Falling asleep and waking up refreshed is something most of us crave. Yet some people appear to thrive on fewer hours, leaving everyone else wondering how they manage it. A new study involving a healthy older adult suggests that a rare gene mutation might be a key to needing fewer hours of sleep.



The research was led by Dr. Hao Chen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), whose team investigated a "natural short sleeper" <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-night-of-lost-sleep-can-trigger-hidden-health-issues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trait</a> linked to a genetic variant in the SIK3 gene.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-genetics-influence-sleep-duration">How genetics influence sleep duration</h2>



Scientists who explore patterns of rest have long recognized that people’s genetic makeup can influence how much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-prepares-the-brain-for-the-future-while-protecting-memories-of-the-past/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a> they need. This latest finding highlights how even a slight genetic tweak might reduce the time required for the brain and body to recover.



Those who qualify as short sleepers function at a normal or high level despite clocking fewer hours in bed. Researchers classify them separately from individuals suffering from insomnia, because these short sleepers typically wake up rested and show no health problems tied to exhaustion.



One older participant reported sleeping around 6.3 hours per night yet displayed sharp cognition and good health. Her genetic profile pointed to a single mutation as the possible reason for her efficient slumber.



These individuals, referred to as natural short sleepers, seem wired to operate on less rest. Specialists are intrigued by how they sail through daily life with no visible drawbacks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gene-mutation-and-sleep-patterns">Gene mutation and sleep patterns</h2>



The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/protein-kinases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kinase protein</a> produced by the SIK3 gene relays signals that influence various cellular processes. Scientists suspect that changes in kinase function might play a role in controlling how much time the body devotes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-can-boost-memory-in-a-surprising-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a>.



When Dr. Chen’s team transferred this mutation to lab mice, the animals spent slightly less time resting each day. This observation hinted at a biological mechanism that could be significant across different species.



“Studying human sleep genes not only expands our knowledge regarding the sleep regulatory network, but also may bring the basic research from mouse models to clinical relevance,” noted the researchers.



Brain scans in the test mice revealed that their <a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/protein-biology/protein-biology-learning-center/protein-biology-resource-library/pierce-protein-methods/phosphorylation.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phosphorylation</a> patterns changed, especially around the areas that oversee rest and wake cycles. This shift aligns with the idea that sleep is coordinated by a web of signals in the brain that might be influenced by tiny chemical tweaks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-mutations-in-short-sleepers">Genetic mutations in short sleepers</h2>



Scientists have now identified at least five distinct genetic mutations linked to the natural short sleep trait. Each one affects different proteins involved in the brain’s signaling and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-quality-could-be-the-key-to-better-metabolic-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a>-wake rhythms, hinting at multiple pathways that might influence rest duration.



The SIK3 variant joins others such as <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1801693115" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DEC2</a>, <a href="https://www.ajmc.com/view/a-rare-gene-mutation-is-associated-with-requiring-less-sleep-researchers-say" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ADRB1</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/387129" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NPSR1</a>, and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/14816" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GRM1</a>, each contributing a piece to the sleep efficiency puzzle. Researchers believe that mapping these variants could eventually lead to a full blueprint of how the body regulates its need for sleep.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treatments-for-sleep-disorders">Treatments for sleep disorders</h2>



Researchers think there could be important applications for people who struggle with sleep disorders. Adjusting the pathways linked to this genetic variant might shorten the time needed to feel rested, although practical therapies will likely take time to refine.



Still, scientists caution that these insights do not give an excuse to slash nightly rest. They emphasize that ordinary individuals without the mutation may not reap any benefits from copying a short sleeper’s schedule.



Experts see promise in pursuing treatments that enhance the body’s own efficiency. They hope new knowledge of genetic influences will guide strategies to help those who find it difficult to get restorative rest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-short-sleep-genes">Future research on short-sleep genes </h2>



Short-sleep genes have captured the imagination of specialists for years. There is strong interest in mapping out exactly how the human brain resets itself, and why some people get the same benefits in a compressed timeframe.



“These [NSS] people, all these functions our bodies are doing while we are sleeping, they can just perform at a higher level than we can,” said neuroscientist and geneticist Ying-Hui Fu, from the University of California, San Francisco (<a href="https://www.ucsf.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCSF</a>). 



Scientists aim to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37398097/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">uncover</a> the precise factors that grant this group their resilience. Many research teams intend to investigate how broader networks of genes might interact to influence rest. 



The SIK3 discovery raises big questions about what else might affect daily energy levels and long-term health.



Fascination with short sleepers is unlikely to fade soon. Unlocking the secrets of their genetics could reshape how we view rest, opening a path to solutions for chronic sleep troubles.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2500356122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS</a>.



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Rare gene explains why some people can thrive on less sleep

Falling asleep and waking up refreshed is something most of us crave. Yet some people appear to thrive on fewer hours, leaving everyone else wondering how they manage it. A new study involving a healthy older adult suggests that a rare gene mutation might be a key to needing fewer hours of sleep. The research was led by Dr. Hao Chen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), whose team investigated a "natural short sleeper" trait linked to a genetic variant in the SIK3 gene. How genetics...

A study by the <a href="https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/">Boston University School of Medicine</a> has revealed that children who play American football may suffer from negative health consequences later in life. The analysis of over 200 professional and amateur football players in America indicates that being exposed to the sport before age 12 can cause long-term mood and behavior issues.

The researchers discovered that football players who started playing before age 12 had more than double the risk of frontal lobe impairment compared to players who took up the sport at age 12 or later. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/decisions-two-regions-brain/">frontal lobe</a> plays a major role in executive function, which includes analyzing, organizing, regulating behavior, and apathy. The study also showed that players who had started the sport before age 12 developed more than three times the risk for depression. 


"Overall, our study provides further evidence that playing American football before age 12, and being hit in the head repeatedly through tackle football during a critical time of brain development, is associated with later-life problems with mood and behavior,” said co-author Dr. Robert Stern.

For their evaluation, the researchers accessed an online questionnaire from 214 former American football players who averaged 51 years of age at the time of the study. The individuals had reported information on executive function, behavioral regulation, apathy, and depression. Cognitive testing was performed through telephone interviews, and the players had also taken part in an investigation of the long-term and short-term consequences of exposure to repeated head impacts.

The current study, published in <a href="http://www.nature.com/tp/">Translational Psychiatry</a>, is unprecedented in evaluating relationship between the age of first exposure to football and clinical dysfunction in a sample that includes both professionals and amateurs who did not play past college.

"It is important to note that participation in youth sports can have many benefits, including the development of leadership skills, social skills, and work ethic, not to mention the tremendous health benefits,” said Dr. Stern. “The goal is to make sure that children can take advantage of all of the benefits of sports participation without the risk of long-term brain injury or disease. More research on this topic is needed before any recommendations on policy or rule changes can be made."

Dr. Stern added that repeated head impacts can undoubtedly lead to long-term consequences, “and we should be doing what we can at all levels in all sports to minimize these repeated hits."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Playing football before age 12 linked to long term health risks

A study by the Boston University School of Medicine has...

The longstanding debate of whether kids are growing up faster or slower than they used to may be finally be put to rest. Researchers have found that teens today are less likely to engage in adult activities, and are growing up more slowly than teens of previous decades.

The research team investigated how often that teenagers of recent years participated in adult activities such as drinking alcohol, dating, working for pay, driving, and having sex. Jean M. Twenge is a professor of Psychology at <a href="https://www.sdsu.edu/">San Diego State University</a> and the lead author of the study.

"The developmental trajectory of adolescence has slowed, with teens growing up more slowly than they used to," explained Twenge. "In terms of adult activities, 18-year-olds now look like 15-year-olds once did."

The research team examined massive surveys that included 8.3 million <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teenage-risk-taking-development/">teenagers</a> between 1976 and 2016. The teens reported how they used their time, including their engagement in one or more adult activities. This gave the researchers an opportunity to compare teens in the 2010s to teens in the previous four decades.

The study also analyzed how changes in family size, life expectancy, education, and the economy may have influenced adolescents to take on adult activities.

The study revealed that teenagers in the 2010s are less likely to work for pay, drive, date, drink alcohol, go out without their parents, and have sex than adolescents of years past. The authors pointed out that the decline may be linked to a drastic increase in the amount of time teens spend online. The trend appeared across all demographic groups, indicating a widespread cultural shift.

"Our study suggests that teens today are taking longer to embrace both adult responsibilities and adult pleasures," said co-author Heejung Park. "These trends are neither good nor bad, but reflect the current U.S. cultural climate."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/index.html">Child Development</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study confirms that these days, teens take longer to grow up

The longstanding debate of whether kids are growing up faster...

Using genetic evidence as a defense in criminal testimony is becoming more common. However, new research shows that pleading on behalf of your genes doesn’t make you appear any less responsible to the judge and jury.

A defense strategy may employ behavioral genetic evidence that links gene variants or gene DNA to establish a root cause for a crime or any violent tendencies/behaviors that may have motivated a crime.

Research has found links to genetic makeup and criminal behavior, but these relationships are still largely unexplored. This is why the use of behavioral genetics in court in most cases doesn’t aid the defendant.

A new report by Dr. Paula Appelbaum from <a href="http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/">Columbia University Medical Center</a> and Nicholas Scurich from the <a href="https://uci.edu/">University of California, Irvine</a>, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, discusses why juries are likely to be unsympathetic to arguments founded around genetics.

The authors noted that even if a jury is sympathetic to behavioral traits, there still won’t be a ruling in the defendant's favor because of the possibility of future offenses.

“A judge and jury may find defendants are less responsible because of a genetic factor, but also feel that they are more likely to re-offend because they can't control themselves due to the genetic effect,” said Appelbaum.

According to the law, inherited traits are not enough to deter blame for one's actions. In order to plead insanity, for example, or exhibit reduced behavioral control, there has to sufficient proof that the defendant was not in control of their actions.

In order for genetic data to continue to be used as a defense in the criminal courts, more studies will need to be conducted to show plausible links between criminal behavior and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/edit-genes-human-embryos/">genes</a>.

“Until that evidence is forthcoming, the use of behavioral genetic data in the criminal justice system is likely to diminish. For the time being, at least, not relying on genetic evidence in criminal courts may result in fairer outcomes at every level,” said Applebaum.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandett@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Can genetics be used as a defense in criminal court?

Using genetic evidence as a defense in criminal testimony is...

Millions of tons of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-tap-water-contains-plastics/">plastic</a> particles are buried in the oceans every year as a result of human activities. Researchers have determined that the best strategy to eradicate some of this pollution may be to appeal to the public's love of the sea. 

Scientists are exploring ways to slow down the amount of plastic pollution that is accumulating in the ocean. They are searching for strategies to recover the health of our seas, and striving to protect all of the human benefits associated with healthy oceans.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a> and the <a href="https://www.surrey.ac.uk/">University of Surrey</a> looked at the history of how public pressure can lead to policy change. For example, public opposition led to bans on the use of microbeads in cosmetics and helped place restrictions on single-use plastic bags.

The researchers say that these types of public efforts are steps in the right direction, but they are not addressing the underlying issues. Their report, published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nathumbehav/">Nature Human Behaviour</a>, explains that there needs to be a more unified and interdisciplinary approach.

Dr. Sabine Pahl is an associate professor of Psychology and lead author of the report.

"The public's love of the coast is obvious, so it stands to reason that they would play a role in preserving its future,” said Dr. Pahl. “Plastic pollution is a problem for all in society and while there are solutions out there, they must be socially acceptable as well as economically and technically viable. We need to work together across disciplines and sectors to build on the strength of humans to facilitate change."

The authors of the report conducted previous studies which revealed the negative impact of marine litter on coastal environments. As a result of the current study, they compare ocean plastic pollution to other environmental threats like marine litter, where the symptoms occur some distance away from land-based causes.

"From previous research we know that people appreciate and value the importance of the ocean and see marine litter as a global problem,” said co-author Dr. Kayleigh Wyles. “Yet, the challenge is connecting the dots. So many of our behaviors and decisions contribute to this problem, but at those particular points of time, we often don't think of how they can impact the environment.” 

Dr. Wyles added, “Using behavioral sciences to understand drivers of human behavior will therefore help support ongoing initiatives that can look to clean up our environments."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

People’s love for the ocean could help reduce plastic pollution

Millions of tons of plastic particles are buried in the...

Do you trust your school to protect children with chronic health issues? More parents of children with physical or mental health conditions are answering “no,” according to a new report.

Only 38 percent of parents are “very confident” that schools can help a child with a mental disorder or illness, according to the new poll conducted by the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a>. Parents also worry about schools’ ability to respond to chronic health issues like asthma attacks, the poll found.

"Parents feel schools can handle basic first aid, but are less sure about urgent health situations such as an asthma attack, epileptic seizure, or serious allergic reaction," Sarah Clark, co-director of the poll, said.

The university’s <a href="http://mottnpch.org/">C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health</a> conducts several surveys each year and collects the results in an annual report to measure public opinion on children’s health. 

Parents have the least amount of confidence in schools’ ability to identify and help students with mental health issues like depression, anxiety or learning disorders, the poll found. 

"One of the challenges of addressing mental health is that there are so many facets," Clark said. "At the elementary level, this might include prolonged sadness, anger management problems, or undiagnosed ADHD. For older students, it may be anxiety about college entrance tests, a problem with drug use, or suicidal thoughts."

In higher grades, school counselors are often seen as the best line of defense for students dealing with learning disorders or mental illness, Clark said. However, at many schools, counselors have varying degrees of training and overwhelming workloads, making it less likely they’ll spot problems.

More than 75 percent of respondents were confident in school nurses’ ability to deal with minor first aid issues like cuts and bruises – but even then, their confidence may be misplaced, the poll found.

Most parents who said schools could handle first aid crises believe school nurses are on-site five days a week. However, less than half of schools in the United States have a full-time, on-site nurse.

Parents who have children with chronic health issues – whether mental or physical – should work with their child’s teachers and school administration to make sure their child is being cared for while at school, the researchers said.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Parents worry schools can't cope with chronic health issues

Do you trust your school to protect children with chronic...

Europe has twice as many diesel vehicles as the rest of the world combined, and it could be taking a bigger toll on public health than previously believed.

A team of researchers from the <a href="http://www.iiasa.ac.at/">International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis</a> in Austria, <a href="http://www.chalmers.se/en">Chalmers University of Technology</a> in Sweden and the <a href="https://www.met.no/en">Norwegian Meteorological Institute</a> have conducted a new study to find out how the air pollution produced by diesel vehicles in Europe may contribute to the annual pollution-related deaths on the continent. 

They found that emissions from diesel cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles may be linked to as many as 10,000 premature deaths per year. Half of those deaths may have been prevented if laboratory testing of diesel vehicle emissions had been accurate, the scientists said.

“Modern engine controls have been optimized by manufacturers for the specific laboratory testing but underperform in real-driving,” the scientists said, referring to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vehicle-emissions-worse-testing/">earlier research on diesel emissions</a>.

About 425,000 deaths in Europe are linked to air pollution each year, the researchers said in a press release. The vast majority of those deaths – about 90 percent – stem from cardiovascular or respiratory diseases linked to nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide, abbreviated NOx, the scientists said.

The problem is exacerbated by Europe’s large number of diesel cars, trucks and other automobiles. Diesel vehicles have been found to produce up to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nitrogen-oxide-diesel-car/">10 times more NOx than buses</a> despite being substantially smaller.

"If diesel car emissions were as low as petrol car emissions, three quarters or about 7,500 premature deaths could have been avoided," said Dr. Jens Borken-Kleefeld, a transportation expert for the IIASA.

The vast majority of the premature deaths are in France, Germany and Italy, the researchers said. However, due to other types of air pollution and other environmental factors, the risk per capita is much higher in northern Italy, they said.

The study will be published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/erl">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Are diesel vehicles causing thousands of deaths in Europe?

Europe has twice as many diesel vehicles as the rest...

A new study has found that Islamophobia is about more than just the religion, and is rooted in racism and cultural intolerance.

According to the research, even though Muslims are not a race, American Muslims and non-Muslims in the United States face the same sorts of profiling and bias associated with racism. 

Authored by Craig Considine from <a href="http://www.rice.edu/">Rice University</a>, the paper cited examples of academic studies and more than 40 news articles that discussed the experiences of American Muslims and depictions of Muslims in the media. 

Considine’s paper concludes that Islamophobia is not just a form of religious bias, but in fact,  “race is endemic to Islamophobic incidents.”

The media and pop culture have been particularly apt at portraying Muslims in a negative light, thereby grouping all Muslims into one harmful racial stereotype that usually portrays Arab/Muslims as nefarious, bearded, dark-skinned and usually wearing a turban. 

U.S. President <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/donald-trump-vs-environment/">Donald Trump</a> has exacerbated this effect in his comments on the religion, telling <a href="http://www.cnn.com/">CNN</a>, “I think Islam hates us.”

Crimes by Muslims are given 449 percent more news coverage than crimes carried out by non-Muslims. 

Of more than 1,000 Hollywood films depicting Arabs, only twelve of the films had positive portrayals of Arabs/Muslims. 

“Despite the racial, ethnic and cultural diversity of the U.S. Muslim population, they continue to be cast as potentially threatening persons based on perceived racial and cultural characteristics,” said Considine. 

The racialization of Islam has created a rash of hate crimes against Muslims. For example, one of the hate crimes Considine cites in his paper is the shooting of a Sikh in Mesa, Arizona after September 11th. 

The man who shot him wanted to just “kill a Muslim” in retaliation for terrorist attacks. Even though Sikhism is not connected to Islam, the Sikh was targeted and profiled because of his appearance and turban. The man who shot him identified the Sikh by the media’s racial stereotypes. 

“This incident and other incidents referenced in the paper are examples of how Muslims have been racialized and thus subjected to a kind of racism,” Considine said. 

Between 2010 and 2014, more than fifty percent of Muslims reported experiencing some form of hostility, bias, or felt targeted because they were identified as Muslim. 

Simply classing Islamophobia as not a type of racism does a great disservice, and as Considine proves, is detrimental to the well-being and safety of Muslim Americans and Muslims in the United States. 

“We would be misguided to dismiss the role that race plays in incidents where Muslims and non-Muslims are targeted due to stereotypes of 'Muslim identity, this identity, insofar as the American context goes, appears to be weighted with racial meanings,” said Considine. 

The study was published in the journal Religions.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study: Islamophobia a dangerous blend of racism and intolerance

A new study has found that Islamophobia is about more...

A new study found that failure can help motivate you to do better in the future, but the key is how you process your missteps. 

Inherently, humans distance themselves from the uncomfortable feelings associated with failure. Growing up, we are told that dwelling on failure isn’t productive or healthy. But new research finds that allowing yourself to experience the full brunt of feelings after a failure can be a great source of encouragement to improve.

The research was conducted by Selin Malkoc from <a href="https://fisher.osu.edu/">Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business</a>, Noelle Nelson of the <a href="https://www.ku.edu/">University of Kansas</a> and Baba Shiv of <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a>. 

The authors found that emotion was the important determining factor in the learning process.

“When faced with a failure, it is better to focus on one's emotions—when people concentrate on how bad they feel and how they don't want to experience these feelings again, they are more likely to try harder the next time,” said Malkoc.

The researchers asked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/college-binge-drinking-brain-activity/">college students</a> to participate in several studies that would weigh emotions and cognitive thinking in the face of failure. 

In one experiment, the students were asked to search online for the lowest prices blender, if they found the lowest price they could win a prize. But the experiment guaranteed all participants would fail. 

Before finding out if they won or not, the researchers asked half of the students to focus on their emotional response to losing, and the other half were instructed to think about how they thought they did. In other words, one group was asked to look at the emotional ramifications of losing, and the other had a more cognitive response to an unknown outcome. 

After several similar experiments, the researchers found that emotions were a better motivator than cognitive responses. 

“When the participants focused on how bad they felt about failing the first time, they tried harder than others when they had another similar opportunity,” said Malkoc. 

The study shows that dwelling on failure can have a positive effect, even though focusing on painful and embarrassing emotions correlated with failure can be difficult. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Processing your own failure can motivate you to improve

A new study found that failure can help motivate you...

Fall is in the air, and it is the perfect time of year to enjoy the great outdoors. According to the <a href="https://www.rvda.org/RVDA/Media/News_Releases/2017_News_Releases/March_2017/Camping.aspx">2017 North American Camping Report</a>, 75 million households in the United States are active campers. Half of those families say they plan to <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/insomnia-cure-camping/">camp</a> more this year. 

Whether you are an experienced camper or just someone that looks forward to pitching a tent every now and then, it is simple to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature. The following is a list of the 8 most amazing places to camp in the United States.

Glacier National Park 

Located in Montana on the US/Canada border, this park features more than a million acres, including mountains that began forming 170 million years ago. Featuring 130 named lakes, over 1,000 different species of plants, and hundreds of species of animals, this is one of the prime locations in the country to experience life outside.

Acadia National Park

With its 17 million acres of forest, 6,000 lakes and ponds, and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, Maine has an abundance of biodiversity. Located on Mount Desert Island, this park encompasses everything the state has to offer including Cadillac Mountain, an incredible hiking spot that towers over the site at 1,530 feet.

Little Tybee Island

Just a short boat ride south of Tybee Island, Georgia, this is the perfect spot to sleep under the stars. The island has a number of endangered species of birds, rich salt marshes, and natural dunes. This wildlife reserve is twice the size of Tybee, yet completely uninhabited.

Shenandoah National Park

This breathtaking site in Virginia is only a short drive from Washington D.C. that features over 500 miles of hiking trails with access to gorgeous waterfalls and stunning views. One of the most popular trails is a nine-mile hike to Old Rag Mountain, which sits high in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Badlands National Park  

Known for an abundance of fossil mammals, this historic area of South Dakota offers a number of great camping sites. The terrain is rugged and not the easiest to navigate, but the experience is well worth the extra effort. The Badlands are said to have the largest fossil accumulation from the Eocene and Oligocene Epochs.

Yosemite National Park

This park, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, is known for its ancient sequoia trees, granite cliffs, clear streams and an incredible amount of biodiversity. Yosemite features 13 campgrounds, and the site is so iconic that it was key in the concept of national parks. 

Crater Lake National Park

Located in Oregon among the Cascade Mountain Range, this is the site of incredible volcanic formations, including Crater Lake. This lake is the deepest in the United States and is also said to be the cleanest and most pure lake in the country. The park has two developed campgrounds.

Pisgah National Forest  

This enchanted forest is known as the Land of the Waterfalls. It encompasses 500,000 acres of the Appalachian Mountains just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Mile-high peaks offer majestic views and campers can enjoy rock climbing, backpacking, and fishing.

Ludington State Park

Located in western Michigan, Ludington State Park spans 5,300 acres and just last year celebrated its 80th birthday. Known as the most popular state park in Michigan, Ludington attracts a large number of tourists due to its widely diverse attractions, which include hiking, fishing, biking, boating, swimming, and sledding.

Arches National Park

Located in eastern Utah next to the Colorado River, Arches National Park contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches across 76,000 acres. The majestic beauty and vibrant orange and red colors make the park a favorite for those most familiar with the southwestern United States. Although climbing on the named arches is strictly prohibited, climbing is allowed in other parts of the park, along with hiking and camping. Arches is also a popular destination for astronomers, thanks to its uniquely clear skies.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The 10 best camping sites in the United States

Fall is in the air, and it is the perfect...

Gun control has been one of the most heated debates in the United States for decades, with the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution being weighed against the rising gun violence in many cities and the recent prevalence of mass shootings. Along with these topics, accidental shootings – particularly involving children – are also an important factor for consideration when discussing creating or changing gun laws.

New research was presented at the <a href="https://www.aap.org/en-us/Pages/Default.aspx">American Academy of Pediatrics</a> National Conference &amp; Exhibition in Chicago, which found that the regions of the U.S. with the strictest gun laws also have the lowest rates of childhood firearm injuries.

The researchers ranked each region of the U.S. using the Brady Gun Law Score, which scores states based on policy approaches to regulating both guns and ammunition. This score takes into account background checks on gun sales, reporting stolen or lost firearms, and restricting the purchase of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/higher-suicide-rates-rural-areas/">weapons</a> among high-risk populations. The study compared these regional scores with national data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample from 2009-2013, which included analysis of over 100,000 emergency department visits for pediatric firearm-related injuries.

In comparing the regions’ Brady Gun Law Scores with the number of these injuries per region, the researchers found that regions with higher Brady scores (indicating stricter gun laws) also had lower rates of emergency department visits for firearm injuries among children and teens. This suggests that stricter gun laws may be related to fewer firearm injuries among youth.

Regionally, the lowest rate of firearm injuries occurred in the Northeast, which had the highest Brady score as well. The Midwest had the second lowest injury rate, the West had the third lowest, and the South was last with the highest rates of visits for pediatric firearm injuries – and also the lowest Brady score.

“Our study highlights the regional variations in gun laws,” says Dr. Monika Goyal, an assistant professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at Children’s National Health System and <a href="https://www.gwu.edu/">The George Washington University</a>. “It also suggests how gun laws may help to reduce the number of pediatric firearm victims being treated in the emergency department each year.”

While more research on other competing factors will need to be done, this study is a step in the right direction in terms of determining what may be putting children at risk of firearm injuries. It’s safe to say we can all get on board with decreasing the number of children ending up in hospitals with gun wounds.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Stricter gun laws linked to fewer child firearm injuries

Gun control has been one of the most heated debates...

More and more studies are showing that access to safe, natural environments improves the overall health of children including heart health, mental health, weight management, and stress management. A new concept has emerged from this research that is known as a green schoolyard.

Stephen Pont is the medical director at <a href="https://www.dellchildrens.net/">Dell Children's Texas Center</a> and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at <a href="https://dellmed.utexas.edu/">UT-Austin Dell Medical School</a>.

"Green schoolyards can include outdoor classrooms, native gardens, storm water capture, traditional play equipment, vegetable gardens, trails, trees and more," said Dr. Pont. "And outside of school time, these schoolyards can be open for the surrounding community to use, benefitting everyone."

Green schoolyards offer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deportation-fears-american-children/">children</a> a healthy outdoor environment as part of their daily lives. Green schoolyards also provide value to the entire community by promoting improved health and higher rates of community and family engagement. 

Richard Louv is a co-founder of the <a href="http://www.childrenandnature.org/">Children &amp; Nature Network</a>.

"Too many children have no access to quality school grounds. In many neighborhoods, the standard play space is a barren asphalt playground or a concrete slab surrounded by chain link fence--a completely unsuitable environment for children's play,” said Louv.

In collaboration with the Children &amp; Nature Network and the <a href="http://www.nlc.org/">National League of Cities</a>, five cities have implemented green schoolyards as a result of the research. The study authors have documented green schoolyard advantages such as improved academic outcomes, physical activity, and mental health.

"So many physicians and health professionals choose to spend their free time in nature, but we often forget that nature can be a powerful health intervention for our patients, both for the prevention and improvement of many medical conditions," said Dr. Pont. "We should all be champions for kids and families getting more Vitamin N."

The research will be presented September 16th at the <a href="https://www.aap.org/">American Academy of Pediatrics</a> National Conference &amp; Exhibition in Chicago. The concept will be presented as, "Green Schoolyards Support Healthy Bodies, Minds and Communities.”

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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

Green schoolyards improve mental and physical health of kids

More and more studies are showing that access to safe,...

It has been estimated that up to one-third of young North Americans and Europeans partake in binge drinking, particularly during their college years.

Binge drinking, as described by <a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/">The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism</a>, occurs when 4 to 5 drinks are consumed in a two-hour period. 

Both binge drinking and alcoholism have been scientifically proven to affect brain activity. But for college students specifically, binge drinking has been linked to poor performance in school, neurocognitive deficits, and risky sexual behavior, not to mention the risks involved with alcohol poisoning and drunk driving  

Researchers in Spain and Portugal set out determine if binge drinking had any impact on the brain activity of college students while at rest. 

“A number of studies have assessed the effects of binge drinking in young adults during different tasks involving cognitive processes such as attention or working memory. However, there are hardly any studies assessing if the brains of binge drinkers show differences when they are at rest, and not focused on a task, “ said Eduardo López-Caneda from the<a href="https://www.uminho.pt/EN"> University of Minho</a> in Portugal and one of the researchers. 

Researchers asked first-year college students to take a survey about their drinking habits. If the student had partaken in binge drinking in the last month. The researchers then attached electrodes to the students and observed electrical activity in the different parts of the brain while at rest. 

The results showed different brain activity in the students labeled as binge drinkers. These students had higher measurements of beta and theta oscillations in the right temporal lobe and bilateral occipital cortex. These results are similar to the brain activity of chronic alcoholics. 

Because adolescent brains are still developing, it is especially dangerous that young binge drinkers display brain activity similar to the damage done to older adult alcoholic brains.

Lopez-Caneda stresses the importance of future studies factoring in this research to see just how much brain activity can be affected by binge <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/men-harder-quitting-drinking/">drinking</a> at a young age. 

The study was published in the journal, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

College binge drinking found to alter brain activity

It has been estimated that up to one-third of young...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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