Being cool can feel elusive and almost mythic - something we “know when we see it,” yet struggle to define.



A sweeping new investigation led by marketing scholars Todd Pezzuti of <a href="https://www.uai.cl/">Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez</a> and Caleb Warren of the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/">University of Arizona</a> argues that the concept is far less mysterious than it seems.



Across twelve nations, nearly 6,000 participants independently picked out the same constellation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/personality-type-can-accurately-predict-your-relationship-status/">personality</a> traits when describing a cool person. 



The findings reveal not only what separates “cool” from “good” but also why cool people tend to become catalysts of social change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-cool-across-12-nations">Mapping cool across 12 nations</h2>



Between 2018 and 2022, the research team collected online responses from adults in the United States, Australia, Chile, mainland China, Hong Kong, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, and Turkey.



Participants first confirmed that they understood the slang meaning of the word “cool,” then spent a few minutes imagining someone who embodied one of four labels: cool, uncool, good, or not good.



Afterward, volunteers evaluated that imagined person on a battery of personality dimensions drawn from psychology’s “Big Five” model and Schwartz’s theory of universal values.



Because all responses came from internet users in relatively urban settings, the sample leans toward technologically connected citizens. 



Still, it is one of the most culturally diverse datasets ever assembled to study reputational judgments. The result is a uniquely global snapshot of how people assign social prestige.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-cool-and-good-part-ways"><a></a>Where cool and good part ways</h2>



When the investigators compared ratings, they found considerable overlap: both cool and good people scored high on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-with-many-facial-expressions-seem-more-social-and-likeable/">likability</a>. Yet important divergences emerged.



In all the places they studied, people consistently perceived cool individuals as more extraverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open, and autonomous. 



Good people, by contrast, ranked as conforming, traditional, secure, warm, agreeable, universalistic, conscientious, and calm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cool-people-aren-t-always-good">Cool people aren't always "good"</h2>



In Pezzuti’s view, the cool profile evokes a kind of charismatic boundary-pusher: energetic, novelty seeking, and unapologetically self-directed.



That explains why cool individuals can inspire fashion trends or launch creative movements - roles that sometimes require bending social rules rather than following them.



“To be seen as cool, someone usually needs to be somewhat likable or admirable, which makes them similar to good people," said Warren. "However, cool people often have other traits that aren’t necessarily considered ‘good’ in a moral sense, like being hedonistic and powerful.”



The cool persona therefore straddles acceptance and transgression: admired enough to influence peers, rebellious enough to feel fresh.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cool-traits-go-global">Cool traits go global</h2>



In the mid-20th century, “cool” circulated in small countercultures - from Black jazz clubs to Beatnik cafés. Over the decades, fashion labels, record companies and Hollywood studios harnessed the aura of cool, broadcasting certain looks and attitudes to a worldwide audience.



The new study suggests that process may have standardized the meaning of the term. Even participants who live 10,000 miles apart now recognize the same signature <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/personality-traits-linked-to-willingness-to-volunteer-or-donate/">traits</a>. As the authors note, the meaning of cool has crystallized on a similar set of traits and values around the world.



Pezzuti does not see commercialization as a death knell. “Coolness has definitely evolved over time, but I don’t think it has lost its edge. It’s just become more functional,” he said.



“The concept of coolness started in small, rebellious sub-cultures, including Black jazz musicians in the 1940s and the beatniks in the 1950s. As society moves faster and puts more value on creativity and change, cool people are more essential than ever.”



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



Because cool people display power and autonomy while earning admiration, the researchers argue that coolness helps establish informal hierarchies. Instead of relying solely on wealth or institutional authority, communities also elevate figures who embody daring and originality.



These individuals, in turn, shape cultural norms by modeling alternative ways to dress, speak, or live. As Pezzuti puts it, “everyone wants to be cool, or at least avoid the stigma of being uncool, and society needs cool people because they challenge norms, inspire change, and advance culture.”



That dual role - both aspirational and disruptive - makes the cool persona uniquely influential. Marketers know this instinctively when they cast charismatic musicians in sneaker ads. Activists harness it when they infuse protest art with edgy style.



The study provides empirical backing for those intuitions: people from Lagos to Los Angeles consistently associate coolness with adventurous independence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coolness-in-the-digital-age">Coolness in the digital age</h2>



The team notes their study excludes rural and offline groups, whose ideas of cool may differ significantly. They also restricted the study to cultures already familiar with the English slang term, potentially narrowing linguistic nuance.



Future projects could test whether the six-trait profile - extraverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open, and autonomous - holds in additional societies or emerges in other languages.



Researchers are likewise curious about how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-pressure-is-straining-teen-friendships/">social media</a> platforms, which accelerate the spread of trends, might further synchronize or fragment global standards of cool. Does TikTok broaden identity through niche subcultures or reinforce the six-trait mold by favoring charismatic risk-takers?



For now, the evidence is striking: when people across five continents imagine someone undeniably cool, they picture remarkably similar qualities. 



Coolness, it turns out, may be one of the few cross-cultural constants - an unwritten code that transcends borders even as it keeps pushing boundaries.



The study is published in the <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fxge0001799">Journal of Experimental Psychology: General</a>.



-----



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What makes people cool? Scientists tracked down the traits

Being cool can feel elusive and almost mythic - something we “know when we see it,” yet struggle to define. A sweeping new investigation led by marketing scholars Todd Pezzuti of Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez and Caleb Warren of the University of Arizona argues that the concept is far less mysterious than it seems. Across twelve nations, nearly 6,000 participants independently picked out the same constellation of personality traits when describing a cool person. The findings reveal not only what separates “cool” from “good” but also why cool...

The inability to perform cognitive tasks can be a marker of age, and many studies have confirmed how intraindividual variability reaction time, or IIVRT, is an indicator of cognitive decline and old age. 

IIVRT refers to the huge variations in task performance and reaction time, and can also be a predictor of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dementia-preventable-treatment/">dementia</a>, Parkinson's disease, and even mortality.  

Now, a new study from the <a href="https://cheba.unsw.edu.au/">Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing</a> and the<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/"> University of New South Wales</a> in Sydney Australia used IIVRT and its associations with decline and old age to see if a connection could be made between IIVRT and mortality predictions. 

Nicole A. Kochan, lead author of the study, and her colleagues looked at 861 participants aged 70 - 90 years old every two years, and had participants perform two computer tests that measured reaction times. There were 76 trials in total over an eight year period, and the results were published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal">PLOS ONE</a>.

Every two years, experts would weigh in on the study’s participants and look for any indicators of dementia that would need to be diagnosed, while mortality data was collected from the state registry. 

The results indicated that longer IIVRT predicted mortality, but typical reaction time did not. There was also no correlation found between risk factors like dementia to explain the connection between greater IIVRT and mortality. 

The study follows similar research that looks into reaction time and intraindividual variability, but is the first of its kind to factor in so many outside “confounders” like dementia. 

"The study was the first to comprehensively account for effects of overall cognitive level and dementia on the relationship between intraindividual variability of reaction time and mortality," Said Kochan. 

The variations in reaction time that were presented in the study show a wholly unique indicator of mortality based on an individual's cognitive functions while taking into account other risk factors. 

-----

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a>, Staff Writer

Reaction time could predict mortality for seniors

The inability to perform cognitive tasks can be a marker...

Discovering the inner workings of the human body is a continually evolving process and sometimes a challenging one. Take for instance our taste buds, those important receptors on our tongue that discern sweet from salty and bitter from sour. Humans are generally wired to favor sweet flavors versus bitter ones is a survival instinct, as bitter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-strain-flavors/">flavors</a> could mean something is toxic or poisonous. 

The taste system is a remarkable one, and while we’ve known where the different taste receptors are located on the tongue and how they transmit flavors to the brain, not much is known about the actual wiring of new taste receptors. This could be because taste receptor cells, the ones that actually sense flavor, die off and replace themselves almost every two weeks. 

The high turnover rate, while impressive, also begs the question, how do the taste cells correctly rewire themselves every time and continue to send the right signals to the brain? 

Charles Zuker, a <a href="http://www.hhmi.org/">Howard Hughes Medical Institute</a> investigator from <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University</a> saw that there was very little known about how the taste cells are wired into the taste system and brain, and so he set about to try and understand more about this process. 

Zuker and his colleagues observed different groups of mice essentially “tangling” or mixing up the taste receptors in different groups, which allowed them to see how the miswired taste receptors reacted to bitter and sweet flavors. 

What the researchers discovered was that specific chemical signals in new taste receptor cells can attract the correct nerve connections to them and in turn send the right flavor signals to the brain. 

"As new taste cells are born, they provide the right instructions to establish the right connection," said Zuker. 

Taste receptors have a hugely important job and must be rewired correctly every time they are replaced in order for the taste system to work. Zuker’s research helps solve the mystery of how taste receptors are wired and helps shed further light on the evolution of human taste processes. 

------

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How taste buds are wired into your brain to experience flavors

Discovering the inner workings of the human body is a...

A new study has revealed that alcohol use, high-risk drinking, and alcohol use disorders have increased in almost every sociodemographic group in the United States. This change was found to be particularly significant among women, older adults, minorities, and individuals with low educational levels and family income.

Monitoring trends in the prevalence of alcohol consumption is an important measure taken to help improve the overall health of the country. Tracking alcohol use patterns and the progression of alcohol use disorders is key to developing successful prevention and treatment programs. 

An analysis led by Bridget F. Grant, Ph.D., of the <a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/">National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism</a> was based on statistics for 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. The data showed the changes in the percentages of alcohol use, high-risk drinking, and DSM-IV alcohol use disorder (AUD) over the course of the decade. 

For the study, exceeding four or more standard drinks in a single day for women or five or more standard drinks in one day for men at least once a week over the last year constituted high-risk drinking. A DSM-IV diagnosis of AUD was assigned to individuals who met the criteria for alcohol dependence or abuse in the past year.

The investigation established that <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/alcohol-body-drunk/">alcohol</a> use in the United States increased by 11.2 percent from 2001-2002 to 2012-2013. High-risk drinking rose by 29.9 percent, and DSM-IV diagnosis of AUD increased by 49.4 percent.

Increases in every category of alcohol use were the highest among women, older adults, racial/ethnic minorities, and those with lower educational levels and family income. The study, published by <a href="http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry">JAMA Psychiatry</a>, had some limitations including a lack of biological testing. 

"These increases constitute a public health crisis that may have been overshadowed by increases in much less prevalent substance use (marijuana, opiates and heroin) during the same period,” explained the authors of the study.

“Most important, the findings herein highlight the urgency of educating the public, policymakers and health care professionals about high-risk drinking and AUD, destigmatizing these conditions and encouraging those who cannot reduce their alcohol consumption on their own, despite substantial harm to themselves and others, to seek treatment.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Alcohol abuse on the rise in the United States

A new study has revealed that alcohol use, high-risk drinking,...

Before the iPod and mp3s, before cassette tapes and 8-track tapes, and before the record player, the Edison Phonograph Company marketed and sold a new device for playing and recording audio: the phonograph. 

The phonograph would play etched audio recordings that were carved into cylinders often made of wax, and many of these wax cylinders survive today and hold some of our earliest known audio recordings. 

At the <a href="http://berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a>, new technology is being used to preserve wax cylinders that, due to the wear and tear of time, have become almost unusable. But many of these wax cylinders hold our only references to rare indigenous languages recorded over 100 years ago. 

Using non-invasive optical scan technology developed by Berkeley physicist Carl Haber and Earl Cornell, researchers at Berkeley are transferring audio of indigenous languages from over 2,000 wax cylinders and even repairing them. Because of this, the languages will be more perceptible and linguists will be able to figure out what the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-brains-sync-conversations/">languages</a> are and what is being said.

Some of the wax cylinders in the Berkley collection are the only known audio of several of the languages and this could richly benefit future linguistic study of these languages, the indigenous communities, and scholarly research. 

There are almost 7,000 “living” or spoken languages in the world today, and now with these new technological advances, documenting endangered languages will be easier and accessible to linguists whose mission is the preservation and documentation of as many languages as possible. 

Documenting endangered languages is a key part of ensuring the preservation of the language, and writing down its grammar and structure and keeping a written record will ultimately enhance linguists’ and scholars’ understanding of languages and the communities that use them. 

The 100 hours of audio that the research team transferred from the wax cylinders and will soon be accessible to the general public. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Rare audio recordings of indigenous languages saved by technology

Before the iPod and mp3s, before cassette tapes and 8-track...

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">The Centers for Disease Control</a> (CDC) predicted that the summer of 2017 would be one of the worst tick seasons ever. With summer nearly half over and tick borne illnesses on the rise, it would seem their predictions were not without merit. Ticks thrive in tall grasses and wooded, leafy areas, and carry several illnesses including Lyme Disease.

According to CDC epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Braden, Lyme disease cases have nearly doubled in recent years compared to the early 2000s. 

This increase in tick populations, as well as mosquitos and other disease carrying pests, are a worldwide problem. The trick is reducing or managing their population levels without adversely affecting vital pollinator insects like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/east-african-honey-bees/">bees</a> and butterflies.

The solution and success of vector-control without harming pollinators in the process can be found by starting local, according to new research performed by entomologists, disease-vector control management experts, and pollinator experts. 

The research has been published in the Journal of Medical Entomology and shows that pest control and pollinator protection can be ensured by a local, community effort during the planning stages before any pest control measures are taken. 

There are vector-control practices that try to protect “nontarget organisms,” but conditions can vary so differently even county to county, coordinating with a pollination expert will ensure that the best measures are taken to ensure the desired result for all parties. 

A 2014 Vector-Borne Disease and Pollinator Protection task force was created by the <a href="http://pollinator.org/nappc/">North American Pollinator Protection Campaign</a> and studied better ways to promote local collaborative efforts among the two worlds. 

"Nobody wants people to get sick unnecessarily, and nobody wants to damage populations of organisms that are important to the functioning of healthy environments," said Dr. Howard Ginsberg, chair of the task force.

Preventing flea, tick, and mosquito borne illnesses can be helped by managing population levels. But this recent research shows how important it is to utilize a collaborative effort on a local level in order to find the best balance between disease and pest control without sacrificing vital pollinators.  

---

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The battle to protect bees while managing ticks and mosquitos

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) predicted that the summer...

As Earth.com <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alter-lifestyle-fight-climate-change/">reported last week</a>, a recent <a href="https://today.yougov.com/">YouGov</a> survey revealed that many individuals agree that climate change is real problem but are unwilling to make even small changes in their day to day life to decrease their own personal carbon footprint. It might seem like a daunting challenge to try and minimize one’s own environmental impact, or perhaps it’s just something we are too lazy to put into action. But there are a few small ways you can reduce your environmental footprint and employ a zero waste mindset in your daily life.

But first, what is zero waste? 

Zero Waste is a trending movement where the goal is to reduce how much waste you bring home and create yourself. The zero waste movement doesn’t eradicate all waste from your life, but it provides ways to drastically reduce plastics and packaging materials. The most dedicated zero wasters often display the amount of trash they accumulate in a year fitting in a small mason jar. 

If most people are unwilling to make even a small change in their day to day to help the environment, going zero waste may seem like a scale up Mount Everest. But don’t give up just yet. Here are few essential tips that may help change your mindset.

1. Know What Exactly You Are Getting Yourself Into

Are you going green, trying to be minimalist, hoping for a zero waste lifestyle, or just want to reduce your personal environmental footprint? Understanding exactly what zero waste means and how to incorporate it into your life is probably the best way to get started. Do some research and find out what will work for you. 

2. Get Inspired

Watching a few video tutorials online, scrolling through Pinterest, and reading some great <a href="https://zerowastehome.com">minimalist blogs</a> might inspire you to get onboard. You’ll be able to see all sides of the spectrum, from those who have <a href="https://www.goingzerowaste.com">great beginner tips</a> to those who are making their own conditioner. 

3. Get Thrifty

One of the easiest ways to incorporate less waste in your life is to try thrift shops. By thrifting for clothes, essential home goods, and even furniture, you are immediately reducing the typical amount of packaging and waste, and keeping those items out of the landfill.

4. Start Small

Bringing your own canvas and reusable bags to the grocery store may sound great in theory, but often they stay crumpled up in your kitchen cabinets because you always forget them. Try moving them to your car and keep them there. 

Also try bringing your own to-go mug to Starbucks or your favorite coffee shop. Many cafes often offer discounts for bringing your own cup, so it’s a double bonus. 

You could even think about getting a french press for your morning coffee routine, as they don’t require any coffee filters and don’t take any longer than your average drip brews.

5. Bulk Up

Many of the foods and household items you use every day are available to purchase in bulk, and for a discounted price. You can even buy or make your own bulk food bags so you don’t have to use the plastic disposable bags available. Bulk is also a great way to get spices and baking supplies that you don’t often run out of, and being able to pick your own amounts is part of the draw. 

The more advanced zero wasters can find ways to bulk up on liquids and oils, but just shopping at a bulk food store and grabbing a few things is a great way to get started. 

6. Shop Local

Avoid the big chain grocery store and try your local farmer’s market. Not only will you be supporting local, often the produce is fresher and cheaper than anything you could get at your basic grocery store. 

7. Compost (if possible)

Not everyone has the luxury of being able to compost. It can be easier in smaller towns and rural areas, so for urban apartment dwellers, composting may be an impossibility. Check out your city's waste removal procedures, be familiar with recycling, and see if they offer composting bins. Minneapolis, Minnesota surprisingly has composting readily available for its residents, so it never hurts to check. 

8. Jar out!

Mason jars are more than just trendy hipster cocktail glasses or canning accessories. The mason jar also serves as a zero waster or minimalist's best friend. They can hold your bulk goods like spices and baking ingredients. You can use a mason jar for your favorite iced coffee or smoothie. You can find handy grab and go recipes with mason jars like overnight oats and take and shake layered salads. They are easy to wash, easy to label, and easy to reuse. 

9. Small changes make a big impact

As much as some zero wasters would have us all making our own deodorant, composting, and not buying any new clothes for a year, the practicality and convenience of which are not always possible for everyone. By making even small changes, such as eating less meat, reducing waste and fuel consumption, and incorporating some healthier habits in our lives, we can minimize our environmental footprint. 

At the end of the day, you have to do what will work for you and your schedule. These are just a few tips to get you started on your own zero waste path. Planet Earth will thank you for it.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Easy ways to adopt a Zero Waste mindset

As Earth.com reported last week, a recent YouGov survey revealed...

A huge increase in the value of American eels has given rise to a lucrative black market. Along the eastern coast of the United States, illegal harvesting of baby eels is putting dangerous pressure on the species. A massive federal investigation was organized to put an end to the unlicensed eel trade.

American baby eels, also known as elvers or glass eels, are only legally harvested in Maine and South Carolina. They are often sold to Asia where they are raised in farm ponds and sold as food. Besides a huge demand in Japanese restaurants, eels are also very popular in the American sushi industry and are a delicacy in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-massive-blow-asia/">Asia</a>.

The overfishing of eels in Japan and Europe led to drastic population declines over the last decade. This created an unprecedented demand for American baby eels, and their value skyrocketed to over $2,000 a pound.

Operation Broken Glass was started by the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/">United States Department of Justice</a> and <a href="https://www.fws.gov/">The United States Fish and Wildlife Service</a> to put an end to the illegal harvesting and distribution of elvers. The federal investigation has resulted in the arrest of over 15 people, all of whom plead guilty to charges that totaled over $4 million in illegal elver trafficking.

The investigation spanned 12 states from Maine down to South Carolina. One of the individuals arrested was a New York seafood dealer who bought and distributed elvers which were illegally harvested in Virginia. In November of 2016, three man pled guilty to trafficking over $740,000 worth of elvers which were illegally harvested in Charleston, South Carolina.

Over 400 licensed fisherman make a living catching elver in the rivers of Maine. They depend on law enforcement to protect their rapidly changing industry. According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, elvers were only worth around $25 a pound in the early 90s. By 2012, the value of American eels shot up to over $40 million because of demand from Asian countries. 

According to the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a>, the federal agencies in charge of Operation Broken Glass say there is no end date set for their investigation. Individuals who are indicted will be charged with federal violation of the Lacey Act, which prohibits illegal wildlife trade and carries a penalty of up to $250,000 and five years in prison.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Eel poaching hits new high as black market value increases

A huge increase in the value of American eels has...

Groundbreaking research out of the <a href="https://www.uottawa.ca/en">University of Ottawa</a> could create new treatments for patients with heart problems and complications suffered after a heart attack that limits their ability to exercise. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-diets-heart-disease/">Heart disease</a> and heart failure are leading causes of death and disability practically worldwide. Heart failure occurs when heart disease or heart attack damage the heart muscle tissue and prevent proper blood flow to the heart.

Researchers from <a href="http://www.ottawahospital.on.ca/">The Ottawa Hospital,</a> the <a href="https://www.ottawaheart.ca/">University of Ottawa Heart Institute</a>, and <a href="http://carleton.ca/">Carleton University</a> have found that a protein in the heart called cardiotrophin 1, or CT1, can actually repair damage caused by heart attacks, increase blood flow, and trick the heart into healthy growth as it would in response to physical exercise. 

"We found that CT1 causes heart muscles to grow in a more healthy way and it also stimulates blood vessel growth in the heart. This actually increases the heart's ability to pump blood, just like what you would see with exercise and pregnancy, " said Dr. Lynn Megeney, lead author of the study, a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital, and a professor at the University of Ottawa.

The research team looked at rats, mice, and cell models to see how CT1 helped damaged heart tissue. The researchers also used a drug known as phenylephrine, which can negatively affect heart growth, to provide examples of both healthy and harmful heart growth. 

The results found that CT1 helped repair and improve heart function in animals who had suffered a heart attack and animals suffering from hypertension. This is particularly exciting discovery because it shows that CT1 can improve heart issues that affect both the right and left sides of the heart. 

Researchers also found that the reason CT1 helps increase blood flow is because it allows blood vessels to grow along side new muscle and heart tissue. But the drug phenylephrine did nothing to help repair the damaged tissue and did not increase blood flow. 

Even though the effects CT1 have on the heart can be easily replicated with regular exercise, often patients who have suffered a heart attack have limited abilities when it comes to physical exertion. Studies like this could pave the way for new treatments to help repair and strengthen damaged heart muscle and tissue. 

---

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

You can actually trick your heart into thinking you exercise

Groundbreaking research out of the University of Ottawa could create...

We use social media in order to express ourselves to the world, whether that’s in pictures or words. Other people can learn a lot from you just by looking at your Instagram, and now computers can too.

Recent research has shown that computers can apply machine learning in order to successfully detect depressed people through analyzing their Instagram <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-rainforests-instagram/">photos</a>. With a detection rate of 70%, the computers were significantly more reliable than general practice doctors, who have a 42% success rate while diagnosing in-person.

Researchers asked 166 volunteers to share their Instagram photos – almost 44,000 in total – and mental health history. Half of the participants had reported being depressed in the last three years. Using well-established psychology research, the photos were analyzed for their brightness, color, and shading. The authors explain: 

“Pixel analysis of the photos in our dataset revealed that depressed individuals in our sample tended to post photos that were, on average, bluer, darker, and grayer than those posted by healthy individuals.”

As part of this study, the researchers had volunteers attempt to distinguish between Instagram posts made by depressed people versus people who were healthy. The volunteers were not nearly as effective as the computers were, and their analysis of the photos had essentially no correlation with the features of the photos detected by the computer.

“Obviously you know your friends better than a computer,” says Chris Danforth, a professor at the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/">University of Vermont</a>. “But you might not, as a person casually flipping through Instagram, be as good at detecting depression as you think.”

This new study has significant implications for depression diagnosis in the future. Currently, more than half of a general practitioners’ depression diagnoses are false, creating an unnecessary cost to the healthcare system. With machine learning and artificial intelligence both expanding in our lives, there are also questions of ethics and privacy that come into play with this computer algorithm. 

“We have a lot of thinking to do about the morality of machines,” Danforth says. “So much is encoded in our digital footprint. Clever artificial intelligence will be able to find signals, especially for something like mental illness.”

Despite these questions, this research may help advance diagnosis of depression, limit false diagnoses, and cut costs for health services.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Instagram photos can reveal signs of depression

We use social media in order to express ourselves to...

Video games have quickly become one of America’s most popular pastimes, with almost 50% of Americans reporting that they play video games regularly. There have been many studies that discuss the pros and cons of video games on brain development, behavior, cognitive functions, and their use as therapies for countering depression and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-low-doses-relieve-stress/">anxiety</a> and sharpening cognitive skills. 

But a recent study from the<a href="http://www.umontreal.ca/en/"> Université de Montréal</a> shows that playing video games, more specifically action video games, can harm the brain and actually decrease gray matter in the hippocampus. 

The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, details the effects that shooter games have on the hippocampus and gray matter in that area of the brain. 

Scientists pooled almost 100 participants together to play shooter action games and 3D games from the Super Mario Series, and then studied different players as they maneuvered through the games. The researchers mapped brain activity to find out which players were “spatial learners,” who used their hippocampus, and those players who were “response learners,” who favored the striatum part of the brain that focuses on reward systems. 

The researchers discovered that playing action games resulted in atrophy in the hippocampus with response learners, but playing 3D games actually increased gray matter in the hippocampus with both spatial and response learners. 

"If action video games lead to decreases in gray matter in the hippocampus [of young adults], caution should be exerted when encouraging their use... [by] children, young adults and older adults to promote cognitive skills such as visual short-term memory and visual attention," the study reported. 

“The results suggest that improvement in such cognitive skills may come at a cost,” said lead author and associate professor of psychology at UdeM, Greg West. 

Action video games have been proven to be beneficial for improving cognitive development, but this study shows that the risk of depleting the hippocampus of vital gray matter far outweighs those benefits.

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By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Playing video games can actually harm your brain

Video games have quickly become one of America’s most popular...

The comparison of “nature vs. nurture” when it comes to raising offspring has been talked about and studied throughout history, in both humans and animals – but for some reason it hasn’t been studied very much in dogs. New research from the <a href="http://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a> took an in-depth look at how guide dogs were affected by being raised by mothers who were overprotective, and how this influenced their likelihood of graduating from the training program. 

Results showed that a dog’s cognition and temperament were directly associated with success in the training program, and could help inform guide dog training organizations on how to identify dogs that are more likely to succeed. 

The study was conducted at The Seeing Eye, an organization in New Jersey that raises and trains dogs to help guide blind people. “Organizations like The Seeing Eye invest a huge amount in their training program but have about a 70 percent success rate,” says Robert Seyfarth of UPenn’s School of Veterinary Medicine. "That is good, but, from a practical point of view, they’d like to improve.”

Researchers observed 23 mothers and their 98 puppies for their first five weeks of life at The Seeing Eye, documenting things such as nursing position, the time the mother spent looking away from the puppies, and how much time she spent grooming her puppies. 

The mothers should unique differences across the board, and in a test of salivary cortisol levels – a measure of stress – the more vigilant mothers had higher baseline levels and higher spikes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cortisol-indicate-stressed/">cortisol</a> when their puppies were temporarily taken away from them.

When the researchers went back a couple years later and tracked the success of these puppies, they discovered that the mothers that were more doting were less likely to have their puppies graduate from the program and become guide dogs. Specifically, dogs whose mothers nursed more often lying down instead of sitting or standing up were less likely to succeed.

“If a mother is lying on her stomach, the puppies basically have free access to milk, but, if the mother is standing up, then the puppies have to work to get it,” Seyfarth explains. “A hypothesis might be that you have to provide your offspring with minor obstacles that they can overcome for them to succeed later in life because, as we know, life as an adult involves obstacles.”

A second part of the study was conducted after the puppies had gone to live with foster families and then returned to The Seeing Eye when they were young adults for more specific guide-dog training. This training included tests of cognitive problem-solving skills and tests of temperament.

The dogs that did well at the problem-solving tasks and were less reactive in temperament tests were more likely to succeed in the program, which wasn’t exactly a shock. Previous research had shown that dogs’ cognition and temperament were interrelated.

This new research provides further evidence of the connection between maternal behavior and offspring’s behavior later in life. However, further research is needed to figure out exactly why the attentive mothers were less likely to have puppies that graduated from the program.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Successful guide dogs less likely to have overbearing mothers

The comparison of “nature vs. nurture” when it comes to...

Cool roofs are an emerging technology that feature a number of attractive qualities. They consist of highly solar reflective materials and are lighter in color and help regulate roof temperature during heat waves.

Average dark, shingled roofs have been recorded as being 50 degrees hotter than outside temperatures, which can mean sky-high cooling costs and energy bills to keep your house comfortable. But cool roofs only increase a few degrees compared to outside temperatures, which are a major part of their appeal.

Cool roofs can also save up to 15% of energy costs and mitigate the urban <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-heat-islands-climate-change/">heat island</a> effect, where urban areas end up two to five degrees hotter in temperature because dark roofing and dark pavements soak up so much heat and cover such a wide area. 

But a new study from the<a href="http://www.aqmd.gov/"> South Coast Air Quality Management District</a> and the <a href="https://www.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a> reveals that while they can be beneficial in countering energy costs, they may also adversely harm air quality and increase ozone levels. 

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, details how scientists used air quality computer models and meteorology models to track how cool roofs reflect harmful UV rays and increase air pollution levels. 

However, the researchers involved are in no way calling for a ban of cool roofing materials or technology. 

"While the future, widespread use of certain kinds of cool roofing materials could slightly increase air pollution levels, we in no way want to discourage this technology. This study shows what needs to be done to help cool our cities and avoid increasing ozone levels as an unintended consequence," said the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Executive Officer, Wayne Nastri. 

While the study did show a slight predicted increase in pollution levels with an increased used of cool roofing materials, cool pavements could have a much more adverse impact as they increase in popularity.

The findings prove the need for increased regulation and strategical development to find ways to continue to improve cool roofing materials and hinder their potentially harmful side effects. 

---

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cool roofs help manage heat but may increase air pollution

Cool roofs are an emerging technology that feature a number...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

[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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