In 2018, a silent threat we encounter daily - plastic chemicals - may have played a role in over 356,000 deaths from heart disease. Unlike dramatic outbreaks or high-profile toxins, this danger came from everyday plastic use.



More specifically, from the chemical di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), used in everything from food containers and IV bags to flooring and plastic wraps. While most people remain unaware of these risks, the scientific community is sounding a loud and urgent alarm.



Recent research led by scientists at <a href="https://nyulangone.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NYU Langone Health</a> brings global clarity to an issue long debated in toxicology circles. Their analysis, grounded in population-level health data and environmental exposure surveys, shows just how far-reaching the consequences of DEHP exposure really are. 



And in doing so, it transforms an abstract <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-normal-plastic-turns-into-dangerous-micro-and-nanoplastics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental worry</a> into a concrete human cost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-chemicals-quietly-harming-the-heart-nbsp">Plastic chemicals quietly harming the heart&nbsp;</h2>



Phthalates like DEHP are used to make plastic flexible and durable. Over time, these chemicals leak from products and enter our bodies through food, water, and even the air. 



Once inside, they break down into several harmful metabolites: MEHP, MEHHP, MEOHP, and MECPP. These compounds affect hormonal systems, metabolism, and cardiovascular health.



The NYU study found that DEHP exposure was responsible for 13.497% of all cardiovascular deaths among adults aged 55–64 in 2018. This figure represents not just numbers but millions of years of life lost. 



The researchers estimated that globally, DEHP caused over 10.4 million years of life lost that year alone. These numbers offer a new lens through which to view our relationship with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-chewing-gum-may-be-full-of-microplastics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a> - not just as a pollution problem, but as a driver of premature death.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-linked-heart-deaths-in-asia">Plastic-linked heart deaths in Asia</h2>



One of the study’s most revealing findings is the stark global inequality in exposure. DEHP-related heart disease deaths were not evenly distributed. Nearly three-fourths of all such deaths occurred in Asia. 



India alone accounted for more than 103,000. China followed with over 60,000, and Indonesia ranked third. The researchers linked this concentration to rapid industrial expansion in these regions, combined with weaker environmental protections.



The Middle East and South Asia showed the highest DEHP exposure <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-treaty-is-a-historic-opportunity-to-stop-a-human-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">levels</a>, with some areas having six times the exposure seen in European countries. These areas also saw the highest percentage of cardiovascular deaths attributable to DEHP.



“There is a clear disparity in which parts of the world bear the brunt of heightened heart risks from phthalates,” said study senior author Leonardo Trasande.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-chemical-triggers-inflammation">Plastic chemical triggers inflammation</h2>



DEHP doesn’t act alone. It breaks down into metabolites that accumulate in the body and influence cardiovascular processes in several ways. 



They act as anti-androgens, interfere with lipid and glucose metabolism, and trigger inflammation in artery walls. These conditions are well-known drivers of heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis.



Studies on human tissues have found microplastics lodged in blood vessels, sometimes near damaged or inflamed areas. This raises concerns that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-linked-to-health-issues-including-cancer-and-infertility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastics</a> not only release harmful chemicals but may also act as physical irritants in the cardiovascular system.



To estimate risk, the NYU team analyzed data on DEHP exposure from urine samples collected globally in 2008. They then matched these exposure levels to mortality data from 2018, using established risk models. The result was a detailed map showing how different levels of DEHP exposure correlated with increased cardiovascular deaths.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-damages-health-with-trillions-lost">Plastic damages health, with trillions lost</h2>



The toll of DEHP exposure doesn’t stop at lost lives. The study estimates the economic burden to range from $10.2 billion to as high as $3.74 trillion. These numbers include lost productivity, healthcare costs, and the societal value of years of life lost.



Different countries might calculate these costs in various ways. Some use a standard value per lost year of life; others calculate based on income levels. But whichever method is used, the conclusion is the same: phthalate exposure is costing humanity dearly.



“By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-linked-to-high-blood-pressure-and-heart-problems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">danger</a> to human health,” said lead author Sara Hyman.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exposure-levels-and-death-risks">Exposure levels and death risks</h2>



Even within a single country, some people face much higher risks from plastic chemicals. The study found wide gaps between those with the lowest and highest levels of DEHP exposure.



In the United States and Africa, individuals in the top 5% exposure group had up to 30% higher DEHP-related cardiovascular mortality than those with lower exposure.



In contrast, countries in South Asia and East Asia saw elevated risks across the board. That means even people with “average” exposure in these regions faced high mortality risks. This suggests that in such areas, phthalates are deeply embedded in everyday life - from packaging to air to water.



The inequality is not just geographic. It’s also environmental, economic, and systemic. Countries with poor waste management, lax regulation, and high plastic consumption suffer more, especially when older adults are more vulnerable to heart disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regulatory-gaps-and-delays">Regulatory gaps and delays</h2>



The timeline used in the study - 2008 exposure data and 2018 health outcomes - highlights another issue. Many countries implemented DEHP regulations only after 2018.



The European Union, Canada, Australia, and Japan had early restrictions in food packaging and childcare products. However, many countries had no such rules during the study period.



In recent years, some nations, including China and India, have started tightening controls. Yet even now, global regulation remains inconsistent. Many high-income countries continue to export plastic waste to lower-income nations, increasing exposure risks in already vulnerable regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-lives-from-plastic-chemicals">Protecting lives from plastic chemicals</h2>



The global community has taken some initial steps. In 2022, the UN began negotiations for a legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution. But efforts to limit production face strong resistance from petrochemical-producing countries.



This research provides key evidence to support stronger international policies. Reducing DEHP exposure will require more than bans on specific products. It will need coordinated action across supply chains, consumer behavior, waste management, and environmental justice.



Limiting exposure at the highest percentiles - those most affected - could yield the greatest health benefits. And extending bio-monitoring programs to regions without current data could help tailor interventions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-true-cost-of-plastic-comfort">The true cost of plastic comfort</h2>



Plastics have made life easier in many ways. But their hidden costs are now surfacing. This study, the first of its kind to model global plastic chemical DEHP-related heart disease mortality, shows the damage extends beyond pollution and into our arteries.



By exposing this connection, researchers have given the world a chance to act. Whether governments respond with decisive regulation or continue business as usual remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the cost of ignoring plastic's effects on health is far too high.



Trasande and his team plan to investigate how reducing DEHP exposure might change mortality outcomes in the future. Their work lays the groundwork for safer, healthier policies around plastics. 



It is now up to global leaders to decide whether they will listen to the science - or continue to pay the price in lives lost.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00174-4/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EBioMedicine</a>.



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Hidden chemical in plastic may be taking years off your life

In 2018, a silent threat we encounter daily - plastic chemicals - may have played a role in over 356,000 deaths from heart disease. Unlike dramatic outbreaks or high-profile toxins, this danger came from everyday plastic use. More specifically, from the chemical di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), used in everything from food containers and IV bags to flooring and plastic wraps. While most people remain unaware of these risks, the scientific community is sounding a loud and urgent alarm. Recent research led by scientists at NYU Langone Health brings...

If carbon gas emissions continue to rise at current rates, 74 percent of the world's population will be exposed to deadly heatwaves by 2100, according to a new study.

Even if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-emissions-income-gap/">emissions</a> are reduced aggressively, 48 percent of the world's human population will be affected, the study said.

"We are running out of choices for the future," said the study’s lead author, Camilo Mora, associate professor at the<a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/"> University of Hawaii at Manoa</a>. “For heatwaves, our options are now between bad or terrible.”

The researchers conducted an extensive review and found more than 1,900 locations worldwide where high ambient temperatures have killed people since 1980. By analyzing the climatic conditions of 783 lethal heat episodes, researchers identified a threshold beyond which temperatures and humidities become deadly. 

The area of the planet where such a threshold is crossed for 20 or more days per year has been increasing and is projected to grow even with dramatic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. 

As of now, about 30 percent of the world's population is exposed to such deadly conditions each year.

The 2003 European heatwave that killed approximately 70,000 people, the 2010 Moscow heatwave that killed 10,000 people, and the 1995 Chicago heatwave that killed 700 people are staggering examples of the risk to life posed by heatwaves, the authors said.

Other cities that have experienced deadly heatwaves included New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, London, Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney and Sao Paulo.

"Finding a threshold beyond which climatic conditions turn deadly is scientifically important yet frightening," said Farrah Powell, a UH Manoa graduate student and one of the study’s co-authors. "This threshold now allows us to identify conditions that are harmful to people. And because it is based on documented cases of real people across the globe, it makes it that more credible and relevant. The scary thing is how common those deadly conditions are already."

A web-application accompanying the paper allows counting, for any place on Earth, the number of days in a year when temperature and humidity exceed such a deadly threshold. For example, by 2100 New York is projected to have around 50 days with temperatures and humidities exceeding the threshold in which people have previously died. That same year, the number of deadly days for Sydney will be 20, 30 for Los Angeles, and the entire summer for Orlando and Houston.

"Climate change has put humanity on a path that will become increasingly dangerous and difficult to reverse if greenhouse gas emissions are not taken much more seriously," Mora said. "Actions like the withdrawal from the Paris agreement is a step in the wrong direction that will inevitably delay fixing a problem for which there is simply no time to waste."

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source : <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawaii at Manoa</a>

Study: Deadly heatwaves will rise even with emission cuts

If carbon gas emissions continue to rise at current rates,...

The happiest people may be those who sleep just over seven hours per night, according to an American mattress company.

The company <a href="https://www.amerisleep.com/">Amerisleep</a> conducted a survey of 2,000, and found that the respondents who claimed to be happiest got that amount of sleep each night. The company shared its results – along with links to scientific studies about the healthiest sleep habits – on its <a href="https://www.amerisleep.com/blog/counting-sheep-losing-sleep/">blog</a>.

“Those who reported being somewhat unhappy or completely unhappy got an average of less than seven hours of sleep per night, while ‘perfectly happy’ people reported slightly over seven hours per night,” Amerisleep wrote.

The company surveyed 2,000 Americans, asking them about their sleep habits, how much sleep they get eat night, their relationships, and their habits. Some of their findings reinforce existing scientific research on sleep.

For example, some of the people surveyed reporting worrying about their relationships. This spanned all of the sleep categories. However, those who got less sleep reported being significantly less happy overall than those who got between 6.8 and 7 hours per night.

“According to our survey, if you’re in a bad relationship, you’re also not getting a lot of sleep,” the company reported. “But what about if you’re in no relationship at all? Turns out, single people get the most sleep of any group in our survey, and separated people get the least.”

They also confirmed that medication can impact sleep habits, but they did find that some medications, like Benadryl, seemed to be associated with less sleep, though the survey didn’t indicate if that was because of the medication, or because of the allergies it is often used to treat.

Some more surprising findings: Living in a noisy area or having an uncomfortable mattress didn’t bar respondents from being among the happiest people. Most of the respondents who reported a light room, mildly noisy sleeping environment or uncomfortable bed still got plenty of sleep.

“Light, comfort, and noise do matter, of course, but only when they are significant,” the company said.

While people who are well-rested tend to be the happiest, Amerisleep concluded, poor sleeping conditions can be overcome, and getting a good night’s rest can help other aspects of your life.

And a little pre-bedtime meditation never hurts, the company said.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Mattress company shares sleep secrets of happiest people

The happiest people may be those who sleep just over...

Meditation, yoga, and Tai Chi can reverse the molecular reactions in our DNA which cause ill-health and depression, a new study said.

When a person is exposed to a stressful event, their sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the 'fight-or-flight' response, is triggered. This, in turn, increases production of a molecule called nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), which regulates how our genes are expressed, the study said.

NF-kB activates genes to produce proteins called cytokines that cause inflammation at the cellular level. This is a reaction that is useful as a short-lived fight-or-flight reaction, but if persistent, leads to a higher risk of cancer, accelerated aging, and psychiatric disorders like depression, according to a study by <a href="http://www.coventry.ac.uk/">Coventry University</a> and <a href="http://www.ru.nl/english/">Radboud University</a>.

However, people who practice mind-body interventions (MBIs) such as yoga and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daily-meditation-works-wonders/">meditation</a> exhibit the opposite effect. They experience a decrease in production of NF-kB and cytokines, leading to a reversal of the pro-inflammatory gene expression pattern and a reduction in the risk of inflammation-related diseases and conditions, the study said.

The research, published in the journal <a href="http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/immunology">Frontiers in Immunology</a>, reviews more than a decade of studies analysing how the behavior of genes is affected by different MBIs.

When examined together, the 18 studies -- featuring 846 participants over 11 years -- reveal a pattern in the molecular changes which happen to the body as a result of MBIs, and how those changes benefit our mental and physical health.

The researchers focus on the way genes activate to produce proteins which influence the biological makeup of the body, the brain, and the immune system.

"Millions of people around the world already enjoy the health benefits of mind-body interventions like yoga or meditation, but what they perhaps don't realize is that these benefits begin at a molecular level and can change the way our genetic code goes about its business,” said lead investigator Ivana Buric of Coventry University.

Activities such as yoga leave a “molecular signature” in our cells, which reverses the effect that stress or anxiety would have on the body by changing how our genes are expressed, Buric said.

”Put simply, MBIs cause the brain to steer our DNA processes along a path which improves our wellbeing,“ she said.

More research is needed to better understand the effects, Buric said.

"But this is an important foundation to build on to help future researchers explore the benefits of increasingly popular mind-body activities,” she said.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source : <a href="http://www.coventry.ac.uk/">Coventry University</a>

How yoga and meditation actually reverse ill health, depression

Meditation, yoga, and Tai Chi can reverse the molecular reactions...

Staving off irreversible damage to the environment will require less meat consumption and more efficient farming methods globally, according to a new study.

"If we want to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, but still provide a secure food supply for a growing global population, it is essential to understand how these things are linked," said lead author Michael Clark of the <a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/">University of Minnesota</a>.

The study analyzed the input, output, and environmental impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-agriculture-tropical-forest-loss/">food production</a> systems. 

Although high agricultural efficiency consistently correlated with lower environmental impacts, the detailed picture was “extremely mixed,” Clark said. Organic systems used less energy, but required more land use, did not lower greenhouse gas emissions, and tended to have higher eutrophication (nutrient runoff) and acidification potential per unit of food produced. 

Grass-fed beef, meanwhile, tended to require more land and emit more greenhouse grasses than grain-fed beef.

Combining the benefits of different production systems, such as organic's reduced reliance on chemicals, with the high yields of conventional systems would result in a more sustainable agricultural system, the study concluded. 

"Interestingly, we also found that a shift away from ruminant meats like beef - which have impacts three to 10 times greater than other animal-based foods - towards nutritionally similar foods like pork, poultry or fish would have significant benefits, both for the environment and for human health,” Clark said. "Larger dietary shifts, such as global adoption of low-meat or vegetarian diets, would offer even larger benefits to environmental sustainability and human health."

A lack of action will lead to massive increase in agriculture’s environmental impact, including the clearing of 200 to 1000 hectares of land, tripling the use of fertilizer and pesticide applications, and and 80 percent jump in greenhouse gas emissions from farming, said coauthor David Tilman. 

"The steps we have outlined, if adopted individually, offer large environmental benefits,” he said. 

The study was published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/erl">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="http://ioppublishing.org/"> IOP Publishing</a>

Diet and farming changes that the environment needs us to make

Staving off irreversible damage to the environment will require less...

It takes a special kind of dog to become a guide dog. They must be calm, confident, intelligent, and reliable. A new tool has been created by animal experts at the <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham</a> to predict which puppies make the best guide dogs.

The personality assessment evaluates puppies and young dogs to determine whether they are “reliable and interpretable.” The test focuses on seven characteristics of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wolves-dogs-understand-inequality/">dogs</a> including adaptability, excitability, and trainability.

Over 1,400 surveys about dogs’ behavior were completed for the study. The researchers used this data to develop the Puppy Training Supervisor Questionnaire, or PTSQ. According to the research team, the tool was able to predict the outcome of guide training for dogs between 5 to 12 months old with 84% accuracy. 

“Predicting working dog suitability in puppies has been a huge challenge to organizations for many years,’ explained Dr Naomi Harvey, who led the study.

“We were really pleased that this questionnaire-style behavior assessment was able to effectively identify the dogs who were most, and least, suitable to guiding work, from a young age, and help to highlight those in between dogs who were at risk of failing training,” said Harvey.

The researchers believe the PTSQ will improve the guide dog training process. They say it will help eliminate unlikely candidates, and save time and money that would have been otherwise invested in unsuccessful training. The team plans to expand upon this study to predict why some guide dogs retire early. 

Chris Muldoon is the Guide Dogs Research Development Manager. According to Muldoon, “The Puppy Training Supervisor Questionnaire is part of a suite of tools developed by the University of Nottingham for Guide Dogs.”

“This tool, and the wider research project, is increasing our understanding of dog behaviour and temperament to make informed decisions that will shape and improve our training process,” said Muldoon.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham</a>

New test predicts which pups make the best guide dogs

It takes a special kind of dog to become a...

A love hormone called oxytocin prompts parents to fight back if their children are threatened, a new study found.

Oxytocin is responsible for the bonding between mothers and their young, and within couples. Its effects are not well understood, according to the study by <a href="http://www.fchampalimaud.org/en/the-foundation/champalimaud-centre-unknown/">Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown</a> in Lisbon, Portugal.

From birds to mammals to fish to reptiles, the immediate reaction to an impending threat to the animal itself is usually to flee or to stop moving in an attempt to go unnoticed. But when <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/parents-addicted-smartphones-kids/">parents</a> feel threatened in the presence of their young, their reaction is completely different: they seek to protect them.

The release of oxytocin inhibits the basic self-defense reaction scientists call freezing, when the animal ceases to move, the study said.

Researchers studied female rats that had recently given birth.

"We manipulated a circuit where we know precisely how oxytocin leads to inhibition of freezing,” said study leader Marta Moita. “So we are very sure of our interpretation of the behavioral results."

The experiments consisted in conditioning the mother rats, in the absence of their pups, to associate a peppermint scent with the imminence of an innocuous electric shock. After training, these female rats perceived the odor as a threat and froze accordingly.

But when the pups were present, the mothers didn't freeze. Instead, they tried to protect their offspring from the peppermint odor by attacking the tube where the odor was coming from, or by piling up bits of material from the nest to block the tube.

The findings provides a new experimental framework "to study the signals transmitted by the pups that make their mother's brain release oxytocin into the amygdala in the face of danger, triggering the defensive strategy to protect their offspring,” said Moita.

Researchers still haven’t identified the sensory stimuli that activate oxytocin, she added.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/about">eLife</a>. 

 --

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.fchampalimaud.org/en/the-foundation/champalimaud-centre-unknown/">Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown</a>

Love hormone causes parents to fight to protect their children

A love hormone called oxytocin prompts parents to fight back...

Virtual reality technology has unlimited potential for use in more and more fields of industry. A recent study evaluates the use of virtual reality in the healthcare field. Researchers set out to determine whether the use of VR can help patients have better experiences at the dentist office. 

The research team worked with Torrington Dental Practice in Devon for the study. Participants were visiting the office for routine dental work such as tooth extractions and fillings. 

The volunteers were randomly assigned either normal care or one of two simulated environments - a virtual stroll on Wembury beach in Devon or a virtual tour of an unidentified city. 

Click <a href="https://youtu.be/n5kjETt8cZI">here</a> to watch what the patients saw.

The patients were asked to recall their experiences a week later. Those who saw the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-nesting-birds-face-extinction/">beach</a> through their headsets displayed less anxiety and less pain than those patients who received normal care, and also had more positive memories of their treatment. The patients who took a virtual walk through the city, however, did not have improved levels of comfort. 

Dr Sabine Pahl was the project's coordinator at the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a>.

The fact that “walking around the virtual city did not improve outcomes shows that merely distracting the patients isn't enough, the environment for a patient's visit needs to be welcoming and relaxing,” explained Dr. Pahl. “It would be interesting to apply this approach to other contexts in which people cannot easily access real nature such as the workplace or other healthcare situations."


The discovery that certain simulated environments are more beneficial than others is consistent with previous research which revealed aquatic settings and other natural environments diminish stress and anxiety. 

Dr. Mathew White of the University of Exeter is a co-author of the study.  

"We have done a lot of work recently which suggests that people are happiest and most relaxed when they are at the seaside,” said Dr. White. “So it seemed only natural to investigate whether we could ‘bottle’ this experience and use it to help people in potentially stressful healthcare contexts."

Dr. Melissa Auvray is the dentist who participated in the study. 

"The level of positive feedback we got from patients visiting Virtual Wembury was fantastic,” said Dr. Auvray. “Of course, as dentists we do our very best to make the patient feel as comfortable as possible but we are always on the lookout for new ways to improve their experiences."

The study is published today in the journal Environment &amp; Behaviour.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a>

Virtual reality takes you to the beach during dental procedures

Virtual reality technology has unlimited potential for use in more...

According to <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-noaa-data-show-2016-warmest-year-on-record-globally">NASA</a>, 2016 was the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/hottest-year-2016-record/">hottest year</a> on record globally. This marked the third consecutive year that the planet's average surface temperatures hit a new high. In 2016, the average temperatures across the globe were 1.78 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the average temperatures of the mid-20th century. Rising temperatures in the United States are made worse in urban areas by what are known as heat islands. A city with over 1 million people can experience daytime <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/heat-island-impacts#energy">temperatures</a> up to 5.4 degrees higher than neighboring towns. The evening hours may see temperatures as much as 22 degrees hotter than rural areas. 

Heat islands exist both on the surface and in the atmosphere. Heat islands occur when large populations pump out energy constantly, but the main cause is the modification of a city's landscape. Roads and buildings that have replaced plants and trees are absorbing heat that would be otherwise reflected by vegetation. The <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/heat-island-impacts">temperature of city roofs and pavement</a> can shoot up 50 to 90 degrees hotter than the air, especially in the summertime. 

The impacts of the heat island effect can be severe. Heat-related illness and global warming are both exacerbated by heat islands. More energy is consumed and more greenhouse gases are emitted. Air and water quality are worsened.  

So what can be done to cool off these cities and improve the quality of life for urban populations?

The Environmental Protection Agency released a book in 2008 called <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/heat-island-compendium">Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies</a>. The book describes the heat island effect phenomenon and offers heat reduction strategies for both individuals and communities. Suggestions include <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-guide-saving-planet/">planting trees</a> and rooftop gardens and using energy-efficient appliances.

The book was released as part of the EPA’s <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/what-epa-doing-reduce-heat-islands">Heat Island Reduction Program,</a> or HIRP. This program includes community outreach tools and guides for people to start their own heat island projects. <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/heat-island-webcasts">Webcasts</a> are also held for scientists, practitioners, industry representatives, and government officials from all over the country to discuss the work they have been doing to address heat islands. 

A team of economists from cities across the globe recently conducted <a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/phys.org/news/2017-05-island-effect-climate-world-cities.amp">an unprecedented study</a> to evaluate the impact of the heat islands on climate change. The study, published last month in the journal Nature Climate Change, revealed that the economic cost of climate change will be approximately 2.6 times higher in urban areas due to heat island effects. 

Richard S.J. Tol, an Economics professor at the University of Sussex, is one of the authors of the study.

“Any hard-won victories over climate change on a global scale could be wiped out by the effects of uncontrolled urban heat islands,” said Professor Tol. We show that city-level adaptation strategies to limit local warming have important economic net benefits for almost all cities around the world.”

While cities only account for a very small area of the Earth's surface, over one half of the world’s population lives in urban communities. <a href="https://unhabitat.org/urban-themes/energy/">City populations</a> consume 75 percent of the globe’s energy and emit 50 to 60 percent of the total greenhouse gases.

“It is clear that we have until now underestimated the dramatic impact that local policies could make in reducing urban warming,” explained Professor Tol.

“However, this doesn't have to be an either/or scenario. In fact, the largest benefits for reducing the impacts of climate change are attained when both global and local measures are implemented together.” 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How reducing heat islands could slow climate change

According to NASA, 2016 was the hottest year on record...

The debate over the potential benefits of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-food-sales-soared/">organic</a> foods has raged on since well before “organic” was just another way of saying twice as expensive. Many studies have said there are added benefits to organic produce over non-organic, while other studies have come to the opposite conclusion. In fact, five years ago a widely-publicized meta-analysis of more than 200 of these studies found that organic food had just as much nutrition – or lack there of – as non-organic food. 

However, a recent study looking into the flavonoid levels and antioxidant activity in two types of onions has found these phytochemicals to be significantly higher in the organic versions. 

In the longest running study of this topic – spanning from 2009 to 2014 – researchers took into account factors such as weather, which they thought had been neglected in previous studies. They also believe that short study periods from other research caused skewed results. 

The two onions in question were the “Red Baron” and “Hyskin” onions, where are high in flavonoids such as quercetin. Previous studies have found that these flavonoids may be beneficial for people with various health issues.

For six years, the researchers compared organic onions to conventional onions, publishing their results in the ACS’ <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/journal/jafcau">Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry</a>.

They determined that weather does play a factor in flavonoid content, independent of whether or not the onions were grown under organic conditions. In 2010, when temperatures were lowest, the flavonol levels in Red Baron onions decreased significantly. However, when temperatures were high in 2011 and 2014, the flavonol levels increased.

Overall, the authors found that antioxidant activity was higher in organic onions compared to non-organic for both types. They also discovered that the flavonols in organic onions were as much as 20 percent higher than their conventional counterparts.

Their discovery could lead to better research practices for future testing of organic and non-organic produce, possibly clearing the currently muddy waters of organic food research. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en.html">American Chemical Society</a>

Organic onions contain more antioxidants and flavonoids

The debate over the potential benefits of organic foods has...

Have you ever heard of “phubbing”? Well if you haven’t, that doesn’t mean you’re not guilty of it. Snubbing someone during conversation while checking your <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/parents-addicted-smartphones-kids/">phone</a> is referred to as “phubbing,” and can be just as annoying as it sounds. Phubbing creates divides within relationships by decreasing the amount of quality time spent together and making it seem like one of the partners in a couple is losing interest.

New research has shown that phubbing is on the rise, and could be putting our relationships in jeopardy, as almost half of relationships have been negatively affected by this act. Researchers surveyed 450 people and found that 46 percent have been “phubbed” by their significant other, and 22 percent said this issue has caused arguments as well.

The same study also revealed that people check their phones every four to six minutes, and up to 150 times a day! This is one of the main factors behind the drastic increase in phone snubbery. 

“The presence and use of cell phones is ever-increasing, causing the boundaries that separate our work and other interests from our romantic relationships to become more and more blurred,” says James Roberts and Meredith David of <a href="http://www.baylor.edu/">Baylor University</a> in Texas. “As a result, the occurrence of phubbing is nearly inevitable.”

When the researchers surveyed 143 individuals in romantic relationships, 70 percent said that cell phones interfered with their interactions with their partners, ranging from “sometimes” to “all the time.” According to the study’s authors, phubbing makes it appear as if you don’t value your partner’s time or that you’re losing interest.

Julie Hart, a relationship expert from <a href="http://thehartcentre.com.au/">The Hart Centre</a> in Australia, says the couples can improve their relationships by agreeing to some basic cell phone boundaries: “Sit down together and set out some rules about phone-free time, where you basically put your phone away somewhere where you can't hear it, for a full hour every night while you and your partner spend some quality time together,” she told <a href="http://www.whimn.com.au/">Whimn</a>. “Most people would be amazed at what a dedicated hour a day of phone-free time can do for their relationship over time.”

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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

Source: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html">The Daily Mail</a>, <a href="http://www.whimn.com.au/">Whimn</a>, <a href="http://www.baylor.edu/">Baylor University</a>

Why checking your phone might be ruining your relationships

Have you ever heard of “phubbing”? Well if you haven’t,...

Scientists have discovered a potential way to control appetite in mice which could lead to a new obesity drugs for humans.

Researchers from <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a> found a potential way to target specific thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) in mice, located only in the hypothalamus, the area of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/part-brain-decides-food/">brain</a> that regulates appetite. 

TRs are spread widely throughout the body and interact with circulating thyroid hormones to regulate functions such as appetite, the nervous system, body temperature, and cholesterol levels. 

Any drug targeting thyroid hormones and their receptors needs to be specific to avoid affecting other body systems, the new study said. However, they are difficult to target individually due to their high numbers and so there are currently no anti-obesity drugs able to do so, the authors said

In early stage research, the authors divided 21 mice, who weighed roughly 20 grams each, into two groups. They injected mice in the first group with viruses that inactivated the brain TRs, but did not inject the second group. They then let both groups eat as much as they chose. 

They found that the group of mice with the inactive TRs ate much more food and doubled in weight on average, from the baseline of 20 grams to 40 grams over six weeks. The mice with active TRs maintained a stable body weight at 20 grams. There were no side effects from the injected viruses.

A human drug might decrease a person's appetite by activating TRs in the hypothalamus, without causing effects in other parts of the body, said James Gardiner, lead author of the research.

"If our findings can be applied to humans, then we may have a new target for obesity medication," he said.

Humans with lowered thyroid receptor activity in their brains have previously been found to be on average more obese than others, the study said. 

If this research continues into testing drugs on human subjects, there would be no simple test to measure levels of receptor activity and adjust medication accordingly. Rather, treatment would be based on a system of trial and error with regard to whether the drug worked for specific individuals, the authors said.

They warn that the research is at an early stage and the results should be taken with caution.

"Due to the justifiably long and complex process of drug discovery, any potential treatment that could result from this will be far off in the future,” said Gardiner. “However, the strength of our results, and the doubling in body size of these mice, shows there's that the role of thyroid hormones and their receptors are definitely worth exploring further in the fight against obesity."

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By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a>

New appetite regulator could pave the way for human obesity drug

Scientists have discovered a potential way to control appetite in...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/">University of Chicago</a> conducted an eleven-year study on the subject of loneliness. The scientists discovered that isolation leads to heightened self-centeredness as a survival mechanism.

Studies have proven that loneliness leads to an increased risk of physical and mental health issues. Solitary people also have higher <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-gaps-life-expectancy/">death rates</a> than those with strong social relationships.

The findings of the study revealed that loneliness perpetuates self-centeredness which, in turn, elevates loneliness. This continuous loop has the potential to make people become more and more socially isolated. 

"Targeting self-centeredness as part of an intervention to lessen loneliness may help break a positive feedback loop that maintains or worsens loneliness over time,” explained the researchers.

Psychology Professor John Cacioppo teamed up with colleagues between 2002 to 2013 as part of the Chicago Health, Aging and Social Relations Study. The analysis focused on Hispanics, African-Americans and Caucasians. 229 individuals who varied in age, gender, and socioeconomic status were randomly selected. 

Previous work by the team indicated that loneliness made people more egotistical, but the researchers were surprised to find that self-centeredness impacted loneliness as well.

In 2006, the team had proposed an evolutionary theory based on the neuroscience of loneliness. The scientists pointed out that evolution of the brain influences how humans think, feel, and behave. 

"A variety of biological mechanisms have evolved that capitalize on aversive signals to motivate us to act in ways that are essential for our reproduction or survival," explained the researchers.

The psychological equivalent of physical pain is loneliness. From an evolutionary-biological perspective, people become more self-centered when they feel lonesome as a means of self-preservation. However, society has changed tremendously since this modification in the brain. 

"This evolutionarily adaptive response may have helped people survive in ancient times, but in contemporary society may well make it harder for people to get out of feelings of loneliness," John Cacioppo said.

The study, published in today's Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, suggests that any short-term benefits of being self-centered are heavily outweighed by the damage that results from loneliness over time.

“When humans are at their best, they provide mutual aid and protection,” said co-author Stephanie Cacioppo. "It isn't that one individual is sacrificial to the other. It's that together they do more than the sum of the parts. Loneliness undercuts that focus and really makes you focus on only your interests at the expense of others."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/">University of Chicago</a>

Loneliness makes us self-centered as a survival mechanism

Researchers at the University of Chicago conducted an eleven-year study...

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"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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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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