A new study reports microbial DNA preserved inside woolly and steppe mammoth remains that are older than one million years. The team shows that some bacteria were living with these animals while they were alive, not just invading after death.



Researchers analyzed DNA from 483 specimens and sequenced 440 of them for the first time. From a steppe mammoth that lived about 1.1 million years ago, they even pieced together parts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-buried-for-millions-of-years-may-guide-search-for-alien-life/">bacterial</a> genomes that once infected or inhabited the animal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-microbes-in-mammoths">Ancient microbes in mammoths</h2>



The work was led by Benjamin Guinet, a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm (<a href="https://palaeogenetics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CPG</a>). The Centre is a collaboration between Stockholm University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History (<a href="https://www.nrm.se/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRM</a>).



"Our results push the study of microbial DNA back beyond a million years, opening up new possibilities to explore how host-associated microbes evolved in parallel with their hosts," said Guinet. 



The project involved an international team of experts working across multiple collections and labs.



The researchers used strict lab protocols, computational filters, and DNA damage checks to separate life stage <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-found-alive-sealed-inside-rock-after-2-billion-years/">microbes</a> from postmortem contaminants. That approach helped them focus on organisms that were likely part of the mammoth’s own internal community.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-mammoth-dna">Inside mammoth DNA</h2>



The scientists kept finding the same six types of bacteria in mammoth remains from different times and places, including close relatives of Actinobacillus, Pasteurella, Streptococcus, and Erysipelothrix. 



This pattern suggests that these microbes had a long history with mammoths, sticking with them through environmental changes and population shifts.



The scientists distinguished host-associated microbes, meaning those living in or on a host while it was alive, from environmental bacteria that entered after burial. 



They used metagenomics, a method that reads all DNA in a sample at once, then identified ancient damage patterns to authenticate the oldest material.



From the 1.1 million year steppe mammoth, the team reconstructed partial genomes of Erysipelothrix that likely came from an infection during life. This is the oldest authenticated host-associated microbial DNA ever reported, and it extends the range for studying ancient host <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-aquificales-discovered-in-hot-springs-breathe-oxygen-and-sulfur-at-same-time/">microbe</a> interactions.



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



This result builds on earlier work that recovered genome scale data from mammoth teeth more than one million years old, demonstrating that DNA can survive when conditions are right. 



The previous <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03224-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> established methods and expectations for data quality at this extreme age.



Ancient DNA is fragile and breaks into tiny pieces, and chemical changes accumulate over time. By tracking these signatures, scientists can tell ancient sequences from modern contamination and avoid false signals.



"As microbes evolve fast, obtaining reliable DNA data across more than a million years was like following a trail that kept rewriting itself," said study senior author Tom van der Valk.



"Our findings show that ancient remains can preserve biological insights far beyond the host genome, offering us perspectives on how microbes influenced adaptation, disease, and extinction in Pleistocene ecosystems."



The Pleistocene was a period from about 2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago that included repeated ice ages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-linked-to-mammoth-health">Microbes linked to mammoth health</h2>



One bacterium in the dataset is closely related to a Pasteurella species implicated in lethal outbreaks among African elephants. That connection is supported by a 2023 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37880229/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> that identified a Pasteurella relative as the likely cause of fatal septicemia in elephants in Zimbabwe.



The new study reports several putative <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2646308/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">virulence factors</a>, which are gene features tied to disease-causing ability, in some clades. The authors are careful about cause and effect because ancient DNA is incomplete and infections leave mixed traces.



Erysipelothrix is also known to sicken Arctic wildlife today, including muskoxen during unusual mortality events. That pattern has been documented in a Canadian Veterinary <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4431149/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal</a> that found Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae associated with widespread deaths in the Canadian Arctic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mammoth-survival-and-microbes">Mammoth survival and microbes</h2>



Microbes that stayed with mammoths for hundreds of thousands of years hint at stable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breathing-without-oxygen-how-ancient-microbes-powered-early-life/">relationships</a> shaped by diet, climate, and social behavior. The persistence of these lineages across far flung regions points to deep coevolution.



The last woolly mammoths survived on Wrangel Island until about 4,000 years ago, long after mainland populations vanished. Genetic work on that relict group links their late survival to small population size and accumulating harmful mutations.



"This work opens a new chapter in understanding the biology of extinct species. Not only can we study the genomes of mammoths themselves, but we can now begin to explore the microbial communities that lived inside them," said Love Dalén, professor of evolutionary genomics at the CPG. 



Ultimately, the data help connect health, ecology, and extinction risks in a single picture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-this-research-can-go-next">Where this research can go next</h2>



Reconstructing ancient microbiomes can help set baselines for living elephant microbiomes. That matters because health, diet, and stress are all reflected in the microbiome, the community of microbes that live in and on an organism.



Ancient pathogen signals can also clarify whether outbreaks played a role in population declines. Learning which bacteria carried disease associated genes in the past could inform surveillance and treatment strategies for modern elephants.



Finally, the same tools can be applied to other Ice Age species to test whether long-lived microbial partners were the rule rather than the exception. Careful sampling, clean labs, and independent checks will keep new claims on firm ground.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)00917-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell</a>.



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Million year-old mammoth microbes reveal new clues about disease

A new study reports microbial DNA preserved inside woolly and steppe mammoth remains that are older than one million years. The team shows that some bacteria were living with these animals while they were alive, not just invading after death. Researchers analyzed DNA from 483 specimens and sequenced 440 of them for the first time. From a steppe mammoth that lived about 1.1 million years ago, they even pieced together parts of bacterial genomes that once infected or inhabited the animal. Ancient microbes in mammoths The work...

A new blood test could revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s. Beyond confirming the presence of the disease, the test also helps determine the stage of its progression. 



This may fundamentally change how physicians manage Alzheimer’s care.



The test was developed by experts at <a href="https://medicine.washu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis</a> and <a href="https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lund University</a> in Sweden. 



Their studies indicate that a particular blood protein, MTBR-tau243, can be used to monitor the extent of dangerous tau accumulation in the brain.



The tangles of tau protein are some of the hallmark characteristics of Alzheimer’s and are directly proportional to the intensity of the symptoms. 



This new technique is considerably more convenient than brain scans since it is non-invasive, and does not require expensive procedures that are difficult to access.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-alzheimer-s-with-a-blood-test">Tracking Alzheimer’s with a blood test</h2>



Right now, doctors can use several blood <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blood-tests-offer-new-hope-in-detecting-alzheimers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tests</a> to help detect Alzheimer’s. Some of the tests that are already in use are based on earlier discoveries at Washington University. 



These tests look for early warning signs but don’t reveal how much the disease has progressed. That’s a crucial gap. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/medical-breakthrough-new-vaccine-may-prevent-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s treatments</a> are most helpful in the early stages, before too much damage has been done.



Having a way to tell whether someone is in an early or late phase of the disease would help doctors decide which treatment would work best. It could also clarify whether a person’s memory or thinking issues are actually caused by Alzheimer’s or something else.



“This blood test clearly identifies Alzheimer’s tau tangles, which is our best biomarker measure of Alzheimer’s symptoms and dementia,” said co-senior author Dr. Randall J. Bateman.



“In clinical practice right now, we don’t have easy or accessible measures of Alzheimer’s tangles and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/risk-of-dementia-is-much-higher-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dementia</a>, and so a tangle blood test like this can provide a much better indication if the symptoms are due to Alzheimer’s and may also help doctors decide which treatments are best for their patients.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reliable-way-to-monitor-the-disease">Reliable way to monitor the disease</h2>



Alzheimer’s typically starts with a buildup of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleeping-may-lower-levels-of-alzheimers-abnormal-proteins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amyloid protein</a> in the brain. Tau tangles develop later and mark the point when symptoms begin to show. 



The best way to see these changes has been through PET scans, which can track amyloid and tau deposits. 



But these scans are expensive, time-consuming, and often only available in large hospitals or research centers. That’s why scientists have been working on blood-based alternatives.



The team had already developed blood tests that measure amyloid plaque buildup. Earlier research showed that levels of MTBR-tau243 in spinal fluid could match up with brain tau levels.



In this new study, the researchers demonstrated that they could get the same results using blood samples. A blood draw is much easier and more accessible than a spinal tap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-new-approach">Testing the new approach</h2>



To validate the test, the researchers used data from two groups of people. One group came from a research center at Washington University and included 108 volunteers. The other group included 55 people from a Swedish study known as BioFINDER-2.



Next, the experts checked their findings with data from 739 additional people in the BioFINDER-2 group.



These participants represented a range of Alzheimer’s stages - from people who had no symptoms but had amyloid in their brains, to those with mild cognitive issues, to people with full dementia.



The study also included individuals with memory or thinking problems due to other conditions, and some who were cognitively healthy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alzheimer-s-progression-revealed-in-blood">Alzheimer’s progression revealed in blood</h2>



The results were promising. MTBR-tau243 levels in the blood matched the amount of tau tangles in the brain with 92% accuracy. 



In healthy people and those in the earliest stage of the disease, the levels were normal. But in people showing symptoms, the protein levels were clearly elevated - and much higher in those with advanced disease.



This difference made it easy to tell who was in an early or late stage of Alzheimer’s. It also helped distinguish Alzheimer’s dementia from other kinds of cognitive problems. 



That kind of clarity could make a huge difference in choosing the right treatment path.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tool-for-personalized-alzheimer-s-care">Tool for personalized Alzheimer’s care</h2>



The new test uses technology licensed by Washington University to C2N Diagnostics, which previously developed similar blood tests for amyloid plaques. The earlier tests were designed to detect another tau protein called p-tau217.



“I believe we will use blood-based p-tau217 to determine whether an individual has Alzheimer’s disease, but MTBR-tau243 will be a highly valuable complement in both clinical settings and research trials,” said Oskar Hansson, a professor of neurology at Lund University.



“When both of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-disease-earliest-biomarker-protein-psd-95-identified/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biomarkers</a> are positive, the likelihood that Alzheimer’s is the underlying cause of a person’s cognitive symptoms increases significantly, compared to when only p-tau217 is abnormal. This distinction is crucial for selecting the most appropriate treatment for each patient.”



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



Currently, there are two FDA-approved drugs that target amyloid in the brain to slow Alzheimer’s. But more treatments are being tested - including ones that aim at tau protein and other disease mechanisms.



As these therapies become available, doctors will need reliable ways to match the right treatment to each stage of the disease. Blood tests could be the key to this shift toward personalized Alzheimer’s care.



“We’re about to enter the era of personalized medicine for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Kanta Horie, a research associate professor of neurology at WashU Medicine. 



“For early stages with low tau tangles, anti-amyloid therapies could be more efficacious than in late stages. But after the onset of dementia with high tau tangles, anti-tau therapy or one of the many other experimental approaches may be more effective." 



"Once we have a clinically available blood test for staging, plus treatments that work at different stages of the disease, doctors will be able to optimize their treatment plans for the specific needs of each patient.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03617-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Medicine</a>.



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New blood test can diagnose and track the progression of Alzheimer’s

A new blood test could revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment...

North America's smallest falcon, the American Kestrel, has captivated bird watchers and biologists for generations. Its striking plumage and swift, graceful flight add beauty to skies across the continent.



Yet, despite the kestrel's visibility and wide distribution from Alaska to Argentina, this tiny raptor has experienced a steady and troubling decline in population since the 1970s.



Scientists have searched for decades to pinpoint the cause. Theories range from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">habitat loss</a> to pesticide use, but no single factor explains the pattern across all regions. In the Northeast, where kestrel numbers have dropped most sharply, the mystery has deepened.



A new study published in the Journal of Raptor Research brings a rare spark of clarity. It finds that fledgling kestrels in this region are surviving at higher-than-expected rates, which offers an unexpected twist to the ongoing search for answers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-falcon-survival-rates">Tracking falcon survival rates</h2>



The research involved a comprehensive assessment of kestrel <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-animal-will-replace-humans-as-earths-dominant-species-this-scientist-has-an-idea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survival</a>. For the first time, researchers tracked both juvenile and adult kestrels across multiple seasons, including winter. This matters because previous studies primarily focused on the nesting season alone.



Breeding kestrels face many known challenges. Raising chicks demands energy, coordination, and suitable nesting habitat. But only a portion of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-mammals-show-how-humans-influence-animal-activity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">population</a> actually breeds each year. Many younger birds - those still learning to hunt and navigate - do not yet breed.



These juveniles, along with adults during migration and winter, form blind spots in kestrel research. The current study begins to fill those gaps, offering a more complete picture of the annual life cycle of kestrels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-falcon-survival-against-the-odds">Falcon survival against the odds</h2>



​Dr. Mercy Melo and a team of scientists from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hawkmountain.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hawk Mountain Sanctuary</a>, The Smithsonian, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umass.edu/">University of Massachusetts Amherst</a> designed a bold field experiment.​



The experts equipped 202 kestrels with lightweight radio transmitters between 2021 and 2023. The team tagged 146 fledglings from across the Northeast United States and 56 adult birds from both Pennsylvania and Florida.



These transmitters recorded each bird’s movements for six months. This time window captured the critical early weeks when juveniles first leave the nest, as well as the overwintering period for adults. 



Historically, kestrels experience their highest mortality during these months, especially juveniles who must suddenly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-secretly-reshape-landscapes-in-powerful-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survive</a> without parental support.



Yet the findings upended that expectation. Despite lacking experience in how to forage and avoid danger, many fledglings survived remarkably well.



“Our study documented very high survival rates for juveniles across the eastern states, with some sites even boasting one hundred percent survival,” said Dr. Melo. This phase of post-nesting independence had never before been studied so closely, and the data bring both relief and new questions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-hazards-are-the-biggest-threats">Human hazards are the biggest threats</h2>



In contrast to the encouraging news about juveniles, adult kestrels faced steeper odds - especially those overwintering in Pennsylvania. These birds showed significantly lower survival rates than their Florida counterparts.



Human-related hazards emerged as the top threats. Confirmed causes of death in adults included collisions with vehicles and entrapment in buildings, both frequent dangers for birds navigating developed landscapes.



This difference between regions suggests winter falcon survival depends not just on climate, but on how much risk the environment imposes. Urbanization, road networks, and even the design of buildings can spell danger for kestrels hunting in low-light winter conditions.



Florida, with its warmer temperatures and possibly fewer urban threats, offered safer overwintering options.



These adult deaths shift focus away from fledglings as the weak link in kestrel survival. Instead, they suggest that certain overwintering regions may present survival bottlenecks, especially for adults already worn down by breeding or migration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-current-data-on-falcon-survival">Current data on falcon survival </h2>



While the survival rates of fledglings in their first few weeks is promising, their fates after leaving the nesting area still remain unknown.



Once these young birds dispersed beyond the transmitter’s range, they were no longer trackable. This means their survival during migration and overwintering is still a mystery.



However, by confirming that fledgling survival at early stages is higher than assumed, the study helps redirect attention. 



If juveniles are doing well in the Northeast, other stages of the life cycle - especially adult migration and wintering - may be where declines are most acute. These findings sharpen the questions that future studies should ask.



“Understanding the factors influencing the American Kestrel population decline will help kestrels but will also improve our understanding of other declining species,” said Dr. Melo. For example, grassland songbirds, which share many habitats with kestrels, face similar pressures and may benefit from similar research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deeper-significance-of-the-study">Deeper significance of the study</h2>



American Kestrels may be small, but they play a large ecological role. As top predators of insects, rodents, and small birds, they help regulate populations across open landscapes. The consequences of their decline ripples outward, affecting the balance of local ecosystems.



Moreover, their wide range and relative visibility make them excellent indicators of environmental change. When kestrels struggle, it signals trouble not just for raptors but for entire ecological communities. This is especially true in open habitats, such as prairies, grasslands, and farmlands, where biodiversity is shrinking fast.



“We hope this article entices researchers to adopt collaborative approaches across geographical regions,” said Dr. Melo. That call reflects the study’s deeper significance: kestrels won’t be saved by isolated efforts.



Their survival hinges on better cooperation among scientists, conservationists, and policy-makers who can act across regions and seasons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-story-of-falcon-survival">A story of falcon survival</h2>



This study doesn’t answer every question, but it shifts the compass. The research shows that fledgling kestrels in the Northeast may not be as vulnerable as previously believed. 



The study also highlights that adults, particularly those overwintering in human-dominated landscapes, face growing threats.



As research continues, tracking kestrels throughout all life stages - and across all landscapes - will be key. Understanding their migration paths, habitat choices, and human-made hazards will help explain the long-term trends.



The kestrel’s story is still evolving, but this study has brought it into sharper focus. With each new discovery, researchers are getting closer to understanding how this colorful falcon might survive against the odds.



The study is published in the <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-raptor-research/volume-59/issue-2/jrr2414/Juvenile-and-Adult-Survival-Estimates-of-American-Kestrels-Throughout-the/10.3356/jrr2414.full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Raptor Research</a>. 



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Falcon survival rates surprise scientists amid their decline

North America's smallest falcon, the American Kestrel, has captivated bird...

Tuna and swordfish hunt far beyond the surface. They dive deep into the ocean’s twilight zone - a layer of dark, cold water about 800 meters below the surface - to feed. Until now, no one really knew how important this zone was to their survival.



In new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.mit.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>), scientists show that this deep layer isn't just a snack stop. It’s a major food source. 



The study shows that three big <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-fish-coelacanth-presumed-extinct-for-60-million-years-before-rediscovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predators</a> - bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and swordfish - obtain more than half their diet from the twilight zone. That’s a surprising dependence on such a hidden region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-the-ocean-s-twilight-zone">Importance of the ocean's twilight zone</h2>



This finding could change how we think about both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-fish-species-are-the-big-catch-of-the-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish conservation</a> and commercial fishing. If fishing expands into the twilight zone, it may risk the food supply of valuable surface-dwelling predators.



“There is increasing interest in commercial fishing in the ocean’s twilight zone,” said Ciara Willis, the study’s lead author.



“If we start heavily fishing that layer of the ocean, our study suggests that could have profound implications for tuna and swordfish, which are very reliant on the twilight zone and are highly valuable existing fisheries.”



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



The twilight zone - or mesopelagic layer - lies between 200 and 1,000 meters (656 to 3,281 feet) deep. It’s sandwiched between the sunlit upper waters and the dark, midnight zone below. Despite its lack of sunlight, the twilight zone teems with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-pushing-freshwater-fish-toward-the-poles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">life</a>.



“This is a really understudied region of the ocean, and it’s filled with all these fantastic, weird animals,” said Willis.



Its biomass could reach 10 billion tons - far outweighing what swims near the surface. The surface ocean, Willis noted, is “a thin soup,” offering little to big predators. The twilight zone, by contrast, presents “the deep ocean buffet,” full of dense pockets of fish and squid.



Every night, twilight creatures migrate upward to eat, then return before daylight. Bigeye tuna dive frequently during the day, while yellowfin dive less often. Swordfish follow the nightly up-and-down movement of prey.



“We’ve known for a long time that these fish and many other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-diversity-has-changed-dramatically-on-the-great-barrier-reef/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predators</a> feed on twilight zone prey,” said Willis. “But the extent to which they rely on this deep-sea food web for their forage has been unclear.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-clues-in-fish-tissue">Finding clues in fish tissue</h2>



Stomach content analysis only offers a snapshot. Willis wanted to know what these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bleaching-effect-coral-loss-threatens-fisheries-and-livelihoods/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> had eaten over months. She and her team worked with fishermen in New Jersey and Florida to collect tissue samples from commercial catches.



They focused on essential amino acids - building blocks of protein that come from the base of the food chain. These amino acids carry a unique carbon signature, depending on whether they originate from phytoplankton in the sunlit zone or microbes in the deep.



“One of the hypotheses we had was that we’d be able to distinguish the carbon isotopic signature of the shallow ocean, which would logically be more phytoplankton-based, versus the deep ocean, which is more microbially based,” said Willis.



By analyzing these carbon signatures, the team could estimate whether a fish had been feeding more on shallow or deep-sea organisms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-diet-of-predators">Deep diet of predators</h2>



The researchers studied tissue from over 120 fish. They found that 50 to 60 percent of their diet came from ocean's twilight zone sources. Bigeye tuna showed the most consistent deep-sea reliance. Swordfish and yellowfin tuna were more varied.



“We saw the bigeye tuna were far and away the most consistent in where they got their food from,” noted Willis.



“Whereas the swordfish and yellowfin tuna were more variable. That means if you start having big-scale fishing in the twilight zone, the bigeye tuna might be the ones who are most at risk from food web effects.”



The concern isn’t just about catching the predators. It’s about removing their prey. Many twilight zone fish aren’t eaten by people but are used in fishmeal and fish oil. This commercial demand could strip a crucial food source from valuable predator species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-threats-of-deep-sea-fishing">Threats of deep sea fishing</h2>



“If predatory fish like tunas have 50 percent reliance on twilight zone food webs, and we start heavily fishing that region, that could lead to uncertainty around the profitability of tuna fisheries,” said Willis.



“So we need to be very cautious about impacts on the twilight zone and the larger ocean ecosystem.”



The twilight zone holds secrets vital to ocean life. Any plan to harvest from it must consider the deep, invisible links that bind predators to prey.



This research was part of the&nbsp;Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's <a href="https://twilightzone.whoi.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocean Twilight Zone Project</a>, supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.audaciousproject.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Audacious Project</a>&nbsp;at TED. 



The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/82/3/fsaf028/8090274" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICES Journal of Marine Science</a>. 



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Deep ocean buffet: Big fish are surprisingly reliant on the twilight zone

Tuna and swordfish hunt far beyond the surface. They dive...

Snowpack in the Rocky Mountains acts like nature’s reservoir. It stores water during winter and supplies the American West through dry months. But snow now brings more than just water. 



A new study from <a href="https://www.dri.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Desert Research Institute</a> reveals that as storms deliver snow, they also transport mercury and other mining-related pollutants.



This work sheds light on how contaminants travel through the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rain-and-snow-are-difficult-to-forecast-at-near-freezing-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmosphere</a>. It raises concerns about both snowpack quality and long-term environmental consequences from mining operations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toxic-metals-found-in-snow">Toxic metals found in snow</h2>



Published in Environmental Pollution, the study measured metal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-snow-complexity-can-improve-winter-safety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contaminants</a> at nearly 50 sites across the Rockies. Researchers found elevated levels of mercury, zinc, cadmium, and antimony. These metals appeared most concentrated in the northern Rockies.



The likely source? Storms that originated in the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, and Montana — regions with a long mining history. Using storm-tracking techniques, the team followed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-driven-climate-change-is-to-blame-for-sharp-snowpack-declines-since-1980/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather patterns</a> to pinpoint these sources.



“Metal pollution in the Rockies is relatively understudied,” Arienzo said. “Other studies have focused on certain parts, so the fact that we have this transect from Montana to New Mexico makes this study unique.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dust-snow-and-the-power-to-melt">Dust, snow, and the power to melt</h2>



While the contamination remains below EPA limits, the concern isn’t just toxicity. Dust from mining regions reduces snow’s reflectivity, causing it to melt faster. This changes how much water communities get and when they get it.



Beyond snowmelt timing, the study’s value lies in understanding atmospheric pollutant distribution. Combining physical samples with long-term datasets allowed researchers to build a broader picture of contamination patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-range-pollution-patterns">Long-range pollution patterns</h2>



In 2018, scientists collected snow samples across 48 Rocky Mountain sites. They measured metal levels, including calcium from natural sources. By comparing metals tied to both dust and human activity, they could isolate industrial impacts.



To test the strength of their findings, they added another layer — mercury and calcium data from the <a href="https://nadp.slh.wisc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Atmospheric Deposition Program</a>, collected between 2009 and 2018. Patterns held steady.



“I was surprised by the amount of agreement we saw between all these different data sets we brought together,” Arienzo said. 



“The snow samples showed us that contamination is higher in the northern Rockies, and that was really interesting. Looking at mercury contamination over time helped us say that 2018 is not just a fluke." 



"When you start to see these trends that are consistent between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-accelerating-beyond-control-as-co2-levels-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">different records</a>, it makes you feel more confident that something’s really happening here.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mining-sites-in-the-path-of-snow-storms">Mining sites in the path of snow storms</h2>



Tracking storms gave the team another clue. Northern Rockies storms often came from the Pacific Northwest. Those in the southern Rockies mostly crossed the Mojave Desert.



By overlaying these paths with USGS maps of mining and smelting sites, they saw a clear link. Active and historical mines sat directly in the path of northern storms.



“Our idea is that the dust from current and historical mining sites gets carried up into the mountains and deposited across our study sites,” Arienzo said. 



“This study shows the importance of continued scientific monitoring efforts, like the long-term USGS datasets we used here, as well as mitigation of current and historical mining sites.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-mining-pollution-in-snow">Studying mining pollution in snow</h2>



This research is part of a larger initiative funded by the National Science Foundation. In addition to studying snow, Arienzo and her team are examining tree rings as a natural archive of environmental pollution. 



Trees, like snow, accumulate traces of mercury and other metals over time. By comparing the mercury levels found in snow to those recorded in tree rings, scientists aim to build a more complete picture of how contaminants move through ecosystems.



This comparison could reveal long-term trends in pollution levels, helping scientists understand not only where contamination is happening but how it changes over decades. These insights can inform environmental cleanup efforts, water management policies, and public health decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-how-pollutants-travel">Understanding how pollutants travel</h2>



As the climate shifts and industrial legacies resurface in unexpected ways, understanding how pollutants travel through the atmosphere becomes more urgent. 



The snow that once symbolized purity now carries a story of industrial history, scientific discovery, and environmental responsibility. 



With continued research, we may better understand these silent risks and work toward protecting the landscapes we depend on.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749125004671?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Pollution</a>.



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Rocky Mountain snow contains toxic metals from faraway mining

Snowpack in the Rocky Mountains acts like nature’s reservoir. It...

Newly published research suggests that toxins aren't reserved for creatures like snakes, spiders, or scorpions, which we've traditionally labeled as venomous. A surprising cast of organisms also use comparable tactics.



Growing evidence indicates that many plants, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-fungi-species-are-threatened-with-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fungi</a>, and microorganisms rely on venom-like methods to protect themselves from threats and outmaneuver other organisms. The research challenges assumptions we've held about which living things can deliver a harmful punch and opens new doors for scientific inquiry.



Venomous animals have long fascinated biologists that were seeking to understand their deadly secretions and the traits associated with their use, but have also contributed numerous life-saving therapeutics, said William K. Hayes, professor of biology at Loma Linda University <a href="https://medicine.llu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Medicine</a>.&nbsp;



This perspective casts a wider net over organisms that employ toxic secretions, raising hopes that an even broader range of life forms could offer untapped chemical treasures for medicine and research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-venom-goes-beyond-animals">Venom goes beyond animals</h2>



<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/3/99" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Researchers</a> have begun to expand the basic definition of venom beyond what is produced by snakes or spiders, since a strictly animal-based perspective overlooks key examples in other branches of life. 



A toxin introduced into the internal tissues of a target through a specialized structure could also describe the stinging hairs on some plants, the penetration mechanisms used by certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/underground-fungal-networks-are-natures-hyper-efficient-architects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fungi</a>, and even the injection systems of a few bacteria.



One example includes certain <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Urticaceae" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nettle species</a> that can puncture skin upon contact, while other flora form alliances with stinging ants for defense, effectively tapping into ant venom as a shared resource. 



Scientists investigating <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abb8828" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australian stinging trees</a>, for instance, have identified peptides that trigger severe and long-lasting discomfort, mirroring what happens when an animal injects toxins through fangs or barbs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungi-and-viruses-use-venom">Fungi and viruses use venom</h2>



Fungi have also developed toxin-delivery tactics that come into play when they invade living <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-fungi-diversity-can-be-pulled-out-of-thin-air/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hosts</a>, and these strategies often involve sophisticated enzymatic activity that breaches protective barriers. 



Certain <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/entomopathogenic-fungus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">entomopathogenic species</a>, such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/cordyceps" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cordyceps fungi</a>, infect insects by using specialized structures to pierce the exoskeleton, then introduce <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15792702/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chemical compounds</a> that cripple the insect’s immune response and ultimately pave the way for the fungus to feed.



Viruses might appear too simple to fit our usual venom concepts, but some can inject their genetic material directly into a cell using a needle-like mechanism that disrupts normal function. 



This approach even underpins emerging <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/795414/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ideas</a> about <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0882401024005552" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phage therapy</a> for antibiotic-resistant infections, since bacteriophages can selectively invade harmful bacteria and dismantle them from the inside.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-microbial-strategies">Hidden microbial strategies</h2>



Bacterial warfare often revolves around <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26999395/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">specialized secretory systems</a> that shoot toxins straight into rival cells, effectively seizing control or neutralizing threats on the microbial battlefield. 



These intricate setups, including type III and type VI secretion systems, function much like an inbuilt syringe, enabling bacteria to sabotage plant or animal tissues while gaining an upper hand in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungi-can-think-and-make-smart-decisions-without-a-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survival</a>.



Competition among microbes can be fierce, with each species fighting for resources in shared environments, and these hidden battles often hinge on toxin injection that allows one group to dominate a niche.



Some strains even produce <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29405518/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contractile devices</a> that resemble phage tails, launching protein payloads across cell membranes to stop competing organisms in their tracks and often developing self-protective measures to avoid collateral damage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-venom-from-fungi-plants-and-microbes">Venom from fungi, plants, and microbes</h2>



Medical <a href="https://www.weforum.org/stories/2018/11/venomics-deadly-toxins-life-saving-drugs-mande-holford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> have long looked to animal venoms for treatments that range from blood pressure medication to pain relief, leveraging the finely tuned molecules that evolved to subdue prey or fend off enemies. These endeavors fuel optimism about searching for new leads among non-animal toxins. 



If plants, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-eating-fungus-beauveria-bassiana-causes-the-immune-system-to-attack-neurons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fungi</a>, and microbes also contain potent substances shaped by similar evolutionary pressures, then a bigger repository of chemical compounds could emerge for developing therapies against infections, chronic pain, or even cancer.



Adopting a more inclusive perspective on what qualifies as venom might shift the way scientists collaborate across disciplines, bringing together botanists, microbiologists, and pharmacologists in shared discovery that breaks conventional boundaries. 



This approach could spark fresh ideas about the ecological roles of toxins in nature, pave the way for advanced drug development pipelines, and spur new methods for controlling pests or pathogens.



The research reminds us that the line between harmful and helpful can be surprisingly thin when viewed through a different lens.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/3/99" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Toxins</a>.



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Venom beyond animals: The toxic arsenal of fungi, plants, and microbes

Newly published research suggests that toxins aren't reserved for creatures...

Tiny organisms in the sea provide about half of Earth’s oxygen, which shows how much life below the waves matters for everyone on the planet. These organisms often cluster in drifting currents and eddies that seem small compared to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/ocean-basin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean basins</a>, yet each swirling system teems with energetic chemistry and unexpected activity.



Eddies in the ocean can measure around six to 62 miles wide, spinning off from busy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-weather-is-affected-by-the-atmosphere-in-unexpected-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coastal areas</a> and then journeying into quieter open waters. Kevin Becker from <a href="https://www.geomar.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GEOMAR</a> led a project that explored these twisting flows and tracked what they deliver to regions far from shore.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-eddies-move-nutrients-offshore">Ocean eddies move nutrients offshore</h2>



Many people envision the ocean as calm on the surface and dark below. Scientists now know these waters are crisscrossed by powerful rotations that form near coastlines, including the <a href="https://meerwissen.org/news/mauritania-hot-earth-cold-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mauritanian upwelling system</a> off West Africa.



These persistent eddies can carry material that supports marine life in places where conditions might otherwise be meager. They become natural transport lines for valuable molecules and nutrients that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-currents-may-soon-clean-up-waste-thanks-to-space-tech/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a> creatures need.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-eddies-carry-energy-rich-lipids">Ocean eddies carry energy-rich lipids</h2>



In recent work aboard the <a href="https://www.ebus-climate-change.de/reebus-m156" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">METEOR M156 Expedition</a>, researchers used high-resolution methods to identify nearly 1,000 different <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24425-lipids" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lipids</a> from the top layers of the Atlantic. 



These molecules make up a key fraction of phytoplankton bodies and provide energy for everything higher up the food chain.



“These eddies are basically the food trucks of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-trash-debris-now-found-in-deepest-parts-of-earths-seas-and-oceans-mediterranean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a>,” explained Dr. Kevin Becker, lead author of the study. Those words hint at the diversity and abundance of molecules that swirl along with the current, ready to nourish anything that ingests them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-energy-reserves">Surprising energy reserves</h2>



A fascinating discovery was the abundance of energy-packed <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fatty-acid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fatty acids</a>. They showed up in forms that creatures like fish and zooplankton cannot make on their own, which means these compounds help sustain life wherever the eddy spins.



Scientists uncovered storage lipids in certain spots within the rotating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/southern-ocean-absorbs-more-co2-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">waters</a>, pointing to thriving microscopic communities. This energy reservoir can be a jackpot for marine grazers that encounter it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eddies-transport-organic-carbon">Eddies transport organic carbon</h2>



The team found that up to 9.7 ± 2.0 gigagrams (about 10,000 tons) of organic carbon may hitch a ride each year on westward-moving eddies. 



These swirling blobs of seawater can journey hundreds of miles, distributing nutritious materials in areas that would otherwise see fewer life-sustaining resources.



Gaining a better handle on how much carbon these eddies export helps clarify the ocean’s big picture. It also helps scientists understand how changes in currents could affect wildlife far offshore.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-for-fish-and-people">Why this matters for fish and people</h2>



Marine organisms depend on carbon and nutrients to survive. Those lipids and fatty acids are building blocks for healthy fish stocks, which support <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/population-assessments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">local fisheries</a> that put food on human tables.



Shifting ocean conditions under a warming climate could affect where and how these eddies form. That might change how nutrients flow across the sea, influencing the future of fisheries and coastal economies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community-shifts-and-ocean-health">Community shifts and ocean health</h2>



The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02152-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> showed that tiny phytoplankton play a starring role in shaping the chemistry within eddies. They thrive in upwelled waters before swirling along with the current.



Different species within these spinning waters can alter nutrient cycles in subtle ways. Researchers are examining how shifts in <a href="https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Microbiology_(Boundless)/16%3A_Microbial_Ecology/16.03%3A_Aquatic_Microbiology/16.3B%3A_Planktonic_Communities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plankton communities</a> ripple up to affect the entire food web and the global carbon balance.



Mauritania’s coastal waters are a prime example of how wind, currents, and topography blend to form these eddies. Similar processes occur elsewhere, hinting that these spinning parcels of water are a widespread phenomenon worth watching.



Scientists will collect more data from other upwelling zones to see if eddies in those places function in the same way. Far-reaching comparisons may reveal broader lessons about nutrient transport and carbon flow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-may-reshape-ocean-eddies">Climate may reshape ocean eddies</h2>



<a href="https://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/ocean-mesoscale-eddies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mesoscale eddies</a> may grow stronger or weaker as ocean temperatures change. Some climate <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1157049/full">models</a> suggest patterns could shift in the coming years, yet the long-term consequences remain unclear.



More research is needed to figure out what will happen if these swirling waters become more or less common. Everything from the tiniest plankton to the largest fish might be affected.



The recent <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02152-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">findings</a> have shown that there is plenty to learn by exploring these spinning dynamics. Sophisticated techniques let experts pick apart complex chemical structures in water samples that were once a mystery.



“Our study highlights the central role of mesoscale eddies,” concluded Professor Dr. Anja Engel, lead scientist of the project and head of the Marine Biogeochemistry Research Division at GEOMAR.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02152-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a>.



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Spinning ocean eddies feed marine life with rich nutrients

Tiny organisms in the sea provide about half of Earth’s...

Long-term practitioners of Transcendental Meditation (TM) may be doing more than just relaxing - they could be rewiring their biology for better aging and stress resilience.



In a new study, researchers compared meditators with up to 40 years of experience against non-meditators. The analysis revealed meaningful differences in gene expression, brain activity, and the levels of stress hormones.



The research, conducted by scientists from <a href="https://www.miu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maharishi International University</a>, the University of Siegen, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, provides new insights into how regular meditation may influence biological aging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slowing-biological-aging-with-meditation">Slowing biological aging with meditation </h2>



One of the most significant findings involves <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/personality-has-a-profound-influence-on-gene-expression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gene expression</a>. The experts found that TM practitioners exhibit lower expression of specific genes, such as SOCS3, that are tied to inflammation and stress.



This gene is commonly associated with chronic stress and energy metabolism, and its reduced expression could signal a lower "allostatic load" - a measure of the body's wear and tear due to prolonged stress.



“This study provides evidence that long-term practice of TM technologies has a broad range of health benefits at the molecular level,” said Supaya Wenuganen of Maharishi International University. 



“The gene expression differences, cognitive function indicators, and lower cortisol levels after long-term TM practice relate to each other in ways suggesting reduction of both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-can-accelerate-the-aging-of-the-immune-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress and aging</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-signals-show-youthful-patterns">Brain signals show youthful patterns</h2>



Cognitive decline with age is a well-known phenomenon. However, EEG scans in the study suggest that older TM practitioners retain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/transcendental-meditation-mental-health-productivity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain function</a> that closely resembles that of younger adults.



The researchers tracked the latency of N2 and P3 brain signals, which are markers linked to how quickly the brain processes information. TM practitioners had faster response times compared to non-meditators of the same age.



They also scored higher on the Brain Integration Scale (BIS), which includes measures like brainwave coherence, reaction speed, and attention control.



“The findings around cognitive function are particularly exciting,” said Frederick Travis, a co-author of the study. "Both younger and older TM practitioners showed higher scores on the BIS compared to non-meditators." 



"The older meditators performed on par with young controls. This reinforces the findings on evoked potential responses, further suggesting a protective effect against cognitive decline with age.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cortisol-clues-in-hair-samples">Cortisol clues in hair samples</h2>



Stress leaves traces in more than just your mood - it can be measured in your hair. The researchers analyzed levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-is-reflected-in-hair-cortisol-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cortisol</a> (a stress hormone) and cortisone (its inactive form) in hair samples from all participants.



TM practitioners consistently exhibited a lower ratio of cortisol to cortisone compared to non-meditators, which suggests a more balanced stress response and greater resilience.



“Cortisol plays a critical role in the body’s response to stress, and chronically high cortisol levels are associated with a host of age-related health issues in addition to cognitive decline,” said Kenneth Walton, a senior researcher at Maharishi International University. 



“The reduced cortisol-to-cortisone ratio in meditators suggests they have more adaptive reserve, more resilience, contributing to overall health and longevity.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meditation-and-biological-aging">Meditation and biological aging</h2>



By examining gene expression, brain function, and hormonal markers together, the study offers a more complete picture of how this type of meditation may influence aging at multiple levels.



The research strengthens earlier findings suggesting that meditation can reduce cardiovascular risk and improve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/transcendental-meditation-using-the-power-of-the-mind-to-heal-trauma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental well-being</a>.



“The lower expression of age-related genes and lower hair cortisol in the TM groups extend the findings of short-term studies indicating these practices lead to healthy aging and more resilient adaptation to stress,” noted Walton.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-research-is-needed">Further research is needed</h2>



While the results are promising, the researchers note that more studies are needed to explore the biological mechanisms behind these effects.



Future research will look more closely at energy metabolism, inflammation pathways, and other molecular processes to understand how regular meditation may help slow the aging process over time.



Scientists also hope to examine larger, more diverse populations over time to confirm and expand upon these findings.



For now, this study offers a compelling reason to sit still, close your eyes, and breathe. Your genes - and your brain - might just thank you for it.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/3/317" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biomolecules</a>.



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Meditation slows biological aging at the molecular level

Long-term practitioners of Transcendental Meditation (TM) may be doing more...

On a breezy spring morning, a birch tree sways quietly in the forest. Its leaves, soft and green, shimmer under the sun. But look closer - at the very tip of one leaf sits a creature smaller than a grain of rice. It is motionless, but this caterpillar is not resting. It is guarding its kingdom.



Researchers recently revealed that these barely visible hatchlings of the two-lined hooktip moth (Falcaria bilineata) are among the world’s smallest territorial animals. 



These neonate warty birch <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-and-caterpillars-have-a-great-working-protection-relationship-until-it-isnt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caterpillars</a> may not roar or bite, but they have their own language - a rhythm of vibrations. And they use it to hold their ground.



“We had noticed that tiny warty birch caterpillars produced vibrations,” said Jayne Yack of <a href="https://carleton.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carleton University</a>, who first observed this behavior in 2008.



That discovery opened a door into a hidden world of buzzing boundaries, leaf-top wars, and high-stakes survival - all played out on a stage smaller than your thumbnail.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-caterpillars-build-a-territory">Where caterpillars build a territory</h2>



When the eggs of the warty birch caterpillar hatch, the tiny neonates - only 1 to 2 mm (0.04 to 0.08 inches) long - begin their journey across the leaf.



They don’t settle in the middle or near the stem. Instead, they crawl toward the tip. In a controlled lab setup, the researchers found that nearly 90% of these caterpillars selected the leaf tip within 24 hours of hatching.



This spot becomes their home. Each <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caterpillars-inherit-food-preferences-through-their-blood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caterpillar</a> lays down a silk mat, feeds around it, and stays put. They avoid the very end of the tip, which remains green and untouched. 



Feeding scars mark the borders of the caterpillar's territory. This feeding area stretches about 11 mm from the tip, but the actual defended zone - the core area of movement - is much smaller, around 8 mm².



Despite their size, these hatchlings don’t share. They live alone, and their behavior reveals that they are actively defending this micro territory from intruders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-caterpillars-defend-their-territory">How caterpillars defend their territory</h2>



Unlike larger animals, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caterpillar-noses-can-lead-to-safer-ways-to-protect-crops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caterpillars</a> can’t bark, charge, or fight. Instead, they communicate through vibrations. Their signaling language includes two main sounds: buzz scrapes and drums.



A drum is a sharp strike against the leaf with the front of the body. Buzz scrapes are more complex, involving simultaneous body shaking and rear-end scraping using specialized oar-like hairs.



These signals occur in rapid bursts called bouts. A single bout contains about five signals and lasts just over two seconds. Caterpillars produce these signals while stationary or when another <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caterpillars-can-stop-their-bleeding-in-seconds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caterpillar</a> comes close.



“The sounds produced by these caterpillars are not audible to humans, so we had to use specialized equipment to pick up the vibrations,” said Yack. Using laser vibrometry and macro video, the researchers recorded these silent broadcasts.



These vibrations are not accidental. They are messages - warnings, claims of ownership, and possibly even decoys meant to confuse or threaten.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clashes-without-contact">Clashes without contact</h2>



The team at Carleton University conducted 18 staged encounters between resident caterpillars and newcomers. The results painted a vivid picture of non-violent conflict resolution.



Before an intruder arrived, residents signaled rarely - about 1.6 times per minute. But once another caterpillar appeared on the same leaf, the rate jumped to almost seven signals per minute.



If the intruder crossed into the defended territory, the resident’s signaling exploded to over 24 signals per minute.



Sometimes, the intruder fled without contest. Other times, the resident, after a period of frantic buzzing, launched itself off the leaf tip while hanging from a silk thread - a behavior known as “lifelining.” This escape was always triggered by physical contact. The resident never jumped when alone.



Even with these dramatic scenes, no trial ended with both caterpillars sharing space. In 71% of cases, the original resident remained the victor, reclaiming their leaf tip once the intruder left or was driven away by vibrations alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-the-leaf-tip">Advantages of the leaf tip</h2>



The choice of location isn’t random. The leaf tip may offer better nutrition. Young leaves, especially the tips, often contain fewer plant defenses like trichomes. For fragile hatchlings, a tender patch of food could be the difference between growth and starvation.



But nutrition might not be the only reason. The tip of the leaf could serve as a perfect escape platform. Predators - like spiders or beetles - typically approach from the base of the leaf. Sitting at the tip gives the caterpillar more time to detect the threat and jump.



There’s also a mechanical advantage. Studies suggest that leaf tips vibrate more intensely than other parts. By signaling from the tip, the caterpillar’s buzzes may travel farther or feel stronger. 



This might make a tiny resident seem bigger and more threatening than it is, especially to other insects or predators.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caterpillars-send-constant-warning-signals">Caterpillars send constant warning signals </h2>



In some cases, the caterpillar signals even when no rival is on the leaf. This could serve as a general warning - an announcement that the space is occupied.



Researchers propose that such signals might help caterpillars space themselves out on a single tree branch. Instead of fighting, they vibrate. It’s a low-risk way of keeping personal space in a crowded environment.



Intriguingly, these signals might not just deter fellow caterpillars. Their complex structure - made of buzzes, scrapes, and beats - resembles the vibratory displays of some jumping spiders.



These displays often mimic dangerous threats. It’s possible that the caterpillars are copying these patterns to confuse or scare away would-be predators.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-of-quiet-warnings">Power of quiet warnings</h2>



This study may be the first to show a hatchling insect using complex vibratory signals to defend a tiny space. 



Unlike most insects that fight or bite to hold territory, these caterpillars rely on pure communication. Their soft bodies would not survive physical aggression. Instead, they buzz, scrape, and, if needed, dangle away from danger.



What seems like a quiet leaf to us is actually a tense battlefield - an arena of invisible signals and tactical retreats.



The study is published in the <a href="https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/228/7/jeb249796/367459/Buzzing-boundaries-tiny-caterpillars-vibrate-to" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Biology</a>. 



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These incredibly tiny caterpillars defend the world's smallest territory

On a breezy spring morning, a birch tree sways quietly...

Every evening, as the sun dips below the horizon, thousands of bats surge out of caves and take to the skies. For those who have watched it up close, the spectacle is unforgettable - dark wings blur together in motion that is so dense, it can seem fluid.



Yet amidst this chaos, one mystery remains: how do they all manage to avoid collisions? Despite emerging in massive numbers from tight spaces, bats almost never crash. 



“The bats don’t run into each other,” noted Aya Goldshtein from the <a href="https://www.ab.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior</a>. “Even in colonies of hundreds of thousands of bats all flying out of a small opening.”



Goldshtein, along with colleagues Omer Mazar and Yossi Yovel, explored this question in a new study that was led by scientists from Tel Aviv University.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mystery-of-mid-air-traffic-control">The mystery of mid-air traffic control</h2>



Bats rely heavily on echolocation to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-have-acoustic-mental-maps-to-navigate-total-darkness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">navigate</a>. They emit high-frequency calls and interpret the returning echoes to “see” the world around them. 



But when thousands of bats are calling at the same time, those signals should interfere with each other. This phenomenon, known as “jamming,” should make it nearly impossible to distinguish useful echoes from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-bats-navigate-noisy-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noise</a>.



It’s like trying to have a conversation at a crowded party where everyone is shouting at once - a problem that researchers refer to as the “cocktail party nightmare.” 



And yet, despite the chaos, accidents between bats are almost nonexistent. "You’re almost excited when you witness one,” said Goldshtein.



Past studies offered a few clues. In the lab, scientists noticed that bats flying in small groups shifted their call frequencies slightly. This seemed to help avoid jamming, but didn’t fully explain how large colonies manage to avoid mid-air collisions, night after night.



According to Yovel, the missing piece was a real-world perspective. "No one had looked at this situation from the point of view of an individual bat during emergence. How can we understand a behavior if we don’t study it in action?” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-bats-as-they-navigate">Tracking bats as they navigate</h2>



To address this, the team collected data directly from wild bats as they emerged from a cave in Israel’s Hula Valley. 



Using a mix of high-resolution location tracking, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-use-death-metal-growls-to-extend-their-vocal-range/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ultrasonic</a> recording, and computer modeling, the researchers recreated the experience of a single bat as it navigated the crowd.



Over the course of two years, they tagged multiple greater mouse-tailed bats with tiny trackers that recorded their position every second. 



Some trackers included microphones to record echolocation calls and ambient sound from the bat’s perspective. All data collection took place on the same nights that the bats were released.



One challenge remained. The tagged bats were released just outside the cave, so the team lacked data from the exact moment the bats exited the cave - where crowding is at its peak.



To fill in this gap, Mazar developed a computer model that simulated the initial emergence. The simulation drew on the real tracking and audio data to map each bat’s path for two kilometers across the landscape.



“The simulation allows us to verify our assumptions of how bats solve this complex task during emergence,” said Mazar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-bats-beat-the-noise">How bats beat the noise</h2>



What the team found was surprising. In the first seconds after exiting the cave, 94 percent of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-share-social-information-through-echolocation-calls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">echolocation calls</a> were jammed.



But by five seconds in, that number dropped significantly. The bats weren’t just spreading out - they were also adjusting how they echolocated.



First, they moved out of the densest part of the group, giving themselves more space while still staying within the broader colony. Second, they changed their calls to be shorter, softer, and at higher frequencies.



This shift in behavior raised another question. Wouldn’t increasing the number of calls just add to the noise? Not necessarily, said the team - especially when you look at it from the bat’s perspective.



“Imagine you’re a bat flying through a cluttered space. The most important object you need to know about is the bat directly in front. So you should echolocate in such a way that gives you the most detailed information about only that bat," explained Mazar.



"Sure, you might miss most of the information available because of jamming, but it doesn’t matter because you only need enough detail to avoid crashing into that bat.”



In other words, bats aren’t trying to hear everything. They’re focused on gathering just enough information to make it safely past the bat that is right ahead of them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bats-adapt-to-avoid-crashes">Bats adapt to avoid crashes</h2>



The researchers believe the key to these findings was observing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-advice-leave-bats-alone-if-we-want-to-prevent-future-pandemics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bats in their natural environment</a> - not in the lab.



“Theoretical and lab studies of the past have allowed us to imagine the possibilities,” said Goldshtein. “But only by putting ourselves, as close as possible, into the shoes of an animal will we ever be able to understand the challenges they face and what they do to solve them.”



This study shows how bats overcome intense auditory clutter and avoid crashes with fine-tuned behavior, which they adapt in real-time.



It’s not about cutting through all the noise - it’s about focusing on just enough of the right noise to stay safe.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2407810122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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How bats navigate rush hour without crashing into each other

Every evening, as the sun dips below the horizon, thousands...

Jupiter's striking size, swirling gases, and dramatic bands in its atmosphere set it apart from every other planet. One of its most iconic features is the Great Red Spot, a storm so vast that it has defined the planet’s appearance for centuries.



Until now, much of the discussion has centered on the spectacle of that colossal storm itself. Recent observations are shining a new light on what happens above this famous vortex. 



These details open a fresh perspective on Jupiter’s upper atmosphere, revealing unexpected structures and patterns.



These findings have been led by team leader Henrik Melin of the <a href="https://le.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leicester</a> in the United Kingdom. 



By focusing on the region above the Great Red Spot, researchers have broadened our understanding of ionospheric activity on the gas giant.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fresh-insights-on-jupiter-s-atmosphere">Fresh insights on Jupiter’s atmosphere</h2>



Astronomers used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>) to look at a portion of Jupiter once thought to be nondescript. 



The instrument’s infrared capabilities allowed scientists to analyze the gas giant’s upper atmosphere, an area where sunlight plays a role but had been assumed to be uniform. 



They found that Jupiter’s distance from the Sun means it receives only 4% of the sunlight hitting Earth, so it came as a surprise to see a host of intricate activity at these heights.



The team studied this region using Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/nirspec/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIRSpec</a>). After targeting the area above the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jupiters-great-red-spot-shrinks-and-expands-like-a-stress-ball/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Great Red Spot</a>, they identified dark arcs and bright points, distributed across the field of view in ways never documented before. 



“We thought this region, perhaps naively, would be really boring,” shared team leader Henrik Melin. “It is in fact just as interesting as the northern lights, if not more so. Jupiter never ceases to surprise.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wave-patterns-and-the-great-red-spot">Wave patterns and the Great Red Spot</h2>



Although solar illumination drives the light coming from this zone, something else seems to be shaping the patterns. 



“One way in which you can change this structure is by gravity waves - similar to waves crashing on a beach, creating ripples in the sand,” explained Melin. 



“These waves are generated deep in the turbulent lower atmosphere, all around the Great Red Spot, and they can travel up in altitude, changing the structure and emissions of the upper atmosphere.”



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jupiter_Great-Red-Spot_mysterious-shapes_JWST-NIRSpec_ESA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jupiter_Great-Red-Spot_mysterious-shapes_JWST-NIRSpec_ESA_1s.webp" alt="New observations of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter have revealed that the planet’s atmosphere above and around the infamous storm is surprisingly interesting and active. This graphic shows the region observed by Webb — first its location on a NIRCam image of the whole planet (left), and the region itself (right), imaged by Webb’s Near-InfraRed Spectrograph (NIRSpec). Credit: ESA" class="wp-image-1963902"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New observations of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter have revealed that the planet’s atmosphere above and around the infamous storm is surprisingly interesting and active. This graphic shows the region observed by Webb — first its location on a NIRCam image of the whole planet (left), and the region itself (right), imaged by Webb’s Near-InfraRed Spectrograph (NIRSpec). Click to enlarge. Credit: ESA</figcaption></figure>



The fact that Earth also experiences these phenomena is intriguing, though the effect here at home is much weaker. 



The group behind these observations hopes to follow up on these wave patterns to see how they migrate through Jupiter’s upper atmosphere and affect the energy balance of that region. 



By observing these shifts over time, scientists can refine their ideas about Jupiter’s atmospheric mechanics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jupiter-s-upper-atmosphere">Jupiter's upper atmosphere</h2>



Tom Stallard, Professor of Planetary Astronomy at <a href="https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northumbria University</a>, worked on this effort and has been studying the upper layers of gas giants for many years. 



“We used to think of a planet’s aurora as the only interesting place in terms of ionospheric activity, but these new images show that is not always the case," Stallard explained. 



“Even spacecraft which have gone to Jupiter, such as the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/juno/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Juno mission</a>, have not had the sensitivity required to pull out this level of ionospheric detail.”



The images taken by Webb highlight features that were once simply too faint for ground-based equipment or earlier missions to spot. 



Stallard continued, “In future it would be interesting to observe how the patterns we see over the Great Red Spot change, and how these waves move throughout Jupiter’s upper atmosphere.”



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



Jupiter’s magnetic field is much more intense than Earth’s, yet there are parallels in the way ionospheres behave. 



“Although Jupiter appears very different to Earth there is actually much we can learn about our own planet by studying Jupiter. The processes going on are very similar, but Jupiter’s magnetic field is much stronger, and stranger," Stallard concluded.



By investigating these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-about-jupiters-clouds-not-ammonia-ice-leaves-astronomers-astonished/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">processes on a bigger stage</a>, scientists can apply fresh insights to our own world. 



When features are magnified on Jupiter, it can offer straightforward ways to test models that might be more subtle in Earth’s environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-waiting-for-the-juice">Waiting for the Juice</h2>



These discoveries may also help guide work on ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Juice</a>, which lifted off on April 14, 2023. 



That mission carries instruments designed to learn more about Jupiter and its icy satellites, specifically Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. 



The goal is to assess these worlds as potential habitats while exploring the planet’s broader surroundings. 



The insights from Webb could prove vital when Juice measures the structures of Jupiter’s magnetic and atmospheric environment up close.



Researchers plan to examine Jupiter’s entire system to see how it compares to other gas giants across the universe. 



By focusing on wave patterns near the planet’s equatorial belt and looking at how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-causing-the-mysterious-haze-at-jupiters-poles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">charged particles behave</a>, the mission might provide further clarity on what drives the weather patterns and emissions in Jupiter’s upper layers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-from-jupiter-s-atmosphere">Learning from Jupiter's atmosphere</h2>



With the Webb telescope’s remarkable precision, scientists have found another layer of interest that is changing the way we think about ionospheric activities in the outer solar system. 



Each new image confirms there are still stories unfolding above that swirling red storm. 



The spotlight now shifts to exploring these atmospheric waves, the structures they create, and the lessons that might await our own planet. 



By mapping these patterns and testing how they evolve, researchers are poised to gain a deeper understanding of giant planets both close to home and beyond.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02305-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Astronomy</a>.



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Surprising 'shapes' discovered near Jupiter’s Great Red Spot

Jupiter's striking size, swirling gases, and dramatic bands in its...

Why would prehistoric humans carry their youngest children deep into the winding, pitch-black recesses of ancient caves - places riddled with danger, low oxygen, and claustrophobic tunnels? 



A new study from researchers at <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tel Aviv University</a> suggests an answer that goes beyond simple tradition or education: these children weren’t just tagging along - they were spiritual participants.



A paper recently published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/arts14020027" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arts</a>, a journal from MDPI, presents an innovative interpretation of children’s presence at cave art sites. The study proposes that small children were believed to serve a powerful spiritual function - acting as mediators between humans and the unseen world.



The research was conducted by Dr. Ella Assaf, Dr. Yafit Kedar, and Professor Ran Barkai from Tel Aviv University's Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-participated-in-cave-art">Children participated in cave art</h2>



Cave paintings, particularly those found in France and Spain, date back between 40,000 and 12,000 years and continue to mystify archaeologists.&nbsp;



While previous studies have focused on the adult creators of these artworks, there’s growing evidence that children were also involved. Handprints and finger paintings left by young ones, some as young as two years old, are scattered among the animal figures and abstract shapes. 



Footprints and hand impressions found near these ancient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-cave-painting-discovered-in-indonesia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paintings</a> suggest that children didn’t merely observe - they actively took part.



“There is solid evidence of children’s participation in the artwork,” Assaf said. “This naturally raises the question: why were very young children taken on exhausting and hazardous journeys deep into the dark, meandering caves with low oxygen levels - crawling through crevices, descending shafts, and climbing rocks to reach their destination?”



So far, most hypotheses have leaned toward the educational. The assumption was that adults brought children along to pass on cultural knowledge - traditions, myths, artistic skills. But the experts believe there’s more to the story.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-as-powerful-figures">Children as powerful figures</h2>



“Despite extensive research on cave art, few studies have focused on the presence of children,” Kedar said. “The prevailing hypothesis is that their participation served an educational purpose. In our study, we argue that children’s involvement had an additional meaning.”



Drawing on ethnographic studies of indigenous societies and recent insights into the nature of cave rituals, the researchers suggest that small children were considered spiritually potent. 



In many traditional cultures, children are not seen merely as passive observers or learners, but as powerful figures in their own right - what the researchers call “active agents.”



“Children possess a range of unique mental and cognitive traits, For this reason, indigenous cultures worldwide, throughout history and prehistory, have viewed children as 'active agents' - mediators between this world and the entities inhabiting the natural world, the underworld, and the cosmos as a whole,” Assaf said.&nbsp;



“In this way, children made a vital contribution to their communities - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-hunter-gatherers-had-a-very-organized-domestic-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hunter-gatherers</a> who lived in nature and sought to maintain continuous, respectful relationships with various entities: animals and plants that served as food sources, stones used for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-select-the-best-materials-for-termite-fishing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toolmaking</a>, ancestral spirits, and more.”



By involving children in cave rituals and artwork, ancient communities may have believed they were strengthening their connection to spiritual entities - animals, ancestral spirits, or cosmic forces - that governed their survival. 



These were communities deeply reliant on nature, where food, tools, and spiritual meaning were derived from the landscape around them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-delivered-messages-in-cave-art">Children delivered messages in cave art</h2>



According to Barkai, caves themselves were often seen as liminal spaces - gateways to the underworld. For prehistoric societies, descending into the earth was not merely physical but symbolic. Within the depths, shamanic rituals could be performed to communicate with unseen forces.



“Young children were perceived as liminal beings - belonging to both the realm they had left just recently (before birth) and the world they currently inhabit,” he said. “Thus, small children were considered particularly suited to bridging the gap between the worlds and delivering messages to non-human entities.”



By this logic, children were not just extras in a ceremonial performance, but integral players. Their presence, their touch, even their handprints may have been believed to amplify the ritual’s power.&nbsp;



Thus, children joined adults on journeys into the depths of caves and participated in painting and rituals as part of their role in the community - as ideal mediators with entities from the beyond.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-childhood-and-spiritual-connection-nbsp">Childhood and spiritual connection&nbsp;</h2>



This study contributes to a growing body of work that rethinks the role of children in prehistory. Rather than viewing them as mere bystanders or apprentices, researchers are beginning to see young members of ancient communities as active participants in shaping both social life and spiritual practices.



By blending archaeological evidence with cultural anthropology and religious studies, the scientists opened a new window into how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-had-surprising-diets-3-5-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early humans</a> understood the roles of the youngest among them.&nbsp;



It’s a theory that paints childhood not just as a period of learning, but as a time of spiritual connection - and children, not just as learners, but as vital messengers between worlds.



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Children played a spiritual role in prehistoric cave art

Why would prehistoric humans carry their youngest children deep into...

Memories don't follow a straight, linear path, even though we often recall them like tidy stories. Researchers are now embracing this complexity, using smartphones to explore how memories shift over time, how they become richer or fade, and how we might intentionally strengthen them.&nbsp;



These digital tools are allowing scientists to track real-life experiences in ways that lab studies can’t, revealing how actions like trying something new, replaying moments before sleep, or feeling strong emotions may enhance our memory.



These insights are being shared at the <a href="https://www.cns.org/annualmeeting?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwna6_BhCbARIsALId2Z32nZKBwJfBW1xlk4p1DeZXQCu-j2lAYuBjcMNte24oAjQO4Thu2rEaAj5-EALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS)</a>, where researchers are highlighting a range of smartphone-based studies that explore how memory is shaped by daily life.&nbsp;



“Smartphones are an incredible tool for understanding patterns of feelings, behavior, and experiences in daily life, and how different types of everyday events stay with us in memory,” said Elizabeth Goldfarb from <a href="https://www.yale.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yale University</a>, who is chairing a session on the topic. 



“Real experiences have so much more salience and self-relevance than anything I can generate in the lab, and being able to quantify how people remember those events is very exciting.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleep-dreams-and-the-timing-of-memory">Sleep, dreams, and the timing of memory</h2>



One line of research being presented comes from Morgan Barense at the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Toronto</a>, who is examining how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-rewires-the-brain-to-strengthen-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a> and dreams affect memory retention. This work emerged unexpectedly, when a previous study showed that memory recall was significantly affected by when material was reviewed in relation to sleep.&nbsp;



“We found that the timing of when someone first reviews material relative to sleep had an enormous effect on how well they later remembered it,” Barense said.&nbsp;



“The effect was so striking that I initially didn’t believe it. That discovery made me realize that sleep is something all memory scientists should be paying close attention to.”



Barense’s team, led by graduate student Nelly Matorina, developed a smartphone app called HippoCamera to test how a night of sleep impacts memories from the day before.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memories-following-sleep-are-more-vivid">Memories following sleep are more vivid</h2>



Participants recorded two events each day - one in the morning, one in the evening - for two weeks. The researchers then tested <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/memory-isnt-only-stored-in-our-brains-other-cells-can-remember-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recall</a> after 12-hour intervals, comparing the effects of sleep versus wakefulness. 



Their earlier findings were confirmed. “Memories following sleep were more vivid, felt temporally closer, and were easier to recall, suggesting that a single night of sleep helps preserve the richness of autobiographical memory,” Barense explained.



Participants also recorded dreams and identified any that related to events captured with the app. “Interestingly, memories that were dreamt about were also rated as feeling temporally closer and were more likely to be recalled from a first-person perspective,” she added.



The team followed up by testing those same memories a year later to see how they changed, particularly in relation to the event's location.&nbsp;



“Our pattern of results suggests that the link between an event and its location may initially weaken after a night’s sleep to allow for memory reorganization, but over the long term, a year later, our memory is strongly connected to where it took place,” Matorina said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smartphones-improve-memory-research-nbsp">Smartphones improve memory research&nbsp;</h2>



While studying memory outside the lab comes with challenges, Barense sees great value in this approach.&nbsp;



“Real-world data collection introduces variability that is difficult to control, and tracking sleep and memory over time requires careful methodological design,” she said.&nbsp;



“However, these challenges are also what make smartphone-based research so promising - it allows us to move beyond artificial settings and study memory as it naturally unfolds in daily life.”



Looking ahead, Barense’s team will partner with Ken Paller’s lab at <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern University</a> to see if memory retention can be boosted during sleep. They plan to combine HippoCamera with targeted memory reactivation, which uses sound cues tied to events and plays them during specific sleep stages.&nbsp;



“While our previous work has shown that HippoCamera strengthens autobiographical memory in older adults, we believe that incorporating sleep-based memory reactivation will further amplify its benefits,” Barense said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smartphone-app-tests-recall">Smartphone app tests recall</h2>



Lila Davachi of <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a> is also using smartphone-based research to explore memory, inspired by the mental and emotional effects of the pandemic.&nbsp;



“The lab had already published several papers on the impact of context representations on associative memory and here we all were sitting in our homes, meeting on Zoom, with very little change in our contexts,” she said.&nbsp;



“It was natural to wonder how this was going to impact our long-term memories and, perhaps by consequence, our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-crisis-half-of-the-worlds-population-will-be-affected-by-age-75/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental health</a>.”



Davachi and her team used a “daily diary” smartphone app, asking participants to report and categorize daily events over two weeks as “novel,” “routine,” or “periodic.” Two weeks later, they tested recall.&nbsp;



With the help of artificial intelligence to analyze responses, the researchers found that novel events were remembered with greater vividness and detail.&nbsp;



“Perhaps more exciting, we found that routine and periodic events that happened on the same day as a novel event were also better remembered than routine and periodic events that took place on days with less novelty,” Davachi explained. “This suggests a penumbra-like effect of novelty.”



This effect hints at the value of “experiential diversity” in strengthening memory. By mixing up daily routines with new experiences, people might be able to enhance not just specific memories but their overall ability to recall an entire day.&nbsp;



“Being able to sample and record data from individuals in the real world, along with the use of AI-based large language models to help us analyze large amounts of complex data, is a solid stepping stone,” Davachi said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-the-role-of-emotion-and-addiction">Exploring the role of emotion and addiction </h2>



Goldfarb is also using smartphones to investigate how people remember emotionally intense experiences, particularly in the context of substance use. In one study, she is examining the role of memory in alcohol addiction.&nbsp;



Memory is an important factor in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zapping-the-brain-with-ultrasound-waves-may-cure-drug-addiction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">addiction</a>, since, for instance, someone can’t relapse in a place where they used to drink if they have no memories of drinking there. “Yet we know very little about what people remember about their time drinking that drives this behavior,” Goldfarb said.



Using smartphone recordings, her team is able to compare real-life memories of drinking events with patterns seen in lab studies.&nbsp;



“We’re uncovering some similarities with what we measure in the lab, which is great for establishing ecological validity,” she said. However, these real-world observations are also revealing new insights.&nbsp;



“We are seeing that people are more likely to link different parts of a positive event together in memory,” she said. “As a researcher, the effects of real emotions are so much stronger than what we can create in the lab.”



Goldfarb believes this emerging body of work - from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dream-recall-who-remembers-their-dreams-and-why/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dreams</a> to novelty to emotions - is opening new doors in memory research. As she concludes, these new tools and findings are a significant step forward in helping people build stronger and more detailed memories.



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Smartphones are teaching us how to supercharge our memory

Memories don't follow a straight, linear path, even though we...

<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>



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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



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.



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%.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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>.



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



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

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>



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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">Nature Communications</a>.



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Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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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>



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>.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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>. This research offers renewed hope against cancer, and it can potentially open a door to more effective cancer therapies for most cancer patients worldwide.



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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.



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



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.



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."



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.



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



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.



"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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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>.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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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>



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.



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



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 Neuron</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.



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.



"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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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



Dr. Konstantina Kilteni's 2025 research, published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt0350" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>, 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.



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



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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



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.



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.



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



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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>



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.



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



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.



That solace came through H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. 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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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."



"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.



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



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."



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.



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



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



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



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 This American Life</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 Today Show</a>. The widespread interest reflects both his compelling personal story and rigorous scientific approach.



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



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.



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.



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.



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.



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



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."



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.



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.







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Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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;



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;



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. 



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.



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. 



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

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Today’s Video of the Day 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.



“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. 



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.



“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;



“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.”



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



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.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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