<p>Microscopic pores in brain cells may hold vital clues to Parkinson’s disease. Scientists have tracked these disruptions in real time, revealing how toxic protein clusters interact with membranes.</p>



<p>The findings point toward a new explanation for how Parkinson’s symptoms develop, beginning at the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-detect-neurological-diseases-like-parkinsons-years-before-symptoms-appear/">molecular level</a> of cell membranes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-quiet-onset-of-parkinson-s">The quiet onset of Parkinson’s </h2>



<p>Parkinson’s often begins quietly. A tremor in the hand, a stiffness in movement, or slowed responses mark the earliest signs. </p>



<p>Beneath these symptoms lies a gradual loss of brain cells. For decades, the trigger behind this degeneration remained unclear. Now, the focus has shifted to α-synuclein, a protein abundant in nerve cells.</p>



<p>In its healthy state, α-synuclein supports communication between neurons. In Parkinson’s, it misfolds and forms clumps. </p>



<p>Earlier studies focused on fibrils, the large clumps seen in brain tissue. The new research highlights oligomers, smaller assemblies that prove more toxic because of their ability to pierce cell membranes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proteins-create-shifting-pores">Proteins create shifting pores</h2>



<p>“We are the first to directly observe how these oligomers form pores - and how the pores behave,” said Mette Galsgaard Malle, postdoctoral researcher at both <a href="https://international.au.dk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aarhus University</a> and Harvard University.</p>



<p>Oligomers do not create static damage. Instead, they attach to curved membrane regions, insert partly, and then complete pores that open and close like revolving doors.</p>



<p>“This dynamic behavior may help explain why the cells don’t die immediately,” said Bo Volf Brøchner, PhD student and first author of the study. </p>



<p>“If the pores remained open, the cells would likely collapse very quickly. But because they open and close, the cell’s own pumps might be able to temporarily compensate.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watching-molecules-move">Watching molecules move</h2>



<p>To capture this activity, the researchers used a single-vesicle analysis platform. These vesicles, artificial bubbles resembling cell membranes, allowed scientists to record oligomer activity in real time. </p>



<p>The team even watched fluorescent dyes move through pores, confirming that molecules can cross once pores form.</p>



<p>“It’s like watching a molecular movie in slow motion,” explained Galsgaard Malle. “Not only can we see what happens - we can also test how different molecules affect the process. That makes the platform a valuable tool for drug screening.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinct-steps-of-parkinson-s">Distinct steps of Parkinson's</h2>



<p>The team proposes a three-stage model: initial recruitment to membranes, partial insertion, and full pore formation. </p>



<p>Interestingly, recruitment occurs more often on curved membranes, while full pore creation favors flatter ones. This means the first and final steps are distinct processes shaped by membrane geometry and charge.</p>



<p>Negatively charged lipids, abundant in mitochondria and synaptic vesicles, seem particularly vulnerable. This supports the idea that energy-producing cell regions may be among the first harmed in Parkinson’s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pore-formation-and-cell-risk">Pore formation and cell risk</h2>



<p>The studies also show that neutral membranes can recruit oligomers, but only negative charges activate pores. Recruitment is enhanced by curvature, likely because tightly bent membranes expose more defects that oligomers can latch onto. </p>



<p>Yet, pore formation itself works best on flat, low-curvature membranes, which offer more stability for the pore to open fully.</p>



<p>This separation between binding and pore creation clarifies earlier contradictions in research. It suggests that cells might not be equally at risk, depending on membrane <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticide-exposure-increases-the-risk-of-parkinsons-disease/">composition</a> and shape.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nanobodies-and-detection">Nanobodies and detection</h2>



<p>The researchers also tested nanobodies, tiny antibody fragments that bind specifically to oligomers. These nanobodies did not block pore formation, but they helped reveal how pores change dynamics. </p>



<p>One nanobody increased pore turnover, making oligomers more flexible and interactive, while another reduced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cancer-immunotherapy-drug-also-works-to-slow-progression-of-parkinsons-disease/">activity</a>.</p>



<p>“The nanobodies did not block the pore formation,” said Volf Brøchner. “But they may still help detect oligomers at very early stages of the disease. That’s crucial, since Parkinson’s is typically diagnosed only after significant neuronal damage has occurred.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-beyond-parkinson-s">Implications beyond Parkinson’s</h2>



<p>These findings may apply beyond Parkinson’s. The same methods could explore other protein aggregates, such as tau in Alzheimer’s disease, which may also damage membranes in subtle but progressive ways. </p>



<p>The single-vesicle platform offers a high-resolution way to track protein-membrane interactions across different neurodegenerative conditions.</p>



<p>For now, these experiments remain in artificial models. Real brain cells are far more complex, with diverse lipids and interacting proteins. The next challenge is to confirm whether pores form in living tissue and how they contribute to cell death.</p>



<p>“We created a clean experimental setup where we can measure one thing at a time. That’s the strength of this platform,” said Galsgaard Malle. “But now we need to take the next step and investigate what happens in more complex biological systems.”</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.5c04005" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Nano</a>.</em></p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Tiny holes in brain cells may unlock the mystery of Parkinson’s

Microscopic pores in brain cells may hold vital clues to Parkinson’s disease. Scientists have tracked these disruptions in real time, revealing how toxic protein clusters interact with membranes. The findings point toward a new explanation for how Parkinson’s symptoms develop, beginning at the molecular level of cell membranes. The quiet onset of Parkinson’s Parkinson’s often begins quietly. A tremor in the hand, a stiffness in movement, or slowed responses mark the earliest signs. Beneath these symptoms lies a gradual loss of brain cells. For decades, the trigger...

<p>Parents pass down more than genes. Their everyday choices shape how children see the world. </p>



<p>A new study from São Paulo State University (<a href="https://www.international.unesp.br" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESP</a>) in Brazil shows how this works with physical activity. Children copy the habits of their parents, whether active or sedentary.</p>



<p>The researchers tracked 182 children and teenagers, aged 6 to 17, along with their parents. They used accelerometers, devices that measure movement with precision. </p>



<p>The results were clear: children with inactive parents spent more time sitting. Children with active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parent-children-relationships-are-key-to-lifelong-well-being/">parents</a> were less sedentary.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mothers-play-a-bigger-role">Mothers play a bigger role</h2>



<p>The study also revealed something striking. Mothers influenced their children’s activity levels more strongly than fathers. Their effect was more than double. </p>



<p>The exact reason is still uncertain, but daily routines could explain part of it. Mothers often spend more time shaping schedules around meals, homework, and television.</p>



<p>“The results indicate that parents’ level of physical activity can directly influence their children’s habits. In other words, when parents maintain a more active routine, their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/singing-to-babies-is-a-powerful-way-to-boost-their-mood/">children</a> are less likely to remain seated for long periods,” Diego Christofaro noted. </p>



<p>Christofaro is a professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT-UNESP) at the Presidente Prudente campus and the lead author of the article published in the journal Sports Medicine and Health Science.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sedentary-lifestyles-rising">Sedentary lifestyles rising</h2>



<p>The findings matter because inactivity in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-before-they-crawl-babies-can-feel-their-own-heartbeat/">childhood</a> is already a public health concern. In Brazil, 11% to 38% of children and adolescents are overweight. Sedentary routines contribute directly to this problem. </p>



<p>The risks go beyond weight gain. Research links too much sitting with heart problems, back pain, poor sleep, anxiety, and depression.</p>



<p>Once these patterns start, they are hard to change. A child who spends long hours sitting is likely to carry those habits into adult life. That makes early action vital.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-copy-parents-activity">Kids copy parents’ activity</h2>



<p>The home environment explains much of this. Children often copy their parents’ screen habits. If parents watch hours of television, children usually do too. When limits on screen time are missing, the hours grow longer.</p>



<p>But the opposite is also true. When parents swap sitting for exercise, children follow their lead. </p>



<p>In one Canadian study, every 20 minutes of vigorous parental activity added 5 to 10 minutes of moderate activity in children. Kids don’t just listen to words; they notice actions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parents-education-shapes-activity">Parents’ education shapes activity</h2>



<p>Education changes the picture as well. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-who-use-humor-have-better-relationships-with-their-children/">Parents</a> with higher education levels tend to set more structured routines. They often balance screen time with sports or outdoor play. </p>



<p>Parents with higher levels of education also recognize the harm of excessive sitting and take steps to prevent it.</p>



<p>Awareness is powerful. A parent who knows the risks of long sedentary hours is more likely to limit television, encourage outdoor play, or join their child in activity. Those choices add up over time.</p>



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



<p>Support at home makes staying active easier. Equipment, safe spaces, and shared activities all matter. Families who play sports together or go for walks often see children grow up more active. </p>



<p>Shared routines also create memories, tying positive feelings to exercise and movement. </p>



<p>On the other hand, when support is missing, even motivated children face obstacles. A lack of safe places to play or no encouragement from parents can keep them sitting.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-message-for-public-health">A message for public health</h2>



<p>“Sedentary habits are the result of multiple factors, such as lack of access, time, and places where physical activity can be practiced,” noted Christofaro. </p>



<p>“However, our study shows that parents’ habits can affect their children’s health. Therefore, we believe that these results can support public policies and campaigns aimed at promoting a more active lifestyle in the family environment.”</p>



<p>The study showed that parent-child links in sedentary behavior appeared only when parents were insufficiently active. In families where parents stayed active, those links weakened. That means active parents can protect children from inheriting sedentary patterns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parents-set-activity-goals">Parents set activity goals</h2>



<p>Brazil’s health guidelines recommend that children and adolescents spend at least 60 minutes a day on moderate to vigorous physical activity. </p>



<p>Parents should aim for 150 minutes of activity each week. These targets are not just numbers. They represent habits that can shape family health across generations.</p>



<p>Children copy what they see. Parents who sit less and move more give their children a model worth repeating. Small daily choices - walking instead of sitting, playing instead of watching - can ripple through a child’s life, reducing risks and building healthier futures.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666337625000691?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sports Medicine and Health Science</a>.</em></p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Family fitness: Active parents raise active kids

Parents pass down more than genes. Their everyday choices shape...

<p>At first glance, corals appear as immobile, silent structures beneath the ocean surface. Yet these organisms hold sensory abilities that scientists are only beginning to appreciate. Though they lack eyes, corals can sense light in surprising ways, adapting to their environment with delicate precision.</p>



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Osaka Metropolitan University</a>’s Graduate School of Science have recently revealed a unique mechanism that allows corals to detect different types of light.</p>



<p>The research shows that light-sensitive proteins called opsins rely on chloride ions to shift between ultraviolet (UV) and visible light sensitivity depending on pH. This finding broadens our understanding of vision beyond creatures with eyes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-corals-sense-light">How corals sense light</h2>



<p>Opsins are proteins central to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-corals-could-help-reefs-survive-a-warming-world/">animal</a> vision. They bind with retinal, a molecule that naturally absorbs only UV light. To detect visible light, retinal forms a bond called a Schiff base with an opsin.</p>



<p>This bond is positively charged and usually stabilized by a negatively charged amino acid. Without that stabilizer, most opsins would not function. </p>



<p>The absence of stability would prevent the pigment from maintaining its configuration, disrupting the conversion of light into biochemical signals, and ultimately halting the process animals rely on to sense and respond to their visual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-coral-collapse-may-help-save-the-great-barrier-reef/">environment</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-special-opsins-found-in-corals">Special opsins found in corals</h2>



<p>Anthozoans, a group that includes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-corals-are-quietly-storing-massive-amounts-of-carbon/">corals</a> and sea anemones, have their own special opsins known as ASO-II. Unlike mammalian opsins, some ASO-II proteins lack the stabilizing amino acids. </p>



<p>“Some ASO-II opsins of reef-building corals lack the usual counterion amino acids found in other animal opsins,” explained Akihisa Terakita, professor at Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Science.</p>



<p>The absence of counterion amino acids posed a major question. How could these coral opsins maintain sensitivity to visible light without them?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-molecular-switch-for-light-sensing">A molecular switch for light sensing</h2>



<p>The research team studied ASO-II opsins in the reef-building coral <em>Acropora tenuis</em>. Using spectroscopy, mutational analysis, and simulations, they discovered a novel process. </p>



<p>Instead of amino acids, the opsins employ chloride ions from their surroundings as counterions. This marks the first known case of an opsin using inorganic ions for stabilization.</p>



<p>“We found that chloride ions stabilize the Schiff base more weakly than amino acids do, so the opsin can reversibly switch between visible-light sensitivity and UV sensitivity depending on the pH," said Yusuke Sakai, first author of the study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-light-sensing-and-ph-levels">Light sensing and pH levels</h2>



<p>The mechanism hinges on pH conditions. At low pH, protons increase, causing the Schiff base to remain positively charged and absorb longer wavelengths, including visible light.</p>



<p>Chloride ions then provide stability. In higher pH conditions, fewer protons lead to deprotonation, and the opsin shifts back to UV sensitivity. This reversible system allows corals to adapt light detection based on cellular chemistry. </p>



<p>By shifting sensitivity depending on proton balance, corals essentially carry a molecular switch that tunes vision-like processes.</p>



<p>This adaptability ensures they respond effectively to microenvironmental changes, such as metabolic activity, photosynthesis, or stress events, enabling a dynamic balance between UV and visible light sensing crucial for survival and growth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-symbiosis-affects-coral-light-sensing">Symbiosis affects coral light sensing</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-impacts-will-overwhelm-our-oceans-by-the-mid-century/">Corals</a> live closely with algae that generate energy through photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis changes the internal pH within coral cells, potentially influencing opsin sensitivity. </p>



<p>This suggests corals might tune their light detection to align with the algae’s activity. Such dynamic sensing adds new depth to our knowledge of coral symbiosis.</p>



<p>The study adds further perspective. It highlights how light perception can shape coral responses to both internal and external signals. Opsins do not act in isolation; they interact with cellular pathways involving calcium signaling, gene expression, and metabolic control.</p>



<p>By linking light detection with biochemical responses, corals may adjust processes such as skeletal growth and symbiont regulation. This suggests that vision-like mechanisms contribute to how corals balance energy demands with environmental conditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pushing-the-boundaries-of-technology">Pushing the boundaries of technology </h2>



<p>Professor Mitsumasa Koyanagi suggests that beyond ecology, this discovery opens technological doors.</p>



<p>"The ASO-II opsin of Acropora tenuis was shown to regulate calcium ions in a light-dependent way, hinting at potential applications as an optogenetic tool whose wavelength sensitivity changes with pH,” said Professor Koyanagi.</p>



<p>The broader theory of opsin diversity presented in the paper supports this potential. By revealing how proteins can rely on unconventional counterions, the researchers have opened the door to designing light-sensitive tools that adapt to shifting chemical environments. </p>



<p>Such advances could one day enable precise regulation of cellular activity, pushing the boundaries of optogenetics in medicine and biotechnology.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/105451" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eLife</a></em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Corals reveal a surprising new way to see light

At first glance, corals appear as immobile, silent structures beneath...

<p>Most of us dread brushing and flossing. But what if your mouth could clean itself? Scientists are working on ways to hack the bacteria in your mouth so they do the dirty work for you - literally.</p>



<p>The idea is simple: help the good bacteria grow strong and push the bad ones out. If it works, it could mean fewer cavities, less scraping at the dentist and, maybe one day, no more brushing or flossing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-battle-inside-your-mouth">Bacteria battle inside your mouth</h2>



<p>Your mouth is home to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-in-your-mouth-multiply-in-a-very-unique-way/">hundreds of kinds</a> of bacteria. Some help you, and others hurt you. Right now, they’re all battling it out for space on your teeth.</p>



<p>The sticky film you feel after a long day? That’s a biofilm - a mix of bacteria all building a home together on your enamel. Some of them eat sugar and make acid, which wears away your teeth and causes cavities.</p>



<p>For years, researchers focused on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mouth-microbes-reflect-your-lifestyle-choices/">identifying</a> the bad bacteria - like <em>Streptococcus mutans</em> - and targeting those. But there’s a catch. Even within a single species of bacteria, there are hundreds of strains. That makes things complicated.</p>



<p>So, instead of trying to classify every strain, a research team led by scientists at <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Berkeley</a> is zooming in on the bacteria’s DNA - specifically, the parts of it that drive how bacteria act in your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-says-mouth-bacteria-play-key-role-in-heart-attacks-upending-conventional-wisdom/">mouth</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-molecules-that-help-bacteria-stick">Molecules that help bacteria stick</h2>



<p>By digging into a huge database of bacterial DNA from saliva samples, the researchers found something interesting. </p>



<p>A group of genes - called a gene cluster - showed up in strains that were more often linked to the presence of cavities. This cluster produces two molecules that help bacteria stick to each other and to your teeth.</p>



<p>One molecule makes bacteria clump up like glue. The other enables bacteria to make molecules that join and form chains, like a string. Together, these sticky molecules help bacteria form a strong biofilm - that gunky layer you feel on your teeth when you haven’t brushed.</p>



<p>Not all strains have this cluster. But some of the worst <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bronze-age-teeth-discovery-highlight-the-evolution-of-the-human-diet/">cavity-causing</a> strains do, including the infamous <em>S. mutans</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smarter-bacteria-for-teeth-cleaning">Smarter bacteria for teeth cleaning</h2>



<p>The scientists believe they can take these sticky-making genes and move them into bacteria that are actually good for your mouth.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/streptococcus-salivarius" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Streptococcus salivarius</a></em> already supports a healthy mouth but struggles to stick to your teeth, which makes it a weak probiotic.</p>



<p>By boosting it with the sticky genes, researchers think they can help <em>S. salivarius</em> form a stronger biofilm. That way, the helpful bacteria can push out the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-dental-hygiene-is-directly-linked-to-decrease-in-brain-volume-and-mental-decline/">harmful</a> ones and take over the neighborhood - possibly reducing the need for constant brushing.</p>



<p>"Particular strains belonging to the same species can be a pathogen or a commensal or even probiotic," explained Wenjun Zhang, a chemical and biomolecular engineering professor at UC Berkeley who led the research.</p>



<p>"After we better understand these molecules' activity and how they can promote strong biofilm formation, we can introduce them to the good bacteria so that the good bacteria can now form strong biofilms and outcompete all the bad ones."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-these-molecules-special">What makes these molecules special</h2>



<p>The gene cluster includes about 15 pieces of DNA. These don’t keep the bacteria alive - they’re part of what’s called a "specialized" metabolic pathway. In simple terms, they let bacteria make extra tools to help them compete.</p>



<p>Some bacteria use these extra genes to produce antibiotics. Others use them to grab more nutrients. In this case, the genes make sticky molecules that help bacteria hold on to your teeth better.</p>



<p>These specialized metabolites enhance survival in certain ways, noted McKenna Yao a Berkeley graduate student and co-first author of the study. </p>



<p>"Many, for example, are antibiotics, so they can kill other bugs, or others are involved in metal acquisition - they help the bacteria monopolize the resources in their environmental niche," said Yao.</p>



<p>"Being able to produce these, especially in a microbial community, helps the bacteria boot out the other guy and guard their resources.”</p>



<p>The researchers named the sticky molecules <em>mutanoclumpins</em>. They think that if they can fully understand how these work, they could either stop bad bacteria from making them or help good bacteria use them better.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brushing-teeth-still-matters-for-now">Brushing teeth still matters - for now</h2>



<p>This isn’t the team’s first discovery. A couple of years ago, they found a different gene cluster that produces an unknown antibiotic in oral bacteria. Another one made a different type of sticky molecule. </p>



<p>This new discovery adds a further piece to the puzzle of how bacteria in your mouth work together - or against each other.</p>



<p>"We are looking for something which is correlated with cavities, with disease. If one day we can prove that, under certain conditions, this is really a bad molecule you want to prevent, we might develop genetic or chemical inhibitors to inhibit their production, so hopefully the bacteria will not make them, and you have fewer cavities," Zhang said. </p>



<p>"Meanwhile, we also look at other molecules correlated with health, allowing a simple strategy to directly engineer the microbes to make more of them."</p>



<p>The future goal is to build a full map of all these special molecules - to see what exactly your oral bacteria are up to. That could lead to smarter ways of managing oral health, with engineered probiotics doing most of the work. But for now, brushing still matters.</p>



<p>"The best way you can remove the <a href="https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/ijodh/international-journal-of-oral-and-dental-health-ijodh-7-127.php?jid=ijodh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biofilm</a> on your teeth is to brush," Yao said. "We believe that there's actually a better way of disrupting that biofilm, but we're just beginning to understand what the complexity is within the mouth."</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2504492122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a></em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Beyond brushing teeth: Can our mouth clean itself?

Most of us dread brushing and flossing. But what if...

<p>Most of what we learn about ancient animals comes from hard parts - shells, bones, and sometimes soft tissues that have been transformed into fossils over eons. How does this happen? The key lies in the chemistry around a carcass. </p>



<p>As microbes move in, they use up oxygen and flip the local conditions from oxidizing to reducing within minutes to days. Those shifts decide whether tissues vanish or get copied by minerals and locked into rock.</p>



<p>A recent experiment asked a clear question with big consequences: if different animals decay in the same water, will they create the same chemistry above their bodies, or does each one build its own microenvironment? </p>



<p>The answers derived from a study led by the University of Lausanne (<a href="https://www.unil.ch/unil/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNIL</a>) points straight to why some animals transform into fossils when they die, but most simply return to dust.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-animals-become-fossils">How animals become fossils</h2>



<p>Researchers placed four aquatic animals - a shrimp, a snail, a starfish, and a planarian flatworm - into sealed jars of gently oxygenated water. For seven days, they measured <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/oxidation-reduction-potential" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxidation-reduction potential</a> (ORP) just above each carcass. </p>



<p>ORP, recorded in millivolts, indicates whether conditions favor oxidation (positive values) or reduction (negative values). </p>



<p>As microbes burn oxygen and switch to other electron acceptors, ORP drops. Each animal drove a different chemical path. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrimp-crisis-alarming-virus-threatens-global-seafood-supplies/">Shrimp</a> pulled ORP down the fastest and deepest, sometimes reaching values linked to methanogenesis. Snails also pushed conditions into strongly reducing ranges, but not as rapidly or as far. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-thats-melting-starfish-alive-has-finally-been-identified/">Starfish</a> moved more slowly and ended near the snails after a week. Planarians barely shifted from the starting conditions, much like control jars without an animal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-minerals-in-the-ground">Minerals in the ground</h2>



<p>Different redox windows favor different preservation routes. In oxygen-rich water, soft tissues usually break down quickly. </p>



<p>Under reducing conditions, minerals can grow on or within tissues and capture detail before it’s lost. When sulfate reduces to sulfide and iron is present, iron sulfide (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fools-gold-may-be-a-valuable-source-of-lithium/">pyrite</a>) can form, producing pyritization. </p>



<p>In other reducing ranges, phosphorus released during decay can bind into calcium phosphate, producing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatization" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phosphatization</a>.</p>



<p>Because shrimp and snails spent time in reducing “sweet spots,” their remains would be more likely to acquire pyrite or calcium phosphate coatings. Planarians, which stayed closer to oxygenated conditions, were less likely to mineralize that way. </p>



<p>A single sediment bed can therefore hold different preservation styles side by side, driven by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-found-alive-sealed-inside-rock-after-2-billion-years/">microenvironments</a> that different carcasses create.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossils-and-animal-size">Fossils and animal size</h2>



<p>Size helps. Larger bodies feed microbes more and draw down oxygen faster, so they reach reducing conditions sooner. But size wasn’t the whole story. </p>



<p>The team normalized results by body mass and subtracted the weight of mineralized parts, such as shells, that don’t decay. Even after those corrections, the taxa did not line up the same way.</p>



<p>Composition mattered. Bodies richer in protein relative to lipid produced stronger ORP drops on a per-mass basis. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/apple-snails-regrow-their-eyes-and-may-help-humans-do-the-same/">Planarians</a> are small and protein-heavy with little fat, giving them a larger per-mass chemical impact than size alone would predict. </p>



<p>Shrimp carry more lipid, which degrades more slowly and blunts the per-mass effect, even though a whole shrimp still drove ORP very negative due to overall size, surface area, and varied tissues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-the-lab-into-the-real-world">From the lab into the real world</h2>



<p>Several jars showed an ORP rebound after about five days. Conditions became less reducing. That pattern likely reflects microbial succession. </p>



<p>Early colonizers use easy fuels and drain oxygen quickly. Later arrivals run different reactions that tilt the chemistry back toward less extreme values. The decay path bends as the microbial roster changes.</p>



<p>These trials used freshwater at room temperature in sealed, gently oxygenated jars. Natural settings vary. Salty seawater alters protein behavior while cold mud slows reactions. </p>



<p>Flowing pore water can deliver new oxidants. Starfish are marine animals, and in seawater their decay chemistry can shift. </p>



<p>Sediments also matter. Many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-video-footage-of-an-elusive-deep-sea-predator-pacific-sleeper-shark/">carcasses land in mud</a> that limits oxygen flow and sets up reducing pockets faster than open water.</p>



<p>The specific numbers will change with the setting, but the pattern holds: taxon identity and tissue chemistry steer decay chemistry under the same starting conditions.</p>



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



<p>“This means that, in nature, two animals buried side by side could have vastly different fates as fossils, simply because of differences in size or body chemistry,” affirms Nora Corthésy, Ph.D. student at the University of Lausanne and lead author of the study. </p>



<p>“One might vanish entirely, while the other could be immortalized in stone,” adds Farid Saleh, Swiss National Science Foundation (<a href="https://www.snf.ch/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SNSF)</a> Ambizione Fellow at UNIL, and senior author of the paper.</p>



<p>According to this study, animals such as large arthropods are more likely to be preserved than small planarians or other aquatic worms. </p>



<p>“This could explain why fossil communities dating from the <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/cambrian/cambrian.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambrian</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/ordovician-period" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ordovician</a> periods (around 500 million years ago) are dominated by arthropods,” states Corthésy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preservation-of-animal-fossils">Preservation of animal fossils</h2>



<p>Geologists often picture redox conditions stacked vertically in sediment - from oxygenated at the top to more reducing with depth. That vertical model explains shifts in preservation with burial depth. This study adds a lateral view. </p>



<p>Two carcasses lying inches apart can generate different chemical zones and end up preserved by different mineral pathways, even when the surrounding mud looks uniform. </p>



<p>That helps explain mixed beds where pyritized and phosphatized fossils sit together and why some groups appear repeatedly while others fade.</p>



<p>The chemistry above a carcass is not one-size-fits-all. It changes with body size and, crucially, with what the body is made of. Those differences decide which minerals, if any, have time to copy soft parts before they disappear. </p>



<p>That is why a shrimp and a snail, decaying close together, can leave very different signatures in stone - and why the fossil record, with all its gaps and surprises, makes more sense when you follow the chemistry.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59372-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communication</a></em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

Some animals survive millions of years in stone, but most simply vanish, now we know why

Most of what we learn about ancient animals comes from...

<p>Most of us think of loneliness as an emotional weight, not a medical expense resulting from health problems. But new research shows it also leaves a measurable mark on healthcare systems.</p>



<p>Adults who report feeling lonely often end up costing the U.K.'s National Health Service (<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NHS</a>) nearly $1,150 more per year than their peers who feel socially connected.</p>



<p>That figure comes from a large peer-reviewed study that tracked more than 23,000 adults across Britain between 2021 and 2023. </p>



<p>The researchers linked survey responses to estimates of doctor visits, outpatient appointments, and hospital stays, uncovering a clear financial toll alongside the personal one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loneliness-and-health">Loneliness and health</h2>



<p>The effect wasn’t evenly spread across life. Loneliness weighed heaviest on young adults aged 16 to 24 and again later in life, suggesting that these are especially vulnerable windows when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-periods-of-social-isolation-can-physically-shrink-the-brain/">social isolation</a> hits both health and the health care system hardest.</p>



<p>Led by Nia Morrish of the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>’s Public Health Economics Group, the study also examined how loneliness connects to mental distress, well-being, and overall quality of life. </p>



<p>The World Health Organization calls poor social connection a public health priority in a global report. It estimates that one in six people worldwide <strong>is</strong> affected and that loneliness is linked to roughly 100 deaths every hour.</p>



<p>One national bulletin shows that in early 2025 about 25 percent of adults in Great Britain felt lonely often, always, or some of the time, and about seven percent felt lonely often or always. Younger adults reported higher levels than older adults.</p>



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



<p>The researchers drew their data from <a href="https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Understanding Society</a>, a long running U.K. household panel dataset. </p>



<p>That survey follows the same people over time, which lets researchers see patterns that are hard to capture in one off polls.</p>



<p>They measured loneliness with the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8502233/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA 3-item scale</a> and tracked mental distress using the General Health Questionnaire.</p>



<p>They also summarized physical and mental functioning with the Short Form Health Survey (CHIS) and assessed positive mental well-being using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-loneliness-across-britain">Tracking loneliness across Britain</h2>



<p>About 32 percent of participants <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-often-feel-lonely-burnt-out-parenting-demands/">felt lonely</a> some of the time and 8 percent felt lonely often. Those who were lonely showed higher psychological distress, lower positive mental well-being, and lower physical and mental functioning.</p>



<p>People who reported loneliness booked more GP and outpatient visits across 12 months. They also recorded more inpatient days than peers who did not report loneliness.</p>



<p>The cost pattern by age is U shaped. The largest excess costs appeared among 16- to 24-year-olds and again among older adults.</p>



<p>Statistical significance for excess costs was clearest for 16- to 24-year-olds. That suggests early adult years may be a sensitive window for support.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-costs-rise-with-loneliness">Health costs rise with loneliness</h2>



<p>Loneliness does not only increase health care spending. It also cuts into quality of life by raising the risks of depression, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-do-fear-and-anxiety-reside-in-the-brain-new-cells-identified/">anxiety</a>, and even early death, according to a meta-analysis of 148 studies covering 308,849 people. </p>



<p>The researchers in that work concluded that poor social connection is comparable to smoking and obesity in terms of its impact on survival.</p>



<p>Economic models suggest loneliness may ripple through the workforce. Research on job performance has shown links between loneliness and reduced productivity, absenteeism, and higher turnover. </p>



<p>That means the NHS costs capture only part of a larger hidden bill that also hits employers, families, and communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-could-ease-the-pressure">What could ease the pressure</h2>



<p>Evidence reviews find that some programs can reduce loneliness when they build structured interaction, active participation, and consistent contact.</p>



<p>One such review reported that most evaluated interventions that met those design features reduced loneliness.</p>



<p>Group formats often help, and delivery can be in person or online if it keeps people engaged. The details matter, and person tailored delivery is still important.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-governments-take-loneliness-seriously">Governments take loneliness seriously</h2>



<p>Governments have begun to recognize loneliness as a policy issue. In 2018, the U.K. created a Minister for Loneliness role, and more recent strategies encourage local councils to invest in community programs.</p>



<p>These initiatives aim to expand social prescribing, where health workers link patients with local clubs, volunteer groups, or support networks that can build connection outside of medical care.</p>



<p>Community organizations also play a role. Faith groups, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/watching-live-sporting-events-increases-wellbeing/">sports teams</a>, and neighborhood associations can provide natural places for connection that reduce reliance on clinical services. </p>



<p>Evidence shows that interventions work best when communities embed them in everyday social life rather than treating them as isolated add-ons.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-loneliness-and-the-future">Health, loneliness, and the future</h2>



<p>“We found that people experiencing loneliness, especially in younger adulthood and later life, incur higher NHS costs compared with those who are not lonely,” said Morrish. </p>



<p>She and the team also emphasized links to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-nutrition-leads-to-poor-mental-health/">poorer health</a>, reduced well-being, and lower quality of life.</p>



<p>“Our findings highlight the importance of recognizing loneliness as both a public health issue and an NHS priority,” said Professor Antonieta Medina-Lara of Exeter. She pointed to the personal costs and the wider burden on services.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0327671" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>PLOS ONE</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Loneliness isn't just emotional - it's also harming your health and raising medical costs

Most of us think of loneliness as an emotional weight,...

<p>Honeybees can travel several miles from their hive and still make a straight line back home. Their secret isn’t scent trails or landmarks, but the way they read the sky. By detecting subtle polarization patterns in scattered sunlight, bees turn the heavens into a compass.</p>



<p>A new study shows how a specialized region at the top of the bee's eye sharpens this celestial map. Neighboring light sensors share information, producing a steadier signal that prioritizes reliability over fine detail.</p>



<p>The researchers say this built-in teamwork explains how bees keep their bearings even when clouds or obstacles break up the view. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-built-in-bee-sky-compass">A built-in bee sky compass</h2>



<p>James Foster, a neurobiologist at the <a href="https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/">University of Konstanz</a>, and his team focused on the dorsal rim area, a narrow strip of sky-facing facets used for detecting polarized light.</p>



<p>Many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/very-little-is-known-about-99-of-all-insects-on-earth/">insects</a> use polarization patterns in the sky as a compass, and honeybees are a classic case. That pattern shifts with the sun across the day and stays readable even when clouds pass by.</p>



<p>The bee's eye is made of thousands of ommatidia that each sample a small patch of the world. A specialized dorsal rim area at the top handles the polarized sky and feeds information into the navigation system.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bee-polarization-detection-in-action">Bee polarization detection in action  </h2>



<p>Within each dorsal rim facet, a pair of UV-tuned photoreceptor cells points at different angles, which makes them sensitive to how skylight is polarized. Together, they report the orientation of the electric field, a signal bees can use for heading.</p>



<p>When researchers cover the dorsal rim area with paint, tethered bees lose clear orientation to a rotating polarization stimulus. That result shows how central this small eye strip is to the compass.</p>



<p>The new paper maps receptive field sizes and sensitivities across the eye. It finds that dorsal rim fields are much wider than those in the main retina, and that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unexpected-find-inside-the-eye-of-a-tiny-wasp-megaphragma-viggianii/">dorsal rim</a> cells are less absolutely sensitive while remaining tuned to polarization.</p>



<p>Earlier work proposed that corneal pore canals scatter light and widen each dorsal rim sampling zone. The new data add a second mechanism at the level of neural wiring.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bees-make-a-blur-that-helps">Bees make a blur that helps</h2>



<p>The recordings reveal that some dorsal rim cells share signals with neighbors, a form of spatial summation that happens right in the retina. Pooling inputs makes a coarser image, but it boosts the stability of the polarization map.</p>



<p>That tradeoff helps when clouds or branches interrupt the view. A robust map matters more than high detail for keeping a straight course.</p>



<p>"But this is exactly what makes this part of the eye particularly good at detecting large-scale polarization patterns in the sky," said Foster. The effect turns a less detailed picture into a more reliable compass readout.</p>



<p>Evidence for cell-to-cell coupling appeared in about six dorsal rim recordings, roughly a quarter of the cases examined. Small timing differences between peaks and slight offsets in preferred polarization angles ruled out simple optical artifacts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-eye-to-compass-neurons">From eye to compass neurons</h2>



<p>The finding fits with what is known about downstream circuits in other insects. In fruit flies, the medulla carries <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bull-ants-use-moonlight-for-nighttime-navigation/">polarization</a> signals from dorsal rim photoreceptors toward compass neurons in the central complex.</p>



<p>Bees likely use a similar division of labor. The dorsal rim area cleans up the signal early, and later stages compute heading and route choices.</p>



<p>"Cameras pointed at the sky could serve as a kind of backup compass if GPS and magnetic signals are unreliable or fail," said Foster. That idea borrows a page from an eye that solves the compass problem with simple parts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-bee-eye-responses">Mapping bee eye responses</h2>



<p>The team recorded ultraviolet sensitive cells in 17 honeybees and 31 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-spread-viruses-to-bumblebees-in-the-spring/">bumblebees</a>, sampling the main retina, the marginal zone next to the dorsal rim, and the dorsal rim itself. Those measurements let them compare spatial tuning, polarization sensitivity, and response curves.</p>



<p>Dorsal rim fields were the widest, with mean widths near 7 degrees in honeybee and near 6 degrees in bumblebee. Main retina fields sat near 2 to 3 degrees and dropped off much more quickly away from the center.</p>



<p>Main retina and marginal cells were around 10 times more sensitive to light than dorsal rim cells. Even so, dorsal rim cells had steeper response slopes that help encode small changes in a bright sky without saturating.</p>



<p>In a subset of dorsal rim recordings, maps showed two or more islands of high sensitivity separated by low areas. </p>



<p>Millisecond-level delays between islands and small shifts in preferred polarization angles pointed to shared signals from neighboring units rather than a single broad optical lobe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-s-blueprint-for-sensors">Nature’s blueprint for sensors</h2>



<p>Pooling at the photoreceptor level smooths over the patchwork in skylight that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clouds-have-become-less-reflective-making-global-warming-worse/">clouds</a> can produce. A cleaner polarization pattern in bee's eyes leads to a steadier internal compass that ignores minor distractions above.</p>



<p>Engineers can copy this approach with a simple sensor aimed upward. A polarization channel could serve as a low-cost backup when radio or magnetic cues are weak or noisy. </p>



<p>This strategy may help future autonomous systems keep their bearings even when signals fail.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0234" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Biology Letters</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Hidden eye sensors help bees find their way home

Honeybees can travel several miles from their hive and still...

<p>You’ve probably heard of PFAS “forever chemicals” - synthetic chemicals used to resist water, grease, and heat. They’ve been in nonstick coatings, stain-repellent fabrics, and older firefighting foams for decades. </p>



<p>They don’t break down easily, and that staying power means they can build up in soil, water, wildlife, and people.</p>



<p>A recent and disturbing analysis links <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polyfluoroalkyl substances</a> (PFAS) detections in public drinking water to higher cancer rates in certain parts of the United States. </p>



<p>The headline number is blunt: exposure to these chemicals in tap water is associated with up to a 33 percent higher cancer risk. That statistic sets off alarms, as it should, but the details matter for what we do next.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-pfas-to-cancer">Linking PFAS to cancer</h2>



<p>After years of debate about how to regulate PFAS, researchers at the <a href="https://keck.usc.edu/">Keck School of Medicine</a> at the University of Southern California (USC) looked for patterns across the country. </p>



<p>Their core question was practical: in places where public drinking water systems detect PFAS, do those places also report higher rates of certain cancers?</p>



<p>The scientist leading the work is careful about what the data can and cannot show. He warns that additional restrictions may be necessary to protect public health. </p>



<p>“When people hear that PFAS is associated with cancer, it’s hard to know how it’s relevant,” Dr. Li said. “These findings allow us to draw an initial conclusion about the link between certain rare cancers and PFAS.”</p>



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



<p>This was an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-that-eat-forever-chemicals-discovered-in-contaminated-soil/">ecological study</a>, which means the unit of analysis was the place, not individual people. </p>



<p>The team pulled county-level cancer incidence - new cases per year, adjusted for age - then matched those figures with water-testing results from federal monitoring programs.</p>



<p>One program in the 2010s tested thousands of public water systems for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-birds-reveal-alarming-new-clues-about-the-spread-of-pfas/">various PFAS</a>. A newer, more sensitive round of testing has been rolling out, providing sharper detection. </p>



<p>Using both datasets, the researchers marked counties where specific PFAS showed up in public water and noted where any measurements exceeded today’s strict national limits. </p>



<p>They then ran statistical models that controlled for other forces known to influence cancer rates, including smoking, obesity, income, urban-rural differences, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-confirmed-as-a-major-risk-factor-for-dementia/">air pollution</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sex-cancers-and-pfas">Sex, cancers, and PFAS</h2>



<p>Counties with PFAS detections generally had higher incidence rates for several cancer groups. </p>



<p>Patterns were seen in digestive system cancers, thyroid and other hormone-related cancers, respiratory cancers, and some head-and-neck cancers. </p>



<p>The increases weren’t massive jumps, but they appeared often enough to raise concern. When the data were split by sex, some differences emerged. </p>



<p>In men, associations leaned toward kidney and bladder cancers, certain nervous system cancers, leukemia, and soft tissue cancers. In women, the clearest signal was thyroid cancer, along with oral cavity and soft tissue cancers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-biology-fits-pfas-traits">Cancer biology fits PFAS traits</h2>



<p>PFAS are a large chemical family, but several members share traits that could connect to cancer biology. </p>



<p>Some interfere with hormone signaling, especially in the thyroid. Others stress the liver and disrupt how the body manages fats. </p>



<p>There’s evidence that certain PFAS promote <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronic inflammation</a> and influence how genes are switched on and off over time. </p>



<p>None of these mechanisms, on their own, prove causation, but they make the observed associations plausible rather than random.</p>



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



<p>The study offers national, population-level estimates: if the associations reflect real effects, the number of cancer cases per year linked to PFAS in drinking water could reach very high numbers in the US alone. </p>



<p>Treat those figures as ballpark, not precise counts. They’re most useful for policy: where to prioritize treatment, how fast to upgrade systems, and which communities need the most attention.</p>



<p>The policy context is shifting. The United States now sets <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strict-pfas-limits-will-make-drinking-water-safer-for-100-million-americans/">strict legal limits</a> for several PFAS in drinking water, and utilities are ramping up compliance. </p>



<p>As Dr. Li notes, those limits may still be too lenient, and further tightening could be warranted as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-detects-toxic-pfas-forever-chemicals-in-menstrual-products-available-worldwide/">evidence grows</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-removing-pfas-at-the-root">Removing PFAS at the root</h2>



<p>Utilities must publish water quality reports, and many now include PFAS monitoring results. </p>



<p>Check your local report and see what’s been measured, how often, and what actions are underway. If your system is upgrading treatment, look for timelines and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-dietary-fiber-supplement-could-remove-pfas-forever-chemicals-from-the-body/">interim steps</a>.</p>



<p>At home, point-of-use filters can help if they are certified to reduce PFAS. Activated carbon and reverse osmosis units are the most common options. </p>



<p>Maintenance matters; filters that aren’t replaced on schedule lose effectiveness. If you rely on a private well, consider testing through a certified lab and consult your health department about options if PFAS appear.</p>



<p>Technologies exist and keep improving. Granular activated carbon, ion exchange resins, and high-pressure membranes can capture or remove many PFAS. </p>



<p>Each comes with trade-offs in cost, energy, and waste handling. Systems need steady monitoring because PFAS mixtures vary by source and season. </p>



<p>The right design for a small rural system may differ from that for a large urban plant, but both can get results with careful engineering and oversight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pfas-cancer-and-the-future">PFAS, cancer, and the future</h2>



<p>To sum it all up, this study directly linked PFAS in public drinking water with higher rates of several cancers at the county level - up to 33% higher. </p>



<p>The study stops short of proof for individuals, but the pattern is consistent with how these chemicals <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behave in the body</a>. </p>



<p>Keeping up strong testing, enforcing modern limits, upgrading treatment where needed, and pushing for targeted, person-level studies will help turn a broad signal into clear guidance. </p>



<p>Communities deserve to know what’s in their water and what’s being done about it - and they deserve steady progress that reduces risk over time.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the <a href="https://www.nature.com/jes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Exposure Science &amp; Environmental Epidemiology</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

Chemicals found in tap water linked to a 33% increase in cancer rates

You’ve probably heard of PFAS “forever chemicals” - synthetic chemicals...

<p>The first weekend of September offers two dazzling lunar shows, depending on where you live. Across parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, the skies will host a total lunar eclipse.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For more than five hours, Earth will line up perfectly between the Sun and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-is-the-black-moon-in-2025-and-why-does-it-occur/">Moon</a>, casting a deep shadow across the lunar surface.&nbsp;</p>



<p>During totality, which will last 82 minutes, only red light will filter through Earth’s atmosphere and reach the Moon. That’s what gives the lunar face its striking copper hue, earning the name “blood moon.”</p>



<p>Here in the United States, the eclipse will stay below the horizon. The wait won’t be long, though. According to <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, the next blood moon lunar eclipse that will be visible from America will occur on March 3, 2026.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-a-total-lunar-eclipse">Understanding a total lunar eclipse</h2>



<p>A total <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/total-lunar-eclipse-will-paint-the-moon-blood-red-tomorrow/">lunar eclipse</a> happens when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the Moon’s surface. </p>



<p>Instead of going completely dark, the Moon usually glows a deep red or copper color. That’s because Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters sunlight, letting only the longer, reddish wavelengths reach the Moon. </p>



<p>It’s the same effect that makes sunsets look red, but in this case the Earth is creating a “sunset glow” that wraps all the way around and paints the Moon.</p>



<p>Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye - no special glasses are needed. They also last much longer: totality can stretch for over an hour, compared to just a few minutes for a total solar eclipse. </p>



<p>Anyone on the night side of Earth can see it, which makes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/harvest-moon-2024-will-feature-a-partial-lunar-eclipse/">lunar eclipses</a> more common to experience. </p>



<p>For astronomers, these events are chances to study Earth’s atmosphere, since the way light bends and colors the Moon gives clues about dust, clouds, and even volcanic ash floating around our planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-final-full-moon-of-summer">Final full moon of summer</h2>



<p>On Sunday, September 7, the Corn Moon will reach its peak illumination at 2:09 p.m. EDT. That moment takes place below the horizon for U.S. viewers, but the full moon will climb into the eastern sky, glowing bright and round by nightfall.</p>



<p>The Old Farmer’s Almanac notes that the Moon will look nearly full on both the nights before and after September 7. For sky watchers, that means an extended window to catch a glimpse.</p>



<p>Near the horizon, the Moon may appear golden or orange for a while, but as it rises higher, the glow will shift to a clearer white.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-it-called-the-corn-moon">Why is it called the Corn Moon?</h2>



<p>The name Corn Moon traces back to the Algonquin tribes in the northeastern United States. </p>



<p>Late summer was the time to gather their staple crops of corn, beans, pumpkins, squash, and wild rice.&nbsp;The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildlife-vehicle-collisions-surge-during-full-moon-nights/">full moon</a> served as a seasonal marker for this period of abundance and labor.</p>



<p>European traditions gave their own names to the September moon. Some called it the Fruit Moon, marking the ripening of orchard crops.</p>



<p>Others referred to it as the Barley Moon in recognition of the grain harvest. Each name reflects a calendar rooted in the cycles of planting and gathering.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-harvest-moon-is-next">The Harvest Moon is next</h2>



<p>It’s tempting to confuse the Corn Moon with the better-known Harvest Moon, but the two aren’t the same.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Harvest Moon is the full moon that falls closest to the autumn equinox. In 2025, that moment comes on October 7, which also happens to be the first supermoon of the year.</p>



<p>By contrast, the Corn Moon always comes in September. It marks the bridge between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/this-weekends-sturgeon-moon-marks-a-turning-point-in-summer/">summer</a> and fall, when fields in the Northern Hemisphere are still heavy with late crops, but the days are growing shorter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lunar-calendar-of-2025">The lunar calendar of 2025</h2>



<p>This year’s lunar calendar is a busy one. September’s Corn Moon is the ninth full moon of 2025.</p>



<p>There will be 12 full moons in total, including three supermoons. Two of those full moons will coincide with total lunar eclipses, offering the dramatic blood moon display.</p>



<p>The calendar has long served as a guide for both farmers and sky watchers. Each name tells a story about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seasonal-timing-can-change-quickly-over-short-distances/">season</a> - what’s ripening, what’s ready, and what’s just around the corner.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-seasonal-marker-in-the-sky">A seasonal marker in the sky</h2>



<p>For the Algonquin and other Native American tribes, September’s full moon was more than a sign of the corn harvest. Some called it the Corn Maker Moon or Corn Harvest Moon.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These names reflected not only the practical importance of gathering food but also the deep connection between community life and the cycles of nature.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The moon served as both a calendar and a cultural marker, guiding traditions that tied the sky to the land.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-symbolic-meaning-of-the-corn-moon">Symbolic meaning of the Corn Moon </h2>



<p>Beyond the fields, the Corn Moon has taken on symbolic meaning. Some traditions frame it as a time of reflection and release - a moment to let go of stagnant energy and welcome change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>September’s full moon is also viewed as a time to embrace growth and intuition as the seasons shift.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Corn Moon returns each year as summer fades into fall. It serves as a reminder of how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-one-side-of-the-moon-still-glows-from-within/">Moon</a> has always been more than just a light in the night sky - it’s a companion through the seasons.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

This weekend's "Corn Moon" and total lunar eclipse usher in a beautiful end to summer

The first weekend of September offers two dazzling lunar shows,...

<p>Household energy costs do not hit everyone equally. Some families spend a much larger share of their income keeping the lights and heat on, and that strain adds up over time.</p>



<p>A large national analysis looked at what happens when homes install rooftop solar, and the results point to real relief. The picture is nuanced, and the numbers tell an important story.</p>



<p><a href="https://emp.lbl.gov/people/sydney-forrester" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sydney P. Forrester</a> of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (<a href="https://www.lbl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LBL</a>) led the analysis. The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48967-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> helps separate hopeful claims from what the data actually show.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-panels-and-energy-burden">Solar panels and energy burden</h2>



<p>The term <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/16.%20How%20high%20are%20household%20energy%20burdens_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy burden</a> refers to the share of a household’s gross income that goes to energy bills like electricity, gas, and heating fuel. </p>



<p>By definition, a high burden begins above 6 percent of income, while a severe burden begins above 10 percent.</p>



<p>Those thresholds matter because a high or severe burden often forces tradeoffs that affect comfort, health, and stability. When energy takes too big a slice of income, it can crowd out essentials and reduce options.</p>



<p>Policymakers use this metric to track equity and target support to households under pressure. Clear definitions help programs focus on the people who need help most.</p>



<p>Cutting energy burden is not only about saving money. It is also about reducing the risk that families have to ration heat or power during unsafe conditions.</p>



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



<p>The new study examined roughly 500,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floating-solar-panels-could-power-every-home-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. households</a> that adopted rooftop solar. It found that the median energy burden fell from 3.3 percent to 2.6 percent across adopters.</p>



<p>The authors put it plainly, “rooftop solar reduces energy burden across a majority of adopters during our study period from a median of 3.3% to 2.6%,” wrote Forrester. That is a national view, not a single city snapshot.</p>



<p>Low income and moderate income households also saw declines. Median burden dropped from 7.7 percent to 6.2 percent for low income households, and from 4.1 percent to 3.3 percent for moderate income households.</p>



<p>The share of low income households facing high or severe burden fell from 67 percent to 52 percent after adoption. For moderate income households, the share fell from 21 percent to 13 percent.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-panel-results-differ">Solar panel results differ</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-panels-are-1000-times-more-powerful-with-new-tech-breakthrough/">Solar</a> does not play out the same way in every region. The study reports larger average reductions in the West, smaller in the Midwest and Northeast, and increases for the median household in the South due to cheaper electricity that limits bill reductions.</p>



<p>Income levels shape outcomes as well. When energy already costs a high share of income, even moderate bill cuts can matter a lot.</p>



<p>Heating fuel type also influences results. Homes that rely on propane or fuel oil have higher burdens that solar cannot fully offset because those fuels are not displaced by on site generation.</p>



<p>Weather, housing stock, and local tariffs round out the picture. Those details explain why two similar systems in different places can yield very different financial outcomes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loans-leases-and-the-fine-print">Loans, leases, and the fine print</h2>



<p>There is a difference between what the utility bill shows and what the full budget feels like. The study compared bill savings alone to net savings after including off bill costs like loan or lease payments and incentives.</p>



<p>On bills alone, the median customer saved about 1,987 dollars per year. After counting loans or leases, the median net savings was about 691 dollars per year.</p>



<p>That gap is not a trick, it reflects financing and incentive structures. It also shows why simple bill comparisons can overstate what households actually keep.</p>



<p>The ownership model matters. Lease customers, on average, saw slightly larger percentage point burden reductions than loan financed owners, but they tended to start with higher burdens.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-household-savings-from-solar-panels">Household savings from solar panels</h2>



<p>Solar helps many households, but it is not a magic switch. You still need to look at total costs, incentives, and how your utility credits excess generation through <a href="https://seia.org/net-metering/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">net metering</a> if it applies in your area.</p>



<p>Comparing quotes from vetted installers can lower upfront costs and clarify long term terms. Transparent proposals make it easier to choose a system size and financing plan that fits your usage.</p>



<p>If your home uses natural gas, fuel oil, or propane for heat, solar will not touch those costs directly. You might see bill relief on electricity but still face high heating expenses in winter.</p>



<p>Pairing solar with weatherization and efficient electric heating can change the math. Insulation, air sealing, and heat pumps lower total energy needs, which lowers burden.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-policy-and-equity-angles">Policy and equity angles</h2>



<p>“Policymakers at the federal and state level have begun to incorporate energy burden into equity goals and program evaluations,” wrote Forrester. That framing reflects a shift toward measuring whether programs reduce strain on households.</p>



<p>Results in the South underline a key point. Where electricity is cheap, solar may not reduce bills enough to cover financing costs in the short term, even if burdens remain relatively low.</p>



<p>For households with very high burdens, solar may help but not solve the problem. Pairing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-cells-made-from-moon-dust-work-incredibly-well-providing-hope-for-lunar-colonies/">solar</a> incentives with weatherization and targeted bill assistance can bring burdens below 6 percent.</p>



<p>Data like these help agencies set realistic goals. They also help identify groups that need tailored support, such as households heated by fuel oil or propane.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-panels-and-the-future">Solar panels and the future</h2>



<p>The analysis used modeled hourly household loads tied to real homes, which allows coverage of many places but adds uncertainty. That approach is standard when metered data are not available at the needed scale.</p>



<p>Tariff assumptions reflect 2021 conditions and may differ from more recent rate reforms in some states. Changing compensation structures for exported solar can shift household outcomes.</p>



<p>Income estimates came from 2021 data to match the study period. That choice captures the right year for burden calculations but can differ from income at the time of adoption.</p>



<p>Future studies can track newer tariffs, time of use rates, and evolving incentive designs. They can also follow households over time to see how savings hold up across years.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48967-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Solar panels save families an average of $2,000 a year, according to a new study

Household energy costs do not hit everyone equally. Some families...

<p>Methane might not grab headlines the way carbon dioxide does, but it punches way above its weight in the climate crisis. It’s warming the planet fast - and unlike CO₂, it doesn’t stick around for centuries. </p>



<p>That means cutting methane emissions now could cool things off faster than anything else on the table.</p>



<p>New research shows that the world’s methane emissions continue to rise steadily, and global trade accounts for nearly one-third of them. This is not good news. Worse is that the largest increases are occurring in the developing world, particularly in Asia and the Pacific. </p>



<p>Those places are growing rapidly - more factories, more agriculture, more energy generation - all of which drive methane emissions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-making-it-worse">What's making it worse</h2>



<p>The report tracks methane emissions across 164 countries and 120 economic sectors from 1990 to 2023. It’s the most detailed analysis of its kind. </p>



<p>The findings show that while developed countries have figured out how to grow their economies and lower methane <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-new-source-of-methane-emissions-discovered-glacial-fracking-arctic/">output</a>, developing regions haven’t had the same success. Their methane emissions are climbing.</p>



<p>Industrial growth in these countries is booming, especially in places with limited access to cleaner technologies. That means the gains made by wealthier nations are being canceled out by rising emissions elsewhere.</p>



<p>“Global trade is responsible for approximately 30% of methane emissions,” noted the researchers. </p>



<p>As trade patterns shift - especially between developing countries in what's called South–South trade - more emissions are coming from places that don’t yet have the infrastructure or regulation to manage them well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-methane-emissions-are-a-big-deal">Why methane emissions are a big deal</h2>



<p>Methane doesn’t last as long in the air as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-are-releasing-a-massive-amount-of-carbon-dioxide-into-the-air/">carbon dioxide</a>, but it’s about 80 times more powerful at trapping heat over a 20-year period. It’s also responsible for about 30% of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/">global warming</a> since the industrial era began.</p>



<p>And it doesn’t just heat up the planet. Methane also contributes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-confirmed-as-a-major-risk-factor-for-dementia/">air pollution</a> that causes around 1 million premature deaths every year.</p>



<p>Because it breaks down more quickly than CO₂, slashing methane emissions could help stabilize global temperatures within years - not decades.</p>



<p>“Methane has a short atmospheric lifespan, which means reductions today can have an immediate impact,” said Professor Yuli Shan from the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a>, the study’s lead author. </p>



<p>“As we approach <a href="https://sdg.iisd.org/events/2025-un-climate-change-conference-unfccc-cop-30/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COP30</a>, our findings underscore the need for coordinated global action, especially in developing regions where emissions are rising fastest.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-causes-methane-emissions">What causes methane emissions</h2>



<p>Some of the biggest sources of methane are familiar: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expanding-oil-and-gas-fields-threaten-global-climate-goals/">oil and gas</a> drilling, <a href="https://clear.ucdavis.edu/explainers/why-do-cattle-produce-methane-and-what-can-we-do-about-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">livestock</a>, fertilizer production, and waste. </p>



<p>But the study points out one sector in particular that needs more attention: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildlife-may-be-the-answer-to-dwindling-fertilizer-ingredient/">fertilizer</a>. Its manufacture produces a lot of methane emissions, and the demand is only growing.</p>



<p>There are ways to cut these emissions. The study suggests advanced leak detection in oil and gas operations, better feed for livestock to reduce emissions from digestion, and smarter waste management systems. </p>



<p>The research also points to the role of consumers. Choosing to eat less red meat, for example, can reduce demand from high-emission industries.</p>



<p>“This study provides a roadmap for policymakers to integrate methane into national climate strategies,” said co-author Professor Klaus Hubacek from the University of Groningen. “It’s not just about where emissions occur, but why - and that requires looking at the entire supply chain.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technology-is-working">Technology is working</h2>



<p>Despite the increase in total methane emissions, there has been an improvement. Between 1998 and 2023, the global average methane emission coefficient fell by almost 67 percent. </p>



<p>In other words, it takes a great deal less methane to generate the same economic activity than it did 25 years ago.</p>



<p>Developed nations have demonstrated that it is possible to expand the economy while reducing methane emissions simultaneously. They’ve done it through cleaner production methods and smarter energy use. But without help, developing nations can’t easily follow that path.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bottom-line">The bottom line</h2>



<p>The climate fight is already hard enough. Allowing methane to continue rising makes it harder. </p>



<p>This new research makes one thing clear: cutting methane - especially in fast-growing regions - can have a quick and powerful effect on the planet’s temperature and public health.</p>



<p>Methane isn’t just an environmental concern - it’s tied to our economy, our health, and our climate future. Acting now could slow warming quickly and give the world breathing room as longer-term CO₂ strategies take hold.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63383-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a></em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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



<p></p>

Global trade is fueling a dangerous rise in methane emissions

Methane might not grab headlines the way carbon dioxide does,...

Futuristic,Cosmic,Atom,Model,On,Black,Background.,3d,Rendering

<p>Scientists watched the nuclear spin of a single titanium atom switch in real time. They saw its state changes as a step-like jump in current and found that this tiny magnet can stay stable for around five seconds.</p>



<p>The team also read the state faster than it changed, which is known as <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1189075" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">single-shot readout</a>. That kind of speed is crucial if you want to control a quantum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/physicists-entangle-13000-nuclear-spins-unlocking-the-power-of-the-dark-state/">system</a> instead of averaging over it.</p>



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



<p>The work comes from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands (<a href="https://www.tudelft.nl/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DUT</a>). <a href="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9582-7058" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evert W. Stolte</a> is co-first author of the paper.</p>



<p>Nuclear spins tend to keep their state longer than electron spins, which makes them appealing for information storage in quantum devices. </p>



<p>A seconds-long lifetime in a single atom on a surface gives engineers time to set, read, and reset a state without hurrying or losing track.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-atomic-collisions-unleash-unexpected-energy-bursts/">Electron</a> spins in similar systems typically relax in roughly 100 nanoseconds, so this result opens a much wider timing window for experiments. </p>



<p>Longer lifetimes reduce errors and make feedback and calibration loops far more practical.</p>



<p>The group also reports high-fidelity state identification in single shots. That kind of reliability keeps experiments from getting swamped by noise and false positives.</p>



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



<p>The atom they studied was a titanium atom placed on a thin layer of magnesium oxide sitting on silver, kept at very cold temperatures. </p>



<p>Its nucleus can take on several different magnetic states, and the researchers focused on detecting just one of them.</p>



<p>When the nucleus occupied that target state, the tunneling current jumped to a higher level. When it occupied any other state, the current returned to a lower level.</p>



<p>The researchers then used a pulse-and-wait routine to find the intrinsic lifetime of the nuclear <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zombie-star-baffles-astronomers-because-it-should-not-exist-askap-j1839-0756/">state</a>. The result was 5.3 plus or minus 0.5 seconds, and it did not require continuous driving during the waiting time.</p>



<p>“We were able to show that this switching corresponds to the nuclear spin flipping from one quantum state to another, and back again,” said Stolte. That direct confirmation anchors the interpretation of the two-level signal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-nuclear-spin-was-detected">How nuclear spin was detected</h2>



<p>A scanning tunneling microscope (<a href="https://www.nanoscience.com/techniques/scanning-tunneling-microscopy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">STM</a>) approaches a conductive tip to within a few angstroms of the surface and measures current as electrons tunnel between tip and sample. The current depends on atomic-scale details and can be used as a very sensitive probe.</p>



<p>STM cannot feel a nucleus directly. The team leveraged the <a href="https://epr.ethz.ch/education/basic-concepts-of-epr/int--with-nucl--spins/hyperfine-interaction.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hyperfine interaction</a> that links electron and nuclear spins, which shifts the electron’s energy depending on the nuclear state, as shown in prior <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aat7047" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hyperfine</a> measurements on single atoms.</p>



<p>They drove the electron with electron spin resonance (<a href="http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/molecule/esr.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESR</a>) at a fixed frequency, chosen so that the electron responded only when the nucleus sat in one particular state. </p>



<p>The ESR response raised the tunneling current, so a live current trace turned into a live nuclear-state readout.</p>



<p>Because the readout was faster than the nuclear flipping, the team achieved true single-shot readout with reported fidelities up to 98 percent. </p>



<p>The pulsed protocol also showed that continuous driving speeds up relaxation, so the intrinsic lifetime had to be measured with the drive off between probes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-it-compares-to-past-work">How it compares to past work</h2>



<p>In <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aac8703" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2015</a>, scientists first managed to use STM together with ESR to study a single atom of iron placed on magnesium oxide. </p>



<p>This was a turning point, because it allowed them to measure the energy of single spins with enough precision to tell them apart clearly.</p>



<p>On-surface access to the nucleus followed when teams resolved hyperfine shifts for individual atoms. That work proved that nuclear degrees of freedom were not out of reach on surfaces.</p>



<p>Last year, the same community tracked electron, nucleus, and their mutual coupling evolving together in a single atom, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52270-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mapping</a> coherent dynamics in time. </p>



<p>The present study advances this line by timing how long an on-surface nuclear state persists without constant driving.</p>



<p>Other platforms have reported single-shot nuclear readout under different conditions and materials. </p>



<p>For instance, silicon carbide defects reached millisecond-scale single-shot performance with high fidelity in a <a href="https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.180803" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>, showing the broader relevance of nuclear spins across solid-state systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seconds-matter-for-quantum-sensing">Seconds matter for quantum sensing</h2>



<p>Seconds-long stability means a sensor made from a single nuclear spin can integrate weak signals without losing its state mid-measurement. </p>



<p>That makes detecting tiny magnetic fields or tracking slow dynamics more realistic at the atomic scale.</p>



<p>More time also gives experimenters room to run sequences that prepare, control, and verify the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/schrodingers-cat-put-into-silicon-chip-may-be-holy-grail-for-error-proof-quantum-computing/">state</a>. That reduces the need for complicated error-correction schemes at this early stage of atomic-scale device building.</p>



<p>Long-lived nuclei can serve as memory while a faster electron acts as the actuator. Separating roles like that can simplify architectures for atomic assemblies and enable more complex experiments on surfaces.</p>



<p>“The first step in any new experimental frontier is being able to measure it, and that is what we were able to do for nuclear spins at the atomic scale,” said Stolte. </p>



<p>Clear measurement opens the door to control, coupling, and eventually small arrays.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-nuclear-spin-research">Next steps for nuclear spin research</h2>



<p>The STM tip does more than measure. Its position and magnetization tune local fields and couplings, so future work can likely lengthen lifetimes further by careful placement and field control.</p>



<p>Driving conditions can be optimized to reduce unwanted relaxation paths. The pulsed method already shows which parts of the protocol disturb the nucleus and which do not, which helps set safe operating points.</p>



<p>Building pairs or chains of nuclei on surfaces is now a credible target. </p>



<p>With single-shot readout and seconds-long lifetimes, these atoms become candidates for testbed qubits and nanoscale sensors that can be arranged with atomic precision.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63232-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Physicists saw the nuclear spin of a single atom flipping between quantum states

Scientists watched the nuclear spin of a single titanium atom...

<p>Some stars die quietly, ending as compact embers called white dwarfs. A rare few do something extreme, racing through the Milky Way so fast they can escape its pull, a class called hypervelocity white dwarfs.</p>



<p>A new study shows how these speedsters are made, and it does so with detailed 3D simulations rather than guesswork. </p>



<p>The work points to a violent chain of events that can also produce unusual, faint thermonuclear explosions.</p>



<p>The team modeled two hybrid helium, carbon, and oxygen white dwarfs locked in a tight orbit. As the lighter star starts to fall apart, its partner explodes, and the surviving core of the lighter one is kicked away at more than 1,200 miles per second.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-white-dwarfs-on-the-run">White dwarfs on the run</h2>



<p>A hypervelocity star is one moving faster than the escape speed of the Milky Way, which is roughly 500 miles per second near the Sun. </p>



<p>The European Space Agency’s <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Gaia">Gaia</a> mission has helped astronomers find several candidates that far exceed this, including compact white dwarfs with unusual heat and brightness.</p>



<p>Back in 2018, an analysis tied a few of these objects to a scenario called D6, short for dynamically driven double-degenerate double detonation (D6). </p>



<p>In that scenario, one white dwarf explodes after receiving a small amount of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-universes-first-molecule-helped-ignite-the-stars/">helium</a> from a second white dwarf, and the intact companion is flung outward.</p>



<p>That idea fits some clues but stumbles on others. For the hottest and fastest candidates, there is a mismatch between the expected size and temperature of the survivor and what telescopes actually observe.</p>



<p>A 2025 paper strengthened the case that something is missing. A supernova shock alone can’t keep a compact survivor hot long enough to match observations, requiring extra heating.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explosions-in-stunning-detail">Explosions in stunning detail</h2>



<p>This new model follows two hybrid helium-carbon-oxygen white dwarfs during their final minutes. The lighter star begins to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-star-creates-a-massive-mysterious-bubble-of-gas/">shed mass</a> onto the heavier one, setting the stage for a double detonation. </p>



<p>Helium ignites in a shell on the surface, and that blast then triggers a carbon–oxygen detonation in the core.</p>



<p>The work was led by Dr. Hila Glanz at the <a href="https://www.technion.ac.il/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technion Israel Institute of Technology</a>, with collaborators at <a href="https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/university-of-potsdam" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universität Potsdam</a> and the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (<a href="https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MPIA</a>). </p>



<p>Their approach used high resolution hydrodynamics to capture how material moves, heats, and explodes in three dimensions.</p>



<p>“We did not really know what we were gonna get. When we saw the results, it actually fitted this long-standing question of how these hypervelocity white dwarfs formed," said Dr. Glanz. "It was super cool.” </p>



<p>The sequence is simple in outline but extreme in physics. The blast partially disrupts the lighter star, detonates the heavier star’s helium shell, ignites the core, and then unbinds what remains of the lighter star and hurls it outward.</p>



<p>Because the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-captures-the-light-echoes-of-an-exploding-star/">explosion</a> happens after a very close approach and partial shredding, the surviving remnant departs with additional orbital energy. </p>



<p>That extra push naturally reaches the 2,000-kilometer-per-second (about 1,240 miles per second) regime seen in the best-measured cases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-fast-and-lightweight">Hot, fast, and lightweight</h2>



<p>In the simulation, the leftover star remnant was blasted out at about 2,061 kilometers per second - roughly 1,280 miles per second.</p>



<p>The blast released an enormous amount of energy but created only a small amount of radioactive nickel, which helps explain why the resulting supernova would appear dimmer than usual ones.</p>



<p>These figures align with real stars. The object J0927-6335 shows a space velocity near<strong> </strong>2,800 kilometers per second ( about 1,740 miles per second). </p>



<p>It also has an unusually hot atmosphere rich in carbon and oxygen, making it a prime hypervelocity white dwarf benchmark.</p>



<p>The simulated survivor is low-mass, about half the mass of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/team-creates-video-showing-the-sun-in-gamma-rays-over-a-14-year-period/">Sun</a>, and it starts off hot and slightly inflated.</p>



<p>Heating by the supernova ejecta helps maintain that state before it cools - a detail that resolves the earlier temperature and size problem.</p>



<p>Another testable detail emerges. Astronomers expect the ejected remnant to spin quickly at first, then slow as it expands. Today it may still rotate at a few hundred miles per second at the surface, a clue they can check spectroscopically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-puzzle-in-star-deaths">A puzzle in star deaths</h2>



<p>Type Ia supernovae anchor modern cosmology because scientists can standardize their light curves to measure cosmic expansion reliably, as a recent review summarized. They also forge many of the elements we see around us.</p>



<p>This new route appears to produce faint and unusual Type Ia supernovae. They eject less material, their debris expands more slowly, and they create only small amounts of nickel. </p>



<p>These features resemble certain dim <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernovae-explosions-seem-to-have-altered-earths-climate-in-the-past-and-could-do-so-again-at-any-time/">supernovae</a> that astronomers have grouped together because of their distinctive brightness and light patterns.</p>



<p>It also reframes an ongoing debate. If many hypervelocity white dwarfs do not come from the classic D6 setup, it eases rate tensions and explains their oversized, hot appearance.</p>



<p>Spectra may carry an early warning sign. Models predict titanium lines and nebular-phase spectral shifts, revealing the kick imparted to the exploding star and its ejecta.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-supernova-debris-holds-the-clues">Supernova debris holds the clues</h2>



<p>Better measurements are on the way. Future Gaia data releases and new transient surveys should uncover more of these fast remnants, alongside faint <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hm-sagittae-star-exploded-nova-40-years-ago-has-not-dimmed/">thermonuclear explosions</a> that share the predicted light curve and spectral traits.</p>



<p>A striking prediction is that the supernova debris should carry a net motion in the opposite direction of the survivor. </p>



<p>In the simulation, the supernova remnant’s center of mass velocity is around 1,187 kilometers per second - roughly 737 miles per second - a signature that careful late time spectra or remnant studies could detect.</p>



<p>Velocities are not expected to be all the same. The model predicts a natural range around 2,000 kilometers per second (about 1,240 miles per second), give or take a few hundred, which fits the spread for the most reliable candidates and gives observers a clear target window.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-025-02633-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Astronomy</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Fastest-moving white dwarfs in the galaxy may be flung by massive explosions

Some stars die quietly, ending as compact embers called white...

<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>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>

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>



<p id="block-eff5dea3-a9bb-40b5-a923-e5a9978bc0e2">Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p id="block-43e218f4-0391-477c-8396-eb777c8c80a3">Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



<p id="block-1f9a227a-ec37-4140-81b8-ffa4a7cc6689">-----</p>



<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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



<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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



<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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



<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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



<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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals secret mission to create working time travel device.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



<p>Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. </p>



<p>They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).</p>



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



<p>Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.</p>



<p>This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.</p>

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.</p>



<p>"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.</p>



<p>"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."</p>



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.</p>



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



<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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



<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

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"]</div>



<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...

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



<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?

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

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



<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

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

News coming your way