc degeneration and back pain similar to human patients. This model allowed the scientists to test whether eliminating zombie cells could actually <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chronic-pain-is-harder-to-treat-in-women-but-a-new-target-offers-hope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduce</a> pain and restore tissue health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drugs-relieved-back-pain-in-mice">Drugs relieved back pain in mice</h2>



The study investigated the effects of two drugs for back pain: o-Vanillin, a natural compound derived from turmeric, and RG-7112, a synthetic drug that was originally developed for cancer treatment.



The drug o-Vanillin is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, while RG-7112 works by interfering with a protein complex that helps zombie cells avoid death.



Both drugs were administered orally over eight weeks. Remarkably, the treatment reduced inflammation in the mice, removed senescent cells, and even reversed damage to the discs.



Although each drug worked on its own, their combination yielded the strongest results. The researchers observed improvements in grip strength, decreased cold and mechanical sensitivity, and fewer signs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/viewing-nature-reduces-pain-by-altering-brain-activity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discomfort</a> in mice.



“We were surprised that an oral treatment could reach the spinal discs, which are hard to access and present a major hurdle in treating back pain,” said Haglund. “The big question now is whether these drugs can have the same effect in humans.”



Their success in reaching the discs, which are shielded from many medications, adds another layer of excitement to the findings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-drugs-work-for-back-pain">How the drugs work for back pain</h2>



To understand the mechanism behind the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-is-a-powerful-weapon-against-chronic-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">improvements</a>, the team studied the effects of the drugs on a molecular level.



Both drugs reduced levels of SASP factors like IL-6, TNF-α, and VEGF-α, molecules known to worsen inflammation and accelerate tissue decay. In spinal discs, levels of the senescence marker p16Ink4a decreased significantly, showing that the treatment was clearing out harmful cells.



This cellular cleanup translated to real improvements. Treated mice showed healthier discs, better separation between disc layers, and restored disc volume. These changes indicate the potential for actual tissue repair, not just temporary pain relief. 



When the two drugs were given together at full strength, the benefits were magnified. Reducing either drug by half weakened the response, and cutting both reduced the effect significantly.



In untreated mice, signs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-women-experience-more-chronic-pain-than-men/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">degeneration</a> continued. Their spinal discs shrank, pain increased, and inflammatory markers remained high. But in treated animals, disc structure and bone density improved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treatment-calmed-nerve-activity">Treatment calmed nerve activity</h2>



Pain isn’t just caused by physical damage. It is also shaped by how the nervous system processes signals from the spine. 



The researchers examined the spinal cords of treated mice and found that senolytic therapy also had effects there. They recorded lower activity of key proteins like CGRP and GFAP - both of which are involved in amplifying pain in the nervous system.



This suggests that the drugs may relieve back pain by calming down the pain-processing machinery in the spinal cord. Both o-Vanillin and RG-7112 reduced these markers, but the combination again delivered the greatest effect. Reducing inflammation in the spinal cord may help stop the cycle of chronic pain.



The study also showed reduced activation of microglia, which are immune cells in the brain and spinal cord that can worsen pain, if overstimulated. Taken together, the findings suggest that the therapy not only heals the spine but also reduces the brain’s sensitivity to pain signals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovative-drugs-for-back-pain">Innovative drugs for back pain</h2>



The drug o-Vanillin wasn’t even supposed to be in the original study. It was added as a side compound during early testing. Yet its impact turned out to be crucial. 



This turmeric-based molecule is not only effective at reducing inflammation but may also have unique properties that let it penetrate tough tissues like spinal discs and even the brain.



Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that o-Vanillin is quickly distributed throughout the body and may accumulate in fat tissue, allowing it to act over time. Its high clearance rate suggests rapid dispersal, yet its lipophilic structure helps it reach hard-to-access areas. These traits make it a promising candidate for long-term use in treating chronic conditions.



The researchers plan to improve the structure of o-Vanillin so that it lasts longer in the body. This could increase its effectiveness and allow for the use of lower doses in future trials.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treating-back-pain-in-humans">Treating back pain in humans</h2>



Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway is that the drug doses used in mice translate to feasible doses in humans. 



Using standard dose conversion, the human equivalent would be about 8 mg/kg for o-Vanillin and 0.4 mg/kg for RG-7112. These amounts are manageable and below the toxic levels seen in cancer patients treated with high doses of RG-7112.



No adverse effects were noted during the eight-week mouse trial. The mice maintained normal activity, body weight, and behavior.



This suggests the therapy is safe, at least in the short term. Before human trials can begin, though, more studies are needed. The researchers plan to test in larger animal models and explore advanced drug delivery methods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-age-related-diseases-beyond-back-pain">Age-related diseases beyond back pain</h2>



The implications go beyond the treatment of back pain. Senescent cells contribute to many age-related diseases - arthritis, osteoporosis, and even neurodegeneration. By removing these harmful cells, senolytic drugs could become a universal tool to manage aging-related health issues.



“The big question now is whether these drugs can have the same effect in humans,” Haglund said. If they do, this could signal a shift in medicine - from treating symptoms to correcting root causes.



The study, published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr1719" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>, was led by Matthew Mannarino, Hosni Cherif, and Lisbet Haglund. The research was supported by the <a href="https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/193.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canadian Institutes of Health Research</a> and other partners.



This work shines a light on a hopeful future where aging tissues can be renewed and pain reversed - not just endured.



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New drugs target 'zombie cells' to relieve back pain

Lower back pain is one of the most widespread and...

Many people wonder if a simple approach can bring lasting improvements to mental health. A new study on psychedelic compounds might spark a deeper conversation about how the brain recovers from stress-related conditions.



Researchers used mice to investigate how a single dose of a psychedelic compound can support cognitive flexibility. The lead investigator, Dr. Omar J. Ahmed from the <a href="https://lsa.umich.edu/psych/people/faculty/ojahmed.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a>, oversaw an experiment that tested how the animals responded to unexpected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychedelics-sexuality-and-self-discovery-what-a-new-study-reveals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">changes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-a-psychedelic-dose-rewires-the-brain">How a psychedelic dose rewires the brain</h2>



Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections. Psychedelic drugs have shown promise in boosting these adaptive changes in certain parts of the brain.



Research has already <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9671959/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hinted</a> at benefits for people with depression and anxiety. This new investigation goes a step further by looking at how long these benefits last.



Experts are exploring how <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1853/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">serotonin 2a receptor</a> activation might reshape the way we learn. This receptor is linked to mood regulation and perception, so it makes sense that tweaking it could alter how the brain adapts.



According to the investigators, only one dose was given to each mouse, with no additional treatments. Later, they ran tests that looked at how quickly the mice switched strategies under new conditions.



Some scientists say the prefrontal cortex is key to tasks that demand judgment and quick <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychedelic-ibogaine-can-now-be-produced-without-rare-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptation</a>. Strengthening its connections may explain why a single dose can produce effects that last far beyond the initial exposure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-psychedelic-dose-boosts-flexible-thinking">One psychedelic dose boosts flexible thinking</h2>



“What makes this discovery particularly significant is the sustained duration of cognitive benefits following just one psychedelic dose,” explained Professor Omar Ahmed. The researchers saw a clear advantage in how the psychedelic group tackled changing rules.



Male and female mice both showed an uptick in mental adaptability. This broad effect indicates that the underlying mechanism could benefit a wide range of individuals.



“A key question is what happens with two, three, or even twenty doses taken over several months,” said Dr. Ahmed. Investigators are curious about how repeated doses might affect flexibility in the long run. 



Such questions may guide the next phase of research. They might also help clarify whether more doses lead to better <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/increased-use-of-psilocybin-in-u-s-raises-health-concerns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outcomes</a> or if there is a tipping point.



Yet, not all psychedelics work the same way. Comparing substances with varying strengths and modes of action is essential to pinpoint which ones offer the most stable improvement in learning.



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



Many people who deal with mood disorders struggle to cope with shifting demands. A boost in flexible thinking could help them adapt more quickly to life’s uncertainties.



Therapies that strengthen neuroplasticity show promise for conditions such as depression and PTSD. Psychedelics might become another avenue to support these neural changes, though more data from human studies are needed.



Some <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6220878/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> suggest that psilocybin, a well-known psychedelic, has produced lasting improvements in mental well-being. Researchers note that this effect can persist for weeks, hinting at a mechanism that goes beyond a short-term shift in perspective.



“The most striking aspect of our findings is that these cognitive benefits were measured 15-20 days after a single psychedelic administration,” noted Elizabeth J. Brouns. Experts are also excited about the possibility of helping older adults or those with conditions tied to memory decline. 



PTSD, in particular, involves disrupted patterns of recall that can get stuck in negative loops. Breaking these loops might involve a shift in how the brain processes threats and rewards.



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



Expanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/confirmed-magic-mushrooms-can-effectively-treat-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">knowledge</a> about psychedelics might reshape how clinicians approach mental health. Some professionals predict that well-monitored psychedelic therapy could complement existing treatments.



Scientists plan to test different compounds, doses, and schedules to see what works best. They also want to confirm if these changes in flexibility come from changes in the prefrontal cortex or from other parts of the brain.



Since studies point to stable neuroplasticity shifts after just one dose, the timeline for integrating these treatments may be shorter than previously thought. At the same time, caution is key because not everyone responds the same way to psychedelics.



Before new guidelines become mainstream, rigorous research is needed to cover safety and efficacy. Investigators remain optimistic that single-dose therapies could one day make a difference for a variety of people.



Legal frameworks around psychedelics are evolving in the United States. These changes might eventually open paths for more clinical trials that evaluate safety and practicality.



These findings offer a fresh perspective on how one-time interventions may guide the future of mental health care. More thorough testing in clinical settings will reveal which populations stand to benefit the most.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/psychedelics/aop/article-10.61373-pp025r.0002/article-10.61373-pp025r.0002.xml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psychedelics</a>.



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One psychedelic dose can improve brain functioning for extended periods of time

Many people wonder if a simple approach can bring lasting...

Mind blanking - those moments when our thoughts disappear and we seem to experience a pause in consciousness - is a familiar, yet surprisingly misunderstood part of human experience. 



Often described as “thinking of nothing” or “feeling drowsy,” this phenomenon is now being reevaluated by scientists who believe it deserves distinct recognition in neuroscience research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mystery-of-mind-blanking">The mystery of mind blanking </h2>



In a recent opinion article, an international team of neuroscientists and philosophers compiled decades of findings on mind blanking, including recent discoveries from their own studies involving brain activity scans.



The collaboration began at the 25th Annual Meeting of the <a href="https://theassc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness</a> in Amsterdam in 2022, where researchers agreed that it was time to treat mind blanking not as a side effect of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mind wandering</a>, but as a separate mental state altogether.



“During wakefulness, our thoughts transition between different contents. However, there are moments that are seemingly devoid of reportable content, referred to as mind blanking,” the experts wrote. “It remains unclear what these blanks represent, highlighting the definitional and phenomenological ambiguities surrounding mind blanking.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-the-phenomenon">Exploring the phenomenon</h2>



Traditionally, mind blanking has been explored through frameworks designed to study mind wandering - the spontaneous drift of thoughts we experience throughout the day. 



However, the researchers argue that mind blanking is more than just another form of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-daydream-to-awareness-the-brains-alert-mechanism/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">daydreaming</a>. It is often accompanied by sleepiness, sluggishness, or cognitive lapses, and deserves to be studied independently.



“We sought to better understand mind blanking by parsing through 80 relevant research articles - including some of our own in which we recorded participants' brain activity when they were reporting that they were 'thinking of nothing,’” explained senior author Athena Demertzi, a neuroscientist at the <a href="https://www.uliege.be/cms/c_8699436/en/uliege" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Liège</a> in Belgium.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-research-revealed"><a></a>What the research revealed</h2>



The review offers several key insights. First, mind blanking occurs in everyone, although the frequency varies between individuals. On average, it occupies about 5% to 20% of our waking hours. 



These episodes are often linked to lapses in attention, failures in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/memory-isnt-only-stored-in-our-brains-other-cells-can-remember-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory</a>, or a sudden halt in inner dialogue. They tend to appear more frequently during long attention-heavy tasks, after sleep deprivation, or intense physical exertion.



Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toddler-screen-time-linked-to-atypical-sensory-behaviors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ADHD</a>) report experiencing mind blanking more frequently than others. It is also listed as a symptom in the clinical description of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in the DSM-5, and appears in other neurological conditions such as strokes, seizures, traumatic brain injury, and Kleine-Levin syndrome.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinct-changes-in-brain-function">Distinct changes in brain function</h2>



Studies using fMRI and EEG scans show that mind blanking is associated with distinct changes in brain function. 



The phenomenon involves disruptions in the brain's frontal, temporal, and visual networks, reduced complexity in neural signals, and what scientists refer to as “local sleep episodes” - moments when parts of the brain temporarily fall into a sleep-like state even during wakefulness.



During experiments that involved sustained mental focus, participants showed signs of mind blanking through decreased heart rate, smaller pupil size, and patterns of slow brain waves. 



Meanwhile, voluntary mind clearing (like in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meditation-can-rapidly-reduce-ptsd-without-revisiting-trauma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meditation</a>) produced deactivation in areas like the inferior frontal gyrus, Broca’s area, the supplementary motor cortex, and the hippocampus.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-framework-for-thoughtless-moments">A framework for thoughtless moments</h2>



The research team proposes a novel framework to describe mind blanking as a collection of states influenced by physiological arousal - what they term “vigilance.” 



Whether a person is in a low-arousal state (such as fatigue) or a high-arousal state (such as cognitive overload), mind blanking appears more likely to occur when the brain’s normal mechanisms for attention, memory, or speech fail to function.



“The experience of a 'blank mind' is as intimate and direct as that of bearing thoughts,” said co-author Jennifer Windt, a neuroscientist at <a href="https://www.monash.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monash University</a> in Australia.



“Our aim here is to start a conversation and see how mind blanking relates to other seemingly similar experiences, such as meditation,” added co-author Antoine Lutz from the <a href="https://www.crnl.fr/en/page-base/crnl-presentation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lyon Neuroscience Research Center</a> in France.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-brain-looking-to-the-future">The brain: Looking to the future</h2>



Ultimately, the team hopes future research will treat mind blanking as a meaningful mental state, not merely an absence of cognition. They argue it holds crucial insights for understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-stops-paying-attention-to-repeated-distractions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">attention</a>, consciousness, and mental health.



“We believe that the investigation of mind blanking is insightful, important, and timely,” said lead author Thomas Andrillon of the University of Liège.



“Insightful because it challenges the common conception that wakefulness involves a constant stream of thoughts. Important because mind blanking highlights the interindividual differences in subjective experience. Collectively, we stress that ongoing experiences come in shades with varying degrees of awareness and richness of content."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(25)00034-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trends in Cognitive Sciences</a>.



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When the brain goes silent: The complex reality of mind blanking

Mind blanking - those moments when our thoughts disappear and...

Many people hope to find something that helps them feel stronger and more energetic as they get older. Researchers have explored different paths and trials, with a special focus on nutrients that might protect our bodies from the strains of aging.



<a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XXKmfjUAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Harshani Nadeeshani</a> from the State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, and her colleagues have analyzed <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-022-00002-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nicotinamide mononucleotide</a> (NMN) as a potential candidate. 



Their efforts have sparked plenty of discussion about whether this compound can help ward off common age-related concerns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nmn-at-a-glance">NMN at a glance</h2>



NMN is a molecule related to vitamin B3. It plays a part in maintaining healthy cellular energy levels by boosting <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide</a> (NAD+) in our cells.



Some researchers propose that higher NAD+ levels could support the way cells handle stress. This idea has driven projects that test NMN in both animals and humans to see if it can reduce common problems <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-anti-aging-drug-interleukin-11-boosts-lifespan-prevents-cancer-gray-hair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">linked to aging</a>, such as sluggish metabolism and low energy.



Enthusiasm around NMN stems from studies on animals. Early experiments suggest that adding NMN to a balanced diet may affect the body’s metabolic functions in ways that look positive.



A small human trial noted that NMN might help with insulin sensitivity in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abe9985" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prediabetic</a> individuals. That finding caught the attention of people who watch their blood sugar or manage early metabolic issues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-people-and-nmn-what-we-know">People and NMN: What we know</h2>



Scientists have tried to figure out if NMN can support healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-tea-every-day-proven-studies-to-delay-biological-aging-in-humans/">aging</a> by stabilizing cellular energy processes. 



One group reported that when they gave healthy adults a single dose of NMN, they observed no negative reactions. This gave them a reason to test higher amounts over a longer span in follow-up work.



Another project looked at how NMN might help muscle cells. Some findings signaled that normal energy production may be supported, but experts still emphasize that these results do not confirm lasting benefits in humans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-nmn-behaves-in-people">How NMN behaves in people</h2>



Researchers continue to wonder how NMN behaves if it is taken every day for months or even years. Extended use could bring about different outcomes than short trials, and those effects remain unclear.



There is also a discussion about whether NMN might lose its effectiveness in people whose lifestyle includes a high-fat diet. 



Since many factors can affect how the body processes supplements, more trials are needed to see who could benefit most from NMN.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safety-and-concerns">Safety and concerns</h2>



No major safety issues have emerged from small pilot <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10721522/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a>, but the number of participants was limited. Some nutrition experts suggest starting with modest amounts under a health professional’s guidance.



Concerns linger about how an abundance of NAD+ may affect cells linked to inflammation or unwanted growth. Several lab findings argue that normal pathways can keep things balanced, but extra data from larger studies is essential.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-impact">Long-term impact</h2>



A handful of ongoing trials aim to measure how NMN influences markers of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-reverse-aging-a-bold-new-approach-could-reprogram-cells/">aging</a> across different ages and lifestyles. Some focus on metabolic factors, while others look at endurance or cognitive performance.



If these investigations show consistent benefits, manufacturers could face requests to set specific guidelines on dosage. 



Right now, people often depend on whatever label instructions appear on supplement bottles, which is not always backed by large-scale proof.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-considerations">Practical considerations</h2>



People who already follow a healthy diet, regular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-term-exercise-can-make-belly-fat-healthy/">exercise routine</a>, and proper medical care should know that NMN is not a replacement. It may act as a complementary approach that supports the body’s existing processes.



Cost remains a sticking point. High-purity NMN supplements can be expensive, and quality can vary. Consumers must be watchful of unregulated products that make strong claims without published research to back them up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-the-scientific-community-trials">Role of the scientific community: Trials</h2>



Authorities in nutrition science are looking at how to define standard doses. They also plan to track potential side effects in people who combine NMN with other health regimens.



Third-party labs have started analyzing product purity. This step is critical in ensuring that over-the-counter supplements contain what their labels promise.



Studies on NMN remind us that science seldom provides simple answers. Different lifestyles, genetic backgrounds, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-exercise-amplifies-physical-and-mental-health-benefits/">health</a> conditions can affect how well a supplement works for any individual.



Experts note that the best data come from randomized controlled trials with a sizable group of volunteers. They also stress that safety profiles need repeated confirmation over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hope-and-caution">Hope and caution</h2>



NMN’s buzz shows a growing interest in preserving wellness well <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-tea-every-day-proven-studies-to-delay-biological-aging-in-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">into our later years</a>. This push for solutions is a good sign, as it encourages deeper research into how our cells age.



Still, caution is advised. People should consider discussing any new supplement with a trusted healthcare provider, especially if they have specific medical concerns or take other medications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-knowledge-with-reality">Balancing knowledge with reality</h2>



Some see NMN as an easy fix for people with age-related issues, but experts warn that a single compound cannot cancel out all wear and tear on the body. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lifespan-is-influenced-more-by-lifestyle-than-genetics/">Lifestyle</a> factors like diet, fitness, and stress reduction often play a more central role in long-term health.



At the same time, properly designed trials in humans could reveal clearer benefits or downsides. This highlights the need for well-supported research to guide those who buy these products.



NMN studies are evolving quickly. While some investigators see a path toward broader application, others demand greater proof of safety and effectiveness.



Consumers should stay aware that this compound is not regulated like a standard medication. Many questions remain about how best to use NMN, but there is hope that ongoing research will clarify key points.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123221001491" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Advanced Research</a>.



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A scientific review analyzes the potential and limitations of NMN for slowing down aging

Many people hope to find something that helps them feel...

A new study has revealed that our brains can remember cold - not just the feeling, but the physical response to it. These memories help our bodies prepare for future chilly moments by adjusting how we produce heat.



This discovery is part of new research from scientists at <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trinity College Dublin</a>, who teamed up with collaborators at Princeton University.



The experts found that memories of cold experiences are stored in the brain and later used to increase metabolism. That’s how our bodies generate heat and keep us comfortable when we expect the temperature to drop.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-brain-stores-cold">How the brain stores cold</h2>



Memory is more than just thoughts or pictures from the past. The study builds on the idea of "engrams"- networks of brain cells that store specific memories. Recent neuroscience has shown that some engrams store physical sensations like pain, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hunger-hormones-in-the-gut-can-change-our-eating-behavior/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hunger</a>, and inflammation.



This study tested whether similar memories exist for temperature. Specifically, the researchers wanted to know: Can the brain store a memory of being cold? And if so, does it use that memory to help regulate body heat later?



To find out, the team ran a clever experiment using mice. The mice were placed in an environment at 4°C (about 39°F) and shown unique visual cues. 



After a few sessions, those same cues were shown again - this time at room temperature. Even though the environment was now warm, the mice began to increase their metabolism, acting as if they expected the cold to return.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cold-memory-boosts-heat">Cold memory boosts heat</h2>



This reaction is known as predictive thermogenesis. It’s how the body gets ready in advance to face the cold. The researchers found that the mice weren’t just reacting instinctively - they were remembering.



“We discovered that when mice are exposed to a cold temperature, they form memories that allow them to upregulate their body's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-metabolism-has-evolved-to-become-energetically-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a> when they anticipate cold experiences in the future,” said Dr. Andrea Muñoz Zamora, the lead author of the study.



The team then used genetic tools to find out where in the brain these cold memories were stored. They located the cold-memory engram cells in the hippocampus, a region long known for its role in memory.



When they activated these cold-memory cells using optogenetics, the mice’s metabolism increased, producing more heat. When the same cells were turned off, the mice no longer reacted to the cold cues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-fat-and-body-heat">Brain, fat, and body heat</h2>



What happens next is just as interesting. The body’s brown fat, which helps generate heat, seemed to play a big role in this memory-based response.



“A large part of this learned control of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/depression-may-be-linked-to-higher-body-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">body temperature</a> seems to be due to increased activity of brown adipose tissue – or brown fat – which can be controlled by innervations originating in the brain,” explained Professor Lydia Lynch, a co-author on the study. 



“Our brain must learn from the bodily experiences of cold, but then feeds back to control how our fat cells respond to cold.”



This feedback loop between brain and body shows how tightly connected memory and metabolism are. It also suggests new ways to think about treatments for diseases where metabolism goes out of balance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healing-starts-in-the-brain">Healing starts in the brain</h2>



This kind of memory-based thermoregulation could have wide-reaching effects. Obesity, cancer, and other metabolic disorders all involve problems with how the body generates or uses <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fueling-the-mind-new-map-reveals-where-the-brain-gets-its-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy</a>. 



By tapping into the brain’s memory of cold, it might be possible to train the body to respond differently.



“Numerous clinical disorders, ranging from obesity to forms of cancer, may be treated by manipulating thermoregulation through brown adipose tissue,” said Dr. Aaron Douglas, a joint lead author. 



“In the future, it will be important to test whether the manipulation of cold memories in humans could provide novel avenues for altering metabolism for therapeutic purposes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mind-memory-and-emotion">Mind, memory, and emotion</h2>



Beyond physical health, this research hints at how basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-causes-similar-emotional-experiences-and-sensations-in-all-cultures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sensations</a> shape our emotional and social lives. If the brain stores memories of bodily states like cold, they could influence how we make decisions or interact with others.



“The sophisticated aspects of our minds evolved from more basic, visceral, bodily representations,” said Professor Tomás Ryan, who also worked on the study. “Understanding how these components of our brain affect our behavior in general is crucial to understanding our emotions and our use of memory.”



“This integrative piece of work offers a quintessential example of interdisciplinary science. Neuroscience requires collaboration and it was the synergy with Prof. Lynch that allowed the unusual combination of memory engram work with metabolism research.”



The findings suggest that even a simple experience like feeling cold leaves a lasting mark on the brain. 



And in doing so, it changes how the body prepares for the future. It's a reminder that memory isn’t just about the past - it’s also how we adapt to what lies ahead.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08902-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Our brain stores a memory of cold that helps us generate heat

A new study has revealed that our brains can remember...

Alzheimer’s disease is usually associated with changes in thinking and behavior patterns that can be challenging. Many families have experienced how the confusion and memory gas grow more severe in a loved one as this condition progresses.



A recent study suggests that improving sleep quality with certain medications might help reduce the accumulation of proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. 



<a href="https://physicians.wustl.edu/people/brendan-p-lucey-md/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Brenden P. Lucey</a>, from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been leading efforts to understand how certain medications might affect the proteins linked to this illness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beta-amyloid-s-impact-on-brain-function">Beta-amyloid's impact on brain function</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stopping-alzheimers-before-it-starts-early-treatment-shows-potential/">Alzheimer’s</a> belongs to a broader category of conditions called dementias. It involves a steady decline in everyday brain functions, which affects recall, language skills, and social interactions.



Experts have connected these changes to the accumulation of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459119/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beta-amyloid</a>, a protein known for forming sticky clumps in the brain. Over time, these clumps interfere with neuron communication and appear to set the stage for more widespread damage.



The disease often develops over many years. It is a growing concern as people live longer, with nearly one-third of individuals over 85 currently showing signs of this disorder.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tau-protein-changes-and-dementia-progression">Tau protein changes and dementia progression</h2>



There is a second major protein called <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/microtubule-associated-protein" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tau</a> that also plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease. When tau undergoes phosphorylation, its chemical structure changes in ways that might speed up harmful processes in the brain.



Recent research has shown that removing or reducing these altered proteins may be useful for slowing disease progression. Studies continue to investigate how different treatments affect both amyloid buildup and tau changes.



Scientists have discovered that certain drugs that were originally created to treat other conditions could also influence these Alzheimer’s-related proteins. This has sparked interest in finding existing prescriptions that can be tested for possible benefits in people at risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-suvorexant-offers-new-hope-for-memory-loss">Suvorexant offers new hope for memory loss</h2>



Suvorexant helps people with insomnia by blocking the action of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/orexin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orexin</a>, a chemical that is linked to wakefulness and alertness. It has been on the market for some time, but its impact on Alzheimer’s-related proteins has only recently come into focus.



“Suvorexant is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat insomnia,” noted Dr. Lucey. This medication reduces the activity of wake-promoting signals in the brain, and can thus lead to more restful nights.



Studies suggest this insomnia-treating sleeping pill can also reduce the levels of proteins connected to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-disease-attacks-the-brain-in-two-separate-phases/">Alzheimer’s</a> in the central nervous system. These findings have sparked further research on how long-term use could translate into potential benefits for people who are worried about memory issues. By potentially enhancing the quality of deep sleep, suvorexant and similar medications might support the brain's natural cleansing processes, offering a novel approach to mitigating Alzheimer's risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orexin-blockers-tackle-harmful-sleep-interruptions">Orexin blockers tackle harmful sleep interruptions</h2>



A healthy night’s rest is thought to give brain cells time to recover from the day’s activities. When this downtime is interrupted, the body may struggle to clear certain harmful compounds.



Researchers believe that poor sleep can lead to a buildup of amyloid plaques in parts of the cortex that are responsible for complex thinking and decision-making. By blocking orexin’s action, suvorexant may help with deeper rest, potentially limiting the unwanted accumulation of sticky substances that harm the brain over time.



Adequate rest could also help maintain better control of tau proteins, which is crucial for stabilizing the internal structure of neurons. Keeping these proteins from becoming misshapen might slow the process that leads to worse cognitive problems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-rest-may-reduce-protein-accumulation">Deep rest may reduce protein accumulation</h2>



Experts remain cautious because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-blood-test-can-track-the-progression-of-alzheimers/">Alzheimer’s</a> is influenced by a wide mix of genetic and environmental factors. Some people may experience faster changes in the brain, while others show a slower progression.



The fact that suvorexant appears to affect proteins in a short timeframe is promising. Still, researchers stress the need for more tests in larger groups and over longer periods to see whether this approach can truly help with prevention or delay.



Long-term safety is another consideration, since any therapy for Alzheimer’s must be safe enough for older adults or those with health conditions. Doctors are watching how well the body tolerates suvorexant over extended use, especially in people who may already rely on other medications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-highlights-sleep-s-role-in-brain-health">Research highlights sleep's role in brain health</h2>



Some emerging therapies for Alzheimer’s center on lowering <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-a-brain-disease/">beta-amyloid</a>, improving neuron connections, or even supporting the immune system to remove harmful substances. Suvorexant adds a unique angle by focusing on the sleep-wake cycle.



Investigators want to see if a consistently better night’s sleep might slow the progression of memory problems. That possibility has opened doors for exploring existing prescriptions that target different biological pathways.



There is no single treatment that works for everyone. Researchers want to figure out whether suvorexant or similar drugs should be part of a broader care plan that includes balanced nutrition, social support, and medical follow-ups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-safety-and-ongoing-research-efforts">Long-term safety and ongoing research efforts</h2>



Even though Alzheimer’s can strain families and communities, progress is being made. 



Clinical trials keep revealing how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleeping-smarter-just-15-extra-minutes-can-boost-adolescent-brains/">sleep</a> and protein buildup connect, which might ultimately lead to improved strategies for slowing memory loss. Suvorexant’s success in short-term studies offers a different perspective on preventing damage tied to these proteins. 



Experts plan to investigate whether day-to-day use over months or years will hold significant benefits for staving off the progression of cognitive decline and maintaining the quality of life of older people for as long as possible.



The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ana.26641" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annals of Neurology</a>.



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This sleeping pill reduces the accumulation of proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease is usually associated with changes in thinking and...

The,Theatre,Of,Aspendos,Ancient,City,In,Antalya

Archaeologists working at Driffield Terrace, a well-preserved Roman cemetery in York, have uncovered the first direct physical evidence of gladiatorial combat between a human and fierce, wild animal. 



The breakthrough came through a close forensic analysis of bite marks found on one of the 82 robust male skeletons excavated at the site.



This discovery reshapes our understanding of Roman entertainment beyond the walls of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-ancient-romans-made-such-incredibly-durable-concrete-is-no-longer-a-mystery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colosseum</a>. The cemetery first made headlines in 2010 when experts revealed that the men buried there were young, muscular individuals who had likely undergone intense physical training. 



Their skeletons also bore signs of violent trauma, and their unusual burial practices hinted at lives lived, and often ended, in combat.



However, until now, the idea that these men were gladiators had remained a compelling theory - lacking one final piece of evidence. That final piece came in the form of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/male-and-female-lions-have-different-social-strategies-for-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lion</a>’s bite.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gladiator-combat-confirmation">Gladiator combat confirmation</h2>



Malin Holst, a lecturer in Osteoarchaeology at the <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of York</a> and managing director of <a href="https://yorkosteoarchaeology.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">York Osteoarchaeology</a>, led the analysis that definitively linked the bite marks to a large feline predator.



“The bite marks were likely made by a lion, which confirms that the skeletons buried at the cemetery were gladiators, rather than soldiers or slaves, as initially thought and represent the first osteological confirmation of human interaction with large carnivores in a combat or entertainment setting in the Roman world,” she explained.



This new insight stems from research that began in 2004, when the first of these 1,800-year-old skeletons was excavated along a Roman road leading out of York. Experts determined that many of these individuals had come from different parts of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lead-pollution-may-have-caused-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roman Empire</a>. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gladiator-bones_bite-marks_lion_romans_credit-PLOS-One_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gladiator-bones_bite-marks_lion_romans_credit-PLOS-One_1s.webp" alt="Lesions on the left iliac spine of 6DT19. Credit: PLOS One (2025)" class="wp-image-1967179"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lesions on the left iliac spine of 6DT19. Credit: PLOS One (2025)</figcaption></figure>



An analysis of their bones suggested high levels of physical strain and repeated injuries - markers typical of gladiators. The man in question was aged between 26 and 35 at the time of death. 



His skeleton, found buried with two others and overlaid with horse bones, bore evidence of a tough life - spinal issues likely from strain, inflammation in the lungs and thigh, and signs of early malnutrition that he had recovered from.



However, the lion bite - unhealed and fatal - was what sealed his fate. After death, he was also decapitated, a ritual observed in several other burials of the same period, though the cultural reasoning behind this remains uncertain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lions-in-combat-with-gladiators">Lions in combat with gladiators</h2>



Professor Tim Thompson from <a href="https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maynooth University</a> in Ireland highlighted the significance of the discovery. “For years, our understanding of Roman gladiatorial combat and animal spectacles has relied heavily on historical texts and artistic depictions," he said.



"This discovery provides the first direct, physical evidence that such events took place in this period, reshaping our perception of Roman entertainment culture in the region,” he continued.



Analysis of the remains suggests the man may have been a Bestiarius, a type of gladiator tasked with fighting wild animals. These roles were often filled by volunteers or enslaved individuals. 



What’s particularly notable is that the combat involving this individual likely did not take place in Rome but in Roman York - a major provincial city. Although the city’s amphitheater has yet to be discovered, this evidence strongly suggests one existed.



“We often have a mental image of these combats occurring at the grand surroundings of the Colosseum in Rome, but these latest findings show that these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/youth-sports-are-more-accessible-to-privileged-families/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sporting events</a> had a far reach, well beyond the center of core Roman territories,” Holst said. “An amphitheatre probably existed in Roman York, but this has not yet been discovered.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gladiators-combat-and-the-roman-empire">Gladiators, combat, and the Roman Empire</h2>



York’s importance as a political and military hub during the Roman period - home to influential figures including Emperor Constantine - meant it would have had the cultural infrastructure to support such spectacles. 



Gladiatorial games were not merely brutal displays; they were high-stakes entertainment, tied into the social and political fabric of Roman cities. Interestingly, despite their expendability, gladiators were valuable assets. 



Owners would invest in their success, and when they did die, some were given burial gifts to serve them in the afterlife, as seen at Driffield Terrace. 



Owners of gladiators would most likely not have wanted them to die, since they were expensive ‘sports people,’ similar to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/college-athletes-have-lasting-brain-changes-after-concussion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">footballers</a> today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rewriting-roman-history-in-the-north"><a></a>Rewriting Roman history in the north</h2>



According to David Jennings, CEO of <a href="https://yorkarchaeology.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">York Archaeology</a>, this finding is crucial in expanding the story of the Roman world beyond its capital. 



“This latest research gives us a remarkable insight into the life - and death - of this particular individual, and adds to both previous and ongoing genome research into the origins of some of the men buried in this particular Roman cemetery,” he said.



“We may never know what brought this man to the arena where we believe he may have been fighting for the entertainment of others, but it is remarkable that the first osteo-archaeological evidence for this kind of gladiatorial combat has been found so far from the Colosseum of Rome, which would have been the classical world’s Wembley Stadium of combat,” Jennings added.



Visitors to <a href="http://www.digyork.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DIG: An Archaeological Adventure in St Saviourgate</a> will soon have the chance to come face-to-face with history, as the lion-bitten skeleton will be displayed there alongside a reconstructed model of the gladiator’s face - bringing a forgotten chapter of Roman Yorkshire vividly back to life.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0319847" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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First physical evidence found of gladiators fighting fierce animals in Roman arenas

Archaeologists working at Driffield Terrace, a well-preserved Roman cemetery in...

Babies don’t need to see everything to start learning what things mean. Even before they can talk, they’re already picking up new words by simply listening to people around them. 



Picture a baby on the floor surrounded by toys while adults chat nearby. Even if the topic is something unfamiliar - like kumquats - the baby might still start piecing together what the word refers to, without ever laying eyes on the fruit.



That surprising ability was at the center of a study led by scientists from <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern</a> and Harvard Universities. The researchers found that 15-month-old babies can learn about objects they’ve never seen, just by hearing others talk about them. In contrast, 12-month-olds don’t yet show the same skill.



The findings reveal how quickly babies begin to understand the world through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-did-humans-first-develop-language-scientists-think-they-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">language</a>, even when the objects in question are completely hidden.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babies-learn-words-through-sound">Babies learn words through sound</h2>



The team wanted to explore how early humans start forming mental pictures of things they've only heard about. To test this, they recruited 134 infants - half were 12 months old and the other half were 15 months.



The task was simple but clever. First, the babies heard familiar words like "apple" or "banana," and saw matching images of those fruits. 



Then, they were introduced to a new word, like “kumquat,” but without seeing any image - just hearing the word while the matching object stayed out of sight. Later, two new items appeared, for example, a kumquat and a whisk. The researchers asked, “Where is the kumquat?”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babies-form-mental-representations">Babies form mental representations</h2>



The results were striking. Fifteen-month-olds looked longer at the <a href="https://earthpedia.earth.com/plant-encyclopedia/angiosperms/rutaceae/kumquat-tree/?_gl=1*2njz2n*_gcl_au*ODI4OTcxMzk1LjE3NDQ0MjA1ODE.*_ga*MTg3OTEyMjQ2Ni4xNzIxMDYzMTg3*_ga_STJW8JPZJQ*MTc0NTU1MzA5Ny4zNjIuMS4xNzQ1NTU2NjMwLjUyLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kumquat</a>, even though they had never seen one before. They didn’t need the object to be present - the language alone gave them enough clues to identify which item matched the new word.



“The study shows that even babies who are just beginning to say their first words learn from the language they hear, even if the objects or events being discussed are not present,” said senior author Sandra Waxman. 



“Babies take in what they hear, and even if no object is present, they form a mental representation - or ‘gist’ - of the new word’s meaning, one that is strong enough for them to use later when its referent object does appear.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babies-use-context-to-learn-words">Babies use context to learn words</h2>



At 12 months, babies didn’t yet show this ability. The researchers believe this may be because younger infants haven’t heard enough familiar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caregiver-speech-shapes-infant-language-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">words</a> in conversation to grasp what a new one might mean. For instance, if they don’t yet recognize words like “apple” or “banana,” then “kumquat” just sounds like more noise.



“Many people believe that success in word learning requires that the infant ‘map’ a new word to an object that is physically present (e.g., ‘Look at the kumquat!’),” Waxman explained. “But in the natural course of a day, it is very common for us - and for infants - to hear words when the objects to which they refer to are not available to our immediate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-perception-we-see-the-world-based-on-what-we-expect-to-see/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perception</a>."



"We’re asking whether infants, too, can use the conversational contexts in which a word occurs to begin to learn their meaning.” The answer, at least for 15-month-olds, is yes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-world-through-language">Understanding the world through language</h2>



The experiment offered a unique window into how language itself shapes a child’s understanding of the world. By designing a test where the object stayed out of sight until later, the researchers could see just how much infants rely on context to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/babies-need-quick-responses-to-their-babbling-to-learn-language/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">learn</a>.



This also reflects everyday life. Infants constantly hear adults talking about things they can’t see - while reading books, walking through the grocery store, or chatting during dinner.



The study shows that these moments still matter. Even if a baby doesn’t yet know the word “kumquat,” they’re already forming ideas about what it might be.



“When we hear new words, like ‘kumquat’ in conversation when there are no kumquats around, we don’t waste the opportunity to home in its meaning,” said Waxman. “We now know this is also true about tiny babies.”



The research sheds light on one of the earliest building blocks of human language and thought: our ability to understand the world not just through what we see, but through what we hear. And for babies, it seems that the process begins even earlier than many people might think.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0321775" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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How babies learn words for objects they've never seen

Babies don’t need to see everything to start learning what...

Middle-aged mice lived 33% longer when they cut back on one particular dietary building block. This finding has grabbed attention because it suggests a simple strategy that may support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/leg-balance-is-a-key-indicator-of-healthy-aging/">healthy aging</a>.



This work comes from research teams who tracked how limiting the isoleucine in rodent meals boosted their longevity. 



This approach was led by metabolism researcher <a href="https://www.medicine.wisc.edu/directory/lamming_dudley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dudley Lamming</a> from the University of Wisconsin, US, and colleagues who also observed improved blood sugar control and leaner physiques among the animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isoleucine-s-role-in-healthy-aging">Isoleucine’s role in healthy aging</h2>



“Different components of your diet have value and impact beyond their function as a calorie, and we've been digging in on one component that many people may be eating too much of,” explained Lamming, who was involved in these mouse experiments, in 2023. Isoleucine is an essential part of our diet, yet some people consume too much of it.&nbsp;



Too much of this amino acid has been linked to unhealthy weight gain. The mix of amino acids in a person’s diet is now seen as an important factor in metabolic health. 



Higher intake of the branched-chain amino acid isoleucine has been <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11185563/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">linked</a> to increased body mass index in humans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isoleucine-restriction-extends-lifespan">Isoleucine restriction extends lifespan</h2>



Male mice on reduced-isoleucine chow experienced lifespan increases of about a third. They also handled glucose better and stayed slimmer even while allowed to eat more total calories.



Restricting isoleucine did not require complicated food measurements. It simply involved changing the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-model-esm3-creates-new-protein-that-simulates-500-million-years-of-biological-evolution/">protein</a> proportions in their daily ration so that isoleucine was the limiting factor. The mice were allowed to eat freely, which makes the results even more surprising.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-male-female-variation-in-isoleucine-restriction">Male-female variation in isoleucine restriction</h2>



In this study, male mice showed a 33% boost in lifespan, while females only gained about 7%. This big gap raises questions about how sex hormones, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-metabolism-has-evolved-to-become-energetically-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a>, and body composition may influence how the body responds to amino acid changes.



Researchers have seen similar patterns before with other nutrient-based interventions. Hormonal differences can affect fat storage, muscle metabolism, and how energy is used, which may explain why the same diet creates different results depending on sex.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-gains-from-limiting-isoleucine-intake">Health gains from limiting isoleucine intake</h2>



“It's interesting and encouraging to think a dietary change could still make such a big difference,” said Lamming. Such results spark optimism for ways to support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-say-this-is-the-best-fruit-to-eat-for-a-healthier-liver/">healthier</a> aging.&nbsp;



Scientists believe that trimming isoleucine intake helps the body regulate insulin activity, which in turn aids energy balance and metabolic stability. The 2021 study in mice supports the idea that altered amino acid levels can reprogram liver function and fat storage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risks-and-rewards-of-isoleucine-reduction">Risks and rewards of isoleucine reduction</h2>



Experts note that isoleucine is one of three branched-chain amino acids needed for survival, so eliminating it is not an option. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hemp-seeds-could-be-a-game-changer-as-an-alternative-protein-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Higher-protein foods</a> like eggs, dairy, soy, and meats typically provide ample amounts of it, which can be troublesome for those at risk of excessive intake.



Lifestyle adjustments must be approached carefully, because going too low in protein can also cause problems. “We can't just switch everyone to a low-isoleucine diet,” Lamming said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-incorporating-isoleucine-limited-foods-into-daily-meals">Incorporating isoleucine-limited foods into daily meals</h2>



People who eat mostly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-protein-boosts-survival-but-plants-boost-longevity/">animal-based foods</a> may be getting more isoleucine than they realize. Meats, dairy, and eggs are especially rich in branched-chain amino acids, including isoleucine. 



Swapping some of these foods for plant-based proteins - like beans, lentils, or tofu - could be a practical way to bring levels down without under-eating protein altogether.



This isn't about extreme dieting. It’s more about tweaking food choices to reduce excess. Since isoleucine is just one of many amino acids, small shifts in dietary sources might be enough to improve long-term health without sacrificing nutrition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-in-isoleucine-focused-research-and-treatment">Next steps in isoleucine-focused research and treatment</h2>



Researchers believe more targeted changes, including drugs that block how the body processes isoleucine, may one day be explored. 



Some observers hope physicians and dietitians might soon personalize amino acid profiles for specific health needs.



A short-term trial <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27346343/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">indicated</a> that low-protein diets can reduce weight and improve metabolic markers even without cutting overall calories. Such findings hint that translating the rodent results to human benefits is not far-fetched.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-prospects-for-isoleucine-and-healthy-aging">Future prospects for isoleucine and healthy aging</h2>



Many see this approach as a clue about the intricate links between diet and aging. These rodent models give reason to think that certain dietary tweaks could support longevity in people too.



The investigators emphasize that fine-tuning is key. They plan to keep studying how these food-based strategies could be adapted into safe recommendations for adults. 



Any future guidance will need to balance nutrient needs, metabolic responses, and practical eating habits across different age groups and lifestyles. The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413121001662" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Metabolism</a>.



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Reducing isoleucine is the key to a 33% longer life

Middle-aged mice lived 33% longer when they cut back on...

Conspiracy theories often seem bizarre or extreme to some people, but they can take root in something very human - the desire to feel that our lives have meaning. This basic need for purpose drives many of our decisions - both good and bad. 



For some people, it can even lead down dangerous paths. In a new book titled The Quest for Significance, social psychologist Arie Kruglanski and journalist Dan Raviv have explored this idea in depth.



Their research is backed by extensive psychological studies and their own personal experiences, including childhood memories shaped by historical trauma. The book is the product of work conducted at the <a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a>.



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



“Experts on human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-regulates-both-learning-and-motivation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">motivation</a> contend that all people share the same set of basic needs, and everything people do, try to attain, or avoid is in the service of satisfying one or more of those basic needs,” explained the researchers.



“The need for significance and mattering is one such pre-eminent basic need that all people have.”



This need, they argue, often flies under the radar of conscious thought. Yet it plays a powerful role in shaping our emotions, behaviors, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conversations-with-ai-chatbots-can-reverse-reduce-conspiracy-theory-beliefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beliefs</a>. 



When people feel they’ve lost their sense of importance or dignity, they may seek it out in extreme places - sometimes believing false narratives that make them feel special or give them a sense of control.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-link-between-uncertainty-and-belief">The link between uncertainty and belief</h2>



Today’s world is filled with unpredictability. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/financial-losses-during-the-pandemic-took-a-toll-on-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Financial instability</a>, political unrest, war, and global health crises create an environment where people feel vulnerable. 



“But it is not the uncertainty alone that has been so troubling to so many,” the authors noted. “It is a loss of significance that the uncertainty connotes.”



When life feels unstable, people often imagine worst-case scenarios. They worry about losing their homes, their jobs, or their cultural identity. This fear creates a gap, and conspiracy theories step in to fill it - offering easy answers and a sense of direction.



“The loss of significance that people around the globe have been experiencing makes them vulnerable to a particular brand of narratives; ones that acknowledge their fears and anxieties and blame some agent or entity for nefarious plots and actions aimed at humiliating and diminishing them,” explained the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-appeal-of-conspiracy-theories">The appeal of conspiracy theories</h2>



The authors show how conspiracy theories gain traction by assigning blame and calling for action. They note that these stories often center on a common enemy, suggesting that violence or resistance is the only way to reclaim lost dignity.



“An important aspect of those narratives has been a call to arms against the party or parties allegedly responsible for these evil machinations. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of conspiracy theories identifying an assortment of culprits as the enemy that must be violently confronted and whose satanic plans must be aggressively thwarted.”



A well-known example is the theory promoted by David Icke, who claims that a race of interdimensional reptilians disguised as humans - including world leaders - are secretly trying to control the world.



“From a psychological perspective, the real question is what do these theories offer Icke’s audiences that motivates them to take the claims seriously? In fact, they offer quite a lot. First, to be privy to a truth so scandalous and shocking makes a person feel very special, one of a select few ‘in the know,'” the experts wrote. 



Conspiracy theories make people feel seen and valued. They can offer a sense of belonging and even hope. This makes them especially attractive to people who feel sidelined or powerless in society.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conspiracy-theories-fill-an-emotional-void">Conspiracy theories fill an emotional void</h2>



Research in psychology has long shown that motivations shape belief. When someone’s sense of importance is low, they’re more likely to believe stories that make them feel elevated or heroic.



“Disseminated by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-do-covid-conspiracy-theories-persist-on-social-media/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social media</a> at lightning speed, conspiracy narratives purport to identify the alleged culprits responsible for proliferating misery,” explained the researchers.



“In our private lives, and on the world stage, the challenge is to find ways that can enhance our significance as a win-win project, rather than through a bitter, competitive zero-sum game.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-self-awareness">The power of self-awareness</h2>



The book doesn’t just outline the problem of people believing conspiracy theories. It also offers a way forward. The authors argue that self-awareness is key. 



Many people don’t fully understand what drives them. This lack of insight makes them more vulnerable to manipulation and harmful narratives.



“People are often blissfully unaware of why they do what they do, and what basic motives underlie their choices, decisions, and actions. Despite these misgivings, it may be better to face the truth about ourselves and navigate it, rather than bury our head in the proverbial sand."



Knowing your needs can lead to better decisions, stronger relationships, and a greater sense of purpose. It can also help protect against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brains-may-be-hardwired-to-believe-lies-and-conspiracy-theories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">false beliefs</a> that offer a quick - but misleading - sense of significance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-yourself-from-conspiracy-theories">Protecting yourself from conspiracy theories</h2>



Most people don’t realize what shapes even their everyday choices, let alone their core beliefs. The authors suggest paying attention to what affects you emotionally - things such as pride, envy, admiration, or shame.



“If you can somehow quantify how important significance is to you, how strongly you react to challenges to your dignity, how badly you feel when ‘put down’ by others, and what arouses your envy, empathy, or admiration, then you might identify guidelines for navigating your life more successfully,” the researchers wrote.



“This part of ‘knowing thyself’ may suggest to you which situations could be beneficial and which ones to avoid, which invitations to accept and which to turn down, which friends to choose or to eschew, and which goals to commit to or reject.”



Understanding what makes you tick is not just self-help advice. It’s a form of defense - against manipulation, against harmful ideologies, and against losing touch with what truly matters.



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Why some people believe conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories often seem bizarre or extreme to some people,...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



-----



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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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?

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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



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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



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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



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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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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