Birdwatching was once a quiet, eccentric pastime. Now, it’s a worldwide phenomenon. Travelers go thousands of miles - even to remote places such as the Andes in Colombia - to catch a glimpse of one species. 



In the process, birdwatchers bond with the natural world, interact with fellow travelers, and spend money - lots of it. 



Now, birdwatching is one of the major engines of ecotourism, particularly in the tropics where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-birds-one-tree-complete-evolutionary-map-reveals-hidden-links/">bird</a> populations are rich and varied. But according to new research, not every country with rare birds is cashing in on this trend.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birdwatching-as-a-growing-business">Birdwatching as a growing business</h2>



Over the past decade, birdwatching has gone through the roof. Apps such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-may-solve-the-mystery-of-bird-movements/">eBird</a>, which allow users to record sightings, have made birdwatching a worldwide community. They receive millions of checklists from users who record what birds they have spotted and where.



The data is especially valuable for researchers trying to figure out how birdwatching tourism works - and where it’s growing.



A group of scientists from the <a href="https://www.ucsc.edu/">University of California, Santa Cruz</a> decided to dig into this question. They analyzed eBird records for 155 nations from 2010 to 2022. 



The goal was to learn why birdwatching tourists are drawn to certain places and why others receive more visits than others.



The team started by determining which app users were likely tourists. If a user mostly posted bird sightings in one country but also submitted checklists from others, those other sightings were counted as tourism. 



Next, the researchers built models to analyze which factors were tied to rising tourist activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-birds-more-tourists">More birds, more tourists?</h2>



You’d think countries with the most birds would attract the most birders. That’s partly true - but it’s not the whole story.



The researchers looked at four main factors to understand what drives birdwatching tourism. First was the total number of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-bird-species-face-extinction-risks-in-the-neotropics/">bird species</a> in a country. They also considered the number of small-range species - birds that are found only in a very specific area. 



Beyond <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-biodiversity-crisis-is-actually-worse-than-we-thought/">biodiversity</a>, the team included the Human Development Index, which measures education, health, and income levels. Lastly, they factored in the Global Peace Index, which reflects a country’s overall safety and stability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-influencing-bird-tourism">Factors influencing bird tourism </h2>



The analysis showed that the most important factor wasn’t birds - it was development. A country’s Human Development Index explained 41.4 percent of the variation in bird tourism. 



Species richness came in second at 22.4 percent. Small-range species mattered too, but not as much. Surprisingly, safety had only a minor influence - just 1.4 percent.



That means tourists care more about basic infrastructure and services than they do about peace rankings. They want to go somewhere that’s easy to travel in, not necessarily somewhere that’s totally safe on paper.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-colombia-takes-the-lead">Colombia takes the lead</h2>



One of the biggest winners in the study was Colombia. Since 2010, birding activity in the country has grown 40 times over. 



The country also saw the biggest growth in tourist birdwatching, specifically. Colombia now holds a much bigger slice of the global birding pie than it did a decade ago.



South Africa ranked second in growth overall. Other countries, like Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru, also scored high in both visitation and biodiversity.



But some tropical countries, including Venezuela, Bolivia, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, barely saw any growth - even though they have incredible birds.



The gap is especially striking between Colombia and Venezuela. Both have rich bird life and similar development scores, but their tourism outcomes couldn’t be more different.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-working-and-what-isn-t">What’s working - and what isn’t</h2>



Part of Colombia’s success might come down to smart promotion. The country’s tourism agency launched a major campaign to boost birdwatching. 



Meanwhile, places like Costa Rica have spent years building infrastructure - trails, towers, trained guides - and focusing on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/travelers-are-ready-for-more-affordable-eco-friendly-options/">sustainable travel</a>. That kind of investment pays off.



On the other hand, some countries just haven’t built the conditions needed to welcome tourists, even if they have world-class birds. 



The study also suggests other factors might be in play: ease of getting visas, how affordable flights are, how a country is seen politically, and how well-connected it is to major tourist source countries like the U.S.



“Over the years, we’ve seen Colombia really explode as a birdwatching destination, and we often asked ourselves why more countries aren’t similarly recognized as great places for birdwatching,” said Scott Winton, a UC Santa Cruz ecologist and study coauthor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birdwatching-as-a-business-opportunity">Birdwatching as a business opportunity</h2>



The researchers say there are ways to grow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birdwatching-boosts-alaskas-economy-by-hundreds-of-millions/">birdwatching tourism</a> - especially for countries in the tropics with untapped potential.



One important takeaway: it’s not all or nothing. A nation doesn’t necessarily have to be completely developed or 100% secure to attract birders. What is more important is whether certain areas are perceived as safe, boast trained local guides, and provide minimal amenities.



To get there, governments can facilitate the growth of birding tourism by providing tax incentives or low-interest loans to facilitate the construction of birding trails, canopy towers, and viewing hides. 



Investing in guide training can also go a long way, particularly if locals are equipped with bird identification and customer service knowledge. Preserving bird habitats is important, as ecotourism relies on maintaining these areas intact. 



Furthermore, investing in small, community-based tourism enterprises with incentives for sustainable activities can help make birding tourism more accessible and inclusive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birdwatching-biodiversity-and-income">Birdwatching, biodiversity, and income</h2>



Birdwatching isn’t a shortcut to success. It requires long-term thinking. Natural habitats take years to recover if they’re destroyed, but tourism built around nature can last for generations. Still, it’s not a decision governments should make alone.



“Just as I’ve seen birding tourism change people’s lives in my native Colombia, I hope other tropical countries can come together to conserve and showcase their amazing bird capital,” said Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela, the study’s lead author.



Ultimately, local and Indigenous communities should have the final say. When they lead, and when the land is protected, birdwatching can be more than a hobby - it can be a way to protect biodiversity and build lasting income in places that need it most.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.70105">People and Nature</a>.



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Birdwatching is big business, but not all countries benefit

Birdwatching was once a quiet, eccentric pastime. Now, it’s a worldwide phenomenon. Travelers go thousands of miles - even to remote places such as the Andes in Colombia - to catch a glimpse of one species. In the process, birdwatchers bond with the natural world, interact with fellow travelers, and spend money - lots of it. Now, birdwatching is one of the major engines of ecotourism, particularly in the tropics where bird populations are rich and varied. But according to new research, not every country with rare...

Late nights, alcohol, and smoking on weekends may be doing more than ruining Monday mornings. Researchers from Flinders University warn that these habits could trigger a newly identified sleep issue called "social apnea."



Published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the study describes social apnea as a weekend spike in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity caused by lifestyle changes and irregular sleep patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleep-apnea-is-underestimated">Sleep apnea is underestimated </h2>



The research analyzed data from over 70,000 people worldwide using a validated under-mattress <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-quality-could-be-the-key-to-better-metabolic-health/">sleep</a> sensor. This device, which is FDA-cleared, accurately measures the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and sleep timing.



“Sleep apnea is already a major public health issue, but our findings suggest its true impact may be underestimated,” said lead author Dr. Lucia Pinilla.



“Most clinical diagnostic testing is done on a single night, typically a weeknight, missing the weekend effect we’re now calling social apnea.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weekend-habits-and-social-apnea">Weekend habits and social apnea</h2>



Dr. Pinilla explains that the weekend surge in sleep-disordered breathing could raise risks for heart disease, depression, dementia, and fatigue-related accidents.



Participants were 18% more likely to have moderate to severe OSA on Saturdays compared to Wednesdays. Men had a 21% higher risk, while women had a 9% increase. Younger adults under 60 faced a 24% higher risk, compared to 7% in those over 60.



Weekend catch-up <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-prepares-the-brain-for-the-future-while-protecting-memories-of-the-past/">sleep</a> of at least 45 minutes increased weekend OSA odds by 47%, while social jetlag of 60 minutes or more raised it by 38 percent.



Danny Eckert, a professor at <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flinders University</a>, says this study is the first time researchers have found proof that OSA gets worse on weekends compared to weekdays. 



“We don’t yet know exactly why, but alcohol use, lighter sleep, and less consistent use of OSA therapies likely play a role.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seasons-can-make-symptoms-worse">Seasons can make symptoms worse</h2>



Dr. Bastien Lechat, lead author of a related study published in Communications Medicine, says seasonal changes may trigger similar OSA fluctuations.



“OSA tends to be worse during summer and winter, with severity increasing by 8-19% compared to spring and autumn,” said Dr. Lechat.



“This seasonal spike is partly explained by higher temperatures, which disrupt <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/going-to-sleep-at-random-times-could-be-harming-your-health/">sleep</a> and lead to lighter sleep stages which is associated with worse OSA. In winter, longer sleep and later wake up times, increase time spent in REM sleep, which is also linked to more frequent apnea events.”



These findings mirror the weekend pattern and highlight that both social and environmental factors influence obstructive sleep apnea.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-weekend-changes-matter">Why weekend changes matter</h2>



The study revealed that apnea-hypopnea index levels were on average 6% higher on weekends, equivalent to nearly one more apnea event per hour at the group level.



Irregular sleep patterns were strongly linked to this effect. Those with consistent sleep schedules showed no significant weekend increase. 



Since OSA is often worse during REM sleep, weekend sleep-ins may extend REM stages, intensifying symptoms.



Such patterns could carry major public health costs. Even small increases in OSA severity may significantly impact <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-may-have-just-solved-the-mystery-of-sleep/">wellbeing</a> and healthcare expenses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tests-may-miss-social-apnea">Tests may miss social apnea</h2>



Professor Eckert warns that relying on a single-night sleep study may lead to underdiagnosis or misclassification. OSA testing usually happens on weeknights, overlooking weekend variability.



Historically, OSA treatment adherence has been measured over five nights a week, allowing for lower weekend use. The findings suggest that inconsistent weekend therapy use could be a key driver of social apnea.



To reduce weekend spikes, Professor Eckert advises maintaining a steady sleep schedule. "Try to keep the same sleep schedule throughout the week and weekend, ensuring that you get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night."



“Keeping a fixed wake-up time and using your prescribed OSA therapy, even on weekends, and going to bed when you feel sleepy will help ensure you frequently get enough restorative sleep which can help combat the weekend spike in OSA.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-osa-and-its-impact">Understanding OSA and its impact</h2>



OSA affects about one billion people worldwide and is caused by repeated airway collapse during sleep. Untreated, it raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, depression, and even death.



People concerned about their sleep should consult their doctor for assessment. The study confirms that social apnea is a global phenomenon, with consistent weekend increases in OSA severity across different countries and climates.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.202505-1184RL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine</a>.



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Social events on weekends can worsen sleep apnea

Late nights, alcohol, and smoking on weekends may be doing...

Erythrocyte,3d,Illustration.,Red,Blood,Cells,Transport,Oxygen,Throughout,The

Think of your red blood cells as tiny delivery trucks racing through your bloodstream, dropping off oxygen everywhere. On the outside of each truck are little name tags called antigens. 



Hospitals check these tags to make sure donated blood won't hurt the person receiving it.



We all know a little about basic blood types - like A, B, O, and positive or negative. But there are dozens more tags on your blood cells. Some are so common that only a handful of people on Earth don't have them. 



One super-rare tag called AnWj has puzzled scientists for over fifty years. They could test for it, but they had no idea what carried it or <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29956848/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">where it came from</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anwj-blood-group-system">AnWj blood group system</h2>



A new study just solved the mystery. The AnWj tag sits on a protein called Mal, made by a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/4118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gene named MAL</a>. When the MAL gene breaks in a specific way, cells can't make Mal protein. Without Mal, the AnWj tag vanishes from red blood cells.



"The genetic background of AnWj has been a mystery for more than 50 years, and one which I personally have been trying to resolve for almost 20 years of my career," explained Dr. Louise Tilley, Senior Research Scientist at NHS Blood and Transplant's <a href="https://ibgrl.blood.co.uk/services/red-cell-reference/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Red Cell Reference lab</a>.



The mystery started decades ago when doctors found a pregnant woman whose blood didn't have AnWj. Since then, doctors have found a few more people without it. Some very sick patients also lose AnWj temporarily during certain blood disorders or cancers.



Researchers focused on families where people were born without AnWj. They compared DNA between family members with and without the antigen. 



They found the smoking gun: people who inherit AnWj-negativity share a huge deletion in their MAL gene. This deletion wipes out important sections called exons. Without those sections, the body can't build Mal protein.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-anwj-blood-discovery">Importance of AnWj blood discovery</h2>



"It's really exciting we were able to use our ability to manipulate gene expression in the developing blood cells to help confirm the identity of the AnWj blood group, which has been an outstanding puzzle for half a century," said Professor Ashley Toye from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>.



The team ran clever experiments to confirm their discovery. When they looked for Mal protein on red blood cells, people with normal AnWj had it. 



People with the deletion didn't. The researchers also showed that antibodies targeting AnWj blocked antibodies meant for Mal. When two antibodies fight for the same spot, they're after the same molecule.



This discovery can save lives. When someone lacking AnWj receives regular donor blood, their immune system attacks the transfused cells. These reactions happen fast and can be deadly.



Now hospitals can create better tests to find people who truly lack AnWj because their MAL gene is broken. They can distinguish them from patients who lose AnWj temporarily during illness. 



Someone with a genetic loss always needs AnWj-negative blood. Someone with temporary loss might get AnWj back after recovery.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explaining-temporary-disappearance">Explaining temporary disappearance</h2>



Why does AnWj disappear temporarily? Even if the MAL gene works fine, certain diseases can switch it off or turn it down - like using a dimmer switch. When MAL activity drops, Mal protein fades from cells, and AnWj fades with it.



The study proved these temporary cases don't have the MAL deletion. One mutation damages the blueprint permanently. 



The other just hides the instructions temporarily. Understanding both helps doctors choose the safest blood in emergencies.



"Mal is a very small protein with some interesting properties which made it difficult to identify and meant we needed to pursue multiple lines of investigation to accumulate the proof we needed to establish this blood group system," said Dr. Tim Satchwell at <a href="https://www.uwe.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UWE Bristol</a>.



The work cleared up old confusion too. Scientists once thought other proteins like <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9111868/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CD44</a> might carry AnWj. But cells without CD44 that still had Mal kept their AnWj. CD44 might influence the neighborhood, but Mal is the actual tag holder.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inheritance-pattern">Inheritance pattern</h2>



The genetics follow a recessive pattern. People lacking AnWj because of the MAL deletion got two broken copies - one from each parent. 



Family studies confirm this: relatives with one working copy still show AnWj, while those with two deleted copies don't.



There's also a master regulator called KLF1 that controls many red cell genes. If KLF1 affects MAL activity, that could explain why certain blood conditions weaken AnWj even when the MAL gene looks normal. 



KLF1 acts like a sound engineer - if it turns the MAL channel down, the Mal protein gets quieter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anwj-blood-and-human-health">AnWj blood and human health</h2>



This discovery shows how solving rare puzzles improves everyday medicine. Blood compatibility goes beyond ABO and Rh types. 



It's an intricate system with many parts. Finding compatible donors becomes easier, reducing the risk of dangerous reactions.



"It represents a huge achievement, and the culmination of a long team effort, to finally establish this new blood group system and be able to offer the best care to rare, but important, patients," Dr. Tilley summed up.



MAL now officially defines a recognized blood group system. This standardizes the language hospitals use and how results get shared worldwide.



Here's the simple version: Scientists proved the AnWj blood antigen rides on Mal protein made by the MAL gene. Break MAL and AnWj disappears forever. Turn MAL down and AnWj fades temporarily. 



This clarity gives doctors a better guide for avoiding dangerous transfusion reactions and caring for people whose blood works differently.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/144/26/2688/534610/An-uncommon-MALady-is-the-AnWj-puzzle-complete" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blood</a>.



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New human blood group discovered is found to be caused by a rare genetic mutation, ending a 50-year mystery

Think of your red blood cells as tiny delivery trucks...

In social media, not all feelings travel the same way. A new peer-reviewed study finds that anxiety, love, and surprise tend to carry posts farther, while anger, sadness, and even joy can slow things down.



The team analyzed 387,486 articles shared by more than 6 million users on WeChat, then tracked how each article spread through the network using a dictionary of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teenagers-with-anxiety-or-depression-spend-more-time-on-social-media-according-to-experts/">emotion</a> words tied to eight distinct feelings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emotions-and-social-media-posts">Emotions and social media posts</h2>



The research was led by Yifan Yu, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin <a href="https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McCombs</a> School of Business. 



The paper helps resolve the long-standing debate over whether simply classifying something as positive or negative is sufficient to explain sharing.



"Expressions of anxiety exhibit the most positive impact on online content diffusion," wrote Yu and colleagues. 



The authors worked with eight discrete <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-pressure-is-straining-teen-friendships/">emotions</a>: anxiety, sadness, anger, disgust, love, joy, surprise, and anticipation. They detected these emotions using a custom lexicon built and validated for large-scale text analysis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-social-media-spread">Tracking social media spread</h2>



The researchers reconstructed each article’s diffusion cascade, then measured size, depth, maximum breadth, and a property known as structural virality. 



Those metrics capture how many people a post reaches and the shape of its spread through different layers of reshares.



The new study reports that anxiety, love, and surprise push cascades to reach more people and spread more deeply and broadly. Anger, sadness, and joy correlate with smaller or shallower cascades in this dataset.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-online-sharing-and-emotional-arousal">Online sharing and emotional arousal </h2>



Patterns also differed by audience. Older users were more likely to share articles steeped in anger or anxiety, while younger users were more drawn to disgust-laden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gen-ai-and-social-media-divert-peoples-attention-from-climate-crisis/">content</a>.



Network position mattered. Users with many friends tended to share articles showing love, anxiety, anticipation, or disgust, while users with fewer friends were more likely to pass along anger or surprise.



Ties shaped the path as well. Anger and anxiety spread more through strong ties, and articles marked by sadness drew less participation from female users than from male users in this sample.



Where earlier work highlighted the power of emotional arousal, the new results show that arousal is not the whole story. 



Even when emotions share the same valence and arousal, their specific effects can diverge. Broader research on emotion and decision-making shows that particular emotions shape judgment and behavior in distinct ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture-changes-social-media-emotions">Culture changes social media emotions</h2>



Language and culture shape how emotions are expressed and understood online. On the Chinese platform WeChat, communication often blends text with stickers, voice notes, and short videos.



Emotional cues may be interpreted differently on WeChat compared to Western social networks. This makes cultural context a key factor in understanding why certain emotions may boost or hinder sharing.



Studies have shown that cultural norms influence not only which emotions are acceptable to express publicly, but also how strongly those emotions are conveyed. 



These norms can alter the meaning and perceived appropriateness of emotional language, potentially amplifying or muting a post’s viral potential.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-emotions-in-social-media">Using emotions in social media</h2>



Writers and editors can treat emotion as a design choice, not a blunt instrument. Anxiety and love often motivate people to connect, support, or warn, which can translate into sharing when handled with care and useful context.



Platforms could develop tools to gauge the emotional intensity of rapidly spreading content and flag unusually charged streams for policy review. This may help prevent harmful content without unfairly punishing people for having negative feelings.



Responsible use matters. Emotion can inform and mobilize, but it can also overwhelm and mislead if it becomes the message rather than the signal for what to do next.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-social-media-posts-matter">Why social media posts matter</h2>



Previous research on structural virality shows that even when two posts reach the same number of people, they can spread in very different patterns - and those patterns reveal insights about influence and how resistant content is to moderation.



Interest in how emotions shape online sharing keeps growing. A recent review of research on sentiment diffusion shows that emotions affect not just how fast information spreads, but also how widely it reaches. 



The main takeaway is simple: if you want people to share something, the specific emotion you trigger matters just as much as whether it is positive or negative.



The study is published in <a href="https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/isre.2022.0611" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Information Systems Research</a>.



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Emotions shape what goes viral on social media

In social media, not all feelings travel the same way....

Stalking not only invades your privacy but also quietly leaves a mark on your heart. According to new research, women who had been stalked or obtained a restraining order were more likely to develop heart disease or stroke later in life.



According to the data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/index.html#:~:text=Intimate%20partner%20violence%20(IPV)%20is,and%20how%20severe%20it%20is." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intimate partner violence</a>, about one third of women have experienced stalking at some point in their lives.&nbsp;



Rebecca B. Lawn, study author and a research associate at <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard T.H. Chan</a> School of Public Health and the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of British Columbia</a>, highlighted that violence against women can have long-lasting health effects.



"Stalking is often seen as a form of violence that does not involve physical contact, which may make it seem less serious," said Lawn. As a result, doctors often fail to recognize it as a possible risk factor.



In her previous research, Lawn and her team found that sexual assault and workplace harassment could lead to high <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-minimum-amount-of-physical-activity-needed-to-prevent-high-blood-pressure/">blood pressure</a> in women. 



The latest research goes a step further, focusing on how being stalked may contribute to long-term cardiovascular problems.  



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stalking-linked-to-heart-disease">Stalking linked to heart disease</h2>



To investigate this, researchers analyzed data collected from 66,270 participants, aged 36 to 56 at the start of the study. They were part of the Nurses' Health Study II, an ongoing U.S. survey launched in 1989.



The study ran for twenty years, ending in 2021. In 2001, the women reported whether they had been stalked or had requested a restraining order.&nbsp;



At the start, none of the participants had a history of <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/stroke" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stroke</a> or heart attack. The researchers followed them for the next 20 years, tracking reports of stalking against them and the development of heart diseases.



This approach allowed the team to compare the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-kills-differently-now-than-five-decades-ago/">cardiovascular</a> health of women who had experienced stalking or obtained a restraining order with that of those who had not.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-study-revealed">What the study revealed</h2>



The analysis revealed that nearly 12 percent of participants experienced stalking, and about six percent obtained a restraining order. Around three percent of all participants developed heart disease or <a href="https://www.heartandstroke.ca/heart-disease/what-is-heart-disease/types-of-heart-disease" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stroke</a> during the study period.&nbsp;



Among women who had experienced stalking, roughly 41 percent showed an increased likelihood of developing heart problems. Those who had obtained a restraining order faced a 70 percent greater risk of suffering from the disease.&nbsp;



Medical records also revealed that women with a prior history of heart conditions or stroke were more likely to have experienced stalking. These patterns caught the attention of cardiology experts.



Harmony R. Reynolds, immediate past chair of the American Heart Association's Clinical Cardiology &amp; Stroke Women's Health Science Committee, said she was surprised to see this link.



"People subjected to intimate partner violence face about a 30 percent higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next few years compared to others," said Reynolds. 



She added that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-trauma-can-cause-physical-pain-in-late-life/">childhood trauma</a>, financial stress, and grief are also known risk factors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experts-warn-about-the-health-risks">Experts warn about the health risks</h2>



"Our findings suggest that stalking should not be minimized. Stalking can be chronic, and women often report making significant changes in response, such as moving," said Lawn.



Reynolds suggested that stress might be a connecting factor that leads to heart problems. "Perhaps because it is our nature to re-think about things that happen to us, making us experience the situation over and over," she said.



According to her, social support can help reduce the effects of stress. <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Talking</a> to trusted family, friends, community members, or professionals can also be beneficial.



The psychological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-stress-makes-us-take-more-risks-in-financial-decisions/">stress</a> resulting from being stalked could also contribute to adverse effects on heart health. But researchers have yet to explore its detailed biological mechanism more fully.



According to Lawn, health professionals should take the initiative to raise awareness about these potential health risks and provide resources to support women.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-stalking-and-heart-health-research">Future stalking and heart health research</h2>



While these findings are significant, they may not apply to all populations.



A limitation of the study is that it focused only on non-Hispanic white women who were U.S. registered nurses.



Previous studies have shown that stalking and other forms of violence are perpetrated more commonly on women from minority social or ethnic groups and those with lower incomes.&nbsp;



The study also relied on self-reported incidents of stalking and obtaining a restraining order, which may sometimes be an inaccurate means of collecting data. 



This study opens the door for future research that could confirm the effect of stalking on women's health in the long term. Researchers could also expand the study to include women from diverse backgrounds.



They can also focus on understanding the mechanism by which chronic stress from stalking leads to heart conditions. This could help doctors spot problems earlier.



In the future, better screening, early counseling, and community support could help reduce the hidden health toll of being stalked, which would protect both the mind and the heart.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.073592" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Circulation</a>.



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Being stalked may increase women’s risk of heart disease and stroke

Stalking not only invades your privacy but also quietly leaves...

For years, oxytocin has been tagged as the “cuddle hormone” - a brain chemical linked with romance, trust, and human connection. It’s known to be released during sex, childbirth, breastfeeding, and moments of warmth between people.



You might have even heard advice about boosting oxytocin with hugs, music, or exercise. But the picture is more complicated.



Recent research suggests oxytocin isn’t just about love and affection - and in some cases, it’s not even necessary for romantic bonding. The latest twist? Scientists have found that it plays a key role in forming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-happens-in-the-brain-when-two-people-are-in-sync/">friendships</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxytocin-s-role-in-forming-bonds">Oxytocin’s role in forming bonds</h2>



Researchers at the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Berkeley</a>, working with collaborators at UC San Francisco, turned to an unlikely model for friendship: the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-behavior-of-voles-linked-to-oxytocin-levels/">prairie vole</a>. 



These small, furry creatures are famous for forming long-term, selective relationships, both with mates and with peers. That makes them a useful stand-in for exploring the biology of human social life.



“Prairie voles are special because they allow us to get at the neurobiology of friendship and how it’s similar to and different from other types of relationships,” said Annaliese Beery, a UC Berkeley associate professor of integrative biology and neuroscience and senior author of the study.



The team focused on what happens when voles are missing oxytocin receptors - the brain’s landing pads for the hormone. Without them, the animals could still form friendships, but the process took much longer.



“Oxytocin seems to be particularly important in the early formation phase of relationships and especially in the selectivity of those relationships: ‘I prefer you to this stranger,’ for example,” Beery said. “The animals that didn't have intact oxytocin signaling took longer to form relationships. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-missing-hormone-slows-connection">Missing hormone slows connection</h2>



In normal circumstances, prairie voles show their friendships by huddling, grooming, and even sitting on each other. But for those without receptors for the hormone oxytocin, the bonding delay was obvious.



The receptor-lacking voles also seemed less motivated to be with their friends, and less likely to avoid or act aggressively toward strangers. 



“In other words, oxytocin is playing a crucial role not so much in how social they are, but more in who they are social with, their selectivity,” Beery explained.



The change ran deeper than behavior. Using a nanosensor developed in the UC Berkeley lab of chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Markita Landry, the team found that missing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-receptor-that-controls-neurons-will-help-us-understand-autism/">receptors</a> altered the way oxytocin was released in the brain.



“That helped us understand the feedback consequences of lacking this receptor, and how oxytocin signaling was altered in the brain,” Beery said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-friendship-before-romance">Friendship before romance?</h2>



Beery has long wondered whether friendships - or “selective peer relationships” in scientific terms - might have evolved before monogamous mating in animals like voles. 



Her lab’s field studies have shown that many vole species naturally form these peer bonds, even when they aren’t <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-basis-of-lasting-love-is-more-complex-than-expected/">monogamous</a>.



"While most rodents prefer to interact with unfamiliar individuals, it turns out that the majority of vole species we’ve tested form peer-partner preferences, which is what we call these selective friendships," Beery said. "So there seems to be this widespread tendency to bond." 



"But only a couple of those species are also monogamous. Someday, I hope to be able to tell you, 'Do selective peer relationships precede the development of monogamy? Is that why monogamy has evolved so many times in this genus?' I think this familiarity preference is deeply rooted."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-friendships-formed-in-a-day">Friendships formed in a day</h2>



To explore how signaling from the hormone oxytocin shapes friendship, the researchers ran three main experiments. 



In the first, known as the bond speed test, normal voles typically formed a clear partner preference within 24 hours of co-housing. In contrast, oxytocin receptor-deficient voles showed no such preference until about a week later.



“Wild-type animals form this incredibly robust preference within one day of co-housing, but the null mutants have no sign of a relationship after 24 hours," Beery said. "After a week, they mostly get there, and the lifetime partners look no different from each other.” 



“Our conclusion from that experiment is that oxytocin isn't required to have a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/for-men-relationship-satisfaction-can-prevent-workplace-burnout/">relationship,</a> but it's really important in those early phases of a relationship to facilitate it happening quickly and efficiently.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-loyalty-under-pressure">Social loyalty under pressure</h2>



The second experiment, the “party test,” placed the voles in a large enclosure with multiple rooms and other animals. 



Normal voles tended to stick with their known partner before mingling, while the receptor-lacking voles didn’t show that same loyalty.



“They can all separate, they can all come together, or they can hang out in any combinations that they want,” Beery said. “The wild-type animals keep track of who they know. It's like if I went to a party with a friend, I would stand near that friend for the first part of the party and then I might start to mingle. 



"The voles that lack oxytocin receptors just mixed. It was as if they didn't even have a partner in there with them.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-value-of-friends">Testing the value of friends</h2>



The third experiment, called the friendship rewards test, measured how hard the voles would work to reach a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-moms-meddle-friend-disapproval-worsens-teen-behavior/">friend</a> or mate. 



In a lever-pressing setup, normal females pressed more to access a friend or mate than to reach a stranger. The receptor-deficient voles still preferred their mates but showed no extra effort for friends.



“Female wild-type voles typically press more to get their partner than to get a stranger, in both peer and mate relationships," Beery said. "The oxytocin receptor deficient mutants also press more to get to their mating partner, but not for peer relationships.” 



“That makes sense at some level because we think mate relationships are more rewarding than peer relationships, or at least they depend more on reward-signaling pathways.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bonds-and-boundaries-in-friendships">Bonds and boundaries in friendships</h2>



One surprising twist: the receptor-lacking voles’ reduced selectivity made them friendlier to strangers. 



“You can see contributions of oxytocin signaling to both sides of selectivity,” Beery said. “On the prosocial side, it’s involved in wanting to be with a known friend or peer, while on the antisocial side, it’s aiding in rejecting an unfamiliar animal."



The researchers observed that oxytocin influenced both affiliation and aggression in prairie voles, mirroring human findings on its role in in-group/out-group dynamics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxytocin-s-friendship-connection">Oxytocin’s friendship connection</h2>



While this research focuses on voles, it raises big questions for human relationships. If oxytocin shapes not just our desire to bond, but who we choose to bond with, it could offer clues for conditions like autism or schizophrenia. 



In these conditions, social connections can be harder to build and maintain.



For now, the work shows that oxytocin might deserve a new nickname. Forget the “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-love-hormone-oxytocin-may-improve-cognitive-decline/">love hormone</a>.” Maybe it’s the “friendship hormone” we should be talking about.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960982225009431" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Oxytocin has a hidden influence on who we call friends

For years, oxytocin has been tagged as the “cuddle hormone”...

For decades, parents, educators, and even scientists have shared the belief that learning a musical instrument sharpens the brain’s ability to process sound. 



The idea has been simple and appealing - practice your scales, and you’ll not only make music but also tune your ears for clearer, faster hearing, even in noisy places. It’s a claim that has fueled school programs, music camps, and countless conversations about the benefits of music.



But a new large-scale study from the <a href="https://umich.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> and other partner institutions has taken a closer look at this theory. 



The results may surprise those who have long promoted the brain-boosting power of music lessons. The researchers found no evidence that musical training improves the brain’s earliest processing of sound.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-boost-from-musical-training">No boost from musical training</h2>



The team used pre-registered methods, large sample sizes of more than 260 participants, and rigorous replications of past experiments. They tested two widely cited claims, including the idea that musicians can process speech in noisy backgrounds more effectively. 



The researchers also tested whether musicians track pitch changes in speech more accurately. Neither claim held up under scrutiny, even after accounting for years of training or the age at which training began.



“Using sample sizes that were more than four times larger than the original studies, we found no relationship between musical training and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-and-the-mind-new-clues-about-how-we-experience-pleasure/">sound processing</a> at very early stages of the auditory system,” said Kelly Whiteford, the study's lead author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musical-training-and-the-brain">Musical training and the brain</h2>



Earlier research using the Frequency Following Response (FFR) - a brainwave measure of how faithfully the brain tracks sound frequencies - had reported stronger encoding in musicians. 



The findings were influential, sparking widespread belief that early music lessons could boost listening skills in daily life.



In this new study, participants listened to speech sounds such as /da/ in multi-talker babble and a Mandarin word, /mi3/, with changing pitch. EEG recordings captured their brain responses.



Musicians showed no advantage in encoding either the fundamental frequency or the upper <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-brain-map-shows-how-rhythms-instantly-reconfigure-your-mind-freq-ness/">harmonics</a> in noise, nor in tracking dynamic pitch in quiet.



Age did affect results: spectral encoding and pitch tracking worsened with age, consistent with previous research. However, musical training did not slow this decline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-objective-skill-vs-neural-encoding">Objective skill vs. neural encoding</h2>



The researchers also examined whether a musician’s actual skill, measured through a melody discrimination test, related to better neural encoding. 



Musicians did outperform non-musicians in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-speech-is-full-of-melodies-that-create-language-like-patterns/">melody</a> discrimination, and this skill correlated with years of training. But it still showed no relationship to neural encoding strength in the FFR tests.



"These results highlight the importance of carrying out rigorous large-scale studies to test even the most attractive theories," said senior author Andrew Oxenham.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-past-studies-found-an-advantage">Past studies found an advantage</h2>



The authors note that previous positive results often came from small samples, varying definitions of “musician,” and methodological differences, all of which could inflate effect sizes.



Inconsistencies in how “advantage” was measured - even when the same stimuli were used - make comparisons difficult.



They also emphasize that, while no early brain encoding benefit was found, music may still enhance later, cortical stages of processing. It also offers well-established emotional, social, and cultural benefits.



“Musicians tend to have better music perception, and we also found that in our study," Whiteford said. "Any reliable differences in how we perceive sound must be reflected somewhere in the brain. Where is that happening? Not in the FFR."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-musical-training-studies">Future musical training studies</h2>



The researchers emphasize the need for future large-scale, long-term studies that follow participants over time. These studies randomly assigned individuals to structured musical training or a non-music, active control activity.



This approach could separate training effects from pre-existing traits like natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-triggers-unique-prediction-zones-in-the-brain/">auditory skills</a> or personal interests. These traits might influence both the decision to become a musician and the ability to process sound.



Such research could answer a key question: are the perceptual differences seen in some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/live-music-connects-people-emotionally-and-physically/">musicians</a> a direct result of their training, or do people with certain innate abilities simply gravitate toward music? 



Until these questions are addressed, the authors suggest approaching the idea of music as a brain-enhancing tool with caution.



While music remains deeply valuable for cultural, emotional, and social reasons, the current findings show that its influence on the brain’s earliest sound processing is less certain than many once believed. It should be assessed using rigorous, evidence-based methods.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62155-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Brain benefits of musical training may be all in our heads

For decades, parents, educators, and even scientists have shared the...

autonomos-pensionistas-pagas-extra-2025 - 1

Over the past decade, chefs and nutrition scientists have been hunting for protein sources that tread lightly on the planet. One small candidate, the cricket, is now being milled into a versatile flour with enough nutrients to rival steak.



At labs in Argentina and kitchens in Europe, cricket flour is easing into pasta dough, cereal bars, and sandwich bread without demanding much change in taste or texture. 



The broad appeal comes from its rich nutritional profile and its remarkably low environmental cost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flour-as-a-protein-source">Flour as a protein source</h2>



<a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4990-2991" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Carlos Gabriel Arp</a> of the National University of La Plata (<a href="https://unlp.edu.ar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNLP</a>) and the Argentine National Scientific and Technical Research Council (<a href="https://www.conicet.gov.ar/?lan=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CONICET</a>) says the logic is straightforward. 



Crickets turn leftovers into lean tissue faster than cows ever could, and his team’s work on entomophagy forms part of a wider push to rethink protein supply chains. 



That ratio is roughly six times better than beef cattle, freeing up water, land, and fertilizer in one motion.



“The insects in this study had a higher relative growth rate and emitted comparable or lower amounts of GHG than described in literature for pigs and much lower amounts of GHG than cattle,” observed <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=4H5qaVkAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dennis Oonincx</a> and colleagues in 2010. Their data underpin many life cycle models now guiding food policy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-protein-with-cricket-flour">Boosting protein with cricket flour</h2>



When Arp’s group processed <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ijfst/article/59/10/7509/7911760" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gryllus assimilis</a> into powder, they logged a steady 28 percent dry yield, then measured an impressive 60 percent protein by weight, surpassing both chicken breast and egg white. 



Two heaping tablespoons supply more iron than a cup of spinach and nearly half the daily zinc target.



Unlike many plant powders, cricket flour delivers all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein suitable for sports supplements and hospital diets. 



It also brings a mix of omega 6 fats, calcium, magnesium, and the structural fiber chitin, a component that can nudge gut bacteria toward a healthier balance.



The Argentine team calculated a digestibility score of about 67 percent, close to soy and higher than many legumes. 



Translating science to servings, that digestibility means an average bagel fortified with 10 percent cricket flour lands almost eight additional grams of absorbable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-protein-boosts-survival-but-plants-boost-longevity/">protein</a>.



Because the flour dissolves quickly in liquids, product developers are experimenting with high protein beverages and instant soups. 



Early shelf life tests show the powder remains stable for months at room temperature so long as humidity stays below 20 percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-the-protein-numbers">Inside the protein numbers</h2>



Protein quality is not just quantity, it is amino acid balance, and cricket flour excels on that front. Lysine, often the weak link in wheat, appears at more than seventy milligrams per gram of protein, matching beef steak.



Leucine and sulfur containing amino acids also beat or match dairy benchmarks, opening doors for vegan athletes who struggle to hit muscle building thresholds. 



Even with a moderate digestibility correction, the material scores well on the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (<a href="https://jn.nutrition.org/article/S0022-3166(22)14150-7/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PDCAAS</a>), sitting above 1.5 for most indispensable amino acids.



Fatty acid analysis reveals roughly one third linoleic and one quarter oleic acid, a heart friendly profile that keeps the atherogenic index down around 0.43. 



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/omega-3-and-omega-6-fatty-acids-may-reduce-cancer-risk/">omega 6 to omega 3</a> ratio is high, yet formulators can temper that by blending the powder with flax or algal oils.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-cricket-flour-in-real-foods">Testing cricket flour in real foods</h2>



Bread is the first proving ground because its structure quickly exposes weak ingredients. A Polish <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/3/711">stud</a><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/3/711" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">y</a> found that wheat loaves containing 15 percent cricket powder showed protein gains of up to 80 percent while keeping consumer acceptance within normal bounds.



Arp’s bakery trials in La Plata echo that outcome, reporting no loss of volume or chew when only one seventh of the wheat flour was swapped. Those numbers matter to manufacturers chasing nutrition claims without sacrificing mouthfeel.



Pasta behaves just as well, replacing 18 percent of durum flour retained elasticity and color. Bar makers add the powder for stickiness as much as protein, since the fine particles bind syrups and hold seeds in place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-upside-lower-emissions">Environmental upside, lower emissions</h2>



Beef emits about twenty seven pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents per pound of steak, yet cricket farms come in under three pounds according to recent life cycle work from Thailand and the Netherlands. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cutting-methane-emissions-could-quickly-slow-global-warming/">Lower methane</a> explains much of the gap because crickets lack the rumen that turns feed into gas.



Water use tells a similar story, with one pound of cricket protein demanding under 1,000 gallons of water, far beneath the 13,000 gallon figure for beef steak. Such savings attract investors looking for climate aligned <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-choices-have-a-major-impact-on-your-mental-health/">food</a> ventures.



Waste streams add another bonus, as crickets thrive on fruit pulp, brewer’s mash, and other by-products that would otherwise decompose in landfills. When the insects finish feeding, their droppings, known as frass, double as a nitrogen rich fertilizer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-getting-past-the-ick-factor">Getting past the ick factor</h2>



Culture, not chemistry, is the biggest hurdle, because most Western diners still equate insects with pests. 



Grimaces fade once the bugs disappear into flour, a lesson marketers underline by showcasing chocolate chip cookies instead of whole roasted crickets.



Clear labeling helps, especially when packages highlight the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hemp-seeds-could-be-a-game-changer-as-an-alternative-protein-source/">protein per serving</a> and the smaller carbon footprint. Early adopter brands also lean on celebrity chefs to craft recipes that feel familiar, from banana muffins to taco seasoning.



Regulators are catching up, with the European Union approving several cricket species for human food in 2023 and the United States treating the powder as a voluntary GRAS ingredient. 



Mainstream grocery placement will hinge on price, but costs already trail whey isolate, and scale keeps pushing them down.



The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ijfst/article/59/10/7509/7911760" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Food Science and Technology</a>.



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New type of flour contains more protein than meat and eggs

Over the past decade, chefs and nutrition scientists have been...

Your voice might reveal more than just what you say. It could hold hidden clues about benign conditions that you carry, like nodules or polyps, and even early stages of voice box cancer.



A recent study found that our voice could signal abnormalities in the <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/vocal-cord-disorders" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vocal cords</a>, potentially helping detect issues early.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-detects-early-voice-box-cancer">AI detects early voice box cancer</h2>



The researchers developed an AI tool that could record the voice, analyze it, and predict the early signs of <a href="https://beatcancer.eu/laryngeal-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">laryngeal cancer</a>.



"Here we show that with this dataset we could use vocal biomarkers to distinguish voices from patients with vocal fold lesions from those without such lesions," said Dr. Phillip Jenkins, the author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow in clinical informatics at Oregon Health &amp; Science University (<a href="https://www.ohsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OHSU</a>).



Dr. Jenkins and his colleagues are part of the “<a href="https://b2ai-voice.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bridge2AI-Voice</a>” project, and have been exploring the applications of <a href="https://www.foreseemed.com/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a> to solve biomedical challenges. They studied 12,523 voice recordings from 306 participants across North America.



Understanding how the voice is produced and how cancer alters it helps explain why AI can detect problems early.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-voice-box">Understanding the voice box</h2>



The <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538202/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">larynx</a>, commonly known as the voice box, is a hollow tube situated in the middle of the neck that helps us make sounds including whispering, singing, or shouting. When we make sound, the vocal cords, muscle bands found in the larynx, vibrate and produce voice.&nbsp;



Laryngeal cancer, commonly known as voice box cancer, poses a growing public health concern. It can be caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (<a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-and-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HPV</a>) and is also strongly linked to the frequent use of tobacco and alcohol.



Epidemiological studies suggest that in 2021 alone, doctors diagnosed around 1.1 million laryngeal cancer cases worldwide, and approximately 100,000 people died from it.&nbsp;



If it is detected early and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cancer-research-ai-will-change-the-way-we-see-tumors/">tumor</a> is located in a favorable spot, the chances of survival are high. If detected at an advanced stage, however, treatment can be more challenging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-of-existing-diagnostic-methods">Limitations of existing diagnostic methods</h2>



Currently, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-molecular-switch-revert-method-turns-cancer-cells-into-normal-cells/">biopsies</a> and video nasal endoscopies are used to diagnose voice box anomalies.&nbsp;



A biopsy involves taking a small piece of tissue from the tumor and examining it under a microscope. It is an invasive procedure.&nbsp;



A nasal endoscopy involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera, called an endoscope, through the nasal passage to view the larynx. 



While this is minimally invasive and offers a direct view of the affected site, it can still cause discomfort, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-is-a-powerful-weapon-against-chronic-pain/">pain</a>, and in some cases, bleeding or fainting.



Since not all doctors can perform these diagnostic procedures, patients often face delays in searching for the right specialists for diagnosis.&nbsp;



These drawbacks call for a safer, less invasive, and more accessible diagnostic approach, like the recently developed AI tool.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-the-features-of-the-voice">Measuring the features of the voice</h2>



The team measured the acoustic features - the physical characteristics - of the voice, such as quality, pitch, and loudness.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Participants included individuals with diagnosed laryngeal cancer, benign <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-sharks-make-sounds-despite-not-having-vocal-cords/">vocal cord</a> lesions, or other voice disorders. The researchers analyzed the Harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR), which measures sound clarity.&nbsp;



For instance, if you have a high HNR, your sound is clear, with clear harmonics and less noise. People with laryngeal anomalies, on the other hand, tend to have a low HNR.



They also watched the fundamental frequency closely. This refers to the average <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-birds-can-sing-loudly-without-raising-the-pitch-something-humans-cant-do/">pitch</a> of the voice.&nbsp; By comparing these measurements across participants, the team identified distinct patterns that were linked to vocal health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-study-reveals">What the study reveals</h2>



The study found clear differences in the voice parameters among men with no voice disorder, those with benign vocal cord lesions, and those with laryngeal cancer.&nbsp;&nbsp;



They did not spot clear differences in these parameters among women participants, but hope that a larger dataset could reveal them.



The authors concluded that this approach could clinically evaluate vocal fold lesions and early laryngeal cancer, at least in men.&nbsp;



“Our results suggest that ethically sourced, large, multi-institutional datasets like Bridge2AI-Voice could soon help make our voice a practical biomarker for cancer risk in clinical care,” said Dr. Jenkins.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-step-for-ai-voice-tools">Next step for AI voice tools</h2>



Since the authors showed that AI can be effective in the early diagnosis of laryngeal cancer, the next step is to test it with more voice samples in clinical settings.&nbsp;



To turn this into a useful AI tool, the researchers need to analyze more voice recordings using the same approach. “We then need to test the system to make sure it works equally well for women and men,” said Dr. Jenkins.



According to the study, AI health tools for voice analysis are still not ready for use in clinics or hospitals. However, they could move into early-stage testing within the next couple of years.&nbsp;



The AI tool could offer a promising addition to the current diagnostic methods.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1609811/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Digital Health</a>.



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AI may diagnose voice box cancer just by listening to your voice

Your voice might reveal more than just what you say....

<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2220404120" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blinking</a> keeps the front of the eye clean, moist, and protected, and losing that motion can lead to irritation and vision problems. A new <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2508058122">study</a> maps the muscle activity of the eyelid that powers a blink, and shows it is more coordinated and flexible than once thought.



The research comes from the UCLA <a href="https://samueli.ucla.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Samueli</a> School of Engineering and the <a href="https://www.uclahealth.org/locations/david-geffen-school-medicine-ucla" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">David Geffen</a> School of Medicine at UCLA. Their team pairs engineering tools with clinical expertise to study how the eyelids actually move in real time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mechanical-aspects-of-eyelid-blinks">The mechanical aspects of eyelid blinks </h2>



The partnership between the engineering and medical teams at UCLA began with a shared goal of improving patient outcomes for those with impaired <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blinking-plays-crucial-role-vision-human-perception/">eyelid function</a>. By combining motion analysis technology with surgical expertise, they could study both the mechanical and clinical aspects of blinking in unprecedented detail.



This cross-disciplinary approach allowed the researchers to design experiments that captured the muscle activity and movement patterns with both precision and medical relevance. It also set the stage for applying the findings directly to device development, bridging the gap between laboratory research and real-world patient care.



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



Adults blink many times per minute, a <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1714220115" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pattern</a> that supports clear vision and also shifts with attention and task demands. Each blink spreads the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7483968/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tear film</a>, a multi-layer fluid that includes mucus, water, and oil, across the cornea to keep the surface smooth and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-space-travel-affect-eye-health/">comfortable</a>.



When eyelid control falters, people can develop exposure of the eye, pain, and eventually loss of sight, which is why surgeons and engineers look for ways to restore closure. This study focuses on how the eyelid muscle behaves during different kinds of closure so that future devices can copy the correct patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-eyelid-muscle-with-sections">An eyelid muscle with sections</h2>



The orbicularis oculi is a ring-shaped muscle around the eye that closes the lids, and the research paper shows it does not fire as one simple unit. Instead, segments around the eyelid activate in distinct sequences depending on the action, and those sequences shape the path that the lids travel.



Researchers tracked five behaviors: spontaneous blinks, voluntary blinks, reflex blinks to protect the eye, soft closures, and hard squeezes. They found two-dimensional motion signatures for each type and tied those signatures to where and when the muscle became active.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-team-mapped-the-eyelid-blinks">How the team mapped the eyelid blinks</h2>



To capture the fine details, the group used electromyography (<a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/electromyography-emg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMG</a>) with tiny wires in the eyelid, and high-speed motion capture of reflective markers along the lid margin. Recordings from healthy volunteers showed that medial segments often lead the way during routine eyelid blinks, while reflex blinks trigger near-simultaneous activation across the muscle.



Two features stood out in the kinematics: an early inward pull at blink onset for everyday blinks, and a brief overshoot that follows rapid protective blinks. Those patterns match the idea that different blinks serve different purposes, from wetting and pumping tears to shielding the cornea from quick threats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-motion-to-mechanism">From motion to mechanism</h2>



The team’s data linked higher overall activation to faster, fuller protective blinks and showed that slower, softer closures rely on sustained activity with a different spatial bias. They also reported strong correlations between local activation and local shortening along the lid, which supports the segmental control model.



That model helps explain how the eyelid can wet the eye efficiently with small, frequent blinks and still slam shut quickly when danger approaches. It also offers measurable targets for clinicians who evaluate eyelid disorders and recovery after nerve injury.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-path-toward-assistive-tech">A path toward assistive tech</h2>



The study pointed to design rules for a neuroprosthesis, a device that stimulates nerves or muscles to restore movement, and that can assist blinking in those with facial paralysis. Prior <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11021255/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reviews</a> showed that electrical stimulation can elicit lid closure in people and discussed timing, pulse trains, and electrode placement, yet no portable system is currently available in clinical use.



Armed with maps of which segments should activate first and how strongly, engineers can move beyond single-channel approaches that close the lids all at once. Segment-specific stimulation could better reproduce natural wetting blinks instead of only fast, protective snaps. This matters for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vitamin-helps-prevent-cataracts-and-maintain-eye-health/">comfort</a> and vision across a full day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-takeaways-for-patients-and-clinicians">Key takeaways for patients and clinicians</h2>



Segmental control means a future device may need several small electrodes across the pretarsal region, rather than one large contact. It also suggests that sensing on the healthy side could trigger properly timed stimulation on the affected side within tight windows that mimic natural physiology.



Because tear spreading depends on motion paths as well as speed, reproducing the early inward pull seen in routine blinks may be essential for eye health. These insights give surgeons and rehabilitation teams a technical blueprint to assess eyelid motion and to personalize therapy.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2508058122">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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How your eyelids coordinate every blink, over 15,000 times per day

Blinking keeps the front of the eye clean, moist, and...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.ubu.es/english-version" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Burgos</a>, Spain, have found that cross-ventilation is the best type of natural ventilation to maintain healthy air quality inside buildings. 



However, they found that they could not practically apply it in more than half of the existing public buildings they surveyed.



Since the COVID-19 pandemic, recirculated air in public spaces has become a real cause for concern. People need safe access to public spaces. 



Schools, colleges, office spaces, and gyms are essential for a thriving community. But how do we make the air safe?



The researchers developed a replicable model for this. The model assesses the capacity of buildings to maintain good indoor air quality based on real ventilation capacity. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/19/7331" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carbon dioxide</a> (CO₂) concentration is a key marker in the model.



This study proposes that ventilation should be a critical design detail in future public buildings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-co₂-characterizes-air-quality">CO₂ characterizes air quality</h2>



CO₂ levels rise predictably with human respiration. Researchers consider it a reliable marker for the dilution of potentially <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-microbes-are-finding-surprising-new-ways-to-survive">infectious aerosols</a>.



“Good” <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023004002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air quality indoors</a> is when the difference between CO₂ levels indoors and outdoors is less than 500 ppm. 



European standards call this IDA2 category. IDAs 1- 4 classify indoor air quality for non-residential buildings. The buildings surveyed in this study were located in Móstoles, Spain.



Keeping CO₂ within an IDA category requires a specific ventilation flow rate. For infection control, the study suggests aiming for about three air changes per hour (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_changes_per_hour" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACH</a>).



ACH is a measure of how many times the total volume of air in a room is replaced with fresh air in one hour. 



Only CO₂ levels below 800 ppm are safe. More than five ACH can cause discomfort and be counterproductive for disease control.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-buildings-lack-natural-ventilation">Most buildings lack natural ventilation</h2>



Cross-ventilation is where air can enter and exit through openings on opposite facades or walls. It is the only natural method consistently capable of reaching the recommended ACH. 



Researchers emphasized that good indoor air quality is critical for the health and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132323010119" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">well-being</a> of office workers. It is also imperative to reduce airborne diseases.



Yet about 53% of the 183 analyzed rooms had no possibility for natural ventilation at all!&nbsp;



Only a few spaces with windows could achieve good <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millions-of-americans-live-in-areas-without-air-quality-monitoring/">air quality</a> with only natural ventilation. For example, designers planned to accommodate 77 people in the city’s Plenary Hall (City Council). 



However, the study found that it could accommodate only 20 people while maintaining IDA2 conditions - even with every window fully open.



Because of similar issues, just 11% of the rooms met IDA2 occupancy standards.&nbsp;



Between 28% and 57% reached the more modest benchmarks of five or three ACH, depending on room type and density of occupation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-improve-natural-ventilation">How to improve natural ventilation</h2>



The findings make it clear that many existing public buildings do not maintain good <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-and-bushes-near-highways-improve-air-quality/">air quality</a>. Their natural ventilation is inadequate. 



The researchers recommended pairing windows with mechanical ventilation to maintain IDA2 conditions. 



They also demonstrated how to transform simple CO₂ monitoring into a daily operational tool. For example, restricting or staggering admission to a space when thresholds of CO₂ are exceeded. 



Sensors could trigger window openings and not require <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378778816304868" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manual intervention</a>. This would balance energy efficiency and safety in air-conditioned spaces.



“Natural ventilation is a low-cost, scalable intervention,” the authors noted in the paper. This study did not focus on other air purification methods, like filters or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bioengineered-super-plant-acts-as-natural-indoor-air-purifier/">air purifiers</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-designing-buildings-that-breathe">Designing buildings that breathe</h2>



This study provides an integrated approach to designing healthy buildings. They considered specific ventilation conditions, activity types, and occupancy levels.&nbsp;



The majority of public spaces in this study lacked the architectural design to take advantage of natural ventilation. Therefore, forced or mechanical ventilation needs to be combined with the existing system, making it a hybrid.



The study found that cross-ventilation is the most efficient natural way to dilute indoor contaminants. It requires little capital to operate. 



It can be combined with the monitoring of CO₂ levels to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worker-rights-are-among-the-least-protected-human-rights/">protect occupants</a> dynamically. The effects of poor air quality go beyond the spread of infections to other aspects of respiratory health.



Taken together, these findings suggest that the path forward is twofold. 



Existing buildings need to be upgraded to include hybrid systems where required. Secondly, architects should design all new public buildings to breathe from the start.



The study proposes that incorporating cross-ventilation into building design is an essential step toward creating healthier public spaces.



The study findings were published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/6/8/197" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eng.</a>



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Is natural ventilation the key to healthier public spaces?

Researchers at the University of Burgos, Spain, have found that...

Content might be king, but how you consume is becoming even more important. In addition to harming mental health, staring at screens all day while doom-scrolling through social media results in undue eye strain.



A new study shows that even an hour of using a smartphone causes strain on the eyes of young people, especially when it is spent browsing social media.



Over the course of a one-hour session, participants in the study experienced measurable eye strain, regardless of the type of content they viewed. This bodes poorly for today's youth, as their screen habits may be taking a deeper toll than they realize.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-eye-strain">Measuring eye strain</h2>



Sometimes being able to measure a problem concretizes the issue, making it similar to measuring blood sugar or cholesterol levels.



The researchers in this study developed a portable and affordable eye monitoring system. It allowed real-time tracking of <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/blinking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blink rate</a>, inter-blink intervals, and pupil diameter in a practical setting.&nbsp;These are the measures of eye strain.



The experimental procedure took place over three consecutive days. Each participant viewed different types of content for 60 minutes per session. 



The tests were conducted in a room with consistent lighting, using a RealMe 6 Pro smartphone. The phone was held at a fixed distance.



The design accounted for variables such as posture, screen brightness, and interaction history, ensuring reliable and repeatable results.&nbsp;This system opens new doors for accessible digital wellness monitoring in real-world environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reels-strain-eyes-the-most">Reels strain eyes the most</h2>



The study compared the impact of three content types - ebook reading, video watching, and social media reels. Analysis of the data revealed that social media reels were the most taxing on the eyes. 



This was attributed to their rapid, dynamic nature and to the constantly shifting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exposure-to-night-lights-during-sleep-linked-to-multiple-serious-health-issues/">brightness of the screen</a>, which led to the most significant fluctuations in pupil dilation.



On average, pupil diameter was largest when viewing social media (5.14 mm or 0.2 inches) compared to eBooks (4.23 mm or 0.16 inches) and videos (4.36 mm or 0.17 inches). The constant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/visual-masking-your-brain-can-see-things-without-your-knowledge/">visual adaptation</a> required during reels appears to increase eye strain.



TikTok and Instagram reels, while widely popular, have been linked to increased <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-likes-have-a-strong-emotional-effect-on-young-people/">anxiety</a> and other <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10294999/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental health</a> concerns in teens. 



They also cause insidious effects on physical health and well-being in the young. For example, eye strain and fatigue are becoming routine and, therefore, often get ignored. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smartphone-use-causes-problems">Smartphone use causes problems</h2>



The participants in the study were 30 young adults from India in their early 20s. They all had been using a smartphone for at least a year. 



Their average daily screen time was over five hours. Ninety-five percent of the participants reported more than two hours of use each day. Almost all participants (98 percent) reported using their smartphones before going to bed. 



They spent most of this time on social media content, and less on texting and watching videos.&nbsp;



Notably, 83 percent of participants reported <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/internet-changing-our-brains/">psychophysiological</a> issues like anxiety, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8776263/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep disturbance,</a> and mental fatigue. Sixty percent experienced physical discomfort, such as eye strain and neck pain.



Even with these issues, nearly a third of participants reported using their phones continuously for over 20 minutes. These findings highlight the urgent need for developing better screen use habits in young adults.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-screen-time-is-equal-for-eye-strain">Not all screen time is equal for eye strain</h2>



The study results can translate to practical solutions. Prolonged exposure to dynamic content like social media reels is particularly harmful to eye health. Clearly, that is what needs to be reduced the most.



Other behavioral changes that smartphone users can adopt are: taking regular breaks every 20 minutes, using blue light filters or dark mode, and avoiding screens before sleep.



This study has shown that content choices also matter. Opting for more stable visual content is much easier on the eyes. Minimizing time spent on fast-paced or split-screen media would also ease the load on the eyes.



As screen time continues to rise, these strategies could play a crucial role in protecting eye health. Limiting intentional screen time daily is more important than ever.



The study results were published in the <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1995-8692/18/4/34#" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Eye Movement Research</a>.



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Eye strain in young adults is linked to the type of content consumed

Content might be king, but how you consume is becoming...

New research tracking more than 100,000 U.S. adults for thirty years shows that completing two to four times the weekly exercise dose recommended by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-exercise-amplifies-physical-and-mental-health-benefits/">health</a> authorities can cut the risk of death from any cause by up to 31 percent. 



This edge holds whether people favor brisk walks or hard runs, and it stacks on top of the protection that even a modest amount of movement provides.



The findings arrive as most Americans fall short of activity targets and spend nearly half their waking hours seated. 



The new numbers suggest that adding a few extra hours of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/japanese-interval-walking-training-technique-iwt-improves-health-prevents-disease/">movement each week</a> could bring surprisingly large gains in healthspan and lifespan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-exercise-better-health">More exercise, better health</h2>



The <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association</a> advised adults to log at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity spread over several days. 



Dong Hoon Lee, a research associate at the <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/exercising-more-than-recommended-could-lengthen-life-study-suggests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a>, led the study that put those advice lines under the microscope.



A pooled 2015 <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/INTEMED/articlepdf/2212267/ioi150018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> of six cohort studies linked doing three to five times the guideline amount to the greatest survival edge, yet data were thin for higher doses.



Lee’s group wanted to close that gap using repeated activity measurements collected up to fifteen times per participant over three decades.



“Our study provides evidence to guide individuals to choose the right amount and intensity of physical activity over their lifetime to maintain their overall health,” said Lee.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-followed-100-000-people">Study followed 100,000 people</h2>



The team drew on the <a href="https://nurseshealthstudy.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nurses' Health Study</a> and the <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/health-professionals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Health Professionals Follow Up Study</a>, which began in 1976 and 1986 and surveyed volunteers about their leisure time exercise every two years. Participants were free of major illness at baseline and averaged 66 years of age during follow-up.



Researchers converted each reported workout into a metabolic equivalent task (<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2204507/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MET</a>) score, tallied weekly minutes at each intensity, and linked those records to death certificates. The sheer scale let them detect small shifts in risk across a wide activity range.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-can-slow-aging-right-down-to-your-dna/">Moderate pursuits</a> covered walking, light calisthenics, and weightlifting, while vigorous ones included running, lap swimming, and cycling. 



Matching any mix to the guideline minimum trimmed deaths about 20 percent, confirming earlier work without demanding elite athlete effort.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-moderate-moves-win-big">Why moderate moves win big</h2>



When total activity reached 300 to 600 minutes a week of the moderate kind, death risk dipped 26 to 31 percent, the steepest drop seen in the data. That translates to roughly five to ten hours of steady movement spread across seven days.



Vigorous workouts delivered a similar curve, but benefits leveled off around 150 to 300 minutes weekly, with no extra gain past that ceiling. The pattern held for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/corpse-flowers-amorphophallus-titanum-smell-like-death-but-thousands-rush-to-see-them-bloom/">deaths</a> related to cardiovascular disease as well as other causes.



Those shapes echo a 2015 meta-analysis, which found diminishing returns beyond about forty metabolic equivalent hours each week. Together, the studies show that more is better up to a point, then plateaus.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-of-too-much-exercise">Health risks of too much exercise</h2>



Sports cardiologists have long debated whether years of extreme endurance competition invite heart rhythm issues or scarring. Some case reports hint at trouble, yet population data are mixed.



A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3445091/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> of marathon events estimates sudden cardiac death at roughly one per 100,000 to 200,000 participants, a rate far lower than many everyday risks.



In the current work, even volunteers who clocked more than 600 moderate or 300 vigorous minutes a week showed no sign of harm, easing fears that consistent high output alone damages the heart.&nbsp;



“We have known for a long time that moderate and intense levels of physical exercise can reduce a person's risk of both atherosclerotic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/">cardiovascular disease</a> and mortality,” noted epidemiologist Donna K. Arnett, who was not involved in the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-science-into-steps">Turning science into steps</h2>



How can a busy adult reach the sweet spot? Three brisk 50 minute walks, two resistance sessions, and a weekend <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cycling-daily-reduces-cancer-risk-by-50-percent-and-boosts-heart-health/">bike ride</a> together land within the 300 minute moderate window and also meet muscle strengthening targets laid out by the AHA.



Shorter bursts count too. Ten minutes of fast stair climbing tucked into each workday adds up to more than an hour by Friday.



The takeaway is simple: keep moving, aim higher than the baseline recommendation when life allows, and mix intensities to suit your body and goals. 



Checking with a clinician before ramping up, especially for those with chronic conditions, remains a wise step.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-age-and-fitness-level-affect-benefits">How age and fitness level affect benefits</h2>



Older adults may be more likely to engage in moderate physical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fitness-focused-medicine-physical-activity-reduces-chronic-disease-risk/">activity</a> than vigorous types, but the study showed benefits were consistent across all age groups. 



Whether participants were in their forties or seventies, increasing movement beyond the minimum targets brought gains.



Those with higher body mass index (<a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculate-your-bmi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMI</a>), also showed improvements, though the strongest links were seen in leaner individuals. This suggests that while fitness amplifies the payoff, anyone can benefit by moving more.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.058162" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Circulation</a>.



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Exercising more than recommended may greatly reduce risk of early death from any cause

New research tracking more than 100,000 U.S. adults for thirty...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
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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.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter 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/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" 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> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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