<p>Think about sipping a sugar-free drink that still tastes sweet. Many of us have puzzled over this illusion. Now scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden reveal how our brains transform smell into taste.</p>



<p>The research, published in <em>Nature Communications</em>, shows that the brain encodes certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-dna-may-explain-why-you-love-or-hate-certain-smells/">aromas</a> as if they were flavors themselves.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-flavor-and-smell-form">How flavor and smell form</h2>



<p>Flavor is more than taste. It comes from a combination of gustatory signals and retronasal odors, those aromas drifting from the mouth to the nose. </p>



<p>The insula, known as the taste cortex, was found to integrate these signals earlier than expected. This means the brain does not wait for higher regions to combine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-your-brain-decides-what-smells-good-or-bad/">taste</a> and smell but merges them immediately into one experience.</p>



<p>Study lead author Putu Agus Khorisantono is a researcher in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at <a href="https://ki.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karolinska Institutet</a>. </p>



<p>“We saw that the taste cortex reacts to taste-associated aromas as if they were real tastes,” explained Khorisantono. "The finding provides a possible explanation for why we sometimes experience taste from smell alone, for example in flavored waters." </p>



<p>"This underscores how strongly odors and tastes work together to make food pleasurable, potentially inducing craving and encouraging overeating of certain foods.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-brain-links-flavor-and-smell">How the brain links flavor and smell</h2>



<p>The researchers tested 25 adults. First, participants learned to identify sweet and savory flavors through combinations of taste and smell. </p>



<p>Later, inside a scanner, they received either tasteless odors or odorless tastes. Algorithms trained on brain responses to actual tastes were then tested on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radio-waves-can-boost-our-sense-of-smell-without-contact/">odors</a> alone. The surprising outcome was that odours mimicked the brain’s taste responses.</p>



<p>The study revealed that sweet or savory odors activated the same neural patterns as the corresponding tastes.</p>



<p>This overlap was strongest in the ventral anterior insula, a region connected to olfactory areas. Importantly, the researchers ruled out simple pleasure ratings as the cause. Instead, the brain genuinely encoded odors in a way that matched taste perception.</p>



<p>“This shows that the brain does not process taste and smell separately, but rather creates a joint representation of the flavor experience in the taste cortex,” said senior researcher Janina Seubert. </p>



<p>“This mechanism may be relevant for how our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-sense-of-smell-and-different-odors-can-influence-how-we-see-colors/">taste</a> preferences and eating habits are formed and influenced.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-flavor-and-smell-matter">Why flavor and smell matter</h2>



<p>The findings highlight the insula as a hub for flavor integration. They also reveal that taste representations can drift over time. Neural patterns of taste identity were less stable across days, echoing results seen in rodent studies. </p>



<p>This suggests that our flavor experiences are dynamic, adapting with exposure, context, and internal states such as hunger, mood, or attention. </p>



<p>A flavor that feels vivid and distinct one day may blur or even shift the next, depending on what the brain has recently learned or anticipated.</p>



<p>This fluid quality points to a system designed not for rigid coding but for flexibility, helping us adjust to changing diets, environments, and cultural influences on taste.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flavor-identity-and-reward-value">Flavor identity and reward value</h2>



<p>The study also observed cross-modal decoding in other regions, such as the orbitofrontal cortex, which is known to encode the value of food. </p>



<p>The researchers propose that the insula forms a shared flavor identity, while the orbitofrontal cortex evaluates its reward value. This dual process could explain why certain odors make foods irresistible and shape long-term eating habits.</p>



<p>The team now wants to test external smells, or orthonasal odors. These are the scents we encounter before eating, like walking past bread or pastries.</p>



<p>“We want to find out whether the activation pattern in the brain’s taste cortex changes from salty to sweet when we walk from the cheese aisle to the pastries in the supermarket,” said Khorisantono. “If so, this could have a significant impact on the foods we choose to consume.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-flavor-and-smell-affect-health">How flavor and smell affect health</h2>



<p>This research reframes flavor as a deeply integrated brain process. Smell and taste are not separate streams but overlapping codes that can trick the brain into tasting without tasting.</p>



<p>Beyond solving everyday mysteries like sweet-tasting flavored water, the work raises questions about cravings, overeating, and how our diets are shaped by environments filled with powerful aromas. </p>



<p>The research also suggests that everyday exposure to food-related smells in supermarkets, restaurants, offices, and even advertising spaces may influence us more than we realize.</p>



<p>These aromas may prime the brain to expect certain tastes, creating a loop where scent alone can nudge us toward food choices we might not otherwise make. </p>



<p>Over time, this subtle influence could shape eating habits, nutritional patterns, and even health outcomes, revealing how deeply our sensory world directs behavior long before conscious decisions take place.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63803-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.</em></p>



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How smell tricks the brain into tasting flavors

Think about sipping a sugar-free drink that still tastes sweet. Many of us have puzzled over this illusion. Now scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden reveal how our brains transform smell into taste. The research, published in Nature Communications, shows that the brain encodes certain aromas as if they were flavors themselves. How flavor and smell form Flavor is more than taste. It comes from a combination of gustatory signals and retronasal odors, those aromas drifting from the mouth to the nose. The insula, known as the...

<p>Polymers are a fundamental part of our daily lives. They are found in everything from electronics and construction materials to household items and vehicles.</p>



<p>Traditionally deemed safe due to their large molecular size, these substances have mostly avoided regulatory scrutiny. However, a new study challenges this assumption - showing that some polymers can degrade over time, releasing smaller chemical molecules that may pose potential risks.</p>



<p>This discovery raises concerns about the hidden risks associated with using polymers that have long been considered harmless, and highlights the need for greater oversight.</p>



<p>As researchers uncover more about the breakdown processes, questions arise about the long-term environmental and health consequences of widespread polymer use.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-polymer-mystery">Unraveling the polymer mystery</h2>



<p>Can we trust polymers to be safe? The scientific community has traditionally thought so. The logic was simple; we believed these large molecules were too big to migrate out of the products and into people, thus posing no health risks.</p>



<p>As a result, polymers have managed to dodge regulation, and they are exempt from fundamental toxic acts like the Toxic Substances Control Act in the U.S. and REACH in the E.U.</p>



<p>However, the latest study is now challenging this long-standing conviction. Researchers from <a href="https://www.jnu.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jinan University</a> in China and the University of Toronto have discovered that certain polymers used as flame retardants might be breaking down into smaller, harmful chemicals.</p>



<p>"Our study suggests polymers can act as a trojan horse for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-kitchen-utensils-may-leach-toxic-chemicals-in-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toxic chemicals</a>. They are added to products as inert large molecules but, over time, they can degrade, exposing us to their harmful breakdown products," said study senior author Da Chen.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flame-retardants-and-their-hidden-risks">Flame retardants and their hidden risks</h2>



<p>To test their hypothesis, the researchers experimented with two polymeric brominated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/household-chemicals-linked-to-neurological-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flame retardants</a> (polyBFRs). These substances were created as "non-toxic" alternatives to banned flame retardants. </p>



<p>Surprisingly, the team found that both polyBFRs decomposed into dozens of types of smaller molecules.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-strengthen-the-toxicity-of-pollutants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toxicity</a> testing of these smaller molecules in zebrafish showed a considerable potential for causing mitochondrial dysfunction and developmental and cardiovascular harm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakdown-products-in-the-environment">Breakdown products in the environment</h2>



<p>The scientists didn't stop there. They sought out these polymer breakdown products in the environment. Alarmingly, the molecules were detected in soil, air, and dust.</p>



<p>The highest concentration levels were detected near electronic waste recycling facilities, gradually decreasing with distance from these sites.</p>



<p>These findings bolster the claim that the use of polyBFRs in electronics can result in the release of toxic breakdown products into the environment, potentially exposing humans and wildlife to harm.</p>



<p>Miriam Diamond, a co-author and professor at the University of Toronto, expressed her concerns.</p>



<p>"Widespread use of these polyBFRs in electronics may result in exposures when these products are manufactured, when they're in our homes, and when they're discarded or recycled," said Professor Diamond.</p>



<p>"Since it is suspected that production volumes are very high (the chemical industry does not disclose the volumes), the potential for pollution - and resulting serious harm to people and wildlife - greatly concerns me."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-concern-over-polymer-safety">Growing concern over polymer safety</h2>



<p>The implications of the research extend to other types of polymers used in consumer products, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).</p>



<p>Despite arguments from PFAS producers that fluorinated polymers should be exempt from regulation, scientists insist that fluorinated polymers are members of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pfas-crisis-humans-are-early-warning-system-for-wildlife-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PFAS</a> class of substances and that the use of all PFAS should be avoided.</p>



<p>"To escape regulation, flame retardant and PFAS producers are increasingly pivoting to polymers for use in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-household-products-expose-people-to-dangerous-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">everyday products</a>. As a result, problematic polymers emit toxic small molecules from products we touch, sit on, wear, and keep in our homes," said Arlene Blum, executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute.</p>



<p>"Regulators need to close this loophole to protect consumers - especially children - from the possibility of serious chemical harm." </p>



<p>In conclusion, it's essential for us to reconsider our understanding and regulation of polymers. They might not be as benign as once thought. </p>



<p>More research is needed, but one thing is clear: we need to be aware of the potential invisible risk in our everyday products.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01513-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Sustainability</a></em>.</p>



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Everyday polymers that are considered 'safe' release harmful toxins

Polymers are a fundamental part of our daily lives. They...

<p>Aging can feel like an unstoppable force. Some researchers believe it may one day be slowed or even paused, thanks to an emerging technique known as cellular reprogramming.</p>



<p>Curiosity has surrounded this approach since a 2016 mouse experiment at the <a href="https://www.salk.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salk Institute</a>, where progeric rodents (that age more rapidly than normal) lived longer after exposure to four genes that could rewrite <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/defying-time-three-ways-to-slow-biological-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cellular aging</a>.</p>



<p>Lucy Xu, a postdoctoral research fellow at <a href="https://oto.hms.harvard.edu/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard Medical School</a>, has followed these findings closely.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-reprogramming-changes-aging-cells">How reprogramming changes aging cells</h2>



<p>Every mammalian cell contains <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-a-protein-that-reverses-cellular-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA</a>. However, the DNA in your heart cells behaves differently than it does in your skin cells because of the <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Epigenome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">epigenome</a>, an outer layer affected by <a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/the-role-of-methylation-in-gene-expression-1070/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methylation</a> patterns that can turn genes on or off. Over a lifetime, methylation shifts with diet, pollution, exercise, and stress.</p>



<p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22056670/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientists</a> discovered that activating <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/cr200759" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">four reprogramming genes</a>, named after Shinya Yamanaka, can strip away large portions of these methyl marks. This can reset cells to an earlier, more flexible state, which can be good or dangerous.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-and-pitfalls">Potential and pitfalls</h2>



<p>Animal studies have linked complete reprogramming to <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22074-teratoma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">teratomas</a>, which are bizarre growths that sprout tissues like teeth and hair in odd places.</p>



<p>In one early mouse experiment by <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature12586/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spanish researchers</a>, “many of the animals died within weeks,” which reveals just how risky total cellular regression can be.</p>



<p>In partial reprogramming, researchers use fewer <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/cr2008309" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yamanaka genes</a> or cycle them briefly to avoid pushing cells back into a stem cell state. This less-extreme version aims to refresh <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cells</a> while preserving their identity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-safety-is-a-concern">Why safety is a concern</h2>



<p>“I don’t believe there can be reprogramming. You’re practically telling these cells to become cancer,” said Charles Brenner, a scientist at <a href="https://www.cityofhope.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">City of Hope</a> research center in Duarte, California. Creating extra stem-like cells might be a path to fierce cancers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To reduce the odds of uncontrolled cell growth, some scientists use a well-known antibiotic to control gene activity. They turn it on briefly, then shut it off. The hope is that this approach rejuvenates tissues without allowing runaway <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daily-doctor-recommended-regimen-that-could-slow-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cell</a> division.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reprogramming-cells-in-aging-tissues">Reprogramming cells in aging tissues</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2975-4%5C" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Research</a> from Harvard in 2020 showed promise by focusing on eye tissues in older mice. David Sinclair, a Harvard geneticist who worked on the study, used only three of the original four genes - removing the one most associated with tumors.</p>



<p>A biotech company, <a href="https://www.lifebiosciences.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Life Biosciences</a>, has advanced this strategy by testing partial cell reprogramming on monkeys with eye damage. </p>



<p>The firm plans to apply for permission to do the same in people who have suffered sudden optic nerve strokes, believing the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-44740-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotic-switch method</a> is safer than previous attempts.</p>



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



<p>While eye tissues seem like a controlled starting point, some labs also hope to apply partial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-the-cellular-mortality-timer-that-dictates-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reprogramming</a> more broadly.</p>



<p>A follow-up <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-022-00183-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">project</a> at the Salk Institute used carefully timed reprogramming in mice with extra copies of reprogramming genes. Tumors were less common, and some tissues showed younger biological markers, although lifespans did not increase.</p>



<p>Those results fuel speculation that certain organs, such as the brain, might benefit from partial reprogramming. Investigations at Stanford University <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00594-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tested</a> this approach in mice, aiming to improve brain aging. </p>



<p>The targeted reprogramming boosted newly formed neurons, though the mice had an uptick in inflammation.</p>



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



<p>The technique still prompts concerns about long-term effects and who will have access if human trials succeed. Some fear only people with deep pockets may benefit initially. Others wonder if reprogramming might lead to costly or risky treatments that never live up to the hype.</p>



<p>Some scientists remain optimistic. They believe partial reprogramming might transform eye disease care, and later, other age-related problems. They acknowledge that verifying safety is key and that any therapy for aging must pass rigorous testing.</p>



<p>Life Biosciences expects to begin clinical trials in the near future, and will use partial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/random-dna-mutations-shape-biological-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reprogramming</a> to help certain adults who suffer acute optic nerve issues.</p>



<p>Analysts say these initial results will guide future work. If the therapy shows no tumors or unexpected complications, it could open a path for new treatments targeting age-related loss of function.</p>



<p>“I worry about the speed,” Xu said, noting that more questions need answers before the technology expands beyond small clinical studies. </p>



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



<p>No one knows whether these methods will eventually slow or alter aging in humans. Undeterred, investors hope partial reprogramming can become a novel strategy for a range of conditions.</p>



<p>Research continues across universities and startups. Many experts see partial reprogramming as a step forward, as long as scientists can balance rejuvenation with safety.</p>



<p>Others warn that tampering with cellular identity may unleash problems we can’t yet predict. Even so, interest in these trials keeps growing.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00594-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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Can we reverse aging? A bold new approach could reprogram cells

Aging can feel like an unstoppable force. Some researchers believe...

<p>Sharks have long been portrayed as fearsome predators, dominating the oceans with their sleek bodies and razor-sharp teeth. Movies and myths have painted them as threats to humans, but the reality is quite the opposite. Sharks have far more reason to fear us. </p>



<p>Nearly one-third of all shark species are now threatened with extinction, primarily due to overfishing.</p>



<p>This is not just a loss for sharks but a significant disruption to marine ecosystems. As apex predators, sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ocean life. Their decline can trigger chain reactions that affect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shark-fishing-is-making-coral-reefs-collapse-in-an-unexpected-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish populations</a> and coral reefs.</p>



<p>A team of researchers at UC Santa Barbara recently examined whether current regulations, such as requiring fishermen to release captured sharks, are enough to protect them. </p>



<p>The study reveals that these mandates alone will not be sufficient. To preserve these vital creatures, a combination of strategies is necessary.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-sharks-are-caught-accidentally">Many sharks are caught accidentally </h2>



<p>Some sharks are specifically targeted by fisheries, but many others are caught unintentionally. This issue extends far beyond the species directly sought after by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-may-benefit-from-rising-temperatures-but-not-from-rising-co2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fishing</a> industry.</p>



<p>“More than half of sharks that are caught and killed in fisheries are captured incidentally and then discarded,” said Darcy Bradley, co-author of the study and adjunct faculty at the Bren School of Environmental Science &amp; Management.</p>



<p>Many fisheries operate under retention bans, which require fishermen to release certain species instead of keeping them. Currently, 17 oceanic shark species are protected under these bans in tuna fisheries. </p>



<p>However, while these policies aim to reduce shark deaths, researchers questioned whether they truly prevent population decline. The team sought to understand the fate of sharks after they are released back into the ocean.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shark-mortality-rates">Shark mortality rates</h2>



<p>To get a clearer picture of shark survival, the researchers analyzed over 150 published studies and reports on shark mortality. These studies documented the number of sharks that died either upon being hauled onto a fishing vessel or soon after being released.</p>



<p>The analysis covered nearly 150 different shark <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unprovoked-shark-attacks-dropped-to-record-low-in-2024/">species</a>, each caught using various fishing techniques. By examining this data, the team estimated mortality rates for an additional 341 species that lacked direct studies.</p>



<p>Certain sharks were far more vulnerable to death after capture. Small sharks and several threatened species, including thresher sharks and hammerheads, had particularly high mortality rates. Deep-sea species also fared poorly due to the extreme pressure changes they experienced when pulled from the depths.</p>



<p>“Mortality was surprisingly high for some species such as smoothhound sharks,” said co-lead author Leonardo Feitosa. “Ranging from 30 to 65%.” Deep-water species, like sleeper sharks, suffered from the trauma of rapid pressure shifts, making their survival after release unlikely.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-of-retention-bans">Limits of retention bans</h2>



<p>Simulating different policy scenarios, the researchers found that retention bans could reduce shark mortality by three times on average. However, this reduction was still not enough to ensure the sustainability of heavily fished species, such as mako and silky sharks.</p>



<p>“Retention bans are a beneficial first step towards addressing shark <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-sharks-face-growing-threats-despite-conservation-efforts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">overfishing</a>,” said Bradley. </p>



<p>But he warned that these bans alone will not be enough. Additional conservation measures, such as restricting certain fishing areas, setting catch quotas, and regulating fishing gear, must be implemented to ensure long-term population stability.</p>



<p>Certain shark species, such as blue sharks, bonnetheads, and angel sharks, have a better chance of recovering due to their faster reproductive rates. However, even the blue shark, which is the most heavily fished shark species globally, remains vulnerable.</p>



<p>“While it is highly unlikely that retention bans will ever be implemented for such a commercially important species, our results show that this could be a relatively simple and impactful strategy if it becomes necessary to sustain populations," said Feitosa.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-rules-are-needed-to-protect-sharks">More rules are needed to protect sharks</h2>



<p>For many shark species, retention bans alone will not be enough. To make a real impact, conservation strategies must focus on reducing the number of sharks caught in the first place. </p>



<p>One approach is to ban the use of steel wire on longlines, which increases the likelihood of sharks becoming entangled in fishing gear.</p>



<p>Spatial regulations could also help. Designating certain areas as shark nurseries and pupping grounds and restricting fishing in these zones would give young sharks a chance to grow and contribute to the population. </p>



<p>Protecting these critical habitats could make a significant difference in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-shark-mating-behaviors-observed-for-the-first-time-in-the-wild/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustaining species</a> that are struggling to recover.</p>



<p>Another challenge is the lack of data on other cartilaginous fish species, such as stingrays, skates, and chimaeras. </p>



<p>“Fifty-seven percent of cartilaginous fishes threatened with extinction in the world are not sharks,” Caughman explained. The team could not include these species in their study due to insufficient data, highlighting the need for further research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-towards-a-sustainable-future">Towards a sustainable future</h2>



<p>Shark conservation requires cooperation among governments, scientists, and fisheries. Members of The Nature Conservancy are currently collaborating with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission’s scientific staff to find effective strategies for shark protection. </p>



<p>These efforts aim to create well-informed policies that balance fishing needs with conservation goals.</p>



<p>The study serves as a call to action for the global community. Without stronger conservation strategies, shark populations will continue to decline, leading to widespread ecological consequences. </p>



<p>By combining various management approaches and investing in better data collection, scientists and policymakers can work toward a future where sharks remain an essential part of the ocean’s ecosystem.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/faf.12892" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fish and Fisheries</a>.</em></p>



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One third of shark species face extinction despite fishing bans

Sharks have long been portrayed as fearsome predators, dominating the...

<p>When astronomers observe distant objects, there is a potential pitfall: does a particular star truly appear reddish because of its intrinsic characteristics, or is it merely taking on a red hue due to intervening cosmic dust?&nbsp;</p>



<p>For astronomers, dust is not just an observational inconvenience - it also provides crucial insights into the composition and local conditions within interstellar space.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Two researchers at the <a href="https://www.mpia.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Astronomy</a> (MPIA) have now created the most detailed three-dimensional map to date, tracking dust in our galaxy and explaining how it alters light along our line of sight.</p>



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



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-dust-becomes-planets-in-the-shadows-of-hh-30/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dust</a> spread across the Milky Way dims and reddens the light from distant stars. When light from a star travels to us, the tiny dust particles more strongly absorb and scatter bluer wavelengths, while allowing redder wavelengths to pass more easily.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This wavelength-dependent phenomenon is referred to as extinction (the star appears fainter than it is) and reddening (the star takes on a redder hue).&nbsp;</p>



<p>Accurately disentangling the effect of dust is vital for astronomers, who need a precise picture of distant objects’ actual brightness and color to glean information about their properties.</p>



<p>As Xiangyu Zhang, a doctoral candidate at MPIA, and his advisor Gregory Green explain, cosmic dust particles don’t absorb and scatter light evenly across all wavelengths, but rather they absorb light more strongly at shorter wavelengths, towards the blue end of the spectrum, and less strongly at longer wavelengths, towards the red end.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Studying these dust properties can shed light on the composition and evolution of the interstellar medium.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-dust-across-a-galaxy">Mapping dust across a galaxy</h2>



<p>Previous efforts at mapping dust on a galaxy-wide level were limited, mainly due to incomplete data. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Space Agency</a>’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gaia-reveals-moons-around-hundreds-of-asteroids/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gaia mission</a> - devoted to tracking positions, motions, and physical traits for over one billion stars - now offers a treasure trove of new information. </p>



<p>Gaia’s third data release (DR3), published in June 2022, contains 220 million spectra. Zhang and Green identified 130 million of them as suitable for their study of dust’s effects.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/milky-way-dust_map_wavelength_credit-MPIA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/milky-way-dust_map_wavelength_credit-MPIA_1s.webp" alt="Red indicates regions where extinction falls off more rapidly at long wavelengths (the red end of the spectrum), while blue indicates that extinction is less dependent on wavelength. Regions with insufficient data are shown in white. The gray contours enclose regions of high dust density. Credit: X. Zhang/G. Green, MPIA" class="wp-image-1962319"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Red indicates regions where extinction falls off more rapidly at long wavelengths (the red end of the spectrum), while blue indicates that extinction is less dependent on wavelength. Regions with insufficient data are shown in white. The gray contours enclose regions of high dust density. Credit: X. Zhang/G. Green, MPIA</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Gaia’s spectra, however, are low-resolution, meaning they only separate incoming light into broad wavelength bins. </p>



<p>To improve accuracy, the researchers turned to high-resolution data from the <a href="https://www.lamost.org/public/?locale=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LAMOST survey</a> for approximately 1% of the stars in their sample. </p>



<p>These extra details helped them determine each star’s surface temperature and other properties, crucial for untangling the effects of dust from the star’s own attributes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-a-3d-dust-map-nbsp">Building a 3D dust map&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Zhang and Green employed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-could-revolutionize-drug-discovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">machine learning</a> techniques - specifically, a neural network - to synthesize model spectra that incorporate both known stellar properties and dust parameters. </p>



<p>The researchers compared these model-generated spectra with the observed Gaia data, all while ensuring the results followed certain established laws of physics.</p>



<p>In doing so, they derived new constitutive models detailing how dust in different parts of the galaxy dims and reddens starlight (often represented by an “extinction curve”).&nbsp;</p>



<p>Through statistical analyses, the experts could reconstruct the properties of dust along each star’s line of sight, culminating in the most finely detailed 3D map of dust across the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a> yet produced.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stellar-birth-and-planet-formation-nbsp">Stellar birth and planet formation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Dust is sometimes seen as “the astronomer’s enemy,” as it confounds easy measurements of stellar brightness and color. Yet it also lies at the core of stellar birth and planet formation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Stars emerge from massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fluffy-molecular-clouds-may-change-our-understanding-of-star-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">molecular clouds</a>, which are shielded from harsh external radiation by dust. Newly formed stars are surrounded by disks of gas and dust that seed planetary systems.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Moreover, much of the chemical richness in our galaxy, especially elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, remain locked in dust grains.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-dust-behavior">Surprising dust behavior</h2>



<p>One of the map’s key findings contradicts earlier expectations. Astronomers once assumed that in regions of higher dust density, dust growth would flatten the extinction curve, making it less sensitive to wavelength.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Instead, Zhang and Green found that in areas of intermediate density, the extinction curve steepens, with shorter wavelengths more readily absorbed than longer ones.</p>



<p>“Higher density,” they note, is still extremely low by human standards - roughly ten billionth billionth grams of dust per cubic meter. </p>



<p>One plausible explanation is that certain molecules, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), might flourish in these conditions, causing the steeper wavelength dependency. </p>



<p>PAHs, which are the most widespread hydrocarbons in space, have even been proposed as a possible precursor to life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-3d-map-of-dust-in-the-milky-way-nbsp">First 3D map of dust in the Milky Way&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Zhang and Green’s work constitutes the first detailed, three-dimensional map of the extinction curve of dust in the Milky Way, relying on 130 million measurements compared to around one million in past studies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The success of this research demonstrates how advanced techniques - merging big data and rigorous physics - can unearth new insights.</p>



<p>Though their results provide an unprecedented view of dust’s large-scale distribution and properties, questions linger about how dust forms and evolves in different parts of the galaxy, and how these changes might influence the births of stars and planetary systems.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Zhang and Green intend to test their PAH hypothesis with future observations, refining the model to capture finer structural details and verifying the presence of specific molecular signatures.</p>



<p>In a broader sense, the study’s methodology promises to refine how astronomers correct for dust’s interference in both local and cosmological observations. </p>



<p>It may also help interpret new data from upcoming missions that probe the Milky Way’s structure and chemical makeup. </p>



<p>Consequently, the refined 3D dust map offers a clearer, dust-corrected view of our galaxy’s layout - an essential foundation for everything from measuring star distances to unraveling the riddle of how cosmic matter is assembled into complex, life-enabling systems.</p>



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



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Cosmic map reveals that the Milky Way's dust has very unusual properties

When astronomers observe distant objects, there is a potential pitfall:...

<p>Tiny microplastic fragments, often smaller than a grain of rice, are turning up in surprising places. From city streets to remote oceans, they persist in the air, water, and soil. </p>



<p>Scientists have learned that these particles can also invade the human body, showing up in organs that keep us alive. </p>



<p>For years, researchers have warned us about the possible dangers microplastics pose to animals, our food sources, and human health. Now a fresh study suggests even plants are feeling the pressure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plants-photosynthesis-and-microplastics">Plants, photosynthesis, and microplastics</h2>



<p>This new research from <a href="https://www.5gyres.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 Gyres Institute</a> offers new clues about how these plastic particles affect photosynthesis. </p>



<p>The team gathered over 3,200 records from across the globe, focusing on how tiny bits of microplastics alter photosynthesis by changing the way <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/details-photosynthesis-water-viewed-atomic-level-cryo-microscope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants use sunlight</a> to produce energy. </p>



<p>Their analysis spans common food crops and aquatic species, highlighting concerns about weakened growth. </p>



<p>For communities that rely on healthy harvests and marine resources, these findings add a fresh dimension to the worldwide plastic conversation.</p>



<p>“It’s really scary,” says Marcus Eriksen, a marine scientist at the 5 Gyres Institute, a nonprofit plastic pollution research organization, who was not involved in the study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-microplastics-spread-far-and-wide">How microplastics spread far and wide</h2>



<p>Most microplastics come from everyday sources. Plastic bottles, packaging, and synthetic clothing shed fibers that break into smaller pieces. Rain and wind carry these particles into rivers, and eventually they end up in oceans. </p>



<p>In agricultural fields, plastic mulch or irrigation systems contribute fragments that seep into the soil. Over time, these bits degrade further, leading to a steady accumulation in places we least expect. </p>



<p>This constant spread worries experts because smaller sizes mean they can slip into living organisms more easily.</p>



<p>Researchers have found these particles in fish, shellfish, and even table salt. In recent years, labs have also identified plastic remnants in bottled water and tap supplies. </p>



<p>While ongoing investigations continue to measure how widespread they are, one thing is clear: once plastic breaks down, it does not disappear. That lingering presence has potential consequences for all life on Earth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microplastics-impede-photosynthesis">Microplastics impede photosynthesis</h2>



<p>In this new analysis, researchers show that microplastics reduce photosynthesis by 7 to 12% across different plant species. </p>



<p>A computer model backs this up, indicating that plastic particles can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-photosynthesis-could-transform-power-generation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lower chlorophyll</a> levels by 11 to 13%. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gardening-hack-called-green-gold-chlorophyll-works-like-magic-for-houseplants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chlorophyll</a> is the green pigment that helps plants capture sunlight for food production, so any dip in its presence can affect overall growth.</p>



<p>Every year, this pollution could cause a loss of 109 to 361 million metric tons of crops and 1 to 24 million metric tons of seafood, according to the study. </p>



<p>Because of microplastic buildup, global harvests may drop by 4 to 13% yearly, and food from the ocean could decline by up to 7%. </p>



<p>Even minor disruptions to plant growth may have ripple effects on human nutrition and economies that rely on farming.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-for-the-food-supply">Challenges for the food supply</h2>



<p>Beyond plants, these particles also affect marine life, which many communities rely on for protein. Scientists report that if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastic-pollution-is-everywhere-even-in-newborns-and-getting-worse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microplastic pollution</a> continues unchecked, seafood yields could suffer even further. </p>



<p>They are associated with an increase in people’s risk of heart attack and stroke, and they have been found to hamper growth and reproduction in multiple species. </p>



<p>Worries about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-are-in-a-race-against-time-to-save-our-food-supply-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food safety and supply</a> also arise when these pollutants accumulate in organisms that people eat.</p>



<p>Researchers suggest that a modest 13% reduction in these particles could prevent the loss of up to 47 million metric tons of crops and 3 million metric<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-particles-found-in-99-of-tested-seafood-samples/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> tons of seafood</a> each year, translating to a 30% cut in overall harm. </p>



<p>This projection highlights the importance of tightening plastic regulations and improving waste management to protect food resources.</p>



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



<p>Reduced photosynthesis does not only <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbial-awakening-arctic-food-webs-are-transforming-from-green-to-brown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disrupt food webs</a>. When plants capture less carbon dioxide, there is less natural removal of this greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. </p>



<p>In many climate strategies, forests and marine algae are expected to absorb significant amounts of carbon in the coming decades. If plastic particles undermine that process, climate models may need to be revised.</p>



<p>Most projections assume stable plant performance over time. Any drop in growth or carbon uptake could make <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-the-world-is-on-track-for-a-catastrophic-level-of-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global warming</a> harder to control. </p>



<p>With ecosystems already under stress, additional strain from microscopic plastic fragments raises concerns about future carbon storage in forests, grasslands, and kelp beds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sounding-the-alarm">Sounding the alarm</h2>



<p>The study’s authors emphasize the need for international efforts to address plastic waste, pointing out that large pieces eventually degrade into smaller and more invasive forms.</p>



<p>A global treaty on plastic issues has been in discussion since 2017, yet recent negotiations concluded without a formal agreement.</p>



<p>Marine biologist Richard Thompson, who specializes in microplastic pollution at the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Plymouth</a> in England and was not involved in the study, notes that delaying action only increases the risks.</p>



<p>“If we don’t take action now,” he adds, “within the next 70 to 100 years, we’ll see much wide-scale ecological harm.”</p>



<p>Researchers say that lowering even a small amount of microplastic pollution could help protect crops, preserve marine life, and support our climate goals.</p>



<p>Taking action now can guard our health and ensure a healthier environment for generations to come, which doesn’t seem like too much to ask of humanity.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2423957122">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.</em></p>



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Sounding the alarm: Microplastics are disrupting  photosynthesis around the world

Tiny microplastic fragments, often smaller than a grain of rice,...

<p>When thinking about why animals look the way they do, color is often front and center. However, humans are mostly limited to seeing a certain slice of the spectrum, ignoring the ultraviolet (UV) range that many animals use in their daily lives.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A recent study by scientists at the <a href="https://umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> (U-M) highlights the importance of UV coloration in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diverse-group-of-snakes-has-a-new-evolutionary-tree/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">snakes</a>, showing that UV patterns are widespread and may play a significant role in evading predators such as birds.</p>



<p>The findings point to a broader issue in the study of color evolution: researchers tend to focus on colors we humans can detect.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“A lot of UV color work is done in systems that we consider traditionally bright and colorful, like birds, flowers and butterflies, but a lot of this color research is really biased by the human perception of color,” said Hayley Crowell, a doctoral student in the U-M Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-signals-in-the-uv-spectrum">Hidden signals in the UV spectrum</h2>



<p>Crowell notes that much of the past work on UV color has concentrated on reproductive behaviors - things like UV ‘nectar guides’ in flowers that help steer insects to the part of the flower necessary for pollination.</p>



<p>In snakes, the team suspected UV coloration might be used for different reasons. Because snakes don’t typically rely on bright <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-camera-system-takes-photos-in-the-same-colors-that-different-animals-see/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">colors</a> to find mates, the scientists hypothesized that UV might be associated more with camouflage or environmental signaling.</p>



<p>The researchers analyzed 110 snake species, collected in various regions ranging from Colorado to Peru. Many of the species examined in the study can see UV light in ways that humans cannot.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Using a specialized camera lens and filters, they captured images of the snakes, searching for ultraviolet reflection patterns. Importantly, they did not rely on black lights to observe fluorescence; instead, they looked at the UV color that the snakes naturally reflect - colors invisible to the human eye.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hidden-colors-of-snakes">The hidden colors of snakes</h2>



<p>Next, the researchers tested how different factors - such as a snake’s age, sex, habitat, evolutionary background, and how visible the snake was to predators - might correlate with having more or less UV color.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To their surprise, the biggest driver of UV coloration turned out to be where and how the snakes live. Arboreal snakes that spend most of their time in trees and are active at night had the highest levels of UV reflection.</p>



<p>“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-birds-use-snake-skins-in-their-nests-to-deter-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Birds</a>, which can also see UV color, are one of snakes’ biggest predators,” Crowell explained.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For a nocturnal, tree-dwelling snake, sporting a heavy UV reflection might be inconsequential at night - but can provide camouflage during the day, when birds are actively hunting.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Leaves, lichens, and other vegetation are all known to reflect UV light. Thus, a snake displaying UV patterns could blend seamlessly into its sunlit habitat.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-lack-of-sex-differences">Surprising lack of sex differences</h2>



<p>One unexpected finding was that UV patterns did not differ substantially between male and female snakes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Because reproduction drives UV color evolution in so many other species, the lack of sexual differences in snakes was a surprise,” said study co-author Alison Davis Rabosky, an associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at U-M.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“But I don’t think snakes are actually some kind of outlier doing color ‘differently’ than other animals. I think we scientists have simply overlooked a lot of UV coloration in cryptically colored species, especially in insects. They are the next frontier.”</p>



<p>Snakes are closely related to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lizards-take-bigger-risks-when-they-are-hungry/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lizards</a>, and lizard species are known for strong sexual dimorphism - males often have flashier colors or bigger ornaments than females.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In contrast, the lack of color contrast between male and female snakes suggests that sexual selection may not drive color differences as much in snakes as it does in their lizard relatives.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intriguing-individual-variations">Intriguing individual variations</h2>



<p>The researchers also found that some snakes of the same species, same sex, and from the same location could differ dramatically in UV reflectance levels.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Two individuals might look nearly identical in the visible color spectrum, but one reflects UV strongly and the other does not. This highlights the complexity of color usage - humans simply cannot see it, so the reasons behind these differences remain obscure.</p>



<p>Similarly, evolutionary relationships among snakes didn’t always predict UV usage: some closely related species varied significantly in the presence or intensity of UV reflectance.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Even within the same genus, the team found both strongly UV-reflective and barely UV-reflective species or populations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reassessing-our-vision-of-animal-color">Reassessing our vision of animal color</h2>



<p>The new research underscores the concept that just focusing on colors visible to humans could hide a great deal of evolutionary strategy.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By revealing that snakes employ UV coloration widely - often for camouflage and not for sex-based selection - this study challenges assumptions about how color is used throughout the animal kingdom.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“I think what’s so exceptional about this study is that we got to look at patterns of UV color across so many species and individuals,” said co-author Hannah Weller, a postdoctoral research fellow at the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Helsinki</a>. </p>



<p>“This amazing dataset really helped us start to understand just how variable a trait like this is, even in a group where we wouldn’t expect it.”</p>



<p>Ultimately, the researchers hope to inspire further investigations of UV coloration in other less-studied animal groups, especially among those perceived by humans as drab or colorless.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49506-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.&nbsp;</p>



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Snakes use invisible colors to outsmart predators

When thinking about why animals look the way they do,...

<p>As the planet heats up and Antarctica’s ice sheet melts at a faster pace, scientists warn of a steady rise in sea levels that could put coastal communities at risk.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Home to enough frozen water to increase global sea levels by 190 feet if completely melted, Antarctica remains a focus of intense scientific scrutiny.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Yet most climate models struggle to capture the complexities of its ice movement due to limited direct observations and the interplay between ocean currents, atmospheric conditions, and the frozen surface.</p>



<p>In a paper published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adp3300" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>, a team from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a> utilized machine learning to analyze high-resolution remote-sensing data of Antarctic ice movements.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-into-the-behavior-of-ice-nbsp">Insights into the behavior of ice<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>By combining large volumes of satellite imagery with established physical principles, their approach identifies fundamental processes governing the large-scale flow of ice on the continent. </p>



<p>The resulting insights could help refine how existing models estimate Antarctica’s future and the associated threat of accelerating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-cities-will-spend-over-3-trillion-dollars-damages-from-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea-level rise</a>.</p>



<p>Ching-Yao Lai is an assistant professor of geophysics at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and senior author of the study.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“A vast amount of observational data has become widely available in the satellite age,” said Professor Lai. “We combined that extensive observational dataset with physics-informed deep learning to gain new insights about the behavior of ice in its natural environment.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-critical-component-of-global-climate">A critical component of global climate</h2>



<p>Antarctica’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-ice-sheet-past-present-and-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice sheet</a> is Earth’s largest reservoir of frozen water, nearly twice the size of Australia. Acting like a vast sponge for the planet, it plays a pivotal role in regulating global sea levels. </p>



<p>Understanding how this sheet moves and melts is essential as its rate of shrinkage increases every year.</p>



<p>Historically, researchers have relied on laboratory experiments to approximate Antarctic ice’s mechanical properties. However, simulating real Antarctic ice in a lab can be deceptively simplistic, explained Professor Lai.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-patterns-in-antarctica-s-ice">Finding patterns in Antarctica’s ice </h2>



<p>Factors such as variations between seawater-derived ice and snow-compacted ice, or the presence of cracks, air voids, and other irregularities, all contribute to ice movement in nature.</p>



<p>“These differences influence the overall mechanical behavior, the so-called constitutive model, of the ice sheet in ways that are not captured in existing models or in a lab setting,” Lai said.</p>



<p>Rather than tackling every variable individually, the Stanford-led team used a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-machine-learning-can-help-us-protect-chimpanzees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">machine learning</a> model to assess large-scale patterns in the movement and thickness of ice. </p>



<p>This model used satellite images and airplane radar data from 2007 to 2018, while adhering to basic physical laws that regulate ice flow.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-variations-in-ice-shelf-dynamics"><strong>Variations in ice shelf dynamics</strong></h2>



<p>The researchers examined five Antarctic ice shelves - floating extensions of land-based <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-glaciers-are-reshaping-landscapes-and-national-borders-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a>. These shelves maintain stable levels of continental ice by keeping large amounts of it from sliding outright into the ocean.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts discovered that areas of the shelves closer to land experience strong compression, a characteristic that aligns with typical lab-derived models for ice dynamics. </p>



<p>However, ice located farther offshore experiences extension, causing it to respond differently in different directions - a phenomenon known as anisotropy.</p>



<p>Study first author Yongji Wang completed the project as a postdoctoral researcher in Lai’s lab and is now a postdoctoral researcher at <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York University</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Our study uncovers that most of the ice shelf is anisotropic,” said Wang. “The compression zone - the part near the grounded ice - only accounts for less than 5% of the ice shelf. The other 95% is the extension zone and doesn’t follow the same law.”</p>



<p>This finding undermines a key assumption in many climate models that treat ice as the same in every direction. Real conditions, Wang’s analysis indicates, are considerably more nuanced.</p>



<p>“People thought about this before, but it had never been validated,” Wang added. “Now, based on this new method and the rigorous mathematical thinking behind it, we know that models predicting the future evolution of Antarctica should be anisotropic.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consequences-for-coastal-areas">Consequences for coastal areas</h2>



<p>Understanding these complex ice dynamics is crucial, especially as polar regions warm rapidly. Rising seas already cause intensifying floods, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fighting-coastal-erosion-electricity-turns-sand-into-a-sea-wall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coastal erosion</a>, and severe storm damage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Models that overgeneralize the ice’s properties may underestimate or misjudge how fast Antarctica’s ice sheets can collapse or produce icebergs - a process called calving.</p>



<p>Moreover, the scientists note that many existing models have assumed the Antarctic ice sheet’s mechanical behavior is uniform. This oversimplification could translate into significant inaccuracies in projections about melt rates and sea-level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-understanding-of-earth-processes">New understanding of Earth processes </h2>



<p>This project exemplifies an emerging strategy that merges “big data” with fundamental physics in Earth science research.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Professor Lai emphasized that while machine learning can discover patterns from enormous sets of satellite images, scientists must still ensure the results adhere to the time-tested laws of physics that govern planetary processes.</p>



<p>“We are trying to show that you can actually use AI to learn something new,” Lai said. “It still needs to be bound by some physical laws, but this combined approach allowed us to uncover ice physics beyond what was previously known and could really drive new understanding of Earth and planetary processes in a natural setting.”</p>



<p>Since the data used here extend only to 2018, the team’s next steps include refining their technique with newly available images and radar signals.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers also plan to apply the method to other parts of the Antarctic continent and possibly beyond, gleaning more clues about how these massive frozen landscapes might evolve under accelerating climate change.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guiding-adaptation-strategies-nbsp">Guiding adaptation strategies&nbsp;</h2>



<p>As researchers plug these results into broader climate simulations, the hope is that predictions about rising oceans will incorporate Antarctica’s real-world complexities more faithfully.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Policymakers and coastal communities around the globe stand to benefit from improved forecasts to guide adaptation strategies - from planning dikes to restoring coastal wetlands.</p>



<p>Ultimately, the fusion of machine learning with physical knowledge marks a powerful advance in unraveling how Antarctica’s ice moves and melts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By better capturing small-scale differences across the continent’s ice shelves, scientists can glean deeper insights into the largest reservoir of freshwater on the planet - and how its future may shape the global coastline in coming decades.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio</p>



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Antarctica’s hidden ice dynamics will redefine sea level projections

As the planet heats up and Antarctica’s ice sheet melts...

<p>Physical activity is often linked to a longer life, but a Finnish twin study suggests the connection may not be as direct as previously thought. The findings challenge traditional assumptions about exercise and aging.</p>



<p>Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä examined how long-term physical activity affects mortality and whether it can counteract genetic risks for disease. The team also explored role of exercise in biological aging.</p>



<p>The experts analyzed 22,750 Finnish twins born before 1958. Their leisure-time <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-reduces-the-risk-of-brain-diseases-by-up-to-54-percent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physical activity</a> was assessed in 1975, 1981, and 1990. The researchers followed up on mortality data through the end of 2020. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moderate-activity-yields-maximum-benefits">Moderate activity yields maximum benefits</h2>



<p>The researchers identified four activity groups: sedentary, moderately active, active, and highly active. Over 30 years, the biggest difference was found between the sedentary and moderately active groups.</p>



<p>Moderately active individuals had a 7% lower mortality risk. However, those in the highly active group did not show additional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strength-training-may-be-the-best-exercise-for-insomnia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">benefits</a>.</p>



<p>In the short term, more physical activity correlated with lower mortality. However, in the long run, highly active individuals had no advantage over those who were sedentary.</p>



<p>“An underlying pre-disease state can limit physical activity and ultimately lead to death, not the lack of exercise itself,” said Professor Elina Sillanpää from the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences.</p>



<p>“This can bias the association between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-doses-of-exercise-can-greatly-reduce-dementia-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physical activity</a> and mortality in the short term.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exercise-guidelines-and-mortality-risk">Exercise guidelines and mortality risk</h2>



<p>The experts also evaluated whether following World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO</a>) physical activity guidelines influenced mortality and genetic disease risk. The WHO recommends 150–300 minutes of moderate or 75–150 minutes of vigorous activity weekly.</p>



<p>The results of the study showed that meeting these guidelines did not lower mortality risk. Even twins who followed the recommendations for 15 years showed no significant difference in mortality rates compared to their less active siblings.</p>



<p>"The widely observed favorable association between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fitness-focused-medicine-physical-activity-reduces-chronic-disease-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physical activity</a> and mortality are based on observational studies that are prone to bias from different sources,” noted postdoctoral researcher Laura Joensuu.</p>



<p>“In our studies, we aimed to account for various sources of biases, and combined with the long follow-up period, we could not confirm that adhering to physical activity guidelines mitigates genetic cardiovascular disease risk or causally reduces mortality.”</p>



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



<p>For a subset of twins, the researchers analyzed biological aging using epigenetic clocks. These clocks estimate biological aging based on chemical markers that regulate gene activity.</p>



<p>The results showed a U-shaped pattern. Both the least and most active individuals experienced accelerated biological aging.</p>



<p>“We found that the association between leisure-time physical activity and biological aging was U-shaped: Biological aging was accelerated in those who exercised the least and the most,” said Sillanpää.</p>



<p>Lifestyle factors like smoking and alcohol use played a major role in the link between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fitness-is-far-more-important-than-weight-for-living-a-healthy-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physical activity</a> and biological aging. The study also examined genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease and blood pressure using polygenic risk scores.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-exercise-does-not-slow-aging">More exercise does not slow aging</h2>



<p>This research challenges the widely held belief that more exercise always leads to a longer life. </p>



<p>While physical activity is beneficial for overall health, its impact on longevity is more complicated than previously assumed. Moderate exercise appears to offer the best balance, while excessive activity does not necessarily add extra years to life.</p>



<p>The findings also highlight the importance of considering other factors, such as lifestyle habits and genetic predisposition. Exercise alone may not be enough to overcome genetic risks. Other aspects of health, such as diet, stress management, and avoiding harmful habits, play a crucial role in aging and longevity.</p>



<p>Future research may further clarify the relationship between physical activity and lifespan. In the meantime, individuals should aim for a balanced approach to exercise, focusing on overall well-being rather than just lifespan extension.</p>



<p>The study involved researchers from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences and the Methodology Centre for Human Sciences at the <a href="https://www.jyu.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Jyväskylä</a>. Experts at the Finnish Institute of Molecular Medicine at the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Helsinki</a> also contributed.</p>



<p>The findings are published in the <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10654-024-01200-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Journal of Epidemiology</a>.</em></p>



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Exercise and aging: New study reveals a surprising connection

Physical activity is often linked to a longer life, but...

<p>For the first time, researchers have conducted a year-round evaluation of bacteria and microbial eukaryotes - small marine organisms like phytoplankton - at two Antarctic bases.</p>



<p>By sampling through all the seasons and using the same methods repeatedly, the research provides a thorough picture of how microbial communities respond to climate change.</p>



<p>Between July 2013 and April 2014, researchers took seawater samples from the British Antarctic Survey's long-term ecological monitoring site at Rothera and from the Palmer research station, which is 400 kilometers to the north. </p>



<p>The scientists employed DNA sequence analysis to identify the bacteria, protists, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-heatwaves-have-complex-effects-on-phytoplankton-food-web/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phytoplankton</a> in the water.</p>



<p>Special statistical models were used to forecast microbial interactions - basically charting the "who eats whom" of the microscopic world.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microorganisms-shape-marine-ecosystems">Microorganisms shape marine ecosystems</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-in-tasman-sea-is-melting-the-antarctic-peninsula/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic Peninsula</a> is warming at a rate faster than the global average, leading to unprecedented heatwaves and declining sea ice. However, regional variations exist. </p>



<p>In the waters around Palmer, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-is-losing-its-cooling-power-making-the-earth-even-warmer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice</a> has decreased significantly as temperatures have risen more rapidly when compared to Rothera. This divergence influences microbial community composition in unique ways. </p>



<p>"At the warmer Palmer site, bacteria influenced microbial community structure by interacting with other microorganisms, while at Rothera, it was the microbial eukaryotes that played a stronger role in shaping community dynamics," explained Engelmann.</p>



<p>This&nbsp;trend&nbsp;towards&nbsp;increased bacterial prevalence in warming oceans might upset biological productivity. </p>



<p>Phytoplankton are producers in marine food chains, so a reduction in phytoplankton translates to fewer nutrients available for higher organisms such as krill, fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.</p>



<p>“These findings have significant implications for understanding and predicting microbial ecosystem responses to climate change, and are therefore relevant for a broad group of researchers and even for humanity as a whole,” Engelmann stated.</p>



<p>Microorganisms, through tiny, far outnumber all marine animals in terms of biomass. </p>



<p>Climate-driven changes in microbial food webs within the Southern Ocean could have far-reaching consequences that impact global marine ecosystems and nutrient cycles.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-microbial-data-in-climate-models">The role of microbial data in climate models</h2>



<p>Looking ahead, researchers hope to integrate microbial data into climate and ocean models. </p>



<p>“The microbial food web is complex; bacteria and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-viruses-may-help-slow-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbial eukaryotes</a> have different functions and there are a lot of interactions among and between these groups, but also with larger organisms, including animals,” Engelmann commented.</p>



<p>“At this point, it is difficult to predict the impact of climate change on microbial productivity. Our research provides crucial baseline data for understanding the complexity of microbial communities in coastal Antarctic ecosystems, but we need more data and a better understanding of marine microbial communities before we can include them in climate and ocean models,” added Engelmann.</p>



<p>Researchers acknowledge the need for more data to achieve this goal and stress that including data on microbial productivity would make predictive models more accurate in future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-the-research-timeline">Expanding the research timeline</h2>



<p>The 2013-2014 study marks the first comprehensive seasonal analysis of both bacterial and microbial eukaryote communities in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/acidity-levels-of-antarctic-waters-will-soon-double-harming-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic waters</a>. </p>



<p>Future measurements will provide a clearer picture of long-term microbial trends.</p>



<p>"Now, we've drawn conclusions based on climate differences at two locations. We have samples ready from 2018-2019 and also from 2022. The more of these measurements we collect over time, the more we'll learn about Antarctic marine microbial communities, their interactions, and susceptibility to climate change," Engelmann explained.</p>



<p>Despite the valuable insights gained from these studies, conducting research in Antarctica presents significant logistical challenges. </p>



<p>Sampling requires extensive coordination, specialized equipment, and considerable resources. Furthermore, international collaboration is key to conducting successful research.</p>



<p>"International cooperation, such as with the British Antarctic Survey and the colleagues in the U.S. who worked at Palmer station and their home universities, is therefore crucial," stressed Engelmann.</p>



<p>With continued efforts, these studies will help unravel the intricate role of microorganisms in the Antarctic ecosystem and their response to an ever-changing climate.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbial-shifts-and-global-ocean-health">Microbial shifts and global ocean health</h2>



<p>The microbial alterations that have been observed in Antarctic waters are just a part of a larger pattern being seen across marine ecosystems globally.</p>



<p>With rising ocean temperatures, changes in microbial communities impact nutrient cycles, carbon sequestration, and food webs, and there are likely implications for marine biodiversity and ecosystem stability.</p>



<p>Phytoplankton, in particular, are responsible for sustaining marine life and governing atmospheric carbon. So shifts in microbial interactions may reorganize the effectiveness of carbon sequestration in the ocean, influencing climate regulation on Earth.</p>



<p>Disruptions to the microbial food web could also have indirect impacts on more complex organisms and possibly reconfigure the structure of polar ecosystems.</p>



<p>Monitoring these microbial dynamics over a period of time will enable researchers to improve climate models and estimate how ocean ecosystems will adjust to ongoing environmental changes. </p>



<p>When the newly available data for the past years is analyzed, it will help scientists to better understand the long-term patterns that will guide the future of Antarctic marine ecosystems.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://environmentalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40793-025-00663-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Microbiome</a></em>.</p>



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Warming waters are dramatically changing microbial life in Antarctica

For the first time, researchers have conducted a year-round evaluation...

<p>Oceans never stay still. They shift, churn, breathe - responding to forces seen and unseen. Tides roll in and out, currents snake across the globe, and deep waters keep ancient secrets. Yet, in recent decades, something has changed. Sea levels are rising at an accelerating pace.</p>



<p>Scientists expected this rise. What they didn’t expect was just how fast it would happen. The year 2024 delivered a sharp wake-up call, showing a spike that outpaced predictions. </p>



<p>Coastal cities, fragile ecosystems, even the way storms form - all are being reshaped by the relentless expansion of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-level-rise-is-accelerating">Sea level rise is accelerating </h2>



<p>In 2024, global sea levels rose at a rate of 0.23 inches (0.59 centimeters) per year. That may sound small, but when spread across the vastness of Earth’s oceans, it’s staggering. </p>



<p>Scientists had expected a rise of 0.17 inches (0.43 centimeters) per year. Instead, the increase came faster, driven largely by the expansion of warming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-cities-will-spend-over-3-trillion-dollars-damages-from-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seawater</a>.</p>



<p>“The rise we saw in 2024 was higher than we expected,” said Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA’s <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> in Southern California. </p>



<p>“Every year is a little bit different, but what’s clear is that the ocean continues to rise, and the rate of rise is getting faster and faster.”</p>



<p>Three decades of satellite data confirm the trend: rising waters, increasing speed, and an undeniable pattern. Year by year, the ocean gains height, swallowing more shoreline, shifting ecosystems, and creeping further inland.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-forces-behind-rising-seas">Changing forces behind rising seas</h2>



<p>For years, the biggest driver of sea level rise was melting ice. Glaciers and ice sheets shed their frozen mass into the ocean, accounting for about two-thirds of the increase. The rest came from thermal expansion - ocean water growing in volume as it absorbs heat.</p>



<p>Then, in 2024, the balance flipped. Ocean warming took the lead. Now, two-thirds of sea level rise comes from thermal expansion alone.</p>



<p>“With 2024 as the warmest year on record, Earth’s expanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/major-coastal-cities-around-the-world-could-disappear-under-rising-seas-by-2100/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oceans</a> are following suit, reaching their highest levels in three decades,” said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, head of physical oceanography programs at NASA Headquarters in Washington.</p>



<p>This shift signals a deeper problem. Even if glaciers stopped melting tomorrow, oceans would still rise. The heat already absorbed will keep expanding water for years, if not centuries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellites-watching-from-above">Satellites watching from above</h2>



<p>Tracking the rise of the sea requires precision. Satellites provide that view, giving scientists the ability to measure ocean height down to mere centimeters.</p>



<p>Since 1993, satellites have kept a constant eye on Earth’s waters. The data they collect reveals a clear upward trend - sea levels have climbed approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) since the early 1990s.</p>



<p>The mission began with <a href="https://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/topex-poseidon/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TOPEX/Poseidon</a> in 1992. Today, <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/sentinel-6/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich</a> carries the torch, delivering data with unparalleled accuracy. </p>



<p>Soon, its twin, Sentinel-6B, will take over, ensuring that these vital observations continue for decades to come.</p>



<p>What these satellites record is more than just numbers. Their measurements help researchers forecast storm surges, predict flooding risks, and refine climate models. Without them, the world would be flying blind into an uncertain future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-heat-moves-through-the-ocean">How heat moves through the ocean</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-much-will-antarctica-contribute-to-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oceans</a> don’t heat up evenly. They aren’t like a pot of water on a stove, warming from the bottom up. Instead, heat seeps in through the surface, where it can linger - or sink deep, depending on conditions.</p>



<p>In most places, ocean water settles into layers. Warm, lightweight water stays near the top, while colder, heavier water sinks. This layering slows the spread of heat. But sometimes, nature disrupts the system.</p>



<p>Powerful winds can stir the ocean, dragging warm surface waters downward. Massive currents - like those in the Southern Ocean - tilt the layers, allowing heat to slip into deeper waters.</p>



<p>The result? A slow but steady infusion of warmth, fueling thermal expansion and rising sea levels higher.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-el-nino-and-the-heat-shuffle">El Niño and the heat shuffle</h2>



<p>Then there’s El Niño. Every few years, a vast pool of warm water in the western Pacific sloshes eastward, shifting weather patterns across the globe.</p>



<p>When El Niño shifts warm water across the Pacific, ocean heat moves with it. Surface temperatures fluctuate, deep currents realign, and while some regions face rising waters, others see temporary declines.</p>



<p>El Niño doesn’t just affect sea levels in the moment - it adds to long-term warming. More heat in the ocean means more expansion. And more expansion means more water creeping up shorelines, year after year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-comes-next">What comes next?</h2>



<p>The acceleration of sea level rise in 2024 is more than just a statistic. It’s a warning. A reality check. A glimpse of what’s to come.</p>



<p>For coastal cities, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Higher seas mean stronger storm surges, flooded streets, and disappearing shorelines. Communities will need stronger defenses - sea walls, drainage systems, and emergency plans for when the waters come.</p>



<p>Scientists will keep watching, tracking every fraction of an inch. The satellites will keep measuring. But the ocean? It will keep rising.</p>



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Record heat of 2024 triggered a surge in sea level rise

Oceans never stay still. They shift, churn, breathe - responding...

<p>People have long turned to nature for comfort and relief. A walk in the woods, the sound of waves crashing on the shore, or even the sight of green fields can bring a sense of peace. </p>



<p>But can nature actually reduce physical pain?A new study from the University of Vienna and the University of Exeter suggests that it can. </p>



<p>Using advanced brain imaging, researchers have uncovered how viewing nature changes the way the brain processes pain.</p>



<p>The study provides fresh insight into why natural environments have long been associated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tapping-into-the-pain-relief-potential-of-cannabis-without-the-high/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healing</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-alters-pain-perception">Nature alters pain perception</h2>



<p>Pain is not just a physical sensation. The brain plays a crucial role in interpreting and reacting to pain. The research team, led by scientists in Austria and the UK, set out to understand whether nature could influence the brain’s pain-processing mechanisms. </p>



<p>The study, published in <em>Nature Communications</em>, suggests that watching nature reduces pain by directly affecting neural activity.</p>



<p>The researchers used an fMRI scanner to monitor the brain activity of 49 participants. Each person received a series of mild electric shocks while watching different videos. Some participants viewed natural landscapes, while others watched urban or indoor scenes. </p>



<p>The results were clear - those who watched nature not only reported feeling less pain, but their brain scans showed reduced activity in regions linked to pain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healing-through-headphones-personalized-music-can-reduce-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perception</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-s-response-to-nature">Brain’s response to nature</h2>



<p>The study went a step further by applying machine-learning techniques to analyze brain networks involved in pain processing. The results showed that nature influenced how the brain received and interpreted pain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-can-help-ease-chronic-pain-anxiety-and-mood-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">signals</a>. </p>



<p>Watching natural scenes reduced the intensity of sensory input, meaning the brain perceived the pain as less severe.</p>



<p>“Numerous studies have shown that people consistently report feeling less pain when exposed to nature. Yet until now, the underlying reasons for this effect were unclear,<em>"</em> noted <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a> PhD student Max Steininger, lead author of the study.</p>



<p>“Our study is the first to provide evidence from brain scans that this isn't just a ‘placebo’ effect – driven by people’s beliefs and expectations that nature is good for them – instead, the brain is reacting less to information about where the pain is coming from and how intense it feels."</p>



<p>According to Steininger, the findings suggest that the pain-relieving effect of nature is genuine, although the effect we found was around half that of painkillers. People in pain should certainly continue taking any medication they have been prescribed, he noted.</p>



<p>“But we hope in future alternative ways of relieving pain, such as experiencing nature, may be used to help improve pain management.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-nature-helps-ease-pain">Why nature helps ease pain</h2>



<p>The idea that nature can aid healing is not new. Over forty years ago, Roger Ulrich, an American researcher, conducted a remarkable study on hospital patients. </p>



<p>His findings showed that patients who had a view of green spaces recovered faster and used fewer painkillers than those whose windows faced a brick wall.</p>



<p>Despite decades of research, scientists could not fully explain why this effect occurred. The new study provides the first clear evidence that nature directly influences the brain’s pain-processing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-is-a-powerful-weapon-against-chronic-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mechanisms</a>. </p>



<p>The results suggest that Ulrich’s patients may have experienced less pain because their brains reacted differently to discomfort when exposed to nature.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virtual-access-to-nature">Virtual access to nature </h2>



<p>Not everyone has access to lush forests, quiet lakes, or green open spaces. Urbanization, busy schedules, and health conditions often prevent people from spending time outdoors. </p>



<p>However, this study shows that even virtual nature experiences can help. Watching high-quality videos of natural scenes triggered a similar pain-relieving effect in participants.</p>



<p>“This study highlights how virtual encounters can bring the healing potential of nature to people when they can’t get outside,<em>"</em> said Dr. Alex Smalley, a co-author from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a>.</p>



<p>“But we hope our results also serve as renewed evidence for the importance of protecting healthy and functioning natural environments, encouraging people to spend time in nature for the benefit of both the planet and people.”</p>



<p>Dr. Smalley noted that achieving this pain-relieving effect through virtual nature exposure, which is easy to implement, has important practical implications for non-drug treatments, and opens new avenues for research to better understand how nature impacts our minds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-path-for-pain-management">New path for pain management</h2>



<p>Pain management has traditionally relied on medication. While painkillers remain essential, researchers are exploring alternative ways to help people cope with discomfort. </p>



<p>This study opens the door for nature-based treatments that do not require drugs or invasive procedures.</p>



<p>The findings also raise exciting possibilities for future research. Scientists can now investigate how different types of natural environments affect pain perception. </p>



<p>Do forests, oceans, or mountain views have different impacts on the brain? Can sounds of nature provide similar benefits? These are questions that future studies may answer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-step-toward-a-healthier-future">A step toward a healthier future</h2>



<p>The relationship between nature and health has fascinated researchers for decades. </p>



<p>This study offers compelling scientific evidence that nature can ease pain. Whether through real-world exposure or virtual experiences, natural settings have the power to change the way the brain processes discomfort.</p>



<p>At a time when stress and chronic pain affect millions worldwide, these findings highlight an accessible and natural approach to well-being. Protecting natural spaces and encouraging outdoor experiences may not only benefit the environment but also improve human health.</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56870-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.</em></p>



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



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

Viewing nature reduces pain by altering brain activity

People have long turned to nature for comfort and relief....

<p>Blazars are active galaxies that emit narrow jets of ionized matter aimed at Earth. Astronomers classify them based on the properties of their electromagnetic radiation. That is, until now.</p>



<p>However, BL Lacertae, a blazar in the Lacerta constellation, challenges this classification system.</p>



<p>Scientists from the&nbsp;Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (<a href="https://www.ifj.edu.pl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IFJ PAN</a>)&nbsp;in Cracow and the&nbsp;University of Heidelberg (<a href="https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HU</a>)&nbsp;observed this object closely.</p>



<p>Their findings, published in <em>Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics</em>, reveal that BL Lacertae does not fit into existing categories.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-blazars-the-basics">Understanding blazars - the basics</h2>



<p>Blazars are some of the most extreme objects in the universe, blasting out energy with mind-bending intensity.</p>



<p>These cosmic powerhouses shoot out massive amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/team-creates-video-showing-the-sun-in-gamma-rays-over-a-14-year-period/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gamma rays</a>, X-rays, and radio waves, lighting up the universe like a beacon. </p>



<p>Scientists study blazars because they help us understand how black holes interact with their surroundings and how galaxies evolve. </p>



<p>They also serve as natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-particle-acceleration-new-source-of-cosmic-rays-discovered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">particle accelerators</a>, launching cosmic rays across vast distances. Some researchers even think blazars could be linked to mysterious high-energy neutrinos that hit Earth.</p>



<p>They're like giant cosmic lighthouses - except instead of warning ships, they beam signals across billions of light-years.</p>



<p>However, as you'll learn from this study, BL Lacertae threw them a curveball. Now, blazars are considered cosmic chameleon that escape classification.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-star-that-wasn-t-a-star">A star that wasn’t a star</h2>



<p>BL Lacertae was first discovered in 1929 and initially thought to be a variable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/january-2025-stargazing-a-parade-of-bright-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star</a>. Later observations proved otherwise. </p>



<p>The object was nearly 900 million light-years away, ruling out the possibility of it being a star.</p>



<p>Some galaxies have active nuclei that emit vast amounts of electromagnetic radiation. This activity stems from matter falling into their central supermassive black holes. </p>



<p>In certain cases, these galaxies also produce narrow jets of ionized matter extending millions of light-years. If such a jet points toward Earth, astronomers classify the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/march-2025-stargazing-a-red-moon-and-a-vanishing-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> as a blazar.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-blazar-with-strange-behavior">Unique blazar with strange behavior</h2>



<p>“Blazars are interesting for many reasons, not least because the orientation of the jets and the enormous velocities of their particles, close to the speed of light, lead to a variety of effects described by the theory of relativity,” explained Dr. Alicja Wierzcholska, an astrophysicist at IFJ PAN.</p>



<p>“Emission from blazars is observed at various electromagnetic wavelengths, ranging from radio to very high-energy gamma rays.”</p>



<p>Dr. Wierzcholska and her team analyzed the electromagnetic radiation from BL Lacertae, focusing on its recent activity. The goal was to understand some of the unusual properties of its emissions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observations-challenge-understanding">Observations challenge understanding</h2>



<p>The team observed BL Lacertae from 2020 to 2023 using the&nbsp;<a href="https://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;NuSTAR&nbsp;space telescope.</p>



<p>Their primary focus was the X-ray spectrum, but they also collected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/four-small-planets-discovered-orbiting-the-nearest-single-star-to-earth-barnards-star/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">optical</a> and ultraviolet data. Blazars emit radiation across a wide range, from radio waves to high-energy gamma rays. </p>



<p>Astronomers classify blazars into two main types: flat-spectrum radio quasars and BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs). </p>



<p>BL Lacs, named after BL Lacertae, have weak emission lines and fall into three groups based on their energy spectrum. </p>



<p>High-frequency peaked BL Lacs (HBL) have spectra shifted toward high energy. Low-frequency peaked BL Lacs (LBL) shift toward low energy. Intermediate BL Lacs (IBL) fall between HBL and LBL.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-blazar-that-changes-its-identity">A blazar that changes its identity</h2>



<p>“BL Lacertae objects lend themselves quite unambiguously to being assigned to a specific type. Blazar BL Lacertae has so far been considered a representative of the intermediate class, the IBL,” said Dr. Wierzcholska.</p>



<p>“It was therefore with no small degree of surprise that we noticed that in the X-ray range it looked like an HBL at some phases of the observation period, at others like an LBL, and at other times ‘politely’ gave the impression of an IBL-type object."</p>



<p>”As if this were not enough, these sorts of changes occurred very quickly. This is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-solar-system-once-drifted-through-orions-star-forming-region/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unusual behavior</a>, the physical basis of which we are not yet able to explain.”</p>



<p>Adding to the mystery, BL Lacertae displayed record-breaking X-ray activity. The rapid fluctuations in its classification make it unique among blazars.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theories-and-unanswered-questions">Theories and unanswered questions</h2>



<p>Scientists believe that different physical processes contribute to the two peaks in a blazar’s spectrum. </p>



<p>Many agree that the low-energy peak results from synchrotron radiation emitted by electrons. However, the origin of the second peak remains debated.</p>



<p>Some researchers suggest that electron collisions with low-energy photons may cause the second peak. </p>



<p>This process, known as inverse Compton scattering, increases photon energy. Others propose that hadrons, such as protons or neutrons, might play a role.</p>



<p>However, these theories do not explain BL Lacertae’s rapid changes. A new model is needed to uncover the underlying mechanism behind its shifting classification.</p>



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



<p>Understanding BL Lacertae’s behavior will require extensive research and innovative thinking. </p>



<p>“One could venture to say that before this happens, many an astrophysicist-theorist will spend many a sleepless night,” said Dr. Wierzcholska.</p>



<p>As scientists continue their investigations, the BL Lacertae blazar serves as a reminder that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/star-formation-reignited-in-the-galaxy-leo-p-after-billions-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> still holds many secrets waiting to be uncovered.</p>



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



<p>The research relied on computational support from the <a href="https://www.cyfronet.pl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Academic Computer Centre Cyfronet AGH</a>. Funding came from a grant provided by the National Agency for Academic Exchange.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2025/01/aa51349-24/aa51349-24.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics</a></em>.</p>



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



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

Mysterious and extreme new type of cosmic objects 'defy classification'

Blazars are active galaxies that emit narrow jets of ionized...

<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=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-threat-in-urban-air"><strong>Invisible threat in urban air</strong></h2>



<p>City dwellers face an unseen danger with every breath. New findings from Emory University researchers suggest that fine particulate matter from <a href="http://earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicle emissions may significantly elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease</a>. The study examined brain tissue samples from 224 individuals who had confirmed diagnoses and volunteered their brains for scientific research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-connections-emerge"><strong>Disturbing connections emerge</strong></h2>



<p>Scientists analyzed neuritic plaques — protein clusters that characterize Alzheimer's — while mapping each participant's exposure to PM2.5 particles based on residential location and surrounding traffic density. The correlation proved more alarming than anticipated. Individuals experiencing higher pollution exposure showed nearly double the likelihood of elevated plaque accumulation in brain tissue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-matters"><strong>Timing matters</strong></h2>



<p>The research team discovered that pollution exposure during the final year before death demonstrated the strongest association with brain changes. This timeline suggests relatively rapid impacts from environmental toxins on neural health. The connection remained robust even after accounting for various demographic and health factors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-vulnerability-patterns"><strong>Genetic vulnerability patterns</strong></h2>



<p>Perhaps most concerning, people lacking the APOE gene—which naturally predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's — exhibited more than twice the susceptibility to pollution-related brain damage. Study author Dr. Anke Huels noted this indicates environmental elements like air contamination could trigger the disease in cases where hereditary factors don't explain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-implications"><strong>Public health implications</strong></h2>



<p>These findings, published in <em><a href="https://www.neurology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a></em>, underscore the critical importance of air quality regulations in urban planning. The research suggests that implementing stricter emission controls and promoting alternative transportation could serve as powerful tools in Alzheimer's prevention.</p>



<p>As cities worldwide grapple with growing traffic congestion and aging populations, this study highlights an urgent need for comprehensive approaches to environmental health that protect both our lungs and our minds.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic...

<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=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



<p>Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



<p>The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



<p>At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.</p>



<p>"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.</p>



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



<p>The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.</p>



<p>The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<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=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-earth-became-a-frozen-wasteland">When Earth became a frozen wasteland</h2>



<p>Imagine Earth as a giant snowball, frozen solid from the North Pole to the equator. This wasn't the plot of a science fiction movie – it was our planet's reality 700 million years ago during an extreme ice age that has puzzled scientists for decades.</p>



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



<p>Australian researchers from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> have finally cracked one of geology's greatest mysteries: what caused the Sturtian glaciation and why it persisted for an unprecedented 57 million years. This period occurred long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, when no complex plants or multicellular animals existed.</p>



<p>Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz, the study's lead author, describes a world completely unlike today's climate. "Imagine the Earth almost completely frozen over," she explained. "The planet was blanketed in ice from poles to equator, and temperatures plunged."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-combination-of-climate-factors">The combination of climate factors</h2>



<p>The research team discovered that this massive freeze resulted from a "double whammy" of geological events. First, plate tectonic activity reduced volcanic carbon dioxide emissions to historically low levels. Volcanic activity typically releases CO2 into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that keeps Earth warm.</p>



<p>Simultaneously, weathering of volcanic rocks in what is now Canada actively absorbed atmospheric CO2, further reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. When atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped below 200 parts per million – less than half of today's levels – glaciation engulfed the entire planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-climate-implications">Modern climate implications</h2>



<p>Published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a></em>, this research provides crucial insights into Earth's climate system. While geological climate changes occur over millions of years, the study emphasizes that human-induced climate change is happening at a pace ten times faster than previously observed natural changes, highlighting the urgent need to understand our planet's delicate climate balance.</p>



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What caused the planet's longest ice age

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY 57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hidden science behind tickling.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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