<p>Mammals are not only good at hearing sounds, they are especially tuned to voices. A new cross-species study compared humans, dogs, and pigs and mapped how fast the brain flags a voice, then sorts out whether it belongs to one of our own.</p>



<p>The researchers recorded tiny pulses of brain activity while participants listened to people, dogs, and pigs, plus everyday noises. The animals were awake, relaxed, and unmedicated, and the sessions used gentle scalp sensors, not implants.</p>



<p>A team from <a href="https://www.elte.hu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eötvös Loránd University</a> (ELU) focused on two questions that cut to the heart of social hearing in mammals. </p>



<p>The first was whether the brain treats vocal sounds as a distinct category, separate from other noises. The second was whether it goes a step further, recognizing and highlighting voices that belong to members of the same species - a process known as conspecific recognition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-brain-signals-to-sound">Tracking brain signals to sound</h2>



<p>The setup used non-invasive EEG sensors to track the brain’s fast electrical responses to sound. The signal components the team examined are called event-related potentials, and they are well suited for timing how processing unfolds.</p>



<p>Participants heard short clips such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/laughter-makes-the-stress-of-life-feel-less-overwhelming/">laughs</a>, barks, and grunts, alongside non vocal noises like traffic or a closing door. </p>



<p>The recordings let the researchers compare voice versus non-voice processing, then compare same species voices to all other sounds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-step-brain-response">Two-step brain response</h2>



<p>In humans and pigs, the brain marked any voice very quickly, within about 0.2 seconds after the sound began. </p>



<p>Later, after roughly 0.3 seconds and beyond, all three species showed a second step that tagged same species voices as a special category.</p>



<p>“These patterns were very similar despite the large evolutionary distance between the three species, pointing to shared neural mechanisms that likely predate the divergence of their lineages some 90 million years ago,” said Boglárka Morvai, the study's lead author.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-pigs-and-people">Dogs, pigs, and people</h2>



<p>Dogs did not show the early “any voice” signal as clearly as humans and pigs, even though they live closely with people. </p>



<p>They did show the later step that marked dog sounds as different from other sounds, which matches the idea that same species calls matter most for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-influence-our-social-behavior-and-sense-of-fairness/">social behavior.</a></p>



<p>Pigs showed both steps and did so on a similar time course to people. That pattern strengthens the case that the early voice flag is a general feature of mammal hearing, not a quirk of primates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-voice-areas-in-mammals">Voice areas in mammals</h2>



<p>For two decades, brain imaging in humans has found voice sensitive regions in the superior temporal cortex, often called temporal voice areas. </p>



<p>A comprehensive review outlines how these regions support recognition of who is speaking, what they feel, and how the voice changes over time.</p>



<p>Dogs have their own voice sensitive patches too, and they align in function with human areas when both species listen to vocal sounds.</p>



<p> A comparative paper showed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lost-in-translation-how-we-misread-our-dogs-emotions/">dog</a> and human brains both devote cortex to processing voices, including sensitivity to emotional tone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speed-of-voice-detection">Speed of voice detection</h2>



<p>Past EEG work in people has reported early differences between voice and non-voice sounds on the order of a fifth of a second. </p>



<p>One open access article found effects emerging around 0.164 seconds and peaking near 0.2 seconds on frontotemporal sensors.</p>



<p>These timings line up with the early “any voice” response reported in the recent study. The later same species effect fits with known windows for categorical decisions in auditory cognition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pig-brains-and-voices">Pig brains and voices</h2>



<p>Pigs are increasingly used in neuroscience because their brains share organizational features with ours. </p>



<p>Recent physiology work has mapped clear auditory event-related responses in healthy piglets using scalp EEG, strengthening their value as a model species.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Finding the early voice flag in pigs suggests that this quick detection step is not limited to primates or carnivores. It likely reflects a basic property of mammalian hearing tuned by social life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-roots-of-voice">Evolutionary roots of voice</h2>



<p>The two-step pattern, first voice detection, then same species sorting, makes evolutionary sense. Fast detection buys time to orient toward a biologically relevant sound, then a later pass adds the social label needed to decide how to react.</p>



<p>If distantly related species share both steps, the underlying circuitry likely traces back to a common ancestor. That is consistent with decades of work showing conserved organization for voice and affect processing across mammals.</p>



<p>All recordings relied on cooperative, awake participation. Dogs and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/selective-breeding-has-dramatically-sped-up-the-evolution-of-pigs/">pigs</a> were measured in calm settings, often near their owners, and no training or sedation was required for them to rest while the sensors recorded.</p>



<p>The protocol emphasizes trust and low stress, which improves data quality and respects the welfare of companion animals. The approach also allows direct comparisons with human EEG.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sorting-same-species-voices">Sorting same-species voices</h2>



<p>Same-species voices carry information about identity, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-the-simple-emotion-that-gives-life-meaning-and-its-not-happiness/">emotion</a>, age, and intent. That richer meaning calls for more processing than a quick voice versus non-voice flag.</p>



<p>The later timing suggests a categorical decision process in which the brain checks acoustic features against learned templates for its own kind. </p>



<p>In humans, that machinery feeds into language, but it operates in social mammals that do not use speech.</p>



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



<p>Future studies can add more species and test a wider range of calls to see how acoustic structure shapes the early and late steps. Portable EEG could expand testing into natural settings where animals communicate most.</p>



<p>Combining EEG with imaging can also map the timing onto brain regions, tying the fast electrical signatures to specific circuits. That could clarify how the two steps interact during real world social listening.</p>



<p>Better models of voice processing can guide assistive tech for people with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drugs-may-be-available-to-prevent-hearing-loss/">hearing</a> or language challenges. They can also inform animal welfare by helping us detect stress or need from vocal cues in pets and livestock.</p>



<p>Cross species designs like this one keep us honest about what is uniquely human and what is widely shared. That distinction matters for both neuroscience and ethics.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925003581?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>NeuroImage</em></a>.</p>



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Mammals share ancient brain mechanisms for voice recognition

Mammals are not only good at hearing sounds, they are especially tuned to voices. A new cross-species study compared humans, dogs, and pigs and mapped how fast the brain flags a voice, then sorts out whether it belongs to one of our own. The researchers recorded tiny pulses of brain activity while participants listened to people, dogs, and pigs, plus everyday noises. The animals were awake, relaxed, and unmedicated, and the sessions used gentle scalp sensors, not implants. A team from Eötvös Loránd University (ELU) focused on...

<p>Coral reefs are collapsing. Rising heat in the oceans is pushing them past their limits. Bleaching events are no longer rare - they happen more often, and they hit harder. Entire sections of reef lose color, lose life, and sometimes never come back.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-coral-collapse-may-help-save-the-great-barrier-reef/">Reefs</a> matter because they feed millions through the fish they support. They generate tourism income and protect coasts from storms. </p>



<p>When reefs disappear, people lose too. Scientists recognize this reality and understand that traditional restoration methods cannot keep up. A new approach is needed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-super-corals-in-mangrove-lagoons">Super corals in mangrove lagoons </h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Technology Sydney</a> believe some corals may already hold the answer. </p>



<p>These “super corals" live in mangrove lagoons on the Great Barrier Reef - places that most corals would find unbearable. Temperatures swing wildly. Oxygen drops low. Salinity changes daily. Yet these corals survive. They even thrive.</p>



<p>The team set out to investigate whether these extreme survivors could help other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-temperature-swings-boost-coral-reef-resilience/">reefs</a>. The researchers wanted to determine if the corals' resilience would persist outside of their lagoon homes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-resilience-to-the-test">Putting resilience to the test</h2>



<p>"We're facing a situation where traditional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-reef-food-webs-are-more-fragile-than-we-thought/">restoration</a> methods aren't enough," said Dr. Christine Roper, lead researcher. "Unfortunately, we can't immediately remove stressors like heat from the ocean. However, there are corals that have adapted to survive in extreme conditions."</p>



<p>To test the idea, the team moved mangrove corals to a nearby reef just one kilometer away. They left them there for a full year. </p>



<p>The new site had far more stable conditions. Even so, when heat tests came, the transplanted corals held strong. They resisted stress as if they had never left the lagoons.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-biology-of-super-corals">The biology of super corals</h2>



<p>The resilience was not a trick of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-save-coral-reefs-with-selective-breeding/">environment</a>. It was part of the coral itself. Gene expression tests showed that transplanted corals switched on pathways for DNA repair, metabolism, and homeostasis. These systems give them the ability to bounce back after stress.</p>



<p>"This suggests that their resilience is not just environmental but deeply embedded in their biology," said Dr. Roper. </p>



<p>"This is a significant development. Until now, we didn't know if these traits would persist outside their native habitat. Our findings show that they do, and that opens the door to using these corals in restoration efforts."</p>



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



<p>Mangrove lagoons act like training grounds where corals face harsh conditions every day, making them tougher. Scientists believe this constant stress shapes not only their genes but also how those genes are regulated. </p>



<p>Mangrove corals showed stable DNA methylation, giving them flexibility to cope with change. By contrast, reef corals carried methylation patterns that seemed less adaptable.</p>



<p>The corals’ partners matter too. Many mangrove corals host algae from the genus Durusdinium, which handle heat better than other algae. Together, the coral and its algae form a team ready for stress.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-and-risks-of-super-corals">Benefits and risks of super corals</h2>



<p>In agriculture, drought-resistant crops are used to secure food supplies. In the same way, reefs could be supported with heat-resistant corals. Sites like Low Isles, which support both livelihoods and tourism, could benefit most.</p>



<p>But there are risks. Some mangrove corals build weaker skeletons, which may limit reef structure over time. Others may struggle in conditions they have not faced before. Moving species always comes with uncertainty.</p>



<p>Dr. Roper is careful about promises. "We're not saying this is a silver bullet," she said. "It's one tool in the toolbox. Any intervention must be carefully assessed through risk-benefit analysis. But doing nothing is no longer an option."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-super-corals-give-reefs-more-time">Super corals give reefs more time</h2>



<p>The message is clear: coral reefs are running out of time. They support a quarter of marine life and contribute billions to human economies. If they vanish, the impact will be global. Super corals cannot solve the crisis, but they can slow it down.</p>



<p>"By harnessing nature's own resilience, it's possible to buy time for coral reefs and the communities that depend on them," said Dr. Roper.</p>



<p>The researchers emphasized that super corals are not a cure, only a temporary measure. Transplants may hold reefs together for now, but ocean temperatures keep rising. Without major cuts to carbon emissions, even the strongest corals will eventually fail.</p>



<p>"Restoration alone won't save our reefs. We need to address climate change if we want these ecosystems to survive in the long term," said Dr. Roper. "Super corals can help us hold the line, but the real solution is drastically reducing the carbon emissions that are driving this crisis." </p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu3858" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>.</p>



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Super corals could help reefs survive a warming world

Coral reefs are collapsing. Rising heat in the oceans is...

<p>Earth today is teeming with life. We have oceans, breathable air, and the perfect combination of chemical ingredients necessary for living organisms to thrive. But when Earth first started forming, it lacked some of the most fundamental elements required for life.</p>



<p>So how did our world transition from being barren and inhospitable to what it is today?</p>



<p>A team of scientists just found new clues that show Earth’s original mix of elements was complete surprisingly early - only a short time after the solar system came together.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-formation-of-the-solar-system">Formation of the solar system</h2>



<p>When the solar system began to form billions of years ago, it emerged from a gigantic cloud of gas and dust. This cloud contained important elements such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hydrothermal-vents-earths-first-living-beings-hydrogen-gas-energy/">hydrogen</a>, carbon, and sulfur - chemicals essential for life. </p>



<p>Not everything in the solar system was equally formed, though. The inner zone, the region nearest the Sun, was extremely hot. </p>



<p>Due to this heat, most of the life-critical components never condensed into solid form. Instead, they remained in the form of gas and didn’t persist long enough to become part of the rocky material that formed the tiny inner worlds such as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.</p>



<p>As a result, early Earth was built mostly from dry, rocky stuff. It missed out on a lot of the “wet” ingredients that came from the cooler, outer parts of the solar system.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-puzzle-of-life-on-earth">The puzzle of life on Earth</h2>



<p>Scientists have long wondered when Earth picked up the materials that would one day allow life to appear. If the inner solar system didn’t have them, then they had to come from somewhere else. And if they came later, when exactly did that happen?</p>



<p>That’s what scientists at the <a href="https://www.geology.unibe.ch/">University of Bern's Institute of Geological Sciences</a> wanted to know. They analyzed rocks from ancient Earth and meteorites, using radioactive isotopes to calculate time with astonishing accuracy.</p>



<p>"A high-precision time measurement system based on the radioactive decay of manganese-53 was used to determine the precise age. This isotope was present in the early solar system and decayed to chromium-53 with a half-life of around 3.8 million years," said Dr. Pascal Kruttasch, who led the study. </p>



<p>The team's method allowed them to measure ages with less than a million years of error - even on materials that are billions of years old.</p>



<p>"These measurements were only possible because the University of Bern has internationally recognized expertise and infrastructure for the analysis of extraterrestrial materials and is a leader in the field of isotope geochemistry," noted Klaus Mezger, co-author of the study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-chemistry-was-locked-in-fast">Earth’s chemistry was locked in fast</h2>



<p>The team found that Earth’s chemical signature - the unique mix of elements that made up the young planet - was complete in less than 3 million years after the solar system formed.</p>



<p>"Our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interstellar-tunnel-cosmic-channel-discovered-connects-our-solar-system-to-other-stars/">solar system</a> formed around 4,568 million years ago. Considering that it only took up to 3 million years to determine the chemical properties of Earth, this is surprisingly fast," said Kruttasch.</p>



<p>"Thanks to our results, we know that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-earth-got-its-water-meteorite-reveals-surprising-new-clues/">proto-Earth</a> was initially a dry rocky planet. It can therefore be assumed that it was only the collision with Theia that brought volatile elements to Earth and ultimately made life possible there," explained Kruttasch.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-collision-that-changed-everything">The collision that changed everything</h2>



<p>Scientists have long believed that Earth was hit by a planet-sized object called Theia early in its history. This impact is also what likely created the Moon. </p>



<p>However, this study adds something new: evidence that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/theia-ancient-planet-buried-inside-of-earth-may-be-the-origin-of-our-moon/">Theia</a> may have delivered the materials that made Earth capable of supporting life.</p>



<p>Theia likely formed farther from the Sun, where cooler temperatures allowed water and other volatiles to collect. When it slammed into Earth, it didn’t just shake things up - it may have delivered the very elements we needed to build oceans, an atmosphere, and the chemistry of life.</p>



<p>"The Earth does not owe its current life-friendliness to a continuous development, but probably to a chance event - the late impact of a foreign, water-rich body. This makes it clear that life-friendliness in the universe is anything but a matter of course," said Mezger.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-other-planets">What this means for other planets</h2>



<p>If Earth only became habitable thanks to a lucky collision, that has big implications for other planets - both in our solar system and beyond.</p>



<p>Even if a rocky planet forms in the right zone around its star, it might not be enough. The timing and location of volatile delivery, plus the exact kind of collision, may all play a role. And those things don’t happen everywhere.</p>



<p>It’s possible that many planets stay dry forever. Others might get hit too hard or too often. Earth’s path may not be typical - it may be one of the rare cases where the right ingredients arrived at the right time, in just the right way.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-earth-s-massive-collision">Understanding Earth's massive collision </h2>



<p>We still don’t fully understand what happened during that massive collision between proto-Earth and Theia. Kruttasch and his team want to explore the event further.</p>



<p>"So far, this collision event is insufficiently understood. Models are needed that can fully explain not only the physical properties of the Earth and moon, but also their chemical composition and isotope signatures," Kruttasch said. </p>



<p>In other words, scientists still need to untangle the chemistry of Earth and its satellite. The Moon and Earth share strikingly similar chemical fingerprints - a mystery that challenges the idea of a foreign body like Theia delivering the missing ingredients for life. </p>



<p>If Theia really formed farther from the Sun, where water and volatile elements were abundant, why don’t those differences show up more clearly in the Moon’s composition?</p>



<p>Future research could help answer that question - and may also help us figure out how common this kind of planet-forming “recipe” is in the universe.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adw1280">Science Advances</a></em>.</p>



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Earth’s violent birth: What it takes to make a living world

Earth today is teeming with life. We have oceans, breathable...

<p>Most of us carry a small trace of Neanderthal ancestry and, in some cases, that legacy sits in our legs. A single change in a muscle enzyme can subtly throttle how hard muscles can work under pressure.</p>



<p>People outside Africa typically carry about 2 percent Neanderthal DNA in their genomes, a result of ancient interbreeding between populations. That shared history still influences traits today, including how our muscles manage energy during all out effort. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-enzyme-variant-does">What the enzyme variant does</h2>



<p>In an influential 2017 <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5630192/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>, lead author Dominik Macak from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (<a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/staff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MPI EVA</a>), and colleagues, focused on <a href="https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=AMPD1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMPD1</a>. This is an enzyme that helps skeletal muscle recycle energy-rich molecules during effort. </p>



<p>In their new study, they show that Neanderthals carried a version of AMPD1 with lower activity than the typical modern human form.</p>



<p>The team expressed both versions of the enzyme in cells and measured activity in a controlled setup. The Neanderthal version showed about a quarter less activity in test tubes, and when the change was engineered into mice, total AMPD activity measured in leg muscle extracts dropped sharply.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-muscle-enzyme-reached-modern-humans">How the muscle enzyme reached modern humans</h2>



<p>The variant appears in all sequenced Neanderthals and is absent in other primates, which points to a change specific to that lineage. Some modern humans carry the Neanderthal-derived form because of archaic introgression, the movement of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-link-autism-to-neanderthal-dna-genetic-variants-found-in-modern-humans/">DNA</a> across populations through interbreeding.</p>



<p>Today, the gene for this variant enzyme is found most often in Europe and Western Asia at modest frequencies. The pattern is consistent with gene flow into early modern humans who met Neanderthals around 50,000 years ago, interbred and then spread across Eurasia.</p>



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



<p>The lab assays matter because AMPD1 sits in a critical energy pathway known as the purine nucleotide cycle. When muscles need ATP (the molecule that provides power for cellular activities in all living organisms) in a hurry, AMPD1 helps pull the chemical levers that keep ATP production humming.</p>



<p>In practice, the variant’s impact shows up most clearly when muscles are pushed. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-inject-40000-year-old-neanderthal-dna-gli3-gene-into-mice-with-incredible-results/">Mouse</a> muscle carrying the engineered change showed large decreases in measured AMPD activity in extracts. In addition, prior case reports hint at reduced enzyme activity in rare human carriers with combined AMPD1 defects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neanderthal-muscle-enzyme-and-sport">Neanderthal muscle enzyme and sport</h2>



<p>The research also looked at athletic outcomes by using a well-known human knockout allele of AMPD1 as a stand in for reduced enzyme function. That analysis covered more than a thousand elite athletes across endurance and power disciplines.</p>



<p>“Carrying one dysfunctional AMPD1 allele confers approximately a 50 percent lower probability of achieving elite athletic performance,” wrote<strong> </strong>Macak. The sentence sums up where the enzyme matters most, at the razor’s edge where physiology meets peak performance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-signals-to-watch">Health signals to watch</h2>



<p>Reduced AMPD1 activity is common in clinic genetics, yet many carriers feel fine most of the time. The clinical picture of myoadenylate deaminase deficiency (<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.1061722/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MAD</a>) ranges from exercise-induced cramps and early fatigue to no symptoms, a pattern known as incomplete penetrance.</p>



<p>Large data resources add nuance. Biobank analyses suggest a small increase in risk for varicose veins among people with AMPD1 variants that reduce activity, although replication across cohorts is mixed and the absolute risk increase is modest.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-neanderthal-muscle-enzyme-stuck-around">Why the Neanderthal muscle enzyme stuck around</h2>



<p>If reduced enzyme activity can hinder elite performance, why did the variant enzyme persist. One likely factor is relaxed purifying selection, which occurs when a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthal-genes-influence-the-development-of-modern-teeth/">gene</a> becomes less crucial for day-to-day survival across a population.</p>



<p>Another possibility is that culture and technology reduced the constant demand for extreme muscle output. If everyday life did not require maximum sprint power or heavy loads, then a small energetic inefficiency would be tolerated.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-counts-as-a-meaningful-effect">What counts as a meaningful effect</h2>



<p>The findings do not imply that someone with the variant cannot excel at sports or live a healthy life. Most carriers have no obvious health problems, and plenty of other genes and training factors shape performance.</p>



<p>Still, the enzyme’s role appears during stress. When energy turnover spikes, AMPD1 helps buffer the system, and slightly less activity can tip the balance in high stakes settings like championship level competition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-enzyme-chemistry">A closer look at enzyme chemistry</h2>



<p>To keep terms clear, an enzyme is a protein catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in cells. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/purine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purine</a> molecules are key building blocks for DNA and RNA, and they also form ATP, the energy currency that pays for muscle contractions.</p>



<p>An <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Allele" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">allele</a> is one version of a gene among alternatives, and the Neanderthal-derived allele in AMPD1 swaps one amino acid in a position that helps the enzyme’s subunits stick together. That subtle change lowers catalytic efficiency without removing the protein entirely.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-bigger-shift-in-energy-chemistry">A bigger shift in energy chemistry</h2>



<p>This is not the first sign that energy metabolism took a different path in humans when compared to other primates. Earlier <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/58741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> found that modern humans carry a unique change in another enzyme, ADSL, which tunes the same pathway and is linked to lower purine levels in key tissues, especially the brain.</p>



<p>Together, these threads suggest that parts of our energy machinery became less dependent on certain purine reactions over evolutionary time. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earliest-known-evidence-of-humans-and-neanderthals-interbreeding-skhul-child/">Neanderthal</a> AMPD1 story adds a muscle-specific chapter and ties it directly to present day physiology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-this-leaves-us">Where this leaves us</h2>



<p>The signal here is not alarm, it is perspective. Daily life proceeds as usual for almost everyone who carries the muscle enzyme variant. However, a centuries-old <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earliest-known-evidence-of-humans-and-neanderthals-interbreeding-skhul-child/">interbreeding</a> event still leaves a fingerprint on who is more likely to reach the top tier of sport.</p>



<p>This work also emphasizes why population history matters in medicine and performance science. Small shifts in enzyme activity, inherited across tens of thousands of years, can still modulate outcomes when humans are pushed to the limit.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61605-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Humans inherited genes from Neanderthals that still limit our muscle activity

Most of us carry a small trace of Neanderthal ancestry...

<p>We usually see the coast as a natural line of defense. Seagrass beds and mangroves are often praised for pulling carbon from the air. But there’s another story unfolding in the sand. </p>



<p>New research from <a href="https://www.monash.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monash University</a> shows that sandy coastlines are not silent climate helpers. They also release methane, a greenhouse gas that warms the planet much faster than carbon dioxide.</p>



<p>The study points to half of the world’s continental margins. These sandy stretches cover vast areas and have gone mostly unnoticed in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cutting-methane-emissions-could-quickly-slow-global-warming/">climate</a> models. They now appear to be an important, and underestimated, source of emissions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sandy-coastlines-release-methane">Sandy coastlines release methane</h2>



<p>Professor Perran Cook, a biogeochemist in the Department of Chemistry at Monash, is the principal investigator of the study. </p>



<p>"This new finding not only challenges a fundamental assumption in marine science, but calls into question what we thought we knew about the role of sandy coastline <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-in-arctic-lakes-are-fueling-a-large-methane-surge/">ecosystems</a> in greenhouse gas production," said Professor Cook.</p>



<p>In simple terms, the sand isn’t just storing carbon. It is leaking methane, and much of it comes from seaweed and seagrass breaking down. This means the gains we credit to coastal ecosystems may be smaller than once thought.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sand-microbes-producing-methane">Sand microbes producing methane</h2>



<p>The researchers worked in Australia’s Port Phillip Bay and Westernport Bay, and in Denmark’s Avernakø region. </p>



<p>The team found microbes living in sandy sediments that can survive oxygen and keep producing methane. Until now, scientists believed these methanogens could only work in oxygen-free zones.</p>



<p>Tests revealed two new strains. These microbes feast on the leftovers of decaying seaweed and seagrass. Instead of dying when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/methane-leaks-surge-amid-record-fossil-fuel-production/">oxygen</a> floods their habitat, they bounce back quickly and restart methane production within hours. That recovery is much faster than anything seen in soils or rice fields.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-microbes-make-methane">How the microbes make methane</h2>



<p>The microbes use a pathway called methylotrophic methanogenesis. They prefer compounds like trimethylamine, choline, and dimethyl sulfoniopropionate. </p>



<p>All of these compounds are released when marine plants break down. Other potential food sources, such as acetate or hydrogen, did little to stimulate methane.</p>



<p>This discovery shows why sandy sediments matter. They sit under mats of seaweed, soak up plant byproducts, and then feed methane straight into the atmosphere. Waves and currents push oxygen into the sand, but the microbes endure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-algal-blooms-make-it-worse">Algal blooms make it worse</h2>



<p>Warmer water leads to more algae. The algae wash onto beaches and rot. As they decay, methane escapes into the air. This cycle keeps feeding itself, creating a feedback loop.</p>



<p>Professor Cook warned that large blooms add fuel to the problem. "With rising sea temperatures, species invasions and increasing nutrient pollution, we're seeing more frequent algal blooms and biomass accumulation on beaches."</p>



<p>"This could lead to larger and more frequent pulses of methane to the atmosphere, which in turn contributes to rising sea temperatures."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sandy-beaches-match-major-methane-sources">Sandy beaches match major methane sources</h2>



<p>The researchers calculated methane flux from sandy sediments. In some cases, emissions were as strong as wetlands, which are already known as major methane sources. </p>



<p>The average methane flux matched mangroves and salt marshes but beat out seagrass meadows.</p>



<p>Because these sands lie under shallow, turbulent waters, methane doesn’t linger. It escapes quickly instead of breaking down in deeper layers. This rapid release means sandy coasts may punch above their weight in the global methane budget.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-persistent-methane-production">Persistent methane production </h2>



<p>The team isolated methanogen strains from both Australia and Denmark. Belonging to the genus Methanococcoides, they showed surprising resilience. When hit with oxygen, they paused. Once conditions shifted back, they resumed methane production within an hour.</p>



<p>Genomic analysis revealed why. The microbes carry antioxidant defenses, including enzymes normally linked to oxygen-using organisms. These tools allow them to handle sudden oxygen bursts and keep working in shifting coastal sands.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-and-seasonal-drivers">Local and seasonal drivers</h2>



<p>Not every coastline behaves the same. Seasonal growth and decay of different seaweed and seagrass species matter. Warm waters, nutrient levels, and grazing pressure also play roles. Tropical and temperate coasts may follow very different emission patterns.</p>



<p>Human activity adds another layer. Fertilizer runoff and nutrient pollution drive eutrophication, leading to dense blooms. </p>



<p>As these blooms wash ashore, they deliver more fuel for methane-producing microbes. Climate change then sharpens the cycle further.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sandy-coastlines-as-methane-sources">Sandy coastlines as methane sources</h2>



<p>Study first author and Monash Ph.D. candidate Ning Hall emphasized the path forward. "From here, we need to understand this process in more detail," Hall said.</p>



<p>Future work will examine how different species of seaweed and local ocean conditions affect emissions. These insights will help refine climate models and give a clearer picture of how much methane coastal zones release.</p>



<p>The study changes how we see sandy shores. They store carbon but also release methane. Microbes, decaying plants, and shifting ocean conditions decide how much they give or take.</p>



<p>By pulling this hidden source into focus, researchers show that coasts can’t be counted only as climate allies. They are active, dynamic players in the greenhouse gas puzzle, and they demand a place in future climate strategies.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01768-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a></em>.</p>



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Sandy beaches harbor a surprising source of methane emissions

We usually see the coast as a natural line of...

<p>The Sun shapes life on Earth in countless ways. Beyond its warmth and light, it also hurls a constant stream of energetic particles into space. These solar particles can disrupt satellites, threaten astronauts, and influence space weather. Until recently, their origin remained only partly understood.</p>



<p>Now, the <a href="https://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Space Agency</a>’s Solar Orbiter mission has revealed a breakthrough. The spacecraft has traced energetic electrons back to two distinct sources on the Sun, uncovering fresh details about how our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electron-activity-in-auroras-will-help-us-understand-space-weather/">star</a> unleashes its power.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinct-solar-electron-storms">Distinct solar electron storms</h2>



<p>The Sun accelerates electrons to nearly light speed and sends them racing across the Solar System. Scientists call them Solar Energetic Electrons (SEEs). Using Solar Orbiter, researchers separated them into two groups: those linked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-next-big-solar-storm-could-plunge-us-into-darkness/">solar</a> flares and those tied to coronal mass ejections, or CMEs.</p>



<p>Study lead author Alexander Warmuth is a senior researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (<a href="https://www.aip.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AIP</a>), Germany.</p>



<p>“We see a clear split between ‘impulsive’ particle events, where these energetic electrons speed off the Sun’s surface in bursts via solar flares, and ‘gradual’ ones associated with more extended CMEs, which release a broader swell of particles over longer periods of time,” explained Warmuth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confirmation-of-two-electron-groups">Confirmation of two electron groups</h2>



<p>Scientists long suspected these two types existed. Solar Orbiter made the difference by observing hundreds of events closer to the Sun than ever before. The instruments captured electrons in their early state, offering unmatched clarity.</p>



<p>“We were only able to identify and understand these two groups by observing hundreds of events at different distances from the Sun with multiple instruments - something that only Solar Orbiter can do,” noted Warmuth. </p>



<p>“By going so close to our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-meets-light-a-new-way-to-supercharge-solar-power/">star</a>, we could measure the particles in a ‘pristine’ early state and thus accurately determine the time and place they started at the Sun.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-flares-speed-up-particles">Solar flares speed up particles</h2>



<p>The theory behind electron acceleration helps explain this split. Solar flares unleash intense magnetic reconnection, which hurls particles outward in short, sharp bursts. These are responsible for impulsive events. </p>



<p>CMEs, in contrast, drive massive shock fronts through the solar atmosphere. As the shock propagates, it accelerates particles over wide regions and longer timescales, explaining the gradual events.</p>



<p>This dual mechanism shows how different physical processes can create electrons with similar energies but distinct signatures in space. It also highlights the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-are-closer-to-predicting-the-timing-and-intensity-of-solar-flares/">Sun</a> as a laboratory of natural particle physics, rivaling human-made accelerators.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-particles-that-seem-to-lag">Solar particles that seem to lag</h2>



<p>Another puzzle involved timing. Sometimes particles seemed to escape hours after a solar flare or CME. Researchers found the lag wasn’t always about late release. Instead, it was partly due to how electrons traveled through turbulent space.</p>



<p>“It turns out that this is at least partly related to how the electrons travel through space - it could be a lag in release, but also a lag in detection,” said co-author and ESA Research Fellow Laura Rodríguez-García. </p>



<p>“The electrons encounter turbulence, get scattered in different directions, and so on, so we don’t spot them immediately. These effects build up as you move further from the Sun.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-wind-moves-electrons">Solar wind moves electrons</h2>



<p>The space between planets is filled with the solar wind, a stream of charged particles carrying the Sun’s magnetic field. This environment confines and scatters energetic electrons, shaping their journey. </p>



<p>Shock waves, turbulence, and large-scale magnetic structures influence whether electrons reach Earth quickly or after significant delays.</p>



<p>Tracking this behavior is central to the mission. “Thanks to Solar Orbiter, we’re getting to know our star better than ever,” said Daniel Müller, ESA project scientist.</p>



<p>“During its first five years in space, Solar Orbiter has observed a wealth of Solar Energetic Electron events. As a result, we’ve been able to perform detailed analyses and assemble a unique database for the worldwide community to explore.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-knowing-particle-origins-nbsp">Knowing particle origins&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Understanding these processes has practical benefits. The electrons linked to CMEs carry higher risks for satellites and astronauts. Distinguishing them from flare-driven events improves space weather forecasting, giving mission planners valuable warning.</p>



<p>“Knowledge such as this from Solar Orbiter will help protect other spacecraft in the future, by letting us better understand the energetic particles from the Sun that threaten our astronauts and satellites,” said Miller.</p>



<p>“The research is a really great example of the power of collaboration - it was only possible due to the combined expertise and teamwork of European scientists, instrument teams from across ESA Member States, and colleagues from the US.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-missions-on-solar-insights">Future missions on solar insights</h2>



<p>Future missions will build on <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar Orbiter</a>’s success. ESA’s Vigil mission, launching in 2031, will watch the Sun’s side, spotting dangerous eruptions before they face Earth.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, Smile, launching next year, will study how Earth’s magnetic shield interacts with the relentless solar wind.</p>



<p>Together, these missions deepen our grasp of the Sun’s influence, preparing us to live more safely in its ever-changing space environment.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2025/09/aa54830-25/aa54830-25.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astronomy and Astrophysics</a>.</em></p>



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Scientists pinpoint how the Sun unleashes electron storms

The Sun shapes life on Earth in countless ways. Beyond...

<p>The rise in life expectancy that defined the first half of the 20th century is losing steam. A new analysis of 23 wealthy, low-mortality countries finds that generations born after 1939 will keep living longer.</p>



<p>The gains will be smaller, however, and no cohort in that period is projected to average 100 years of age. In other words, expect progress - just not the kind that vaulted average lives forward by decades in your great-grandparents’ time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-life-expectancy-soared">Why life expectancy soared</h2>



<p>From 1900 to 1938, cohort life expectancy in rich nations surged by roughly five and a half months with each successive birth year. </p>



<p>A person born around 1900 could expect to live about 62 years on average; by the late 1930s, that figure hovered near 80.</p>



<p>That leap wasn’t magic. It came from clean water and sanitation, safer childbirth, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-vaccine-strategy-paid-off-and-its-still-saving-lives/">vaccines</a>, antibiotics, better nutrition, and fewer deaths from infectious diseases - especially in infancy and childhood. </p>



<p>When large numbers of people stop dying young, the average shoots up.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-longevity-slowed-after-1939">Longevity slowed after 1939</h2>



<p>For those born from 1939 onward, the slope flattens. Depending on the statistical model, gains shrink to about two and a half to three and a half months per birth year. </p>



<p>Longevity is still rising, but we’ve harvested the “low-hanging fruit.”</p>



<p>Infant and child mortality are already extremely low in these countries, so further progress depends on pushing back deaths at older ages - slowing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-kills-differently-now-than-five-decades-ago/">heart disease</a>, cancers, dementia, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.</p>



<p>That work tends to advance in careful increments: better prevention, earlier diagnosis, safer surgeries, steady medication improvements. </p>



<p>Even if survival at older ages improved at twice the pace current models project, the study suggests we still wouldn’t recreate the turbocharged gains of the early 20th century.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-method-behind-longevity">The method behind longevity</h2>



<p>A key strength of this research is its focus on cohort life expectancy - the average lifespan of people born in the same year - rather than period life expectancy, which is a snapshot of mortality in a single calendar year.</p>



<p>Cohort forecasts track how risks evolve across a generation’s life course, so they’re less distorted by short-term shocks. </p>



<p>The authors pulled from the <a href="https://www.mortality.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human Mortality Database</a> and ran six independent forecasting techniques to stress-test the results. Across models and countries, the story stayed the same: still climbing, just more slowly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-generations-fall-short-of-100">Generations fall short of 100</h2>



<p>Here’s the headline result: on average, none of the cohorts born after 1939 in these high-income settings are expected to reach 100. </p>



<p>That doesn’t mean there won’t be lots of centenarians. There will be - and more of them as medicine and living standards improve.</p>



<p>But the average for an entire birth cohort won’t hit triple digits. Even for those born in 1980 - a generation that benefited from modern cardiology, oncology, trauma care, and safer cars - projection curves fall short of a 100-year mean.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-costs-of-slowing-progress">The costs of slowing progress</h2>



<p>A world of slower longevity gains still demands planning. Many pension systems, retirement ages, and healthcare budgets implicitly assume early-century momentum will continue. If the pace is gentler, those assumptions need updating.</p>



<p>For individuals, it’s a nudge to reality-check expectations you might have borrowed from your grandparents’ dramatic era of improvement. </p>



<p>Financial planning, retirement timing, and long-term care decisions should reflect steady, incremental gains rather than another once-in-a-century leap.</p>



<p>There’s also a policy message hidden in the trend lines. When the big wins came from eliminating early deaths, public health could deliver spectacular gains with a few broad interventions.</p>



<p>Now the hard work is chronic-disease grind: lowering blood pressure and LDL at scale, reducing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smoking-cigarettes-accelerates-aging/">smoking</a> and harmful drinking, curbing obesity and diabetes, cleaning the air, and closing gaps by income and education. </p>



<p>Those efforts aren’t flashy, but they move the average the only way it moves in mature health systems - slowly, year after year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predictions-can-still-change">Predictions can still change</h2>



<p>Longevity projections aren’t prophecies. The past few years alone have shown how the unexpected can jolt trends: COVID-19 pushed mortality up in many places; opioids and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-has-a-hidden-impact-on-heart-health/">alcohol</a> have done the same in some populations.</p>



<p>Equally, breakthroughs could bend curves down - better cancer screening and treatment, safer and more effective obesity therapies, progress against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-and-inexpensive-supplement-prebiotic-fructooligosaccharides-protects-your-brain-from-dementia/">dementia</a>. </p>



<p>The point of the new work isn’t to declare those off the table. It’s to set a realistic baseline: if nothing transformative arrives, don’t bank on a return to early-century velocity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-healthier-futures">Building healthier futures</h2>



<p>Lean into the unglamorous fundamentals. Keep tightening control of hypertension and diabetes. Make it easier - and cheaper - for people to eat nutritious food and move their bodies.</p>



<p> Expand vaccination and evidence-based screening. Clean up air and reduce workplace and roadway risks. Invest in primary care, community health, and mental health, because all three are deeply entwined with chronic disease. </p>



<p>Also, be relentless about equity: the biggest, fastest longevity gains available today come from lifting the worst-off closer to the best-off.</p>



<p>The headline isn’t that progress is over. It’s that the era of giant, easy wins ended decades ago. Longer, healthier lives are still within reach. </p>



<p>They’ll arrive the way they have been since mid-century - one risk factor managed, one drug adherence improved, one neighborhood’s air a bit cleaner, one prevention program actually reaching the people who need it. </p>



<p>The rocket phase of longevity has passed; the age of steady craftsmanship is here.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2519179122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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After surging for decades, life expectancy around the world seems to have hit a wall

The rise in life expectancy that defined the first half...

<p>Lightning isn’t just a dramatic flash in the sky during a summer storm - it’s also a surprising source of air pollution.</p>



<p>Each lightning strike creates nitrogen oxides - polluting gases also found in car exhaust. These gases shape air quality and influence the climate in ways scientists are only now beginning to track in real time.</p>



<p>With help from a powerful satellite, researchers at the <a href="https://umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a> have finally started capturing what lightning is really doing to our air.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-view-from-22-000-miles-up">A view from 22,000 miles up</h2>



<p>A high-powered NASA satellite called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasas-tempo-mission-will-revolutionize-air-quality-monitoring/">TEMPO</a> has been watching Earth from 22,000 miles above. Normally, it tracks air pollution every hour. But for a few days in late June 2025, researchers ran a special experiment.</p>



<p>The team had TEMPO collect data every 10 minutes to follow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-tropical-thunderstorms-are-radioactive/">thunderstorms</a> moving across the eastern United States. This gave scientists a rare chance to catch storms in action - not just after they happened.</p>



<p>“This is the first time this kind of research has been conducted at such a temporal frequency,” said Professor&nbsp;Kenneth Pickering. </p>



<p>“Thunderstorms evolve on a rapid basis. They often build up, intensify, and die within an hour’s time. These short interval observations give us better snapshots of what actually happens during a storm.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lightning-s-effect-on-the-atmosphere">Lightning's effect on the atmosphere</h2>



<p>Research scientist Dale Allen explained that with this experiment, the team is able to count the number of lightning flashes as they occur using data from NOAA’s Geostationary Lightning Mapper satellite instruments. </p>



<p>Allen said this provides a more accurate idea of how much nitrogen dioxide each flash of lightning produces during a storm and how long it sticks around afterward.</p>



<p>“This information will help researchers improve existing climate models and enhance our understanding of how lightning can affect the air we breathe," noted Allen.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-lightning-pollution-forms">How lightning pollution forms </h2>



<p>When lightning strikes, the heat is intense - hot enough to split apart nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the air. </p>



<p>The fragments recombine into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-nitrogen-oxide-pollution-could-boost-crop-yields/">nitrogen oxides</a>, the same kinds of gases that come from burning gasoline or diesel. These gases are key players in forming ozone, a major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/specific-air-pollutants-linked-to-asthma-attacks-in-urban-children/">air pollutant</a>.</p>



<p>“Lightning globally makes up 10 to 15 percent of total nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere,” Pickering said. “Human pollution is much greater, but what’s important to consider is that lightning releases nitrogen oxides at much higher altitudes, where it can be more efficient at catalyzing the production of ozone.”</p>



<p>While tailpipes pollute the air near the ground, lightning-generated pollution happens much higher. That matters because ozone formed up there has a stronger warming effect.</p>



<p>Sometimes, that pollution gets dragged down to the surface, affecting air quality hundreds of miles away. This happens more often in summer, when high heat speeds up ozone production.</p>



<p>“Lightning’s effects on climate during the summer season are comparable to anthropogenically created nitrogen oxides, which is why we wanted to study storms during June,” Allen explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lightning-can-be-helpful">Lightning can be helpful</h2>



<p>But it’s not all bad news. Lightning also creates something helpful: hydroxyl radicals. These tiny molecules act like the Earth’s cleaning crew, breaking down harmful gases like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-new-source-of-methane-emissions-discovered-glacial-fracking-arctic/">methane</a>, a major greenhouse gas. </p>



<p>“From past studies by our group and others we believe that each flash of lightning creates about 250 moles of nitrogen oxides in the sky on average,” Allen said. </p>



<p>However, that value is uncertain and the production by individual flashes varies by at least an order of magnitude. </p>



<p>“We believe that when storms get more intense, lightning flashes get shorter and produce less nitrogen oxide per flash," noted Allen. </p>



<p>"This study will give us a chance to prove that. Understanding how the footprint of lightning will change in a world of intensifying weather extremes is essential to formulate climate models for the future.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-mountain-towns-to-city-streets">From mountain towns to city streets</h2>



<p>What happens in a thunderstorm doesn’t stay in the thunderstorm. Gases released by lightning don’t just hang around - they travel. Winds in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-gold-mission-unexpectedly-finds-x-shaped-structures-in-earths-upper-atmosphere/">upper atmosphere</a> can carry them far away from where the storm happened, sometimes dropping them close to the ground.</p>



<p>“For people living in mountainous areas like Colorado, this information can be very important as lightning does make a significant contribution to surface ozone at higher terrain altitudes,” Pickering said. </p>



<p>“It could make a difference in how meteorologists predict air quality during and after storms in such regions.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-climate-models">Improving climate models</h2>



<p>Although the TEMPO data is still being analyzed, it’s already certain that this experiment will allow researchers to untangle what pollution is human-caused and what is naturally occurring. </p>



<p>Currently, there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding how much nitrogen oxide any given lightning flash actually emits. This satellite data provides researchers with the raw information they need to calculate that out, and how altering weather patterns may change the balance.</p>



<p>“We want to use this high-frequency data to narrow the major uncertainties in our current climate models,” Allen said. </p>



<p>“With better data comes better predictions, and potentially better ways to protect our health and environment from both natural and human-made pollution.”</p>



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Lightning is changing the atmosphere in surprising ways

Lightning isn’t just a dramatic flash in the sky during...

<p>When plants face a drought, they stop growing. That part isn’t surprising - no water means no business as usual. But what happens when the rain finally returns? You might expect plants to bounce back and grow rapidly to make up for lost time. That’s not what actually happens.</p>



<p>Instead, new research shows plants go into defense mode. Their priority isn’t growing - it’s fighting off threats.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plants-hit-pause-to-survive">Plants hit pause to survive </h2>



<p>A tiny plant known as <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> helped scientists understand this. Researchers have long experimented with this plant in labs because it is easy to cultivate and has a simple genetic makeup. It also shares many genes with common crops such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gene-edited-wheat-turns-soil-microbes-into-fertilizer/">wheat</a>, rice, and tomatoes.</p>



<p>When water is scarce, <em>Arabidopsis</em> closes its pores, slows down its activity, and conserves resources.</p>



<p>When water returns, those pores reopen, allowing the plant to rehydrate quickly. But this also welcomes disease-spreading bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Rather than going straight into growth, the plant prepares to protect itself..</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-tracked-cell-by-cell">Genes tracked cell by cell</h2>



<p>Scientists at the <a href="https://www.salk.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salk Institute</a> used cutting-edge technology to monitor what happens inside the plant immediately after rehydration.</p>



<p>They focused on how gene activity varies from cell to cell, not just across the whole plant. This kind of research once required grinding up plant tissue and averaging the data, which concealed many details.</p>



<p>Using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, the team zoomed in on individual cells to see how they responded the moment water returned.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plants-activate-hidden-defenses">Plants activate hidden defenses</h2>



<p>Just 15 minutes after watering the dried-out plants, something big happened. Genes across the leaves started turning on - thousands of them. </p>



<p>This sudden burst of gene activity wasn’t random. It formed a clear pattern of immune defense. The team calls this “Drought Recovery-Induced Immunity” (DRII).</p>



<p>This rapid and targeted immune response is triggered as soon as rehydration occurs, helping the plant fight off infections while it is still vulnerable. </p>



<p>“What’s really incredible here,” said Natanella Illouz-Eliaz, first author of the study, “is we would have entirely missed this discovery had we not decided to capture data at these early time points.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crops-share-drought-defenses">Crops share drought defenses</h2>



<p>After spotting DRII in <em>Arabidopsis</em>, the team checked if it happened in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-find-a-surprising-case-of-reverse-evolution-in-wild-tomatoes/">tomatoes</a> too - both wild and farmed. It did. Both types activated the same kind of immune response after drought.</p>



<p>That means DRII probably isn’t just a lab-only thing. It could be common in many crops, especially ones closely related to tomatoes or <em>Arabidopsis</em>. And if that’s true, understanding how DRII works might help us grow tougher crops in the future.</p>



<p>“Drought poses a major challenge for plants, but what is less understood is how they recover once water returns,” said senior author Joseph Ecker. “We found that, rather than accelerating growth to compensate for lost time, Arabidopsis rapidly activates a coordinated immune response.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unanswered-genetic-puzzles">Unanswered genetic puzzles</h2>



<p>The speed of the immune response was striking. Within minutes of rehydration, leaves were already activating defense genes. </p>



<p>That raises some big questions for scientists. How does a signal from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-roots-could-be-key-to-fighting-climate-change/">roots</a> reach the leaves so quickly? What is the signal?</p>



<p>Experts also want to figure out how DRII might be used in real-world farming. Can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-crops-a-path-to-feeding-the-world-and-saving-the-planet/">crops</a> be bred or engineered to trigger this response more effectively? Could that protect yields during unpredictable weather?</p>



<p>“Our results reveal that drought recovery is not a passive process but a highly dynamic reprogramming of the plant’s immune system,” Ecker said. </p>



<p>“By defining the early genetic events that occur within minutes of rehydration, we can begin to uncover the molecular signals that coordinate stress recovery and explore how these mechanisms might be harnessed to improve crop resilience.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stronger-plants-for-dry-times">Stronger plants for dry times</h2>



<p>Droughts are becoming more frequent and more extreme in many parts of the world. Crops that can bounce back strong - and defend themselves when they do - could make a real difference in keeping food supplies steady.</p>



<p>This discovery shows that the moment after water returns may be just as important as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-extreme-weather-events-are-escalating/">drought</a> itself. </p>



<p>The research also demonstrates that plants don’t passively wait to grow again - they make a quick and strategic move to survive. And that’s something we are only beginning to understand.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63467-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a></em>.</p>



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Plants trade growth for survival after drought

When plants face a drought, they stop growing. That part...

<p>The universe feels simple at first glance: stars, gas, dust, and the gravity that binds it all. Then you look more closely and realize that nothing could be farther from the truth. </p>



<p>For decades, the standard picture has said that most of what is out there is not what we can see. It is a mix of ordinary matter and two invisible components often called dark matter and dark energy.</p>



<p>That picture has guided textbooks, space missions, and how we read the sky. It has also raised tough questions that have never quite gone away, mainly because of the fact that dark matter and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-dark-energy-changing-the-mystery-of-cosmic-expansion-deepens/">dark energy</a> have never actually been "seen."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenging-dark-matter-s-existence">Challenging dark matter's existence</h2>



<p>A new line of thinking takes those questions seriously and suggests we may not need those "dark" invisible components after all.</p>



<p>After years spent probing longstanding cosmology puzzles, physics professor <a href="https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-science/professors/rajendra-gupta" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rajendra Gupta</a> has proposed a model that aims to explain the universe without dark matter or dark energy. </p>



<p>Gupta teaches astrophysics at the <a href="https://www.uottawa.ca/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Ottawa</a> and argues that familiar assumptions might be impeding progress.</p>



<p>"The study's findings confirm that our <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/524/3/3385/7221343?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previous work</a> ("JWST early universe observations and ΛCDM cosmology") about the age of the universe being 26.7 billion years has allowed us to discover that the universe does not require dark matter to exist," explains Gupta.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tired-light-and-the-ccc-theory">"Tired light" and the CCC theory</h2>



<p>Gupta’s approach blends two concepts: covarying coupling constants (<a href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023Univ....9...70G/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CCC</a>) and "tired light" (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tired_light" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TL</a>). </p>



<p>CCC asks whether the so-called constants of nature - like the strength of forces or the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-matter-may-consist-of-particles-that-travel-faster-than-light/">speed of light</a> - might shift across time or space. If they do, even slightly, many calculations about how the universe evolves would change.</p>



<p>TL offers a different take on why light from faraway galaxies appears redshifted. Instead of treating redshift solely as a sign of cosmic expansion stretching light, TL suggests that photons shed energy over vast distances, shifting their color toward red. </p>



<p>Taken together, the CCC+TL model seeks to account for cosmic signals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-scientists-think-dark-matter-is-real">Most scientists think dark matter is real</h2>



<p>The idea of dark matter did not arise in a vacuum. In the 1930s, astronomer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Zwicky" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fritz Zwicky</a> noticed that galaxy clusters seemed to move in ways that did not match their visible mass. </p>



<p>Later, astronomers saw that many galaxies rotate faster than expected at their outskirts. Something appears to add extra gravity. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/einstein-ring-discovered-normal-galaxy-ngc-6505-gravitational-lens/">Gravitational lensing</a> - the way mass bends light - also points to more pull than starlight alone can explain.</p>



<p>In the standard breakdown, dark matter is thought to make up about 27% of the universe. Ordinary matter - everything we can directly detect - adds up to less than 5%. </p>



<p>The rest is labeled <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/universe-expansion-rate-dark-energy-measured-11-billion-years-ago/">dark energy</a>, a placeholder for whatever drives the universe’s accelerated expansion. This picture also includes a commonly accepted age of roughly 13.8 billion years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questioning-the-need-for-dark-matter">Questioning the need for dark matter</h2>



<p>Gupta contends that if the forces of nature weaken over time, we do not need dark energy to explain why the expansion appears to speed up. </p>



<p>He also argues that major observations can be matched without dark matter by allowing constants to vary and by letting light lose a small amount of energy as it travels long distances to reach us, the observers.</p>



<p>"Contrary to standard cosmological theories where the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/dark-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">accelerated expansion</a> of the universe is attributed to dark energy, our findings indicate that this expansion is due to the weakening forces of nature, not dark energy," Gupta continues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-redshifts-and-cosmic-observations">Redshifts and cosmic observations</h2>



<p>A substantial part of the work centers on <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/What_is_red_shift" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">redshifts</a> - how light shifts toward longer wavelengths as it travels. </p>



<p>The analysis compares how galaxies are distributed at low redshift with patterns from the early universe at high redshift. </p>



<p>The claim is that these signals align under the <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.04277" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CCC+TL approach</a> without requiring dark matter in the equations.</p>



<p>"There are several papers that question the existence of dark matter, but mine is the first one, to my knowledge, that eliminates its cosmological existence while being consistent with key cosmological observations that we have had time to confirm," Gupta confidently concludes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-all-of-this-mean">What does all of this mean?</h2>



<p>If CCC+TL continues to pass tests, much would change. The model would offer new routes to explain the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ground-based-telescopes-detect-light-from-the-cosmic-dawn/">cosmic microwave background</a>, the timeline of how galaxies formed and grew, and the way light bends on its journey to our telescopes. </p>



<p>It would also change how we read distance and time from the sky, since redshift would no longer be only a ruler for expansion.</p>



<p>It would challenge the Big Bang–anchored timeline. Those are substantial claims that require careful tests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-gupta-s-theory">Testing Gupta’s theory</h2>



<p>Specific predictions need to be articulated. Any model has to meet observations head-on: galaxy rotation profiles, lensing maps, the pattern of hot and cold spots in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-baby-pictures-of-the-very-early-universe-cosmic-microwave-background/">microwave background</a>, and the way <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-cosmic-particle-cloud-ever-found-has-stunned-astronomers/">galaxies cluster</a> across hundreds of millions of light-years. </p>



<p>If constants vary, even a little, that could leave signatures in atomic spectra from distant quasars. If light tires, the effect should be measurable with enough precision and a clean way to separate it from other causes.</p>



<p>Teams are already poring over deep-sky surveys, precise supernova samples, and high-resolution microwave maps. </p>



<p>As instruments improve, the bar for any alternative rises. The goal is straightforward: make a clear, testable forecast, then see if the universe agrees.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-matter-ccc-tl-and-next-steps">Dark matter, CCC+TL, and next steps</h2>



<p>Two central questions remain. Are dark energy and dark matter just bookkeeping devices we used while working with fixed constants and a single redshift story? Could the true age of the universe be significantly older than the standard estimate? </p>



<p>The only way to answer is to press for independent tests that can separate one picture from the other.</p>



<p>Researchers are tuning methods to compare models fairly, using the same data pipelines and error checks. That helps avoid apples-to-oranges results. </p>



<p>If CCC+TL keeps matching the sky, interest will grow. If it stumbles on a key observation, that will be clear too.</p>



<p>Cosmology moves forward when claims meet data. This study advances a bold alternative: a universe where constants can change, light can lose energy across great distances, and neither dark matter nor dark energy need to be included in the ledger. </p>



<p>It offers clear, testable statements about cosmic age and the cause of the apparent acceleration.</p>



<p>The work will be validated or refuted by measurements. That is how the field operates: no shortcuts, no hand-waving - only observations and models that either fit or fail.</p>



<p>The full study was published in <em><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ad1bc6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a></em>.</p>



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Study claims dark matter does not exist and the universe is 27 billion years old

The universe feels simple at first glance: stars, gas, dust,...

<p>Wi-Fi is no longer just for internet access. A new system named WhoFi uses how the human body alters radio waves to identify a person with up to 95.5 percent rank 1 accuracy, according to a new study.</p>



<p>It runs on consumer grade gear and still works in poor light. The approach relies on radio measurements, not cameras.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-whofi-system-works">How the WhoFi system works</h2>



<p>The idea is simple to state but technical under the hood. A WhoFi deployment captures Channel State Information (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/channel-state-information" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CSI</a>), the fine-grained description of how a Wi-Fi signal changes as it moves through a room and around a person. </p>



<p>It then turns those changes into a compact biometric signature that is unique to that individual.</p>



<p>The work comes from Danilo Avola, of the <a href="https://www.uniroma1.it/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sapienza University of Rome</a>, whose team built and tested the pipeline on public data. </p>



<p>The team reports that Wi-Fi is not just a stand-in for cameras, but offers different strengths that visual systems lack.</p>



<p>CSI is a matrix of amplitudes and phases across antennas and subcarriers. In plain terms, it captures tiny differences in how radio energy arrives at the receiver, which encode body shape and motion.</p>



<p>Those CSI sequences feed a deep network that learns a person-specific embedding. The best results came from a Transformer encoder that excels at long-range temporal patterns in the signal.</p>



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



<p>The researchers evaluated WhoFi on the NTU-Fi Human ID benchmark, which contains recordings of 14 subjects performing short walks under different clothing conditions. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10028433/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NTU-Fi Human ID dataset</a> includes measurements captured with higher resolution CSI tools that expose many subcarriers, allowing finer distinctions between people.</p>



<p>WhoFi’s top line result is a 95.5 percent rank 1 identification rate, with a mean average precision of 88.4 percent on the test split. </p>



<p>That score came from the Transformer configuration that was trained on amplitude sequences and validated against a held-out set of test data.</p>



<p>The hardware was not unusual. The paper documents tests using two TP-Link N750 routers, one transmitter and one receiver, recording 114 subcarriers per antenna pair and roughly 2,000 packets per sample.</p>



<p>The sample size is small, which matters because biometric systems can drift when scaled. The authors acknowledge that training stability and overfitting are real risks when models get deeper than necessary.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-whofi-is-different">How WhoFi is different</h2>



<p>Early attempts tied Wi-Fi to cameras to get the job done. In 2020, a camera Wi-Fi fusion system called <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7837618/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EyeFi</a> demonstrated about 75 percent accuracy in identifying people during live tests, when group sizes ranged from two to ten.</p>



<p>WhoFi goes a different route. It removes cameras from the loop and learns directly from CSI dynamics, which travel with a person across spaces.</p>



<p>The change is not just academic. Removing cameras avoids face capture, reduces sensitivity to clothing variation, and uses infrastructure that already exists in homes and offices.</p>



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



<p>The promise of radio based sensing is not new. A decade ago, researchers at <a href="https://people.csail.mit.edu/fadel/papers/wivi-paper.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a> showed that low bandwidth Wi-Fi could track people through walls, establishing that consumer frequencies propagate through common barriers.</p>



<p>WhoFi rides that physics. It is insensitive to lighting, it can operate when a person is not in direct line of sight, and it can keep working when cameras would be occluded.</p>



<p>The system is also quiet in operation. There is no need to ask users to wear anything or carry a device, which changes the conversation about consent.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-whofi-fingerprint-forms">How the WhoFi fingerprint forms</h2>



<p>Wi-Fi routers <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-chatbots-can-be-easily-manipulated-to-make-us-share-more-personal-data/">send data</a> across many narrow frequency slices called subcarriers. </p>



<p>When a person stands or walks between a transmitter and receiver, the amplitudes and phases on those slices shift in ways that correlate with their body and gait.</p>



<p>WhoFi ingests those time series and uses an encoder to create a fixed length vector that represents that person. </p>



<p>The encoder’s output is normalized, then matched against a gallery to see if there is a close neighbor from the same individual.</p>



<p>Training leans on in batch negatives. Each training batch pairs queries and galleries so the model learns to push mismatched people apart while pulling the same person’s signatures together.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wi-fi-and-whofi">Wi-Fi and WhoFi</h2>



<p>The NTU-Fi benchmark is controlled, with short walks inside a defined area and set clothing conditions. That reduces real world noise from crowds, variable furniture, and reflections that can interfere in busy environments.</p>



<p>Sample diversity is another constraint. Fourteen subjects do not capture the range of body types, mobility aids, and cultural garments found in daily life.</p>



<p>“Wi-Fi <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-processing-speed-is-millions-of-times-slower-than-wi-fi/">signals</a> offer several advantages over camera-based approaches: they are not affected by illumination, they can penetrate walls and occlusions, and most importantly, they offer a privacy preserving mechanism for sensing,” wrote Avola.</p>



<p>The paper’s conclusion stresses that the Transformer encoder was both accurate and efficient in this setting. The authors also note that common preprocessing steps, like amplitude filtering, did not always help.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-security-and-privacy-questions">Security and privacy questions</h2>



<p>Accuracy numbers excite engineers, but deployment raises policy issues. A store could in principle use this technique to ping returning customers without asking for permission.</p>



<p>Law enforcement and regulators have a stake as well. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strange-radio-waves-anita-experiment-coming-from-under-the-antarctic-ice-defy-particle-physics/">Radio</a> based identifiers might bypass laws written with cameras and faces in mind, which means legal frameworks will need review.</p>



<p>Wi-Fi operates on a shared spectrum, which makes sensing cheap to scale. That lowers the barrier for third parties who want to track presence and movement across access points.</p>



<p>The flip side is that any re-identification tool needs a gallery. Without a reference signature, a system can say the same person appeared twice, but it cannot assign a civil identity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-with-whofi-next">What happens with WhoFi next</h2>



<p>There are benign uses. Hospitals might want fall detection in dark rooms, and home routers already ship with motion sensing features that rely on CSI.</p>



<p>Industrial safety is another candidate. In zones where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-traffic-cameras-are-preventing-thousands-of-crashes-each-year/">cameras</a> are banned, radio could watch for entry violations and trigger alarms.</p>



<p>The WhoFi team kept the system purely academic so far. They trained with public data, documented every step, and compared encoders in a reproducible way.</p>



<p>Future validation will need larger cohorts, varied buildings, and longer time gaps to test stability. It will also need clearer rules on consent and retention.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://arxiv.org/html/2507.12869v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>arXiv</em></a>.</p>



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New tech uses a common Wi-Fi network to identify who you are and where you are

Wi-Fi is no longer just for internet access. A new...

Different,Types,Of,Feminine,Menstrual,Hygiene,Materials,Products,Such,As

<p>Reusable menstrual products are meant to be the safer, greener option. A new, peer-reviewed study finds, however, that this is not always the case. Researchers found PFAS, also known as "<a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forever chemicals</a>" because of their persistence, in a range of period items and incontinence products. </p>



<p>PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in various industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. </p>



<p>They are known endocrine disruptors, and the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPA</a> links certain exposures to decreased fertility, some cancers, high cholesterol, and hormone effects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pfas-in-menstrual-products">PFAS in menstrual products</h2>



<p>The work comes from Graham Peaslee at the <a href="https://www.nd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Notre Dame</a>. His team and collaborators screened 59 reusable products across categories, then ran targeted tests on a subset to identify specific compounds.</p>



<p>Menstrual products, including underwear and reusable pads, showed the highest rates of intentional PFAS use, at 33 percent and 25 percent respectively. </p>



<p>PFAS were detected in all extracted products, and the most abundant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-plastic-food-packaging-contains-9936-harmful-chemicals/">chemicals</a> were fluorotelomer alcohols 6:2 and 8:2.</p>



<p>PFAS come in ionic and neutral forms. Neutral PFAS lack an electrical charge, which can change how they move through materials and the body.</p>



<p>Modeling work indicates several neutral PFAS may be absorbed through skin efficiently. One <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36917694/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> estimated dermal uptake for 11 neutral PFAS could exceed inhalation under certain indoor scenarios.</p>



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



<p>The team first used a rapid screen for total fluorine to spot possible intentional use. They then measured the levels of 31 ionic and 11 neutral compounds in selected items to see what was actually present.</p>



<p>The pattern was consistent across markets sampled from North America, South America, and Europe. </p>



<p>At least one product in every category tested showed no signs of intentional fluorination, which suggests it is possible to manufacture these items without using PFAS.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pfas-free-menstrual-products">PFAS-free menstrual products</h2>



<p>“Only a subset of the products had high levels of PFAS present, which means that PFAS must not be essential in the manufacture of reusable feminine hygiene products,” said Alyssa Wicks, the lead author and a postdoctoral assistant at <a href="https://duke.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a>.</p>



<p>This finding matters because it shows menstrual products can be manufactured successfully without these treatments. It also means product design choices, suppliers, and coatings make a real difference.</p>



<p>Skin is not an absolute barrier. The outer layer is lipid rich, and neutral compounds can partition into it, which raises reasonable concerns for long wear items.</p>



<p>Neutral PFAS may also contact mucous membranes depending on the product. Data on long term uptake through vaginal tissue remain limited, so risk assessments are still evolving.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-health-implications">Environmental health implications</h2>



<p>PFAS in menstrual products do not stay confined to the user. When these items are washed, particles and residues can move into household wastewater, which eventually connects to larger water systems. </p>



<p>Wastewater plants are not designed to filter PFAS, so the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forever-chemicals-threaten-arctic-wildlife-and-human-health/">chemicals</a> can pass through treatment and return to rivers, lakes, and groundwater.</p>



<p>Once in the environment, PFAS can accumulate in fish and other wildlife. Studies have shown measurable levels in species that people eat, which means contamination cycles back into the food chain. </p>



<p>This connection links individual product use to a wider public health issue that affects whole communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-lower-pfas-exposure-today">How to lower PFAS exposure today</h2>



<p>Drinking water is a major route for many communities. For households on contaminated systems or wells, certified home <a href="https://www.epa.gov/cleanups/reducing-pfas-your-drinking-water-home-filter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">filters</a> can reduce several PFAS.</p>



<p>For textiles and period products, prefer options without stain or water repellence treatments. Choose brands that publish PFAS test reports for current lots, not just historical claims.</p>



<p>The EPA set the first national drinking water <a href="https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-04/pfas-npdwr_fact-sheet_general_4.9.24v1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">standard</a> for several PFAS in April 2024. Utilities have a schedule to monitor and reduce levels, and states are aligning plans.</p>



<p>Researchers are now filling key gaps on dermal absorption of neutral PFAS and on product to body transfer. </p>



<p>Standardized labeling and supplier auditing will help manufacturers avoid these chemicals while maintaining leak protection and comfort.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-still-do-not-know">What we still do not know</h2>



<p>We do not yet know the real world dose that is obtained from wearing PFAS-treated textiles against skin. Laboratory models and screening data point to plausible exposure, but time on body, temperature, fabric structure, and wash history all matter.</p>



<p>We also do not know how neutral PFAS absorbed via this route convert or persist once <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-dietary-fiber-supplement-could-remove-pfas-forever-chemicals-from-the-body/">inside the body</a>. Targeted biomonitoring paired with product testing will be needed to answer that.</p>



<p>The study’s snapshot is small but informative. It shows both the problem and the potential path forward. Reusable designs can work without PFAS. </p>



<p>Buyers can reward brands that disclose materials and publish independent testing, and makers can tighten supply chains to keep fluorinated treatments out.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.5c00553" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology Letters</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Study detects toxic PFAS chemicals in menstrual products available worldwide

Reusable menstrual products are meant to be the safer, greener...

<p>In some of the leanest waters on Earth, life survives by teaming up. Microscopic algae known as diatoms and nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria strike a bargain. The bacteria pull nitrogen from the air and hand it to their hosts, while the diatoms - ace photosynthesizers - pay in sugars powered by sunlight.</p>



<p>A new study led by <a href="https://www.su.se/cmlink/stockholm-university" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stockholm University</a> shows these alliances don’t just keep the ocean’s pantry stocked. They also capture evolution in the act, offering rare, step-by-step snapshots of how symbiotic bacteria shed genes and slide into deeper dependence on their hosts.</p>



<p>The researchers examined partnerships between diatoms and cyanobacteria in the genus <em>Richelia</em>. By comparing <em>Richelia</em> genomes at different host intimacy levels, the team mapped stages of increasing symbiont integration.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-free-living-to-dependent">From free-living to dependent</h2>



<p>Not all <em>Richelia</em> <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-bacteria-breathe-by-creating-electricity/">bacteria</a> occupy the same address. Some cling to the diatom’s exterior, others tuck into the narrow space beneath the silica shell (the frustule), and the most committed residents move right in.</p>



<p>That gradient of living arrangements - the “continuum of integration” - maps neatly onto a classic evolutionary pattern in symbiosis. The more a symbiont relies on its host, the more it tends to live inside, and the more of its own genome it can afford to discard.</p>



<p>“In general, as symbionts become more dependent on their hosts, they become more integrated into the host, for example, live inside the host cell, and start to lose genomic information that is redundant with their hosts,” said Professor Rachel Foster, a co-author of the study.</p>



<p>Having multiple, coexisting stages in a single system gives researchers something they rarely get in nature: different time points of the same evolutionary process, all available for side-by-side comparison.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-genes-in-transition">Ocean genes in transition</h2>



<p>Using comparative genomics, postdoctoral researcher Vesna Grujcic and colleagues parsed which genes <em>Richelia</em> keep and which they lose as they lean more on their diatom partners.</p>



<p>A pangenome analysis identified the core set shared by all <em>Richelia</em>, as well as accessory genes that vary among lineages. </p>



<p>The team also tracked hallmarks of genome streamlining. These included overall genome size, the fraction of DNA devoted to protein-coding regions, the length of intergenic spacers, and the prevalence of pseudogenes (broken genes that no longer function).</p>



<p>“As <em>Richelia</em> become more dependent on their hosts, the set of genes they carry changes a lot,” said Grujcic. “We can see which genes disappear and which stay - giving us a rare view of how these partnerships evolve step by step.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shrinking-genomes-bigger-dependence">Shrinking genomes, bigger dependence</h2>



<p>Comparing <em>Richelia</em> to other nitrogen-fixing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-algae-in-lake-erie-may-be-hiding-toxic-deadly-compounds/">cyanobacterial</a> symbionts revealed both shared themes in gene loss and ocean-specific lineage quirks. This underscores that there isn’t a single recipe for becoming a symbiont - there are family styles.</p>



<p>Crucially, deeper integration doesn’t just trim the parts list; it reshapes the genome’s architecture. More integrated <em>Richelia</em> typically have smaller genomes, a higher proportion of coding DNA, and fewer long non-coding stretches.</p>



<p>Those features point to a streamlined lifestyle in which the host picks up more of the metabolic slack, allowing the symbiont to jettison pathways it no longer needs to handle alone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genome-clutter-hides-gene-loss">Genome clutter hides gene loss</h2>



<p>One puzzle stood out. In Richelia that live squeezed between the diatom’s wall and membrane - a halfway house on the road to full integration - the genome wasn’t much smaller. It was comparable to that of the least integrated, free-surface dwellers.</p>



<p>In fact, despite missing many of the same metabolic pathways as the most internal symbionts, these “semi-internal” genomes hadn’t shrunk as expected.</p>



<p>The culprit, it turns out, was genomic clutter. Researcher Theo Vigil-Stenman cataloged a surge of insertion sequences and transposons in these partially integrated strains. These so-called “jumping genes” can copy and paste themselves around the genome.</p>



<p>That extra cargo inflates genome size even as functional content falls, masking the underlying trend toward streamlining. In other words, a genome on a diet can still look bulky if it’s stuffed with mobile <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-use-dna-duplication-to-increase-their-resilience/">DNA</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-living-window-into-symbiosis">A living window into symbiosis</h2>



<p>For evolutionary biologists, this system is a gift. Transitional symbioses are notoriously hard to catch; most known partnerships are either relatively loose or ancient and fully locked in. </p>



<p><em>Diatom</em>–Richelia alliances capture multiple rungs on the ladder at once, letting scientists connect lifestyle, location in or on the host, and the fine-scale mechanics of genome change.</p>



<p>“What excites me is different steps on the way to a fully integrated symbiont exist at the same time,” said Daniel Lundin from Linnaeus University. “This allowed us to study the genetics behind how evolution towards complete dependence happened.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-ocean-genes-to-future-crops">From ocean genes to future crops</h2>



<p>Beyond satisfying curiosity, the findings have practical resonance. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nitrogen-was-plentiful-for-early-life-on-earth/">Nitrogen</a> fixation - the trick <em>Richelia</em> perform for their hosts - underpins marine productivity and global nutrient cycles.</p>



<p>Understanding how these symbioses assemble and are maintained can sharpen models of ocean ecology, especially in nutrient-poor regions where partnerships like these sustain food webs from the bottom up.</p>



<p>There’s also an applied horizon. Agriculture has long dreamed of cereals that fix nitrogen, reducing farmers’ costs and the environmental toll of fertilizers.</p>



<p>Though not crops, diatoms reveal principles for stabilizing low-oxygen niches for nitrogenase, offering valuable lessons for biology. Managing gene-loss cascades in symbionts could guide synthetic biology to engineer plants with similar nitrogen-fixing services.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mysteries-of-symbiosis">Mysteries of symbiosis</h2>



<p>The study focuses on the symbionts; the hosts have their own evolutionary stories to tell. How has living with <em>Richelia</em> reshaped diatom genomes? Which host genes facilitate the different levels of bacterial integration, from attachment to full residency? </p>



<p>How do environmental shifts - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-is-pushing-sea-life-into-new-territories/">warming seas</a>, stratification, nutrient changes—drive these partnerships toward or away from tighter dependence?</p>



<p>Answering those questions will require more genomes, more environmental sampling, and experiments that probe how host and symbiont negotiate the terms of their living arrangement. </p>



<p>But this much is clear already: in the ocean’s smallest alliances, we can see evolution’s gears turning - one lost gene, one mobile element, one deepening dependency at a time.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02470-3"><em>Current Biology</em></a>.</p>



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Evolution in progress: How ocean microbes shed genes to survive

In some of the leanest waters on Earth, life survives...

<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=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



<p>Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-rebound-process-through-climate-change">Geological rebound process through climate change</h2>



<p>The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.</p>



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



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.</p>



<p>The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-transformation">Coastal Transformation</h2>



<p>This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.</p>



<p>The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.</p>



<p>The full study was recently published in <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a></em>.</p>



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Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<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=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



<p>Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-widespread-ai-anxiety-crisis-among-us">Addressing the widespread 'AI anxiety' crisis among us</h2>



<p>A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.</p>



<p>Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.</p>



<p>Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents".  In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively.   MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.</p>



<p>MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization.  The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-productivity-through-focused-learning">Revolutionary productivity through focused learning</h2>



<p>Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.</p>



<p>Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-well-being-benefits-through-ai-competence">Psychological well-being benefits through AI competence</h2>



<p>The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-replacement-anxiety-to-partnership-confidence">From 'replacement anxiety' to 'partnership confidence'</h2>



<p>Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.</p>



<p>This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-benefits-of-increased-retention">Financial benefits of increased retention</h2>



<p>The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.</p>



<p>PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research documents 20% to 30% improvements in productivity, market speed, and revenue in organizations that attempt systematic AI adoption through comprehensive training.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-advantages-of-ai-enabled-teams">Environmental advantages of AI-enabled teams</h2>



<p>AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.</p>



<p>In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-organizational-advantages">Cumulative organizational advantages</h2>



<p>The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.</p>



<p>As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.</p>



<p>For more on MindStudio's free AI training for companies, visit the website's of MindStudio and Dominnus from the links below.</p>



<p>The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.</p>



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<p>MindStudio.AI: <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.mindstudio.ai</a></p>



<p>Dominnus: <a href="https://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.dominnus.com</a></p>

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<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=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-global-food-security">Implications for global food security</h2>



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward">The path forward</h2>



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<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=kVywlgRJXsc
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Some children read facial expressions when making food choices.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-people-s-reactions-influence-children-s-eating-habits">Other people's reactions influence children's eating habits</h2>



<p>Many children are finicky eaters, but research explains how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-learned-why-so-many-kids-dislike-vegetables/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watching others eat and social modeling</a> influence the eating habits of children.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Study Methodology Demonstrates Social Learning Impact</h2>



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/school-of-psychology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aston University School of Psychology</a> have published findings in Frontiers in Psychology that illuminate the neurobiological foundations of food preference development through observational learning. The investigation employed controlled video stimuli featuring adults consuming raw broccoli while displaying systematically varied facial expressions to measure participant responses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Asymmetrical Response Patterns Identified</h2>



<p>The research, conducted with 204 female participants, revealed a pronounced asymmetry in social modeling effects. Negative facial expressions during vegetable consumption significantly diminished observer food preference ratings, while positive expressions failed to produce corresponding increases in vegetable appeal. This finding challenges conventional assumptions about the bidirectional nature of social influence in dietary behavior formation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evolutionary Psychology Framework Applied</h2>



<p>Dr. Katie Edwards and her research team propose that these results reflect adaptive mechanisms developed through evolutionary processes. The heightened sensitivity to disgust expressions likely functions as a protective system, enabling individuals to identify potentially harmful foods through social cues without direct risk exposure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clinical and Educational Implications</h2>



<p>These findings carry substantial implications for pediatric nutrition interventions and family meal dynamics. The research suggests that parental expressions of distaste during vegetable consumption may inadvertently reinforce children's existing food aversions through unconscious social transmission pathways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future Research Directions</h2>



<p>The study establishes a foundation for expanded investigation into real-time social modeling effects and cross-demographic applicability. Researchers emphasize the necessity for longitudinal studies examining actual consumption behaviors rather than preference ratings alone, particularly within family contexts where social learning occurs most frequently.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc Some children read facial expressions when making food choices....

<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=JynHpMaNO8A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-causing-protein-bound-and-blocked">Cancer-causing protein bound and blocked</h2>



<p>In a discovery that can one day revolutionize cancer treatment, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Riverside</a> have successfully developed a means of controlling MYC, a notoriously slippery protein that causes approximately <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chaotic-protein-that-fuels-75-of-cancers-can-be-controlled/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">75% of all cancers in humans</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-myc-different">What makes MYC different</h2>



<p>MYC presents a unique challenge when studying cancer. Normally, this protein plays a vital role in healthy cells. It carefully controls transcription - the process that converts genetic information from DNA and RNA into proteins.</p>



<p>However, cancer changes everything. In cancer cells, MYC becomes a destructive force. It operates in overdrive mode with no regulation whatsoever.</p>



<p>Professor Min Xue, who led the research team, explains it simply: "MYC is less like food for cancer cells and more like a steroid. It drives cancer's aggressive growth." This superactive behavior makes MYC involved in three out of every four cancer cases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-myc-is-hard-to-target">Why MYC is hard to target</h2>



<p>Despite its clear role in cancer, targeting MYC has been one of medicine's biggest challenges. The main problem lies in MYC's unusual structure - or rather, its complete lack of structure.</p>



<p>Professor Xue describes the protein as "basically a glob of randomness." This means conventional drug discovery methods don't work. These traditional approaches rely on sharply defined protein structures. MYC simply doesn't have one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A New Approach to Fighting MYC</h2>



<p>The UCR research team developed a clever solution. They designed a special peptide molecule that could selectively bind to MYC. More importantly, this peptide could block MYC's destructive activity.</p>



<p>The key was fine-tuning two specific features: the peptide's stiffness and its shape. Through careful adjustments, researchers achieved something remarkable. They reached "sub-micro-molar affinity" - meaning their peptide binds as strongly as antibodies do.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-results">Breakthrough results</h2>



<p>This accomplishment represents a major leap beyond previous attempts. The researchers enhanced their peptide's binding strength by two orders of magnitude. This dramatic improvement brings the work significantly closer to practical drug development goals.</p>



<p>The research opens new possibilities for treating the vast majority of cancers where MYC plays a destructive role.</p>



<p>The researchers are presently optimizing peptide-delivery systems based on lipid nanoparticles that deliver the peptide effectively into cancer cells. The<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> National Institutes of Health</a> and the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Defense</a> funded the study, which appeared in the Journal of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Chemical Society</a>.<br>This research offers renewed hope against cancer, and it can potentially open a door to more effective cancer therapies for most cancer patients worldwide.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

The protein that fuels 3 out of 4 cancers has been controlled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery...

<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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."</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified <em>Eospermatopteris</em>, 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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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."</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em>Current Biology</em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

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=Veg4HmmRVZY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-map-exact-ages-when-your-body-rapidly-ages">Scientists Map Exact Ages When Your Body Rapidly Ages</h2>



<p>Scientists have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-bodies-begin-breaking-down-two-very-precise-ages/#google_vignette">discovered that aging</a> isn't the gradual, steady process many assume it to be. Instead, researchers from Stanford Medicine have found that our bodies undergo dramatic molecular changes at two specific ages: 44 and 60. This research, published in Nature Aging, reveals that aging happens in sudden bursts rather than smooth transitions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-waves-of-rapid-aging">Two waves of rapid aging</h2>



<p>The Stanford study tracked over 135,000 different molecules and microbes in 108 participants aged 25 to 75 over several years. Results showed that 81% of all molecules studied exhibited non-linear changes, meaning they shifted dramatically at certain ages rather than changing gradually over time.</p>



<p>Michael Snyder, chair of genetics at Stanford School of Medicine and the study's senior author, noted significant findings. "We're not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes. It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s. And that's true no matter what class of molecules you look at."</p>



<p>The first wave of changes occurs around age 44, affecting molecules related to alcohol metabolism, caffeine processing, lipid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/age-related-changes-in-metabolism-dont-match-our-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>, and skin and muscle function. The second wave hits around age 60, involving changes in carbohydrate metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, and again cardiovascular and muscle health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-during-these-aging-bursts">What happens during these aging bursts</h2>



<p>During the mid-40s transformation, researchers observed significant changes in how the body processes alcohol and fats. This period often coincides with increased stress levels in many people's lives, potentially contributing to lifestyle factors that accelerate these molecular shifts.</p>



<p>"It's possible some of these changes could be tied to lifestyle or behavioral factors that cluster at these age groups, rather than being driven by biological factors," Snyder explained. For instance, alcohol metabolism dysfunction might result from increased consumption during the typically stressful mid-40s period.</p>



<p>The changes at age 60 are perhaps less surprising, as this is when many age-related diseases begin to manifest more prominently. The molecular shifts affect immune function and kidney health, both critical for maintaining overall wellness as we enter our senior years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-latest-research-confirms-aging-patterns">Latest research confirms aging patterns</h2>



<p>Recent 2025 studies have validated these findings. Research examining tissue samples from 76 people found similar aging patterns, noting an "inflection point" between ages 45 and 55.</p>



<p>Scientists discovered that blood vessels, particularly the aorta, age fastest among all body tissues. This vascular aging may drive aging in other body parts, highlighting cardiovascular health's central role in the aging process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cellular-changes-and-microbiome-shifts">Cellular changes and microbiome shifts</h2>



<p>The Stanford research revealed that these aging bursts affect our microbiome – the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in and on our bodies. These microbial communities undergo substantial shifts during both aging periods, potentially affecting everything from digestion to immune function.</p>



<p>Additionally, researchers found that protein production and gene expression begin to fall out of sync as we age. This breakdown in cellular communication becomes especially pronounced during the two aging waves, contributing to the accumulation of damaged proteins associated with diseases such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-brain-disorder-important-data-was-fabricated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer's</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-implications-and-longevity-considerations">Health implications and longevity considerations</h2>



<p>Understanding these aging patterns has important implications for healthcare strategies. Research suggests that people should pay particular attention to their health during their 40s and 60s, when these dramatic molecular changes occur.</p>



<p>Snyder emphasized the importance of proactive health measures. "I'm a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we're still healthy," he noted. This might include increasing exercise to protect heart health and maintain muscle mass, or reducing alcohol consumption in the 40s as the body's ability to metabolize it declines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-approaches-to-anti-aging-treatment">New approaches to anti-aging treatment</h2>



<p>Aging research has seen notable advances in 2025. Harvard Medical School scientists developed chemical cocktails that reverse cellular aging without genetic modification. These six combinations restored aged cells to youthfulness in under a week, offering safer alternatives to gene therapy.</p>



<p>Researchers identified new biomarkers like "InflammAge," a saliva-based test measuring chronic inflammation associated with aging. This non-invasive approach could change how we monitor aging and intervention.</p>



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



<p>Emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cellular reprogramming, and senolytic therapies, are opening new possibilities for extending healthspan. Companies develop treatments targeting aging's fundamental mechanisms rather than just managing age-related diseases.</p>



<p>The Stanford findings provide a roadmap for implementing preventive measures. Rather than waiting for symptoms, people can prepare for and potentially mitigate these predictable aging waves.</p>



<p>As aging understanding evolves, one thing becomes clear: aging isn't inevitable decline, but specific biological events we may learn to prevent or reverse. The key is recognizing when these transitions occur and taking proactive health steps during vulnerable periods.</p>



<p>The study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/nataging" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Aging</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Scientists discover we age in bursts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages....

<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=PqlF0XKzHY4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hidden science behind tickling.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-discover-the-brain-s-tickling-command-center">Scientists discover the brain's 'tickling command center'</h2>



<p>Researchers have finally solved one of humanity's most enduring mysteries: why we can't <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/after-centuries-of-debate-we-still-dont-know-how-tickling-works/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tickle</a> ourselves and what makes some people incredibly ticklish while others barely react? Recent scientific discoveries are revolutionizing our understanding of this peculiar human behavior.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-discovery-in-the-brain">Breakthrough discovery in the brain</h2>



<p>In 2023, Dr. Michael Brecht's team at <a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humboldt University</a>-<a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berlin</a> made a major discovery published in the <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(22)01991-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">journal <em>Neuron</em></a>. They identified the brain's actual "tickling command center" – specific neurons in a region called the periaqueductal gray that control both tickling responses and play behavior.</p>



<p>When researchers used cutting-edge optogenetic technology to shut down these neurons in laboratory rats, something remarkable happened. The animals completely lost their ability to be tickled or engage in playful behavior.</p>



<p>"We found that global blockade of the rat periaqueductal gray with either muscimol or lidocaine interfered with ticklishness and play," the research team reported in their study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-types-of-tickling-revealed">Two types of tickling revealed</h2>



<p>What we call "tickling" is two completely different phenomena, according to the latest research. Light tickling – that feathery sensation that makes you want to scratch – is essentially your body's sophisticated bug detection system. This alerts you to potential insects or parasites on your skin.</p>



<p>Deep tickling – the kind that makes you laugh uncontrollably – involves complex brain circuits and is fundamentally social. You literally cannot tickle yourself with this type of stimulation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-self-tickling-is-impossible">Why self-tickling is impossible</h2>



<p>Your cerebellum acts like a prediction machine, recent findings show. When you move your own hand to touch yourself, your brain generates precise predictions about what you will feel and then cancels out the tickling sensation through neural inhibition.</p>



<p>When someone else tickles you, your brain can't predict their movements, so the full tickling response activates. It's like your brain's way of distinguishing between self and others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-individual-differences-explained">Individual differences explained</h2>



<p>Individual differences in ticklishness depend on genetics, psychology, and even trust. Dr. Xinzhong Dong at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> notes that people with denser nerve endings tend to be more sensitive.</p>



<p>Psychological factors matter just as much. You respond more strongly when tickled by people you trust, and anxiety completely shuts down tickling responses. This explains why the same physical stimulus can produce completely different reactions depending on who's doing the tickling.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-your-ticklishness">Controlling your ticklishness</h2>



<p>Science offers answers for controlling your ticklishness. You can reduce tickling sensitivity through systematic desensitization – gradual exposure in controlled settings.</p>



<p>Dr. Konstantina Kilteni's 2025 research, published in <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt0350" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>, reveals another technique: place your hand on the tickler's hand. This allows your brain to partially predict the sensations, reducing the tickling response by up to 90 percent.</p>



<p>"Your brain is essentially learning to override its own reflexes," Kilteni explained in her review of tickling research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-purpose-discovered">Evolutionary purpose discovered</h2>



<p>From an evolutionary perspective, tickling serves vital functions according to <a href="https://www.umd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a> researcher Dr. Robert Provine's extensive studies. It trains our defense reflexes for vulnerable body areas and facilitates social bonding between family members.</p>



<p>Tickling-induced laughter is actually one of the first forms of communication between infants and caregivers. "Tickle involves a neurological self/nonself discrimination, providing the most primitive social scenario," Provine noted in his research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinical-applications-emerge">Clinical applications emerge</h2>



<p>Research shows people with autism spectrum disorder perceive touches as more ticklish than people without the condition. Investigating this difference could provide insight into brain differences and help advance autism research.</p>



<p>People with schizophrenia tend to experience self-touches similarly to external tickles, allowing them to essentially tickle themselves. This suggests altered sensory prediction mechanisms in the condition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-research-reveals-universal-nature">Animal research reveals universal nature</h2>



<p>Scientists have discovered that many species beyond humans are ticklish. Rats emit ultrasonic "laughs" when tickled, while chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans all respond to tickling stimulation.</p>



<p>This widespread occurrence across species suggests that tickling serves fundamental biological and social functions that evolved long before humans developed complex language and culture.</p>



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



<p>Dr. Kilteni argues that tickling research deserves more scientific attention. "It is a complex interplay of motor, social, neurological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects," she stated in her recent review.</p>



<p>New haptic technologies and advanced research methodologies now permit scientists to investigate tickle sensation with unprecedented precision. Standardized experimental methods using mechanical tickling devices ensure consistent results across studies.</p>



<p>Recent findings published in <em>Science Advances</em> show that tickling research is opening new doors in neuroscience, potentially leading to a better understanding of social behavior, sensory processing, and neurological conditions.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4 The hidden science behind tickling. Scientists discover the brain's...

<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=elr4948_uOU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals secret mission to create working time travel device.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-an-equation-truly-bend-time-a-physicist-s-decades-long-quest-to-rewrite-reality">Could an equation truly bend time? A physicist's decades-long quest to rewrite reality</h2>



<p>Imagine the impossible: stepping back through time in a time machine, not in fantasy, but through a scientific endeavor driven by profound personal loss. For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astrophysicist-says-hes-cracked-the-equation-for-time-travel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Ronald Mallett</a>, a distinguished astrophysicist and professor emeritus at the <a href="https://uconn.edu/">University of Connecticut</a>, this deeply human longing has fueled a lifelong mission. He claims to have discovered the equation that could unlock temporal displacement, pushing boundaries once deemed purely science fiction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-profound-grief-that-forged-a-vision">A profound grief that forged a vision</h2>



<p>Mallett's extraordinary pursuit began with devastating tragedy in 1955. At merely 10 years old, he endured his father Boyd's sudden death—a television repairman whose passion for science had ignited a similar spark in his young son. Boyd Mallett, only 33, succumbed to a heart attack, leaving behind a grief-stricken child searching for solace.</p>



<p>That solace came through H.G. Wells' <em>The Time Machine</em>. Within its pages, Mallett found a captivating concept: "Time is only a kind of Space." These words transformed from a literary phrase into a guiding principle, becoming the driving force behind his unwavering commitment to unraveling time's fundamental mysteries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-humble-beginnings-to-academic-heights">From humble beginnings to academic heights</h2>



<p>Mallett's journey was far from straightforward. After serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era, he utilized the GI Bill for higher education, earning his Ph.D. in physics from Pennsylvania State University in 1973 at the age of 28.</p>



<p>In 1975, he made history as the first African American professor in the University of Connecticut's physics department, achieving full professorship in 1987 before retiring in 2024 as professor emeritus.</p>



<p>Throughout these successful academic years, Mallett harbored his radical ambition as a closely guarded secret. "I kept my time travel goal a secret," he confessed. "I worried people would think I was nuts." His public research centered on black holes, serving as a "cover story" while he quietly developed his revolutionary time travel theory.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-breakthrough-moment">The breakthrough moment</h2>



<p>His pivotal insight arrived while hospitalized for a heart condition—a profound irony given his father's heart attack started this journey. The breakthrough was elegantly simple yet revolutionary: "If gravity can bend time, and light can create gravity, then light can bend time."</p>



<p>"It turns out that black holes can create a gravitational field that could lead to the creation of time loops that could allow us to go back in time," he explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-blueprint-for-a-temporal-vortex">The blueprint for a temporal vortex</h2>



<p>Mallett's vision for a functioning time machine replicates spacetime-warping phenomena around black holes. He offers a compelling analogy: "Picture a cup of coffee. Stir it with a spoon, and the coffee swirls. A spinning black hole does the same to spacetime."</p>



<p>In Einstein's general relativity, the universe is a dynamic fabric woven from space and time. Massive objects like black holes warp this fabric—an effect we perceive as gravity. Mallett theorizes that an intense, continuous, circulating beam of light from a ring of powerful lasers could replicate this gravitational torsion, effectively twisting time into a loop.</p>



<p>This "time loop" would theoretically allow information—or perhaps matter—to travel backward in time. He detailed this mathematical concept in his 2006 autobiography, <em>Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-published-research-and-recognition">Published research and recognition</h2>



<p>His work, published in respected journals including <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/physics-letters-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics Letters A</a></em> and <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10701" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foundations of Physics</a></em>, suggests circulating laser light could generate gravitational fields potent enough to create closed timelike curves, enabling time travel for data.</p>



<p>Mallett's research has gained worldwide media attention, featured on <a href="https://www.thisamericanlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Public Radio's <em>This American Life</em></a>, the <a href="https://www.history.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">History Channel</a>, and <a href="https://www.today.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC's <em>Today Show</em></a>. The widespread interest reflects both his compelling personal story and rigorous scientific approach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-galactic-hurdles-and-persistent-skepticism">The galactic hurdles and persistent skepticism</h2>



<p>While Mallett's equations captivate imagination, the path to reality faces immense obstacles. The energy requirement is staggering—Mallett acknowledges needing "galactic amounts of energy," far beyond current technological capabilities.</p>



<p>There's also a poignant limitation: even if realized, his machine could only send information back to when it was first activated, meaning it couldn't transport him to 1955 to prevent his father's death.</p>



<p>The scientific community remains skeptical. Physicists Ken Olum and Allen Everett argue that Mallett's proposed laser ring would need to be larger than the observable universe to achieve the necessary spacetime distortion. They invoke Stephen Hawking's chronology protection conjecture, suggesting physics may prevent macroscopic time travel.</p>



<p>Astrophysicist Paul Sutter has voiced doubts about Mallett's underlying mathematics, while science writer Brian Clegg finds the concept intriguing enough to warrant experimental investigation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-that-transcends-time">A legacy that transcends time</h2>



<p>Now approaching 80, Dr. Mallett remains steadfast. "I believe my work will show time travel is possible," he asserts. "Future generations will build on it in ways we can't yet imagine."</p>



<p>His equations, though yet to physically bend time, have bent our collective imagination. Ongoing public interest, evidenced by his continued media appearances and Spike Lee's film adaptation of his memoir, underscores his ideas' profound impact.</p>



<p>More than a scientific pursuit, Mallett's story testifies to human resilience, intellectual courage, and hope's enduring power. Whether his theoretical time machine ever materializes, his legacy is immeasurable—inspiring countless individuals to challenge conventional limits and perceive time not as an unyielding barrier, but as a boundless frontier awaiting exploration.</p>



<p></p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals...

<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>



<p>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?</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



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



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>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.</em></p>



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



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> 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.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> 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.</p>



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



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



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> 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.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> 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></p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

<p>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. </p>



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



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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).</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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>.</p>

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p><em>Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River.</p>



<p>In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. </p>



<p>Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.</p>



<p>Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. </p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.</p>



<p>“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. </p>



<p>The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.</p>



<p>“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”</p>



<p>The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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?</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ACS Reactions</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

How does salt makes things taste better?

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>'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)."</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Santiago, Chile in South America

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