<p>Italy’s Campi Flegrei has been restless again when it comes to earthquakes, and a new AI approach is helping scientists see what the ground is really doing. </p>



<p>In a peer-reviewed study, researchers from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>, along with colleagues at INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano and the <a href="https://www.international.unina.it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Naples Federico II</a>, reanalyzed continuous seismic records. The team found more than four times as many small earthquakes between January 21, 2022, and March 20, 2025.</p>



<p>The researchers did not detect any direct sign of magma moving upward. Instead, they highlighted very shallow hybrid quakes tied to the hydrothermal system.</p>



<p>That fuller picture matters because small events reveal where the crust is stressed and how energy is moving through the volcanic field. With cleaner detections and sharper locations, scientists can track changes faster and judge when activity starts to cluster in risky ways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-signals-urgent-stakes">Clear signals, urgent stakes</h2>



<p>“Seismicity could change at any time, and that may be the most important thing about this study: this capability of getting a clear view is now operational,” said study co-author Greg Beroza, a geophysics professor at Stanford University.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supervolcano-campi-flegrei-naples-italy-solfatara-crater-phlegraean-fields-signs-of-waking-up/">caldera</a> sits within the Neapolitan area, where more than half a million people live and work. That density means even modest shaking or ground movement can disrupt daily life, strain buildings, and complicate evacuations.</p>



<p>History shows why clarity is essential. During the 1982-1984 crisis, uplift and persistent earthquakes damaged structures across Pozzuoli. A major analysis documented that the events triggered the evacuation of about 40,000 people.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-turns-noise-into-earthquake-signals">AI turns noise into earthquake signals</h2>



<p>The team trained a machine learning workflow on continuous waveforms and used it to scan years of data consistently. That created one catalog rather than a patchwork of methods, so patterns stand out instead of becoming blurred.</p>



<p>AI did more than count earthquakes. The workflow sharpened event locations and magnitudes, turning noisy curves into clean signals that line up with mapped features and known hot zones. </p>



<p>That is the kind of precision emergency managers need when activity jumps in hours, not weeks. One payoff is a much clearer view of the caldera’s thin ring shaped structures and shallow faults. </p>



<p>Those features organize the small quakes and help separate background rumble from changes that could matter for public safety.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcano-under-quiet-strain">Volcano under quiet strain</h2>



<p>Campi Flegrei is a large caldera, the broad depression left by past eruptions, ringed by faults and dotted with old vents and fuming ground. It is not a single cone, it is a field where different parts can wake up at different times.</p>



<p>The region breathes over years through uplift and subsidence known as bradyseism. Those slow vertical motions have been recorded for centuries and often line up with swarms of small earthquakes.</p>



<p>In the new catalog, most activity sits at very shallow depths and traces a narrow ring fault system consistent with surface features and the zone now rising. </p>



<p>The authors reported no direct signature of magma rising toward the surface in this interval. This lowers near-term eruption concern but does not remove the need for close watching.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faults-reveal-hidden-stress">Faults reveal hidden stress</h2>



<p>Faults are breaks in rock that slip when stress overcomes strength, and their length and orientation constrain how big an earthquake could be. When small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthquakes-and-flood-zones-hidden-risks-in-the-pacific-northwest/">quakes</a> line up along a longer fault, planners can bound the upper size of plausible events rather than guess in the dark.</p>



<p>Seeing faults crisply also helps compare present unrest with past episodes. Shaking that migrates onto a new segment or clusters at the edge of the ring may signal a change in how the system stores and releases pressure.</p>



<p>Those signals are not predictions by themselves. They are inputs to models that weigh where stress is building, how close rocks are to failure, and what level of shaking the built environment can handle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-refines-risk-planning">AI refines risk planning</h2>



<p>Near real-time detections let observatories update maps of active zones as conditions evolve. That supports decisions like where to inspect bridges, how to stage ambulances, or when to test public alerts before a busy weekend.</p>



<p>Sharper locations and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-detect-major-earthquakes-months-in-advance/">magnitudes</a> also help engineers validate expected shaking levels against what instruments record in town. With that feedback loop, officials can refine microzonation, revisit building priorities, and tune maintenance schedules before the next swarm.</p>



<p>Past experience is a warning here. During 1982-1984, the harbor shallowed and commerce paused, schools closed, and the government approved new housing to relocate residents. </p>



<p>Planning for unrest is not only about eruptions, it is about everyday disruptions that stack up when the ground keeps moving.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-helps-not-predicts">AI helps, not predicts</h2>



<p>The present results point to pressure within a shallow system, not direct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magma-layer-keeps-the-yellowstone-supervolcano-dormant/">magma</a> rise, during 2022-2025. That aligns with other independent work that has argued for pressure buildup and evolving stress in the crust during long stretches without eruption.</p>



<p>Unrest can still change quickly. More small quakes could organize into tighter clusters, or uplift rates could shift, and those changes would be visible fast with the new tools.</p>



<p>AI does not replace dense earthquake monitoring or local expertise. It helps analysts keep up when data surge, flag subtle changes that a human might miss after a long night, and focus attention on the signals that matter most.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw9038" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>.</p>



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AI detects earthquake surge beneath Europe’s most dangerous volcano

Italy’s Campi Flegrei has been restless again when it comes to earthquakes, and a new AI approach is helping scientists see what the ground is really doing. In a peer-reviewed study, researchers from Stanford University, along with colleagues at INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano and the University of Naples Federico II, reanalyzed continuous seismic records. The team found more than four times as many small earthquakes between January 21, 2022, and March 20, 2025. The researchers did not detect any direct sign of magma moving upward. Instead, they highlighted...

<p>A child’s skeleton, found nearly a century ago in Skhul Cave on Mount Carmel in Israel, has taken on new meaning after a modern re-analysis. </p>



<p>A fresh look at the skull and jaw, dated to roughly 140,000 years ago, suggests that the remains show a blend of <em>Homo sapiens</em> and Neanderthal traits.</p>



<p>The authors say this specimen is the earliest anatomically modern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/denisova-cave-concealed-the-history-of-a-forgotten-human-lineage-denisovans/">human</a> fossil to show this mix of features, and they propose the child may reflect early population contact in the Levant. </p>



<p>Other researchers welcome the data but note that proof of a hybrid requires more than bones alone.</p>



<p>This work comes from Professor Israel Hershkovitz of Tel Aviv University (<a href="http://tau.ac.il/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TAU</a>) and Anne Dambricourt-Malassé of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (<a href="https://www.cnrs.fr/en/the-cnrs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNRS</a>). </p>



<p>Their international team revisited the specimen known as Skhul I with state-of-the-art imaging.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-features-of-the-skhul-child">Fossil features of the Skhul child </h2>



<p>The braincase has the overall curved vault seen in modern humans, while the lower jaw lacks a chin and shows dental patterns more typical of Neanderthals, according to the study. </p>



<p>In paleoanthropology, the bony chin, or mentum osseum, is usually considered a hallmark of our species, so its absence matters to the anatomical argument.</p>



<p>“Genetic studies over the past decade have shown that these two groups exchanged genes,” said Professor Hershkovitz. </p>



<p>Genetic <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature12961" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> over the last decade shows that many people living outside Africa carry a small share of Neanderthal DNA, and the primary wave of gene flow likely occurred around 50,000 to 60,000 years ago.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team also noted inner ear anatomy that is consistent with Neanderthal-like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthals-vanished-from-uv-rays-no-clothes-homo-sapiens-adapted/">traits</a> in parts of the skull. </p>



<p>That line of evidence has weight because the bony <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12662940/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">labyrinth</a> of the inner ear preserves well and is useful for sorting ancient populations, even if there is some overlap between groups.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Skhul-I-child-skull_neanderthal-human-interbreeding_Tel-Aviv-University_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Skhul-I-child-skull_neanderthal-human-interbreeding_Tel-Aviv-University_1s.webp" alt="The skull of Skhul I child showing cranial curvature typical of Homo sapiens. Credit: Tel Aviv University" class="wp-image-1983561"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The skull of Skhul I child showing cranial curvature typical of Homo sapiens. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Tel Aviv University</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-skhul-child-matters">Why the Skhul child matters</h2>



<p>Skhul and nearby Qafzeh have long been <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4920294/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">known</a> for early intentional burials, a sign that complex social behavior was in play among Pleistocene people in the Levant. </p>



<p>If the Skhul I child is not purely <em>Homo sapiens</em>, then the earliest formal burials may not belong to a single lineage.</p>



<p>The Levant already looks like a long-term meeting zone. A 2021 <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abh3169" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> from Israel’s Nesher Ramla site described a Middle Pleistocene group with a patchwork of features, consistent with repeated contact among regional populations. </p>



<p>That context makes a mixed-feature child from Skhul easier to imagine in population terms.</p>



<p>A later and famous case often raised in comparisons is the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.96.13.7604" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lagar Velho</a> child from Portugal. </p>



<p>This evidence, dated to about 24,500 years ago, showed a mosaic of features and sparked debate about mixing late in Europe’s prehistory. Skhul I predates that Iberian burial by well over 100,000 years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-an-old-fossil">Testing an old fossil</h2>



<p>The researchers scanned the skull and jaw using <a href="https://www.microphotonics.com/what-is-micro-ct-an-introduction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">micro-CT</a>, built detailed 3D models, and virtually “removed” historic plaster from the jaw to avoid biasing measurements. </p>



<p>The team corrected the position of a frontal bone piece and compared the inner ear and dental structures with known Neanderthal and modern human samples.</p>



<p>Inner ear form is not a casual choice here. Because this structure develops early and sits in dense bone, it tends to resist environmental noise and often tracks population history in comparative datasets. </p>



<p>That makes the labyrinth a useful, though not perfect, marker alongside cranial and mandibular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tinshemet-cave-discovery-neanderthals-early-humans-sharing-and-complex-interactions/">traits</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Skhul-I-child-lower-jaw_neanderthal-human-interbreeding_Tel-Aviv-University_1.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Skhul-I-child-lower-jaw_neanderthal-human-interbreeding_Tel-Aviv-University_1s.webp" alt="The lower jaw of Skhul I child showing features characteristics of Neanderthals. Credit: Tel Aviv University" class="wp-image-1983558"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The lower jaw of Skhul I child showing features characteristics of Neanderthals. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Tel Aviv University</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controversy-surround-the-hybrid-claim">Controversy surround the hybrid claim</h2>



<p>Skepticism centers on whether bones alone can prove hybrid ancestry. Paleoanthropologist Chris Stringer noted that, in his view, the material still primarily aligns with <em>Homo sapiens</em> while allowing that some gene flow could be reflected at Skhul.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Other specialists point out that the main wave of Neanderthal ancestry in living people traces to encounters tens of thousands of years later than the Skhul burial. </p>



<p>Studies mapping archaic segments across modern genomes consistently place the largest signal of Neanderthal ancestry in a window around 50,000 years ago.</p>



<p>The cleanest way to settle this for Skhul I would be ancient DNA. That may be difficult in warm environments. </p>



<p>However, the petrous portion of the <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0129102" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temporal bone</a> often yields far more endogenous DNA than other skeletal elements and has transformed work on ancient genomes.</p>



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



<p>Two things can change the conversation fast: new genome data from Skhul remains and broader comparative frameworks for Levantine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-link-autism-to-neanderthal-dna-genetic-variants-found-in-modern-humans/">fossils</a> of this age. </p>



<p>The inner ear and mandible findings invite a re-check of other Mount Carmel material with the same toolkit the team used here.</p>



<p>Separately, the Levant’s cultural record matters for how we read identity in these bones. </p>



<p>Mousterian stone tools made with the <a href="https://stonetoolsmuseum.com/story/levallois-method/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Levallois method</a> appear with both Neanderthals and early modern humans in this region, so toolkits alone do not sort populations cleanly&nbsp;</p>



<p>A final note on expectations helps keep things grounded. Anatomy can document a mosaic of traits, but deciding whether that mosaic means a first-generation hybrid or long-term gene flow across neighboring groups is a question that only genetics can pin down with confidence.</p>



<p>Click here to watch a <a href="https://youtu.be/t0TktMFPDPM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">video explanation of the Skhul child...</a></p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003552125000366?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>L’Anthropologie</em></a>.</p>



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Skeleton is determined to be a 'hybrid child' of a human and Neanderthal interbreeding

A child’s skeleton, found nearly a century ago in Skhul...

<p>A new study traces how our hips changed so our ancestors could walk on two legs. It identifies two precise changes during early development that reshaped the pelvis and set the stage for stable, efficient bipedal movement.</p>



<p>The work follows what happens inside a forming hip, from early cartilage to bone. It clarifies when a key growth zone turns and when bone hardening is delayed, producing a short, wide, bowl-like pelvis suited for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/upright-walking-may-have-sparked-human-creativity-and-music/">upright walking</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rotation-of-hip-growth-plate">Rotation of hip growth plate</h2>



<p>The research was led by Professor Terence D. Capellini, Chair of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.</p>



<p>The first discovery centers on the growth plate, a thin zone where cartilage cells multiply and stack as a bone lengthens. In humans, the iliac growth plate starts out like other primates, then by day 53 of development it swings 90 degrees, so growth runs across the pelvis instead of head to tail.</p>



<p>That single rotation turns the ilium from tall and narrow into short and wide. “What we’ve done here is demonstrate that in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earliest-known-evidence-of-humans-and-neanderthals-interbreeding-skhul-child/">human</a> evolution there was a complete mechanistic shift,” said Capellini.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-delayed-bone-hardening">Delayed bone hardening</h2>



<p>The second change is all about timing. In a process called ossification, most bones start hardening from a center point in the shaft, then spread inward and outward.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-early-homo-species-discovered-lived-with-australopithecus-challenges-human-evolution-theory/">Human</a> ilia break that pattern. Bone begins near the back, next to the sacrum, and spreads radially along the outer rim while the inside stays cartilaginous for roughly 16 weeks. This allows the pelvis to keep its shape as it enlarges.</p>



<p>That delay keeps the “basin” geometry intact while muscles and ligaments find their anchors. “But the histology really revealed that it actually flipped 90 degrees,” said Capellini.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pelvis-rotation-and-timing">Pelvis rotation and timing</h2>



<p>Behind those shifts are cells called chondrocytes that build cartilage and a ring of tissue called the perichondrium that helps initiate bone. The team mapped more than 300 active genes and highlighted three with outsized roles in these steps.</p>



<p>Mutations in the SOX9 gene can cause <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1760/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">campomelic dysplasia</a>, which includes unusually narrow hip bones with reduced lateral flare. That clinical pattern matches what you would expect if iliac growth plate widening fails.</p>



<p>Activating variants in the PTH1R gene cause Jansen metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, a disorder tied to abnormal growth plate signaling. Changes in that same pathway appear to help reorient the human iliac growth plate.</p>



<p>Homozygous PTH1R (a genetic state where an individual inherits two non-functional copies of the PTH1R gene) mutations are linked to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen/325097" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eiken syndrome</a> with delayed bone ossification. That mirrors the second developmental shift documented in the iliac growth plate’s development.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-hip-changes-began-early">Human hip changes began early</h2>



<p>The research team scanned and sectioned 128 embryonic and fetal samples, covering <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-consumption-drove-an-evolutionary-leap-in-early-humans/">humans</a> and nearly two dozen primates. The human pattern was different, and it was different early.</p>



<p>According to the researchers, the growth plate reorientation began after our branch split from African apes. Later, as selection balanced walking efficiency with childbirth, the ossification delay likely emerged to preserve shape while the pelvis grew.</p>



<p>“All fossil hominids from that point on were growing the pelvis differently from any other primate that came before,” said Capellini. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pelvis-shaped-walking-and-birth">Pelvis shaped walking and birth</h2>



<p>A short, wide ilium changes how key muscles work. The flaring blades reposition gluteus medius and gluteus minimus muscles so they stabilize the pelvis when one leg is on the ground during a step.</p>



<p>Comparative work shows that flaring ilia reorient hip muscles and influence birth canal shape, as outlined in a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4305164/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a>. That broader context helps explain why the pelvis must serve walking, load transfer, and childbirth together.</p>



<p>The study also notes early attachments for the rectus femoris and the iliofemoral ligament near the front of the <a href="https://radiopaedia.org/articles/ilium" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ilium</a>. Those connections fit the demands of upright gait and help resist pelvic drop during single-leg support.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-changes-in-hips">Tracking changes in hips</h2>



<p>The investigators combined micro CT with histology to see shape changes over time. They then layered single-cell multiomics and spatial transcriptomics to match gene activity with exact locations in the tissue.</p>



<p>That blend linked a rotated growth plate to SOX9, PTH1R, and related signals. It also tied the unusual rim-first, inside-late ossification to the RUNX2 gene and factors that govern when and where bone cells appear.</p>



<p>The combined picture shows a coordinated pathway that first widens the pelvic blades, then slows internal mineralization to hold geometry while size increases. That two-step sequence explains the basin-like hips required for stable <a href="https://www.ashdin.com/articles/bipedalism-the-evolutionary-leap-that-shaped-humanity-110447.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bipedalism</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-questions-remain">Many questions remain</h2>



<p>Open questions remain about how mechanical forces from early muscle contractions might reinforce the new growth directions. It is also unclear how much variation these developmental programs show across modern human populations.</p>



<p>Future work can probe how regulatory DNA near these genes changed through time. That could reveal whether selection acted in bursts or nudged many switches at once.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09399-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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How human hips evolved for walking on two legs

A new study traces how our hips changed so our...

<p>Orangutans don’t count calories or track macros, yet they still maintain their fitness naturally. These great apes, who swing through the peat swamps of Borneo, have figured out how to stay healthy in a world that constantly changes what’s available to eat.</p>



<p>Orangutans don’t get fat, develop diabetes, or suffer from the kinds of metabolic diseases that now affect millions of people around the world.</p>



<p>And no, it’s not magic. It’s biology - mixed with smart behavior and a deep connection to the natural rhythms of their environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orangutans-strike-a-healthy-balance">Orangutans strike a healthy balance</h2>



<p>For 15 years, researchers followed wild orangutans through the humid forests of Central Kalimantan in Indonesia, keeping track of their diets, movements, and how their bodies reacted when fruit was scarce.</p>



<p>Turns out, orangutans have a built-in system for balance. When food is plentiful, they eat more. When it’s not, they adjust - both what they eat and how they use energy.</p>



<p>Unlike most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-link-autism-to-neanderthal-dna-genetic-variants-found-in-modern-humans/">modern humans</a>, orangutans remain metabolically flexible. That is, their bodies shift between using carbs, fats, and proteins depending on what’s available. </p>



<p>They also understand when to conserve energy. When fruit is hard to find, orangutans reduce activity to conserve energy. They rest more, sleep earlier, travel less, and spend less time socializing.</p>



<p>Compare that to modern human habits: easy access to high-calorie, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breaking-free-from-ultra-processed-foods-the-surprising-health-benefits/">processed foods</a> and little <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-bursts-of-intense-exercise-can-slow-brain-aging/">movement</a>. We don’t adjust our activity to match what we eat. Orangutans do. That’s a big reason why they avoid the health problems humans often face.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orangutans-keep-protein-on-the-menu">Orangutans keep protein on the menu</h2>



<p>Fruit is a favorite for orangutans. It’s rich in carbs and energy. But when the forest stops producing enough fruit - which happens often - orangutans shift gears. They eat more leaves, bark, and seeds. These foods are lower in sugar but higher in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-protein-boosts-survival-but-plants-boost-longevity/">protein</a>.</p>



<p>Even in times of plenty, orangutans don’t overdo it. They still get protein in, no matter what. This consistent protein intake keeps them lean and with muscle mass: something that many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/western-diet-identified-as-major-cause-of-colon-cancer/">Western diets</a> lack, particularly when meals are high in sugar and fat but low on nutrients.</p>



<p>The orangutans' capacity for switching fuel sources also maintains their health. During times of low-fruit availability, they burn stored body fat and muscle protein as a fuel source.</p>



<p>The strategy is akin to when humans fast intermittently. These periods of rest from perpetual eating might actually lower oxidative stress - a process associated with aging and illness.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-natural-dietary-patterns">Understanding natural dietary patterns </h2>



<p>The lead scientist on this research is Erin Vogel, who collaborated with an international team through <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a>. Fieldwork took place at the Tuanan Orangutan Research Station in a conservation area of about the same size as Rhode Island.</p>



<p>“These findings show how wild Bornean orangutans adapt to changes in their environment by adjusting their nutrient intake, behavior and energy use,” said Vogel. “The work highlights the importance of understanding natural dietary patterns and their impact on health, both for orangutans and humans.”</p>



<p>Vogel added that human beings and orangutans share a common <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pierolapithecus-catalaunicus-recreating-face-of-an-ancient-human-ancestor/">ancestor</a>, and therefore we share very fundamental biological systems. </p>



<p>Both share the capability of adapting metabolism based on what is consumned. But human diets high levels of ultra-processed foods can interfere with this adaptability, which results in metabolic conditions such as diabetes.</p>



<p>“Understanding these adaptations can help us learn more about how humans can manage their diets and health,” Vogel said. “It also highlights the importance of conserving orangutan habitats to ensure their survival.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-plants">The power of plants</h2>



<p>Earlier this year, another study led by doctoral student Will Aguado found that orangutans at the Tuanan site get most of their protein from just one plant — <em>Bowringia callicarpa</em>, a vine among nearly 200 species in their diet. </p>



<p>Its leaves and seeds help fuel them through fruit shortages and may be one reason the population at Tuanan is thriving.</p>



<p>That’s a sharp contrast to the protein options humans usually rely on. Many diets today lean heavily on animal products or processed supplements. Orangutans, on the other hand, pull what they need straight from the forest.</p>



<p>“In essence, the research on orangutans underscores the importance of dietary balance and metabolic flexibility, which are crucial for maintaining health in both orangutans and humans,” said Vogel. </p>



<p>“It suggests that modern dietary habits, characterized by high consumption of processed foods rich in sugars and fats, can lead to metabolic imbalances and health issues.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-orangutan-fitness">Lessons from orangutan fitness</h2>



<p>The big takeaway? Balance and flexibility matter. Orangutans don’t eat the same thing every day. They don’t force their bodies to process more energy than they need. </p>



<p>They eat what the environment provides, adjust their activity levels, and stay metabolically adaptable.</p>



<p>Paying attention to quality of food, staying active, and recognizing when to rest - those are lessons worth learning.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adv7613">Science Advances</a></em>.</p>



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What orangutans can teach humans about food and fitness

Orangutans don’t count calories or track macros, yet they still...

<p>Water is on the move every day in the global food trade, as massive shipments cross international borders. Wheat from Kansas ends up in Cairo. Rice from Vietnam fills supermarket shelves in London. Most people only see the final product.</p>



<p>Behind every ton of traded grain is something invisible and critical - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-the-water-impact-of-the-u-s-beef-industry/">water</a>. Where that water goes, or doesn’t go, is changing who has enough and who’s left behind.</p>



<p>There’s a name for this invisible movement: the virtual water trade. It refers to the water used to grow crops that are then shipped elsewhere. It may not be in a bottle, but that water is as real as any lake or reservoir - and its journey has serious consequences.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-virtual-water-trade-works">How the virtual water trade works</h2>



<p>Let’s break this down. When a country imports <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sustainable-food-systems-are-gaining-momentum/">food</a>, it’s saving water. That’s because the crops were grown somewhere else using someone else’s water. Wealthier countries can afford to do this a lot. By buying food, they ease pressure on their own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snow-droughts-could-quadruple-by-2100-harming-water-supplies/">water supplies</a>.</p>



<p>On the flip side, countries that export food lose water. It’s baked into every ton of corn, soy, or sugar they send abroad. For many of these countries, water is already scarce. And when it’s gone, it’s not coming back.</p>



<p>It’s easy to think this system is win-win, but it’s not that simple. A new report from the UN Institute for Water, Environment and Health shows that while food trade can reduce water stress in many places, it can also make things worse for others - especially people living in poorer areas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inequalities-in-the-virtual-water-trade">Inequalities in the virtual water trade</h2>



<p>According to the report, virtual water transfers through food trades generally reduce water <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-drought-has-caused-crisis-levels-of-food-and-water-scarcity/">scarcity</a> for much of the global population, while at the same time deepening shortages for millions of others, particularly those in low-income communities.</p>



<p>That’s a sharp contrast. On one hand, 75% of people in high-income countries and 62% in low-income countries benefit from lower water scarcity due to food imports. But the same system increases water stress for 22% of the population in wealthy countries and a much larger 37% in poorer nations.</p>



<p>The biggest concern? Those who lose out often have the fewest resources to deal with it. Even within rich countries, low-income groups feel the pressure the most.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-s-gaining-who-s-losing">Who’s gaining, who’s losing</h2>



<p>Some regions come out ahead. Northern China, parts of Europe, and Northern Africa see real gains in savings thanks to global trade. But places like India, Pakistan, eastern Australia, and the central U.S. aren’t so lucky. They’re either treading water or sinking deeper into scarcity.</p>



<p>“This form of 'virtual water trade' reflects a broader pattern of environmental injustice around the world, where the environmental costs and risks are increasingly shifted from those who can afford to absorb them to those who cannot,” said Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of <a href="https://unu.edu/inweh">UNU-INWEH</a> and co-author of the report.</p>



<p>The problem isn’t just about geography. It’s also about income. Wealthier countries can adjust, adapt, or buy their way out of trouble. Poorer ones often can’t.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-clear-winners-in-a-complex-system">No clear winners in a complex system</h2>



<p>International food trade doesn’t create clear good or bad outcomes. Instead, it creates trade-offs. Some countries benefit, others suffer. Even within a single country, some communities get help while others face harm.</p>



<p>“International agricultural trade almost never produces outcomes that are purely positive or negative,” said Dr. Yue Qin, lead author of the report. </p>



<p>“This reality calls for more targeted and equity-oriented water and trade policies that support vulnerable populations with limited adaptive capacity and promote fair and sustainable global water governance.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shaping-fairer-water-policies">Shaping fairer water policies</h2>



<p>The report pushes for smarter, fairer policies. It urges countries to stop focusing only on national water totals and start looking at how different groups within those countries are affected.</p>



<p>National governments can step up by helping lower-income communities directly. That could mean subsidies, price caps, or better infrastructure for things like wells, pumps, and pipes. On farms, switching to drip <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sustainable-irrigation-could-feed-feed-1-4-billion-more-people/">irrigation</a> or growing less water-hungry crops can go a long way.</p>



<p>Trade policy matters too. Instead of relying on a few big export partners or crop types, countries can mix it up. China, for example, has shifted how it imports rice and wheat to balance demand better.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unequal-burdens-of-trade">Unequal burdens of trade</h2>



<p>Agricultural trade has made the world more connected than ever, but that interdependence comes with responsibility.</p>



<p>“The existing global food trade system continues to make the world’s most vulnerable people and nations more vulnerable,” said Professor Madani.</p>



<p>It’s a tough reality. But ignoring it won’t make it go away. Only by facing the facts - and rethinking how we move both food and water - can we start to create a system that works for everyone.</p>



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How the global food trade drains water from poor communities

Water is on the move every day in the global...

<p>We throw the word “cool” around every day when describing people, places and things - but what are we really pointing to? Not fashion trends. Not a perfect playlist. The idea is bigger than that. </p>



<p>The word "cool" is a label people use when someone stands out in a way that feels confident, lively, and a little daring.</p>



<p>A new set of studies tackled that slippery word head-on. Instead of asking for definitions, participants around the world rated people whom they knew. That choice matters because when you think of a real person, your answers become clearer. </p>



<p>The big takeaway: “cool” <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-people-believe-they-deserve-good-karma-more-than-others/">overlaps with “good,”</a> but they’re not twins.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-some-people-cool">What makes some people cool?</h2>



<p>"Everyone wants to be cool, or at least avoid the stigma of being uncool, and society needs cool people because they challenge norms, inspire change, and advance culture," said co-lead researcher Todd Pezzuti, Ph.D., an associate professor of marketing at the <a href="https://www.uai.cl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez</a> in Chile.</p>



<p>Researchers ran multiple experiments across countries and languages. </p>



<p>In each one, people named someone they considered cool or uncool - or good or not good - and then rated that person on many traits and values. </p>



<p>Comparing those patterns across places helped separate universal cues from local quirks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



<p>Participants didn’t define cool in the abstract. They rated acquaintances on specific traits. That approach reduces confusion and produces results that hold up better outside the lab. </p>



<p>Because the work spanned different languages and cultural settings, the team could check whether the same signals appeared consistently.</p>



<p>If you’ve studied personality before, you’ll recognize some of the traits on those lists. </p>



<p>Think of common frameworks like the Big Five (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, emotional stability) and widely used value maps that include self-direction, security, tradition, hedonism, and power. </p>



<p>The research relied on this kind of vocabulary so responses could be compared cleanly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traits-shared-by-cool-people">Traits shared by "cool" people</h2>



<p>When people tag someone as cool, they’re not just saying that person is nice. Ratings show a cluster tied to boldness and self-direction. </p>



<p>Cool people seem energized by others, open to new experiences, willing to take risks, and motivated by enjoyment. They also look more autonomous - like they’re steering their own ship.</p>



<p>"To be seen as cool, someone usually needs to be somewhat likable or admirable, which makes them similar to good people," Warren said. </p>



<p>"However, cool people often have other traits that aren't necessarily considered 'good' in a moral sense, like being hedonistic and powerful."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-being-good-differs">How being "good" differs</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-who-are-good-with-words-have-better-health-and-live-longer/">Good people</a>, on the other hand, score higher on warmth and agreeableness. They come off as calm, conscientious, steady, and more traditional. They care about security and fitting in. </p>



<p>You can picture the difference right away. A trusted neighbor who always shows up might be “good” in every sense of the word, while the trendsetting club owner or startup leader might read as “cool.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cross-cultural-patterns-emerge">Cross-cultural patterns emerge</h2>



<p>Here’s the twist: the pattern barely budged across the map. You might expect cool in the United States to look different from cool in South Korea or Nigeria. </p>



<p>Yet the same adventurous, open, self-directed, socially energetic profile kept showing up. Slang changes. The core idea travels well.</p>



<p>Why would that be? Some signals are simply easy to read in any language. Openness to experience looks like trying new things. </p>



<p>Autonomy looks like making your own choices. Social energy looks like bringing life to a room. People track those cues quickly, and they matter in group life everywhere.</p>



<p>One trait did not distinguish cool from good: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-listening-is-not-persuasive-in-arguments-does-not-change-minds/">basic capability</a>. Across the board, competence mattered. If someone seems ineffective, admiration is hard to earn, no matter the lane. </p>



<p>Beyond that shared base, the paths split - stability and care for “good,” novelty and autonomy for “cool.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-of-this-study">Limitations of this study</h2>



<p>No study is perfect. The surveys kept the English word “cool” even when the rest of the materials were in other languages. English slang spreads widely, but that choice brings a bit of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/attractive-people-have-more-career-opportunities-and-success/">cultural flavor</a>. </p>



<p>Many participants came from online panels or university pools, which are great for comparisons but don’t capture every voice.</p>



<p>Finally, the work looks at perceptions, not a moral scorecard. It maps how people use the label “cool,” not who deserves praise in some objective sense.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-be-cool-in-real-life">How to be cool in real life</h2>



<p>Want to project cool in a healthy way? </p>



<p>Skip the stone-faced act - curiosity works better. Try something people haven’t seen yet, then share the energy from that accomplishment.</p>



<p>Own your choices, even small ones, and show you’re comfortable steering your day. People notice autonomy and enthusiasm.</p>



<p>Want to project goodness? Lean into reliability and warmth. Keep your word. Offer calm help. Focus on care and steadiness. Both roles matter in a community. They just carry different cues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-roots-and-relevance-of-cool-people">Roots and relevance of cool people</h2>



<p>"Coolness has definitely evolved over time, but I don't think it has lost its edge. It's just become more functional," Pezzuti said. </p>



<p>"The concept of coolness started in small, rebellious subcultures, including Black jazz musicians in the 1940s and the beatniks in the 1950s. As society moves faster and puts more value on creativity and change, cool people are more essential than ever."</p>



<p>Those roots explain why cool is tied to early movers. People who tinker, mix influences, and put ideas into action often set the pace. They may not be the most obedient in the room. They make new things feel possible.</p>



<p>We admire both cool people and good people, but for different reasons. If the “cool kid” and the “good kid” seem to orbit different planets, you’re not imagining it. Each plays a role in how groups change and how cultures move forward.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xge-xge0001799.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Psychological Association</a></em>.</p>



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People who are considered 'cool' have these six things in common across all cultures

We throw the word “cool” around every day when describing...

Environmental,Technology,Concept.,Sustainable,Development,Goals.,Sdgs.

<p>Every year, humanity reaches&nbsp;Earth Overshoot Day, the point when the year’s planetary budget is spent. This marks how quickly we use resources compared to Earth’s ability to renew them. </p>



<p>In 2025, Denmark’s <a href="https://www.overshootday.org/">Earth Overshoot Day</a> arrived on March 19, one of the earliest in the world. If everyone lived like the average Dane, more than four <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/">Earths</a> would be required to sustain humanity.</p>



<p>This reality raises an urgent question: Which daily choices matter most? </p>



<p>Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark (<a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DTU</a>) tackled this question by linking everyday activities with the Planetary Boundaries framework. </p>



<p>Their findings help separate symbolic actions from those that truly bring us closer to a sustainable future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-true-environmental-impact">Measuring true environmental impact</h2>



<p>“One problem is that it’s hard for people to distinguish between what is better for the environment and what is good enough,” said Teddy Serrano, Ph.D. at DTU. </p>



<p>“If you get a three out of 10, it's better than a two out of 10, but it's still a bad grade. So the question is: When can we say that the grade is good enough?”</p>



<p>To address this, the researchers created annual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-urgent-plea-sustainable-climate-solutions-save-earth-humanity/">environmental budgets</a> for individuals by downscaling global limits on an equal per capita basis. </p>



<p>Six categories were used: climate change, functional biodiversity, land occupation, marine eutrophication, resource use, and water consumption.</p>



<p>Each lifestyle choice was compared to these budgets, showing how much of the yearly allowance it consumed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-choices-shape-planet">Food choices shape planet</h2>



<p>Food emerged as the single largest driver of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mutual-relationships-with-nature-offer-hope-for-a-sustainable-future/">environmental pressure</a>. An omnivorous diet overshoots climate, biodiversity, and land budgets all by itself. By contrast, vegetarian and vegan diets dramatically cut these impacts.</p>



<p>A vegan diet uses only 22 percent of the climate allowance, while a vegetarian one consumes around 33 percent. </p>



<p>Replacing cow’s milk with oat milk also shrinks biodiversity and land pressures from substantial portions of the allowance to near negligible values.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commuting-and-climate-costs">Commuting and climate costs</h2>



<p>Mobility choices carry similar weight. Driving a gasoline or diesel car for daily distances can use up the entire climate budget in a single year. </p>



<p>Small electric cars reduce this to about half, but increase demand for mineral resources due to batteries.</p>



<p>Commuting by e-bike, however, lowers climate impacts to just 5 percent of the allowance. </p>



<p>Air travel remains especially damaging, with a single round trip across the Atlantic consuming as much as three-quarters of a person’s yearly climate budget.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-homes-and-climate-strain">Homes and climate strain</h2>



<p>Housing adds further strain. Building and living in a detached home overshoots the resource budget entirely. </p>



<p>Heating with oil takes up more than 80 percent of the climate allowance, while switching to heat pumps reduces that figure dramatically.</p>



<p>Adding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-panels-are-1000-times-more-powerful-with-new-tech-breakthrough/">solar panels</a> improves results across categories, cutting climate impacts from double-digit percentages to much lower shares of the budget.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/environmental-budget-choices_infographic_TUDenmark_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/environmental-budget-choices_infographic_TUDenmark_1s.webp" alt="Share of the individual environmental budgets consumed by activities assessed in the publication. The colors indicate how much of the yearly budget each activity consumes, from 0 % (green) to above 100% (purple). The impact categories are listed with icons (from left to right): Functional biodiversity, climate change, marine eutrophication, land occupation, resource use, water consumption. Credit: Technical University of Denmark" class="wp-image-1983764"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Share of the individual environmental budgets consumed by activities assessed in the publication. The colors indicate how much of the yearly budget each activity consumes, from 0 % (green) to above 100% (purple). The impact categories are listed with icons (from left to right): Functional biodiversity, climate change, marine eutrophication, land occupation, resource use, water consumption. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Technical University of Denmark</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-misconceptions-about-small-actions">Misconceptions about small actions</h2>



<p>Not all popular changes have meaningful effects. Using reusable grocery bags or washing clothes at lower temperatures only shifts results by a small fraction. </p>



<p>While such actions may save money or offer convenience, they cannot bridge the vast gap between current lifestyles and sustainable living. </p>



<p>The study highlights that attention must be placed on high-impact areas such as food, transport, housing, and aviation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-action-beyond-overshoot-day">Action beyond Overshoot Day</h2>



<p>The researchers also stress that personal effort alone cannot fully align lifestyles with planetary limits. </p>



<p>Systemic change is equally important, including cleaner energy systems, improved <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/51-percent-of-the-world-relies-on-car-commutes-every-day/">public transportation</a>, and policies that support smaller, less resource-intensive homes.</p>



<p>“Our study draws attention to the fact that we need to make major shifts in our current lifestyles if we want to bring our impact on the environment down to sustainable levels,” Serrano notes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-framework-for-change">A framework for change</h2>



<p>To make these priorities clear, the study points to four key lifestyle areas. Planes highlight the outsized impact of air travel, where even a single long-haul trip can consume most of a climate budget. </p>



<p>Places highlight the importance of housing size, with smaller homes requiring fewer materials and less energy. </p>



<p>Plates capture the significance of diet, with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-foods-promote-weight-loss-regardless-of-processing/">plant-based foods</a> offering huge reductions. Pedals remind us that choosing cycling first keeps transportation within a manageable footprint.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sustainable-path-on-overshoot-day">Sustainable path on Overshoot Day</h2>



<p>The evidence shows that not all actions are equal. Minor lifestyle gestures cannot outweigh the large impacts of cars, planes, meat-heavy diets, and oversized housing. </p>



<p>To live within planetary boundaries, individuals and societies alike must prioritize high-impact changes. </p>



<p>By combining informed personal decisions with systemic support, humanity can move closer to a balance that one Earth can sustain.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550925000715" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sustainable Production and Consumption</a>.</em></p>



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Earth Overshoot Day shows urgent need for sustainable living

Every year, humanity reaches&nbsp;Earth Overshoot Day, the point when the...

<p>Dinosaurs have long fascinated us for their size, diversity, and survival stories. Yet, their bones still reveal mysteries about their struggles. Recently, fossils discovered in Brazil added a surprising chapter. </p>



<p>A set of sauropod remains from the Cretaceous period showed evidence of a fatal disease. These findings suggest that even giants of the past were not safe from infection.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-in-brazil">Discovery in Brazil</h2>



<p>The bones were found in Ibirá, São Paulo. Researchers supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://fapesp.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FAPESP</a>&nbsp;identified signs of osteomyelitis, an inflammatory bone disease caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protozoa. </p>



<p>Six individuals dating back about 80 million years displayed clear evidence of the illness. None of the bones showed healing, meaning the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-and-ornate-sail-on-istiorachis-dinosaurs-head-may-have-been-used-for-mating/">animals</a> likely died while still infected. The findings appear in&nbsp;<em>The Anatomical Record</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-dinosaurs-carried-disease">Many dinosaurs carried disease</h2>



<p>“There have been few findings of infectious diseases in sauropods, the first having been published recently," said Tito Aureliano, first author of the study and a researcher at the&nbsp;Regional University of Cariri (<a href="https://www.urca.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">URCA</a>).</p>



<p>"The bones we analyzed are very close to each other in time and from the same paleontological site, which suggests that the region provided conditions for pathogens to infect many individuals during that period."</p>



<p>One fossil had infection limited to the marrow, while others showed damage spreading outward. These lesions had a porous, spongy texture, marking them distinct from cancers such as osteosarcoma. </p>



<p>The pattern suggested vascularization, meaning blood vessels fed the infected regions. Unlike bite marks from predators, which sometimes show signs of bone regeneration, these did not heal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bone-remodeling-patterns">Bone remodeling patterns</h2>



<p>The study emphasized how osteomyelitis can alter bone tissue through reactive bone growth. This process, called periosteal reaction, occurs when inflammation stimulates new bone to form on the outer surface. </p>



<p>In the Ibirá fossils, three different patterns appeared: small circular protrusions, fingerprint-like ellipsoid marks, and enlarged protrusions with greater height and area. These variations revealed a mosaic of infection-driven remodeling, showing how the disease progressed differently within each <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-extinction-theories-are-challenged-by-new-research/">individual</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaurs-died-with-active-disease">Dinosaurs died with active disease</h2>



<p>Despite varied manifestations, none of the fossils displayed healing tissues. The absence of repair, combined with a lack of structures usually seen in chronic cases such as sequestra or cloacae, suggests that the disease advanced quickly. </p>



<p>Infections were still active when the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-on-earth-before-during-and-after-the-dinosaur-killing-asteroid-strike-mosasaurs/">animals</a> died, hinting that their health had been severely compromised.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/dinosaur-bone-disease_osteomyelitis_credit-Anatomical-Record_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/dinosaur-bone-disease_osteomyelitis_credit-Anatomical-Record_1s.webp" alt="In the approximately 80-million-year-old fossilized bone, the arrows indicated by BL point to the lesion caused by osteomyelitis. HB is the unlesioned part, and MB is the bone marrow. Credit: Tito Aureliano et al./The Anatomical Record" class="wp-image-1983771"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>In the approximately 80-million-year-old fossilized bone, the arrows indicated by BL point to the lesion caused by osteomyelitis. HB is the unlesioned part, and MB is the bone marrow. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Tito Aureliano et al./The Anatomical Record</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microscopes-confirm-patterns">Microscopes confirm patterns</h2>



<p>Researchers at the&nbsp;Federal University of São Carlos (<a href="https://www2.ufscar.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UFSCar</a>)&nbsp;examined the fossils with electron and stereomicroscopes, uncovering three unique patterns of osteomyelitis.</p>



<p>Some bones carried small circular bumps, others bore fingerprint-like protrusions, while a third type displayed wide circular marks. </p>



<p>“These lesions could connect with muscles and skin and become exposed, oozing blood or pus,” explained Aureliano.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cause-of-illness-unknown">Cause of illness unknown</h2>



<p>The exact bones studied were hard to identify, though at least one rib and several limb bones were recognized. Both large and small sauropods were affected. </p>



<p>The cause of the infections remains unknown. A 2021 study at the same site documented another case of osteomyelitis, linked to blood parasites in Ibirania parva.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environment-spread-disease-in-dinosaurs">Environment spread disease in dinosaurs</h2>



<p>The site, called the São José do Rio Preto Formation, had an arid climate with shallow rivers and stagnant pools. Dinosaurs and other animals often became trapped and perished, leaving fossils behind. </p>



<p>“This environment probably favored pathogens, which may have been transmitted by mosquitoes or by the water itself that was ingested by the fauna, which included dinosaurs, turtles, and animals similar to today’s crocodiles,” said Aureliano.</p>



<p>These results expand our view of prehistoric disease. They also show how infection interacted with bone remodeling, helping paleontologists distinguish osteomyelitis from other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-dinosaur-skulls-reveal-unique-hunting-strategies/">conditions</a>. </p>



<p>Studying such ancient illnesses offers a window into dinosaur biology and survival. It highlights that even dominant creatures of their time lived under the constant threat of diseases that left their mark in bone, shaping their history and ultimate fate forever.</p>



<p>The&nbsp;research was supported by the National Institute of Science and Technology of Parasitic Hymenoptera (<a href="http://www.hympar.ufscar.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">INCT Hympar</a>)&nbsp;in the Brazilian Southeast Region.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ar.70003" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Anatomical Record</a>.</em></p>



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Giant, long-necked dinosaurs struggled with fatal bone disease

Dinosaurs have long fascinated us for their size, diversity, and...

<p>Parasitic wasps aren’t winning beauty contests anytime soon. They’re not colorful like butterflies or flashy like fireflies. They’re about the size of a grain of rice - or smaller - and they spend much of their lives inside plant lumps called galls. But these tiny insects just gave scientists a big surprise.</p>



<p>Two previously unknown species of parasitic wasps were discovered living in North America. They didn’t evolve here. They hitched a ride - and no one really noticed until now.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-secret-lives-of-gall-wasps">The secret lives of gall wasps</h2>



<p>Across North America, oak trees host a strange cast of insect tenants. One of the oddest is the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-wasps-are-expanding-northward-on-the-west-coast/">oak gall wasp</a>. These wasps lay their eggs in oak trees, which causes the trees to form protective structures called galls. </p>



<p>These galls come in wild shapes and sizes - some look like fuzzy balls, others like spiky marbles or tiny apples. Inside the galls, young oak gall wasps grow. But they're not alone. </p>



<p>Parasitic wasps come along and lay their own eggs inside the galls. Their larvae then feed on the oak gall wasp larvae, killing them in the process. It’s not pretty, but it’s part of how nature works. And it turns out, this hidden world is far more complicated than anyone thought.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-uncover-hidden-invaders">Genetics uncover hidden invaders</h2>



<p>Recently, scientists found something strange. On both the East and West Coasts of North America, they were collecting parasitic wasps from oak galls. </p>



<p>But some of the wasps didn’t look quite right. To get answers, researchers turned to genetics. They looked at a gene often used to identify <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-farming-is-causing-many-insect-species-to-collapse/">insect species</a> - kind of like scanning a barcode at the grocery store.</p>



<p>The results were unexpected. The wasps matched a European species called <em>Bootanomyia dorsalis</em>. But not just one version. The West Coast wasps were genetically similar to those from Spain, Hungary, and Iran. The East Coast wasps were closer to those from Portugal, Italy, and Iran.</p>



<p>The two groups were different enough that scientists now believe they’re actually two separate species. And both of them somehow made it to North America.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wasps-hitch-rides-across-seas">Wasps hitch rides across seas</h2>



<p>On the West Coast, these wasps were found from Oregon to British Columbia. All the samples were genetically identical, which means the introduction was small - probably just a few insects. But they managed to spread.</p>



<p>On the East Coast, the wasps had a little more genetic variety. That could mean they arrived more than once or came from a larger group.</p>



<p>How did they get here in the first place? One theory is that they came along with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/should-we-cut-down-all-oak-trees-isoprene-emissions-air-pollution-climate-change/">oak trees</a> brought over from Europe. </p>



<p>English oak has been planted in North America since the 1600s, and Turkey oak is a popular ornamental tree. Both are found in areas where the wasps were discovered. Or maybe they simply flew in. </p>



<p>“Adult parasitic wasps can live for 27 days, so they could have hitchhiked on a plane,” said Kirsten Prior, an associate professor of biological sciences at <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-wasps-big-ecological-risks">Tiny wasps, big ecological risks</h2>



<p>These tiny newcomers might not seem like a big deal, but they could have real effects on native insects. </p>



<p>“We did find that they can parasitize multiple oak gall wasp species and that they can spread,” Prior said. “They could be affecting populations of native oak gall wasp species or other native parasites of oak gall wasps.”</p>



<p>Parasitic wasps are important for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natures-ecosystems-constantly-share-energy-to-achieve-balance/">ecosystems</a>. They help control insect populations - including pests that damage crops and forests. </p>



<p>But when new species show up, they can disrupt delicate ecological balances. The discovery of these two wasps shows just how much there is still to learn. </p>



<p>“Parasitic wasps are likely the most diverse group of animals on the planet and are extremely important in ecological systems, acting as biological control agents to keep insects in check,” Prior said.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bootanomyia-dorsalis-wasps_credit-Hymenoptera-Research_1big.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bootanomyia-dorsalis-wasps_credit-Hymenoptera-Research_1s.webp" alt="Two species of Bootanomyia dorsalis wasps introduced to North America from Europe A, B variation in the extent of wing infumation from a single collection of B. dorsalis sp. 2 from Neuroterus washingtonensis in Metchosin, BC C a male B. dorsalis sp. 1 collected from New York D a female B. dorsalis sp. 2 from the Pacific coast of North America. Body coloration of both C and D wasps are representative of their respective species regardless of sex. Credit: Journal of Hymenoptera Research" class="wp-image-1983766"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Two species of Bootanomyia dorsalis wasps introduced to North America from Europe A, B variation in the extent of wing infumation from a single collection of B. dorsalis sp. 2 from Neuroterus washingtonensis in Metchosin, BC C a male B. dorsalis sp. 1 collected from New York D a female B. dorsalis sp. 2 from the Pacific coast of North America. Body coloration of both C and D wasps are representative of their respective species regardless of sex. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Journal of Hymenoptera Research</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ambitious-project-uncovers-invaders">Ambitious project uncovers invaders</h2>



<p>Graduate students have been traveling across North America, collecting oak galls and sequencing the DNA of the insects inside. It’s the most ambitious study of its kind.</p>



<p>“We are interested in how oak gall characteristics act as defenses against parasites and affect the evolutionary trajectories of both oak gall wasps and the parasites they host," said Prior. "The scale of this study will make it the most extensive cophylogenetic study of its kind."</p>



<p>And the discoveries keep coming. Over the past few years, her lab has collected about 25 oak gall wasp species and reared tens of thousands of parasitic wasps. That work uncovered over 100 species - and two of them had never been recorded in North America before.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-backyard-science-fuels-discovery">Backyard science fuels discovery</h2>



<p>You don’t need a PhD to help. Many discoveries come from everyday people exploring their own backyards. </p>



<p>Projects like Gall Week on iNaturalist encourage people to collect galls and share their findings. Even students at Binghamton University have gotten involved through events like Ecoblitz.</p>



<p>“Only when we have a large, concerted effort to search for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-biodiversity-crisis-is-actually-worse-than-we-thought/">biodiversity</a> can we uncover surprises - like new or introduced species,” Prior said.</p>



<p>In a time when biodiversity is under pressure from global change, every small discovery helps paint a bigger picture. And sometimes the most important stories come from the smallest creatures.</p>



<p>This finding came out of a larger project funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Researchers from Binghamton University, the University of Iowa, Wayne State University, and Gallformers.org are working together to better understand oak gall wasps and the parasites that live with them.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/152867/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Hymenoptera Research</a></em>.</p>



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Invasive parasitic wasps quietly crossed oceans, now thriving in U.S. oak trees

Parasitic wasps aren’t winning beauty contests anytime soon. They’re not...

<p>Astronomers have, for the first time, caught a growing planet “parked” inside the dark lane of a multi-ringed disk of dust and gas - the exact kind of gap long suspected to be sculpted by newborn worlds.</p>



<p>The object orbits a young Sun-like star called WISPIT-2, and its light betrays a world still gulping hydrogen as it builds itself up.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wispit-2-and-dust-disk-gaps">WISPIT-2 and dust disk gaps</h2>



<p>For years, high-contrast images of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-forming-disks-surrounding-stars-often-last-much-longer-than-expected/">planet-forming disks</a> have shown bright rings split by shadowy gaps. </p>



<p>The prevailing idea was simple: protoplanets plow lanes, like snowplows in fresh powder. But almost no planets had ever been found sitting inside those gaps, leaving room for doubters.</p>



<p>“Dozens of theory papers have been written about these observed disk gaps being caused by protoplanets, but no one's ever found a definitive one until today,” said lead author Laird Close, a professor of astronomy at the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona</a>.</p>



<p>Professor Close calls the WISPIT-2 discovery a “big deal” because planets have often been absent in places where they should be. </p>



<p>This gap has prompted many in the scientific community to invoke alternative explanations for the ring-and-gap pattern found in many protoplanetary disks.</p>



<p>“It's been a point of tension in astronomy that we have these really dark gaps, but we cannot detect the faint <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-exoplanets-are-much-larger-than-we-thought/">exoplanets</a> in them,” he said. “Many have doubted that protoplanets can make these gaps, but now we know that in fact, they can.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-instruments-that-found-wispit-2">Instruments that found WISPIT-2</h2>



<p>Together with Richelle van Capelleveen from <a href="https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/astronomy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leiden Observatory</a>, Professor Close and his team carried out their observations using several world-class telescopes. </p>



<p>They relied on the MagAO-X extreme adaptive optics system mounted on the 6.5-meter Magellan Telescope in Chile.</p>



<p>The experts also used the twin 8.4-meter Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona, along with ESO’s Very Large Telescope in Chile.</p>



<p>MagAO-X - short for Magellan Adaptive Optics System eXtreme - cancels the blur of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-shrinking-earths-atmosphere-and-thats-bad-for-satellites/">Earth’s atmosphere</a> in real time. That yields razor-sharp images at visible wavelengths, where the best clues to newborn planets lie.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spotting-a-newborn-world">Spotting a newborn world</h2>



<p>The hunt focused on a specific beacon: hydrogen-alpha, or H-alpha, a deep-red wavelength emitted by super-hot hydrogen plasma. When gas free-falls onto a growing world, the impact can heat it enough to shine at H-alpha.</p>



<p>“As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-hidden-planet-found-orbiting-young-star/">planets form and grow</a>, they suck in hydrogen gas from their surroundings, and as that gas crashes down on them like a giant waterfall coming from outer space and hits the surface," Close explained. "It creates extremely hot plasma, which in turn, emits this particular H-alpha light signature.”</p>



<p>MagAO-X is specially designed to look for hydrogen gas falling onto young protoplanets, and that's how we can detect them.</p>



<p>A second, even closer-in candidate emerged inside the central cavity between the star and the inner edge of the disk.</p>



<p>“Once we turned on the adaptive optics system, the planet jumped right out at us,” said Close, who called this one of the more important discoveries in his career. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-wispit-2-s-new-planet">Inside WISPIT-2's new planet</h2>



<p>The outer object is designated WISPIT-2b. It sits about 56 astronomical units from the star - well beyond the orbit of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-object-is-moving-in-sync-with-neptune/">Neptune</a> if transplanted into our solar system. Modeling suggests a mass of roughly five Jupiters.</p>



<p>The team flagged candidate CC1 inside the cavity, about 14-15 AU out, with roughly nine Jupiter masses. Those masses were inferred in part from thermal infrared data gathered at the <a href="https://www.lbto.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Large Binocular Telescope</a> by UArizona graduate student Gabriel Weible.</p>



<p>“It's a bit like what our own Jupiter and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/citizen-astronomers-captured-a-possible-impact-on-saturn-for-the-first-time-ever/">Saturn</a> would have looked like when they were 5,000 times younger than they are now,” Weible said. “The planets in the WISPIT-2 system appear to be about 10 times more massive than our own gas giants and more spread out." </p>



<p>"The overall appearance is likely not so different from what a nearby 'alien astronomer' could have seen in a 'baby picture' of our solar system taken 4.5 billion years ago.”</p>



<p>The disk itself is elaborate: four bright rings, four dark gaps, and likely two planets shaping them. The geometry matches decades of theory on how embedded worlds tug on dust and gas to carve lanes.</p>



<p>“Our MagAO-X adaptive optics system is optimized like no other to work well at the H-alpha wavelength, so you can separate the bright starlight from the faint protoplanet,” Close said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-confirmed-in-infrared">Discovery confirmed in infrared</h2>



<p>In a companion paper, van Capelleveen and colleagues at the <a href="https://www.universityofgalway.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Galway</a> report detecting the planet in thermal infrared light and detailing the rings with the VLT’s SPHERE instrument. This independent window on the same system bolsters the H-alpha find.</p>



<p>“To see planets in the fleeting time of their youth, astronomers have to find young disk systems, which are rare because that's the one time that they really are brighter and so detectable,” van Capelleveen said.</p>



<p>“If the WISPIT-2 system was the age of our solar system and we used the same technology to look at it, we'd see nothing. Everything would be too cold and too dark.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wispit-2-as-a-turning-point">WISPIT-2 as a turning point</h2>



<p>Until now, every directly imaged “accreting” protoplanet had turned up in the inner cavity of a disk, not inside a true gap. Skeptics argued that rings could arise without planets, via magnetic fields or dust chemistry. </p>



<p>Seeing a bona fide, gas-gobbling world embedded in a gap closes that loop: the long-suspected planet–gap connection holds in at least one textbook case.</p>



<p>The broader stakes are high. Our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-y-signs-of-a-world-hiding-in-our-solar-system/">solar system</a> began as a similar disk 4.5 billion years ago. </p>



<p>Pinning down where and how protoplanets sit in those disks - and catching them while they are still feeding - lets astronomers test models of how giants like Jupiter and Saturn assembled.</p>



<p>These findings also reveal how the planets sculpted debris and set the stage for the smaller rocky worlds inside. </p>



<p>With MagAO-X and other extreme adaptive optics systems now tuned to H-alpha and the infrared, more targets will follow. The gaps may not stay empty for long.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/adf7a5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Astrophysical Journal Letters</em></a>.</p>



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Astronomers photograph a growing baby planet for the first time ever

Astronomers have, for the first time, caught a growing planet...

Measurement,Of,Blood,Pressure.,Manual,Medical,Blood,Pressure,Monitor,And

<p>High blood pressure is the number one reason that most people visit their doctor. Known as the "silent assassin," it often creeps in quietly. You feel fine, yet the force in your arteries runs high day after day. </p>



<p>The top number, called systolic pressure, is the one doctors watch most closely because it signals how hard your heart is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-you-position-your-arm-can-alter-blood-pressure-readings-according-to-scientists/">working with each beat</a>. Even a small nudge downward can lower the odds of heart attack and stroke.</p>



<p>Doctors have a wide range of medicines that help, but picking the right plan isn’t easy. </p>



<p>One pill or two? Standard dose or higher? Different drug classes or more of the same? People want clear answers before they commit to a new routine.</p>



<p>Now, an innovative <a href="https://www.bpmodel.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blood Pressure Treatment Efficacy Calculator</a> enables doctors to predict how much different medications are likely to lower blood pressure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comprehensive-blood-pressure-study">Comprehensive blood pressure study</h2>



<p>Researchers pulled together the highest-quality evidence available: 484 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with 104,176 participants. </p>



<p>At the start, average blood pressure hovered around 154/100 mm Hg. Follow-up lasted roughly nine weeks - long enough to see the full effect in a setting where participants took the medicine as prescribed.</p>



<p>They asked direct questions. </p>



<p>What drop can you usually count on from a single standard-dose drug? What happens if you double that dose? What if you combine two different drug classes? </p>



<p>They then used those answers to build a simple way to predict average results for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trying-to-lower-your-blood-pressure-this-common-nutrient-can-help/">common choices</a>.</p>



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



<p>A single blood pressure medicine at a standard dose lowered <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">systolic pressure</a> by 8.7 mm Hg on average. Doubling the dose added about 1.5 mm Hg - modest rather than a big change. </p>



<p>Some drug classes showed more gain with higher doses, especially calcium channel blockers; <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/beta-blockers/art-20044522" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beta-blockers</a> changed little when the dose increased.</p>



<p>Pairing two different drug classes - each at a standard dose - produced a larger effect: a 14.9 mm Hg average drop. </p>



<p>Doubling both components added another 2.5 mm Hg. Adding a second drug class was around four times more effective than doubling the dose of a single medicine.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-target-many-choices">Clear target, many choices</h2>



<p>“This is really important because every 1mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure lowers your risk of heart attack or stroke by two percent,” said Nelson Wang, cardiologist and Research Fellow at <a href="https://www.georgeinstitute.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The George Institute for Global Health</a>. </p>



<p>“But with dozens of drugs, multiple doses per drug, and most patients needing two or more drugs, there are literally thousands of possible options, and no easy way to work out how effective they are,” Wang explained.</p>



<p>Blood pressure changes from moment to moment, day to day and by season - these random fluctuations can easily be as big or larger than the changes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/standing-still-exercises-beat-running-for-blood-pressure-control/">brought about by treatment</a>.</p>



<p>“Also, measurement practices are often not perfect, bringing in an additional source of uncertainty - this means it’s very hard to reliably assess how well a medicine is working just by taking repeated measurements," Wang continued.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blood-pressure-baseline-impact">Blood pressure baseline impact</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-linked-to-high-blood-pressure-and-heart-problems/">Starting pressure</a> matters. Across single-drug regimens, for every 10 mm Hg lower at baseline, the expected drop decreases by about 1.3 mm Hg. Treatment still works at lower baseline pressures; there’s simply less excess pressure to remove.</p>



<p>To make decisions easier, the team grouped treatment “intensity” by predicted systolic reduction: low (&lt;10 mm Hg), moderate (10–19 mm Hg), and high (≥20 mm Hg). </p>



<p>Most single drugs at standard doses fall into the low category. Many two-drug combinations land in the moderate range, and certain higher-dose pairs or three-drug mixes reach high intensity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-combinations">Predicting combinations</h2>



<p>The analysis didn’t stop at describing past trials. Using averages from single-drug studies, the researchers predicted the effects of two-drug combinations and compared those predictions with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/just-5-minutes-of-daily-exercise-can-lower-blood-pressure/">real trial results</a>. </p>



<p>The match was strong, with a correlation of about 0.76, suggesting that the calculator offers a realistic expectation for most common pairings.</p>



<p>Anthony Rodgers, Senior Professorial Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health, noted that hypertension is a top reason for clinic visits.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, clinicians haven’t had one up-to-date source that shows how effective different medicines are - especially in combinations or at varying doses. </p>



<p>“Using the [<a href="https://www.bpmodel.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blood Pressure Treatment Efficacy Calculator</a>] challenges the traditional ‘start low, go slow, measure and judge’ approach to treatment, which comes with the high probability of being misled by BP readings, inertia setting in or the burden on patients being too much,” Rodgers noted.</p>



<p>“With this new method you specify how much you need to lower blood pressure, choose an ideal treatment plan to achieve that based on the evidence, and get the patient started on that ideally sooner rather than later.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-it-all-means">What it all means</h2>



<p>If someone needs only a small nudge downward, a single medicine at a standard dose is often sufficient. </p>



<p>If the goal is a bigger change - about 15 to 20 points - adding a second drug class usually gets there more reliably than pushing a single drug to higher doses. </p>



<p>That matches <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lasers-and-light-replace-the-cuff-in-blood-pressure-breakthrough-scos/">real-world experience</a> in clinics where most patients need more than one medicine.</p>



<p>Because expected effects depend on baseline, the same regimen appears more potent when baseline pressure is high and slightly less potent when it is closer to the goal. </p>



<p>The intensity tiers give clinicians a quick yardstick to match treatment to the needed reduction, and then fine-tune based on side effects, other conditions, and ongoing home or clinic readings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-blood-pressure-treatment">Future of blood pressure treatment</h2>



<p>“Given the enormous scale of this challenge, even modest improvements will have a large public health impact - increasing the percentage of people whose hypertension is under control globally to just 50% could save many millions of lives,” Professor Rodgers added.</p>



<p>Small changes matter. A standard-dose medicine typically lowers systolic pressure by a meaningful amount. </p>



<p>Because lower systolic pressure reduces cardiovascular risk, selecting an evidence-based regimen using the intensity framework and calculator can help bring pressure into a safer zone over time.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00991-2/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet</a></em>.</p>



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



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

New online tool is set to revolutionize blood pressure measurement and treatment

High blood pressure is the number one reason that most...

<p>A new analysis of tag detections maps the clearest picture yet of white shark presence along the Maine coast. The team compiled a decade of signals from tagged animals to show when and where these predators cruise local waters.</p>



<p>The results point to a reliable seasonal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/great-white-sharks-separated-into-three-distinct-groups-that-dont-intermingle/">presence</a> in nearshore areas, not just a few chance appearances. The dataset is large enough to change how managers, beach staff, and boaters think about Maine’s summer seas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-100-white-sharks-are-regulars">More than 100 white sharks are regulars</h2>



<p>The study tallied 6,287 confirmed detections grouped into 728 events from 107 unique white sharks. The receiver coverage was expanded after 2019, and this added sharper detail to the map. </p>



<p>Most detections came from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/juvenile-great-white-sharks-prefer-shallow-coastal-waters/">shallow water</a>, with many events being recorded within about 0.6 miles (0.97 kilometers) of shore.</p>



<p>The team pooled data from multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracking-endangered-rays-a-new-chapter-in-marine-conservation/">acoustic telemetry arrays</a> deployed between 2012 and 2023.</p>



<p>Sharks showed up between May and December, with activity peaking from July through September. Many events occurred in water less than 65 feet (19.8 meters) deep, and the average nearshore event lasted about 14 minutes.</p>



<p>Several locations stood out. Head Beach on Hermit Island logged the highest count of unique sharks, while nearby Ragged Island recorded the most events per unit of receiver effort, suggesting concentrated use of parts of eastern Casco Bay.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-this-changes-the-map">How this changes the map</h2>



<p>The tracks tighten the connection between Maine and known summer hotspots to the south. They show how sharks move along the shelf and use local pockets of habitat. </p>



<p>In the Western North Atlantic, these animals typically <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warming-oceans-are-changing-shark-migration-patterns/">migrate seasonally</a> from New England and Atlantic Canada to the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico as waters cool. A similar pattern has been documented by other researchers using satellite and acoustic tags.</p>



<p>Young-of-the-year white sharks center their first summer and fall in the New York Bight nursery before shifting range with age. This helps explain Maine’s mix of white sharks. </p>



<p>The Maine detections included mostly juveniles and subadults, along with some adults. This is consistent with a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-29180-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> that tracked the early movements of young-of-the-year white sharks in the Western North Atlantic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-data-suggest-a-white-shark-corridor">Data suggest a white shark corridor</h2>



<p>Warming matters as well. The sea surface temperature in the Gulf of Maine is <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aac9819" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> rising faster than 99 percent of the global ocean, a backdrop that can alter seasonal timing and habitat use.</p>



<p>The new map suggests a corridor effect along western Maine, with some sharks pinging at four or more sites within a single day. </p>



<p>A subset returned to the same spots across years, suggesting that individuals are familiar with these sites.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-summer-brings-white-sharks">Why summer brings white sharks </h2>



<p>Food is a strong driver of white sharks to Maine. Gray seal colonies on the Northeast Shelf provide dense, energy-rich prey that attract foraging subadults and adults in late summer and early fall. </p>



<p>The pattern mirrors what researchers have tracked at Cape Cod and in Atlantic Canada. White sharks off Cape Cod spent almost half of their monitored time at depths shallower than 15 feet (4.6 meters). </p>



<p>This emphasizes just how coastal these animals can be during the summer foraging season.</p>



<p>“White sharks are regularly spotted off our coastline during the summer and fall, the peak of Cape Cod’s tourist season, but until now we didn’t know just how much time they spent in shallow water close to shore,” said Megan Winton, research scientist at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-white-shark-movements">White shark movements </h2>



<p>Maine’s detections followed similar water temperatures, with many events occurring when nearshore conditions hovered in the mid 50 to upper 60 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 20 degrees Celsius). </p>



<p>That lines up with the thermal window reported for Northeast white sharks, as seen in a study on white shark movements in the Western North Atlantic.</p>



<p>Sharks did not linger long at most Maine receivers. The short event durations point to patrolling and brief passes rather than sustained residency at any beaches.</p>



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



<p>Risk remains low, even with a regular shark presence. The dataset indicates that nearshore detections cluster in summer and early fall, and that most events near beaches were brief.</p>



<p>Public interest in safety rose after Maine’s first recorded fatality attributed to a white shark, which occurred off Bailey Island on July 27, 2020. The <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/blog/maines-first-recorded-fatality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> from the Florida Museum of Natural History documented the incident, the first confirmed fatality for the state.</p>



<p>White sharks are a prohibited species in all U.S. fisheries, which means they cannot be retained and must be released if caught. NOAA’s overview emphasizes their ecological role as an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shark-awareness-day-protecting-the-balance-of-the-ocean/">apex<strong> </strong>predator</a> and notes increasing abundance trends in the Northwest Atlantic since the 1990s protections.</p>



<p>Local decisions, such as signage, drone patrols, or temporary swimming advisories during seal surges, can be informed by these timelines and hotspots. The point is not alarm, but awareness that patterns now exist and can be watched.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-scientists-will-watch-next">What scientists will watch next</h2>



<p>Coverage gaps remain along Downeast Maine and offshore ledges. More receivers, plus tag types that log depth and temperature at fine scales, would tighten estimates of residency and movement.</p>



<p>Climate will keep nudging the puzzle. NOAA <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/sharks-rays-and-climate-change-impacts-habitat-prey-distribution-and-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a> that warming seas and stronger storms shift prey distribution and alter habitat quality for sharks and rays, which can reshape where and when species show up on our coasts.</p>



<p>Understanding these shifts matters for fisheries, wildlife viewing, and emergency response planning. It can also inform habitat mapping and future revisions to management boundaries if consistent use emerges in places north of historic limits.</p>



<p>The Maine dataset gives managers a baseline. It also offers a practical way to brief lifeguards, harbor officials, and charter operators on what to expect in late summer along popular beaches and island outcrops.</p>



<p>The work was led by Matthew M. Davis of the <a href="https://www.maine.gov/dmr/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maine Department of Marine Resources</a>, with collaborators from the <a href="https://www.atlanticwhiteshark.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atlantic White Shark Conservancy</a>, the <a href="https://www.une.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of New England</a> (UNE), and <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA Fisheries</a>.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1535123/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Frontiers in Marine Science</em></a>.</p>



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

Most detailed map ever created of white sharks covers 6,287 sightings

A new analysis of tag detections maps the clearest picture...

<p>Scientists have engineered wheat to nudge soil bacteria into producing plant-ready nitrogen, a shift that could cut fertilizer use, curb pollution, and lower farm costs without sacrificing yields. </p>



<p>The plants overproduce a natural compound, leak the excess into the soil, and in doing so jumpstart nearby microbes that “fix” nitrogen from the air into forms crops can use.</p>



<p>In this work, a team at the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Davis</a>, led by Eduardo Blumwald, used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crispr-used-to-remove-extra-chromosomes-in-down-syndrome-and-restore-cell-function/">CRISPR</a> to dial up a wheat metabolite and tested the effect under low-nitrogen conditions.</p>



<p>The study extends earlier proof-of-concept in rice, with efforts underway to translate the approach to other staple cereals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-synthetic-nitrogen-fuels-global-harvests">Synthetic nitrogen fuels global harvests</h2>



<p>Worldwide, synthetic nitrogen fuels modern harvests but at a steep environmental and economic price. Wheat alone accounts for about 18 percent of global nitrogen fertilizer use. Of the hundreds of millions of tons produced each year, plants capture only 30 to 50 percent.</p>



<p>The remainder washes into rivers and coasts, feeding oxygen-starved <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/excess-nutrients-are-creating-ocean-dead-zones/">dead zones</a>, or escapes as nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. For smallholder farmers, especially in low-income regions, cost and access make fertilizer a gamble.</p>



<p>“In Africa, people don't use fertilizers because they don’t have money, and farms are small, not larger than six to eight acres,” Blumwald said. “Imagine, you are planting crops that stimulate bacteria in the soil to create the fertilizer that the crops need, naturally. Wow! That’s a big difference!”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wheat-learns-microbes-nitrogen-trick">Wheat learns microbes’ nitrogen trick</h2>



<p>Nitrogen fixation is carried out by specialized bacteria using an enzyme called nitrogenase, which only functions in low-oxygen conditions. Legumes such as beans and peas solve this by hosting the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-have-root-microbiomes-like-humans-do-vital-for-survival-defense/">microbes</a> in root nodules, which are tiny oxygen-poor chambers. </p>



<p>Cereals like wheat lack nodules, which is why they rely on bagged nitrogen. Rather than trying to give cereals nodules or force microbes to colonize roots - a strategy that has long struggled to stick - the team flipped the problem.</p>



<p>The researchers screened roughly 2,800 plant-made chemicals and found a small set, including flavones, that prompt soil <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-bacteria-get-hungry-they-turn-on-each-other/">bacteria</a> to form protective biofilms. Those sticky microbial coats reduce oxygen exposure enough for nitrogenase to work.</p>



<p>“For decades, scientists have been trying to develop cereal crops that produce active root nodules, or trying to colonize cereals with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, without much success. We used a different approach,” Blumwald said.</p>



<p>“We said the location of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria is not important, so long as the fixed nitrogen can reach the plant, and the plant can use it.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gene-edit-flips-fertilizer-switch">Gene edit flips fertilizer switch</h2>



<p>Using CRISPR, the researchers boosted wheat’s production of apigenin, a common flavone. Plants kept what they needed and exuded the surplus through their roots.</p>



<p>In soil tests, the extra apigenin encouraged local bacteria to spin up biofilms, protecting nitrogenase, fixing nitrogen, and making ammonium available for the crop. In low-fertility conditions, edited wheat assimilated the microbially supplied nitrogen and outyielded control plants.</p>



<p>The amazing thing lies in what the plant does automatically. It manufactures the signal, leaks it when nitrogen is scarce, and benefits from the neighborhood effect. No external inoculants are required, and the microbes remain free-living in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-microbes-found-earths-deep-soil-critical-zone/">soil</a> rather than locked inside a root.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution-down-resilience-up"><a></a>Pollution down, resilience up</h2>



<p>If scaled, the approach could trim the fertilizer footprint that drives water pollution and climate forcing in wheat and other crops. Less soluble nitrogen applied to fields means less runoff during storms, smaller algal blooms, and fewer oxygen crashes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-shock-lakes-are-losing-oxygen-faster-than-expected/">lakes</a> and coastal zones. </p>



<p>Cutting back on industrial nitrogen also reduces upstream emissions from natural-gas-intensive fertilizer production.</p>



<p>Because the mechanism amplifies microbial activity already present in many soils, it may also help stabilize yields under input constraints. In places where fertilizer is scarce or prohibitively expensive, the crop’s own chemistry becomes a lever to unlock atmospheric nitrogen.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-billions-saved-with-less-fertilizer">Billions saved with less fertilizer</h2>



<p>The United States alone saw nearly $36 billion in fertilizer spending in 2023. Cereals cover close to 500 million acres nationally. Even modest reductions in inputs translate into real money while lowering risk in volatile markets.</p>



<p>“Imagine, if you could save 10 percent of the amount of fertilizer being used on that land,” Blumwald said. “I’m calculating conservatively: That should be a savings of more than a billion dollars every year.”</p>



<p>Those savings would not come solely from buying less nitrogen. Fewer passes to apply fertilizer mean lower fuel use and less soil compaction. Reduced losses to waterways could also ease regulatory pressure and improve community relations in vulnerable watersheds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proving-stability-across-soil-types">Proving stability across soil types</h2>



<p>The road from greenhouse pots to farm fields is long, but the milestones are clear. Researchers will need to confirm that the nitrogen boost holds under diverse soils, climates, and microbiomes, and that it plays nicely with existing rotations and management. </p>



<p>They will need to show stable performance across seasons and varieties, measure effects on soil ecology, and ensure that yields and grain quality are maintained.</p>



<p>Because the edit increases a native metabolite rather than introducing a foreign gene, regulatory pathways may be more straightforward in some jurisdictions. Still, farmers and policymakers will want transparent data on environmental outcomes, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-solar-power-can-transform-urine-into-fertilizer/">fertilizer</a> savings, and return on investment.</p>



<p>If the results scale, gene-edited cereals like wheat that recruit their own microbial fertilizer factories could become a practical tool in the nitrogen toolbox - cutting costs where budgets are tight, trimming pollution where waters run foul, and building resilience in the breadbaskets of a warming world.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <em><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pbi.70289" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plant Biotechnology Journal</a></em>.</p>



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<p></p>

Gene-edited wheat turns soil microbes into fertilizer

Scientists have engineered wheat to nudge soil bacteria into producing...

<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>



<p id="block-9bd989d6-2fd3-4580-957f-6cacce134f08">-----</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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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>



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<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>



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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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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>



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



<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

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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

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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

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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>



<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>

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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