Auckland,-,July,18,2017:small,Girl,(naomi,Ben-ari,Age,03)

Over the years, food habits have shifted in surprising ways. Many people now rely on quick, ultraprocessed, factory-made food products that promise a convenient fix for busy lives.



A new study led by Eduardo Augusto Fernandes Nilson from Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (<a href="https://fiocruz.br" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fiocruz</a>), explores how certain eating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breaking-free-from-ultra-processed-foods-the-surprising-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">patterns</a> might drive health issues often mistaken as purely genetic or inevitable with age.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-impacts-of-ultraprocessed-foods">Health impacts of ultraprocessed foods</h2>



Ultraprocessed foods typically contain synthetic additives and other laboratory-based ingredients instead of fresh items.



They are often higher in sugar and trans fats and sometimes include artificial colors and flavor enhancers. Many researchers say these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-ultra-processed-foods-makes-your-muscles-weaker-and-more-fragile/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">products</a> are slowly displacing traditional diets in every corner of the globe.



"UPFs affect health beyond the individual impact of high content of critical nutrients (sodium, trans fats, and sugar) because of the changes in the foods during industrial processing and the use of artificial ingredients, including colorants, artificial flavors and sweeteners, emulsifiers, and many other additives and processing aids," said Dr. Nilson.&nbsp;



"So assessing deaths from all causes associated with UPF <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/health-risks-of-ultra-processed-foods-revealed-in-30-year-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consumption</a> allows an overall estimate of the effect of industrial food processing on health."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-junk-food-and-premature-death-risk">Junk food and premature death risk </h2>



The <a href="https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(25)00072-8/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> found that a 10% uptick in daily ultraprocessed food consumption was linked to a 3% higher risk of premature death. This is particularly unsettling when you think about how common these products are in supermarkets.



High consumption of junk food that promotes cardiovascular disease has been associated with 32 different ailments, including obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer, and depression.



Such a broad impact on well-being has sparked concerns among doctors and policy makers who worry about a potential surge in avoidable health <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultra-processed-foods-are-harmful-to-nearly-every-part-of-the-body/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complications</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ultraprocessed-foods-take-over">Ultraprocessed foods take over</h2>



Countries with strong traditions of fresh foods are noticing changes in their markets. Although the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultra-processed-foods-make-our-bodies-age-faster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">problem</a> is more visible in wealthier countries, growing economies are catching up. That shift is altering the way people eat, no matter their resources or background.



“It is concerning that while UPF consumption is high but stable in wealthy countries, it’s rising fast in low- and middle-income ones. This highlights the urgent need for global policies that reduce UPF intake and support traditional diets made with fresh, local foods,” said Dr. Nilson.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-better-labels-and-regulations">Need for better labels and regulations</h2>



Experts from health organizations worldwide recommend reviewing existing guidelines to include information about the dangers of ultraprocessed food.



Some argue that labels should include clearer warnings. Others say taxes and tighter marketing rules might help curb overconsumption.



Nations where a large part of the diet relies on <a href="https://ecuphysicians.ecu.edu/wp-content/pv-uploads/sites/78/2021/07/NOVA-Classification-Reference-Sheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nova classified</a> processed products may consider adjustments, such as restricting certain advertising and supporting farms that supply fresh produce to schools.



Policymakers note that any new approach must respect economic realities and culture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-issues-on-the-fast-track">Health issues on the fast track</h2>



These findings remind people to watch their food choices. The additives in ultraprocessed options may harm the body in ways that go beyond sugar or fat content alone. 



Many consumers expect health problems only after a certain age. Yet these data hint that certain products might fast-track issues that people never see coming.



Even small changes in daily eating patterns might improve long-term health outcomes. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and home-cooked meals could go a long way in reducing exposure to industrial additives. Reducing salty snacks or sugary drinks may help cut the risk of preventable complications later.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ultraprocessed-foods-harm-children-most">Ultraprocessed foods harm children most</h2>



Children and teenagers are especially vulnerable to ultraprocessed foods. In many countries, this age group consumes a higher percentage of calories from these products than adults do.



This early exposure may increase their lifetime risk for obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. Many of these foods are aggressively marketed to young people, often in schools or during programming aimed at kids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat-less-live-more">Eat less, live more</h2>



Nutritionists across many countries have pushed for updated labels and better consumer education. Some recommend focusing on whole foods rather than counting calories. 



As a global community, adopting balanced habits that limit synthetic additives could make a substantial difference in quality of life.



Small individual steps like reading ingredient labels can help families decide which products to cut back on. Public health campaigns that center on cultural foods and homemade recipes might also nudge people toward better choices.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(25)00072-8/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Journal of Preventive Medicine</a>.



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Ultraprocessed foods pose major health risks - especially for kids

Over the years, food habits have shifted in surprising ways. Many people now rely on quick, ultraprocessed, factory-made food products that promise a convenient fix for busy lives. A new study led by Eduardo Augusto Fernandes Nilson from Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), explores how certain eating patterns might drive health issues often mistaken as purely genetic or inevitable with age. Health impacts of ultraprocessed foods Ultraprocessed foods typically contain synthetic additives and other laboratory-based ingredients instead of fresh items. They are often higher in sugar and...

Understanding persuasion makes you harder to take advantage of. The persuasion of consumers by companies that are looking to entice them to buy a product has been built into a science in recent years, combining psychology and marketing in order to increase revenue.

“Persuasion is no longer just an art, it’s an out-and-out science,” explains Robert Cialdini, professor emeritus of psychology and marketing at <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State University.</a> “Indeed, a vast body of scientific evidence now exists on how, when and why people say yes to influence attempts.”

Something as simple as a free sample comes with strings attached. The innocuous free sample is actually attached to the expectation that the person who takes it will feel obligated to buy the product. This is actually the first of six principles Cialdini has formulated over decades of research. The first principle is reciprocity, where the consumer feels the need to return a favor – such as a free sample.

His next principle is commitment. When a consumer becomes hooked on a product, it becomes simpler to get them to pay for it. People will even rationalize or change their beliefs to be in more in alignment to the choices they make. When people make a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/part-brain-decides-food/">decision</a>, they tend to stick to it.

Cialdini also points out that humans have an innate pack mentality, which he refers to as “social proof.” He determined this through research he conducted with hotel guests who were asked to reuse towels in order to be environmentally conscious. The study determined that guests were 29 percent more likely to reuse towels if they were told most other guests also re-used their towels. That percentage increased to 39 percent when they were told that the majority of guests who stayed in the same room reused their towels. This shows a pack mentality amongst these guests, despite never meeting each other.

Another principle is that of authority, which is attached to almost all aspects of persuasion. People are more likely to believe someone if they are considered an expert in a field. 

“When it comes to world economics, who are you more likely to listen to for advice: a Nobel laureate in the field or some random commenter on Facebook?” asks Cialdini.

His last principle says that people are more likely to want what they think they can’t have. He calls this the principle of scarcity, which is attached to the concept of anticipated regret. People will look into the future and regret the possibility that the option to make a decision may be taken away from them. This is shown to be the case when stores advertise sales with limited availability.

Cialdini stresses that influencing consumers is not the same as manipulating them. For people’s behavioral changes to be effective and long lasting, these principles must be used ethically. He cites numerous studies where companies have used dishonest hiring practices, resulting in higher stressed employees, increased absenteeism, higher medical bills, and higher turnover.

“People, companies and marketers need to ask themselves whether the principle of influence is inherent in the situation - that is, do they have to manufacture it or can they simply uncover it? That is important. No one wants to be a smuggler of influence,” says Cialdini. “Claiming to be an expert when they're not, exploiting power, those eventually will have negative consequences.”

Resistance to manipulation can also be built up over time, as people become more familiar with these principles and can spot an attempt to influence. So maybe now you can better spot attempts from corporations and individuals to manipulate or influence you for their gain. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Understanding persuasion makes you harder to take advantage of

Understanding persuasion makes you harder to take advantage of. The...

Modern times value self-expression more, and swearing proves it. In 1972, George Carlin introduced a comedy routine known as “seven words you can never say on TV,” which mocked the restrictions of network television and the niceties of American society. A new study from <a href="https://www.sdsu.edu/">San Diego State University</a> has investigated the usage of swearing in American literature and found that society is embracing freedom of expression and individualism much more today than in decades past.  

Psychology professor Jean M. Twenge teamed up with graduate student Hannah VanLandingham and University of Georgia psychologist W. Keith Campbell to analyze the content of books published between 1950 and 2008. The tens of thousands of books examined for the study also included books cataloged in the Google Books database. 

The researchers searched for the usage of George Carlin's seven words. The team reported a steady rise in the appearance of these particular words throughout the texts. The study revealed that American authors used the controversial terms 28 times more often in the mid-2000s than in the early 1950s.

"Forty-five years after George Carlin's routine, you can say those words on television -and in books," said Twenge.

The findings of the study suggest that these words have become much less forbidden over time, according to the authors. One possible explanation is that people now value freedom of self-expression more than they did several decades ago.

This conclusion coincides with previous research which established that today's American society places higher importance on individualism. Twenge said that this characteristic is especially prominent in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grown-penguins-mooch-parents/">young people</a>.

"Millennials have a 'come as you are' philosophy, and this study shows one of the ways they got it: The culture has shifted toward more free self-expression," she said.

The results of the study are published in the journal <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/home/sgo">SAGE Open</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Modern times value self-expression more, and swearing proves it

Modern times value self-expression more, and swearing proves it. In...

A US-Mexico border wall would threaten 100 endangered species. President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mexico-border-wall-hurt-biodiversity/">goal</a> of a border wall between the United States and Mexico has been met with criticism concerning the economic risks of construction. Now, biologists are weighing in with new information about the ecological costs that could also result from the giant barrier. 

According to Dr. Scott Egan from <a href="http://www.rice.edu/">Rice University</a>, the proposed border wall could negatively impact an alarming number of endangered species.

“Evolutionary effects from the wall can change the balance of nature along the US-Mexico border, putting wildlife in the area, including more than 100 endangered species, at risk,” explained Dr. Egan.

"Some of the larger animals that will be threatened by the border wall are the jaguar, ocelot, jaguarundi, Mexican gray wolf, desert bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope,” he said. 

There are two central challenges that border populations could face as a result of the barrier. First, the wall will divide up natural habitats which can result in a bottleneck population - a sharp decline in the numbers of a species.

A bottleneck population has less genetic variation and contains fewer breeding individuals. Less genetic variation means a population is not as likely to survive changes in the environment such as climate change. This will particularly affect species that end up with a small portion of the population isolated on one side of the wall.

The other main issue is that a border wall interferes with the natural exchange of genes within a population. This leads to inbreeding and homozygosity, or identical pairs of genes. Homozygosity increases the expression of disease-causing genetic mutations. The mutations eventually generate inbreeding depression, which means the overall population becomes less healthy. 

The Florida panther faced both of these major challenges.

“The species historically lived across the Southeastern United States, but due to overhunting and habitat destruction, a small remnant set of populations lives in southern Florida isolated from all other panther populations,” said Dr. Egan. “Just as evolutionary biologists predicted, Florida panthers experienced a reduction in genetic diversity and an increase in homozygosity.”

Dr. Egan explained that this human-induced isolation “led to increased heart defects, low sperm counts and increased susceptibility to infection consistent with increased expression of deleterious mutations.”

According to the research, the border wall would also obstruct natural migration routes and cut off future range expansions driven by climate change. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A US-Mexico border wall would threaten 100 endangered species

A US-Mexico border wall would threaten 100 endangered species. President...

Mindfulness helps athletes perform better in competition. When you think of sports, it’s often the physical component that seems to be the most challenging. But many athletes and coaches understand that there is a mental component as well, and that being prepared for competition psychologically is often just as important as being prepared physically.

“It’s been suggested that many coaches regard sport as at least 50 percent mental when competing against opponents of similar ability. In some sports, that percentage can be as high as 80 to 90 percent mental,” says Keith Kaufman, a sport psychology practitioner and research associate at <a href="https://www.catholic.edu/index.html">The Catholic University of America.</a>

There are a number of studies that support the importance of psychological preparation in sports.

 One such study looked at over 200 Canadian athletes from the 1984 Olympics who were assessed for three readiness factors: mental, physical, and technical. The results showed that out of these three factors, only mental readiness had significant impact on these athletes’ success in the Olympics.

“With popular belief and scientific evidence being in such harmony, one might expect that mental training would be a top priority within the athletic community. However, curiously, this is not the case,” explains Kaufman. “We have met so many athletes and coaches who know that mental factors, such as concentrating, relaxing and letting go of thoughts and feelings, can aid performance, but have no idea how to actually do those things under the pressures of training and competition.”

While presenting his research at the 125th Annual Convention of the <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a>, Kaufman outlined a multi-step program he and his team had developed for practicing mindfulness and preparing mentally.

In short, mindfulness involves being aware of the present moment and accepting things as they are. When athletes are able to do this, they are able to better focus on their performance rather than being distracted or having <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-low-doses-relieve-stress/">anxiety</a>. 

“For example, an athlete could identify that ‘right now, I’m having the thought that I can’t finish this race,’ so rather than reflecting an objective truth, it’s seen as just a thought,” says Kaufman.

His program involves mindfulness practice, sport-specific meditation, and other formal exercises. Overall, it works to help athletes incorporate mindfulness into their everyday life as well as workouts, practices, and competition. 

This approach has already shown great results in practice. Two studies of 81 university athletes found that individuals who completed Kaufman’s program exhibited significant increases in the arenas of mindfulness and “flow,” which is defined as the mental construct associated with being “in the zone.”

Athletes also rated their own performance higher and experienced less anxiety while competing. These increases were also maintained in follow-up months later. In fact, two teams that had previously had losing records the year before both had winning seasons after completing the program.

Kaufman also states that this program could benefit people in performing arts or business, not just athletes. So if you find that you’re experience performance-related anxiety, it might be a good idea to practice some mindfulness.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Mindfulness helps athletes perform better in competition

Mindfulness helps athletes perform better in competition. When you think...

Beauty is pain, isn’t that what they say? And as any woman who has hobbled home after a long day in heels will tell you, the pain is very real. But according to a new study, both women and men prefer individuals who wear heels, and men are twice as likely to give attention or offer help to a woman who is wearing heels. 

Surveys have also shown that women find that wearing heels can boost <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-consider-intuitive/">confidence</a> because they make one feel more attractive. 

But the decision to wear heels forces one to forgo comfort and practicality, and risk many different injuries from back pain to broken ankles. 

Researchers at <a href="https://www.abdn.ac.uk/">Aberdeen University</a> published a study that looked at high heels and their high-risk factor and discussed this unspoken societal expectation. 

“There is pressure on women to wear heels, and celebrity influence with people such as Victoria Beckham and Kate Middleton making it fashionable to do so, whether they intend to or not,” said Dr. Max Barnish, lead author of the study.

The facts prove that heels can be quite detrimental to a person’s health, as they can cause back pain, ankle problems, and an increased risk of falling. 

Studies performed on the impact the high heel has on the foot over time and they all point to differences between women who wear high heels regularly to women who wear flats. Choosing not to wear high heels could also strengthen the ankle and prevent further injury. 

Science is by no means demanding a boycott of one of the most popular shoe styles. But workplace dress codes and government mandates could focus more attention on making the heel optional, leaving the decision up to the individual.

----

 By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

High heels boost confidence, but can cause serious injury

Beauty is pain, isn’t that what they say? And as...

Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are diseases that affect the lining of your intestinal tract and colon. Inflammation of these areas of the body can result in diarrhea, ulcers, and can be severely painful. But now, a study composed by researchers at the <a href="https://medicine.wustl.edu/">Washington University School of Medicine</a> in St. Louis has resulted in some exciting findings that could potentially alleviate these symptoms and build a tolerance to inflammatory bowel diseases. The solution may be as simple as eating a protein and tryptophan-rich diet. 

Luisa Cervantes-Barragan, a postdoctoral researcher, was studying gut microbiomes and tolerance-promoting immune cells in two groups of mice when she found that one group had these cells and the other group, located far away from the first group, did not. 

This led Cervantes-Barragan to believe that environmental factors played into the appearance of healthy gut bacteria that would build a tolerance to cells causing inflammatory diseases. 

Researchers discovered that there were six different species of bacteria present in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aggression-male-mice/">mice</a> with the tolerance-promoting cells, while the other group had none.

Eventually, Cervantes-Barragan and her team associated tryptophan levels with this immunity and doubled the amount of tryptophan fed to the mice which ended up doubling the number of tolerance promoting cells in the mice’s gut.

“The more tryptophan the mice had in their diet, the more of these immune cells they had,” Said Marco Colonna, MD, and senior author of the study. 

Humans have similar gut bacteria and immune cells which could mean that increasing our tryptophan levels with, say, a protein heavy diet, would produce more tolerant cells and alleviate inflammatory bowel diseases in humans. 

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Increasing your protein intake could alleviate digestive woes

Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are...

The 125th Annual Convention of the <a href="about:blank">American Psychological Association</a> featured presentations of a large number of studies that independently investigated the effects of yoga as a therapy for depression.

“Yoga has become increasingly popular in the West, and many new yoga practitioners cite stress-reduction and other mental health concerns as their primary reason for practicing,” says Lindsey Hopkins, of the <a href="https://www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/">San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center</a> “But the empirical research on yoga lags behind its popularity as a first-line approach to mental health.”

Hopkins chaired the session involving yoga’s effects on depression, and presented her own research based around the acceptability and antidepressant effects of hatha yoga. Hatha is a branch of yoga that puts emphasis on physical exercises matched with meditative and breathing exercises.

Her study called upon 23 male combat veterans who participated in twice-weekly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yoga-lower-back-pain-therapy/">yoga</a> classes for two months. The results showed that participants with elevated depression scores prior to the yoga study showed a significant decrease in depression symptoms after the 8-week time period.

Sarah Shallit of <a href="https://www.alliant.edu/">Alliant University</a> in San Francisco ran a similar study, this time investigating the effects of Bikram yoga – a form of heated yoga that is commonly practice in the West – on depression levels in 52 women, ages 25-45. Half of the participants were assigned to participate in twice-weekly classes for eight weeks, while the other half were told to wait and used as controls. Shallit found that after the eight-week session, women who practiced Bikram yoga showed a significant reduction in depression levels compared to the control group.

Another study presented during the session was from researchers at <a href="http://www.massgeneral.org/">Massachusetts General Hospital</a>, who presented data from a pilot study showing how 29 adults responded to the same Bikram yoga program as Shallit’s study. The results showed anti-depressant qualities and improved other secondary measures such as quality of life, optimism, and cognitive and physical functioning. 

Two studies from Nina Vollbehr of the <a href="https://charterforcompassion.org/center-for-integrative-psychiatry-lentis">Center for Integrative Psychiatry</a> in the Netherlands involved analysis of the potential for yoga to influence chronic and treatment-resistant depression. The researchers measured participants’ levels of depression, stress, anxiety, rumination and worry before yoga sessions and then nine weeks after they participated in weekly yoga sessions, and then four months after that. The results showed that depression, anxiety, and stress decreased throughout the program and persisted four months afterwards as well. Rumination and worry didn’t decrease immediately after the yoga sessions, but four months later they decreased as well.

Yoga also had beneficial effects for mildly depressed university students, as Vollbehr studied 74 participants who received 30 minutes of yoga or relaxation and performed the exercise over a period of eight days. Results showed that both yoga and relaxation were equally effective at reducing mild depression immediately after treatment.

“These studies suggest that yoga-based interventions have promise for depressed mood and that they are feasible for patients with chronic, treatment-resistant depression,” says Vollbehr.

These studies highlight a new push in the U.S. for alternative methods of treatment for depression outside of pharmaceuticals. The U.S. military is currently looking into creating its own treatment programs for veterans to help reduce post-combat depression.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Yoga could be an effective tool in the fight against depression

The 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association featured...

Male attitudes toward women often shaped by pornography exposure. In a survey of over 300 undergraduate college males, age 17 to 54 years old, researchers found that the age at which a boy is first exposed to pornography has a direct association with certain sexist attitudes later in life. However, some of the results may surprise you – just as they did the researchers.

Research from the <a href="https://www.unl.edu/">University of Nebraska, Lincoln</a>, presented at the 125th Annual Convention of the <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a>, analyzed how the age of exposure to pornography relates to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-determines-social-dominance/">male</a> conformity to two masculine norms: playboy (defined as sexually promiscuous) and seeking power over women. 

The participants in the study were 85% white and 93% heterosexual. The survey asked about their first exposure to pornography, detailing what age they were and whether the exposure was intentional, accidental, or forced. The second half of the survey asked them to respond to questions designed to measure the two established masculine norms.

Although the results showed no significant association between age of exposure and segmenting to the two masculine norms, it did show a different association for each.

“We found that the younger a man was when he first viewed pornography, the more likely he was to want power over women,” says Alyssa Bischmann, a doctoral student at Nebraska. “The older a man was when he first viewed pornography, the more likely he would want to engage in playboy behavior.”

These findings were surprising to the researchers, who had expected both norms to be higher when age of first exposure was younger.

“The most interesting finding from this study was that older age at first exposure predicted greater adherence to the playboy masculine norms,” explains Chrissy Richardson, also of the <a href="https://www.unl.edu/">University of Nebraska</a>. “That finding has sparked many more questions and potential research ideas because it was so unexpected based on what we know about gender role socialization and media exposure.”

Bischmann believes these findings may be due to variables that weren’t examined in the survey, such as religiosity, sexual performance anxiety, negative sexual experiences, or whether their first exposure to pornography was positive or negative. No association was found between nature of exposure and the two masculine norms.

“We were surprised that the type of exposure did not affect whether someone wanted power over women or to engage in playboy behaviors. We had expected that intentional, accidental or forced experiences would have differing outcomes,” says Bischmann.

The researchers believe these findings may help further understanding of the impact pornography has on heterosexual men, extending to various male social and emotional issues as well as the mistreatment of women. Further research needs to be done before any significant conclusions can be made.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Male attitudes toward women often shaped by pornography exposure

Male attitudes toward women often shaped by pornography exposure. In...

German researchers have discovered an alarming amount of bacteria in used kitchen sponges. DNA samples from 14 sponges contained bacteria with pathogens that can cause infections and serious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-spread-diseases/">diseases</a> in humans. 

Scientists from <a href="http://en.hs-furtwangen.de/">Furtwangen University</a> closely analyzed kitchen sponges and found the presence of 362 different types of bacteria. They detected a small amount of Gammaproteobacteria, which is a class of bacteria that includes pathogens capable of causing the plague, cholera, Salmonella, and typhoid fever.

The researchers used a method called fluorescence in situ hybridization, a process in which fluorescent probes are used to bind to parts of DNA. Confocal laser scanning microscopy made the bacteria in the sponges visible. One sample was found to have 54 billion bacterial cells in an area the size of a single square centimeter. 

“Despite common misconception, it was demonstrated that kitchen environments host more microbes than toilets,” said the authors of the study. 'This was mainly due to the contribution of kitchen sponges, which were proven to represent the biggest reservoirs of active bacteria in the whole house.”

The team pointed out that the porous nature of kitchen sponges combined with their liquid-absorbing capacity make them a perfect storage space for tiny living organisms. 

“Kitchen sponges are likely to collect, incubate and spread bacteria from and back onto kitchen surfaces, from where they might eventually find their way into the human body, e.g. via the human hands or contaminated food,” the researchers said.

The team boiled and microwaved the kitchen sponges in an attempt at sterilization, and found bacteria was only reduced by 60 percent at the most. They also determined that using these particular methods of sterilization may actually increase risk 2 bacteria content. This bacteria contains pathogens associated with less serious illnesses.

While most of the bacteria found in this study was harmless, the authors express a need for further research to determine just how pathogenic the bacteria found in the kitchen sponges actually are. The researchers recommend replacing kitchen sponges every week. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Scientific Advances</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Your kitchen sponges contain an insane amount of bacteria

German researchers have discovered an alarming amount of bacteria in...

During a time of great <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trump-decision-paris-climate-agreement/">political tension</a> and discord, a new study reveals how the arts can help counter divisions and bring people together.

A study conducted by psychologists from the <a href="https://www.kent.ac.uk/">University of Kent</a> and the <a href="https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/">University of Lincoln </a>found that engagement in the arts boosted prosociality or an individual's dedication to volunteering and charitable giving. 

Arts engagement was such a strong catalyst for prosociality that the only things found to be more important factors in determining one’s charitable likelihood were average income, age, and education.

The study was led by first author Dr. Julie Van de Vyver at Lincoln University and corresponding author Professor Dominic Abrams at Kent's School of Psychology. The research was published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

The psychologists used research gathered from a UK survey to look at the correlation between arts engagement and prosociality within a community. Researchers used data specifically from the Economic and Social Research Council’s Understanding Society annual National Longitudinal Survey that covered over 30,000 participants.

The results found that engagement in the arts predicted an individual's charitable tendencies “more strongly than a large set of demographic variables such as gender, individual resources such as personal income, core personality such as openness, and sports engagement.” 

“It was remarkable that regardless of people's age, education, employment and savings, their engagement with the arts remained a stronger predictor of their prosociality than did any other variables,” Dr. Abrams said. 

This research helps to show the necessity of the arts in communities worldwide. Investing in the arts rather than defunding those programs could lead to more economic progress as well as motivate charitable giving and community involvement. 

----

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study: Arts really do heal divisions and bring people together

During a time of great political tension and discord, a...

Breathing trouble in pugs and French bulldogs is tough to predict. Pugs, bulldogs, and French bulldogs are some of the most popular breeds of canine. In fact, the bulldog is the national dog of the UK and pug fever places the pug as one of the most popular breeds worldwide. However, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reason-dogs-friendly-love/">dogs</a> all belong to a family of Brachycephalic dogs whose signature traits of small heads and wrinkled faces put them at risk for breathing problems, overheating, and disease.

Scientists from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> performed a study that looked specifically at physical traits of these dog breeds to see if facial characteristics alone could indicate breathing problems later in life. This, in turn, could help breed out those harmful indicators and provide longer, healthier lives for the dogs overall. 

The research team hoped to prove the findings of a 2015 study by researchers at the <a href="http://www.london.ac.uk/rvc.html">Royal Veterinary College, University of London</a>, which concluded that dogs with shorter muzzles were more likely to suffer breathing problems later on in life.

But the Cambridge study found it wasn’t so simple. In fact, the team couldn’t prove conclusively if the 2015 study’s findings were accurate. By just measuring facial features like neck girth, they couldn’t find hard evidence that proved physical features alone could indicate the development of life threatening breathing issues.

“At this moment there is no conclusive way of predicting whether any individual pug or bulldog will develop breathing difficulties, so we are now looking for genetic tests that may help breeders get rid of BOAS more rapidly,” Dr. DAvid Sargan, a joint lead author of the study said. 

The research team did find a degree of consistency when measuring nostril opening as an indicator of BOAS or Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. 

“Breeding for open nostrils is probably the best simple way to improve these breeds. Dog breeders should also avoid using dogs with extremely short muzzles, wide faces, and thick necks. These traits are all associated with increased risk of having BOAS,” Dr. Nai-Chieh Liu, first author of the study, said. 

Studies like this can help improve the overall health and wellness of a dog by showcasing traits to look out for. 

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By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staffwriter

Breathing trouble in pugs and French bulldogs is tough to predict

Breathing trouble in pugs and French bulldogs is tough to...

Humid heat in South Asia to become deadly this century. With <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-two-degrees-warming/">climate change</a> becoming an increasing reality, certain parts of the world may soon experience conditions that are simply unlivable. In 2015, Pakistan, India, and other parts of South Asia endured the fifth highest recorded heatwave in history and over 3,000 people were killed. 

Scientists predict that by the end of the 21st century, South Asia, which houses one fifth of the world’s population, will see humidity and high temperatures that will could be fatal. 

A study led by Eun-Soon Im from the <a href="http://www.ust.hk/">Hong Kong University of Science and Technology</a> set out to measure “wet-bulb temperature,” which he defined as “the lowest temperature that air can be cool to be evaporating water.” 

By looking at the wet-bulb temperature and human’s capability of cooling off in response to rising heat and humidity, the research team aimed to predict how changing conditions will affect human life. 

The study revolved around two climate scenarios, one that used climate change projections as is, and one that factored in mitigation efforts that were goals pledged by the UN Conference on Climate Change in 2015. 

The research showed that wet-bulb temperatures are expected to rise to 35 degrees celsius, also known as the survivability threshold, over most of the South Asia and even go over in some parts.

The findings using the mitigation scenario predicted that wet-bulb temperatures would still be dangerously high, but luckily not past the survivability threshold. 

These findings prove the vital necessity of creating new strategies to combat climate change and hopefully prevent deadly temperature spikes like the ones predicted to hit South Asia at the end of the 21st Century. 

----

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Humid heat in South Asia to become deadly this century

Humid heat in South Asia to become deadly this century....

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

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.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

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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