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...

Cute,Child,Looks,At,Single,Marshmallow,On,Table.,The,Marshmallow

The marshmallow test has a fresh wrinkle, and it comes from the digital living room rather than the lab. The classic experiment has gone online, and it turns out that what another child says can make all the difference.



A new online study shows that five and six-year-olds are far more patient when another child simply says, “I promise I won’t eat mine.” Psychologist <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qhL6IaEAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rebecca Koomen</a> and colleagues at the <a href="https://www.manchester.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Manchester</a> report the data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peer-promises-in-the-marshmallow-test">Peer promises in the marshmallow test</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cuttlefish-have-passed-marshmallow-test-designed-for-kids-proving-cephalopods-intelligence/">classic marshmallow experiment</a> asked children to choose between one treat now or two later, highlighting the power of delay of gratification. Koomen’s team kept that basic setup but added a remote partner visible on screen.



Each child saw a partner who either made a clear promise to wait or wavered aloud about eating early. The children could not talk back, turning the interaction into a one way trust test.



Even with that silence, the social cue landed. When the partner pledged to wait, average latency before nibbling stretched to about 7 minutes, uncertainty cut it to roughly 4 minutes.



For younger participants the effect was starker: almost half reached the full ten minute mark in the promise condition, while only one in ten did so when the partner sounded unsure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-waiting-times-tell-the-story">Waiting times tell the story</h2>



“Children in the promise condition waited longer to eat their treat than children in the social risk condition,” noted Koomen at the end of the analysis.



The numbers bear her out. In a distraction free subset, mean waiting time rose to 451 seconds with a pledged partner versus 220 seconds without. 



That near doubling appeared despite the children never hearing reassurance from the researcher while they waited.



Girls, on average, held out about two minutes longer than boys in the marshmallow test, suggesting early sex differences in impulse control, although the authors caution that the study was not designed to probe that question.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trust-cooperation-and-tiny-contracts">Trust, cooperation, and tiny contracts</h2>



Developmental psychologists have long argued that kids grasp commitments early. A promise, even from a stranger on a screen, evidently signals reliability strongly enough to override temptation.



Koomen’s finding dovetails with earlier <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/documents/Elsevier/Kanngiesser_Young_CogDev_2014_1896579.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> showing that three year olds keep cleaning up toys longer after making a verbal commitment to help. 



In everyday terms, a simple “I’ll wait if you will” may be as powerful for preschoolers as a written contract is for adults.



The result also reveals how social risk depresses cooperation. Hearing “I think I might eat this cookie” turned a cooperative gamble into a likely loss, and children adjusted their patience accordingly.



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



“Those 4 year old children who delayed gratification longer in certain laboratory situations developed into more cognitively and socially competent adolescents,” wrote <a href="https://bingschool.stanford.edu/sites/bingschool/files/1989_mischeletal.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walter Mischel</a> back in 1989 at Columbia University. 



That famous claim sparked decades of research linking early patience to better grades, health, and earnings.&nbsp;



Yet follow up surveys of the original participants now paint a subtler picture. 



A 2020 <a href="https://ssrn.com/abstract=3502417" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> of 113 adults found that preschool waiting time alone “does not predict the 11 mid-life capital formation variables” studied. Self regulation across the lifespan, not one childhood moment, turned out to matter.



Koomen’s work adds nuance rather than contradiction. 



Patience is still valuable, but the study shows that context, here, the reliability of a peer, steers behavior. Children who trusted a partner were willing to invest time, when trust faltered, so did patience.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marshmallow-test-lessons-learned">Marshmallow test lessons learned</h2>



The data hint at practical strategies. Children thrive on clear, reciprocal commitments, so adults can model explicit verbal promises when cooperation is required. 



Saying “I’ll finish my work while you finish yours” may encourage shared persistence more than vague encouragement does.



Virtual classrooms could also leverage brief peer pledges to boost collective focus. Because Koomen’s trial ran entirely over Zoom, the method scales easily to distance learning setups where managing attention is notoriously hard.



At home, parents might notice that siblings keep each other honest when both know the rules. A mutual vow to hold off on snacks until everyone is seated could work better than reminders shouted from the kitchen.



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



The study sampled mainly white, middle class families in northern England, so replication across cultures will be crucial. 



Researchers will also want to test symmetrical communication, if both children could promise one another in real time, patience might climb even higher.



Another open question is how long the effect lasts. Does learning that promises matter today shape impulse control tomorrow? 



Longitudinal tracking would tell whether brief social contracts plant longer term habits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marshmallow-test-and-the-big-picture">Marshmallow test and the big picture</h2>



Neuroscientists meanwhile continue exploring the brain circuits that weigh immediate versus delayed payoffs, hinting that social reliability cues may interact with reward processing regions. 



Bridging behavioral data with neural measures could help explain why a single sentence from a peer sways a child’s choices so strongly.



Self control is neither fixed nor purely internal. It moves with the social winds, and a peer’s simple, credible pledge can tip the balance toward patience. 



For parents, teachers, and anyone hoping to cultivate persistence, that is both a caution and an opportunity.



The study is published in <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250392" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Society Open Science</a>.



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Unexpected twist observed when children take the marshmallow test

The marshmallow test has a fresh wrinkle, and it comes...

Slowing down aging is no longer just science fiction. A growing collection of research confirms that lifestyle choices can shape how fast we age on the inside. Among these choices, exercise stands out. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-reduces-the-risk-of-brain-diseases-by-up-to-54-percent/">Exercise</a> is accessible, low-cost, and can trigger changes deep within our cells. A new study explains how it may help reverse certain aspects of aging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-exercise-slows-aging">How exercise slows aging</h2>



The study comes from a team led by Takuji Kawamura at <a href="https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tohoku University</a>. The researchers reviewed evidence linking regular physical activity, planned exercise, and overall fitness to slower “epigenetic aging.” 



This type of aging looks at changes in DNA that reveal how well our body’s cells are functioning. Epigenetic clocks measure these changes. They track DNA methylation patterns, which can switch genes on or off. 



Unlike the age on your ID card, these clocks reveal the biological wear and tear happening inside your tissues. Lifestyle habits, including how much and how intensely you move, can speed up or slow down this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-feels-better-when-its-matched-to-your-personality/">process</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planned-exercise-works-best">Planned exercise works best</h2>



Physical activity means any movement that burns energy - walking to the store, cleaning, climbing stairs. 



Exercise is different. It is structured, repetitive, and done with a goal, like improving endurance or strength. The result is fitness - your ability to perform physical tasks, shaped by both your genes and training.



These differences matter. Light movement supports health but may not trigger the deeper cellular changes linked to slowing aging. Structured <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/move-more-sleep-better-exercise-helps-fight-insomnia/">exercise</a>, especially at moderate to vigorous levels, seems to make the biggest difference. 



It can improve mitochondrial function, insulin sensitivity, and even molecular markers tied to aging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exercise-slows-aging">Exercise slows aging</h2>



Research on general physical activity shows mixed results. Some studies find weak links to slower aging. Others show that leisure-time activity and less sitting relate to a younger biological profile. 



Interestingly, work-related physical activity does not consistently produce anti-aging benefits.



Controlled exercise trials tell a clearer story. In mice, endurance and resistance training slowed age-related DNA changes in muscle tissue. In humans, multi-week training programs reduced biological age markers in blood and muscle. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-back-the-epigenetic-clock">Turning back the epigenetic clock</h2>



One trial found that sedentary middle-aged women cut two years off their epigenetic age after eight weeks of combined aerobic and strength training. 



Older men with higher oxygen uptake - a sign of strong cardiovascular fitness - also aged more slowly at the molecular level.



“These findings suggest that maintaining physical fitness delays epigenetic aging in multiple organs and supports the notion that exercise as a geroprotector confers benefits to various organs,” noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fitness-levels-matter">Fitness levels matter</h2>



People who maintain high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness often experience a slower pace of epigenetic aging compared to those with lower <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-in-a-pill-is-now-closer-to-reality/">fitness</a> levels. This means their cells and tissues show fewer molecular signs of aging, even if they are the same chronological age as others. 



Research has found that Olympic athletes, who train intensively for many years, typically have a lower biological age than non-athletes of the same age. 



The difference suggests that long-term, high-level training may have lasting effects on slowing the body’s internal aging process. Interestingly, this trend is not limited to elite athletes or completely healthy individuals.



Even among people living with chronic health conditions, those who achieve and maintain better fitness levels tend to display younger biological profiles when measured through DNA methylation and other aging markers. 



This pattern reinforces the idea that improving and maintaining fitness can offer measurable anti-aging benefits across different health backgrounds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-beyond-muscles">Benefits beyond muscles</h2>



Exercise doesn’t just benefit muscles. Studies in animals show slower aging in the heart, liver, and fat tissue in high-fitness groups. 



There is also growing evidence that the gut microbiome plays a role in both fitness and aging speed, hinting at a broader network of effects.



The researchers point out several limitations of the research. Studies need consistent methods for measuring activity, fitness, and aging. More diverse groups should be included. 



People with higher biological age before starting exercise seem to benefit more - but why remains unclear. New tools, called causal epigenetic clocks, might help confirm if exercise directly changes DNA in ways that affect health.



In the end, the message is simple. Moving regularly, training with purpose, and building fitness does not just keep you strong today - it might also keep your cells younger for years to come.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.aging-us.com/article/206278/text" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aging-US</a>.



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Exercise can slow aging - right down to your DNA

Slowing down aging is no longer just science fiction. A...

A new study finds that even kids as young as three can tell whether a short, wordless music tune sounds happy, sad, calm, or scary - and they get better at it as they grow.



The researchers also looked at how certain personality traits, like low empathy or limited emotional expression, might affect this skill. 



The findings reveal that, while most preschoolers have a natural ear for musical emotions, some patterns make certain feelings harder to recognize.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-match-music-to-moods">Kids match music to moods</h2>



Rebecca Waller and colleagues at the <a href="https://psychology.sas.upenn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Pennsylvania’s</a> School of Arts and Sciences tested 144 preschoolers using five-second instrumental clips and a forced-choice task that asked them to match each clip to one of four emotion faces.



The design let the team separate two basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-felt-emotions-in-unusual-body-parts/">emotion dimensions</a>, valence and arousal. Valence ranges from positive to negative, while arousal reflects low to high energy in the music.



Performance was better than chance: overall accuracy was 36 percent compared with a 25 percent chance level on the four-option task, and the age trend favored older preschoolers.



High-energy emotions were easier to recognize. Recognition was higher for clips conveying high-arousal states, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-does-happiness-come-from-it-depends-on-who-you-are/">happiness</a> and fear, than for low-arousal states, such as calmness and sadness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-with-emotion-reading-difficulties">Kids with emotion-reading difficulties </h2>



Children rated higher on callous-unemotional traits showed poorer recognition overall, with the clearest drop in positive, low-arousal music. Fear recognition, by contrast, did not differ in these children.



This pattern aligns with previous work which links callous traits to broader emotion-reading difficulties. These include problems recognizing distress in faces, as well as a higher risk for aggression and rule-breaking in youth.



In Western tonal music, mode and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-doesnt-just-hear-music-it-becomes-the-rhythm/">harmony </a>often carry affective color. A major key is usually judged as brighter or happier, while minor often lands as darker, though cultural context shapes these mappings.



In the new data, children were more accurate when clips were in a major key, while tempo showed no main effect on accuracy in this sample, consistent with the broader finding that high-arousal cues drive performance at these ages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musical-emotion-is-important">Musical emotion is important</h2>



By the early school years, kids typically get better at mapping music to emotion categories - a trend documented across ages five, eight, and eleven in earlier lab studies using unfamiliar excerpts.



Because callous-unemotional traits carry elevated risk for externalizing problems, any channel that strengthens emotion knowledge could be useful in prevention or early support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-and-culture-shape-listening">Family and culture shape listening</h2>



Early exposure to varied musical styles could help strengthen a kid’s ability to recognize emotions in music. Familiarity with a range of tempos, keys, and cultural traditions may broaden the cues they can pick up on, potentially improving accuracy beyond what age alone predicts.



Environmental factors such as family listening habits, preschool <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-music-education-helps-young-people-thrive/">music programs</a>, or even background music in public spaces might contribute to these abilities. 



This opens the possibility that targeted musical activities in early childhood settings could have lasting effects on social-emotional learning.



Even very short, lyric-free clips can communicate basic feelings to preschoolers, which suggests simple listening tasks may be informative in classrooms and clinics.



Other recent work finds that five-year-olds can sort musical feelings along valence and intensity, hinting at a fast-maturing sense for emotional contours in sound.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-empathy-and-musical-connections">Empathy and musical connections</h2>



Music does not only communicate emotion, it can elicit it. In one study of five- to six-year-olds, above-chance recognition coexisted with stronger felt responses among kids whose parents reported higher <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/empathy-can-be-taught-through-simple-reward-training/">empathy</a>, especially for sad music.



Beyond individuals, coordinated musical activity has been tied to social bonding through interpersonal synchrony and endorphin release in group contexts such as singing or dancing.



“We show that children are good at matching emotion faces to the ‘correct’ emotion music, even at age three,” said Waller.



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



The present work used a community sample with low overall levels of callous-unemotional traits, so a logical next step is testing clinic-referred children who score higher on these traits. 



Longer music excerpts and a wider set of emotions could also clarify how specific musical features, beyond valence, arousal, key, and tempo, shape recognition in early childhood.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.70024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Child Development</a>.



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Kids pick up emotions in music long before they can read

A new study finds that even kids as young as...

A new analysis explains why common cuff-based blood pressure checks can be wrong. It shows that the artery beneath the cuff stays closed longer than expected, which makes systolic pressure appear lower than it is.



The study also points to simple tweaks that could sharpen readings and detect more cases of hypertension.



Researchers at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a> built a physical model to test the mechanics behind the error. Their findings suggest protocol changes could improve accuracy without replacing standard cuffs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cuff-readings-hidden-flaw">Cuff readings’ hidden flaw</h2>



Most blood pressure measurements use the auscultatory method. A cuff inflates around the upper arm until it blocks <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-increases-blood-flow-to-the-brain/">blood flow</a>. 



As the cuff deflates, a clinician listens for tapping sounds while watching the gauge. The first taps mark systolic pressure, and the last taps indicate diastolic pressure.



“The auscultatory method is the gold standard, but it overestimates diastolic pressure, while systolic pressure is underestimated,” said co-author Kate Bassil from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering.



“We have a good understanding of why diastolic pressure is overestimated, but why systolic pressure is underestimated has been a bit of a mystery.”



“Pretty much every clinician knows blood pressure readings are sometimes wrong, but no one could explain why they are being underestimated - there’s a real gap in understanding,” said co-author Anurag Agarwal, a professor at Cambridge’s Department of Engineering.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solving-the-systolic-mystery"><a></a>Solving the systolic mystery</h2>



Earlier bench setups used rubber tubes to mimic arteries. Those tubes did not fully collapse under cuff pressure, which masked the source of the systolic error.



The team designed a simplified rig to recreate what happens in the arm below the cuff. Inflate the cuff, and the downstream segment becomes very low pressure. 



That drop keeps the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-diet-can-damage-our-blood-vessels/">blood vessel</a> walls pressed together for longer as the cuff pressure falls. Reopening is delayed, and the tapping begins later than it should. At that moment, the gauge reads too low for systolic pressure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reproducing-real-blood-flow">Reproducing real blood flow</h2>



Instead of round rubber tubes, the researchers used flat-laying tubes that close completely under load. That substitution was key. It reproduced the low downstream pressures seen in the body. 



The experimental method also revealed how cuff deflation timing interacts with vessel collapse and reopening.



In this setup, the delayed reopening showed up clearly. The physical mechanism matched what clinicians observe. Systolic pressure is biased down, while diastolic skews up. Together, those shifts can hide disease, especially when true systolic pressure is high.



“We are currently not adjusting for this error when diagnosing or prescribing treatments, which has been estimated to lead to as many as 30 percent of cases of systolic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-link-between-insomnia-and-hypertension-in-women/">hypertension</a> being missed,” Bassil said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-the-cuff-work-better">Making the cuff work better</h2>



The study points to low-cost changes. One idea is to raise the arm before measuring. That could set a more predictable downstream pressure. If the underestimation then becomes predictable, clinicians can account for it.



“You might not even need new devices, just changing how the measurement is done could make it more accurate,” Agarwal said.



If new monitors are developed, they could ask for added inputs. Age, BMI, or tissue characteristics may correlate with downstream pressure.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lasers-and-light-replace-the-cuff-in-blood-pressure-breakthrough-scos/">Devices</a> could use those signals to tailor the correction for each person. The goal is the same: reduce bias at the moment when the taps first appear.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blood-pressure-accuracy-saves-lives">Blood pressure accuracy saves lives</h2>



Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk for early death worldwide. Missed systolic disease delays treatment, raising the odds of heart attack, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stroke-risk-is-elevated-by-air-pollution-and-traffic-noise/">stroke</a>, and heart failure. Even small gains in accuracy can shift outcomes at the population scale.



More reliable readings also protect patients from the opposite error: overestimation, which can lead to unnecessary medications and side effects.



Getting both numbers right helps clinicians set appropriate treatment targets and helps patients trust the plan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-blood-pressure-readings">Improving blood pressure readings </h2>



The Cambridge team is preparing for clinical trials to test the correction in real-world settings and across diverse populations.



Partnerships with clinicians and industry will be essential. Better calibration models will require broad validation, and training and workflow updates will also be important.



The promise is practical: keep the cuff, change the protocol, and understand the physics in the artery beneath the fabric. With these changes, routine checks could flag true risk more often, and the path from diagnosis to prevention could become much clearer.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/8/pgaf222/8222934" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS Nexus</a>.



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Why your blood pressure reading might be wrong

A new analysis explains why common cuff-based blood pressure checks...

A pesticide that American farmers cannot spray on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-packaging-is-leaking-harmful-chemicals-into-meals/">food</a> crops is still turning up in the breakfast bowls of millions. Tests show that chlormequat sneaks into best selling oat cereals despite the domestic ban on food uses.



In a peer reviewed survey of 96 adults, scientists detected the chemical in 77 urine samples, an 80 percent hit rate that points to routine exposure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-chlormequat">What is chlormequat?</h2>



<a href="https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/our-experts/alexis-temkin-phd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alexis M Temkin, PhD</a>, a toxicologist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), explains that the compound is a plant growth regulator that stiffens grain stalks so they do not lodge in bad weather.



Because shorter stems make harvesting easier, growers in Canada and Europe apply the chemical widely to oats, wheat, and barley.



The <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/13836" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Library of Medicine</a> classifies chlormequat as approved only for ornamental plants inside U.S. greenhouses, not for any edible crop.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-changing-regulatory-landscape">A changing regulatory landscape</h2>



The Environmental Protection Agency (<a href="https://www.epa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPA</a>) opened the door in 2018 by allowing imported foods with allowable residues, then doubled the residue limit for oats in 2020, a move critics say signaled acceptance rather than caution.



Domestic use remains under review, yet the agency proposed granting farmers direct access in 2024, sparking a flood of public comments from pediatricians, growers, and consumer advocates.



Temkin warns that incremental rule changes can translate into large jumps in exposure because oats are baked into cereals, snack bars, and even baby <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-insecurity-can-lead-to-heart-problems-later-in-life/">food</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-chlormequat-on-the-rise">Signs of chlormequat on the rise</h2>



The new urine analysis shows median concentrations tripling between 2017 and 2023, suggesting that imported oats are already reshaping the U.S. chemical landscape.



Researchers also found the substance in 92 percent of non organic oat products purchased in Washington, DC grocery stores, while wheat products rarely registered positive.



Because chlormequat leaves the body in roughly twenty four hours, repeated detection indicates daily intake, not a one time spike.



Temkin calls the finding “alarm bells about how it could potentially cause harm without anyone even knowing they’ve consumed it,” a statement released through <a href="https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2024/02/new-peer-reviewed-ewg-study-finds-little-known-toxic-crop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EWG</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-studies-and-fertility">Animal studies and fertility</h2>



Laboratory work over four decades links dietary chlormequat to reduced sperm quality, delayed puberty, and altered fetal growth at doses lower than current regulatory limits.



Pig experiments in Denmark first flagged reproductive trouble when sows fed treated grain failed to cycle normally.



More recent mouse <a href="https://cen.acs.org/environment/pesticides/Chlormequat-rise-US-population/102/i6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> showed testosterone drops of up to forty percent, reinforcing the suspicion that the chemical disrupts steroid synthesis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-oats-are-vulnerable">Why oats are vulnerable</h2>



Oats grow in cooler, wetter climates where plants tend to fall over, so farmers lean on growth regulators more than maize or rice producers.



The slender hull of the oat kernel also absorbs residues easily, meaning what goes on in the field can stay through milling, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chocolate-with-less-sugar-still-tastes-great-with-a-secret-ingredient/">baking</a>, and shipping.



Unlike wheat, most oats eaten in the United States are imported from Canada, a country that allows routine chlormequat spraying, creating a direct pipeline from prairie fields to pantry shelves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-industry-response">Industry response</h2>



Cheerios maker General Mills maintains that “All our products adhere to all regulatory requirements,” said company spokesperson Mollie Wulff.



Quaker echoed that stance, saying it follows “a comprehensive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-plastic-food-packaging-contains-9936-harmful-chemicals/">food</a> safety management system” for its oats and bars.



Cereal processors note that detected levels fall below the EPA reference dose of 0.05 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, though toxicologists counter that the reference is based on decades old data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-on-the-front-line">Children on the front line</h2>



EWG’s calculations suggest that toddlers who eat a small bowl of conventional oatmeal could consume more chlormequat per pound of body weight than adults, eroding any margin of safety.



Pediatric dietitians point out that oat based finger foods are frequently marketed as “first solids,” giving the youngest consumers disproportionate exposure during critical developmental windows.



Choosing <a href="https://www.usda.gov/farming-and-ranching/organic-farming" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USDA Organic</a> oats cuts residue dramatically, with only one of eight organic samples in the 2023 survey testing positive and at a fraction of conventional levels.



Steel cut oats sourced from domestic processors also showed lower contamination, hinting that where grain is grown can matter as much as how it is processed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chlormequat-policy-options">Chlormequat policy options</h2>



Health advocates want the EPA to tighten residue limits, add chlormequat to the <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/datasets/pdp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pesticide Data Program</a>, and apply extra safety factors for children, mirroring rules already used for other endocrine disruptors.



State lawmakers in New York and California are considering bills that would require front of package disclosure when grains exceed advisory levels, a strategy meant to shift market demand toward lower residue sources.



Major retailers could accelerate change by setting private standards, a <a href="https://www.ewg.org/peer-reviewed-studies-published-by-ewg-scientists" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tactic</a> that has successfully reduced antibiotics in meat and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-plastics-chemical-bpa-linked-to-autism-adhd-in-children/">BPA in food</a> contact plastics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-parents-can-do-now">What parents can do now</h2>



Nutritionists recommend rinsing quick oats before cooking and diversifying breakfasts with eggs, yogurt, and fresh fruit, steps that dilute overall exposure without major lifestyle changes.



Parents who rely on oat based snacks can look for organic certification or brands that publish independent residue tests, a small but growing niche in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childrens-cereals-now-contain-more-sugar-and-fat-than-ever/">cereal</a> aisle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-call-for-better-monitoring">A call for better monitoring</h2>



Consumer groups are urging the federal government to add chlormequat to routine pesticide sampling programs and to set children specific safety factors that reflect the latest animal evidence.



Temkin and colleagues want larger epidemiological studies that track fertility outcomes in communities with high oat consumption, similar to historic work on other endocrine disruptors.



Until such data arrive, simple breakfast choices will continue to serve as an unintended experiment in chemical policy.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-024-00643-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Exposure Science &amp; Environmental Epidemiology</a>.



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Banned chemical is found in popular oat brands eaten by millions of people

A pesticide that American farmers cannot spray on food crops...

Reflection,In,The,Mirror.,Woman,Looks,In,The,Mirror,Noticing

As humans, we see aging when we look in the mirror, but the crucial changes happen in the proteins that keep every tissue running. Those proteins rise, fall, and shift as the years stack up, shaping organ function and health over time. 



A large study recently published in the journal Cell follows protein patterns across the human body to map when and where aging speeds up.



This research tracks the molecules that build structures, relay signals, and handle cleanup inside cells, where wear and tear accumulates. 



By watching proteins rather than just reading genetic instructions, the study offers a more direct view of how organs change across adult life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proteins-and-human-aging">Proteins and human aging</h2>



The work comes from scientists at the <a href="https://english.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>, who focused on proteins because they are the end products that carry out cellular functions. 



Their aim was to chart how protein levels change along with human aging in many organs at once and to compare those shifts with RNA - the cellular templates used to make proteins. 



"Our study is poised to construct a comprehensive multi-tissue proteomic atlas spanning 50 years of the entire human aging process, elucidating the mechanisms behind <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4539002/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proteostasis imbalance</a> in aged organs and revealing both universal and tissue-specific aging patterns," the researchers write.



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



The team measured more than 12,700 proteins in samples from 13 human tissues, plus blood. Donors ranged from 14 to 68 years old. 



In total, the analysis covered 516 tissue specimens with ultra-sensitive mass spectrometry and matching RNA readouts. 



The tissue set drew from 76 organ donors who died of accidental traumatic brain injury, providing a broad snapshot of adult biology across several decades.



"Based on aging-associated protein changes, we developed tissue-specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/">proteomic age</a> clocks and characterized organ-level aging trajectories," explained the team. 



"Temporal analysis revealed an aging inflection around age 50, with blood vessels being a tissue that ages early and is markedly susceptible to aging."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tissues-on-different-schedules">Tissues on different schedules</h2>



The pace of change isn’t uniform across the body. The starkest shifts clustered between 45 and 55, when many tissues remodeled their protein profiles. 



Within that window, the aorta showed the most marked change, and the pancreas and spleen exhibited sustained shifts that stood out against more gradual patterns elsewhere.



Signals of aging didn’t wait for midlife in every case. The adrenal glands and the aorta began to drift from youthful protein patterns around age 30, hinting at stress-hormone and vascular changes that precede later organ shifts. 



The sample set spanned seven systems: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/">cardiovascular</a> (heart and aorta), digestive (liver, pancreas, and intestine), <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daylight-boosts-the-immune-systems-ability-to-fight-infections/">immune</a> (spleen and lymph node), endocrine (adrenal gland and white adipose), respiratory (lung), integumentary (skin), and musculoskeletal (muscle), along with blood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-weakens-protein-connections">Aging weakens protein connections</h2>



The study found that the connection between RNA templates and the proteins they should produce weakens with age. Cells appear less able to translate instructions into the right protein levels at the right times. 



At the same time, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-aging-linked-to-sluggish-production-of-key-proteins/">proteostasis</a> - the machinery that builds, folds, and recycles proteins - loses strength. Ribosomes, chaperones, and proteasomes trended downward, while amyloid-type protein clumps accumulated. 



Those clumps interacted with immune and complement proteins and fed chronic, low-level inflammation known as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-018-0059-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">inflammaging</a>. 



One molecule, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/serum-amyloid-p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">serum amyloid P</a> (SAP), stood out as consistently increased across organs and, in laboratory tests, pushed young blood-vessel cells toward an older, inflamed state.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disease-linked-proteins-rise">Disease-linked proteins rise</h2>



When the researchers compared their catalog to disease databases, expression levels of 48 disease-related proteins increased with aging. 



The signals touched conditions such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/">cardiovascular disease</a>, tissue fibrosis, fatty liver disease, and liver-related tumors, indicating that common age-associated risks have echoes in the protein data.



The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03164-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proteomic clocks</a> built by the team for each tissue reached strong accuracy, with correlations up to 0.95. These tools extend the idea of biological age beyond DNA marks and focus on the molecules that do the work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeting-proteins-to-slow-aging">Targeting proteins to slow aging</h2>



The authors describe a Protein Imbalance-Vascular Hub model in which failures in protein quality control inside blood vessels can trigger broader tissue changes. 



They refer to the aorta as a senohub - a source of age-amplifying signals that circulate and influence distant organs. The pattern points to network effects rather than isolated, organ-by-organ decline.



Prior work reported <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-bodies-undergo-very-rapid-change-aging-at-two-very-specific-times/">two sharp aging peaks</a> at around 44 and again at around 60. 



The current results align with a stepwise pattern, adding a midlife surge while highlighting tissue-specific timing that helps explain why organ changes do not unfold all at once.



Together, these findings lay the groundwork for a systems-level understanding of human aging through the lens of proteins.



Insights from the research team may soon facilitate the development of targeted interventions for aging and age-related diseases, paving the way to improve the health of older adults.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)00749-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell</a>.



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Scientists identify a 'turning point' when your body starts aging faster

As humans, we see aging when we look in the...

Children who grow up helping, sharing, caring, and showing kindness are more likely to maintain healthy eating habits in their teen years. A new analysis finds that prosocial behavior in kids aligns with stronger fruit-and-vegetable consumption at ages when diets often decline.



The pattern hints at an unexpected route to better health: nurture kindness early in kids, and nutrition may follow.



The research draws on the <a href="https://cls.ucl.ac.uk/cls-studies/millennium-cohort-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Millennium Cohort Study</a>, which has followed a nationally representative group of children in the United Kingdom from birth for more than two decades.



Parents reported how often their child engaged in helping, cooperating, and caring at ages five, seven, and 11. These profiles were then compared with teens’ self-reported fruit and vegetable intake at ages 14 and 17.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-kids-strengths-first">Putting kids’ strengths first</h2>



Farah Qureshi is the lead investigator from the Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health at the <a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/departments/population-family-and-reproductive-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health</a>.



“Too often, we focus on what is going wrong in young people’s lives, but what we hear from them time and time again is that they are tired of that narrative," she said. "They want us adults to pay more attention to what is going right, including what they bring to their families and communities,” 



Prior research has found that behaviors that help others (like volunteering) are related to better health in older adults. 



"We wanted to understand whether these types of activities benefit youth as well, focusing on a broader range of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prosocial-behavior-by-young-children-extends-to-dogs/">prosocial behaviors</a>, like acts of kindness, cooperation, and caring for others,” Qureshi said.



“In our current research, we found that children who consistently displayed more of these kinds of positive social behaviors at any age were more likely to maintain healthy eating habits into their teenage years, a time when dietary choices set patterns that can shape lifelong health.”



Her point is simple. When researchers look only for risks, they miss assets that help kids thrive. Prosociality may be one such asset. It shows up early. It can be reinforced at home, in schools, and in communities. And it may carry downstream benefits for health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-kindness-in-kids">Benefits of kindness in kids</h2>



The team also explored why kindness might matter for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthier-diet-could-boost-memory-delay-dementia/">diet</a>. Stronger social ties can make daily life less stressful. Feeling capable and purposeful can help teens stick with better habits. Those are the kinds of pathways the authors had in mind.



“Prosocial behaviors, such as being considerate of others’ feelings, sharing, helping if someone is hurt or upset, being kind, and volunteering to help others, can influence health by strengthening children’s social ties," said Julia K. Boehm from the <a href="https://www.chapman.edu/crean/academic-programs/undergraduate-programs/ba-psychology/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Department of Psychology at Chapman University</a>.



This can help improve psychological functioning by promoting better mood, purpose, feelings of competence, and enhanced capacity to cope with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-stress-makes-us-take-more-risks-in-financial-decisions/">stress</a>. 



"All of these, in turn, serve as resources that may inform health-related choices, as is evidenced by our latest findings,” she said.



In short, practices that build empathy may also build the resilience needed to choose healthier foods. That does not replace nutrition education. But it may make it stick.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading-between-the-findings">Reading between the findings</h2>



This study has notable strengths. The sample is large. The design is longitudinal. The follow-up spans key developmental stages. 



The models also adjust for many family factors, including early eating behaviors reported by parents, socioeconomic conditions, and marital status. That helps reduce bias.



Still, some influences are hard to capture. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orangutan-mothers-have-unique-parenting-styles-like-humans/">Parenting styles</a> and the finer details of home life may shape both kindness and diet in kids. The authors acknowledge that not every confounder can be measured in a national cohort. The association is robust, but it is not proof of causation.



Even with those caveats, the pattern fits with prior work. Cross-sectional studies have linked prosocial behavior to healthier lifestyles in youth. These new longitudinal data extend that evidence across childhood into adolescence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-kindness-into-practice">Putting kindness into practice</h2>



If prosociality functions as a health asset, it invites a different playbook. Programs could encourage activities that focus on cooperation, service, and care. 



Schools and youth groups already do this in many forms. The key is to recognize such efforts as health promotion, not just character education.



Study co-author Laura D. Kubzansky is an expert in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a>.



"Asset-based interventions can open the door to new and creative health promotion strategies that engage youth in ways that speak to their inherent strengths, including shared values around kindness and cooperation," said Kubzansky.



"Supporting prosociality in childhood may be a promising health promotion strategy for future consideration."



That approach meets teens where they are. It leverages values that matter to them. And it may help cement better habits during a pivotal window.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-need-for-more-kindness">The need for more kindness</h2>



The study closes on a broader note about the social climate - and what kids need from adults right now.



“We are living through a divisive time, when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/empathy-can-be-taught-through-simple-reward-training/">empathy</a> can feel undervalued," Qureshi said. "This study offers us an important reminder about the power of kindness and compassion not only for those who receive it, but also for those who give it."



"Cultivating these qualities in kids may be an important and novel pathway to promoting public health.” 



Nutrition advice often narrows to nutrients and numbers. This research widens the lens. Help kids practice kindness, and you may help them build the inner resources that keep healthy choices on the plate when it counts most.



The study is published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0749379725004568" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Journal of Preventive Medicine</a>.



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Childhood kindness linked to healthier teen choices

Children who grow up helping, sharing, caring, and showing kindness...

We tend to think of gossip as petty or mean-spirited. But in romantic relationships, it might be doing more good than harm. A recent study shows that couples who gossip together often report feeling happier and more connected.



The work comes from psychology researchers at the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">University of California, Riverside</a>. 



The team explored whether gossip between partners could play a role in relationship satisfaction and overall well-being - and the results may surprise you.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gossiping-couples-are-happier">Gossiping couples are happier</h2>



The researchers define gossip simply as talking about someone who isn’t physically present. It’s not automatically negative - it can be lighthearted, supportive, neutral, or critical.



In everyday life, that might mean swapping updates about a mutual friend, sharing an observation about a coworker, or laughing about something a relative did last week.



Chandler Spahr is the lead author of the study, which is the first to examine the dynamics of gossip and well-being within romantic partnerships.



"Whether or not we want to admit it, everyone gossips," said Spahr. "Gossip is ubiquitous."



The team found that gossip wasn’t just idle chatter. Couples’ gossip strongly correlated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-does-happiness-come-from-it-depends-on-who-you-are/">happiness</a>. It was also tied - though less strongly - to relationship quality.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-gossip-in-daily-life">Tracking gossip in daily life</h2>



The researchers studied 76 same-gender and different-gender couples in Southern California. 



Each participant wore a small listening device called the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), which sampled bits of their daily conversations. About 14% of what they said during the day was recorded and analyzed by research assistants.



The recordings revealed that participants spent around 38 minutes a day <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gossiping-may-actually-be-beneficial-to-society/">gossiping</a>. Of those, about 29 minutes were spent gossiping with their romantic partners. Woman-woman couples had the highest amount of gossip overall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-same-gender-couples-and-gossip">Same-gender couples and gossip</h2>



While most couples in the study reported high levels of happiness, same-gender couples reported even higher levels than different-gender couples. Woman-woman couples also reported the highest relationship quality.



The findings hint that gossip may work as an emotional glue in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/negative-relationships-linked-to-faster-aging-at-the-cellular-level/">relationships</a>. It’s not just about the content - it’s about the shared moment and mutual understanding that comes from swapping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dual-promotion-bragging-on-your-co-workers-makes-a-good-impression/">impressions</a> about other people.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gossip-as-a-bonding-experience">Gossip as a bonding experience </h2>



Megan Robbins, a UCR psychology professor and the paper’s senior author, explained it with a familiar scene: "What do you do in the car? You talk about everybody at the party. Who said what; what's going on with their relationship."



You might comment: Didn’t Veronica look great? Didn’t Joe look awful? Did you sense tension between them?



"Negatively gossiping with one's romantic partner on the way home from a party could signal that the couple's bond is stronger than with their friends at the party, while positively gossiping could prolong the fun experiences," the study authors wrote.



"It may reinforce the perception that partners are 'on the same team,' enhancing feelings of connectedness, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharing-dark-secrets-can-build-trust-in-relationships/">trust</a>, and other positive relationship qualities, as well as contributing to overall well-being."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-keeping-relationships-in-sync">Keeping relationships in sync</h2>



The researchers suggest that gossip can act as a kind of “social regulation tool.” By talking about others, couples may indirectly set expectations for behavior within their own relationship, creating a shared understanding of what’s acceptable and what’s not.



This isn’t the first time Professor Robbins has examined gossip. In 2019, she published a study - also using EAR technology - that challenged common stereotypes.



The study showed that women do not gossip more negatively than men, people with lower incomes don’t gossip more than wealthier people, and younger people tend to gossip more negatively than older adults.



Gossip can be positive, neutral, or negative. Unlike the 2019 study, this new work didn’t separate gossip into categories - it looked only at the amount and context of gossip between partners.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-idle-talk">More than idle talk</h2>



The takeaway? Gossip between partners isn’t necessarily toxic. It can be a small but steady way of reinforcing the idea that you and your partner are on the same page.



The next time you and your significant other find yourselves dissecting the latest drama after a night out, you might just be doing something good for your relationship - whether or not you realize it.



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Couples who gossip feel closer and happier

We tend to think of gossip as petty or mean-spirited....

Your brain is never still. Each pulse of sound tweaks its wiring faster than a drummer can tap a snare. A fresh study pairs magnetoencephalography with a clever algorithm called <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40211612/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FREQ-NESS</a> to watch that rewiring happen live. 



Lead researchers Dr. Mattia Rosso and Associate Professor Leonardo Bonetti from <a href="https://www.au.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aarhus University</a> and the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a> say the method lets them chase brainwaves in the wild.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rhythms-and-freq-ness">Rhythms and FREQ-NESS</h2>



Healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-doesnt-just-hear-music-it-becomes-the-rhythm/">brains</a> run on repeating electrical patterns that help cells talk efficiently. Those patterns, or oscillations, sit at distinct frequencies that set the tempo for perception, movement, even daydreams.



Rhythmic tones are perfect probes because their timing is predictable. The team played steady 2.4 Hz beeps to volunteers and compared the result with quiet rest.



The first thing they saw was a dramatic handover inside the default mode network. At rest this self-focused circuit dominates, but within seconds of hearing the beat it ceded control to a lean cluster in the right auditory cortex.



“We’re used to thinking of brainwaves like fixed stations, alpha, beta, gamma, and of brain anatomy as a set of distinct regions. But what we see with FREQ-NESS is much richer”, said Dr. Rosso.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-freq-ness-sees">What FREQ-NESS sees</h2>



FREQ-NESS separates overlapping activity by frequency instead of anatomy. During stimulation it found two sharp peaks: one tracking the 2.4 Hz beat and another at its 4.8 Hz harmonic.



The lower component lit up <a href="https://radiopaedia.org/articles/heschls-gyrus-1?lang=us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heschl’s gyrus</a>, the brain’s primary sound hub. The higher one stretched into medial temporal structures tied to memory and emotion.



Beyond these newcomers the spectrum kept its familiar shape, yet every peak nudged elsewhere. That shift proves the sound stream does not add a single track, it retunes the whole orchestra.



Traditional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-mapping-research-mouse-neurons-revolutionary-advance/">brain</a> maps rely on predefined anatomical zones or broad frequency bands. This limits what they can reveal, especially when networks overlap or rapidly shift in real time.



FREQ-NESS sidesteps those issues by identifying networks based on how their frequencies behave, not where they're located. That means it can detect when one rhythm fades and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-triggers-unique-prediction-zones-in-the-brain/">another surges</a>, even if they share the same physical space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alpha-and-beta-switch-roles">Alpha and beta switch roles</h2>



Alpha waves, normally strongest around 10.9 Hz over parieto-occipital cortex, slid up to 12.1 Hz and parked atop the sensorimotor strip. Such <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10216152/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mu-range activity</a> has long been linked to motor readiness..



Beta rhythms near 22.9 Hz stayed put but became more focused. Earlier work shows separate cortical beta sources guide fine motor timing.



Those static beta hubs may hold the metronome steady while alpha and delta circuits flex. Nothing in the data hinted at extra beta power, which fits the simple, unvarying beat used here.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gamma-joins-the-conversation">Gamma joins the conversation</h2>



The surprise came at the fast end of the dial. Finely tuned gamma oscillations between 60 Hz and 90 Hz rose and fell in sync with the slow 2.4 Hz driver.



Phase-to-amplitude <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3359652/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-frequency coupling</a> has been proposed as a neural handshake that links distant regions. The present data show that handshake tightening when sound demands attention.



Interestingly, the gamma glow appeared outside the auditory cortex, in insula, inferior frontal gyrus, and hippocampal areas. 



That pattern hints the high-speed chatter helps weave sensory input into memory rather than merely amplifying raw sound.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tools-behind-the-picture">Tools behind the picture</h2>



FREQ-NESS works by contrasting broadband and narrowband covariance, then pulling out <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-doesnt-just-hear-music-it-becomes-the-rhythm/">brain-wide components</a> with generalized eigendecomposition. 



Because the sources are reconstructed in three-dimension voxel space, the resulting maps look like ordinary functional images rather than abstract sensor blobs.



The method beat simpler principal-component tricks that often smear frequencies together. Its open-source code means other groups can plug in their own datasets immediately.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-freq-ness-could-lead">Where FREQ-NESS could lead</h2>



Clinicians could track whether depression drugs restore normal alpha network flow or whether epilepsy surgery spares critical beat-sensing hubs. Music therapists might tailor tempos that coax brains toward relaxed or alert states.



The fine spatial detail also promises smarter brain-computer interfaces that lock onto a person’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-and-repeated-sounds-reorganize-your-brain-networks-in-real-time/">internal rhythm</a> instead of forcing external cues. 



Future work will test richer melodies, speech streams, and even silent lip-reading to map how context flips the frequency dial.



Ultimately, the study reinforces a simple truth. Listening is not passive, it is an act of continual remodeling.



The study is published in <a href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202413195" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advanced Science</a>.



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Human brain map shows how musical rhythms instantly reconfigure your mind

Your brain is never still. Each pulse of sound tweaks...

Imagine being in your eighties and remembering things as clearly as someone in their fifties. That’s the reality for a remarkable group of people scientists call SuperAgers. For 25 years, researchers at Northwestern Medicine have followed them, trying to understand how their minds resist time.



SuperAgers defy the typical story of aging. Their sharp recall is matched by lively personalities and strong <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-method-reverses-aging-in-human-cells-without-modifying-dna/">social connections</a>. 



“It’s really what we’ve found in their brains that’s been so earth-shattering for us,” said Dr. Sandra Weintraub, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and neurology at Northwestern University <a href="https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feinberg School of Medicine</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-superagers-stay-sharp">How SuperAgers stay sharp</h2>



Most people experience a steady decline in memory as the years pass, but SuperAgers are the exception. 



“Our findings show that exceptional memory in old age is not only possible but is linked to a distinct neurobiological profile. This opens the door to new interventions aimed at preserving brain health well into the later decades of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-in-extreme-heat-can-age-your-body-just-like-smoking-does/">life</a>,” said Dr. Weintraub.



Their stories and brain scans are now part of a special issue of Alzheimer’s &amp; Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. The work also marks anniversaries of national research efforts into Alzheimer’s disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-inside-a-superager-brain">What’s inside a SuperAger brain</h2>



The term “SuperAger” was coined by Dr. M. Marsel Mesulam in the late 1990s. Since then, nearly 300 participants have joined the program, and 77 have donated their brains for study after death.



Some of these brains carry the same Alzheimer’s-related plaques and tangles found in many older adults, while others are almost completely free of them. Yet both groups show equally strong memory <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/scientists-discover-we-age-in-bursts/">performance</a>.



“What we realized is there are two mechanisms that lead someone to become a SuperAger,” explained Dr. Weintraub. “One is resistance: they don’t make the plaques and tangles. Two is resilience: they make them, but they don’t do anything to their brains.”



This means there isn’t just one formula for preserving memory - there may be multiple biological paths to the same outcome.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traits-that-stand-out">Traits that stand out</h2>



In memory tests, SuperAgers consistently perform like people decades younger, recalling at least 9 out of 15 words after a delay. Brain scans reveal that their cortex (the brain’s outer layer) remains thick and healthy rather than thinning with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthy-aging-how-some-people-live-past-100-years/">age</a>.



Remarkably, a region called the anterior cingulate cortex is sometimes thicker than in adults 20 to 30 years younger. This area is important for decision-making, emotion, and motivation.



Under the microscope, their brains hold more von Economo neurons (special cells tied to social behavior) and larger neurons in the entorhinal cortex, which is key to memory. These differences may help protect cognitive function, even in the presence of age-related changes.



Lifestyle habits among SuperAgers vary dramatically. Some eat well, exercise regularly, and follow classic health advice. 



Others have smoked, enjoyed drinks, or avoided structured workouts. Yet one trait appears almost universal: they are highly social, rating their relationships positively and staying engaged with others. From book clubs to volunteer work, their calendars tend to be full.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-giving-back-to-science">Giving back to science</h2>



Each year, SuperAgers return for evaluations and some choose to donate their brains. 



“Many of the findings from this paper stem from the examination of brain specimens of generous, dedicated SuperAgers who were followed for decades,” said Dr. Tamar Gefen, an associate professor at Feinberg. 



“I am constantly amazed by how brain donation can enable discovery long after death, offering a kind of scientific immortality.”



One participant, followed for more than two decades, kept her memory scores steady from her sixties into her eighties. Even after serious illness, her mind stayed alert, her conversations animated. After her passing, her brain revealed minimal damage from age-related disease - a rare and inspiring sight.



The full journey of this research, and the people behind it, is detailed in “The First 25 Years of the Northwestern SuperAging Program” by Mesulam, Weintraub, Gefen, and Geula. 



For anyone wondering whether a clear, vibrant mind can last a lifetime, the answer from these extraordinary individuals is a resounding yes.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.70312" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer s &amp; Dementia</a>.



Image Credit: Shane Collins, Northwestern University



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SuperAgers have a brain that can resist Alzheimer’s

Imagine being in your eighties and remembering things as clearly...

Laughter may be a potent ally for mental and physical health. Around the world, scientists are exploring how structured laughter sessions can help calm anxiety and lift life satisfaction, and they're finding that these activities deliver real results.



Laughter is not unique to humans. From apes to rats, many animals share this response, hinting at its deep evolutionary roots. In people, laughter can strengthen social bonds, build trust, and even help babies develop an early sense of self.



Hospitals have also discovered the healing potential of laughter. For example, children who receive visits from clowns often recover and go home sooner.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-laughter-therapy">Studying laughter therapy</h2>



Yelsyn-Mauricio Porras-Jiménez of the <a href="https://www.ujaen.es/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Jaén</a> in Spain wanted to improve health in all dimensions. “Not just the physical, but also the spiritual and emotional,” he noted. This led him to study laughter therapy’s role in holistic care.



Porras-Jiménez and his team analyzed 33 studies from the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Participants ranged from nursing students to patients in end-of-life care, surgery candidates, IVF patients, and individuals facing depression or burnout.



The laughter therapy methods varied - some joined laughter yoga classes, others watched comedic films, took part in guided group <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-and-the-mind-new-clues-about-how-we-experience-pleasure/">laughs</a>, or enjoyed visits from hospital clowns.



"Unlike spontaneous humour, laughter therapy is a structured and deliberate intervention that uses techniques such as laughter yoga, guided group sessions, or therapeutic clowning to induce laughter as a means of generating psycho-emotional benefits," noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-laughter-therapy">Benefits of laughter therapy</h2>



Each study included two groups: one that received laughter therapy and another that continued with standard care or no intervention. The data was striking.



On an anxiety scale from 0 to 100, the control group averaged around 60. The laughter therapy group scored 8 to 10 points lower. Life satisfaction told a similar story - the control group averaged 50, while the laughter group scored 10 to 12 points higher.



Sophie Scott of <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College London</a> acknowledged that because participants knew they were part of a special activity, the placebo effect could be influencing results. But this doesn’t discount the measurable physiological effects of laughter. 



Laughing can lower cortisol, the stress hormone, and trigger the release of endorphins - natural brain chemicals that boost mood.



“It’s hard to say whether it’s because of the laughter or because of the social context in which you felt comfortable enough to laugh,” said Scott. “I suspect it’s both.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-laughter-therapy-helps">Why laughter therapy helps</h2>



Positive psychology research shows that humor-based activities can help reframe stressful situations, turning them into challenges that feel less overwhelming. 



Laughter can encourage optimism, which in turn is linked to stronger immune function, better heart health, and more resilience in the face of adversity. Over time, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-who-use-humor-have-better-relationships-with-their-children/">humor</a>-based habits can help people adapt more easily to life’s unexpected turns.



Laughter therapy is increasingly being explored in mental health treatment, palliative care, and rehabilitation. In recovery settings, it can energize patients, improve motivation, and increase participation in therapy. 



In palliative care, it offers moments of connection and joy during difficult times. The affordability and low risk of laughter therapy make it accessible in community programs, workplaces, and educational settings.



Some research even suggests that laughter can improve pain tolerance, partly due to the release of endorphins and the relaxed muscle state that follows a good laugh. Combined with social bonding, it creates a unique emotional buffer against stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-a-mood-boost">More than just a mood boost</h2>



The power of laughter may lie in its ability to work on multiple levels at once - biological, psychological, and social. 



Laughter engages the body’s stress-reduction systems, strengthens relationships, and reframes how we experience challenges. Even if part of the effect is placebo, the benefits remain real and tangible.



Whether it’s through a clown’s antics in a hospital room, a stand-up show with friends, or a spontaneous giggle fit at home, laughter therapy offers a joyful, low-cost way to support mental and emotional well-being - and perhaps add a little more lightness to everyday life.



The study is published in the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-025-00934-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Happiness Studies</a>.



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Laughter makes the stress of life feel less overwhelming

Laughter may be a potent ally for mental and physical...

A new study that tracked more than 205,000 U.S. adults for almost 40 years reports a 20 percent rise in type 2 diabetes among people who eat french fries three times a week.



The same <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj-2024-082121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> found no meaningful change in diabetes rates for similar amounts of baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes. This suggests that preparation, not the potato itself, influences diabetes risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cooking-styles-and-diabetes-risk">Cooking styles and diabetes risk</h2>



Study lead author Seyed Mohammad Mousavi of the <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a> noted that his team wanted to separate cooking style from the crop itself. Boiling or baking leaves the tuber’s structure mostly intact, so more starch resists quick digestion.



That slower breakdown keeps blood sugar steadier, while deep frying breaks starch granules and surrounds them with fat, pushing their glycemic index higher. 



Because the index measures how fast a food raises <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-diabetes-type-5-is-now-officially-recognized-linked-to-nutritional-deficiencies/">glucose</a>, a higher value can translate into more insulin demand and, over time, greater metabolic strain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-french-fries-raise-diabetes-risk">French fries raise diabetes risk</h2>



“Small changes in our daily diet can have an important impact on risk of type 2 diabetes,” said Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition. He recommended swapping a side of fries for a salad or whole grain roll.



Deep fried potatoes often arrive salted, sometimes battered, and usually cooked in oils repeatedly heated - creating compounds that may harm pancreatic cells.



Portion size matters too, because a restaurant “serving” can exceed two cups, far more than the study’s single cup baseline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-whole-grains-lower-diabetes-risk">Whole grains lower diabetes risk</h2>



Replacing any potato dish with three weekly servings of <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2206" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whole grains</a> trimmed diabetes risk by up to 8 percent, and the drop hit 19 percent when the swap targeted fries. 



Whole grain kernels carry fiber, magnesium and phytochemicals that blunt glucose spikes and may improve insulin sensitivity. They also displace refined starches, lowering overall dietary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-this-amount-of-water-per-day-helps-control-blood-sugar-levels-in-people-with-diabetes/">glycemic</a> load. 



Participants who regularly chose oats, farro or true whole grain bread tended to exercise more and smoke less, but the researchers adjusted for these habits. The protective link remained after lifestyle factors were stripped away.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-white-rice-also-raises-risk">White rice also raises risk </h2>



When the same models substituted <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e1454" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white rice</a> for potatoes, diabetes odds crept upward, a pattern echoed in a 2012 meta analysis of four continents. 



White rice loses bran and germ in milling, leaving almost pure starch that digests quickly.



Its high glycemic index mirrors that of fries, offering little metabolic advantage. Brown rice fared better but was not the standout that whole grain wheat products proved to be, possibly because it contains less fiber per gram.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-the-diet-and-diabetes-link">Tracking the diet and diabetes link</h2>



Mousavi’s team pooled data from three well-known cohorts: the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II and the Health Professionals Follow up Study, covering 5.2 million person years.



Dietary questionnaires repeated every four years enabled the researchers to examine how habits changed, reducing the error that plagues one time food recalls.



The team adjusted for weight, smoking, exercise, alcohol use, family history and dozens of dietary variables, yet the fry signal persisted. Even after carving out early cases to avoid reverse causation, the 20 percent excess risk stood firm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-french-fries-vs-boiled-potatoes">French fries vs. boiled potatoes</h2>



The researchers point to several factors that might explain why fries, but not boiled or baked potatoes, show a clear link with higher diabetes risk. 



Frying increases calorie density, changes starch structure, and introduces compounds formed at high heat that can harm <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-sub-type-of-diabetes-discovered-that-will-change-how-the-disease-is-treated/">insulin</a> function over time.



Another factor could be what typically accompanies fries. They are often eaten alongside processed meats, sugary drinks, or refined breads, creating a meal pattern with a higher overall glycemic load and saturated fat intake. This broader dietary context may compound the effects seen in the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tips-for-healthier-fries">Tips for healthier fries</h2>



The experts recommend to choose potatoes that preserve their skin, keep added fat modest, and pair them with vegetables or protein to slow digestion. 



Cold potato salad made from boiled tubers delivers resistant starch, which further tempers post meal glucose.



You don’t have to give up <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/potato-chips-and-fries-will-now-be-a-healthy-snack-with-new-cooking-method/">fries</a> completely, but eating them less often and in smaller amounts can help lower your risk. Instead of a cup of fries, try a cup of barley, quinoa, or air-fried potato wedges to keep your meals tasty without hurting your health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj-2024-082121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The BMJ</a>.



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Eating french fries comes with an unexpected health risk

A new study that tracked more than 205,000 U.S. adults...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



<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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" 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> 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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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