A recent study comparing how mothers in the U.K. and Uganda soothe their crying babies found something surprising: Ugandan babies calm down faster, even though their moms take longer to respond.



On the surface, this flips the script on common Western parenting advice. We often hear that faster is better when it comes to calming a crying infant. But this research suggests that the manner in which a mother comforts her baby matters more than how quickly she does it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-touch-versus-talk-to-calm-babies">Touch versus talk to calm babies</h2>



Researchers observed 147 real-life moments of distress in 82 infants across both countries. They focused on what mothers did in those moments, not just how quickly they reacted.



In both places, faster responses did help babies settle down. But here’s the twist: even though U.K. mothers typically responded more quickly, Ugandan babies calmed faster overall. That wasn’t random. The difference came down to the way mothers soothed their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conscious-awareness-when-does-our-sense-of-purpose-emerge/">infants</a>.



In Uganda, moms often used touch - holding, carrying, or <a href="https://www.afro.who.int/countries/uganda/news/safe-space-nourish-who-uganda-champions-breastfeeding-workplace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breastfeeding</a> - as their main method of comfort, even with older babies. In the U.K., mothers started with physical comfort when babies were young, but switched to using more words and less touch as their infants grew.



That shift in strategy seems to make a difference.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture-shapes-our-parenting">Culture shapes our parenting</h2>



The study was led by researchers from the <a href="https://www.dipf.de/en/frontpage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DIPF Leibniz Institute</a> in Germany, and Durham University in the U.K.. They wanted to understand how caregiving works in real life - outside of labs or parenting books - and across very different environments.



“Our findings show that maternal responsiveness is universally important. But how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mothers-can-use-singing-to-engage-with-infants/">mothers</a> respond, and the effectiveness of their strategies, varies in meaningful ways between cultures,” said Dr. Carlo Vreden of the DIPF Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education.



“Importantly, we are not making value judgments about which approach is better. Rather, we are highlighting that caregiving strategies are shaped by culture. It is not just about how quickly the mothers respond to their babies, but also the type of maternal soothing response which plays a crucial role in infant emotion regulation.”



In the U.K., many parenting norms are based on studies done in Western countries, often under very controlled conditions. But this doesn’t reflect the full picture of how most babies are raised around the world.



Professor Zanna Clay explained, “Most of what we know about babies’ early emotional development is based on studies conducted in Europe and North America. But of course, these Western settings don’t reflect the caregiving environments experienced by the majority of infants around the world, nor how they may have been historically.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babies-stay-calm-despite-slower-responses">Babies stay calm despite slower responses</h2>



One principal reason why Ugandan mothers would take longer to reply is plain: they’re frequently engaged in manual labor, such as working in the fields or taking care of household chores outside. In contrast to high-income environments, mothers in rural Uganda typically cannot abandon everything the instant their baby begins crying.



“Uganda is an interesting place to study <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/child-care-quality-has-direct-impact-on-later-success-in-science-and-math/">caregiving</a>,” Clay said, “as infants are typically cared for by multiple different caregivers and their styles of caregiving culturally differ, such as prioritising more physical contact with their babies.”



Even with slower response times, Ugandan mothers’ reliance on touch - especially breastfeeding - seemed to have a calming effect. The babies got comforted in a way that worked well for them, even if it wasn’t immediate.



Professor Clay added, “Our study also highlights the balance between responding to your baby while also having to manage daily tasks, which can be more challenging in rural low-resource settings.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-parenting-advice">Rethinking parenting advice</h2>



This research challenges the idea that there’s only one right way to raise emotionally healthy kids. It shows that parenting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parenting-may-help-keep-the-brain-younger/">strategies</a> can look different in different places - and still be effective.



“We’ve shown that Western ideas about optimal parenting don’t always apply in other settings,” said Dr. Vreden. “Even though the U.K. mums do seem to follow this sort of gold standard of responding as soon as possible, it's the Ugandan children, who don't get that quicker response, who actually recovered faster.”



“This emphasises the complexity of different strategies working in different ways and in different settings.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calm-babies-in-real-life">Calm babies in real life</h2>



By watching what happens in real-life settings - not just in labs - researchers can get a clearer picture of what helps babies <a href="https://www.eccpct.com/Resources/Child/Tips-for-Tots/Help-Young-Children-Regulate-Their-Emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regulate</a> their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/facial-expressions-arent-enough-to-understand-human-emotions/">emotions</a>. This matters for building parenting support programs that fit the realities of people’s lives, no matter where they live.



Future research may explore how these early caregiving approaches affect children as they grow and how parenting differs across even more cultures.



In the end, it’s not just about being fast - it’s about being effective. And effectiveness can look very different, depending on where you are.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-56898-001.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Developmental Psychology</a>.



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How, or how fast? Study examines fascinating cultural differences in how babies are calmed

A recent study comparing how mothers in the U.K. and Uganda soothe their crying babies found something surprising: Ugandan babies calm down faster, even though their moms take longer to respond. On the surface, this flips the script on common Western parenting advice. We often hear that faster is better when it comes to calming a crying infant. But this research suggests that the manner in which a mother comforts her baby matters more than how quickly she does it. Touch versus talk to calm babies Researchers...

Pregnancy often brings with it a mix of anticipation, anxiety, and countless decisions - especially about food. For decades, health experts have promoted beans as a budget-friendly powerhouse food rich in protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. 



Now, new research offers an interesting twist: eating chili with beans during pregnancy may reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes.



This spicy finding comes from a recent study by researchers at the University at Buffalo. Published in the journal Nutrients, the study highlights chili as a possible dietary ally for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-links-teen-pregnancy-to-smaller-newborns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pregnant individuals</a> - especially those at higher risk for blood sugar complications.



But how did the researchers make this connection? And why chili, specifically? The answers may surprise you.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rising-challenge-of-gestational-diabetes">Rising challenge of gestational diabetes</h2>



Gestational diabetes is a condition diagnosed during pregnancy that affects how the body processes sugar.



If unmanaged, it can lead to complications for both the baby and the mother. While the condition typically resolves after childbirth, it leaves behind a lingering risk - mothers are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.



Factors like pre-pregnancy obesity, maternal age, excessive pregnancy weight gain, low physical activity, poor diet, and even COVID-19 have all been linked to this condition. 



​According to recent data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7201a4.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, gestational diabetes in the U.S. increased from 6.0% in 2016 to 8.3% in 2021.​



In response to this rise, researchers are exploring ways to reduce risk - ideally through practical, nutritional choices. That’s where beans come into the picture.



Known for their ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and support digestive health, beans have already earned their place on many healthy-eating lists. But what happens when beans are cooked into a spicy, flavorful bowl of chili?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chili-consumption-during-pregnancy">Chili consumption during pregnancy </h2>



The team at the University at Buffalo wanted to explore this very question. 



Using data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a U.S. national cohort effort by the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC, researchers analyzed eating habits of 1,397 pregnant women. 



Their goal was to see if different forms of bean consumption - chili, dried beans, and bean soup - had any effect on the risk of gestational diabetes during pregnancy.



“Our research aimed to study the roles of bean consumption in gestational diabetes, including chili, dried beans and bean soup,” said Dr.&nbsp;Xiaozhong Wen, first author and associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Behavioral Medicine in the&nbsp;<a href="https://medicine.buffalo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences</a>.​



“Interestingly, only chili consumption was statistically significantly associated with the risk of gestational diabetes.”



According to the study, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-pregnancy-changes-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">women</a> who ate chili once per month had a 3.5% risk of developing gestational diabetes. Those who never ate chili had a 7.4% risk. That’s a significant difference for just one serving a month. 



But it also raises a new question: what makes chili so special?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chili-may-help-control-blood-sugar">Chili may help control blood sugar</h2>



Beans alone carry many benefits, including being high in fiber and low on the glycemic index. But chili often includes more than just beans. It typically contains dark beans, chili powder, and sometimes additional spices - all of which might contribute to its unique effects on blood sugar.



The researchers point to two specific components: capsaicin, the compound responsible for chili’s heat, and phenolic compounds found in dark beans. These substances have shown promise in both human and animal studies.



“Both human and animal studies have shown that capsaicin and phenolic compounds have some potential benefits of improving glycemic control through slowing glucose absorption and increasing insulin secretion and/or insulin sensitivity,” said Wen.



While the exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, the combination of these elements may work together to help the body manage blood sugar more effectively. This makes chili not just a comfort food but potentially a functional food - at least for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pregnancy-stress-may-have-lasting-effects-on-fetal-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pregnant women</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-chili-during-pregnancy">Future research on chili during pregnancy </h2>



It’s important to note that this study was observational. That means the researchers didn’t assign participants to eat chili; they simply studied existing eating patterns and health outcomes. As a result, they cannot prove cause and effect.



Wen acknowledges this and calls for caution when interpreting the findings. He emphasizes the need for further research.



Wen says the research findings need to be replicated in larger cohorts with more diverse populations, detailed measures of bean consumption and dietary intake information collected more frequently and a randomized controlled design.



He adds that given the non-causal nature of observational research, recall bias and selection bias, the findings should be interpreted cautiously.



That said, the results are compelling enough to encourage further investigation. A single monthly serving of chili cutting gestational diabetes risk nearly in half is an idea worth exploring, especially if it can be done safely and inexpensively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chili-may-support-a-diabetes-safe-diet">Chili may support a diabetes-safe diet</h2>



So what should expecting mothers do with this information? Should chili become a regular part of prenatal nutrition? Wen offers a balanced approach.



“Moderate chili consumption may be incorporated into a balanced diet approach to addressing gestational diabetes, along with other clinical recommendations, such as early screening, diagnosis, exercise and medications as needed,” says Wen.



This means chili should not replace medical care or professional dietary advice, but it may have a place at the table. Especially for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moms-health-shapes-how-well-an-embryo-develops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">women</a> at higher risk of gestational diabetes, it could be a simple, delicious way to support their health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead-what-comes-next">Looking ahead: What comes next</h2>



​The study was co-led by Todd C. Rideout, PhD, associate professor of exercise and nutrition sciences in the&nbsp;<a href="https://publichealth.buffalo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Public Health and Health Professions</a>&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buffalo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University at Buffalo</a>.&nbsp;



Other University at Buffalo contributors included Fatima Makama, Ryan Buzby, Jeremy Nguyen, Rose Durnell, Iyobosa Ekhator, and Daren Chan.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>&nbsp;funded the research.​



As scientists continue to explore the links between food and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-use-during-pregnancy-has-unexpected-consequences/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maternal health</a>, this study opens new possibilities. A bowl of chili may hold more than warmth and flavor — it might also support better blood sugar control during one of life’s most critical periods.



For now, pregnant individuals should focus on balanced eating, regular checkups, and physical activity. But with research like this, even small choices — like what you put in your bowl — could make a meaningful difference.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/6/1025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nutrients</a>.



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Eating chili during pregnancy may actually be a good idea

Pregnancy often brings with it a mix of anticipation, anxiety,...

Cities glow all night - streets, buildings, ads, and skylines never sleep. We call it progress. But what if this constant brightness is disconnecting us from our bodies, minds, and the Earth? What if the answer lies in the quiet power of darkness?



Professor Nick Dunn of <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lancaster University</a> proposes a different path - one that invites darkness back into our lives. His idea may sound strange in a world obsessed with visibility and brightness. But at its heart lies a radical rethinking of what it means to live well, together, on a shared Earth.



This is not a plea for darkness out of nostalgia. It is a vision grounded in science, architecture, health, ecology, and culture. It suggests that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-is-transforming-nightlife-on-coral-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">turning down the lights</a> might brighten our future in unexpected ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-should-talk-about-darkness">Why we should talk about darkness</h2>



We often hear about the need to green our cities - more parks, trees, and nature-friendly spaces. These efforts aim to improve air quality, support wildlife, and create healthier <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-light-pollution-influences-interest-in-astronomy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environments</a> for people. Professor Dunn introduces a complementary concept: darkening cities.



“Ditching urban lighting as we know it and designing buildings to be nocturnal will be beneficial for ourselves and the planet," said Professor Dunn.



Urban lighting, he argues, has grown unchecked. It spills into places where it’s not needed, affecting both humans and nonhumans. The glow from city lights disrupts sleep, confuses migratory birds, and alters entire ecosystems.



Imagine a different kind of urban night. One where we still feel safe, but no longer rely on overpowering light. A place where we adjust to the rhythms of the Earth and create shared spaces that acknowledge the beauty of nightfall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reclaiming-our-rhythms-through-darkness">Reclaiming our rhythms through darkness</h2>



Humans evolved with the rising and setting of the sun. Our internal clocks - known as circadian rhythm - depend on regular cycles of light and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-moths-develop-smaller-wings-survive-light-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark</a>. When those cycles break down, so do our bodies. Poor sleep, anxiety, and other health issues follow.



Professor Dunn believes we can design cities that align with these rhythms. “Imagine a whole new world of effective shared living, where we listen to our natural rhythms instead of fighting against them.”



At the core of his work is the idea that light, while essential, has become excessive. It dominates modern life. Darkness, meanwhile, appears unwanted. Yet it holds vital benefits. It allows the mind to rest, the body to heal, and ecosystems to function.



Professor Dunn’s research highlights how reclaiming the night could renew the human-nature connection. It could also lower energy use and cut pollution, both urgent concerns in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-increases-the-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-increases-the-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/"> crisis</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenging-old-ideas">Challenging old ideas</h2>



Why are we so afraid of the dark? Why do we treat it as something to avoid, erase, or overcome? These are questions Professor Dunn tackles in his recent book, Dark Futures: When the Lights Go Down.



“So, what might happen when the lights go down?” he asks. “And how bright should our future be?”



He critiques the way most future-thinking plays out. “When we consider what futures are possible, they tend to direct us to visions of either a shiny, frictionless world which is light and bright or, at the other end of the spectrum, they are fearsome, shadowy dystopias.”



Both extremes fail us. The future doesn’t have to be one or the other. By thinking only in terms of brightness, we miss a deeper, more nuanced possibility. 



A dark future isn’t a gloomy one. It’s one where we live more consciously, more gently, and more honestly within our environmental limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-darkness-as-connection-not-absence">Darkness as connection, not absence</h2>



For centuries, light has symbolized goodness, knowledge, and progress. Darkness has been cast as the enemy. But Professor Dunn wants us to break that binary.



“Common perception holds light and dark in opposition,” writes Professor Dunn. “Light is celebrated and synonymous with goodness, clarity, and wisdom. Darkness, meanwhile, appears unwanted, deep in its association with all that is dangerous, demonic, and oppressive.”



In reality, darkness is not just an absence. It is a presence in itself - one that allows other things to emerge, like stars, slence, sleep, mystery, depth, and reconnection.



“Embracing darkness is about so much more than tackling light pollution,” says Professor Dunn. “In fact, it runs through everything and is the key to reconnecting with the world around us.”



This view does not reject light but seeks balance. It asks us to recognize what happens when one side dominates too much - when light drowns out everything else.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-losing-the-night-losing-ourselves">Losing the night, losing ourselves</h2>



The spread of artificial light now reaches places once untouched by human presence. Professor Dunn points out that fast-moving satellites can now brighten even remote corners of the Earth.



Professor Dunn says we are losing the night due to excessive artificial lighting. For centuries this was a terrestrial problem, but now fast-moving satellites can illuminate parts of the planet that were previously remote enough not to be affected.



That loss is more than aesthetic. It breaks ancient ties to the cosmos. “As a result, our ancestral links with dark skies, relationships which lasted for millennia are all but extinguished with artificial stars due to replace those in the galaxy.”



He argues that we are not just lighting up our cities - we are dimming our place in the universe. We are replacing wonder with convenience, rhythm with interruption, and mystery with glare.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-different-future-worth-building">A different future worth building</h2>



What might a darker city look like? Not one filled with shadows and fear, but one designed for rest, awareness, and care. Buildings that support the night instead of fighting it. Streets that dim without becoming unsafe. Parks where nocturnal animals thrive. Neighborhoods where stars return.



“Darkness is progressive,” notes Professor Dunn. “It signifies the very act of being alive as a species that depends on circadian rhythms for survival. Our ability to flourish depends entirely on rethinking our values and restoring our interrelationships with the planet and its other inhabitants.”



This isn’t science fiction. It’s a call for a real shift in how we shape our spaces and systems. A darker future, in his view, might be gentler, kinder, and healthier for all species.



Dark Futures blends personal story with architectural insight. It explores how embracing darkness shaped Professor Dunn’s own thinking. And it shows how we might use design to imagine new, hopeful possibilities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-book-and-a-movement">A book and a movement</h2>



<a href="https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/zer0-books/our-books/dark-futures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dark Futures: When the Lights Go Down</a> is published on March 25, with an official launch event in Manchester on April 10. The book is more than a critique - it’s an invitation. It asks us to pause, look up, and notice what we’re missing in the glare.



“In an unprecedented era of climate emergency, we need to fundamentally rethink what we do, how we do it, and why,” writes Professor Dunn.



That rethinking starts with something as simple as the dark. Letting it return, letting it teach us, and letting it be part of how we imagine what comes next.



We have tried lighting the world. Now, perhaps, it is time to see what happens when the lights go down.



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Darkness in cities could heal people and nature

Cities glow all night - streets, buildings, ads, and skylines...

Dogs can’t speak, but they express themselves clearly through body language. A bark, a tail wag, or a growl can reveal their feelings, but to understand them better, we must learn to interpret their silent cues.



"Understanding our dogs' basic body language allows us to gain insight into their thoughts and feelings about the world around them and what they are experiencing," said Harmony Diers, a veterinary technician and project manager for the Dog Aging Project at the Texas A&amp;M <a href="https://vetmed.tamu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Veterinary Medicine</a> and Biomedical Sciences.



Diers explains how common behaviors can help us understand what our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-puppy-day-2025-where-happiness-meets-responsibility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> are trying to communicate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-a-relaxed-dog">Signs of a relaxed dog</h2>



Relaxed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-dogs-feel-smells-may-help-keep-us-safe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> show it with their entire body. Their ears may lean forward or rest gently backward. Sometimes, submissive dogs fold their ears back, but the overall signal is calmness.



One clear sign of happiness is a circular tail wag. If your dog moves its tail in a loop, that shows true joy.



You may also notice soft, squinting eyes, a steady and kind gaze, leaning against you, lying down peacefully, rolling over for belly rubs, or panting with a slightly open mouth.



"It is important to recognize a calm and content <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/petting-a-dog-might-be-the-easiest-way-to-reduce-stress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dog</a>'s body language to determine whether he or she is comfortable with the current environment and circumstances," Diers explained.



Understanding these signs helps you support your dog without overwhelming it or ignoring its comfort.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-dogs-want-distance">When dogs want distance</h2>



Not all body language signals comfort. Discontented <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-wolves-to-dogs-did-domestication-begin-without-human-help/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> often try to create space when feeling stressed.



A tucked tail usually indicates fear. A dog on high alert might raise its tail and wag it quickly, signaling tension rather than joy.



"A dog experiencing an uncomfortable situation may also turn his body away from the threat to present his back," Diers said.



Dogs sometimes shake their entire bodies after a stressful moment, similar to drying off after a bath. This helps them release built-up tension.



Ears held straight up can show readiness for action, while ears pinned close to the head show nervousness or submission. 



If your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-dogs-share-genes-linked-to-obesity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dog</a> stares intensely or shows the whites of its eyes - often called the "whale eye" - it may be feeling scared or trapped. Tension in the mouth, pulled lips, licking, or yawning can all be signs of stress.



Learning these signals helps protect your dog and others, especially when meeting unfamiliar dogs or entering new spaces.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-body-language-varies-by-breed">Body language varies by breed</h2>



Some breeds naturally appear alert, even when relaxed. Recognizing your dog’s baseline posture is important.



"When these dogs are in alert mode or feel threatened, the tail may go higher and stiffer and wag quickly," Diers said. For instance, German shepherds often have upright ears by nature. Huskies and malamutes usually carry curled tails, even when relaxed.



"Look at our pugs. They always have big open eyes, but if a wide-eyed pug is giving the whale eye, he may be experiencing a threat or feeling nervous."



Knowing your dog’s unique structure will help you tell the difference between comfort and caution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-illness-can-alter-body-language">Illness can alter body language</h2>



Body language doesn’t only reflect emotion. It can also signal health issues.



"An ill dog may sleep more, be grumpier and not want the normal interaction he usually gets excited about," Diers said.



A dog in pain might limp, lower its head, keep its posture stiff, tuck its belly inward, or arch its back. Whimpering may also occur. Lip-smacking could mean nausea or nervousness.



If your lively dog suddenly isolates, eats less, or shows no interest in play, something might be wrong.



"Ultimately, if your normally active and happy dog starts to isolate and show lethargy and/or decreased appetite, this is a sign that something has changed with their overall health, and seeking the care of a veterinarian is a suggested course to take," stressed Diers.



Paying attention to your dog’s body language strengthens your relationship. You build trust when you listen to their unspoken signals. Understanding what they say without words keeps them safe, happy, and healthy - and brings you even closer.



Information supplied by <a href="https://phys.org/partners/texas-a-m-university/">Texas A&amp;M University</a>.



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Want to know how your dog is feeling? Learn their body language

Dogs can’t speak, but they express themselves clearly through body...

Friendships matter deeply, especially during adolescence. In today’s digital world, staying in touch through social media has become the norm. Many teens feel the need to be constantly available online.



This availability, while helpful in some ways, can become exhausting. When friends don't reply or engage, it often leads to frustration and misunderstandings.



New research conducted by scientists in Italy has uncovered the hidden strain social media puts on teenage friendships. The team tracked how young people navigate expectations <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-with-problematic-smartphone-use-suffer-from-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a> and how those expectations impact real friendships.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teen-friendships-and-digital-stress">Teen friendships and digital stress</h2>



"We show that adolescents' perceptions of social media norms and perceptions of unique features of social media contribute to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/taking-a-smartphone-break-can-improve-your-life-in-surprising-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">digital stress</a>, which in turn increases friendship conflicts," said Federica Angelini, a researcher at the <a href="https://www.unipd.it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Padua</a> and first author of the study.



Angelini and her team surveyed over 1,100 teenagers aged 13 to 18. They studied how teens' emotions shifted depending on whether friends replied, engaged, or seemed distant online. 



Two key emotions stood out - feeling trapped by the need to always be available (entrapment) and feeling hurt when friends didn’t respond (disappointment).



"Disappointment from unmet expectations on social media - such as when friends do not respond or engage as expected - is a stronger predictor of friendship conflict than the pressure to be constantly available."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visual-clues-and-social-media">Visual clues and social media</h2>



Over time, disappointment proved more damaging than entrapment. Six months after the first round of data collection, teens who felt disappointed by their friends were more likely to experience conflict. 



Constant availability, surprisingly, had less impact. It may be that always being online is now just a part of teenage culture.



"Individuals feel let down by their friends' availability or responsiveness online. This disappointment arises from unmet expectations and leads to negative emotions which can spill over into friendship conflicts," Angelini said.



Visual content - images and videos - adds another layer. Teens often see their friends active online or socializing without them. This creates feelings of exclusion and jealousy.



"Visual content makes it easier for teens to see what their friends are doing at any given time. If teens notice that their friends are active online or spend time with others while ignoring their messages, they may feel excluded, jealous, or rejected," Angelini explained. 



"This heightened awareness can intensify negative emotions and contribute to friendship tension."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-better-boundaries-for-teen-friendships">Better boundaries for teen friendships </h2>



The findings offer a roadmap to help teens build stronger friendships. Awareness is the first step. By recognizing how online behavior affects real emotions, teens can begin to make small changes.



"Identifying key stressors, for example, visual content and availability expectations, and understanding dynamics of online interactions among friends can help educators, parents, and teens develop healthier online habits," Angelini said.



Setting boundaries may help. Teens could try turning off notifications or agreeing on break times from social media with their friends. These steps reduce the pressure of instant replies.



"Learning to accept that not every message requires an immediate reply can ease digital stress while maintaining healthy friendships."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-teens-online-behavior">Future research on teens' online behavior</h2>



While the study provides useful insights, it has its limits. The analysis was based on teens' own reports of their online use, which may not tell the full story. Also, the six-month timeframe might not capture <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/internet-addiction-impairs-brain-function-in-teenagers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">long-term patterns</a>.



"Future research could use objective measures of social media activity and extend the timeline to better understand how digital stress and friendship conflicts evolve over time," noted Angelini.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-to-find-balance">Learning to find balance</h2>



Friendship is one of the most meaningful parts of growing up. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-is-helping-save-wild-animals-like-caracals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Social media</a> has changed how these relationships form, grow, and sometimes falter. 



Understanding the emotional landscape of teen interactions online can guide better communication, deeper empathy, and more stable friendships.



This research doesn’t ask teens to step away from technology. Instead, it invites them to be more aware of their habits and reactions. When disappointment or stress rises, a small shift - like talking openly or logging off for a while - can make a big difference.



In the end, what teens need most is not constant digital presence, but consistent emotional support - on screen or off.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1497222/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Digital Health</a>.



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Social media pressure is straining teen friendships

Friendships matter deeply, especially during adolescence. In today’s digital world,...

Nearly three out of four older adults in the United States have experienced at least one extreme weather event in the past two years. Living through such conditions has apparently heightened their concerns about climate change’s impact on health. 



These are among the new findings released by the <a href="https://www.healthyagingpoll.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging</a>, which surveyed over 3,400 people aged 50 to 94 across the nation in August 2024.



The poll found that 59% of respondents worried about how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> could harm their health. That figure jumped to 70% among individuals who had been through a major weather emergency - such as a wildfire, heat wave, severe storm, or prolonged power outage lasting more than a day - within the last two years.&nbsp;



By contrast, only 26% of those who hadn’t encountered such events expressed similar concerns.&nbsp;



Sue Anne Bell is a nurse practitioner and associate professor at the U-M School of Nursing who specializes in evaluating how disasters and public health crises affect seniors.



“Our findings suggest a need to help more older adults understand and take steps to prepare for the impacts of wildfires, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-hurricanes-help-oceans-fight-climate-change/">hurricanes</a>, tornadoes, extreme heat waves, winter storms and more, especially when it comes to the medications, medical supplies, electricity and access to care that these emergencies can disrupt,” said Bell.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-fears-and-missed-opportunities">Climate fears and missed opportunities</h2>



While a considerable segment of older Americans are anxious about climate change’s ramifications, the poll also indicates that only 6% have had a conversation with a health care provider about how extreme weather might endanger their health or how to prepare accordingly.&nbsp;



Potential discussion topics could include lung protection from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-is-an-underestimated-threat-to-public-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfire smoke</a>, strategies to manage essential medical equipment during blackouts, and how to find local cooling or warming centers when temperatures spike or plummet.



The new results emerged from a poll run by the <a href="https://ihpi.umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation</a>, with support from <a href="https://www.michiganmedicine.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michigan Medicine</a>, the university’s academic medical center.&nbsp;



NORC at the University of Chicago administered the survey, collecting data both online and by phone. The sample was then weighted to mirror the demographic profile of the U.S. population.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personal-experience-increases-concern">Personal experience increases concern</h2>



In addition to the overall 59% who had climate fears, the poll found certain subgroups reporting higher levels of anxiety. Women, those with fair or poor mental health, and residents of urban areas all showed heightened apprehension. 



It appears the experience of living through severe weather events - ranging from hurricanes and tornadoes to winter storms - plays a critical role in shaping older Americans’ perspectives on climate’s link to well-being.



Poll director Jeffrey Kullgren is an internal medicine physician at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan.



“These kinds of events can affect an older adult’s health directly - for instance, people with asthma and other lung diseases can have trouble breathing due to wildfire smoke, home medical equipment can be affected by power outages, and older adults can be more vulnerable to extreme heat and cold,” said Kullgren.&nbsp;



“But there are also indirect effects, including mental stress, lack of access to medications and medical care, and in extreme cases, lack of ability to evacuate safely or find shelter.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widening-reach-of-severe-weather">Widening reach of severe weather</h2>



The poll data was gathered in August 2024, before major weather disasters like Hurricane Helene - described as the deadliest U.S. hurricane since Katrina in 2005 - and wildfires in the Los Angeles area in January 2025.&nbsp;



Officials note that 2023 and 2024 saw close to record-high numbers of weather events costing more than a billion dollars each, a trend that has escalated over older adults’ lifetimes.



According to poll data, the most prevalent forms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-extreme-weather-events-are-escalating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme weather</a> reported by older adults included extreme heat (cited by 63%), poor air quality from wildfire smoke (35%), severe storms (31%), and multi-day power outages (13%).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-fears-for-future-generations">Climate fears for future generations</h2>



Older adults’ worry about climate change extends beyond their personal health. Seventy-four percent said they also feared the potential effects of a warming planet on younger generations.&nbsp;



More than four in ten (43%) said they were “very concerned,” and another 31% identified themselves as “somewhat concerned.” Among those who had experienced a severe weather event, 83% expressed concern, compared with 45% of those who had not.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emergency-preparedness-and-advice">Emergency preparedness and advice</h2>



Despite these figures, only 8% of older adults with health conditions that limit daily activities reported discussing disaster preparedness with a health care professional - though that was slightly higher than the 5% among older adults overall who had done so.&nbsp;



Sixty-four percent of those who did talk with their doctors took at least one concrete step to be better prepared.



Still, the poll underscores that more comprehensive guidance is needed. Federal resources, such as the U.S. government’s <a href="http://ready.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ready.gov</a> website, can help older Americans devise personal action plans for storms, wildfires, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-outrun-the-flood-risks-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">floods</a>, or other emergencies.&nbsp;



Bell adds that an older individual’s unique medical circumstances, such as needing electric medical devices or taking multiple daily prescriptions, can become critical if a power outage or evacuation scenario occurs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



Going forward, the poll team suggests that health professionals, policy makers, and community organizations could work together to emphasize the connections between climate fears, extreme weather, and older adults’ health. 



Such initiatives might involve: health systems proactively offering risk assessments and preventive tips to senior patients. In addition, city planners could design accessible cooling and warming centers, or ensure reliable transit to those centers.



Furthermore, community groups could help older residents stock up on medications and medical essentials ahead of storms or heat waves.



The experts hope these findings prompt broader efforts to engage older adults on climate change’s health impacts - before the next big storm, heat wave, or wildfire hits.



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Older adults’ climate fears surge after extreme weather

Nearly three out of four older adults in the United...

Singapore has made history as the first country to install an art gallery 7,000 meters (22,965 feet) underwater.



This underwater installation consists of three stainless steel cubes created by artist and architect Lakshmi Mohanbabu, who previously sent her artwork into space aboard the International Space Station in 2022.



In December, the artworks were deployed by NuStar Technologies off the coast of Japan near the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-virus-discovered-in-the-deepest-part-of-the-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mariana Trench</a>.



The installation is more than a symbolic gesture. It’s part of a collaborative project with Japan’s Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (<a href="https://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JAMSTEC</a>), which aims to enhance early warning systems for undersea earthquakes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-blend-of-science-art-and-engineering">A blend of science, art, and engineering</h2>



One of the three cubes was created using a novel hybrid manufacturing technique developed by researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore).



The installation coincides with Singapore’s SG60 celebrations and was recognized in a ceremony held at&nbsp;Gallery ART NOW, attended by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntu.edu.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NTU</a>&nbsp;Board Chair Goh Swee Chen, who also chairs the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nac.gov.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Arts Council</a>.



Each cube is 10 centimeters (3.94 inches) wide, made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and showcases five symbols from Mohanbabu’s “Universal Language of Symbols.”



The five featured designs - Nautilus, Primary, Secondary, Windmill, and Dromenon - represent shared elements of human experience, such as movement, direction, and time.



These symbols are displayed on five of the six faces of each hollow cube, each with a unique top-facing design. For instance, the cube made using NTU’s 3D printing method features Dromenon on its top, while the others display Primary and Nautilus.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-gallery-in-the-deep-ocean">Art gallery in the deep ocean</h2>



This project is a tribute to all those impacted by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-disasters-are-on-the-rise-but-hazard-plans-are-inadequate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural disasters</a>. According to Mohanbabu, art has the unique ability to connect humanity across physical and metaphorical depths. 



"With the Deep Ocean Interactions Project, we aim to inspire meaningful change highlighting our interconnected existence by bringing people together through a shared journey and purpose," said Mohanbabu.



"The earlier interactions cubes that had orbited around Earth in space will also be sent to the moon as part of a permanent art installation. With these two art installations, Singapore is the first nation to have artworks on the moon and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noaa-finds-golden-orb-unknown-object-cannot-identify-seascape-alaska-5-deep-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep ocean</a>."



"This milestone is also a testament to Singapore’s pioneering spirit and tenacity as we celebrate SG60 this year."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-discovery-and-cultural-expression">Scientific discovery and cultural expression </h2>



The cubes were incorporated into the Long-Term Borehole Monitoring System (LTBMS), originally developed to track <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/co2-fracking-linked-to-mysterious-gentle-tremors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seismic activity</a> around tectonic plate boundaries. 



To include the artwork,&nbsp;<a href="https://nustartech.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NuStar Technologies</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;JAMSTEC&nbsp;modified the LTBMS to add custom cavities and holders.



An ultra-deep-sea camera system was also deployed to capture images and footage of the installation at these record depths.



The cubes were officially installed on December 12, 2024, becoming part of the Dense Ocean Network System for Earthquakes and Tsunamis (DONET), Japan’s early-warning system.



“Together with Lakshmi and our partners at JAMSTEC, we have demonstrated that the deep ocean can be a platform for both scientific discovery and cultural expression," said Goi Kim Kok, managing director of NuStar Technologies.



"It is also timely that next year will mark the 60th anniversary of Singapore-Japan diplomatic relations.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stronger-structures-for-extreme-environments">Stronger structures for extreme environments</h2>



NTU Singapore played a critical role in the creation of one of the cubes, using a technique called LAPIS (Laser Patterning and Incorporation of Sheets).



The method combines 3D printing with laser cutting to stack 80 ultra-thin layers of stainless steel, creating a wall just 4mm thick. 



The result is a structure over 70 percent stronger than conventional steel and capable of withstanding the crushing pressure and corrosive nature of the deep sea.



Professor Lai Changquan developed LAPIS with his team at NTU’s Singapore Centre for 3D Printing.



"This project demonstrates the potential of interdisciplinary research to push the boundaries of what is possible. Creating a piece of art capable of withstanding the immense pressures of the deep ocean is a testament to the versatility and durability of our technology," said Professor Changquan.



Following the success of this project, Professor Lai and his students launched a start-up with support from NTU's Innovation and Entrepreneurship initiative. Their goal is to expand the use of this technology in aerospace, maritime, and energy sectors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-across-land-sea-and-space">Art across land, sea, and space</h2>



This is the third time Mohanbabu has worked with NTU SC3DP. Previous collaborations included prototyping and 3D printing miniature Interactions artworks.



In 2022, two of her cubes were sent to space as part of the Moon Gallery project, with plans for them to be placed on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-plans-to-build-house-on-the-moon-by-2040/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moon</a> in 2025.



Now, with installations in outer space and the ocean floor, the Deep Ocean Interactions Project stands as a reflection of Singapore’s spirit of innovation and unity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-gallery-connecting-cultures">Art gallery connecting cultures</h2>



Mohanbabu sees this project as a symbol of what is possible when creativity and science meet. She hopes it inspires others to push past limits - whether that’s aiming for the stars or reaching the bottom of the sea.



The colors of the three cubes - red and white, ocean blue and orange, and purple and aquamarine blue - represent Earth, change, and cosmic mystery.



The red and white cube celebrates the relationship between Singapore and Japan, drawing from shared flag symbolism of the sun, stars, and moon.



More than a statement piece, this project is a working model of how design, science, and purpose can come together to spark global connections - and maybe even save lives through its earthquake monitoring mission.



Image Credit: NTU Singapore



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Singapore has installed an art gallery deep in the ocean

Singapore has made history as the first country to install...

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often brings to mind soldiers who have seen action in war, or survivors of accidents. But what happens to those who witness others going through traumatic experiences?



Military veterans, first responders, and even bystanders make up 10 percent of PTSD cases. New research from Virginia Tech, published in the journal PLOS ONE, sheds light on this often-overlooked group.



The study found that observing trauma causes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/work-stress-linked-to-higher-stroke-risk-in-young-women/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unique changes</a> in the brain. These differ from changes seen in people who directly experience trauma. This discovery may lead to improved and more specific treatments for PTSD in those who are indirectly affected.



“Currently, patients with directly acquired PTSD and bystander PTSD are treated the same way – with a combination of therapy and medication,” said Timothy Jarome, the project’s principal investigator and associate professor of neurobiology in the <a href="https://cals.cornell.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Agriculture and Life Sciences</a>. 



“Our research suggests that indirect trauma and direct trauma create different biological responses, which could mean they require different treatment strategies that target distinct brain pathways.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observation-can-also-harm-the-brain">Observation can also harm the brain</h2>



Professor Jarome has long studied memory-related disorders such as PTSD and dementia. His interest in bystander PTSD began after the 2021 Miami condominium collapse. He noticed that even people who saw the tragedy from afar showed symptoms like insomnia and anxiety.



“People who saw it from across the street reported that they were suffering from nightmares, insomnia, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-health-may-be-the-key-to-anxiety-relief/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxiety</a>,” he related.



“They were showing symptoms of PTSD, but didn’t go through it or have any connection to the people in the building. We sought out to understand the brain mechanisms behind how that occurred.”



To explore this, Jarome's team focused on three main brain regions that are linked to fear memory: the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, and retrosplenial cortex. They examined how trauma changed proteins in these areas.



Their findings confirmed that indirect trauma triggers different patterns in protein degradation in these three brain areas than direct trauma does.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ptsd-from-trauma-differs-by-gender">PTSD from trauma differs by gender</h2>



The study also discovered gender-based differences in how brains process indirect trauma. Past work by Jarome's lab had linked the K-63 ubiquitin protein to PTSD in women. This new research builds on that and confirms that female and male brains don’t respond to observed trauma in the same way.



“Our findings highlight significant biological differences in how male and female brains respond to witnessing trauma,” said the paper’s lead author, Shaghayegh Navabpour, a former Ph.D. student in translational biology, medicine, and health who is now a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. 



“These differences may help explain why women are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD, leading to more targeted treatments that consider these sex-specific factors.”



The study opens a door to designing treatment plans based on the type of trauma experienced and the gender of the patient. Jarome’s next step involves studying the role of empathy in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-significantly-lowers-heart-disease-risk-by-reducing-stress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humans</a>.



Empathy is rooted in a brain area called the anterior insular cortex and could explain why witnessing trauma affects people so deeply.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contributions-to-ptsd-trauma-research">Contributions to PTSD trauma research</h2>



This research was made possible by a $420,000 grant from the <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Institute of Mental Health</a>. It funded materials and supported student researchers.



“At academic institutions, students - undergraduate, graduate, and postdocs - are the driving force for research,” Jarome said.



“While faculty members might secure the funding to do the projects, the reality is that the work is done by these students as they're going through their training. Without graduate students, especially, but also undergraduates and postdocs, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-eats-away-our-brains-cognitive-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">science</a> doesn't advance."



Navabpour completed her Ph.D. at <a href="https://www.vt.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virginia Tech</a> in 2023. She now works at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a> on drug development for Alzheimer’s disease.



“My time in Dr. Jarome’s lab was hugely valuable in shaping my career and preparing me for my current role as a postdoc and my goal of becoming a faculty member,” she said. 



“I learned how to think scientifically - how to ask the right questions and approach problems critically - and gained hands-on experience with key methods and techniques that continue to inform my research.”



This study changes how we view PTSD and its link to trauma. It reminds us that you don’t need to be in harm’s way to be deeply affected. With better understanding, future treatments may become more personal and precise.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0315564" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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Witnessing trauma may cause PTSD in a different way

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often brings to mind soldiers who...

Untitled design - 12

The fear of public speaking affects millions of people worldwide. Whether they are delivering a presentation, speaking in a meeting, or addressing an audience, the fear of speaking in public can hold people back in their careers, education, and personal lives. 



While traditional methods like coaching and practice can help, they often fall short in providing the immersive experience needed to build real confidence.



A research team has now developed a new virtual reality platform that offers a free and highly effective solution. The platform helps users become skilled and confident public speakers through a combination of tailored training materials and immersive virtual environments. 



By simulating real-life speaking experiences, the technology allows users to practice in front of increasingly challenging audiences, thus boosting their confidence and reducing anxiety.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virtual-reality-transforms-public-speaking">Virtual reality transforms public speaking </h2>



The platform offers a variety of virtual environments that replicate real-world <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-our-brains-manage-speaking-and-breathing-at-the-same-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">speaking</a> conditions. Users can practice in small conference rooms, large auditoriums, or even high-pressure settings like television studios. 



The goal is to make public speaking feel natural, and help users adjust to different situations while managing nervousness.



The founder of the VR platform, Dr. Chris Macdonald, is the director of the Immersive Technology Lab at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge.



“In physical reality, a user might be practicing a presentation alone in their bedroom but on the new virtual reality platform, they can experience the sensation of presenting to a wide range of increasingly challenging photorealistic audiences,” explained Dr. Macdonald.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-vr-accessible-to-everyone">Making VR accessible to everyone</h2>



One of the major barriers to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/emotionally-intelligent-vr-will-change-the-way-you-exercise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VR</a> training has been accessibility. Only a small percentage of households own a VR headset, and high-end models can cost thousands of dollars. 



To address this, the researchers developed a method that allows smartphones to function as VR headsets, using a simple and affordable device mount. With 99% of UK households owning a smartphone, this approach ensures that the platform can reach a wider audience. 



Whether users are using the latest VR headset or an older smartphone, they will have access to the same training experience.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-confidence-quickly">Building confidence quickly</h2>



The effectiveness of the platform has been validated through clinical research. A study published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/virtual-reality/articles/10.3389/frvir.2024.1506938/full">Frontiers in Virtual Reality</a> found that most users experienced a significant increase in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-help-children-improve-their-confidence-and-social-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">confidence</a> after just one 30-minute session.



A sample of 1,000 students took part in the trial and 100% of them reported experiencing benefits in terms of their public speaking performance. These included feeling more prepared, adaptable, resilient, and less anxious.



Further findings will be presented at an upcoming international psychology conference, where researchers will discuss the platform’s potential impact on mental well-being and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/online-gaming-may-enhance-career-prospects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">career</a> development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-user-feedback-shapes-development">User feedback shapes development</h2>



To ensure the platform works in real-world conditions, the team at the Immersive Technology Lab used an iterative development process. More than 50,000 practice presentations have been hosted by remote beta users.



Additionally, in-person testing events were held in various settings, including science fairs, libraries, and community centers.



“I wanted to build something that is not only highly effective but that can and will be used by those who need it the most. As a result, it was essential to gather diverse user feedback from a variety of settings. The Lab cannot develop in a silo, it needs to work closely with end users," said Dr. Macdonald.



"Through constant public engagement, we can maximize our positive impact and ensure that we remain deeply grounded in public service."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-techniques-for-more-effective-training">New techniques for more effective training</h2>



The platform introduces innovative training methods, such as overexposure therapy, that are designed to help users build confidence in high-pressure situations.



Dr. Macdonald noted that students who use the VR platform can practice in a different venue every night to a wide range of highly distracting audiences and fear-inducing scenarios. 



"They can, for example, practice in a stadium in front of 10,000 animated spectators, with loud noises, stadium lights, and flashing cameras. Accordingly, a subsequent presentation to a small group can feel like a significant ‘step down,’" explained Dr. Macdonald.



"The data shows that this process not only increases confidence, adaptability, and resilience but also the enjoyment of public speaking." 



"Students are enjoying the challenge of pushing themselves and progressing to each new level. This increased enjoyment is highly encouraging because we know that fear and anxiety are maintained or worsened through avoidance."



Beyond standard presentations, the platform offers specialized training for scenarios like reading a teleprompter, job interviews, and media appearances. 



Users also have access to an AI coach that provides real-time feedback and script suggestions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eliminating-the-fear-of-public-speaking">Eliminating the fear of public speaking </h2>



The team behind the platform is collaborating with organizations that support individuals with speech anxiety, including children who stammer. They are also developing licensing options and an app for healthcare providers.



“Speech anxiety and the fear of public speaking impact most people, and it is becoming increasingly more common over time," said Dr. Macdonald.



"This is concerning because we know that it is detrimental to mental health, physical health, academic attainment, and career progression. Therefore, the problem is prevalent, it is getting worse, it is causing harm, and ultimately, it is capping human potential. However, this no longer needs to be the case." 



The platform’s creators are seeking funding to expand its features and reach more people. They believe that, with the right support, millions of individuals can overcome their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiders-heights-or-public-speaking-each-fear-has-a-unique-place-in-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fear of public speaking</a> and unlock new opportunities.



“I set out with a simple but ambitious mission: make the most effective treatment for the most common fear and make it freely accessible to all. Today, with the launch of the free platform, I believe I have achieved that. Please do use it. It will transform your life and greatly expand your opportunities,” concluded Dr. Macdonald.



The research findings were published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/virtual-reality/articles/10.3389/frvir.2024.1506938/full">Frontiers in Virtual Reality</a>.



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Conquering the fear of public speaking with virtual reality

The fear of public speaking affects millions of people worldwide....

Researchers have identified a measurable link between events in the earliest days of embryo development and a person’s long-term health. 



Many people don't think much about what happens right after conception, yet those first steps can influence how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/embryo-formation-is-shaped-by-electric-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cells</a> stay strong over time.



In a recent study led by Professor Rebecca Robker from the <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Adelaide</a>, scientists analyzed key components of DNA called <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57794-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">telomeres</a>, which act like protective ends on each chromosome.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-embryo-telomeres-protect-health">How embryo telomeres protect health</h2>



<a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Telomere" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Telomeres</a> have a special <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.113.000485" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA sequence</a> that shields our genetic material whenever cells split. They tend to shrink a little with each cell division, which is why older individuals often have shorter telomeres.



“Telomeres are the parts of chromosomes that influence growth and rejuvenation of our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/embryo-development-shows-how-evolution-had-many-options-to-choose-from/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tissues</a>,” said Professor Robker. 



Not only do they affect how efficiently our bodies manage cellular renewal, but telomeres also connect with how we handle stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-inside-embryo-growth">Looking inside embryo growth</h2>



“Reduced telomere length can be caused by embryonic cellular damage,” said study co-lead Dr. Yasmyn Winstanley. 



The researchers found that the body’s condition at conception seems to shape how well these chromosomal ends develop. 



“There are specific types of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-viral-dna-may-control-human-embryonic-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cellular damage</a> during the very first days of embryo development which cause the defect in the telomeres of the embryo. The process is highly responsive to signals from the mother’s body,” explained Dr. Winstanley. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maternal-health-shapes-embryo-health">Maternal health shapes embryo health</h2>



Conditions such as obesity can raise the risk of having shorter telomeres <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27751173/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at birth</a>. This has caught the attention of public health advocates because shorter telomeres in children can mean increased vulnerability to later challenges.



“Some babies are born with shorter telomeres than others, increasing their lifetime risk of chronic diseases associated with aging,” said Professor Robker. 



Offspring may inherit a greater susceptibility to problems linked to heart function and other metabolic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-kills-ocean-embryos-during-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">processes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-possible-break-in-the-chain">A possible break in the chain</h2>



“Until now it has not been clear how the length of telomeres is determined before birth,” said Professor Robker. 



But her group has demonstrated that pre-conception factors set off cellular signals that change how these protective caps are established.



“We provide proof-of-concept that DNA resetting can be modulated in embryos where it is deficient, using currently available drugs,” said Professor Robker. 



The researchers tested strategies to repair such damage in the embryo’s early hours.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drugs-restore-embryo-telomere-health">Drugs restore embryo telomere health</h2>



Therapies that support healthy <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1201940" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mitochondria</a> inside eggs appear to help maintain or restore telomeres. Mitochondria drive cellular energy, and they also produce byproducts that can harm DNA when not balanced.



“Our identification of specific pharmaceutical compounds that can modulate telomeres during preconception and immediately following fertilization, means that there are therapeutic opportunities to optimise this biology,” explained Professor Robker.



The researchers are now working with <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/search/organization/Vitaleon%2520Pharma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vitaleon Pharma</a> to develop these findings for fertility specialists.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-implications">Public health implications</h2>



“These findings highlight that the health of women and girls should be a major focus of public health policies,” said Dr. Winstanley. 



Public awareness around maintaining a healthy weight, balanced nutrition, and a supportive environment may therefore be key.



For many, the best start comes from paying attention to signs of metabolic strain. Experts advise timely monitoring of overall wellness, especially in individuals aiming to have children.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



Telomeres remain a vital puzzle in understanding why some people age well and others do not. 



Observing their behavior from the earliest stage can open possibilities to fine-tune approaches that offset <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shark-embryo-mortality-could-rise-by-71-percent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">damage</a> before a child is even born.



Continuing clinical trials may look at ways to guard or extend telomeres while an embryo forms. If the right interventions are offered in time, tomorrow’s children might enter life with robust cellular shields.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-insights-on-embryo-health">New insights on embryo health</h2>



This research has added new perspectives to the study of early development. Scientists hope it will lead to targeted treatments that support mother and child, especially when metabolic challenges arise.



Clinics offering reproductive services may eventually add telomere-based checks to their methods. Getting a snapshot of <a href="https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2977&amp;sectionid=254987027" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maternal physiology</a> and egg health could help doctors suggest the next steps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bigger-picture">The bigger picture</h2>



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26561272/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Life spans</a> have been edging upward over the past century, but not all extra years are disease-free. As more people recognize the link between a healthy pregnancy and better aging, demand for interventions might grow.



Practitioners see value in including telomere monitoring for prospective parents. Early findings about these chromosome ends could spark new ways to promote healthier outcomes from infancy through adulthood.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57794-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Mom's health shapes how well an embryo develops

Researchers have identified a measurable link between events in the...

Young,Golden,Retriever,For,A,Walk,With,His,Owner.,Dog

Stress can be exhausting, making even simple tasks feel like a chore. College life piles on exams and assignments, leaving many people feeling overwhelmed. A new study shows that playing with a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rewards-of-dog-ownership-outweigh-the-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">friendly dog</a> for just 15 minutes can lighten that emotional load.



The research was led by senior investigator Dr. Jaruwan Khonmee from <a href="https://www.cmu.ac.th/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chiang Mai University</a> in Thailand and included 122 students.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-dogs-bond-with-humans-the-basics">How dogs bond with humans - the basics</h2>



There’s something incredibly special about the bond between dogs and humans - it goes way beyond companionship. 



Dogs don’t just live alongside us; they tune into our moods, read our body language, and somehow just get us. 



They know when we’re happy, when we’re stressed, when we need a nudge to go outside or a quiet moment to breathe. And we respond in kind. 



We learn to understand their barks, their tail wags, their little quirks. It’s not just loyalty - it’s this deep, wordless connection built on trust, time, and a whole lot of shared experiences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-help-lower-stress">Dogs help lower stress</h2>



<a href="https://archive.org/details/psychologicalstr0000laza" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stress</a> is a feeling of mental tension triggered by tough situations, and it can drain your energy before you realize it. Over time, stress can harm your mood, focus, and physical health in multiple ways.



College students often juggle challenging courses, part-time work, and new social circles. When responsibilities pile up, anxiety can creep in and catch people off guard.



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2485862/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cortisol</a> is a hormone that climbs when you’re tense and goes down when you’re relaxed. Lowering it can support better heart function and clearer thinking under pressure.



That’s where a quick session of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-breed-does-not-define-performance-and-ability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">canine interaction</a> steps in to break the cycle. A wagging tail or a nudge from a friendly snout can act like a natural mood lifter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-dogs-helped-students">How dogs helped students</h2>



In this project, students had their heart rates, saliva samples, and stress surveys measured before and after interacting with dogs. 



The researchers observed significant drops in both physical and emotional stress markers once the session ended.



Compared to just moments earlier, students’ self-reported <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-suffer-from-the-january-blues-just-like-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress levels</a> decreased by 33.5% after hanging out with the pup. This quick drop demonstrates how a little interaction can go a long way.



Some participants chose to cuddle or chat with the dog, while others offered treats or toys. Even short bursts of play were enough to see a noticeable shift.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-reduce-stress-levels">Dogs reduce stress levels</h2>



“Even brief interactions with dogs can significantly reduce stress levels among university undergraduate students,” concluded the researchers. 



They noted that stress hormones in the dogs themselves appeared to drop over time, suggesting shared benefits.



Fecal tests indicated that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-dogs-share-genes-linked-to-obesity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pups</a> had lower cortisol a week after these sessions. This finding points to the possibility that dogs might also feel relaxed when spending time with attentive humans.



Crucially, none of the six dogs used were certified therapy animals. Their friendly nature alone seemed enough to help students.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-relief-through-genuine-connection">Stress relief through genuine connection </h2>



Researchers have spent years examining the human-animal bond. One <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/089279314X14072268687808" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">project</a> found that petting a calm dog cannot only slow heart rate but also quiet the mind.



A good-natured pup provides social interaction without the same judgment people fear in formal therapy settings. Students can feel understood without having to explain every feeling or worry.



These canine sessions may work in part because they tap into <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/co-regulation-helping-children-and-teens-navigate-big-emotions-202404033030" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotional co-regulation</a>, where two living beings calm each other. It’s less about a clinical approach and more about genuine connection.



That sense of warmth can reassure students who hesitate to seek human counseling. A dog’s presence often feels comforting, making it easier to let go of anxious thoughts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-encouraging-outcomes-for-students">Encouraging outcomes for students</h2>



Not every campus has the resources to bring in certified therapy animals. This study shows that friendly, well-behaved pets might offer help even if they lack formal training.



Some universities have started hosting dog visits during final exams to give frazzled students a break. In many cases, just a few minutes can revive a tired mind.



Researchers stress the importance of ensuring dogs enjoy the interaction. Signs of anxiety or discomfort in pets could prevent the positive effects.



Preparing a calm environment, offering treats, and supervising the sessions can keep everyone happy. It’s a balancing act that respects both human and canine comfort.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-stress-with-dog-visits">Managing stress with dog visits</h2>



Experts want to know if repeated dog sessions can bring lasting improvements. Longer studies might track stress relief over entire semesters to see if the benefits accumulate.



Some researchers wonder if these visits spark additional gains, like boosted motivation or a steadier mindset. Others are curious whether multiple short sessions are better than one extended visit. 



Further studies are needed to determine the ideal balance for ongoing stress management.



College life is not about to slow down, but dog visits seem promising for easing at least some of the mental load. Quick, simple sessions can offer a breather when books and deadlines pile high.



These findings encourage schools and organizations to consider how a wagging tail might bring calm to busy people. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0318777" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS ONE</a>.



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Petting a dog is the easiest way to reduce stress without medication

Stress can be exhausting, making even simple tasks feel like...

Many people assume that cats are aloof and uncooperative. The results of a new study are challenging this assumption, suggesting that certain felines might be surprisingly effective in therapy and other animal-assisted services (<a href="https://aas-int.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AAS</a>).



Professor Patricia Pendry of <a href="https://wsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington State University</a> collaborated with Belgian researchers to investigate whether some cats show consistent, friendly behavior in settings that help people cope with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stopping-alzheimers-before-it-starts-early-treatment-shows-potential/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress</a> and anxiety.



The study was focused on how cat personality traits might fit into therapy programs, even though dogs have historically dominated this field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-of-using-cats-in-therapy">Potential of using cats in therapy</h2>



Cat-based support programs have lagged in popularity in the United States. In some parts of Europe, however, professional teams have quietly introduced cats into schools, hospitals, and community centers, with positive anecdotal feedback.



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22194067/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Researchers</a> have been digging into cat behavior for years to understand how these animals communicate with people. 



Cats form strong emotional bonds and may <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-therapy-for-childhood-brain-cancer-halts-tumor-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sense</a> when someone is upset, giving them a unique way to offer comfort that differs from dogs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-traits-that-soothe">Unique traits that soothe</h2>



Some therapy professionals report that cats can help clients feel less tense in stressful environments. These observations align with general <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24565951/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">findings</a> that time spent with animals can lower heart rate and calm the nervous system.



Cats involved in certain AAS scenarios often display a gentle demeanor, especially when people are seated or in lower-energy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psilocybin-therapy-offers-hope-for-millions-with-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moods</a>. 



Unlike many dogs, which may leap around or bark loudly, a calm cat can bring a sense of stillness that some individuals prefer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-screening-cats-for-therapy">Screening cats for therapy</h2>



“There’s this perception that cats just aren’t suitable for this kind of work, but our study shows that some cats may thrive in these settings,” said Pendry. 



Preliminary survey results from hundreds of Belgian cat owners revealed that specific felines show high sociability, enjoy contact with new people, and display patience when handled.



This openness may make a select group of cats better suited for therapy visits, especially when multiple clients move through a room each day. Not every cat wants this much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-health-may-be-the-key-to-anxiety-relief/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social interaction</a>, so experts emphasize the importance of screening and ongoing monitoring.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-relieving-feelings-of-isolation">Relieving feelings of isolation </h2>



Therapy animals have been popular at universities, where students grapple with academic pressure and homesickness. While dogs still appear most often in the U.S., a few schools in Europe have experimented with cats to provide quieter, more low-key sessions.



Institutions that tested cat therapy sessions reported enthusiastic responses from students who already favored felines at home. Practitioners say a purring cat in someone’s lap can help relieve feelings of isolation, particularly if that person is more introverted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-welfare-of-therapy-cats">Welfare of therapy cats </h2>



<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/33">Studies</a> show that cats suitable for therapy may be tolerant of being picked up and transported. Researchers also note that some outgoing cats seem to handle bustling therapy spaces without hiding under tables or hissing.



This calm acceptance of new situations goes hand in hand with the animal’s own comfort level. Professionals warn that if a cat consistently appears tense, it’s better to remove them from the program for the sake of their well-being.



Even the best-suited cats can feel overwhelmed by long therapy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-therapy-reduces-distress-in-people-with-dementia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sessions</a> or large groups of people. More investigations are needed to explore the stress levels cats may experience during repeated interactions in different locations.



Caregivers and therapists often watch for signs of burnout in cats, such as excessive grooming or agitation. These signals can indicate that a break or a reduced workload is necessary, ensuring the cat remains comfortable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-felines-are-a-match">Not all felines are a match</h2>



Some cats are extremely social, while others are content to lounge alone at home. Advocates of cat therapy stress that the idea is not to force a reluctant cat into these roles but to let the more confident ones shine.



“It’s about recognizing that some cats may genuinely enjoy this kind of interaction,” said Pendry. She pointed out that certain outgoing felines have much in common with therapy dogs.



Professional trainers rarely work with cats in the same structured way they do with dogs. Many cats in AAS programs appear to bring their natural style of greeting, which may be enough when the cat is friendly and calm.



However, some experts think basic training could reduce fear and help cats become comfortable with unusual sounds or sudden movements. Simple exercises involving handling and social exposure might give prospective therapy cats a smoother transition into these roles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-appeal-of-quiet-companions">The appeal of quiet companions</h2>



Even in noisy environments like hospitals, a well-chosen cat can soothe patients who feel intimidated by hyperactive animals. This option might also support individuals who have had negative experiences with dogs and prefer a less boisterous companion.



Several cat breeds like <a href="https://cfa.org/breed/maine-coon-cat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maine Coons</a> and <a href="https://www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/cat-breeds/ragdoll" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ragdolls</a> are sometimes described as more tolerant of human contact, though the <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> did not focus on specific breeds. Researchers emphasize that individual personality matters more than general breed traits.



Belgian groups appear more open to cat-based therapies, while U.S. programs remain cautious. With growing evidence, some American facilities may soon broaden their horizons and incorporate felines for special sessions.



Pet welfare organizations suggest that expansions should be slow and monitored. Collecting data on cat temperament and stress responses will help refine best practices for feline involvement in therapy settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-growth-of-cat-therapy">Potential growth of cat therapy</h2>



Animal-assisted services can be beneficial for humans when done ethically. Cats offer a calmer approach for those who prefer their peaceful presence, which can be an ideal match in certain therapy contexts.



Nevertheless, it is vital to guard against pushing cats beyond their comfort zone. Programs that prioritize the cat’s autonomy and track their stress signals stand a better chance of a successful and humane experience.



As knowledge spreads, interested cat owners may look for ways to share their pets’ gentle nature with local organizations. Europe’s warmer reception could foreshadow gradual acceptance elsewhere, as more evidence supports feline therapy under the right conditions.



Focused research on cat well-being is a natural next step. Scientists are eager to pinpoint whether cats adapt to therapy work or whether personality traits drive success from the start.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animals</a>.



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Cats that like attention can soothe people during therapy

Many people assume that cats are aloof and uncooperative. The...

Intelligence has often been linked with better health and a longer life. Some studies even suggest that people with sharper word use and cognitive abilities are more likely to beat typical lifespan expectations, though the exact reasons can be complex.



Recent work has zeroed in on a key ability called verbal fluency. In a recent study, Paolo Ghisletta of the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Geneva</a> and his colleagues revealed a direct connection between one’s command of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-did-humans-first-develop-language-scientists-think-they-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vocabulary</a> and chances of living longer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strong-word-skills-linked-to-better-health">Strong word skills linked to better health</h2>



Some <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976241311923" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experts</a> see language skills as tightly tied to overall well-being. Words need memory, efficiency, and other brain processes, so they can act like a barometer of a person’s general health.



Researchers have long debated which parts of intelligence have the most say in aging outcomes. <a href="https://awspntest.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1027%2F1016-9040.11.3.224" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Studies</a> that track groups over time show that different cognitive abilities may not all have equal influence.



Verbal tasks may stand out because they draw on multiple systems in the brain at once. This load on memory, word retrieval, and mental speed might offer a clearer snapshot of cognitive health than simpler tests.



Certain tasks, like naming animals under time limits, have been used to measure these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/babies-can-naturally-learn-multiple-languages-from-birth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">verbal skills</a>. They challenge participants to recall words quickly, hinting at deeper efficiency and organization in the mind.



Language also connects to social engagement and emotional expression. That makes it an important reflection of daily life, which could reveal deeper health aspects beneath the surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-the-body-and-mind-decline-together">Do the body and mind decline together?</h2>



One idea is that the body and mind decline in sync, so verbal strength might simply indicate a more robust constitution overall. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03610730290080344" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Research</a> linking higher intelligence with better physical health supports this view.



Another angle considers how using words depends on various brain circuits tied to health that might stay active as people age. If these circuits remain in good shape, other key health functions could follow the same pattern.



Stress levels, nutrition, and lifestyle might also affect word recall and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pi-day-celebrating-the-universal-language-of-mathematics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">general cognition</a>. When stress is low or diets are balanced, people may keep their memory sharper, improving how they express words.



Economics and education could play a part too, since those with more opportunities might practice language-related skills more often. Experts caution, though, that correlation is not the same as direct cause.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaborations-and-optimism">Collaborations and optimism</h2>



Ghisletta emphasized that modern tools and open data sets let more scientists work together. He noted that it’s now easier to handle larger pools of data and compare findings across labs.



Some of these collaborative efforts focus on advanced statistical methods that consider how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/screen-time-delays-language-development-in-toddlers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health</a> changes over time. Using this approach, experts can untangle whether language shifts appear before major physical declines.



Scientists see an opportunity to learn from each other’s strengths. They exchange ideas about complex analysis, design new projects, and share insights that might not surface in isolated work.



Open collaboration can reduce duplication and speed up discovery. It also helps younger scholars sharpen their skills with diverse data, which drives the field forward.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-does-this-research-lead">Where does this research lead?</h2>



Some analysts hope that easy-to-administer verbal tasks could act as early warning signs for health problems. A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/verbal-fluency-test" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">short word-generation test </a>might reveal cognitive slowdowns linked to risk of serious conditions.



Identifying subtle changes could prompt lifestyle shifts or interventions when they matter most. Catching small declines in language might be easier than waiting for severe physical symptoms.



At-home apps or community health centers could someday offer quick word tests that alert people to potential cognitive changes. Such tools may encourage proactive checkups and targeted therapies.



Skeptics note that language alone cannot paint the full picture. Still, many agree it’s a promising piece of the puzzle in understanding how we age.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-and-next-steps">Challenges and next steps</h2>



Experts still debate which factors drive the link between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-learn-songs-like-humans-learn-languages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">word skills</a> and longevity. Some wonder if robust language is a cause or just a sign of better overall health.



Socioeconomic differences and educational backgrounds might skew test results. Researchers want to refine these measures to be fair and accurate for a wide range of people.



There’s also interest in combining language tasks with other assessments of mental speed or memory. This could highlight whether verbal fluency truly stands alone or interacts with multiple abilities.



Despite lingering questions, many view the new findings with optimism. They feel that focusing on language could open doors to simpler, more affordable health monitoring.



Teams across different countries have joined forces to test these ideas on diverse populations. By seeing how verbal tasks perform in various settings, the researchers hope to refine their understanding of healthy aging.



Nobody can guarantee a perfect formula for longer life, yet any practical clue that helps us spot risks early might be worth a closer look.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-public-health-through-words">Tracking public health through words</h2>



This research may also inspire more collaboration between psychologists, <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/gerontologist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gerontologists</a>, and public health experts. Fresh angles, combined with robust data, could lead to clearer guidance on preserving cognitive health.



Language is more than just words; it may reflect deeper patterns in how our minds and bodies operate. Monitoring it might offer a gentle nudge for healthy habits and timely checkups.



In an ever-aging world, these studies appeal to policymakers and families alike. Simple steps to gauge language might become part of routine health practices one day.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976241311923">Psychological Science</a>.



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People who are good with words have better health and live longer

Intelligence has often been linked with better health and a...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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



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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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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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

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" 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> 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

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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