<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 new global assessment has identified 25 primate species that are now the most endangered on Earth. Many survive as only a few hundred - or even a few dozen - individuals, and without swift intervention several could vanish within the next decade.</p>



<p>The biennial list, “Primates in Peril 2023-2025,” was prepared by the <a href="https://iucn.org/our-union/commissions/group/iucn-ssc-primate-specialist-group" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group</a>, the <a href="https://internationalprimatologicalsociety.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Primatological Society</a> and <a href="https://www.rewild.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Re:wild</a>, working with more than one hundred scientists.</p>



<p>The report replaces 15 names from the previous roster to spotlight equally desperate cases and spreads the alarm of endangered primates across Asia, Africa, Madagascar, and South America.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-on-the-endangered-list">Changes on the endangered list </h2>



<p>The editors emphasize that dropping a species does not mean its outlook improved. Instead, the panel wanted to highlight relatives facing the same grim future.</p>



<p>Indonesia and Madagascar each host four of the newly listed species, while China, Vietnam, and Nigeria follow with three apiece. Habitat loss, hunting, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primates-face-an-uncertain-future-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, and the illegal wildlife trade remain the shared drivers of decline.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-endangered-species-in-peril">The endangered species in peril</h2>



<p>In Sumatra’s upland Batang Toru forest only about 767 Tapanuli <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-unlock-the-mysteries-of-orangutan-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orangutans</a> endure, making this ape the rarest great ape ever recorded. </p>



<p>Researchers calculate that the species now occupies barely 2.5 percent of its nineteenth-century range, and even that sliver is being chipped away by mining and a hydro-electric dam.</p>



<p>West Africa’s Cross River <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-gorillas-get-sick-from-being-too-social/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gorilla</a> is in even steeper trouble. Fewer than 250 mature animals survive in eleven hill sites straddling the Nigeria-Cameroon border, where renewed civil unrest adds to logging and farming pressures. </p>



<p>Conservation plans have created new reserves and cross-border patrols, but the loss of one adult can erase years of local progress.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smallest-endangered-primate">Smallest endangered primate </h2>



<p>Madagascar adds the world’s smallest endangered primate to the list. Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur weighs a mere thirty grams yet has lost more than eighty percent of its population in ten years as slash-and-burn agriculture fragments its dry forest home.</p>



<p>“This species has also disappeared from most of the remaining intact forests, which points to frightening consequences for possible conservation measures," said Peter Kappeler, head of the field station in the Forêt de Kirindy. "This could be the first <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/visually-striking-primate-features-ease-tension-and-reduce-conflict/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primate</a> we lose forever in the 21st century, as there are no captive populations either."</p>



<p>Even endangered species once thought safe enough to drop from the list can slip back. The limestone-dwelling Cao-vit gibbon of China and Vietnam, revived to public attention this year, actually numbers closer to ninety individuals than the hundred-plus once assumed, because older surveys double-counted groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shared-threats-different-landscapes"><a></a>Shared threats, different landscapes</h2>



<p>Forest conversion for timber, farms, mines, and dams erases habitat on every continent. In Sumatra, satellite data show that lowland forest below 500 meters - prime orangutan territory - shrank sixty percent between 1985 and 2007.</p>



<p>In Madagascar’s Menabe region, forest cover has fallen more than thirty percent since 2012, splitting lemur populations into isolated fragments. For Cross River gorillas, a patchwork of villages, roads, and fields now separates once-connected sub-populations by distances no animal can safely cross.</p>



<p>Hunting and trafficking add a second blow. Although the Tapanuli orangutan lives in steep country, juveniles are still caught for the pet trade, and adults die in crop conflicts or snare traps. In West Africa gorilla poaching had fallen, but political violence since 2016 may be reviving the market for bushmeat.</p>



<p>Climate change lurks behind every local crisis. Longer dry seasons stress fruit-bearing trees, and fiercer storms flatten coastal forests - effects already noted in gibbon and lemur habitats.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-action-is-needed">Urgent action is needed</h2>



<p>“The situation is dramatic. If we don't act now, we will lose some of these species forever," warned Christian Roos, a geneticist at the <a href="https://www.dpz.eu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Primate Center</a>. “But there is hope - if science, politics, and society take action together.”</p>



<p>The report demands rapid expansion of protected areas, but equally stresses enforcement on the ground, where illegal logging and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-parrots-in-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-with-dna-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife trade</a> still thrive. It calls on governments to tighten laws, stop land grabs, and involve Indigenous and local communities as full partners.</p>



<p>Funding must move beyond short grants. Long-term patrol salaries, ecological restoration and, where numbers crash, carefully managed translocations or ex-situ colonies are all needed.</p>



<p>“Every primate species that we lose not only means an irreparable loss for nature, but also for us humans,” Roos said. “Because primates are not only fascinating animals - they are also key species of our ecosystems.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hope-for-endangered-species">Hope for endangered species</h2>



<p>Conservation can still tip the balance. Cooperative work by China and Vietnam secured two reserves for the Cao-vit gibbon and involved villagers in patrol jobs; the tiny population is now stable and even forming new groups.</p>



<p>In Nigeria camera-trap images of Cross River gorilla infants prove that, when forests are left standing and snares removed, the apes will breed again.</p>



<p>Success stories share three traits: local stewardship, legal implication, and money that lasts long enough to rebuild forests. The new list shows exactly where those ingredients must be applied first. </p>



<p>It is not a roll-call of hopeless cases. It is an emergency action plan, and the next edition will reveal whether the global community has chosen rescue over remembrance.</p>



<p>The report can be found <a href="http://www.primate-sg.org/storage/pdf/Top_25_Primates_2023-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>



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<p></p>

Most endangered primate species identified in new report

A new global assessment has identified 25 primate species that...

<p>In the remote, misty highland forests straddling Vietnam and Laos, a rare creature may still roam unseen. Known as the saola, this elusive animal was only discovered by scientists in 1992 and has since earned the nickname "Asian unicorn" due to its near-mythical status. </p>



<p>The saola looks like an antelope but is more closely related to cattle. Both males and females have a pair of long, straight horns that may be reminiscent of a unicorn's single spike, when seen side on.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mystery-of-the-asian-unicorn">Mystery of the Asian unicorn </h2>



<p>Even at the time of its discovery, the saola (<em>Pseudoryx nghetinhensis</em>) was already in trouble. Today, fewer than 100 are thought to remain - if they’re alive at all.</p>



<p>"Right now, the existence of live saolas can neither be proven nor disproven. The last evidence we have was from 2013, when one was captured on a camera trap," said Nguyen Quoc Dung from the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute in Vietnam.</p>



<p>"But given the remoteness of its habitat, it is extremely difficult to say for sure whether there are still a few out there. There are some signs and indications that still give us hope."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-surprising-genetic-discovery">A surprising genetic discovery </h2>



<p>Dung is part of an international research team that has now achieved something remarkable. Scientists from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a> and institutions across the globe have, for the first time, mapped the genome of the saola. </p>



<p>Until now, there was virtually no genetic data on this critically endangered species. The researchers worked with saola remains gathered from hunter households in the region. </p>



<p>Using fragments from these remains, they assembled complete genomes for 26 individuals. What they found reveals a new chapter in the Asian unicorn's story - and possibly, a path forward for its survival.</p>



<p>“We were quite surprised to find that the saola is split into two populations with considerable genetic differences. The split happened between 5,000 and 20,000 years ago," said Genís Garcia Erill, lead author of the study.</p>



<p>"That was completely unknown before, and there was also no way we could have known without genetic data. It is an important result because it affects how the genetic variation in the species is distributed."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loss-of-genetic-diversity">Loss of genetic diversity </h2>



<p>The analysis also showed that both populations have been shrinking since the end of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/disastrous-climate-changes-of-the-last-ice-age-could-happen-again/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">last Ice Age</a>. </p>



<p>Over the past 10,000 years, the total number of saolas likely never exceeded 5,000 individuals. This long decline has caused a gradual loss of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-leopards-have-surprisingly-high-genetic-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic diversity</a> in both groups - but not the same genetic diversity.</p>



<p>“This means that the genetic variation lost in each population complements the other. So, if you mix them, they could compensate for what the other is missing,” said Garcia Erill.</p>



<p>In short, the key to saving the saola might lie in bringing these two populations back together.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-plan-for-saola-survival">A plan for saola survival</h2>



<p>The researchers used computer models to explore different scenarios for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-conservation-day-2024-saving-species-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation</a>. Their results suggest that mixing individuals from both populations in a captive breeding program could give the species its best shot at survival.</p>



<p>“If we can bring together at least a dozen saolas - ideally a mix from both populations - to form the foundation of a future population, our models show the species would have a decent chance of long-term survival," noted Rasmus Heller, senior author of the study.</p>



<p>"But it hinges on actually locating some individuals and starting a breeding program. That has worked before when species were on the brink of extinction."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-hope-for-the-asian-unicorn">New hope for the Asian unicorn </h2>



<p>The researchers hope that the newly mapped genome will make it easier to locate any remaining saolas.</p>



<p>Until now, teams have searched using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/environmental-dna-can-help-track-endangered-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental DNA</a> (eDNA) - traces of genetic material left behind in water, soil, or even inside leeches. These techniques depend on detecting tiny DNA fragments, which has proven difficult.</p>



<p>“Many researchers have unsuccessfully tried to find traces of saola through methods like environmental DNA in water and even in leeches, the blood suckers inhabiting the same habitat," said study co-author Minh Duc Le of Vietnam National University.</p>



<p>"These techniques all rely on detecting tiny DNA fragments, and now that we know the complete saola genome, we have a much larger toolkit for detecting those fragments."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-asian-unicorns">The future of Asian unicorns</h2>



<p>Even if none of the enigmatic Asian unicorns are ever found, this new information could still play a role in the future.</p>



<p>“Our results could, in theory, be used if we were ever to succeed in bringing the saola back through genetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-recovered-from-an-extinct-species-tasmanian-tiger-for-first-time-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">de-extinction</a> technologies, which are a hot topic right now," said Heller.</p>



<p>"In that case, our new insights into saola genetic variation could make a huge difference in creating a viable population."</p>



<p>Still, there’s a sense of urgency and realism behind the hope. Heller noted that scientists have been searching for saolas since the 1990s, and it’s only gotten harder, because there were more of them back then. </p>



<p>"I’m not overly optimistic, I have to admit - but I really hope the saola is still out there,” concluded Heller.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867425003903" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell</a></em>.</p>



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Search for the mythical Asian unicorn: New genetic clues emerge

In the remote, misty highland forests straddling Vietnam and Laos,...

Stars,Are,Collapsing,In,A,Deep,Black,Hole,,Attracted,By

<p>“Hic sunt leones,” said Stefano Liberati, the co-author of a new study exploring the nature of the&nbsp;singularities at the heart of black holes.</p>



<p>On medieval charts, these words warned of terra incognita, or unknown territory. In modern cosmology, they mark the central core of a classical black hole - a place where Einstein’s otherwise triumphant field equations predict an impossible infinity.</p>



<p>According to Karl Schwarzschild’s 1916 solution to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, if enough mass collapses into a small region, it forms a horizon through which nothing can escape. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radical-theory-unites-gravity-spacetime-and-the-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spacetime</a> curvature keeps steepening until, at the very center, it diverges.</p>



<p>By the 1960s, theorists had proven that singularity is not a removable coordinate glitch but an unavoidable feature of classical relativity taken to its limit. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immensely-compact-objects">Immensely compact objects </h2>



<p>Invoking the word “singularity” became, in Liberati’s phrase, a white flag that signals surrender: here our current physics breaks down. Observations since the 1970s have nevertheless confirmed that immensely compact objects exist. </p>



<p>Nobel‑winning milestones include the first gravitational‑wave signal in 2015 - an invisible quake caused by two black holes spiraling together - and the <a href="https://eventhorizontelescope.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Event Horizon Telescope</a>’s images of the shadows of M87* and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-orbiting-sagittarius-a-appear-rejuvenated-after-stellar-collisions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sagittarius A*</a>.</p>



<p>These achievements reveal matter and light teetering on the brink of the horizon, but they say nothing about what happens farther in.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-look-at-black-holes">A new look at black holes</h2>



<p>Seeking an answer to these questions, the <a href="https://www.ifpu.it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe</a> (IFPU) gathered an eclectic mix of theorists and observational specialists for a workshop whose debates have just been distilled into a substantial new paper.</p>



<p>Liberati, an astrophysicist at IFPU, calls the result “something more” than a conventional review: the text weaves together arguments from participants who began with sharply different positions and, in several cases, left with revised views.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-core-models-emerge">Three core models emerge</h2>



<p>By the closing session, three broad classes of models had emerged. Each described an ultra‑compact object with different interior properties, while reproducing the observed exterior gravity that makes a black hole so distinctive.</p>



<p>The classical black hole remains faithful to Einstein, retaining both its event horizon and its singularity. The regular black hole keeps the horizon intact yet replaces the infinite core with a finite quantum‑driven region. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-objects-that-mimick-black-holes">Objects that mimick black holes</h2>



<p>Finally, the black hole mimicker does away with horizon and singularity alike. Objects in this family - gravastars supported by quantum vacuum energy, boson stars made of exotic scalar fields, or wormholes stabilized by modified gravity - imitate the outer profile of a black hole. </p>



<p>However, they host a radically different interior. Participants then asked whether nature could forge such objects.</p>



<p>Collapse halted by quantum pressure might generate a regular black hole, whereas a cloud of self‑interacting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/higgs-boson-god-particle-still-remains-quantum-mystery-after-12-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bosons</a> could condense into a mimicker without ever forming a horizon. </p>



<p>Some scenarios even allow an object to migrate from one class to another as it accretes mass or sheds angular momentum.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-probing-the-invisible">Probing the invisible </h2>



<p>While current telescopes cannot see inside a horizon, the team emphasizes that non‑classical objects are never exactly identical to a Schwarzschild solution even outside that boundary. Small discrepancies could betray a different interior.</p>



<p>High‑resolution imaging may reveal extra photon rings or subtle asymmetries around a mimicker, produced by the way light bends in a spacetime that slightly deviates from Einstein’s geometry.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/black-hole-singularity_discovery_credit-Sissa-Medialab_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/black-hole-singularity_discovery_credit-Sissa-Medialab_1s.webp" alt="Singular black hole and non-singular alternatives. Credit: Sissa Medialab. Background image sourced from ESO/Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit" class="wp-image-1969092"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Singular black hole and non-singular alternatives. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Sissa Medialab. Background image sourced from ESO/Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit </em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Future gravitational‑wave detectors could pick up minute echoes caused by reflections from a surface just outside where the horizon would usually form. Even thermal signatures from a surface that replaces the horizon might betray a mimicker.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confirming-the-singularity-of-black-holes">Confirming the singularity of black holes</h2>



<p>Why press so hard to replace or confirm the idea of singularity in black holes? Aside from resolving a long‑standing paradox in general relativity, experimental evidence for a finite core or a mimicker could illuminate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-quantum-gravity-discovery-leaps-one-step-closer-to-unified-theory-of-everything/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum gravity</a>, the still‑missing framework uniting relativity with quantum mechanics.</p>



<p>If singularities are smoothed away, the mechanism doing the smoothing must involve quantum principles acting on astronomical scales. For now, no one can specify how strong the telltale deviations should be.</p>



<p>Numerical simulations are advancing rapidly, however, helped by ever‑faster supercomputers and clever algorithms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-gravity-research">The future of gravity research </h2>



<p>As models sharpen, engineers can design instruments keyed to the predicted anomalies, just as waveform catalogs guided <a href="https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LIGO</a>’s discovery of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expanding-our-view-of-the-universe-with-faint-gravitational-waves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravitational waves</a>. Data will then feed back into theory, pruning ideas that fail and refining those that survive.</p>



<p>Liberati sees the moment as a turning point. “What lies ahead for gravity research is a truly exciting time. We are entering an era where a vast and unexplored landscape is opening up before us.”</p>



<p>Whether the singular black hole core will dissolve into quantum foam, reveal a tangible surface, or stand unchanged as Einstein foretold, the coming interplay of theory, simulation, and observation promises to redraw our deepest map of space, time, and matter.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1475-7516/2025/05/003" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics</em></a>.</p>



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



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Solving the singularity puzzle at the heart of black holes has proven very difficult

“Hic sunt leones,” said Stefano Liberati, the co-author of a new...

Ambon,,Indonesia,-,January,25,,2023,:,Silhouette,Photo,Of

<p>Scientists have recently discovered that humans have recorded less than 0.001 percent of the deep seafloor - a surface that covers two-thirds of the planet. </p>



<p>The finding shows how little we really know about life and geology below 200 meters. The analysis comes from a study led by researchers at <a href="https://www.oceandiscoveryleague.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocean Discovery League</a> and partner groups. </p>



<p>Using records from about 44,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-deep-sea-fish-survive-the-crushing-depths-of-the-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep-sea</a> dives since 1958, the team produced the first global estimate of visual coverage in deep water. They report that the total imaged area is only as large as the U.S. state of Rhode Island.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vast-depths-still-unexplored">Vast depths still unexplored</h2>



<p>The deep ocean sustains rich ecosystems, moderates climate, produces much of Earth’s oxygen, and supplies molecules for new drugs.</p>



<p>Yet visual surveys of this realm remain rare and clustered around a few coastlines. Most dives have happened close to shore because far-off expeditions cost millions of dollars.</p>



<p>“As we face accelerated threats to the deep ocean - from climate change to potential <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-impacts-marine-life-for-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mining</a> and resource exploitation - this limited exploration of such a vast region becomes a critical problem for both science and policy,” said lead author Katy Croff Bell, the founder and president of the Ocean Discovery League.</p>



<p>“We need a much better understanding of the deep ocean's ecosystems and processes to make informed decisions about resource management and conservation.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-seafloor-exploration-is-uneven">Deep seafloor exploration is uneven</h2>



<p>The researchers found that 65 percent of all visual observations happened within two-hundred nautical miles of only three nations.</p>



<p>The United States, Japan, and New Zealand dominate because they own or fund most deep-diving vehicles.</p>



<p>Five countries - the United States, Japan, New Zealand, France, and Germany - conducted ninety-seven percent of all recorded dives. That narrow sampling skews our picture of the deep sea. </p>



<p>Traits seen off California or Honshu may not describe conditions under the tropical Atlantic or the Southern Ocean.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-images-low-detail">Old images, low detail</h2>



<p>Almost thirty percent of the dives logged by the study took place before 1980. Many produced only black-and-white still photos. </p>



<p>Today’s color and video systems can resolve tiny organisms and map fine sediment patterns, yet large parts of the ocean floor have never been filmed with modern gear.</p>



<p>Because many expedition logs are not public, the team tested how missing records might change the estimate. </p>



<p>Even if the true tally were ten times higher, they conclude, we would still have images for less than one-hundredth of one percent of the deep seafloor.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uneven-ocean-habitat-coverage">Uneven ocean habitat coverage</h2>



<p>Canyons, ridges, and other dramatic features draw scientists because they are visually striking and may host rare species. In contrast, broad abyssal plains and many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seamounts-are-gathering-hubs-for-ocean-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seamounts</a> lie in silence and darkness.</p>



<p>Those plains hold most of the deep bottom, but they remain poorly sampled. Without clear data, researchers cannot judge how global warming, fishing gear, or planned seabed mining will alter these vast habitats.</p>



<p>The authors argue that cost, not curiosity, limits exploration. Deep-rated submersibles, remotely operated vehicles, and large research ships demand huge budgets. Technologists are now building smaller, cheaper <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biohybrid-jellyfish-robotics-ocean-exploration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robots</a> and camera sleds that coastal labs can deploy.</p>



<p>Such systems could open doors for low- and middle-income nations. If more countries gather images from their own waters, the global map will fill in faster and with less bias.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ocean-is-still-a-mystery">The ocean is still a mystery</h2>



<p>Ian Miller of the <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Geographic Society</a> noted that there is so much of our ocean that remains a mystery.</p>



<p>“Deep-sea exploration led by scientists and local communities is crucial to better understanding the planet’s largest ecosystem," said Miller. </p>



<p>“Dr. Bell’s goals to equip global coastal communities with cutting-edge research and technology will ensure a more representative analysis of the deep sea. If we have a better understanding of our ocean, we are better able to conserve and protect it.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-narrow-view-of-a-vast-world"><strong>A narrow view of a vast world</strong></h2>



<p>The paper offers a stark comparison: imagine trying to understand all land life on Earth by studying an area the size of Houston, Texas. That, the authors argue, is the scale of our current visual knowledge of the deep sea.</p>



<p>Without broader coverage, global policies on deep-sea mining, fishing, and climate mitigation rest on dangerously limited data.</p>



<p>To address this, the authors urge agencies, foundations, and industry to support large-scale imaging campaigns. They also call on researchers to share dive records openly - so that every frame of footage and every still image adds to a collective archive.</p>



<p>With shared data and open software, analysts worldwide could help identify new species, map coral gardens, or track drifting debris in deep-sea trenches.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hope-below-the-waves"><strong>Hope below the waves</strong></h2>



<p>Technological progress gives reason for optimism. Autonomous vehicles now fit in a suitcase and dive thousands of meters. </p>



<p>Machine learning can sort hours of deep seafloor footage in minutes. Fiber-optic cables on the seabed can detect passing animals through tiny pressure shifts. Taken together, these advances could multiply visual coverage within a decade.</p>



<p>The study marks a turning point in how society views the hidden majority of the planet. By revealing the gaps, the researchers have set clear targets for future work. Filling those gaps will require money, new machines, and global cooperation.</p>



<p>Yet the payoff could be immense: better climate forecasts, new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-microbes-show-promise-as-new-antibiotic-drugs/">medicines</a>, wiser resource policy, and the thrill of discovery in places no human has ever seen.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp8602"><em>Science Advances</em></a>.</p>



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Only .001 percent of Earth's deep seafloor has ever been directly observed

Scientists have recently discovered that humans have recorded less than...

<p>It appears that poems hold more than just literary merit. They can also show how porpoise and other wildlife populations have changed over time.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/yangtze-finless-porpoise" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yangtze Finless Porpoise</a>, a critically endangered freshwater porpoise, has captured the attention of ecologists and history buffs alike. Its story highlights how research can bridge <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/enduring-earth-mystery-partially-solved-artificial-intelligence-nazca-geoglyphs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cultural</a> heritage and conservation science.</p>



<p>“Art, like poetry, can really spark an emotional connection, making people realize the harmony and respect we should have between people and nature,” says Zhigang Mei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (<a href="https://english.cas.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CAS</a>), who first noticed that old poems might hold clues about where and when these porpoises lived. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-poems-documented-porpoise-habitats">Old poems documented porpoise habitats</h2>



<p>The Yangtze river is about 3,915 miles long, flowing from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea near Shanghai. It has supported trade, travel, and local livelihoods for many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-played-a-spiritual-role-in-prehistoric-cave-art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dynasties</a>, including the Tang (618–907 CE) and the Qing (1636–1912 CE).</p>



<p>Ancient travelers often wrote poems describing landscapes and any remarkable animals they saw. That is how 724 poems referencing the porpoise were discovered, some dating back over 1,400 years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poems-reveal-porpoise-sightings">Poems reveal porpoise sightings</h2>



<p>These records shine a light on the Yangtze finless porpoise when cameras or formal surveys were unavailable. Some poets portrayed the porpoise as frolicking and active, indicating that it was frequently visible in large parts of the river at different points in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beauty-in-art-lifts-the-mind-and-awakens-higher-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">history</a>.</p>



<p>The poetic evidence correlates with other data about wildlife decline over the centuries. It also reinforces the power of integrating cultural insights with scientific methods to uncover long-term environmental changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-habitat-loss-using-ancient-poems">Mapping habitat loss using ancient poems</h2>



<p>Based on these poems, the researchers found that the porpoise species’ <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-egyptians-may-have-seen-their-goddess-in-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">historical</a> range has shrunk by at least 65%. </p>



<p>The biggest losses happened in tributaries and lakes connected to the Yangtze, where dam construction has blocked the porpoises’ ability to migrate, as the poems reveal.</p>



<p>These developments echo the plight of other river life. Two native species, the Baiji dolphin and the Chinese paddlefish, have gone functionally <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0292" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinct</a> in recent decades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-poetry-filled-a-scientific-gap">How poetry filled a scientific gap</h2>



<p>Traditional wildlife surveys usually rely on fossils, DNA, or recent data. but these sources leave a huge blind spot when it comes to mid-range historical timelines.</p>



<p>That's where literature helped. The poems offered insight into a period that’s typically hard to document, filling the 1,000-year gap between ancient fossils and modern science with surprisingly detailed environmental clues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impacts-of-human-activities">Impacts of human activities</h2>



<p>Hydraulic engineering projects, particularly since the 1950s, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/7/908" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">altered parts</a> of the Yangtze and cut off vital pathways for the porpoise. Changes in water flow and increased boat traffic also likely contributed to fewer safe habitats.</p>



<p>Similar habitat pressures pushed the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19470453/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese sturgeon</a> closer to reliance on artificial stocking, especially after the gezhouba dam was completed in 1988. </p>



<p>The porpoise is now confined mostly to a smaller segment of the main channel, highlighting how fast things have shifted in modern times.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-validating-poems-as-historical-evidence">Validating poems as historical evidence</h2>



<p>Not every poem could be taken at face value. Some poets exaggerated animal traits for effect, while others wrote with scientific precision that mirrored firsthand observation.</p>



<p>To make sure their conclusions were sound, the researchers studied each poet’s life and writing style. They used this biographical context to sort realistic descriptions from imagined ones, strengthening the accuracy of their geographic mapping.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-from-an-ancient-art-form">Insights from an ancient art form</h2>



<p>One of the most revealing parts of this study is how it merges modern ecology with records from a different era. </p>



<p>A freshwater porpoise is not something most people associate with poetry, but these poems captured vivid notes about the animal’s behavior, distribution, and local folklore.</p>



<p>The Qing Dynasty alone produced 477 poems mentioning the porpoise, showing how popular the topic was among traveling poets of that period. This underscores the deep bond between people and their environment in traditional Chinese culture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-poetry-to-guide-porpoise-conservation">Using poetry to guide porpoise conservation </h2>



<p>Experts now hope that protecting the porpoise means respecting the lessons of both history and science. </p>



<p>The next steps include refining details from the poems to glean more about the porpoises’ social behavior, breeding grounds, and ideal habitat conditions.</p>



<p>These historical insights might help conservation programs address the porpoise’s remaining strongholds. They also challenge us to be mindful of how future infrastructure and urban development will affect other freshwater species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-old-texts-to-track-species">Using old texts to track species</h2>



<p>There is growing interest in using historical documents - poems, journals, and even paintings - to spot shifts in biodiversity over millennia. </p>



<p>Researchers want to understand which measures can effectively preserve species and which human activities are most damaging in the long run.</p>



<p>The Yangtze finless porpoise story suggests that culture, science, and poems should work together to shape a more thoughtful approach to conservation. </p>



<p>Protecting a species is never just a scientific endeavor; it also involves celebrating the traditions, poems, and stories that connect people to that species.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00266-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Current Biology</em></a>.</p>



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



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Ancient poems tell the story of how this rare porpoise reached the brink of extinction

It appears that poems hold more than just literary merit....

Leiden,,The,Netherlands,-,April,30,,2022:,Closeup,Of,The

<p>The idea of a sharp‑witted Tyrannosaurus rex prowling through Cretaceous forests, planning ambushes with the cunning of a primate, has stirred public fascination for years. </p>



<p>A fresh debate erupted in 2023 when neuron counts - those microscopic processors in every brain - were promoted as the new yardstick for dinosaur intelligence. </p>



<p>Could tallying fossilized brain cells really tell us whether T. rex was closer to a crocodile or a clever <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baboons-may-offer-clues-to-early-human-social-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">baboon</a>?</p>



<p>That question matters because neurons do more than fire signals; they set the stage for learning, memory, and even social complexity. </p>



<p>If a seven‑ton predator had primate‑level <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-genes-to-genius-what-makes-the-human-brain-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neuron numbers</a>, our picture of dinosaur life would need a radical rewrite. As it turns out, the story is more complicated - and far more intriguing - than a single metric suggests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-t-rex-brain-power-claim-stirs-debate">T. rex brain power claim stirs debate</h2>



<p>The spark came from neuroscientist Suzana Herculano‑Houzel of <a href="https://www.vanderbilt.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vanderbilt University</a>. In a 2023 <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cne.25453" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Comparative Neurology</em> paper</a>, she proposed that by measuring fossil skull cavities and comparing them with living birds and reptiles, researchers could estimate dinosaur neuron counts. </p>



<p>Her calculations suggested that large theropods might boast totals on a par with monkeys, hinting at problem‑solving abilities, tool use, and cultural behaviors.</p>



<p>Popular media embraced the possibility of a “smart” tyrant lizard. Yet many specialists felt the hype skipped a few steps. </p>



<p>Paleoneurologists quickly noted that reptile brains fill only part of the cranial cavity, leaving cerebrospinal fluid to occupy the rest. Misreading that gap, they warned, inflates neuron estimates and, by extension, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/optimal-decision-making-is-a-balance-of-experience-and-knowledge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perceived intelligence</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examining-t-rex-fossil-brains">Examining T. rex fossil brains</h2>



<p>To test the claim, an international coalition of paleontologists, neuroanatomists, and cognitive psychologists re‑analyzed the data. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/en/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alberta</a> research associate Cristian Gutierrez‑Ibanez helped steer the effort. “There were a lot of people who thought the record needed to be set straight,” he explained.</p>



<p>“Particularly because it did make it into the press. You end up with this popular idea that T. rex was super smart and could use tools and have culture and you go, ‘Whoa!’”</p>



<p>Instead of eight separate rebuttals, the group pooled expertise. “We said there is no point in eight different things being written to say this is wrong. Why don't we just put them all together?” </p>



<p>Their review, published in <em>The Anatomical Record</em>, swapped rough cavity volumes for high‑resolution CT scans of fossil braincases. </p>



<p>The new approach pulled neuron counts sharply downward, placing T. rex in a cognitive bracket closer to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-lizards-are-saving-australian-sheep-farms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">today’s large reptiles</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-neuron-counts-aren-t-crystal-balls">Why neuron counts aren’t crystal balls</h2>



<p>Counting cells may look objective, but brains are more than piles of neurons. Connection patterns, circuit density, and metabolic rates all influence what an animal can do with those cells. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-croc-day-embracing-the-mighty-reptile/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alligator</a> dissections illustrate the pitfalls. </p>



<p>“The first time I dissected an alligator brain, I took the top of the skull off and I went, ‘Where is the brain?’” recalls University of Alberta professor Doug Wylie. </p>



<p>Plenty of space sits empty inside reptile skulls, so cavity volume exaggerates brain tissue size.</p>



<p>Body mass muddies the water, too. “We don't know why it's true, but it is true. A larger animal needs more neurons.” </p>



<p>An adult male baboon tips the scale at roughly 30 to 90 lb, while a mature T. rex weighs around 14,000 lb. Many of its neurons merely kept those massive muscles, eyes, and sensory organs running. </p>



<p>With so much neural real estate devoted to basic physiology, little would remain for the advanced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-have-remarkable-spatial-memory-and-sense-of-direction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cognition seen in primates</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brains-bodies-and-t-rex-math">Brains, bodies, and T. rex math</h2>



<p>Herculano‑Houzel had argued that high neuron counts implied warm‑blooded metabolisms in predatory dinosaurs. The rebuttal team disagrees. </p>



<p>Reptile brains pack neurons more loosely than bird or mammal brains, so raw totals alone can’t reveal metabolic style. “She's focused on the neuron number, and they are too high anyway,” Wylie says.</p>



<p>Recent bone histology supports a middle‑ground view: many dinosaurs likely <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-may-have-become-warm-blooded-180-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maintained body temperatures</a> through a blend of behavioral basking and elevated internal heat production, rather than strict cold‑bloodedness or full mammalian endothermy. That nuance highlights why single‑factor models fall short.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-t-rex-like">What was T. rex like?</h2>



<p>Gutierrez‑Ibanez and colleagues suggest looking at trackways, tooth wear, growth rings, and isotope chemistry to piece together behavior. </p>



<p>Evidence points to a sensorily acute predator with good vision, a powerful sense of smell, and the ability to coordinate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robopteryx-dinosaur-feather-secrets-revealed-by-a-robot-dinosaur/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pack‑style hunting</a> now and then - but not the foresight to fashion tools or pass down cultural traditions. </p>



<p>“We are not dissing T. rex,” Gutierrez‑Ibanez says. “We are just saying that claiming T. rex had the intelligence of a baboon and culture might be taking it too far.”</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crocodile-evolution-was-influenced-by-environmental-factors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crocodiles</a> provide a sober benchmark. They solve simple problems, show limited parental care, and learn from routine, yet they don’t build societies or share knowledge across generations. </p>



<p>A Cretaceous apex hunter operating at that level would still have been formidable without needing a primate‑grade intellect.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h2>



<p>Neuron counting remains a valuable technique, especially when paired with modern imaging and rigorous scaling laws. But brains never work in isolation; they evolve alongside bodies, behaviors, and environments. </p>



<p>The next wave of research will likely blend biomechanics, climate modeling, and even ancient DNA proteins to refine dinosaur life histories.</p>



<p>T. rex may not have been a reptilian Einstein, yet it ruled <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/qunkasaura-pintiquiniestra-new-sauropod-dinosaur-discovered-in-spain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Late Cretaceous</a> ecosystems for nearly two million years - a success record most species never achieve. </p>



<p>Sorting out how it did so requires many lines of evidence, and that scientific detective work is just getting started.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19328494" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Anatomical Record</a></em>.</p>



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



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

Was T. rex as smart as modern primates? Another study weighs in on the debate

The idea of a sharp‑witted Tyrannosaurus rex prowling through Cretaceous forests,...

<p>A striking new study has found that all of the 28 largest cities in the United States is sinking to some extent, with certain areas within cities dropping faster than others.</p>



<p>The research sheds light not only on the coastal cities already grappling with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-cities-on-u-s-coast-face-a-double-threat-as-sea-levels-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea-level rise</a>, but also on inland metro areas where land subsidence poses an overlooked threat to infrastructure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ground-can-t-keep-up">The ground can’t keep up</h2>



<p>Study lead author Leonard Ohenhen, a postdoctoral researcher at <a href="https://lamont.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia Climate School’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory</a>, elaborated on the findings. </p>



<p>“As cities continue to grow, we will see more cities expand into subsiding regions. Over time, this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-billion-people-are-threatened-by-land-subsidence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subsidence</a> can produce stresses on infrastructure that will go past their safety limit.”</p>



<p>Cities like Jakarta, Venice, and New Orleans are already known for sinking under their own weight or rising seas. This new study takes a broader look at the United States, using highly detailed data.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-millions-living-on-sinking-ground">Millions living on sinking ground</h2>



<p>In all U.S. cities with populations over 600,000, the researchers used recent satellite data to map vertical land movement with millimeter precision, using grids just 28 meters (about 90 feet) wide. </p>



<p>The experts found that in 25 of the 28 cities, at least two-thirds of the land area is sinking. In total, about 34 million Americans live on these subsiding lands.</p>



<p>Houston emerged as the fastest-sinking major city. More than 40% of its area is sinking by over 5 millimeters (about one-fifth of an inch) per year, with 12% subsiding at twice that rate. In some areas, the ground is dropping as much as 5 centimeters (2 inches) per year.</p>



<p>Fort Worth and Dallas also show high rates, while other fast-sinking zones include areas near New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-texas-faces-added-risks">Texas faces added risks</h2>



<p>In most cases, the primary driver is massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/groundwater-depletion-is-accelerating-but-it-is-not-inevitable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">groundwater</a> extraction. Pumping water from underground aquifers causes the fine-grained sediments to compact. This collapse of pore spaces leads to sinking land above.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/biggest-US-cities_Houston_sinking-rapidly_credit-Nature-Ciites_1m-scaled.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/biggest-US-cities_Houston_sinking-rapidly_credit-Nature-Ciites_1s.webp" alt="Houston, Texas, is the nation's fastest-sinking city, with parts of it sinking 10 millimeters per year. Credit: Adapted from Ohenhen et al., Nature Cities, 2025" class="wp-image-1969072"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Houston, Texas, is the nation's fastest-sinking city, with parts of it sinking 10 millimeters per year. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Adapted from Ohenhen et al., Nature Cities, 2025</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>In Texas, the issue is compounded by oil and gas extraction, the study notes. Climate change-induced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-now-the-driving-force-behind-droughts/">droughts</a>, combined with continued population growth and water use, are likely to intensify these effects in the coming years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ice-age-is-still-shaping-land">Ice age is still shaping land</h2>



<p>Humans are not responsible for all of the sinking ground. Some subsidence is the result of natural processes dating back thousands of years.</p>



<p>The study highlights lingering effects from the last ice age. The immense weight of ancient ice sheets caused the surrounding land to bulge upward, like air squeezed in a balloon.</p>



<p>Today, long after the ice has melted, some of these bulges are still slowly sinking. Cities affected include New York, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Nashville, Chicago, Denver, and Portland.</p>



<p>Even the sheer weight of buildings may be playing a role. A 2023 <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-york-city-is-sinking-under-its-own-weight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> suggested that the enormous mass of New York City’s one million-plus buildings is exerting pressure that may contribute to ongoing subsidence.</p>



<p>Similarly, a separate <a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-miami-beach-surfside-building-collapse-438007b29e291eecb6ca953f0d55c248" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> in the Miami area found that some buildings are sinking partly due to subsurface disruptions caused by nearby construction projects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-america-s-sinking-hotspots">America’s sinking hotspots</h2>



<p>Eight major cities - New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Philadelphia, San Antonio, and Dallas - account for over 60% of the people living on sinking land. </p>



<p>Since 2000, these cities have collectively experienced over 90 major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-outrun-the-flood-risks-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">floods</a>, some likely worsened by sinking ground.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/biggest-US-cities-are-sinking_credit-Nature-Cities_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/biggest-US-cities-are-sinking_credit-Nature-Cities_1s.webp" alt="A new study using recent satellite data finds that all cities in the United States with populations of more than 600,000 are sinking to one degree or another. Credit: Adapted from Ohenhen et al., Nature Cities, 2025" class="wp-image-1969074"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A new study using recent satellite data finds that all cities in the United States with populations of more than 600,000 are sinking to one degree or another. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Adapted from Ohenhen et al., Nature Cities, 2025</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>An especially worrisome finding involves “differential motion,” where some neighborhoods within a city are sinking faster or slower than others, or even rising due to rapid aquifer recharge near rivers or water sources.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thousands-of-buildings-at-risk">Thousands of buildings at risk</h2>



<p>While overall land movement might be slow, uneven changes create stresses that can tilt buildings and damage infrastructure.</p>



<p>The study estimates that about 1% of total land area in the 28 cities lies in zones where differential motion could significantly affect roads, railways, or buildings.</p>



<p>These zones are often in densely populated urban cores, affecting roughly 29,000 buildings. San Antonio faces the highest risk, with about one in 45 buildings potentially affected - followed by Austin, Fort Worth, and Memphis.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-cities-can-respond">How cities can respond</h2>



<p>Though the scale of the issue is daunting, the authors stress that solutions are within reach. For flood-prone areas, land raising, better drainage, and green infrastructure like artificial wetlands help manage excess water.</p>



<p>For cities facing risks from tilting, solutions might include retrofitting buildings, updating building codes to account for ground movement, and limiting new development in the most affected zones.</p>



<p>“As opposed to just saying it’s a problem, we can respond, address, mitigate, adapt,” Ohenhen said. “We have to move to solutions.”</p>



<p>An earlier study of 225 U.S. building collapses from 1989 to 2000 found subsidence directly caused just 2% of cases. However, in 30% of cases, the cause was unknown - suggesting ground sinking may play a larger, hidden role, the study says.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-acting-before-the-ground-sinks">Acting before the ground sinks</h2>



<p>With detailed maps of sinking zones now available, cities have a chance to integrate this knowledge into urban planning, infrastructure design, and disaster preparedness.</p>



<p>As the pressures of climate change, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-population-will-peak-at-10-3-billion-by-2085/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">population growth</a>, and resource use continue to rise, understanding the ground beneath our feet may be just as critical as managing the forces above.</p>



<p>The new research serves as both a warning and a call to action, offering tools and knowledge that cities can use to protect residents and infrastructure before problems escalate further.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s44284-025-00240-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Cities</em></a>.</p>



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Every major city in the U.S. is sinking, and some are dropping faster than others

A striking new study has found that all of the...

<p>Playing a video game by thought alone sounds like science fiction, yet it is inching toward everyday reality. In a lab in Austin, volunteers steered a digital racecar and balanced an onscreen bar without lifting a finger. </p>



<p>The only gear they wore was an electrode cap, and the only control signals came straight from their brains.</p>



<p>For years, these brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have struggled to escape the clinic because each new user had to sit through tedious calibration. </p>



<p>A system trained on one head simply fumbled on the next. That drawback made the technology slow, costly, and far too fragile for the home.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calibrating-a-brain-computer-interface">Calibrating a brain-computer interface</h2>



<p>After watching the bottleneck stall progress, engineers at <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The University of Texas at Austin</a> tried a different tack. </p>



<p>They built a “decoder” with data from a single expert and then taught the software to bend toward every newcomer. </p>



<p>Two algorithms handled the heavy lifting: Generic Recentering, which adjusts itself automatically, and Personally Assisted Recentering, which adds a light, optional tweak from the user.</p>



<p>“When we think about this in a clinical setting, this technology will make it so we won’t need a specialized team to do this calibration process, which is long and tedious,” said Satyam Kumar, a graduate student in the laboratory of José del R. Millán. “It will be much faster to move from patient to patient.”</p>



<p>Eighteen healthy volunteers put both approaches through their paces. </p>



<p>Even the fully automatic method matched the performance of the slightly customized version in two tasks: balancing a left‑right bar and zipping around a twisty racetrack. </p>



<p>In other words, the system worked on unfamiliar heads without extra setup.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-decoder-to-rule-them-all">One decoder to rule them all</h2>



<p>Electrode caps in the study relied on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-walking-quantifiably-improves-brain-health-and-functioning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electroencephalography</a>, a decades‑old technique that tracks faint voltage changes on the scalp. </p>



<p>Traditional BCIs force analysts to hunt for each person’s optimal signal patterns, often for an hour or more. </p>



<p>The new decoder skips that search by leaning on the expert’s neural footprint as a starting point. It then nudges the “center” of the data cloud until the newcomer’s signals line up. </p>



<p>Generic Recentering does the nudging automatically; Personally Assisted Recentering lets the volunteer guide a handful of corrections.</p>



<p>The payoff is more than convenience. By saving time, clinicians can devote scarce minutes to coaching users on strategy rather than tinkering with software. </p>



<p>Faster sessions also cut fatigue - an overlooked hurdle for patients with limited stamina.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-games-and-brain-computer-interfaces">Games and brain-computer interfaces</h2>



<p>The bar‑balancing exercise may look simple, yet it trains users to modulate brain‑rhythm power across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-violent-video-games-impact-the-human-mind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">left and right motor cortices</a>. </p>



<p>The racing game piles on complexity by demanding rapid, anticipatory turns, much like reflexes needed for steering a powered wheelchair through a crowded hallway. Volunteers mastered both activities within a single visit.</p>



<p>A separate demonstration hinted at still broader horizons. Outside the peer‑reviewed trial, visitors at the South by Southwest festival controlled two rehabilitation robots for the hand and arm after only minutes of exposure. </p>



<p>The stunt showed that the decoder can jump from screen‑based tasks to physical devices without starting over.</p>



<p>“On the one hand, we want to translate the BCI to the clinical realm to help people with disabilities; on the other, we need to improve our technology to make it easier to use so that the impact for these people with disabilities is stronger,” Millán said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



<p>Although the present work involved able‑bodied adults, plans are under way to test the decoder with people who have spinal‑cord injuries or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eyes-serve-as-an-early-warning-system-for-stroke-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stroke‑related</a> movement loss. </p>



<p>Earlier research from Millán’s group found that regular BCI practice can spark neural plasticity - the brain’s knack for rewiring itself - so a smoother onboarding process could multiply those benefits.</p>



<p>The team is also refining a thought‑driven wheelchair that debuted several years ago. An off‑the‑shelf version would give users the freedom to roll out of rehab and into their daily routines without a technician in tow.</p>



<p>The wider field is moving in the same direction. Researchers at institutions such as <a href="https://www.stanford.edu">Stanford</a> and <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carnegie Mellon</a> are blending adaptive algorithms with invasive implants, while companies like Neuralink aim for direct brain‑text typing. </p>



<p>Noninvasive systems, however, remain safer and cheaper, making strides like the Austin decoder essential for broad access.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shortening-the-training-periods">Shortening the training periods</h2>



<p>Kumar and colleagues believe the key to scaling up is shrinking the gap between first contact and effective control. Their study suggests that gap can fall to minutes, not hours. </p>



<p>“The point of this technology is to help people, help them in their everyday lives,” Millán said. “We’ll continue down this path wherever it takes us in the pursuit of helping people.”</p>



<p>If the trend holds, tomorrow’s rehabilitation units might hand out electrode caps the way today’s gyms loan heart‑rate straps. </p>



<p>Patients could start training as soon as the cap touches their scalp, strengthening unused neural circuits while playing a race that feels more like fun than therapy. </p>



<p>And because the software does the housekeeping itself, therapists could tackle the human side of recovery - motivation, goal setting, and support.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-mind-control-devices">Future of mind-control devices</h2>



<p>Tools that listen to brainwaves still face hurdles: interference from muscle twitches, signal drift over long sessions, and regulatory scrutiny, to name a few. </p>



<p>Yet the Austin study shows that at least one stubborn obstacle - individual calibration - no longer looks insurmountable. </p>



<p>With the decoder learning on the fly, the door cracks open for BCIs that work out of the box, as ready for an eight‑year‑old gamer as for a 70‑year‑old stroke survivor.</p>



<p>That prospect might be closer than many expect. In less time than it takes to order takeout, a clinician could slip on a cap, boot up the program, and watch a newcomer send a digital racecar hurtling down the track. Speed like that could change not only how fast we play but how fast we heal.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/3/2/pgae076/7609232" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS Nexus</a>.</em></p>



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



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Brain-computer interface device lets users play games with only their minds

Playing a video game by thought alone sounds like science...

<p>Scientists have taken a close look at certain reef fish and found something that no one expected. These underwater inhabitants can shift their jawbones in more ways than just up and down. The fish use a quick jaw twist in order to feed more effectively.</p>



<p>Peter Wainwright from the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Davis</a> and his colleagues discovered this unusual trait while studying the <a href="https://www.fishbase.se/summary/zanclus-cornutus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moorish idol</a> (<em>Zanclus cornutus</em>), a striking species known for its long dorsal fin and bold stripes. </p>



<p>The experts saw swift sideways motions that differ from the typical jaw movements of most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-illuminates-fish-interactions-in-coral-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> - a finding that might explain how certain fish became successful herbivores.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-use-the-jaw-twist-to-feed-better">Fish use the jaw twist to feed better</h2>



<p>High-speed video helped <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2418982122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> detect a rapid shifting motion in the mouth region of this coral reef species.</p>



<p>Two-dimensional footage does not capture the complexity of the action, so cameras operating at hundreds of frames per second were crucial for seeing the sideways glide that is rarely seen in vertebrates.</p>



<p>The research team examined the mouth structures using scans and dissections, and spotted the unique anatomical elements that permit the jaws to move in multiple directions without slowing down. "I thought, holy cow, that’s not something we expected!” said Wainwright.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaw-movement-helps-to-scrape-algae">Jaw movement helps to scrape algae</h2>



<p>This side-to-side movement appears to boost the way in which the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reef-fish-populations-are-boosted-by-ocean-connectivity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> remove bits of algae from rocks on coral reefs. </p>



<p>Many reef environments feature hard surfaces where edible plant material clings stubbornly, so efficient techniques for scraping and plucking food may be especially important.</p>



<p>Surgeonfish, which share a close kinship with the Moorish idol, also display a version of this sliding jaw function. This capacity helps them graze on tough patches of algae, which supports their diets and possibly contributes to the dominance of certain fish species in these habitats.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-jaw-adaptations-for-targeted-grazing">Fish jaw adaptations for targeted grazing</h2>



<p>These mouth maneuvers seem to offer a quick way to yank food free. Fish that rely on suction feeding typically aim for items drifting in the water, but <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226413625_The_trophic_status_of_herbivorous_fishes_on_coral_reefs_II_Food_processing_modes_and_trophodynamics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grazing species</a> face different challenges when their meals grow attached to stones or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-coral-reef-fish-survive-in-the-worlds-warmest-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral</a>.</p>



<p>Lateral jaw movement might allow them to target specific chunks of algae, while leaving the rest of the body steady. </p>



<p>Staying still in choppy waters can reduce energy waste, so subtle mouth motion alone may make feeding smoother and more successful.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-fish-feeding-affects-coral-reef-health">How fish feeding affects coral reef health</h2>



<p>By adopting this method, <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0801946105" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">herbivorous</a> fish may help regulate algal overgrowth. Large algal blooms can sometimes crowd out coral species, so hungry fish that trim back the vegetation are often vital for the health of reefs.</p>



<p>“For <em>Zanclus</em>, this adaptation seems to relate to where they feed,” said Michalis Mihalitsis, now at the <a href="https://www.uog.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Guam</a>, who worked on the study. His comment highlights the link between physical traits and the specific environmental niches that fish occupy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-evolution-and-the-jaw-twist">Fish evolution and the jaw twist</h2>



<p>Vertebrate <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7672094/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jaws</a> have undergone countless modifications since the first fish appeared, over 400 million years ago. Each structural shift opens up new dietary options, supporting the rise of new species with unique ways of eating.</p>



<p>Sideways jaw movement is familiar to mammals that chew the cud, such as cows and goats. In fish, this trait is much less common, making its discovery in the Moorish idol and <a href="https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/holomua/surgeonfish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surgeonfish</a> particularly surprising.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead-in-reef-research">Looking ahead in reef research</h2>



<p>Scientists plan to explore whether other families of benthic-feeding fish also possess some degree of sideways jaw rotation. As more species are examined, other hidden techniques that have allowed various fish lineages to flourish could come to light.</p>



<p>Understanding fine-scale feeding approaches can reveal how fish keep reefs in balance. Each specialized adaptation for cropping algae may have influenced which species thrived in these colorful yet competitive underwater neighborhoods.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaw-adaptations-impact-fish-feeding">Jaw adaptations impact fish feeding</h2>



<p>Researchers are starting to see the big picture of how a single trait may drive broad ecological shifts. A fish that can chomp algae in a quick and strategic manner might help shape community dynamics, protect coral structures, and boost biodiversity.</p>



<p>This mouth movement breakthrough raises questions about what else fish mouths can do. It also shows how delicate mechanical tweaks can transform an animal’s role in its ecosystem.</p>



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



<p>Future work could involve close analysis of mouth ligaments, muscles, and bone joints across diverse reef species. Pinpointing the underlying genetics might allow scientists to trace how such mobility spread among related fish groups.</p>



<p>New knowledge might spark investigations into how environmental pressures push mouth features to evolve. As climate change affects reef conditions, fish that are able to adapt their feeding methods could prove more resilient, and help preserve vital coastal ecosystems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-jaws-reveal-ecosystem-dynamics">Fish jaws reveal ecosystem dynamics</h2>



<p>Exploring these jaw movements offers a view into the interplay of form and function within marine life. When tiny physical details align with dietary demands, entire ecosystems may shift toward richer variety or greater stability.</p>



<p>Observations of how fish navigate algae-laden surfaces broaden our appreciation of the ties between animals and their habitats. Investigators plan to continue searching for morphological secrets that aid survival in the swirling waters of tropical reefs.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2418982122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a>.</p>



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Fish use a 'jaw twist' to access more food on coral reefs

Scientists have taken a close look at certain reef fish...

<p>A new study of frontline employees in Arizona reveals that firefighters carry the greatest load of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their blood, while health care personnel also show moderate but notable elevations. The findings point to unseen hazards in everyday work gear and environments.</p>



<p>The investigation, led by scientists at the <a href="https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona Health Sciences</a>, compared blood samples from nearly 2,000 adults in firefighting, health care, and other essential occupations to learn how job duties shape chemical exposure.</p>



<p>PFAS are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-filtration-system-removes-forever-chemicals-from-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human-made compounds</a> prized for stain, water, and flame resistance. They coat cookware, clothing, carpets, packaging, and industrial foams. Because their molecular bonds are hard to break, the chemicals linger in air, soil, and water for decades and build up in living tissues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-firefighters-exposure-to-forever-chemicals">Firefighters' exposure to forever chemicals</h2>



<p>The researchers measured serum PFAS concentrations in 280 firefighters, 787 health care workers, and 734 employees from other trades. Blood was collected between 2018 and 2021. </p>



<p>For most workers, PFAS totals declined by six to 17 percent each year, yet measurable levels remained in every group by the study’s end. Firefighters topped the charts for several compounds, including PFHxS, Sm-PFOS, n-PFOS, and PFHpS. </p>



<p>Health care workers ranked second overall and showed higher odds of two PFAS - Sb-PFOA and PFDoA - when compared with peers in other fields. They also had modest rises in PFHpS and PFUnA.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-from-previous-research"><a></a>Clues from previous research</h2>



<p>Study senior author Kate Ellingson is an associate professor at the <a href="https://publichealth.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health</a>.</p>



<p>“Our study reinforces previous research showing elevated PFAS levels among firefighters and suggests that health care workers may have unique sources of PFAS exposure as well,” said Ellingson.</p>



<p>“Our findings underscore the need to understand occupational exposure pathways for PFAS among different types of workers.”</p>



<p>Firefighters have long been flagged for exposure because their protective clothing and the foams used to quench fuel fires contain PFAS. </p>



<p>Less is known about how nurses, surgeons, or technicians come into contact with the chemicals. Single-use gowns, surgical masks, sterile wraps, and even X-ray film may contribute, but few studies have investigated those items.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-linked-to-forever-chemicals">Health risks linked to forever chemicals </h2>



<p>Study co-author Jeff Burgess is the director of the <a href="https://publichealth.arizona.edu/about/centers-institutes/center-firefighter-health-collaborative-research" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research</a>.</p>



<p>“Almost all adults in the U.S. have detectable levels of certain PFAS, and people in occupations with more frequent exposure to PFAS-containing materials have been shown to exhibit higher serum concentrations of some PFAS,” said Burgess. </p>



<p>“Research into occupational exposure to PFAS is vital to reduce the health risks associated with PFAS, including but not limited to increases in rates of certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forever-chemicals-in-tap-water-increase-cancer-risk-by-up-to-33/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancers</a>, increases in cholesterol levels, lower antibody response to certain immunizations, and increased rates of certain adverse reproductive outcomes.”</p>



<p>Although scientists are still mapping dose-response relationships, mounting evidence ties long-term PFAS exposure to thyroid dysfunction, immune suppression, and reproductive harm, as well as kidney, prostate, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprising-link-between-elephant-testicle-temperature-and-cancer-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testicular cancers</a>. That makes the new data especially relevant for workers who already confront other job-related dangers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pfas-in-health-care-settings">PFAS in health care settings</h2>



<p>“To date, PFAS exposure in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-space-agencies-can-help-address-healthcare-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health care</a> settings has not been widely studied, and the potential sources of exposure remain unclear,” Ellingson said. He also noted that single-use surgical masks, surgical gowns, and X-ray film could be potential sources of PFAS exposure.</p>



<p>“Therefore, it’s important to further examine specific exposure routes and health consequences for firefighters and health care workers.”</p>



<p>The researchers suggest that manufacturers, hospitals, and fire departments audit supply chains to identify products treated with PFAS. Substituting safer materials where possible - and improving decontamination practices when replacement is not feasible - could lower cumulative dose.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avoiding-pfas-exposure">Avoiding PFAS exposure</h2>



<p>Many PFAS formulas have been phased out in the United States, yet older stockpiles and imported goods keep the chemicals in circulation. </p>



<p>The authors call for expanded monitoring of occupational exposures, stronger regulation of PFAS in consumer products and more public funding for exposure-reduction programs.</p>



<p>They also urge longitudinal studies to track how changing equipment or policies alters blood levels over time. Because PFAS can stay in the body for years, measuring declines after interventions will help pinpoint which strategies work best.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-exposure-beyond-firefighters">Chemical exposure beyond firefighters </h2>



<p>The Arizona results echo national surveys showing widespread but uneven PFAS contamination. They also highlight chemical exposure gaps: firefighters remain the most researched group, while other frontline roles - from paramedics to factory workers - receive far less attention.</p>



<p>By bringing health care personnel into the spotlight, the new study widens the search for hidden chemical risks at work. As communities push to remove PFAS from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snow-droughts-could-quadruple-by-2100-harming-water-supplies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water supplies</a> and household goods, understanding workplace exposures becomes equally urgent.</p>



<p>The current findings provide a starting map - and a reminder that protecting those who protect the rest of us means looking beyond the obvious dangers of heat, smoke, and infection to the quieter threat of “forever chemicals.”</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-025-00753-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Exposure Science &amp; Environmental Epidemiology</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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



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

Firefighters face elevated exposure to forever chemicals

A new study of frontline employees in Arizona reveals that...

<p>It can be hard to tell when unusual weather turns into our everyday climate. That moment, called time of emergence, is drawing closer in the Arctic, prompting fresh questions about how the world will adapt.</p>



<p>Scientists at the University of Groningen and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (<a href="https://www.knmi.nl/over-het-knmi/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KNMI</a>) have identified when familiar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-plant-alert-rising-shrubs-and-vanishing-meadows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> markers like temperature and sea ice might lock into a new state. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-96607-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">findings</a> point to big changes within a few decades, so people who live and work there may need to start preparing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-shifts-in-the-arctic-climate">Tracking shifts in the Arctic climate </h2>



<p>One method uses multiple climate models to track <a href="https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/warming-climate-system-unequivocal-highlights-fourth-ipcc-assessment-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice thickness</a> and other trends. Each model compares what’s happening now to what happened from 1850 to 1949, then checks when the data step beyond that older range.</p>



<p>In many areas, temperature changes land earlier than shifts in precipitation. This detail matters for people who depend on stable ice or clear skies for hunting, travel, and fishing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-arctic-ice-signals-climate-change">How Arctic ice signals climate change</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-meltdown-is-accelerating-global-warming-already-changing-earth-in-unimaginable-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> waters freeze and thaw each year in dramatic cycles. But the thickness of that ice is often the most important clue for climate shifts. This is because big changes in thickness can happen even when the ice still covers large areas.</p>



<p>Thin ice can flip a region from stable and predictable to something far trickier. It also affects local wildlife and hunting routes, which sets off a ripple effect for nearby communities.</p>



<p>Several models suggest the shift for temperature and sea ice might happen by the middle of this century. Rainfall and overall wetness could land in a new normal closer to the end of the century.</p>



<p>This difference in timing highlights how varied the Arctic can be. Some parts of the Central Arctic are already seeing distinct changes, while others might still be waiting decades for any permanent shift.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-climate-predictions">Arctic climate predictions</h2>



<p>Study co-author Richard Bintanja is a professor of climate and environmental change at the <a href="https://www.rug.nl/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Groningen</a>.</p>



<p>“We were excited to see that we were able to estimate ToE in a consistent and robust way. The next step is to apply these insights in society, policy, and ecology,” noted Bintanja.</p>



<p>The suggestions come at a time when the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/ArcticIce" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic’s warming rate</a> is more than double that of many other places on Earth. Locals feel the effects of this rapid warming when ice travel becomes uncertain and permafrost thaws in ways that threaten buildings and roadways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-on-people-and-nature">Impact on people and nature</h2>



<p>Indigenous groups who fish along shifting coasts watch shorelines erode from storms once tamed by thicker ice. Others must adjust hunting schedules as new temperature patterns push migratory animals to different routes.</p>



<p>Such changes go beyond the ups and downs of a single season. Permanent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drastic-warming-will-transform-the-arctic-beyond-recognition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shifts</a> in temperature and moisture can affect how communities develop housing, manage health concerns, and protect roads or runways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adapting-to-changing-arctic-conditions">Adapting to changing Arctic conditions</h2>



<p>Arctic policy planners often rely on temperature and ice predictions to set safety rules. If scientists forecast an ice-free shipping route by a certain year, shipping agencies might prepare new schedules or invest in port upgrades.</p>



<p>Local groups also keep an eye on precipitation. Unexpected rain can create slippery slopes or break up coastal ice. </p>



<p>A better understanding of when steady rain replaces lighter snow can help communities plan for floods or freeze-thaw cycles.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-impacts-across-the-arctic">Climate impacts across the Arctic </h2>



<p>The Central Arctic is not the only area feeling the heat. In the Barents Sea, the thinner ice has already set an earlier countdown for a different climate.</p>



<p>Elsewhere, thick <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-may-fuel-the-spread-of-diseases-by-unleashing-frozen-viruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice</a> persists into colder months, which delays the shift for sea ice extent. Differences like these complicate any simple one-size-fits-all plan.</p>



<p>Shrinking ice might open some economic doors, such as easier oil or gas access, but that also raises environmental and social concerns. In areas where wildlife serves as a food source, any large disturbance can threaten the well-being of families.</p>



<p>Rain and snow trends will shape everything from reindeer herding to coastal storm damage. Some experts point out that boosting resilience now may lower costs down the road.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-arctic-climate-changes">Preparing for Arctic climate changes</h2>



<p>Though the Arctic often leads global warming headlines, its swings in temperature and precipitation can mask long-term changes. This high variability means time of emergence arrives when the data consistently breaches older extremes for at least 10 years.</p>



<p>Policymakers and scientists aim to use these predictions to help communities design infrastructure that stays intact despite uncertain conditions. </p>



<p>More robust roads, flexible building designs, and long-term planning for water management could all stand between a smooth future and a rocky one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-for-ecosystems">Significance for ecosystems</h2>



<p>Melting sea ice disturbs fish habitats and can alter the timing of plankton blooms. That in turn affects seabirds, mammals, and other species.</p>



<p>When rainfall rises, marshy conditions may form in once-dry spots, reshaping feeding grounds for animals like migrating birds. A thorough understanding of these knock-on effects can be vital for ecosystem-based management.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-climate-predictions-0">Arctic climate predictions</h2>



<p>Climate models often leave room for doubt, considering that each model can differ slightly in its predictions. But the large mix of global models used here helps narrow those ranges and reduce the uncertainty.</p>



<p>Regional detail is another strength of the study. Each part of the Arctic demands a closer lens, since local features can speed up or slow down how quickly conditions tip into a different climate.</p>



<p>Accurate predictions help communities time their strategies and avoid harsh surprises. Whether it’s building on safer ground or designing better seasonal routes, knowledge of these changes helps to promote stability.</p>



<p>The strong changes in the Arctic can still catch everyone off guard. Tools like time of emergence show that slow transformations can one day feel quite sudden.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-96607-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a>.</p>



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



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Arctic climate will permanently change by 2050, scientists warn

It can be hard to tell when unusual weather turns...

<p>In the early 1900s, many people feared <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/about/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leprosy</a> and saw the disease as a life sentence of isolation, with very few treatment options.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to the CDC, the leading U.S. public health agency, Hansen’s disease (leprosy) is caused by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S088240102030841X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Mycobacterium leprae</em></a>, which affects the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose.</p>



<p>Alhough <a href="https://lhncbc.nlm.nih.gov/LHC-publications/PDF/pub2003048.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chaulmoogra oil</a> was used as a treatment for centuries in some regions, it usually failed to help in severe cases. A new approach surfaced when Alice Ball from the University of Hawaii transformed it into a more soluble form.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alice-ball-had-a-passion-for-chemistry">Alice Ball had a passion for chemistry</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738081X22001663" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alice was born</a> on July 24, 1892, in Seattle, Washington, into a family that valued creativity and learning. </p>



<p>Her parents’ interests in newspapers and photography exposed her to different fields beyond traditional academics, and encouraged her inquisitive spirit.</p>



<p>At the University of Washington, she explored pharmaceutical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/100-year-old-chemistry-rule-bredts-rule-proven-false-updating-textbooks-comes-next/">chemistry</a>, a discipline focused on the creation and refinement of medicinal compounds from natural or synthetic sources. </p>



<p>She earned her first degree in 1912 and a second in 1914, demonstrating unusual drive for someone her age.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-call-to-tropical-medicine">The call to tropical medicine</h2>



<p>Her quest for deeper knowledge led her to the <a href="https://www.hawaii.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hawaii</a>, where she studied the <a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/kava" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kava plant</a>, a botanical with bioactive components. </p>



<p>Kava was known for its soothing effects in some cultural settings, making it an intriguing subject for a talented researcher.</p>



<p>Her success in that research drew the attention of <a href="https://daily.jstor.org/the-chemist-whose-work-was-stolen-from-her/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Harry T. Hollmann</a>, who asked for her help in addressing the treatment of leprosy. </p>



<p>Many physicians at the time relied on oils extracted from the chaulmoogra tree<em> (Hydnocarpus wightianus)</em>, but the preparations were unpredictable and sometimes irritating to patients.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crafting-a-new-solution">Crafting a new solution</h2>



<p>She discovered that chaulmoogra seeds contain fatty acids that show potential against the bacteria that cause leprosy. </p>



<p>By converting these fatty acids into <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/ethyl-ester" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ethyl esters</a>, she made the preparation easier to inject into patients, which improved their ability to absorb the medication.</p>



<p>People called it the “Ball Method,” recognizing her pioneering step in making an ancient plant medically relevant. Doctors at Kalihi Hospital in Hawaii reported favorable outcomes in patients who had previously struggled with conventional remedies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tragic-end-and-near-forgotten-credit">Tragic end and near-forgotten credit</h2>



<p>In late 1916, she inhaled toxic laboratory fumes while preparing materials for her experiments, an accident that quickly turned fatal. </p>



<p>She died on December 31, 1916, at just 24 years old, with little public acknowledgment of her groundbreaking developments.</p>



<p>Arthur L. Dean, her academic supervisor, continued the project without clearly mentioning her involvement or her scientific process. Dr. Hollmann stepped in and ensured that her valuable contribution would be recognized in official records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-remembered-legacy-of-alice-ball">Remembered legacy of Alice Ball</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2025/02/28/alice-ball-day-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hawaii</a> installed a plaque beside a <a href="https://www.osgf.org/blog/2021/2/10/alice-ball-and-chaulmoogra-oil" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chaulmoogra tree</a> to honor her lasting influence. She also received a posthumous award called the Medal of Distinction in 2007, reflecting a gradual correction of history.</p>



<p>A small satellite named “<a href="https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/11/long-march-6-lofts-ten-argentinian-satellites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alice</a>” was launched in November 2020, as a way of paying tribute to her achievements from beyond Earth’s boundaries. </p>



<p>That modern gesture reminded many in the scientific community to revisit her role in early Hansen’s disease treatment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-broader-impact">A broader impact</h2>



<p>Once antibiotics became widely available in the 1940s, the “Ball Method” fell out of common use. Yet historians note that her approach offered one of the first genuine options for people facing severe nerve damage and social stigma.</p>



<p>Her achievement stands among the work of other African American pioneers in science, an often underrecognized group. </p>



<p>While many faced discrimination, individuals like NASA mathematician <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/melba-roy-mouton-mathematician/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Melba Roy Mouton</a> proved that diverse expertise can break through restrictive barriers, even in top research agencies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alice-ball-as-an-inspiration">Alice Ball as an inspiration</h2>



<p>Modern experts see her technique as a remarkable blend of traditional botanical knowledge and chemical resourcefulness. </p>



<p>This story sparks fresh discussions on the relevance of natural products in managing diseases worldwide, especially in light of the current trend in increasing <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2954574/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotic resistance</a>.</p>



<p>Her path also turns the spotlight on the importance of crediting researchers, especially when they are marginalized by social structures. In her short life, she managed to merge academic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nematodes-use-chemistry-to-survive-and-communicate/">chemistry</a> and pressing medical priorities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ongoing-lessons">Ongoing lessons</h2>



<p>The desire to help others propelled Alice Ball, even though her name was overshadowed for a time by more prominent figures. </p>



<p>People study her story to appreciate how determination and focus can reshape the way we view medical challenges.</p>



<p>Though chaulmoogra oil is less common now, her idea of transforming thick extracts into more workable solutions still guides pharmaceutical research. </p>



<p>Efforts to refine plant-derived treatments often mirror her resourceful approach that involved integrating new technology with older remedies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead">Looking ahead</h2>



<p>Ball’s journey reminds us that life can be brief, but well-targeted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-oxygen-discovery-deep-ocean-rocks-upends-centuries-of-scientific-beliefs/">scientific</a> contributions can echo for decades. </p>



<p>Her ability to solve a critical challenge illustrates how observation, laboratory methods, and curiosity can make a difference in healthcare.</p>



<p>Those who appreciate her contributions argue that she belongs among the prominent names in medical history, alongside other innovators who expanded treatment options. </p>



<p>Historians agree that her background and perseverance enrich the broader narrative of global scientific progress.</p>



<p>More information about Alice Ball's contribution is published in <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738081X22001663" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clinics in Dermatology</a></em>.</p>



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The young chemist who transformed an ancient plant into an effective therapy

In the early 1900s, many people feared leprosy and saw...

<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>



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Some children read facial expressions when making food choices.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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>



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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>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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<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

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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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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