<p>In Uganda’s Kibale National Park, scientists have spent years doing the slow, unglamorous work of catching tiny wasps. The payoff is big: a clearer map of “dark biodiversity” - the vast share of species that are poorly known or not yet described - and practical clues for how to protect it before it disappears.</p>



<p>Most of Earth’s species have never been formally documented, making them easy to overlook in conservation plans. Biologists call these overlooked lineages “dark taxa.” They are especially abundant in tropical forests, where species, habitats, and ecological roles remain thinly studied.</p>



<p>The Biodiversity Unit at the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Turku</a> has made a specialty of unveiling this hidden diversity, describing new species each year, and building tools to slow global biodiversity loss.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-living-lab-for-biodiversity">A living lab for biodiversity</h2>



<p>Kibale National Park offers a mosaic of habitats. These include tracts of largely undisturbed forest, areas recovering from past logging, and nearby farmland. That patchwork allowed researchers to ask a simple but powerful question: where, exactly, is the unknown diversity concentrated?</p>



<p>The team focused on ichneumonid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-parasitic-wasps-quietly-crossed-oceans-now-thriving-in-u-s-oak-trees/">wasps</a> - one of the most diverse animal groups on the planet - and, within it, the subfamily Pimplinae.</p>



<p>These wasps don’t just buzz around flowers. They regulate other species by parasitizing the immature stages of insects and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-with-spiders-brain-suggests-arachnids-originated-in-the-sea/">spiders</a>, linking them tightly to the health of entire food webs.</p>



<p>“Ichneumonids are a very poorly known taxon in Africa - we estimate that over half of the species we found are new to science,” said doctoral researcher Emil Österman. </p>



<p>With so little baseline knowledge for tropical ichneumonids, the team used long-term, standardized sampling to see how Pimplinae diversity is distributed across Kibale’s different habitats.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wasps-link-species-and-ecosystems">Wasps link species and ecosystems</h2>



<p>Because parasitoid wasps sit high in food webs, they are sensitive to disruptions below them. If the insects and spiders they rely on decline, parasitoids tend to follow. </p>



<p>That sensitivity makes Pimplinae useful indicators: shifts in their richness and abundance often mirror broader changes in biodiversity. The new work confirms what many ecologists have suspected but struggled to quantify in tropical Africa. </p>



<p>“Many of our finds weren't unexpected, but we didn't have data based on long-term collecting in the field," said Tapani Hopkins, a researcher with the Biodiversity Unit. </p>



<p>"Now we can tell in greater detail how many more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-owl-species-discovered-in-africa/">species</a> there are in natural forest, and to what extent disturbed or logged tropical forest can harbor species.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farmland-cannot-match-forest-life">Farmland cannot match forest life</h2>



<p>The headline result is encouraging for conservation: intact forest in Kibale harbors especially rich Pimplinae communities. Secondary forest that is regrowing after logging also supports far more species than adjacent farmland.</p>



<p>In other words, protecting remaining forest is essential, and letting disturbed forest recover pays real biodiversity dividends.</p>



<p>“Our results clearly show that African forest, including forest that is recovering from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainforests-replanted-seedlings-after-logging-do-not-recover-well/">logging</a>, maintains a species-rich Pimplinae fauna compared to, say, nearby farmland," Österman said. "Species-rich habitats can be considered especially valuable in conserving unknown dark biodiversity.” </p>



<p>That matters for policy and on-the-ground management. If you want to safeguard the most unknown species, prioritize forests - and don’t write off recovering stands. They’re already doing important work.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-forests-store-hidden-diversity">Global forests store hidden diversity</h2>



<p>The team also asked a bigger biogeographic question: how does African tropical diversity stack up against the New World? </p>



<p>Drawing on their parallel long-term collections in western Amazonia and Brazil’s coastal forests, the researchers found hints that South American rainforests may host even higher Pimplinae richness than Africa. However, African forests still harbor a rich fauna.</p>



<p>“Conserving dark taxa effectively requires a detailed knowledge of how biodiversity is distributed, both locally and at a global scale,” said Professor Ilari E. Sääksjärvi, who leads the Biodiversity Unit.</p>



<p>The comparison underscores a simple lesson: tropical forests on multiple continents are irreplaceable reservoirs of poorly known life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-biodiversity-loss-accelerates">Forest biodiversity loss accelerates</h2>



<p>Parasitoid wasps are only one window into dark biodiversity. But they tell a familiar story: clearing or simplifying forests causes losses to ripple upward. Protecting or allowing forests to recover lets complex communities rebound - including species we haven’t named yet.</p>



<p>The Kibale study shows <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-leaks-conservation-efforts-may-shift-harm-elsewhere/">conservation</a> can succeed despite limited taxonomy: protect habitats that concentrate hidden diversity. It also highlights the value of patient, long-term fieldwork in places where biodiversity is vanishing fastest.</p>



<p>“We will continue our field studies at different tropical forest sites, because that is where biodiversity is disappearing especially quickly. It is a fight against time. When a rainforest is destroyed, we lose countless species which we know nothing about,” Sääksjärvi concluded.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/icad.70017" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Insect Conservation and Diversity</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Wasps shine a light on 'dark biodiversity' in rainforests

In Uganda’s Kibale National Park, scientists have spent years doing the slow, unglamorous work of catching tiny wasps. The payoff is big: a clearer map of “dark biodiversity” - the vast share of species that are poorly known or not yet described - and practical clues for how to protect it before it disappears. Most of Earth’s species have never been formally documented, making them easy to overlook in conservation plans. Biologists call these overlooked lineages “dark taxa.” They are especially abundant in tropical forests, where species,...

<p>Many people have experienced waking up in a good mood in the morning, only to feel drained by the end of the day. A new study confirms that this pattern is not just a personal feeling - it is a widespread trend. </p>



<p>According to the research, mental health and wellbeing scores peak in the morning and decline as the day progresses, reaching their lowest point around midnight.</p>



<p>This study provides one of the most detailed analyses of how mental health fluctuates across the day. It also examines whether these variations depend on the day of the week, the season, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-and-the-internet-who-benefits-and-who-suffers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">broader social factors</a>. </p>



<p>The findings offer valuable insights into daily mental health patterns, with implications for both public health and personal well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-health-is-better-in-the-morning">Mental health is better in the morning</h2>



<p>Researchers found a strong connection between time of day and mental health. In the morning, people report feeling the happiest, most satisfied with life, and least lonely. These positive feelings gradually decline throughout the day. </p>



<p>By midnight, mental health scores reach their lowest levels, with increased reports of depressive and anxiety symptoms.</p>



<p>This pattern suggests that mental health is not static but changes over short periods. While previous studies have explored long-term shifts in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-the-hidden-casualty-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental well-being</a>, fewer have examined how people’s mood and well-being fluctuate throughout a single day.</p>



<p>This research fills that gap by analyzing mental health trends across different times, days, and seasons.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-daily-mood-patterns">Daily mood patterns </h2>



<p>The research team used data from the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College London</a> COVID-19 Social Study, which tracked mental health patterns from March 2020 to March 2022. </p>



<p>The study included responses from over 49,000 participants, with a majority being women and degree-educated individuals. Since certain demographics were overrepresented, the data was weighted to reflect a more balanced population.</p>



<p>Participants answered direct questions about their happiness, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/doomscrolling-is-silently-ruining-our-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">life satisfaction</a>, and sense of purpose. These responses were recorded with timestamps, allowing researchers to analyze mood variations across different hours. </p>



<p>The experts also collected information about each participant’s age, gender, employment status, education level, and health conditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-some-days-feel-better-than-others">Do some days feel better than others?</h2>



<p>Beyond daily fluctuations, the study examined whether mental health varied across different days of the week. The results showed that well-being scores were generally higher on Mondays and Fridays compared to Sundays.</p>



<p>Interestingly, happiness levels were also relatively high on Tuesdays, while Sundays had some of the lowest well-being scores.</p>



<p>Loneliness, however, remained fairly stable across all days. The study found no clear evidence that people felt more isolated on specific days of the week. </p>



<p>The researchers noted that these findings challenge common assumptions, such as the idea that weekends are always better for mental health than weekdays.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seasonal-effects-on-mental-health">Seasonal effects on mental health</h2>



<p>The research also confirmed that mental health shifts with the seasons. Compared to winter, people generally reported lower levels of depression and anxiety during other times of the year. </p>



<p>Happiness, life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose were all highest in the summer months.</p>



<p>Despite these seasonal variations, one surprising finding was that the daily pattern of mood remained consistent. Regardless of the season, people still felt best in the morning and worst at night. </p>



<p>This suggests that while seasonal factors like daylight hours influence mood, they do not override the body’s internal clock.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-the-body-clock">Role of the body clock</h2>



<p>The researchers suggest that the daily pattern in mental health could be explained by biological rhythms. Specifically, they point to the role of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress and energy regulation.</p>



<p>“For example, cortisol peaks shortly after waking and reaches its lowest levels around bedtime. However, it is important to acknowledge the differences between weekends and weekdays."</p>



<p>This means that while natural biological processes help regulate mood, external factors such as work schedules and daily routines also play a role. The fact that mental health fluctuates differently on weekends suggests that social and behavioral factors contribute to these changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-health-improved-after-2020">Mental health improved after 2020</h2>



<p>Another key finding from the study was that overall mental health improved from 2020 onward. Since the research period covered the COVID-19 pandemic, this suggests that mental health gradually recovered after the initial crisis. </p>



<p>However, the study does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, so other factors could also explain this improvement.</p>



<p>The researchers acknowledge some limitations in their study. Since participants completed the questionnaires voluntarily, the timing of their responses might have influenced the results.</p>



<p>The study also did not account for variables such as sleep patterns, geographical location, or daily weather conditions - all of which could affect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-crisis-half-of-the-worlds-population-will-be-affected-by-age-75/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mood</a>.</p>



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



<p>Despite these limitations, the study highlights important trends that could influence mental health services. Understanding when people are most vulnerable can help improve support systems.</p>



<p>“Other drivers of the seasonal variation in [mental health and wellbeing] could include weather (temperature, precipitation, humidity) as well as various sociocultural cycles, including cultural holidays, norms, and employment patterns,” noted the study authors.</p>



<p>This research suggests that mental health services should consider these time-based trends when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprising-mental-health-benefits-of-living-near-green-spaces/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planning resources</a>. If people tend to struggle the most around midnight, mid-week, and in winter, then additional support should be available during these times.</p>



<p>“Finally, in relation to public health, our findings indicate that people’s [mental health and wellbeing] tends to be lowest around midnight, mid-week, and in winter. This should be considered when planning service and resource provision," wrote the researchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recognizing-daily-mood-patterns">Recognizing daily mood patterns </h2>



<p>This study reinforces the idea that mental health is constantly shifting throughout the day, with mornings generally bringing the best <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millions-of-americans-have-lost-years-of-time-to-poor-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mood</a>.</p>



<p>The findings highlight the importance of recognizing daily patterns in mood, rather than viewing mental health as a fixed state. While mornings seem to offer the best outlook, nights may present greater challenges.</p>



<p>These insights could encourage individuals to be more mindful of their mental health at different times of the day. They also provide valuable information for healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers working to improve mental well-being on a broader scale.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1/e301418" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMJ Mental Health</a>.</em></p>



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Overall, people feel better about life in the morning

Many people have experienced waking up in a good mood...

<p>Sudden darkness once covered the Nile Delta, leaving onlookers confused and uneasy. Many years later, researchers still wonder how the unsettling eclipse influenced major decisions in ancient Egypt.</p>



<p>This concept was explored by archaeoastronomer Giulio Magli from the <a href="https://www.polimi.it/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Polytechnic University of Milan</a>. His ideas connect a rare celestial occurrence with a change in Old Kingdom traditions that altered pharaonic structures forever.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pinpointing-a-mysterious-date">Pinpointing a mysterious date</h2>



<p>A total solar eclipse swept across Egypt on April 1, 2471 BC, surprising those who revered the Sun as a powerful symbol. </p>



<p>The passing Moon blocked the light in a way that seemed unimaginable, sparking questions about the favor of the gods.</p>



<p>Many scholars believe such an event would have carried weight in the hearts of the people. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mayan-civilization-may-have-been-shaped-by-ingenious-fisheries/">Ancient civilizations</a> often interpreted sudden darkness as a signal from higher powers, and this could lead to shifts in ritual or leadership approach.</p>



<p>The last pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty, Shepseskaf, led Egypt for a short time. Some estimate his reign at between four and seven years.</p>



<p>He chose a design for his tomb that contrasted sharply with the pyramids of his predecessors. This marked a big change in how Egypt’s rulers showcased their legacies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breaking-from-solar-traditions">Breaking from solar traditions </h2>



<p>“Shepseskaf made revolutionary choices for his funerary monument, which seem to be an explicit rejection of the solar tradition established by his predecessors,” explained Magli, an Italian astrophysicist and archaeo-astronomer. </p>



<p>The new structure was not visible from Heliopolis, the center of worship for Egypt’s Sun cult.</p>



<p>Previously, Egypt’s kings had built towering triangles at Giza and Dahshur, reinforcing solar symbolism. Shepseskaf instead created a rectangular monument with raised ends, a shape more in line with the archaic shrines of the Nile Delta.</p>



<p>One theory suggests that Shepseskaf had practical reasons for adopting this form. Another proposes he intended to build a pyramid but ran out of time or resources.</p>



<p>In contrast, Magli’s explanation focuses on an eclipse that would have frightened onlookers. The unusual shift in day and night may have challenged traditional beliefs about the Sun’s power.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-omen-with-political-weight">An omen with political weight</h2>



<p>Buto was a sacred site in the Delta region where worship centered on local deities that predated the grand solar cult.</p>



<p>If darkness covered the revered city, it might have been interpreted as a sign from forces beyond the Sun. This may have motivated Shepseskaf to distance himself from solar architecture.</p>



<p>“This would have prompted Shepseskaf to break with tradition, reflecting a crucial symbolic and political shift,” noted Magli. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tonights-worm-moon-coincides-with-a-subtle-lunar-eclipse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eclipse</a> could have planted a seed of doubt about the enduring power of solar worship.</p>



<p>Altering royal monuments was a drastic step. Pharaohs often followed the same patterns as their predecessors to emphasize continuity and stability, so a shift would have spoken volumes to the populace.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-pyramid-construction">Changes in pyramid construction </h2>



<p>Later kings tried to restore the solar emphasis in their architecture, yet no monument recaptured the majesty or precision of the Great Pyramid of Khufu.</p>



<p>Egypt’s building methods and labor force changed over time. The age of massive pyramid construction had passed, and future pyramids would be smaller, less imposing structures.</p>



<p>Historians caution against attributing every shift solely to cosmic events. Natural disasters, political tensions, or economic factors might have played a part too.</p>



<p>Archaeological evidence remains incomplete, sparking fresh debates. Each new theory offers a glimpse into how these royal projects mirrored deeper societal changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-eclipse-in-egypt">Significance of the eclipse in Egypt </h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/image/total-solar-eclipse-captured-from-one-million-miles-away/">Evidence of this eclipse</a> exists in astronomical simulations and ancient texts that hint at unusual solar behavior. The Old Kingdom’s architectural choices may have reflected a deeper anxiety about the cosmic order.</p>



<p>Shepseskaf’s legacy stands out as a statement of independence from a long-held custom. The differences in his tomb’s style are more apparent when compared with the strict solar alignment favored by earlier rulers.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-real-impact-of-burning-magic-herbs-in-spiritual-rituals/">Religious practices</a> in early Egypt evolved in response to changing beliefs. The eclipse story shows how the environment could have shaped political and cultural directions.</p>



<p>Solar worship did not vanish completely. However, Shepseskaf’s approach highlighted an era when tradition was not always set in stone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eclipse-shaped-egypt-s-history">Eclipse shaped Egypt's history</h2>



<p>The abrupt darkening of the Sun over major cities is often linked to fear or wonder. In Shepseskaf’s time, it possibly symbolized the fragility of any mortal claim to divine power.</p>



<p>Even if the cause was natural, the impact could have felt personal. When a guiding star vanished, people may have questioned the foundations of authority.</p>



<p>Archaeologists still debate whether Shepseskaf’s tomb was a mastaba that drew from earlier prototypes or a short-lived nod to the archaic shrines. It remains one of many riddles that keep Egypt’s past alive in modern research.</p>



<p>Some modern technology allows ground surveys and internal scans of inaccessible structures. These tools occasionally reveal secrets, but many mysteries persist because of complex cultural contexts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permanent-shift-from-solar-traditions">Permanent shift from solar traditions</h2>



<p>Clues about the decision to abandon the construction of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/egypts-pyramids-were-built-along-a-buried-branch-of-the-nile-river/">huge pyramids</a> can be found in unexpected places. Royal inscriptions, worker accounts, and temple archives might shed light on what actually motivated these shifts.</p>



<p>Whether the eclipse was the sole spark or part of a larger wave of change, it caused a stir. That moment of darkness possibly nudged a bold break from a once unshakable custom.</p>



<p>Surviving relics tell stories about Egypt’s vibrant spiritual tapestry. The depth of meaning behind each monument shows that religious and political beliefs often overlapped in daily life.</p>



<p>Shepseskaf’s burial design displayed both reverence for older forms and a willingness to modify them. Although we cannot fully confirm his private thoughts, his bold choice remains compelling.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.13640" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>arXiv</em></a>.</p>



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Solar eclipse may have changed the architecture of ancient Egypt forever

Sudden darkness once covered the Nile Delta, leaving onlookers confused...

<p>Music has long been a source of comfort and connection for humanity. Expectant parents have often turned to music as a way to bond with their unborn children, believing that melodies can soothe and stimulate fetal development. </p>



<p>While this idea has been popular for generations, science is now uncovering real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/live-music-connects-people-emotionally-and-physically/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physiological effects of music</a> on the unborn child.</p>



<p>Recent research has shown that playing classical music during pregnancy may not only create a sense of calm but could also influence fetal heart rate patterns. This discovery opens new possibilities in understanding how early exposure to sound might impact neurological and physiological growth before birth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fetal-heart-rate-and-development">Fetal heart rate and development</h2>



<p>The fetal heart does more than just pump blood. Its rhythm and variability provide insights into the developing autonomic nervous system. </p>



<p>Scientists often use heart rate variability - changes in the time between individual heartbeats - to measure overall fetal health. Greater variability often signals more advanced neurological development, indicating a maturing nervous system.</p>



<p>Traditional heart rate assessments measure an average of beats over multiple seconds. This method offers useful information but does not capture the finer details of how the heart responds in real-time. </p>



<p>Heart rate variability, on the other hand, reveals subtle shifts in fetal autonomic activity. This makes it a valuable tool for assessing developmental progress.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effects-of-music-on-the-fetal-heart">Effects of music on the fetal heart</h2>



<p>A team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.uaemex.mx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Autonomous University of the State of Mexico</a>, the Metropolitan Autonomous University, the General Hospital Nicolás San Juan, and the <a href="https://www.cardiologia.org.mx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez</a> explored how classical music affects fetal heart rate.</p>



<p>The experts set out to investigate whether music exposure could shape heart rate dynamics in a measurable way.</p>



<p>To conduct their experiment, the team recruited 36 pregnant women and exposed their unborn children to two classical pieces. </p>



<p>The selected compositions were <em>The Swan</em> by Camille Saint-Saëns, a well-known French melody, and <em>Arpa de Oro</em> by Abundio Martínez, a traditional Mexican guitar piece. </p>



<p>Using external heart rate monitors, the researchers recorded changes in fetal heart activity during and after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-has-the-power-to-change-the-mood-of-our-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music</a> played.</p>



<p>By applying nonlinear recurrence quantification analysis, they examined how heart rate variability responded to the melodies. This advanced mathematical technique allowed them to detect patterns that traditional methods might overlook.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-and-nervous-system-development">Music and nervous system development </h2>



<p>The results showed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/live-music-evokes-stronger-emotions-than-streamed-music/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">listening to music</a> led to more stable and predictable heart rate patterns in the fetus.</p>



<p>“Overall, we discovered that exposure to music resulted in more stable and predictable fetal heart rate patterns,” said author Claudia Lerma. “We speculate that this momentary effect could stimulate the development of the fetal autonomic nervous system.”</p>



<p>These findings suggest that music has an immediate effect on fetal physiology. It may help regulate heart rhythms, potentially supporting healthy nervous system development. </p>



<p>While the long-term implications are still unknown, this study highlights the potential for sound to play a role in prenatal health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effects-of-different-musical-compositions">Effects of different musical compositions</h2>



<p>Beyond identifying a general effect of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-music-help-plants-grow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music</a>, the researchers also compared how the two selected pieces influenced fetal heart rate. Both compositions produced changes, but the Mexican guitar melody had a stronger impact on heart rate variability.</p>



<p>“When contrasting ‘The Swan’ with ‘Arpa de Oro,’ we did notice some significant differences,” said author Eric Alonso Abarca-Castro. </p>



<p>“In particular, the second piece appeared to have a stronger impact on some measures, indicating that it produced heart rate patterns that were more predictable and regular. Factors like rhythmic characteristics, melodic structure, or cultural familiarity may be linked to this differentiation.”</p>



<p>This finding raises intriguing questions about how different types of music influence fetal development. The role of rhythm, harmony, and cultural familiarity in shaping physiological responses could be an important area for future study.</p>



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



<p>For parents-to-be, this research provides scientific support for an age-old practice. Playing soothing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/song-melodies-have-become-much-simpler-since-1950/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music</a> during pregnancy may do more than create a peaceful environment - it could also promote fetal development in subtle but meaningful ways.</p>



<p>“Our results suggest that these changes in fetal heart rate dynamics occur instantly in short-term fluctuations, so parents might want to consider exposing their fetuses to quiet music,” said Abarca-Castro. </p>



<p>“Parents who play soothing music may stimulate and benefit the fetal autonomic system.”</p>



<p>While further research is needed to determine the long-term benefits of this practice, these findings suggest that music could be a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-reveals-which-brain-areas-are-affected-by-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">simple and natural way</a> to support fetal well-being. Expectant parents may wish to experiment with different styles of calming music to see how their unborn child responds.</p>



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



<p>The researchers plan to deepen their investigation by studying different musical genres and expanding their sample size. Classical music may be just one of many styles capable of influencing fetal heart rate dynamics.</p>



<p>“To ascertain whether rhythmic or cultural variations elicit distinct fetal cardiac responses, we intend to increase the size of our sample and expand our investigation to include a variety of musical styles beyond classical pieces,” said author José Javier Reyes-Lagos.</p>



<p>This next phase of research could reveal whether jazz, folk, or even modern electronic music has similar effects on fetal heart rate patterns. </p>



<p>Understanding how different forms of sound interact with prenatal development may provide insights into how early sensory experiences shape human growth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-and-fetal-health">Music and fetal health</h2>



<p>As science continues to explore the impact of music on fetal health, these findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting the importance of sensory stimulation in the womb. </p>



<p>Music may not only comfort and connect expectant parents with their unborn children but also contribute to neurological and physiological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-that-listen-to-music-grow-faster-and-healthier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development</a> in ways that are only beginning to be understood.</p>



<p>For now, playing gentle, rhythmic music may be a simple way for parents to engage with their baby before birth. </p>



<p>The discovery that heart rate patterns can become more stable and predictable with music suggests that sound could play a deeper role in shaping early life than previously believed.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://pubs.aip.org/aip/cha/article/35/2/023121/3333471/Response-to-music-on-the-nonlinear-dynamics-of" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science</em>.</a></p>



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



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How music affects a baby’s heartbeat before birth

Music has long been a source of comfort and connection...

<p>Juice cleanses have long been marketed as a quick way to detox and boost health. Many people believe that replacing solid food with fruit and vegetable juices can flush out toxins and improve digestion. </p>



<p>However, a new study from Northwestern University suggests otherwise. The researchers found that even a short-term juice-only <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stuck-in-traffic-youre-more-likely-to-grab-fast-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diet</a> can lead to changes in gut and oral bacteria.</p>



<p>These shifts are linked to inflammation and cognitive decline, raising concerns about the long-term impact of juicing. While juices provide vitamins and antioxidants, they also lack fiber, which plays a crucial role in gut health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-juicing">Impact of juicing</h2>



<p>To understand how a juice cleanse affects the body, <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern</a> scientists conducted a study on three groups of healthy adults. </p>



<p>The first group consumed only juice, the second combined juice with whole foods, and the third ate only whole plant-based foods. </p>



<p>Scientists collected saliva, cheek swabs, and stool samples before, during, and after the diets to analyze bacterial changes using gene-sequencing techniques.</p>



<p>The study aimed to determine whether a juice-only diet truly supports health or if it disrupts the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut and mouth. </p>



<p>Many people assume that juicing is a natural way to reset the body, but the findings suggest that it may do the opposite.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-juice-cleanse-and-microbiome-imbalance">Juice cleanse and microbiome imbalance </h2>



<p>The results showed that the juice-only group experienced the most significant increase in bacteria associated with inflammation and gut permeability. </p>



<p>The plant-based whole food group, on the other hand, saw more beneficial microbial changes. The group that combined juice with whole foods showed some bacterial shifts, but these were less severe than those seen in the juice-only group.</p>



<p>“Most people think of juicing as a healthy cleanse, but this study offers a reality check,” said Dr. Melinda Ring, director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University <a href="https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feinberg School of Medicine</a>.</p>



<p>“Consuming large amounts of juice with little fiber may lead to microbiome imbalances that could have negative consequences, such as inflammation and reduced gut health.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-fiber-in-gut-health">Role of fiber in gut health</h2>



<p>One of the biggest concerns with juice cleanses is the removal of fiber. When <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-say-this-is-the-best-fruit-to-eat-for-a-healthier-liver/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruits and vegetables</a> are juiced, most of their fiber content is stripped away. </p>



<p>Fiber feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut, helping them produce anti-inflammatory compounds like butyrate. Without fiber, sugar-loving bacteria multiply, and the high sugar content in juice fuels their growth.</p>



<p>This imbalance can lead to gut dysbiosis, a condition where harmful bacteria outnumber beneficial ones. Over time, this can increase the risk of digestive issues, weakened immunity, and even mental health problems. </p>



<p>The study also suggests that reduced fiber intake may negatively affect metabolism, making it harder for the body to regulate blood sugar and energy levels.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oral-microbiome-changes-rapidly">Oral microbiome changes rapidly</h2>



<p>The study revealed that while gut bacteria remained relatively stable, the oral microbiome responded quickly to the juice-only diet. Scientists observed a decline in beneficial <em>Firmicutes</em> bacteria and an increase in <em>Proteobacteria</em>, a group associated with inflammation.</p>



<p>“This highlights how quickly dietary choices can influence health-related bacterial populations,” said Ring. “The oral microbiome appears to be a rapid barometer of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fitness-is-far-more-important-than-weight-for-living-a-healthy-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dietary impact</a>.”</p>



<p>The shift in oral bacteria suggests that juicing may contribute to inflammation in the mouth and throat, which could have implications for overall health. A disrupted oral microbiome has been linked to conditions such as gum disease, cavities, and even cardiovascular problems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-further-research">Need for further research</h2>



<p>While this study highlights the potential risks of juice cleanses, more research is needed to understand how different diets impact the microbiome, especially in children. </p>



<p>Many parents substitute whole fruits with juice, believing it offers the same benefits. However, this study suggests that juice may not be a suitable replacement due to its effects on gut and oral bacteria.</p>



<p>“The nutritional composition of juice diets - specifically their sugar and carbohydrate levels - plays a key role in shaping microbial dynamics in both the gut and oral cavity and should be carefully considered,” said Maria Luisa Savo Sardaro, first author of the study and a professor of food microbiology at San Raffaele University in Rome.</p>



<p>Future studies may explore whether adding fiber back into juices or pairing them with whole foods can help mitigate these effects. </p>



<p>Understanding the long-term consequences of juice cleanses is essential for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forming-healthy-habits-takes-much-longer-than-21-days/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creating dietary guidelines</a> that truly support health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-make-a-juice-cleanse-healthier">How to make a juice cleanse healthier</h2>



<p>Despite the concerns raised by this study, people who enjoy juicing do not need to eliminate it completely. Instead, they can take steps to make it healthier. </p>



<p>One option is blending rather than juicing, as blending retains fiber while still delivering the vitamins and antioxidants found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-avocado-every-day-diet-quality-can-add-years-to-life-but-this-fruit-has-enemies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruits and vegetables</a>.</p>



<p>For those who prefer juicing, pairing it with whole foods can help balance its effects. Eating fiber-rich foods alongside juice may prevent harmful bacterial shifts and support a more stable microbiome. </p>



<p>Choosing lower-sugar vegetables and incorporating ingredients like chia seeds or flaxseeds can also help maintain fiber intake.</p>



<p>“If you love juicing, consider blending instead to keep the fiber intact, or pair juices with whole foods to balance the impact on your microbiome,” noted Ring.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-juice-cleanses">Rethinking juice cleanses</h2>



<p>The idea of a juice cleanse may sound appealing, but this study challenges the assumption that juicing is always beneficial. </p>



<p>While juices provide essential nutrients, they also remove fiber, which is vital for gut and oral health. The findings suggest that consuming only juice, even for a short period, may cause microbial imbalances linked to inflammation and other health issues.</p>



<p>Rather than relying on juice cleanses for health benefits, individuals may see better results by focusing on a balanced diet that includes whole <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-fruits-and-vegetables-improve-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruits and vegetables</a>. </p>



<p>The study’s findings emphasize the importance of fiber and highlight how dietary choices can rapidly influence bacterial populations in the body.</p>



<p>Juicing may still have a place in a healthy diet, but it should not replace whole foods. By making small adjustments, such as blending or consuming juice alongside fiber-rich meals, people can enjoy the benefits of fruits and vegetables while maintaining a healthy microbiome.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/3/458" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nutrients</em></a>.</p>



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Juice cleanses: Are they doing more harm than good? Study results are very surprising

Juice cleanses have long been marketed as a quick way...

Osiris-rex,Spacecraft,Collected,Samples,From,Asteroid,Bennu,101955,,And,Returned

<p>Samples from asteroid Bennu have delivered remarkable insights into the origins of Earth’s water, the organic molecules that may have seeded life here and elsewhere, and the fundamental materials and building blocks of our planet and solar system. </p>



<p>All of this was discovered in just 4 ounces of dust and rock, carefully gathered by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission in 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-relics-of-the-early-solar-system-nbsp">Relics of the early solar system&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Michelle Thompson, an associate professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences at <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purdue University</a>, was among the first nine lead investigators on the OSIRIS-REx science team to examine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-bennu-holds-secrets-of-the-solar-systems-past/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bennu</a>’s samples.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Thompson and her colleagues had 72 hours to perform initial measurements and analyses, drawing on her expertise in how off-world bodies and their chemistry respond to space environments.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The discoveries shed light on how Earth and the solar system formed and whether life’s building blocks arrived via asteroids.</p>



<p>“Asteroids are relics of the early solar system,” Thompson said. “They’re like time capsules. We can use them to examine the origin of our solar system and to open a window to the origin of life on Earth.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bringing-bennu-sample-to-earth">Bringing Bennu sample to Earth</h2>



<p>NASA’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/osiris-rex-safely-delivers-rock-samples-from-asteroid-bennu-back-to-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSIRIS-REx</a> is the agency’s first mission to retrieve samples from an asteroid and return them to Earth. </p>



<p>The mission is focused on analyzing solar system building blocks and exploring resources that might enable future deep-space missions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>After more than a decade of planning and collaboration among hundreds of team members, OSIRIS-REx successfully returned 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of Bennu’s material - exceeding its goal of 60 grams.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-once-in-a-lifetime-experience">Once-in-a-lifetime experience</h2>



<p>The asteroid samples provide scientists with a rare, pristine look at asteroid dust and rock unaltered by Earth’s atmosphere.</p>



<p>“This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime - maybe a once-in-several-lifetimes - experience,” Thompson said. “OSIRIS-REx was selected in 2011, the year I started graduate school, and launched in 2016, the year I finished my PhD.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It reached Bennu in 2018, the year I came to Purdue. And now I am one of the first humans to get to study it. Bennu is a treasure trove of information; this is literally the project of my career.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pristine-samples-from-asteroid-bennu-nbsp">Pristine samples from asteroid Bennu&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Although pieces of asteroids sometimes land on Earth naturally as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-meteorites-can-be-traced-to-three-asteroid-families/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meteorites</a>, the fiery journey through Earth’s atmosphere often damages or contaminates them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By bringing Bennu’s samples home inside a protective capsule, scientists can examine them in a virtually unaltered state. </p>



<p>This clarity allows for more precise evaluations of organic compounds, isotopes, and minerals that could explain the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-are-the-origins-of-water-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">origins of water</a> on Earth and the formation of life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-organic-molecules-in-bennu-samples">Organic molecules in Bennu samples</h2>



<p>Bennu is a carbonaceous asteroid, rich in carbon and other elements crucial to life’s chemistry. The Bennu samples reveal key details about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-molecules-found-throughout-the-universe-hint-that-life-began-in-deep-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">organic molecules</a> that are essential to life’s development.</p>



<p>“Looking at the organic molecules from Bennu, we are getting an understanding of what kinds of molecules could have seeded life on early Earth,” Thompson noted. </p>



<p>“We won’t find life itself, but we’re looking at the building blocks that could have eventually evolved into life.”</p>



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="KNaqn8jEPp-4282904-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ammonia-is-crucial-for-life">Ammonia is crucial for life</h2>



<p>Scientists found incredibly large amounts of ammonia in the Bennu samples. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-green-tech-ammonia-fertilizer-production-using-earths-natural-forces/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ammonia</a> is important for life because it can combine with formaldehyde, which was also found in the samples, to create complex molecules like amino acids when the conditions are right. </p>



<p>When amino acids join together into long chains, they form proteins, which are essential for almost every function in living things.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bennu-comes-from-a-water-planet">Bennu comes from a water planet</h2>



<p>The presence of elements like phosphate, sulfate, and other salt minerals in Bennu’s dust points to an environment conducive to forming vital biomolecules.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Together with our international partner teams, we have been able to detect a large proportion of the minerals that are formed when salty, liquid water - known as brine - evaporates more and more and the minerals are precipitated in the order of their solubility,” explains Dr. Sheri Singerling, who manages the Schwiete Cosmo Lab.</p>



<p>Professor Frank Brenker of <a href="https://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goethe University Frankfurt</a> noted that other teams have found various precursors of biomolecules such as numerous amino acids in the Bennu samples.</p>



<p>“This means that Bennu’s parent body had some known building blocks for biomolecules, water and - at least for a certain time - energy to keep the water liquid," explained Professor Brenker.</p>



<p>Similar brines have been detected or suggested across the solar system, including at the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-blocks-of-life-found-on-the-dwarf-planet-ceres/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dwarf planet Ceres</a> and Saturn’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-could-survive-near-surface-europa-enceladus-moons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moon Enceladus</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mystery-of-earth-s-water">Mystery of Earth's water</h2>



<p>The samples also had traces of minerals containing water. Understanding how asteroids can deliver these resources offers vital context about how Earth’s water might have arrived.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The scientific community doesn’t have a definitive understanding of how Earth got all its water,” Thompson said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Looking at how much water is part of these minerals in the samples from Bennu gives us a clue about how much water was out in the solar system when the planets were forming.”</p>



<p>“How much material was available that could have been delivered through impacts - not just organic material, but water and minerals as well.”</p>



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



<p>Scientists around the world are now parsing the Bennu samples to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-clues-about-the-origins-of-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deepen our knowledge</a> of planetary science.</p>



<p>The experts are analyzing mineral content, studying stable isotopes for clues about the solar system’s formation, and testing hypotheses about how organic compounds travel between celestial bodies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The final goal is to piece together a clearer picture of how life-supporting environments arise and persist. Although the newly returned samples measure just a few ounces, their significance is immense.</p>



<p>Panspermia suggests that life, or the essential building blocks of life, could be distributed throughout the universe via meteoroids, asteroids, comets, or even space dust.</p>



<p>Is that what happened here on Earth? Is humanity the ultimate result of an asteroid colliding with our planet billions of years ago?</p>



<p>By continuing to analyze this pristine material from asteroid Bennu, we may just learn the answer to that question sooner rather than later.</p>



<p>Video Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center </p>



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NASA finds life's building blocks from an unknown water world in asteroid sample

Samples from asteroid Bennu have delivered remarkable insights into the...

<p>As humanity strives to establish communities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, the fundamental problem of how to maintain life remains paramount. The solutions revolve around supplying oxygen, food, and water. </p>



<p>While it has been established that water exists on the Moon, pinpointing its precise locations presents a formidable challenge. Could it be within craters, permanently shadowed areas, or near the poles?</p>



<p>Answering these questions is essential for ensuring that astronauts can successfully inhabit the Moon.</p>



<p>A recent study by researchers at the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California San Diego</a> (UC San Diego) might help transform this vision into reality by guiding upcoming space missions, including <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s Artemis program</a>, which aims to thoroughly explore and ultimately settle on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lunar-anthropocene-how-humans-have-impacted-the-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moon</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-rooted-in-lunar-analysis">A legacy rooted in lunar analysis</h2>



<p>Study lead author Maxwell Thiemens is a research fellow at <a href="https://www.vub.be/nl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vrije Universiteit Brussel</a> and an alumnus of the <a href="https://scripps.ucsd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scripps Institution of Oceanography</a>. He conducted the study with his father, Mark Thiemens, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UC San Diego.</p>



<p>Their contributions build upon UC San Diego’s historical connections to lunar research. In 1967, Nobel Laureate Harold Urey and James Arnold, both at UC San Diego’s Department of Chemistry, were among the earliest scientists to receive Apollo 11 lunar samples.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Urey was one of the first to theorize the presence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moons-entire-surface-is-covered-with-water-and-hydroxyl-not-just-the-poles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar water</a>, particularly within the permanently shadowed polar regions.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-the-moon-get-its-water">Where did the Moon get its water?</h2>



<p>Contemporary scientific understanding suggests that lunar water could stem from one of three primary origins. First, it may be indigenous to the Moon.</p>



<p>Another theory is that lunar water was created by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-solar-wind-which-creates-beautiful-auroras-on-earth-is-now-less-mysterious/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar winds</a>, where hydrogen from the Sun reacts with lunar oxygen under high energy. The third possibility is that the water was deposited by icy comets that crashed onto the lunar surface.</p>



<p>Just as civilizations on Earth have historically settled near dependable water supplies, any permanent lunar presence will hinge on identifying and understanding the Moon’s water sources.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extracting-water-from-lunar-rocks">Extracting water from lunar rocks</h2>



<p>Seeking to clarify where and how lunar water forms, Morgan Nunn Martinez (formerly a UC San Diego graduate student) conducted an analysis of small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-rocks-may-unlock-secrets-of-the-moons-magnetic-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rock samples</a> obtained during the Apollo 9 mission in 1969.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While it might seem improbable for rocks to host measurable amounts of water, a process called thermal release makes it possible. During this process, lunar specimens are heated to three temperature levels - 50°C, 150°C, and 1,000°C - to free water molecules embedded within the rock.</p>



<p>In the case of low-temperature releases (50°C, 150°C), lightly bound water molecules that are loosely attached to the rock are able to escape. </p>



<p>On the other hand, in a high-temperature release (1,000°C), tightly bound water molecules, lodged deep within the rock’s structure, are liberated. Surprisingly, the rock samples were found to be relatively “wet.” </p>



<p>After the molecules are driven off as water vapor, they are collected and purified until only oxygen remains. </p>



<p>Scientists then measure the composition of the three oxygen isotopes in the sample - valuable for identifying both the origin and the time frame of the water.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origins-of-water-molecules-nbsp">Origins of water molecules&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In much the same way that every person has a distinct fingerprint, celestial bodies like comets and the Sun possess characteristic isotopic signatures.</p>



<p>By comparing the oxygen isotope ratios against those known signatures, researchers can pinpoint where the water molecules came from.</p>



<p>The results of the rock analysis indicate that most of the Moon’s water likely formed within the Moon itself or arrived through comet collisions, not primarily via the solar wind. This challenges earlier assumptions that solar wind interactions might be a dominant water source.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-presence-on-the-moon">Human presence on the Moon</h2>



<p>The findings offer critical insights to agencies such as NASA, which intends to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon through the Artemis program.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Determining water’s precise locations and its most likely origins will help mission planners decide where best to set up long-term habitation.</p>



<p>“This kind of work hasn’t been done before and we think it can provide NASA with some valuable clues about where water is located on the moon,” Mark Thiemens said. “The real goal of Artemis is to get to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wave-ripples-discovered-mars-surface-indicate-liquid-water-present-4-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>. Our research shows that there is likely at least as much water on Mars as on the moon, if not more.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-challenges-and-future-innovations">Practical challenges and future innovations</h2>



<p>Although finding and analyzing lunar water sources marks a major step, effectively extracting and utilizing water to support human communities on the Moon is another challenge entirely.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Researchers will need to develop robust technology for large-scale water extraction, as well as systems to ensure that the water is potable or otherwise suitable for use in life support.</p>



<p>Questions such as whether the water requires purification and how to store it in sufficient quantities remain to be addressed. These solutions will be pivotal for enabling off-planet growth, ultimately extending beyond the Moon to Mars and other parts of the solar system.</p>



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



<p>By identifying the potential locations and likely origins of lunar water, this study paves the way toward human settlements on the Moon, an idea once confined to science fiction.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Through the synergy of advanced isotopic measurements, decades of lunar rock analysis, and forward-looking mission planning, researchers and space agencies are inching closer to making lunar colonization a reality.</p>



<p>Armed with fresh scientific data and improved extraction techniques, future explorers may soon find themselves sustainably living on the Moon.</p>



<p>The study is detailed in a special issue of the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2321069121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a> (PNAS) under the theme “Water on the Moon and Mars.”&nbsp;</p>



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Experts are searching for viable sources of water on the Moon

As humanity strives to establish communities on the Moon, Mars,...

<p>Earth, the only known planet to support life, owes much of its habitability to water. Understanding when and how water arrived on Earth is crucial for piecing together the story of life’s origins. </p>



<p>Scientists have long debated whether water was present from the planet’s formation or if it arrived later through external sources. </p>



<p>A recent study led by a Rutgers-New Brunswick scientist challenges existing theories, suggesting that water arrived much later than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-cycles-through-plants-with-unexpected-speed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously believed</a>.</p>



<p>The findings indicate that Earth received water toward the final stages of its formation. This discovery could reshape scientific understanding of the conditions necessary for life.</p>



<p>By examining isotopes in Earth’s rocks and comparing them with meteorites, researchers have provided new insights into the timing and process of water’s arrival on our planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-of-life-s-origins">Timing of life’s origins</h2>



<p>Scientists seek to pinpoint when key <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/comets-may-have-delivered-water-to-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ingredients for life</a> first appeared on Earth. Water, energy, and a mix of organic chemicals known as CHNOPS - carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur - are essential for life to emerge. </p>



<p>Determining when these components arrived can offer clues about the timing of life’s formation.</p>



<p>Katherine Bermingham is an associate professor in the <a href="https://eps.rutgers.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences</a> at Rutgers and lead author of the study.</p>



<p>“When water was delivered to the planet is a major unanswered question in planetary science,” said Bermingham. “If we know the answer, we can better constrain when and how life developed.”</p>



<p>Her research suggests that water was not present during the early phases of Earth’s formation, as some theories propose. Instead, the planet acquired it much later through a process known as late accretion, when additional material from space continued to shape Earth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examining-the-building-blocks-of-planets">Examining the building blocks of planets</h2>



<p>Bermingham specializes in cosmogeochemistry, a field that examines the chemical composition of planetary materials to understand their origins. </p>



<p>By analyzing Earth rocks and extraterrestrial materials such as meteorites, she investigates how rocky planets, including Earth, formed and evolved.</p>



<p>In this study, Bermingham’s team used thermal ionization mass spectrometry, a precise method for measuring isotopic compositions. </p>



<p>They developed a new analytical approach to examine isotopes of molybdenum, an element found in both Earth’s crust and meteorites.</p>



<p>Isotopes are variations of an element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, which gives them slightly different atomic masses while maintaining identical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/distress-signals-earths-water-cycle-is-becoming-more-erratic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chemical properties</a>.</p>



<p>“The molybdenum isotopic composition of Earth rocks provides us with a special window into events occurring around the time of Earth’s final core formation, when the last 10% to 20% of material was being assembled by the planet. This period is thought to coincide with the Moon’s formation,” explained Bermingham.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comparing-meteorites-and-earth-rocks">Comparing meteorites and Earth rocks</h2>



<p>To track Earth’s early chemical history, the team examined meteorite samples from the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution. Scientists classify meteorites into two main groups based on their place of origin in the solar system.</p>



<p>The first group, known as “CC” meteorites, likely formed in the outer solar system, where conditions were wetter. The second group, “NC” meteorites, originated in the inner solar system, where conditions were much drier. </p>



<p>This study focused on meteorites from the NC group to compare their chemical composition with Earth rocks.</p>



<p>The researchers analyzed molybdenum isotopes in rocks from Greenland, South Africa, Canada, the United States, and Japan. </p>



<p>These rocks date back to the time of the Moon’s formation and are believed to contain elements added to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-other-planets-collected-first-water-from-unexpected-source-planetesimals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a> during this period.</p>



<p>By comparing the isotopic signatures of meteorites and Earth rocks, the team sought to determine whether the Moon-forming event delivered a significant amount of water to Earth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-water-may-have-arrived-late">Earth’s water may have arrived late</h2>



<p>“Once we gathered the different samples and measured their isotopic compositions, we compared the meteorites’ signatures with the rock signatures to see if there was a similarity or a difference,” Bermingham said. “And from there, we drew inferences.”</p>



<p>The analysis revealed that the molybdenum composition of Earth rocks closely matched that of NC meteorites, which originated in the drier inner solar system. </p>



<p>This finding suggests that Earth’s building blocks primarily came from a region of the solar system where water was scarce.</p>



<p>This contradicts a popular theory that a significant amount of Earth’s water arrived during the Moon-forming event. </p>



<p>Instead, the study indicates that water was delivered in smaller amounts long after the Moon formed, during the later stages of planetary development.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-the-source-of-earth-s-water">Rethinking the source of Earth’s water</h2>



<p>“We have to figure out from where in our solar system Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-discovery-earths-building-blocks-contained-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">building blocks</a> - the dust and the gas - came and around when that happened,” Bermingham said. “That’s the information needed to understand when the stage was set for life to begin.”</p>



<p>If most of Earth’s original material came from the drier inner solar system, then the Moon-forming event was likely not a major contributor of water. Instead, water must have arrived in smaller portions later. </p>



<p>This conclusion challenges the idea that a single event provided Earth with the majority of its water. </p>



<p>The study supports the view that water accumulated gradually over time, arriving through a combination of asteroid impacts and other processes occurring well after the planet had taken shape.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions-about-life-s-early-conditions">Questions about life’s early conditions</h2>



<p>“Our results suggest that the Moon-forming event was not a major supplier of water, unlike what has been thought previously,” Bermingham said. “These findings, however, permit a small amount of water to be added after final core formation, during what is called late accretion.”</p>



<p>This discovery raises new questions about how long it took for Earth to become habitable. If water arrived later than previously thought, then life may have taken longer to emerge. </p>



<p>This could also have implications for understanding other planets, particularly those that scientists consider candidates for life.</p>



<p>By refining the timeline of Earth’s water history, this study contributes to a broader effort to understand planetary evolution. If water arrived late on Earth, then other planets might have followed a similar pattern. </p>



<p>This could mean that life-supporting conditions take longer to develop than scientists once assumed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-in-the-search-for-earth-s-water">What’s next in the search for Earth’s water?</h2>



<p>The study represents a step forward in unraveling Earth’s past, but it also highlights the many unanswered questions about the origins of water and life. </p>



<p>Future research will likely focus on refining models of planetary accretion, analyzing additional meteorite samples, and exploring other isotopic markers that could provide further insights.</p>



<p>Other Rutgers contributors to the study include Linda Godfrey, an assistant research professor, and Hope Tornebene, a laboratory researcher in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. </p>



<p>The research continues to push the boundaries of planetary science, bringing us closer to understanding how Earth became a world capable of supporting life.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016703724005751?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta</a>.</em></p>



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Water arrived on Earth gradually over time, not in one big event

Earth, the only known planet to support life, owes much...

<p>Childhood malignant brain tumors remain a significant challenge for clinicians and researchers around the world, largely because they are often only discovered after they have already become complex and difficult to treat.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Among these cancers, medulloblastoma stands out as the most common malignant brain tumor in children, frequently leading to devastating outcomes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now, a team of scientists at <a href="https://www.sickkids.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hospital for Sick Children</a> (SickKids) has made a pivotal finding that could stop a subtype of medulloblastoma - known as sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma - from forming at its earliest stages.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detection-of-childhood-brain-cancer">Detection of childhood brain cancer</h2>



<p>Because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-antidepressants-could-help-treat-brain-tumors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain tumors</a> typically trigger noticeable symptoms only after considerable growth, crucial details about the cancer’s initial formation can remain hidden. </p>



<p>By the time a young patient is diagnosed, the tumorous cells may have already undergone numerous mutations. </p>



<p>In response to this clinical hurdle, a research group led by Dr. Peter Dirks at SickKids focused on the earliest cellular steps of SHH medulloblastoma.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-halting-tumor-formation">Halting tumor formation </h2>



<p>The new study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54858-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>, shows that a single protein serves as a critical “on switch,” awakening dormant stem cells that then give rise to a tumor.</p>



<p>“Our findings offer a novel strategy to target cancer stem cells, providing hope for more effective treatments against aggressive brain tumors,” said Dirks, a senior scientist in the Developmental, Stem Cell &amp; Cancer Biology program and Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery.</p>



<p>One of the study’s most significant insights is that by preventing the reactivation of these dormant, cancer-initiating cells, the entire cascade of tumor formation can be intercepted.&nbsp;</p>



<p>SHH medulloblastoma arises in a particular subset of patients, and this discovery suggests that if the first molecular trigger is blocked, the disease may be prevented from taking root in the brain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-opportunity-for-intervention-nbsp">An opportunity for intervention&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In the study, the team looked at how SHH medulloblastoma unfolds at the cellular level. They found that the protein OLIG2 plays a central role in “waking up” quiescent stem <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-cancer-cell-death-may-transform-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cells</a> - cells that are otherwise inactive - and prompting them to divide uncontrollably, eventually forming tumors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As the scientists dug deeper, they identified the exact window in which this reactivation occurs and recognized it as a prime opportunity for intervention.</p>



<p>“There is order to how the cancer initiating stem cells undergo fate changes to form tumors. We can target an early transition event and intercept the entire process - essentially stopping the cancer in its earliest form,” said study first author Kinjal Desai, a postdoctoral researcher in the Dirks lab.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-to-prevent-relapse">Potential to prevent relapse</h2>



<p>By pinpointing OLIG2’s critical role, the researchers tested whether blocking its action could halt tumor initiation and, importantly, prevent relapse in cases that had already undergone conventional treatments.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts used a small molecule called CT-179, which disrupts OLIG2 function and stops the dormant stem cells from waking.&nbsp;</p>



<p>When combined with an existing therapeutic approach, this treatment not only blocked SHH medulloblastoma formation in a preclinical model but also effectively prevented residual cancer stem cells from becoming reactivated later on.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This two-pronged effect significantly reduced the chance of tumor regrowth and improved survival outcomes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeting-brain-tumors-in-the-early-stages">Targeting brain tumors in the early stages</h2>



<p>Simultaneously, researchers at <a href="https://www.choa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta</a> and the <a href="https://www.qimrberghofer.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute</a> in Australia carried out related experiments, published concurrently in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54861-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Their work corroborates the SickKids findings, hinting that this kind of OLIG2-targeting strategy could go beyond SHH medulloblastoma to combat other pediatric brain tumors, including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - an aggressive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-cancer-rates-in-young-adults-linked-to-accelerated-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer</a> that has proven particularly resistant to conventional therapies.</p>



<p>This latest discovery advances previous research from the Dirks Lab on the early stages of brain tumors. While the new findings will require validation in clinical trials, they highlight the advantages of what Dr. Dirks describes as ‘precision biology.’</p>



<p>“At SickKids, we’re already genetically testing every child with cancer to inform their diagnosis and treatments - our study goes beyond genetic testing to precision biology,” Dirks said. “I am excited for a future where this ‘magic bullet’ for early treatment could be combined with diagnostic tests to potentially prevent the cancer from developing at all.”</p>



<p>By intervening at the very root of tumor formation, the team’s approach could offer a transformative path for children with medulloblastoma and other aggressive brain cancers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If these promising strategies move successfully through clinical trials, early intervention might indeed stop pediatric brain tumors before they can even take hold, heralding a new era in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-the-next-frontier-in-cancer-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer treatment</a>.</p>



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New therapy for childhood brain cancer halts tumor formation

Childhood malignant brain tumors remain a significant challenge for clinicians...

<p>The stereotype that women outtalk men persists across many cultures. Yet, a prominent study in 2007 challenged that notion by finding that men and women each speak around 16,000 words per day, on average.</p>



<p>A new, larger investigation revisits this topic and offers a more nuanced view: women may indeed be more talkative - but only during a specific stage of life.</p>



<p>Study co-lead author Colin Tidwell is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona </a>(U of A).&nbsp;</p>



<p>“There is a strong cross-cultural assumption that women talk a lot more than men,” said Tidwell. “We wanted to see whether or not this assumption holds when empirically tested.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-talking-varies-by-age-and-gender">Talking varies by age and gender</h2>



<p>Analyzing data from nearly 2,200 participants, the researchers found that women aged 25 to 65 speak about 3,000 more words per day than men in the same age bracket.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, in adolescence (10-17), emerging adulthood (18-24), and older adulthood (65 and up), they observed no notable gender gap in daily word count.</p>



<p>The study also suggests that people overall might be talking less than before, which the researchers suspect could be linked to growing reliance on digital communication.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-claim-that-women-talk-more">The claim that women talk more</h2>



<p>In 2007, University of Arizona psychologist Matthias Mehl investigated the common claim that women are significantly more talkative than men.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Participants in that study - about 500 men and women - wore a device called the EAR (Electronically Activated Recorder), which periodically recorded brief clips of their everyday <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-20-minute-conversation-with-a-humpback-whale-named-twain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conversations</a>.</p>



<p>After estimating each participant’s total daily word count, the researchers concluded that no significant gender difference existed - a finding that appeared in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1139940?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D90780648708216300104417575982572668868%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1738666255&amp;adobe_mc=MCMID%3D90780648708216300104417575982572668868%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1738667536" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a> and garnered national headlines.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Nevertheless, critics pointed out that most participants were college-aged and all lived in Austin, Texas, limiting the study’s diversity.</p>



<p>Almost two decades later, Mehl collaborated with Tidwell, Valeria Pfeifer, a postdoctoral researcher at the U of A, and Alexander Danvers, a former U of A postdoctoral fellow, to repeat the experiment on a larger scale.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The new work incorporates 630,000 EAR recordings from 22 separate studies across four countries, covering individuals aged 10 to 94 - a total of 2,197 participants, which is four times the original sample size.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-do-women-talk-more">Why do women talk more?</h2>



<p>Among all age groups studied, a significant difference between men’s and women’s word counts emerged only in early to middle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lifestyle-choices-in-young-adulthood-impact-cognitive-ability-in-midlife/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adulthood</a> (25-64). During these years, women spoke about 21,845 words per day, while men spoke about 18,570.</p>



<p>The researchers remain unsure exactly why women might talk more during this period, but they propose that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parent-children-relationships-are-key-to-lifelong-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parenting</a> responsibilities could be one contributing factor.</p>



<p>“Gender-linked differences in child rearing and family care are one possibility that could account for this difference,” said Mehl, the senior author of the study and a professor in the U of A Department of Psychology.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“If biological factors like hormones were to be the main cause, a sizable gender difference should have also been present among emerging adults. If societal generational changes were to be the driving force, there should have been a gradually increasing gender difference with older participants. Neither, though, was the case.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-talking-trends-across-time">Talking trends across time</h2>



<p>While the data suggest that women do speak more than men during early and middle adulthood, Mehl highlighted that individual differences can overshadow such group patterns.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The least talkative person in the entire study - a man - spoke roughly 100 words a day, while the most talkative participant - also a man - exceeded 120,000 words.</p>



<p>“We humans are so much more different individually than the two genders systematically,” Mehl said.</p>



<p>Another revealing finding was that the average word count across participants has been declining since 2005, slipping from about 16,000 words per day to about 13,000.</p>



<p>“We did a full analysis looking at what year the data were collected and found that, indeed, 300 spoken words on average per year go missing,” noted study co-lead author Pfeifer.</p>



<p>Although the exact cause for this decline is not fully established, researchers suspect that digital technologies - such as texting, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spending-less-time-on-social-media-improves-your-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social media</a>, and online chats - could be supplanting spoken conversations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conversation-as-a-health-behavior">Conversation as a health behavior</h2>



<p>Mehl emphasized the need for further inquiry into the effects of talkativeness and social engagement on overall health. He is currently co-developing a device called SocialBit, akin to a Fitbit, that tracks the duration of daily conversations without recording their content. Instead, it relies on an algorithm to detect whether ambient sounds contain speech.</p>



<p>“I'm fascinated by the idea that we know how much we need to sleep, we know how much we need to exercise, and people are wearing Fitbits all the time, but we have no idea how much we're supposed to socialize,” he said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The evidence is very strong that socializing is linked to health, at least to the same extent as physical activity and sleep are. It's just another health behavior.”</p>



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



<p>Overall, the follow-up study offers a refined perspective on the question of whether women speak more than men. While the gap exists during early and middle adulthood, no significant difference emerges in adolescence, emerging adulthood, or older age.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Beyond that, both genders may be speaking fewer words over time - possibly due to a shift toward digital forms of communication.</p>



<p>As researchers continue to investigate the intersection between conversation, well-being, and modern technology, novel tools like SocialBit may shed light on just how much human dialogue contributes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-activity-may-delay-the-onset-of-dementia-by-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health</a>, reinforcing the importance of face-to-face interactions in an increasingly digital era.</p>



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Do women really talk more than men? A new look at the debate

The stereotype that women outtalk men persists across many cultures....

<p>Octopuses have long fascinated scientists with their intelligence, camouflage abilities, and unique biology. </p>



<p>These remarkable creatures continue to surprise researchers, revealing new secrets about their evolutionary past. One of the most intriguing mysteries has been  the question of how octopuses determine their sex.</p>



<p>Scientists at the University of Oregon recently identified a sex chromosome in the California two-spot octopus. This discovery confirms that cephalopods, a group that includes squid and nautiluses, rely on chromosomes for sex determination. </p>



<p>The research also suggests that this chromosome has existed for at least 480 million years, making it one of the oldest known sex chromosomes in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/turquets-octopus-dna-tells-scientists-that-west-antarctic-ice-sheet-collapse-is-close/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal kingdom</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sex-chromosome-in-octopuses">Sex chromosome in octopuses</h2>



<p>“Cephalopods are already such interesting creatures, and there are so many things we’re still learning about them, especially in neuroscience,” said Gabby Coffing, a doctoral student at the <a href="https://www.uoregon.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oregon</a>. </p>



<p>“This is just showing one more interesting thing about them: They have really ancient sex chromosomes.”</p>



<p>The findings, published in the journal <em>Current Biology</em>, provide new insights into the genetic history of octopuses and their relatives. Understanding this ancient sex determination system could help scientists uncover more about how these intelligent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-octopus-day-the-intelligent-creatures-of-the-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creatures</a> evolved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sex-determination-varies-across-species">Sex determination varies across species</h2>



<p>Sex determination is not the same for all animals. While humans and most mammals rely on the X/Y chromosome system, other species follow different methods. </p>



<p>In turtles, sex depends on the temperature at which the eggs incubate. Some fish determine sex using a single gene rather than a whole chromosome. </p>



<p>Even in humans, sex chromosomes are not always straightforward. Gene mutations or extra sex chromosomes can lead to biological variations that do not fit into a simple male or female category.</p>



<p>Cephalopods have long posed a challenge for genetic research. They are not standard laboratory animals like mice or fruit flies, making it difficult for scientists to study their genetics in depth. </p>



<p>Although researchers have sequenced the genomes of some octopus <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopus-suckers-the-future-of-underwater-adhesives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>, they still struggle to link specific genes to particular traits. The discovery of an octopus sex chromosome marks a major breakthrough in understanding how these animals develop and reproduce.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-sex-chromosome-in-female-octopuses">Unique sex chromosome in female octopuses</h2>



<p>The research team at the University of Oregon made an unexpected discovery when sequencing the DNA of a female California two-spot octopus. </p>



<p>Among its 30 chromosomes, one stood out because it contained only half the usual amount of genetic material. This anomaly had not appeared in previous studies of male octopus DNA.</p>



<p>“This particular chromosome had half the amount of sequencing data, which indicated there was only one copy,” Coffing explained. “Then as we explored that more, we reached the conclusion that we must have stumbled upon a sex chromosome.”</p>



<p>This finding suggested that female octopuses carry a unique chromosome that males do not. The scientists needed to confirm their discovery by comparing it with data from other cephalopods. </p>



<p>If this chromosome appeared in multiple species, it would indicate an ancient and consistent pattern of sex determination.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sex-chromosome-exists-in-other-cephalopods">Sex chromosome exists in other cephalopods</h2>



<p>The team analyzed genomic data from other octopus species and found similar evidence of this unique chromosome. </p>



<p>The experts also detected the sex chromosome in squid, a species that diverged from octopuses between 248 and 455 million years ago. More surprisingly, they identified traces of it in the nautilus, a mollusk that split from the octopus lineage approximately 480 million years ago.</p>



<p>“This indicates that their common ancestor had this similar sex determination system,” Coffing said.</p>



<p>Most sex chromosomes change rapidly over time because they play a crucial role in reproduction. However, this cephalopod sex chromosome appears to have remained stable for hundreds of millions of years. </p>



<p>This suggests that octopuses and their relatives have relied on this system without significant evolutionary changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comparing-ancient-sex-chromosomes">Comparing ancient sex chromosomes</h2>



<p>While the octopus sex chromosome is one of the oldest known, other ancient sex chromosomes exist in nature. </p>



<p>Some plants, like mosses and liverworts, evolved their sex chromosomes early in Earth’s history. Insects also have sex chromosomes that date back about 450 million years, though these have changed considerably over time.</p>



<p>The discovery in octopuses challenges the idea that sex chromosomes always evolve quickly. It suggests that some systems remain stable if they continue to work effectively over long periods. Cephalopods seem to have found a genetic formula for sex determination that has stood the test of time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mystery-of-the-missing-w-chromosome">Mystery of the missing W chromosome</h2>



<p>One question remains unanswered: how exactly does the sex determination system work in octopuses? Scientists initially suspected that octopuses might have a system similar to birds and butterflies, where males have two identical chromosomes (ZZ) and females have one of each (ZW).</p>



<p>Kern and his team searched for a W chromosome in female octopuses but didn't find one. This leaves open the possibility that octopuses follow a different system in which males have two copies of a single chromosome (ZZ), while females have only one (Z).</p>



<p>Researchers still need more evidence to confirm how octopus sex chromosomes function. While this study has solved one piece of the puzzle, many questions remain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-secrets-of-the-octopus">Secrets of the octopus </h2>



<p>Octopuses continue to be one of the most enigmatic creatures in the ocean. Their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-octopus-has-mastered-the-art-of-multispecies-hunting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intelligence</a>, problem-solving skills, and unique genetics set them apart from most other animals. </p>



<p>The discovery of an ancient sex chromosome adds another layer to their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-animal-will-replace-humans-as-earths-dominant-species-this-scientist-has-an-idea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary story</a>. For now, researchers know that this octopus sex chromosome has been around for nearly half a billion years. However, the exact mechanics of how it works remain uncertain.</p>



<p>As scientists continue to explore cephalopod genetics, they will uncover more about how these fascinating animals developed their extraordinary traits.</p>



<p>The octopus has revealed one of its secrets, but it still holds on to many more.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00005-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.</em></p>



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



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

Sex chromosome discovered in octopuses is 480 million years old

Octopuses have long fascinated scientists with their intelligence, camouflage abilities,...

<p>For a long time, researchers believed that only humans could recognize when someone else lacked information. This ability, known as "theory of mind," allows people to communicate, teach, and cooperate in complex ways. Many thought that animals, including apes, did not share this skill.</p>



<p>However, new research from Johns Hopkins University challenges that idea. The experts found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/great-apes-will-suffer-through-frequent-and-extreme-climate-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apes</a> actively pointed out hidden treats to humans who did not know where they were.</p>



<p>This seemingly simple action suggests that apes understand when others lack information and take steps to help them.</p>



<p>The findings, published in <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em>, provide the clearest evidence yet that apes can track ignorance in others. This discovery offers insight into the shared cognitive abilities of humans and great apes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-apes-share-cognitive-abilities-with-humans">Apes share cognitive abilities with humans</h2>



<p>Study co-author Chris Krupenye is an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins</a>.</p>



<p>“The ability to sense gaps in one another’s knowledge is at the heart of our most sophisticated social behaviors, central to the ways we cooperate, communicate, and work together strategically,” said Professor Krupenye. </p>



<p>He explained that this cognitive ability forms the basis for skills like language and teaching, both of which are considered uniquely human. The study suggests that these abilities may have evolved millions of years ago, long before <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-animal-will-replace-humans-as-earths-dominant-species-this-scientist-has-an-idea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modern humans</a> emerged.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-ape-intelligence">Testing ape intelligence </h2>



<p>In collaboration with Luke Townrow, a Johns Hopkins PhD student, Professor Krupenye worked with three male bonobos to explore <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/apes-use-gestures-similar-to-human-body-language/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apes</a>’ understanding of others’ knowledge.</p>



<p>The apes - Nyota, 25; Kanzi, 43; and Teco, 13 - live at Ape Initiative, a research and education nonprofit.</p>



<p>The experiment was designed to test whether the apes could recognize when a human lacked information. One bonobo sat across a table from Townrow. Another person placed a treat (a grape or a Cheerio) under one of three cups.</p>



<p>Sometimes, Townrow could see where the treat was placed. Other times, he could not. The bonobo could only get the treat if Townrow found it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-apes-anticipate-what-humans-know">Apes anticipate what humans know</h2>



<p>Townrow always asked the same question: “Where’s the grape?” and then waited for ten seconds. If he had seen where the treat was hidden, the bonobo usually remained still, waiting for him to retrieve it.</p>



<p>But when Townrow did not see the treat being hidden, the bonobo reacted differently. Instead of waiting, it quickly pointed to the correct cup. Some bonobos even pointed multiple times, making sure their message was clear.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-and-repeated-gestures">Clear and repeated gestures</h2>



<p>“Their fingers would point right through the mesh - it was clear what they were trying to communicate,” said Professor Krupenye.</p>



<p>One of the apes, Kanzi, reacted especially strongly. He was highly food-motivated and would tap repeatedly to ensure Townrow noticed his pointing. His eagerness highlighted the urgency with which the apes tried to share information.</p>



<p>This reaction supports previous observations from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-discovery-anadoluvius-turkae-suggests-humans-originated-in-europe-not-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wild</a>. Researchers have seen chimpanzees vocalize to warn others of danger when a group member appears unaware of a threat, such as a nearby snake.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recognizing-gaps-in-knowledge">Recognizing gaps in knowledge</h2>



<p>“We predicted that if apes are really tracking ignorance, when their partners lacked knowledge, they would be pointing more often and more quickly, and that’s exactly what they did,” Krupenye said.</p>



<p>The ability to recognize when someone lacks knowledge suggests that apes can hold two different perspectives at the same time. They know where the treat is, but apes also recognize that their human partner does not.</p>



<p>This cognitive skill is fundamental in human social interactions. People adjust their communication based on what they believe others know or do not know. The findings suggest that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/playful-teasing-among-apes-suggests-that-humor-has-ancient-origins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">great apes</a> share this ability at a basic level.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-apes-have-advanced-mental-abilities">Apes have advanced mental abilities</h2>



<p>“There are debates in the field about the capabilities of primates, and for us, it was exciting to confirm that they really do have these rich capacities that some people have denied them,” Krupenye said.</p>



<p>By demonstrating that apes can track others' ignorance, the study provides new evidence that great apes possess more advanced mental abilities than previously believed. This research could reshape how scientists view the evolution of human intelligence.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-apes-change-human-beliefs">Can apes change human beliefs?</h2>



<p>The next step is to investigate why apes behave this way. Are they simply trying to influence their partner’s behavior, or do they understand that they are changing someone else’s thoughts?</p>



<p>“What we’ve shown here is that apes will communicate with a partner to change their behavior, but a key open question for further research is whether apes are also pointing to change their partner’s mental state or their beliefs," said Townrow.</p>



<p>Future studies will explore whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-early-humans-learned-to-walk-from-an-ancestor-called-lufengpithecus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apes</a> communicate to correct others’ misunderstandings or simply to achieve a goal. Either way, the findings suggest that the roots of human social intelligence stretch back millions of years.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2412450122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.</em></p>



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



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Apes can tell when humans don’t know something

For a long time, researchers believed that only humans could...

<p>Earth is changing faster than many people realize, and more voices are calling for urgent responses to climate-related threats. </p>



<p>Many health professionals see daily reminders of how shifting temperatures and extreme weather can harm public well-being. One approach gaining traction is the use of satellite and space-based data to map environmental risks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monitoring-climate-threats-with-satellites">Monitoring climate threats with satellites</h2>



<p>“The space sector has been in the forefront of innovation, taking on challenges often thought to be impossible and also against all odds,” said Dr. Farhan Asrar, a physician and researcher affiliated with the University of Toronto.</p>



<p>Dr. Asrar's work highlights how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nisar-the-satellite-that-will-change-how-we-see-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space technologies</a> can address some of the biggest climate threats.</p>



<p>"Space-based tools, including remote sensing data and technologies, offer unique insights that can strengthen climate resilience, support sustainable policies, and enable real-time monitoring to address the escalating global environmental challenges," wrote Dr. Asrar.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-air-quality-with-satellites">Tracking air quality with satellites</h2>



<p>Poor air quality is a growing issue connected to asthma, heart disease, and other conditions. Nearly 99% of the global population breathes air that does not meet recommended <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">standards</a>.</p>



<p>Space agencies maintain satellites that collect real-time climate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthcare-satellite-will-reveal-the-climate-effects-of-clouds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">information</a> on pollutants, temperatures, and greenhouse gases. </p>



<p>This gives health professionals the opportunity to see emerging patterns before they become full-blown emergencies.</p>



<p>By pairing satellite observations with patient data, governments and care providers can gauge which communities are at the highest risk.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-climate-driven-disease-risks">Predicting climate-driven disease risks</h2>



<p>Climate change extends the range of <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vector-borne diseases</a>, as higher temperatures allow mosquitoes and other carriers thrive in new areas. Satellite imagery can track the environmental factors - like water and vegetation - that help these vectors multiply.</p>



<p>When integrated with ground-based health data, satellite imagery can help pinpoint potential outbreaks of infectious diseases such as malaria or dengue. Public health officials can use the information to strategize interventions in advance.</p>



<p>Past analyses of remote sensing data supported <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/data-and-policy/article/examining-the-value-of-satellite-data-in-halting-transmission-of-polio-in-nigeria-a-socioeconomic-analysis/73EF7CA1DEEEEDA0292C068246D27217" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vaccine distribution</a> for threats like polio, highlighting the practical benefits of combining space observations with epidemiological expertise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-climate-disaster-response">Improving climate disaster response</h2>



<p>Extreme weather events are becoming <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10962247.2021.1942319#abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more frequent</a>, and early warning systems can save lives by guiding evacuation plans. Satellites monitor hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, providing insights that local teams can act on.</p>



<p>“The <a href="https://disasterscharter.org/about-the-charter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Disaster Charter</a> I referred to, it provides free satellite images when a disaster arises to support the relief efforts and it has been activated over 900 times, providing satellite images to all even to countries who do not have any satellites of their own,” noted Dr. Asrar.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This resource, along with platforms like the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (<a href="https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/un-spider/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UN-SPIDER</a>), provide critical assistance to regions with limited access to advanced technology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-global-health-crises">Addressing global health crises</h2>



<p>Many experts emphasize the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/one-health/about/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">One Health</a> approach, which recognizes the links between human, animal, and environmental health. </p>



<p>Public health leaders who appreciate these connections can use space data to track deforestation, water quality, and changing temperatures that affect both ecosystems and our own well-being.</p>



<p>“My <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266727822400083X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> in finding innovative solutions (using space-based technologies to address climate change and related global health crises) has shown me that it is crucial to collaborate with others, and also to have an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach, thus it is bringing together expertise from various perspectives and experiences to address a challenge,” said Dr. Asrar.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-time-climate-monitoring-with-satellites">Real-time climate monitoring with satellites </h2>



<p>As more space missions launch, an influx of <a href="https://climate.esa.int/en/odp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data</a> will help us track shifting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellite-mission-will-closely-monitor-changes-on-earths-surface/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental patterns</a> in near-real time.</p>



<p>Scientists plan to refine these tools by integrating real-time climate monitoring, predictive modeling, and health data analytics, allowing health professionals to anticipate and respond more swiftly to weather-related disasters and disease outbreaks. </p>



<p>By enhancing early warning systems and resource allocation strategies, these improvements can help mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat, hurricanes, floods, and the spread of climate-sensitive diseases.</p>



<p>Advocates emphasize that blending satellite-derived climate data with on-the-ground knowledge from local communities, healthcare workers, and policymakers provides a more comprehensive understanding of risks. </p>



<p>The research is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266727822400083X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Journal of Climate Change and Health</em></a>.</p>



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Satellites might be the unlikely heroes in the climate crisis

Earth is changing faster than many people realize, and more...

<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>



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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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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>



<p>—–</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>



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



<p>In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. </p>



<p>Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.</p>



<p>Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. </p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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