New research reveals how the brain assigns emotional value to smells - and why it matters for health and happiness.



If you've ever recoiled from the smell of microwaved fish or smiled at the scent of fresh bread, you’ve experienced just how powerfully odors can stir emotions. But what makes our brains decide that a smell is pleasant - or downright awful?



A new study from researchers at the <a href="https://ufhealth.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Florida Health</a> reveals the neural pathways that give odors their emotional charge.



The findings provide the first detailed insight into how the brain categorizes smells as good or bad. This sheds light on why certain odors evoke such visceral reactions - and how that knowledge could eventually improve health outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smell-s-path-to-the-brain">Smell's path to the brain</h2>



Dan Wesson is senior author of the study and a professor of pharmacology and therapeutics. He's also the interim director of the <a href="https://fcs.institute.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Chemical Senses Institute</a>.



“Odors are powerful at driving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-emotions-build-in-the-brain-and-why-they-linger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotions</a>," he said. "It’s long been thought that the sense of smell is just as powerful, if not more powerful, at driving an emotional response as a picture, a song, or any other sensory stimulus.” 



The research focused on the amygdala - the brain’s emotional command center - which interacts with all of our senses. It has especially close ties to smell. In fact, the olfactory system has a more direct route to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lizard-brain-shapes-social-abilities-in-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amygdala</a> than any other sense.



“This is, in part, what we mean when we say your sense of smell is your most emotional sense,” said first author Sarah Sniffen, a graduate research fellow.



“Yes, smells evoke strong, emotional memories, but the brain’s smell centers are more closely connected with emotional centers like the amygdala.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-good-vs-bad-smells">Good vs. bad smells</h2>



To understand how this connection works, researchers studied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mice-use-scent-to-determine-whos-the-boss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mice</a> - animals whose brains share many neurochemical similarities with humans. Like us, mice can learn to associate smells with positive or negative experiences.



By analyzing the mice’s brain activity, the researchers identified two genetically distinct types of brain cells in the amygdala that play a key role in determining the emotional value of a smell.



Surprisingly, they found that both cell types could be involved in generating either positive or negative responses. It all depended on where those cells were sending signals.



“It can make an odor positive or negative to you,” Wesson said. “And it all depends upon where that cell type projects in your brain and how it engages with structures in your brain.”



In other words, the same type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-cell-origins-traced-to-creatures-that-lived-800-million-years-ago/">brain cell</a> could contribute to opposite emotional outcomes depending on its connections.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-odors-shape-daily-experience">Odors shape daily experience</h2>



Understanding smell responses may seem niche, but it has big implications - especially for those with heightened sensory sensitivity.



“We’re constantly breathing in and out and that means that we’re constantly receiving olfactory input,” Sniffen said.



“For some people that’s fine, and it doesn’t impact their day-to-day life. They might even think, ‘Oh, odors don’t matter that much.’ But for people who have a heightened response to sensory stimuli, like those with PTSD or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-microbes-have-an-unexpected-link-to-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxiety</a> or autism, it’s a really important factor for their day-to-day life.”



Scents associated with trauma, illness, or discomfort can trigger disproportionately strong responses in certain individuals. These reactions can sometimes interfere with routine activities or medical treatment.



Wesson noted how a patient’s negative association with the smell of a clinic - tied to previous transfusions - could cause intense distress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-scent-based-therapies">Future scent-based therapies</h2>



Understanding the specific brain circuits behind these reactions may open the door to targeted therapies. According to the researchers, it may one day be possible to modulate the activity of these odor-processing pathways with medications.



This could either dampen distressing responses or help restore emotional enjoyment in cases like appetite loss.



“Emotions in part dictate our quality of life, and we’re learning more about how they arise in our brain,” Wesson said. “Understanding more about how our surroundings can impact our feelings can help us become happier, healthier humans.”



By demystifying the deep link between scent and emotion, this research not only advances neuroscience - it also offers a potential path toward better mental and physical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-the-critical-role-of-nature-in-human-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">well-being</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-025-03075-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature: Molecular Psychiatry</a>.



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How your brain decides what smells good or bad

New research reveals how the brain assigns emotional value to smells - and why it matters for health and happiness. If you've ever recoiled from the smell of microwaved fish or smiled at the scent of fresh bread, you’ve experienced just how powerfully odors can stir emotions. But what makes our brains decide that a smell is pleasant - or downright awful? A new study from researchers at the University of Florida Health reveals the neural pathways that give odors their emotional charge. The findings provide the...

The Earth Day Network has launched a campaign called <a href="http://www.earthday.org/take-action/">Billion Acts of Green</a> to spark interest in pursuing environmentally-friendly practices. With a total of 2,023,369,586 green acts recorded in the campaign so far, Earth Day Network is well on its way to reaching a goal of 3 billion acts by their 50th anniversary in 2020.

Recycling, reusing, repurposing, and reducing are all activities we should participate in daily. A great way to get children to become environmentally responsible is to demonstrate these types of activities and get them involved. The following are some fun ways that families can create their own acts of green.

&nbsp;

Plant a vegetable garden

Plants are great for the environment because they take carbon dioxide out of the air and put oxygen back into it. A vegetable garden also saves money and encourages healthier eating.Tending a garden is a fun and easy way to get the whole family outside together. Let each member of the family choose a vegetable he or she wants to plant. Reap the benefits of your garden year after year. 

Recycle

Recycling reduces waste and the harmful effects of waste. Recycling with your children can be a very rewarding experience - you will gain a sense of pride for doing this good deed together while earning extra money. Set up recycling bins at your house, church, or even at the local ballpark and collect the bags regularly. Sell the cans and bottles and use the money for fun family outings.

Repurpose furniture 

Got old furniture laying around taking up space? Use it for fun repurposing projects you can do with your family.  Turn an old bookshelf into a sandbox, or transform a skateboard into a tree swing. For these and more fun upcycling projects check out <a href="https://www.google.com/amp/www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/craft-ideas/gmp3657/kids-trash-to-treasure-crafts/">15 Trash-to-Treasure Crafts That'll Entertain Your Kids for Less</a>.

Watch <a href="http://storyofstuff.org/">The Story of Stuff</a>  together

What started as a brief, educational movie is now a full-blown movement. Watch the video and visit the website for ideas on how to help create a healthier world. Each member of your family can propose a resolution for the household. You can even put a reward in place for the family member who implements the most successful solution.

Collect rain in a barrel

Creating a rain barrel with your family is a simple yet practical way to conserve water. Use your recycled rain to water plants and trees in your yard, or use it to wash your cars. Fill up a baby pool or or build a bird bath. Flush toilets with the rain water, or filter it for drinking.

Simplify your life

Designate days that you can enjoy peace and quiet together. Long summer days are perfect for this. Open the curtains and let natural light into your home. Challenge your family to go an entire day without using lights and excess electricity. Unplug all the electronics and distractions in your lives. Plan a picnic in the backyard for dinner. 

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-guide-saving-planet/">Earth Day</a> may be April 22nd but every day is a chance to help make the planet a healthier place to live.

Just a few small resolutions can help you and your family develop planet-friendly habits that last a lifetime. When you get your children involved in helping to preserve the environment, you double and triple your own efforts, while bonding with the most important people in your life. 

--

Original Feature By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Earth.com Presents: Fun ways for families to do an Act of Green

The Earth Day Network has launched a campaign called Billion...

Inefficient testing, inadequate maintenance and other factors cause cars, trucks and buses worldwide to emit 4.6 million tons more harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) than standards allow, according to a new study.

Excess emissions lead to 38,000 premature deaths annually worldwide, 1,100 of those in the United States, according to the published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature">Nature</a>.

The research reveals “major inconsistencies” between what vehicles emit during testing and what they emit in the real world. This problem is far worse than in 2015, when regulators discovered Volkswagen had been fitting millions of new diesel cars with "defeat devices" to show lower emissions during testing.

"A lot of attention has been paid to defeat devices, but our work emphasizes the existence of a much larger problem," said Daven Henze, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the <a href="http://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a> and a coauthor of the study. "It shows that in addition to tightening emissions standards, we need to be attaining the standards that already exist in real-world driving conditions."

The researchers analyzed 30 other studies of vehicle emissions under real-world driving conditions in 11 major vehicle markets representing 80 percent of new diesel vehicle sales in 2015.

They found that diesel vehicles emitted 13.1 million tons of NOx, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and other health problems. Had the emissions met standards, the vehicles would have emitted closer to 8.6 million tons of NOx.

Heavy-duty vehicles, such as commercial trucks and buses, were by far the largest contributor worldwide, accounting for 76 percent of the total excess NOx <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epa-fiat-violating-clean-air-act/">emissions</a>.

China suffers the greatest health impact with 31,400 deaths annually attributed to diesel NOx pollution, with 10,700 of those deaths linked to excess NOx emissions beyond certification limits, the study said.

The study projects that by 2040, 183,600 people will die prematurely each year due to diesel vehicle NOx emissions unless governments act.

"The consequences of excess diesel NOx emissions for public health are striking," said Susan Anenberg, co-lead author of the study and co-founder of Environmental Health Analytics LLC.

--

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.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a>

Vehicle emissions found to be worse on the road than in testing

Inefficient testing, inadequate maintenance and other factors cause cars, trucks...

Food tossed in trash cans contains nutrients that could help many Americans meet daily dietary requirements, a new study says.

Each day, 1,217 calories per person are squandered, according to the <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> study published in the <a href="http://www.jandonline.org/">Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics</a>  .

Discarded food contains large amounts of vitamin D, fiber and potassium that could help people get the food they need to meet their daily recommended intake, said the study, the first to quantify the nutritional value of discarded food.

Perishable foods such as fruits and vegetables are lost at particularly high rates, the researchers said.

They hope the findings will raise awareness of food <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/14-billion-dollars-edible-foods-trashed/">waste</a> and how to prevent it. The data can be as a baseline for tracking intervention impacts, the authors said. 

"Although only a portion of discarded food can realistically be made available for human consumption, efforts to redistribute surplus foods where appropriate and prevent food waste in the first place could increase the availability of nutrients for Americans, while saving money and natural resources," the study said. "The U.S. has established a target of halving food loss and waste by 2030. This research supports the case for action and for registered dietitian nutritionists to bring their expertise to the effort."

Researchers used data from the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/">USDA</a> <a href="https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/">National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference</a> to calculate the nutritional value of retail and consumer level waste of 213 commodities.

Americans waste food at an alarming rate throughout the food supply chain with  an estimated at 31-40 percent of the post-harvest food supply discarded, the study said.

Just the fiber discarded each day is equivalent to the fiber recommended daily allow for 74 million adult women.

--

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.eu.elsevierhealth.com/">Elsevier Health Sciences</a>

Image Credit: <a href="http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-a-livable-future/">Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future</a>

Study: Americans discard food at alarming rates

Food tossed in trash cans contains nutrients that could help...

Cats appear to have better relationships with older women, according to a new article by a university expert in animal behavior.

While men are more likely to interact with cats while seated, women are thought to be more likely to play with them at their own level, on the floor, writes Jenna Kiddie, senior Lecturer in animal behavior and welfare at <a href="http://www.anglia.ac.uk/">Anglia Ruskin University</a>

Cats prefer adults to children because they usually call to a cat before interacting, allowing the cat to decide whether to respond or not, Kiddie writes on the website <a href="https://theconversation.com/">The Conversation</a>.

Children, especially boys, tend to approach cats directly, which may not be tolerated well by individual cats. Interactions initiated by the cat itself tend to be longer than those initiated by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-perceive-colors-biology/">human</a>, Kiddie said.

The cat’s sociability towards humans therefore ranges from “very independent” to “very attached,” she wrote. 

“Where an individual cat lies on this spectrum is likely related to genes and previous learning experiences – that familiar mixture of nature and nurture,” Kiddie writes. “For example, feral kittens who have positive experiences with several different people in their early developmental stage (before six or seven weeks of age) are more likely to respond well to handling and become satisfying “good” pets than feral kittens which are first handled after the end of this period.”

Breed may also influence how friendly cats are to people. Owners of Siamese and Persians report higher levels of affection than owners of non-pedigree cats, for example.

Recent research has tried  to further investigate cat sociability by comparing their preferences for interacting with people to their preferences for food, toys and scents, Kiddie wrote.

Significantly lower numbers of cats preferred toys and scents. “The preference of some cats for playing or petting interactions with people over food is contrary to the age-old belief that people are just cats’ servants, who only tolerate people because they provide food,” Kiddie writes.

Other research has shown that providing food in the absence of other social interactions from  humans, such as speaking or stroking, cannot maintain a social bond, 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="https://theconversation.com/">The Conversation</a>

Expert explains why cats and older women are such a great match

Cats appear to have better relationships with older women, according...

Growing fruits in Alaska is a challenge due to the harsh environment and limited growing season. Although fruit trees can be grown in greenhouses, this is very costly for communities that rely on diesel as their source of power. But now, the state of Alaska has released a new handbook that will change everything. The 98-page guide teaches communities how to build greenhouses that can be heated from wood, a plentiful and renewable resource.

Officials that worked on the handbook say there is a high demand for greenhouses. This is due in large part to heightened awareness, advances in technology, and urgent need. Some parts of Alaska are so remote that fresh fruit is nearly impossible to import. Expensive vegetables and fruit that have to be flown in cannot reach some secluded communities until after they are past their prime. 

The guide contains a broad range of information, including ways to fund greenhouse projects. The authors of the handbook included details on plant nutrient management in an effort to get more locally grown food into homes and cafeterias. The case studies of existing greenhouse projects are also included in the handbook.

A small school in the Prince of Wales Island community of Thorne Bay built an aquaponics greenhouse three years ago. The project was funded by the state biomass program. The school uses wood cut by the students to inexpensively heat their greenhouse year-round.

"They could never have afforded a greenhouse if they were heating their school with diesel heat," said Devany Plentovich, manager of the Alaska Energy Authority's biomass program.

The students use live fish such as goldfish and koi to provide nutrients for lettuce, kale, and other crops. Although tilapia is ideal for an aquaponics greenhouse, the state of Alaska has a ban fish farming which prohibits the use of edible fish. The students are licensed to sell their <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/maryland-farmers-cover-crops/">crops</a>, and the leftover produce goes to the school cafeterias. They even run a small café where their produce is on the menu.

Students at another school, Coffman Cove, maintain a 7,000-square-foot greenhouse that has 10,000 plants and 2,000 fish. The students are responsible for everything from planting the crops to feeding the fish and checking the water. The older students are in charge of loading the boilers and burning the wood. Students over age 16 get paid to cut and stack wood.

Colter Barnes is the school district's greenhouse manager. He said, "It's been fantastic. Kids love to eat, and kids love to make money. They are engaged in it - way more engaged than any worksheet or textbook."

People of these communities say the produce from the greenhouses is much better than what they are used to. In addition to generating superior fruit, the greenhouses proposed in the handbook are environmentally friendly. They have a second combustion chamber that prevents most of the pollution from escaping into the atmosphere.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">AP</a>

Lack of fresh produce has Alaska turning to greenhouses

Growing fruits in Alaska is a challenge due to the...

Scientists are far from understanding the interaction patterns which lead to certain human behavior, and cooperation is no exception. What exactly motivates people to join forces and work together remains a mystery. An emerging study sheds new light on the emotions that may be behind human cooperation. It turns out that a guilt trip may be the best way to get someone to lend a helping hand. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham</a> set out to try and understand cooperation. They wanted to analyze what role emotions play in prompting a group to cooperate with each other. They created a project in which four strangers would share an energy bill to see what emotions surfaced among team members, and what level of cooperation would result. Participants were placed into groups of four and rationed an imaginary amount of money to spend in exchange for the privilege of using power. 

The individuals anonymously “bought” <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/scotland-wind-turbines-generate/">electricity</a>, and then a bill was presented to the group that exposed how much each team member spent. The bill would not be fair if a team member indulged in more electricity usage because the bill was going to be split four ways regardless. Before starting the same process over again, team members were asked to record certain emotions including guilt and anger on a scale of 1-7. 

The results of the study showed that a lack of cooperation occurred if someone in the group used more energy and did not feel guilty about it. In fact, everyone in the group felt angry if someone was being uncooperative. This anger led to resentment and retaliation, and the issue was not resolved.

On the other hand, when the group member who used more power felt guilty, that individual modified the amount of electricity used in the next round. This appeased the group and a sense of teamwork and cooperation was restored. 

Dr Anya Skatova led the study. She explained, “We all know the term ‘guilt trip’ and understand how it feels. Our study shows that rather than being wholly negative, feelings of guilt can actually be positive and lead to positive behavior and improve cooperation.”

The team discovered that when people are made to feel guilty they feel a need to fix the situation and are more willing to join forces and work with others. If one person shows no consideration for the group, however, the sense of community and willingness to cooperate comes unhinged. These findings can be useful in motivating others to help protect the environment and curb the effects of climate change.

Dr Alexa Spence is a researcher at the <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham's</a> School of Psychology and Horizon Digital Economy Research Institute and a co-author of the study.

“If we understand that guilt leads to cooperation we can begin to recognize this and moderate our engagement activities accordingly to improve it. Cooperation is vital to everyday life, from the very small annoyances like not picking up dog mess on the street to the larger political landscape. Recognizing that anger can harm cooperation and guilt encourages cooperation could actually lead to a more harmonious society,” concluded Dr. Spence.

--

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham </a>

Why guilt trips can actually be a good thing for the planet

Scientists are far from understanding the interaction patterns which lead...

Study finds that beauty requires thought. Experiencing beauty requires thought, while pleasures, like eating or sex, can be beautiful, a new study says.

The research was designed to test a question that has long preoccupied philosophers such as Immanuel Kant who claimed beauty requires thought, unlike sensuous pleasure, which, he said, can never be beautiful.  

The new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daily-meditation-works-wonders/">research,</a> published in <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>, concludes Kent was right on the first count, wrong on the second one.

"We find that beauty, when it happens, is strongly pleasurable, and that strong pleasure is always beautiful," says researcher Denis Pelli of <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/">New York University</a>. "Strong pleasure and beauty both require thought."

Pelli and fellow NYU researcher Aenne Brielmann asked 62 people to indicate how much pleasure and beauty they felt while they saw an image, tasted a candy, or touched a soft teddy bear. Participants then rated their experience of each object on a four-point beauty scale.

In another round of the experiment, participants were asked to repeat what they'd done earlier, this time while they were distracted with a secondary task.

Distraction didn’t change the experience of viewing non-beautiful objects but diminished the experience of beauty, which does require thought.

Also, about 30 percent of participants said they'd definitely experienced beauty after sucking on a candy or touching a soft teddy bear.

"Our findings show that many other things besides art can be beautiful--even candy," Brielmann says. "But for maximum pleasure, nothing beats undistracted beauty."

The findings show  that although beauty subjective and ephemeral , it can still be measured and mathematically modeled and has practical applications, the researchers say.

"These are important insights for people who want to create beauty, such as artists or museum curators," Brielmann added. "You should, for example, not distract people in museums if you want them to find beauty in the art."

--

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.cell.com/">Cell Press</a>

Study finds that beauty requires thought

Study finds that beauty requires thought. Experiencing beauty requires thought,...

Electric-car maker Tesla is now offering solar roof tiles that blend in with traditional roof material.

Customers can order the solar roof tiles on Tesla’s web site with installation set to begin next month in the U.S. and next year in other countries.

The panels containing photovoltaic cells appear invisible from the street, designed to look like a traditional roof, with options that replicate slate or terracotta tiles.

One of the drawbacks to home solar installations until now has been the solar panels themselves, which are often awkward, shiny and ugly, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tesla-model-3-pre-production/">Tesla</a> CEO Elon Musk said in a conference call with the media.

"When you have this installed on your house, you'll have the best roof in the neighborhood. The aesthetics are that good," Musk said  in a conference call with media.

The roof is guaranteed for the life of the home, which is longer than the 20-year lifespan for a typical, non-solar roof, Musk said. It has been through the same hail, fire and wind testing that normal roofs endure. 

Tesla's web site includes a calculator for potential buyers to estimate the cost of a solar roof based on the size of their home, the amount of sunlight their neighborhood receives and federal tax credits. They can also put down a refundable $1,000 deposit to reserve a place in line.

Tesla said the solar tiles cost $42 per square foot to install, making them far more costly than slate, which costs around $17 per square foot, or asphalt, which costs around $5. But homes would only need between 30 and 40 percent of their roof tiles to be solar; the rest would be Tesla's cheaper non-solar tiles which would blend in with the solar ones.

It would cost $69,100 to install a solar roof with 40-percent solar tiles on a 2,600-square-foot roof in suburban Detroit, according to Tesla's web site.

That price includes a $7,000 Tesla Powerwall, a battery unit that stores the energy from the solar panels and powers the home. The roof would be eligible for a $15,500 federal tax credit and would generate an estimated $62,100 in electricity over 30 years, Tesla said. Over that time period, Tesla estimates, the homeowner would save $8,500.

Tesla  is making the solar tiles at its Fremont, California factory initially but eventually all production will move to a joint Tesla and Panasonic Corp. factory in Buffalo, New York. Panasonic makes the photovoltaic cells used in the tiles.

--

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.ap.org/en-us/">AP</a>, Tesla

Tesla unveils new “invisible” solar roof tiles now on sale

Electric-car maker Tesla is now offering solar roof tiles that...

The benefits of teamwork in a work environment are immeasurable. When people work as a team it promotes a sense of achievement and creates a more motivated workplace. Cooperation among co-workers is typically thought of as a very positive thing. A recent study, however, reveals that helping out colleagues may actually have a dark side as well.

Researchers from <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a> set out to determine if assistance among employees changed the course of the work day. What they discovered was that not only does this cooperative action change the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daily-meditation-works-wonders/">work</a> environment, but often in a negative way.

Russell Johnson is a professor of Management in <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a>'s Broad College of Business. Johnson and his team recruited 91 full-time employees for the study and observed them over 10 days of work. The participants completed two surveys per day - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. 

“The increase in mental fatigue from helping coworkers in the morning led employees to reduce their helping behaviors in the afternoon and, perhaps more interestingly, they engaged in more self-serving political behaviors in the afternoon as well,” said Johnson. “They switched from being other-oriented in the morning to being selfish in the afternoon.”

Previous studies on this subject suggested that helpfulness and cooperation often led to weaker performance and affected the overall well-being of individuals. Yet this was the first project of its kind to determine how a helpful collaboration affected political behavior afterward. In addition to mental fatigue and unenthusiastic behavior in the afternoon, individuals who helped out their co-workers in the morning also had a more self-absorbed agenda later in the day.

“Although we did not identify the consequences of these political behaviors, research has established that political acts from employees can culminate into a toxic work environment with negative well-being and performance consequences,” the study said.

The research team explains they are not discouraging teamwork in the workplace. They suggest that individuals become more guarded with their time, particularly when they are already fatigued at the beginning of the workday. The team also recommends that employers become aware that employees need breaks in order to recharge after helping out fellow employees.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a>

When teamwork can actually lead to a toxic work environment

The benefits of teamwork in a work environment are immeasurable....

Gluten-free products often have misleading labeling and may not be as healthy as food containing gluten, according to a new study.

The research presented today at the 50th Annual Congress of the <a href="http://www.espghan.org/">European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition</a>, calls for healthier raw materials in gluten-free foods and for changes in labeling to ensure that consumers understand the differences in the products.

"Where nutritional values of gluten-free products do vary significantly from their gluten-containing counterparts, such as having higher levels of saturated fat, labelling needs to clearly indicate this so that patients, parents and carers can make informed decisions,” said a lead researcher in the study, Sandra Martínez-Barona with the <a href="http://www.itemas.org/en/who-we-are/medical-centers/itcs/instituto-de-investigacion-sanitaria-la-fe/c/show/">Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe</a> in Valencia, Spain. .

The research compared 654 gluten-free products to 655 products with gluten and found:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Gluten-free breads had significantly higher amounts of of lipids and saturated fatty acids</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Gluten-free pasta had significantly lower amounts of sugar and protein</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Gluten-free biscuits had significantly lower amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-bears-focus-protein/">protein</a> and significantly higher content of lipids</li>
</ul>
A gluten free diet is prescribed for patients with coeliac disease, a condition that affects only about 1 percent of the European population, the study said.  A growing number of people are also using gluten-free products for their overall health, even when they are not diagnosed with coeliac disease.

Poor nutritional labelling may cause consumers to be unaware that that are gluten-free products different in their nutritional composition than the same food with gluten, the study 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.espghan.org/">European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition</a>

Gluten-free products often misleading, not necessarily healthier

Gluten-free products often have misleading labeling and may not be...

Smiling can make a person appear to be two years older, a new study says. A look of surprise, meanwhile, has the opposite effect.

Researchers flashed images of people with smiling, neutral, and surprised expressions. Participants perceived the surprised faces as the youngest and smiling faces the oldest.

"The striking thing was that when we asked participants afterwards about their perceptions, they erroneously recalled that they had identified smiling faces as the youngest ones," said study co-author Melvyn Goodale of the <a href="http://www.uwo.ca/">University of Western Ontario</a>. "They were completely blind to the fact they had 'aged' the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-bees-emotions-good-food-makes-happy/">happy</a>-looking faces. Their perceptions and their beliefs were polar opposites."

The aging effect of a smile stems from people's inability to ignore the wrinkles that form around the eyes during smiling, Goodale said. A look of surprise, on the other hand, smoothes any wrinkles, he said.

The results seem counterintuitive to the popular images of smiles in the media, added Goodale.

"We associate smiling with positive values and youth. Think of all the skin-care and toothpaste companies that sell the same idea every day."

The study by Goodale and Tzvi Ganel from <a href="http://in.bgu.ac.il/en">Ben-Gurion University</a> is published in the journal <a href="http://www.springer.com/psychology/cognitive+psychology/journal/13423">Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. </a>

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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.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a>

New study: Smiling makes you look older

Smiling can make a person appear to be two years...

Scientists are working on the ultimate fix for potholes: a self-healing asphalt that uses a special bacteria to fill cracks.

Self-healing asphalt has been tested on 12 different roads in the Netherlands, and one of these has been functioning and open to the public since 2010, Erik Schlangen, a materials scientist at <a href="https://www.tudelft.nl/en/">Delft University</a>, told <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/4/15544156/potholes-self-healing-materials-infrastructure-transportation">The Verge</a>.

His asphalt has small steel fibers mixed in, which makes the asphalt conductive. If you add heat by running a big induction machine — basically a huge magnet — over the asphalt, it’ll warm up the asphalt and cause the small cracks to close on their own, The Verge reported.

Schlangen estimates that the overall cost of the material is 25 percent more expensive than normal asphalt, but it could double the life of the road, and one estimate suggests it could save the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/famous-tulip-fields-netherlands/">Netherlands</a> 90 million Euros a year if all the roads used this material. China has also built a self-healing road.

 “Putting steel fibers in the asphalt mean that you can send information to it, so it might be possible to charge electric cars on the road they’re driving on,” Schlangen added. “This is early, but we are going to make some trials in front of traffic lights, where the idea is that you can charge your car a bit while waiting in traffic.”

Another project is looking at how to reduce fuel consumption of vehicles by tweaking the material of the roads. “When you drive on pavement with your car, you create a little dimple,” says Franz-Josef Ulm, director of <a href="https://cshub.mit.edu/">MIT’s Concrete Sustainability Hub</a>. “You don’t see it because it’s very small, but because of the behavior and texture of the material you’re actually always driving slightly uphill.” 

Ulm compares it to running on a beach on soft sand, and just as running on sand is harder than running on a hard surface, these “dimples” take more energy from the car.

Engineering the concrete to change the roughness can reduce the environmental impact. In a study with roads in Virginia, this process reduced the environmental impact of cars driving on pavement by up to 3 percent. “For an individual car it doesn’t make much difference, but for a state and for a nation, it plays a huge role,” Ulm 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="https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/4/15544156/potholes-self-healing-materials-infrastructure-transportation">The Verge</a>

How this self-healing asphalt could cure road potholes

Scientists are working on the ultimate fix for potholes: a...

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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> 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;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> 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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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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"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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