<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>Heart disease remains the number one killer worldwide, outstripping all other causes of death as key risk factors continue to surge, according to the 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of U.S. and Global Data From the American Heart Association.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Released in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001303" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Circulation</em></a>, the flagship peer-reviewed publication of the <a href="https://www.heart.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association</a> (AHA), the comprehensive annual update underscores the urgent need to accelerate efforts to prevent and treat heart disease.</p>



<p>“Did you know that in the U.S., someone dies of cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds? Nearly 2,500 people in the U.S. die from cardiovascular disease every day. Those are alarming statistics to me – and they should be alarming for all of us, because it’s likely many among those whom we lose will be our friends and loved ones,” said Keith Churchwell, the volunteer president of the AHA.</p>



<p>“Too many people are dying from heart disease and from stroke which remains the 5th leading cause of death. Together, they kill more people than all cancers and accidental deaths - the #2 and #3 causes of death – combined.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-rise-in-cardiovascular-deaths">Disturbing rise in cardiovascular deaths</h2>



<p>The new report highlights the persistent risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the United States. The experts found that more than 941,652 CVD-related deaths were recorded in 2022 - over 10,000 above the 931,578 reported in 2021.</p>



<p>The age-adjusted CVD death rate was 224.3 per 100,000 people in 2022, a marginal drop from 233.3 per 100,000 in 2021, yet the overall number of fatalities remains on an upward trajectory.</p>



<p>While the data suggest that some aspects of the mortality rate may be stabilizing after a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-deaths-increased-during-covid-reversing-progress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spike</a> during the COVID-19 pandemic, many risk factors continue to worsen. </p>



<p>The report further notes that nearly all major causes of death saw reductions in their age-adjusted rates, except for kidney disease, which climbed by 1.5%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kidney-disease-on-the-rise">Kidney disease on the rise</h2>



<p>Seth S. Martin, chair of the AHA’s statistical update writing committee and a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, emphasized that kidney disease and cardiovascular disease share interrelated risk factors.</p>



<p>“Kidney disease has actually been on the rise over the past decade. In our report, we noted a significant increase in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease among Medicare beneficiaries from 9.2% in 2011 to 14.2% in 2021. Additionally, the global prevalence of kidney disease has increased more than 27% in relative terms since 2010,” explained Martin.</p>



<p>He added that high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes are closely linked to both heart and kidney ailments, creating a compounded health threat that underscores the importance of addressing these conditions holistically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risk-factors-for-heart-disease">Risk factors for heart disease </h2>



<p>The report sheds light on several alarming statistics about cardiovascular risk factors in the United States. Nearly 47% of U.S. adults are affected by high blood pressure, while more than 50% live with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.</p>



<p>In addition, over 72% of U.S. adults exceed healthy weight thresholds, with nearly 42% classified as obese.</p>



<p>In younger populations, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-obesity-rates-are-surging-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a> is also on the rise, with an estimated 40% of U.S. children having an unhealthy weight, including 20% meeting obesity criteria. Globally, about 60% of adults are considered overweight or obese, illustrating the widespread nature of these trends.</p>



<p>“In the update, we noted calculations that found excess weight contributes to as many as 1,300 additional deaths per day in the U.S., nearly 500,000 per year. It lowers life expectancy by as much as 2.4 years compared to a healthy weight,” said Latha P. Palaniappan, vice-chair of the statistical update writing committee and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>.</p>



<p>“The impact on lives lost is twice as high for women, and higher for Black adults than for white adults. It’s alarming to note that excess weight now costs us even more lives than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smoking-cigarettes-accelerates-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">smoking</a>.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disparities-in-risk-factors">Disparities in risk factors</h2>



<p>The study highlights major disparities in risk factors based on race, ethnicity, and sex. For obesity, Black women exhibit the highest rates at 57.9%, while Asian women register the lowest rate at 14.5%.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Hispanic men show the highest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-diabetes-rate-has-doubled-reaching-over-800-million/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diabetes</a> prevalence at 14.5%, contrasted with a 7.7% rate among white women. In the case of high blood pressure, 58.4% of Black women experience hypertension, compared with 35.3% of Hispanic women.</p>



<p>“And it is important to acknowledge that, although cardiovascular disease affects us all, it doesn’t affect us all equally. For instance, there is wide variation in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure by sex and race/ethnicity,” observed Dhruv S. Kazi, the associate director at <a href="https://www.bidmc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-encouraging-trends-in-tobacco-use">Encouraging trends in tobacco use</h2>



<p>Amid these alarming findings, there is a silver lining in the falling rates of tobacco consumption. Since 1965, adult smoking rates have dropped significantly.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Furthermore, current cigarette use among high schoolers fell from 16.5% in 2022 to 12.6% in 2023, while e-cigarette use also declined from 14.1% to 10% in the same period.</p>



<p>“Another positive trend over the years has been a reduction in the rates of high cholesterol,” said Keith Churchwell, pointing out that a combination of heightened awareness, lifestyle changes, and medical treatments has contributed to these gains.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-need-for-holistic-prevention"><strong>The need for holistic prevention</strong></h2>



<p>Despite improved treatments and lower tobacco usage, the anticipated surge in obesity, diabetes, and hypertension poses an enormous challenge for public health. Researchers warn that if current trends continue, the U.S. could face a 300% jump in heart disease-related healthcare costs by 2050.</p>



<p>“If recent trends continue, hypertension and obesity will each affect more than 180 million U.S. adults by 2050, whereas the prevalence of diabetes will climb to more than 80 million. And over the same time period, we expect to see a 300% increase in health care costs related to cardiovascular disease,” Kazi said.</p>



<p>He and Churchwell emphasize that solutions must go beyond clinical discoveries, extending to community interventions that ensure equal access to care and tackle socioeconomic barriers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reversing-the-trend-of-heart-disease">Reversing the trend of heart disease </h2>



<p>The report urges policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities to collaborate in order to halt the escalation of key risk factors for heart disease. This means prioritizing obesity prevention, controlling high blood pressure, improving dietary habits, and expanding the availability of new therapies for those who need them most.</p>



<p>“Heart disease was once considered a death sentence, but thanks to the many advances in clinical diagnosis and treatment, people are able to live longer, healthier lives even after a cardiovascular event,” Churchwell explained.</p>



<p>“Certainly, any medical or clinical therapy that can treat the risk factors that contribute to CVD are essential. More importantly, I would say that we need to stop these risk factors in their tracks, keep people healthy throughout their lifespan. That will only be possible with a strong emphasis on early prevention and equitable health access for all.”</p>



<p>With a continued and concerted focus on prevention, early detection, and equitable health policies, experts believe it is still possible to reverse the upward curve of heart disease and save countless lives.</p>



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Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide

Heart disease remains the number one killer worldwide, outstripping all...

<p>Organic molecules, consisting primarily of carbon and hydrogen and small amounts of other elements, are widely regarded as essential ingredients for life. On Earth, these compounds form the basic building blocks of all living organisms.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Over the last few decades, scientists have discovered similar molecules on distant objects in the solar system, including trans-Neptunian bodies, comets, and far-flung asteroids. </p>



<p>Because these entities are believed to be largely unchanged since the solar system’s birth, many researchers suggest that the building blocks of life might have been present from the start, potentially traveling to the inner regions of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interstellar-tunnel-found-that-connects-our-solar-system-to-other-stars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar system</a> later on.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-organic-deposits-on-the-planet-ceres">Organic deposits on the planet Ceres</h2>



<p>In a recent study, a team of scientists set out to determine whether the dwarf planet Ceres, situated within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, contains previously uncharted deposits of organic material. </p>



<p>Because Ceres orbits in a region neither distinctly part of the inner nor the outer solar system, it has sparked interest regarding the origins of its organic elements: Did they form locally, or did they arrive from somewhere else?</p>



<p>The scientists examined the entire surface of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-world-ceres-near-mars-is-full-of-organic-matter-that-may-support-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ceres</a> for organic matter, focusing on aliphatic hydrocarbons - chain-like compounds formed when water interacts with rock over long periods. </p>



<p>Earlier studies hinted that such compounds might be scattered across Ceres, prompting researchers to delve deeper into their precise locations and geological contexts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dawn-mission-data">Dawn mission data</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>’s Dawn spacecraft reached Ceres in March 2015 and spent about three and a half years mapping the dwarf planet’s surface with a sophisticated camera system and spectrometer.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By observing how the brightness of reflected light changes with different wavelengths, scientists can infer the presence of organic materials.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Dawn’s spectrometer, which splits light into numerous wavelengths, confirmed that these substances belong to the category of aliphatic hydrocarbons, though it could not identify the exact molecular species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-locating-organic-molecules-on-ceres">Locating organic molecules on Ceres</h2>



<p>The current study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2024AV001362" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Geoscience</em></a>, made use of an artificial intelligence system to analyze Dawn’s data. The researchers wanted to locate all possible sites of aliphatic hydrocarbons across Ceres and compare them with the dwarf planet’s geological features.</p>



<p>“Sites of such organic molecules are actually rare on Ceres, and devoid of any cryovolcanic signatures,” said Ranjan Sarkar, the study’s first author from the <a href="https://www.mps.mpg.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research</a> (MPS).</p>



<p>The majority of these deposits appear around the large Ernutet crater in Ceres’ northern hemisphere, though three outliers exist farther away. Two of the patches had not been previously identified.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Martin Hoffmann from MPS elaborated on what the team found. “At none of the deposits do we find evidence of current or past volcanic or tectonic activity: no trenches, canyons, volcanic domes or vents. Furthermore, there are no deep impact craters nearby.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-cryovolcanism-as-a-source">Rethinking cryovolcanism as a source</h2>



<p>Ceres has long been recognized as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-comet-exploding-in-space-is-headed-toward-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cryovolcanic body</a>, containing a subsurface reservoir of salty water (or brine) that has been seeping up to the surface in certain locations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This process, known as cryovolcanism, initially seemed like a plausible mechanism for delivering organics to the surface from the dwarf planet’s interior.</p>



<p>“Of course, the first assumption is that Ceres' unique cryovolcanism has transported the organic material from the interior of the body to the surface. But our results show otherwise,” said Andreas Nathues, head of the Dawn camera team at MPS.</p>



<p>Organic-rich deposits, it appears, do not coincide with regions of cryovolcanic activity. Where cryovolcanic evidence is present, organics are conspicuously absent - and where organics lie, there is no clear sign of volcanic or tectonic features.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This striking mismatch undermines the idea that cryovolcanic processes delivered these compounds from within.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-blocks-of-life-on-ceres">Building blocks of life on Ceres</h2>



<p>Instead, the researchers propose that impacts from one or more asteroids in the outer asteroid belt brought the organic materials to Ceres.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Simulations suggest these particular outer belt <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-would-happen-small-asteroid-hit-earth-nasa-ai-simulation-found-out/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asteroids</a> frequently collide with Ceres at relatively modest speeds, generating only mild heat. Under such gentle conditions, organics can survive the impact without being destroyed.</p>



<p>“However, the organic deposits that have been reliably detected with Dawn so far likely do not originate Ceres itself,” Nathues explained. </p>



<p>He added that Dawn’s instruments cannot detect all organic compounds, leaving open the possibility that some might have formed within Ceres’ own subsurface ocean and perhaps even reached the surface.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-exploration-of-the-planet-ceres">Future exploration of the planet Ceres</h2>



<p>Ultimately, the study hints that Ceres may host different populations of organic molecules - some introduced by asteroid collisions, others potentially produced within its interior.</p>



<p>To confirm the latter, the research team advocates for a future lander mission capable of directly sampling Ceres’ subsurface.</p>



<p>Such a mission would provide definitive answers about whether Ceres has been generating organic compounds within its hidden ocean - and whether that process continues today.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Understanding how and where these materials originated could shed light on broader questions about the distribution of life’s building blocks across the Solar System.</p>



<p>As scientists work toward unraveling the full story of organics on Ceres, the study’s findings underscore the complexity of planetary surfaces and the myriad ways cosmic processes can shape them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By combining advanced data analysis with ambitious exploration, researchers hope to learn more about how life-friendly ingredients form and travel, possibly revealing new clues about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-clues-about-the-origins-of-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">origins of life</a> on Earth and elsewhere.</p>



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Building blocks of life found on the dwarf planet Ceres

Organic molecules, consisting primarily of carbon and hydrogen and small...

Gene,Therapy,For,Cancer,Treatment,Concept,Cancer,Therapy,With,T-cell

<p>What if your risk of developing cancer was already determined before your birth? While scientists have long believed cancer results primarily from genetic mutations and environmental exposures, a recent study suggests a different possibility.</p>



<p>Researchers at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vai.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Van&nbsp;Andel&nbsp;Institute</a>&nbsp;have discovered that cancer susceptibility may be programmed in the womb, influenced by epigenetic states formed during early development.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-development-and-cancer-risk">Early development and cancer risk</h2>



<p>“Because most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-the-next-frontier-in-cancer-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancers</a> occur later in life and are understood as diseases of mutation, or genetics, there hasn’t been a deep focus on how development might shape cancer risk," noted J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D., chair of Van Andel Institute’s Department of Epigenetics.</p>



<p>"Our findings change that. Our identification of these two epigenetically different states open the door to an entirely new world of study into the underpinnings of cancer,” </p>



<p>A study published in the journal <em>Nature Cancer </em>has identified two distinct epigenetic states that emerge during development. </p>



<p>One of these states corresponds with a lower lifetime cancer risk, while the other is associated with a significantly higher risk.</p>



<p>These findings suggest that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-discovery-about-cell-migration-will-help-defeat-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer</a> risk isn’t just a matter of bad luck or lifestyle choices but may be set in motion before birth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-epigenetics-in-cancer-risk">Epigenetics in cancer risk</h2>



<p>Epigenetics governs how and when genes are expressed, influencing cell function without altering DNA sequences. </p>



<p>Unlike <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/video-games-could-accelerate-discoveries-in-cancer-research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic mutations</a>, which permanently change DNA, epigenetic modifications are reversible and influenced by environmental factors. </p>



<p>Errors in these processes can weaken the body’s ability to regulate cell growth and division, potentially increasing cancer susceptibility.</p>



<p>The study highlights how developmental epigenetic differences contribute to cancer risk. If cancer arises in the lower-risk state, it tends to manifest as a liquid tumor, such as leukemia or lymphoma. </p>



<p>Conversely, individuals in the higher-risk state are more prone to solid tumors, including lung and prostate cancer. </p>



<p>These findings suggest that cancer susceptibility is shaped by biological processes that occur before birth, rather than being entirely the result of mutations acquired over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinct-genetic-patterns">Distinct genetic patterns </h2>



<p>The researchers focused on the gene&nbsp;Trim28, which plays a key role in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-cancer-cell-death-may-transform-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maintaining epigenetic stability</a>. They found that mice with reduced levels of&nbsp;Trim28&nbsp;exhibited one of two distinct epigenetic patterns on cancer-related genes. </p>



<p>These patterns, established during development, influence an individual’s likelihood of developing cancer later in life.</p>



<p>“Everyone has some level of risk but, when cancer does arise, we tend to think of it just as bad luck,” said Dr. Ilaria Panzeri, a research scientist in the Pospisilik Lab and the study’s first author.</p>



<p>“However, bad luck doesn’t fully explain why some people develop cancer and others don’t. Most importantly, bad luck cannot be targeted for treatment. Epigenetics, on the other hand, can be targeted. Our findings show that cancer’s roots may start during the sensitive period of development, offering a new perspective to study the disease and potential new options for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-damage-can-persist-for-years-increasing-cancer-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diagnosis and treatment</a>.”</p>



<p>These results challenge conventional perspectives on cancer development. Traditionally, cancer is considered a disease of accumulated mutations and DNA damage. </p>



<p>However, this study indicates that epigenetic mechanisms set in motion before birth may influence cancer risk decades later. The findings open new avenues for research into cancer prevention and early diagnosis.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifelong-impact-of-epigenetic-states">Lifelong impact of epigenetic states</h2>



<p>The study found evidence of these two epigenetic states across various tissues in the body. This suggests that developmental epigenetic risk may not be limited to one type of cancer but could apply to multiple forms of the disease. </p>



<p>The presence of these epigenetic markers across different organs implies a systemic impact, possibly affecting cancer risk throughout the entire body.</p>



<p>Cancer risk increases as individuals age, primarily due to the accumulation of DNA damage and exposure to environmental factors. </p>



<p>However, not every abnormal cell progresses into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ketogenic-diet-may-help-the-body-kill-cancer-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer</a>. This study highlights how epigenetic processes established early in life may influence whether or not precancerous cells become malignant. Understanding these early changes provides a valuable opportunity for intervention.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-directions-for-cancer-research">New directions for cancer research</h2>



<p>The research team plans to investigate how these two epigenetic states affect specific types of cancer in future studies. </p>



<p>By identifying the molecular pathways that distinguish high-risk and low-risk epigenetic states, scientists could develop strategies to shift individuals toward the lower-risk state. </p>



<p>This could lead to potential new treatments aimed at modifying epigenetic patterns before cancer develops.</p>



<p>Future research will explore whether external factors, such as diet, stress, or environmental toxins, influence these epigenetic states. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-prevention-strategies">Cancer prevention strategies </h2>



<p>If researchers can identify ways to alter these genetic patterns, it may be possible to reduce cancer risk through targeted interventions. </p>



<p>Understanding the mechanisms behind these developmental states could lead to breakthroughs in cancer prevention and early detection.</p>



<p>By shifting the focus from genetic mutations to developmental epigenetics, this research challenges existing models of cancer formation. </p>



<p>The findings suggest that cancer prevention strategies could extend beyond traditional approaches, incorporating insights into early developmental processes.</p>



<p>The study provides a foundation for future investigations into how epigenetic states influence cancer risk and offers new hope for early diagnosis and targeted treatments.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-024-00900-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Cancer</a>.</em></p>



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



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Our lifetime cancer risk may be established before we are born

What if your risk of developing cancer was already determined...

<p>Climate change is rapidly altering the health landscape across Europe, with extreme heat emerging as a growing threat. </p>



<p>A new study by the Environment &amp; Health Modelling (<a href="https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres-projects-groups/ehm-lab" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EHM</a>) Lab at the London School of Hygiene &amp; Tropical Medicine projects that over 2.3 million additional deaths could occur in 854 European cities by 2099 if urgent action is not taken to curb carbon emissions.</p>



<p>These findings indicate that rising temperatures will lead to a significant increase in mortality, surpassing any reduction in cold-related deaths.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-mitigation-and-adaptation">Climate change mitigation and adaptation</h2>



<p>The research highlights the pressing need for both climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Even with high levels of adaptation, heat-related health risks will continue to escalate, particularly in regions most vulnerable to rising temperatures. </p>



<p>The Mediterranean, Central Europe, and the Balkans are expected to experience the most severe consequences, with extreme heat events <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-people-fear-climate-change-will-end-the-world-during-their-lifetime/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">becoming more frequent and deadly</a>.</p>



<p>“Our results stress the urgent need to aggressively pursue both climate change mitigation and adaptation to increased heat,” noted study lead author Dr. Pierre Masselot of the EHM-Lab.</p>



<p>“This is especially critical in the Mediterranean area where, if nothing is done, consequences could be dire. But, by following a more sustainable pathway, we could avoid millions of deaths before the end of the century.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-heat-related-deaths">Predicting heat-related deaths </h2>



<p>The study identifies key European cities that will be disproportionately affected by rising temperatures, with major urban centers in Spain, Italy, and Greece bearing the highest burden. </p>



<p>The research suggests that Barcelona, Rome, Naples, and Madrid will see the most significant increases in heat-related deaths by the end of the century. Milan, Athens, and Valencia are also expected to witness substantial mortality spikes due to prolonged <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cities-are-largely-unprepared-for-the-effects-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exposure to extreme heat</a>.</p>



<p>Large Mediterranean cities will be particularly vulnerable, but the crisis is not confined to these areas alone. Many smaller urban centers in Malta, Spain, and Italy will also experience alarmingly high death rates. The pattern of risk highlights the urgent need for targeted climate action to protect populations living in these high-exposure regions.</p>



<p>Some cities in the British Isles and Scandinavia may experience a net decrease in temperature-related deaths. London, for instance, is projected to see a decrease of 27,455 deaths. </p>



<p>However, these reductions will be vastly outweighed by the surge in mortality across the continent. The study concludes that without aggressive intervention, the European death toll from climate change will continue to rise, leaving millions of lives at risk.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptation-alone-will-not-be-enough">Adaptation alone will not be enough</h2>



<p>The findings make it clear that adaptation efforts alone will not be sufficient to counteract the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-summer-more-than-61000-deaths-linked-to-europes-2022-heatwaves/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increasing mortality risks</a> associated with heat exposure. </p>



<p>Even if cities invest heavily in climate-resilient infrastructure, improved healthcare responses, and urban cooling measures, these strategies will not fully offset the dangers posed by rising global temperatures.</p>



<p>The experts report that only significant cuts to carbon emissions can effectively limit the number of heat-related deaths.</p>



<p>Without decisive action, even the most advanced adaptation strategies will struggle to protect vulnerable populations from the escalating effects of extreme heat. The Mediterranean region, in particular, faces an existential challenge, with soaring temperatures posing a direct threat to public health.</p>



<p>“This study provides compelling evidence that the steep rise in heat-related deaths will far exceed any drop related to cold, resulting in a net increase in mortality across Europe," noted Professor Antonio Gasparrini, senior author and lead of the EHM-Lab.</p>



<p>"These results debunk proposed theories of ‘beneficial’ effects of climate change, often proposed in opposition to vital mitigation policies that should be implemented as soon as possible." </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deadly-impacts-of-climate-change">Deadly impacts of climate change</h2>



<p>To reach these alarming conclusions, the researchers analyzed temperature-related mortality risks in cities across Europe. </p>



<p>The study incorporated a range of data, including local adaptation patterns, population demographics, and climate projections from the&nbsp;Intergovernmental&nbsp;Panel&nbsp;on&nbsp;Climate&nbsp;Change&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IPCC</a>)&nbsp;Sixth&nbsp;Assessment&nbsp;Report. </p>



<p>By examining various climate and epidemiological simulations, the team assessed the uncertainty surrounding their estimates and identified the most probable outcomes.</p>



<p>The research used risk functions of temperature to estimate expected mortality rates attributed to changing climate conditions. By factoring in population growth, temperature trends, and death rates, the study provides a comprehensive picture of the future health risks posed by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-action-and-biodiversity-striking-the-right-balance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global warming</a>.</p>



<p>However, the study does not account for specific weather phenomena such as prolonged heatwaves, extreme nighttime temperatures, and humidity variations, all of which could further amplify the estimated death toll. </p>



<p>This suggests that the true impact of climate change on mortality rates may be even more severe than currently projected.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-need-for-climate-action">Urgent need for climate action</h2>



<p>The implications of this research are clear: immediate action is required to reduce carbon emissions and protect public health. </p>



<p>Governments must prioritize aggressive climate policies that cut greenhouse gas emissions while also strengthening adaptation measures to minimize harm in the most vulnerable areas. </p>



<p>Without decisive intervention, Europe faces a grim future in which millions more people will suffer and die from climate-induced heat exposure.</p>



<p>This study serves as a stark reminder that the consequences of climate inaction will be far-reaching and devastating. The challenge ahead is immense, but with urgent and coordinated efforts, it is still possible to prevent the worst outcomes and safeguard lives across Europe.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03452-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Medicine</a>.</em></p>



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Without climate action, heat will cause millions of deaths by 2099

Climate change is rapidly altering the health landscape across Europe,...

<p>On the barrier islands of Miami, a troubling phenomenon is unfolding. Since 2016, construction has contributed to subsidence, causing 35 high-rise buildings, including Trump Tower III, to sink as much as eight centimeters into the ground.</p>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.uh.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Houston</a> have played a central role in identifying the cause: urban development is exerting immense pressure on the fragile land beneath these structures.</p>



<p>A recent study published in the journal <em>Earth&nbsp;and&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Science&nbsp;</em>has documented alarming rates of land subsidence between 2016 and 2023. The research highlights that Miami’s coastal skyscrapers, particularly newer constructions, are at significant risk of ground instability.</p>



<p>“About half of the subsiding structures are younger than 2014, and at the majority of them, subsidence decays with time. This correlation suggests that the subsidence is related to construction activities,” the report stated. </p>



<p>The findings suggest that the weight and vibrations from large-scale developments are pressing into the porous and sandy geology of the region, leading to gradual sinking.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-miami-skyscrapers-on-sinking-land">Miami skyscrapers on sinking land</h2>



<p>Subsidence refers to the gradual sinking of land due to natural or human-induced factors. </p>



<p>In coastal cities like Miami, this issue is particularly concerning because the underlying ground is often composed of loose sediments, limestone, and sand. These materials can compact under the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/construction-materials-could-store-carbon-in-homes-and-buildings-helping-the-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weight of heavy buildings</a>, leading to ground-level changes over time.</p>



<p>The process is not uniform across all structures. In some cases, the subsidence begins immediately after construction but slows as the ground settles. </p>



<p>In others, the sinking continues at a steady rate, raising concerns about long-term stability. The research suggests that once the land is compressed beyond a certain threshold, reversing the process becomes nearly impossible.</p>



<p>This slow-moving yet persistent issue raises serious concerns about Miami’s ability to maintain safe infrastructure in the face of both subsidence and rising sea levels. </p>



<p>The research team at the University of Houston sought to validate these findings using cutting-edge technology capable of detecting minute changes in the Earth’s surface.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-construction-induced-subsidence">Construction-induced subsidence</h2>



<p>The research was conducted by a team from the University of Houston’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, led by Professor Pietro Milillo.</p>



<p>The team utilized&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/insar-satellite-based-technique-captures-overall-deformation-picture" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">InSAR</a>, or Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, a satellite-based remote sensing method capable of detecting surface changes as small as the thickness of a credit card.</p>



<p>InSAR works by comparing radar signals from two images of the same area taken at different times. Even the most minor deformations of the Earth's surface become visible using this technique, making it an invaluable tool for monitoring <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/adding-coffee-grounds-during-the-construction-process-could-reinforce-buildings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">land stability</a>.</p>



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



<p>“We attribute the sinking ground primarily to the weight and vibrations from high-rise construction,” said Milillo. </p>



<p>“The phenomenon, described as creep deformation, occurs when sandy layers interbedded within Miami’s porous limestone geology compress under pressure, potentially compromising structural stability." </p>



<p>"Our work confirmed the spatial and temporal patterns of subsidence in the study. We demonstrated how construction-induced stresses extend well beyond building footprints, revealing risks to surrounding areas up to 320 meters away.”</p>



<p>The study was a collaborative effort involving several leading institutions, including the University&nbsp;of&nbsp;Houston, the University of Miami, the German&nbsp;Aerospace&nbsp;Center, <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA’s&nbsp;Jet&nbsp;Propulsion&nbsp;Laboratory</a>, and the University&nbsp;of&nbsp;Hannover.</p>



<p>A key contributor to the study was Amin Tavakkoliestahbanati, a graduate student working under Milillo’s guidance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dozens-of-buildings-sinking-in-miami">Dozens of buildings sinking in Miami</h2>



<p>The study focused on buildings located in some of Miami’s most densely developed coastal areas, including Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour, and Surfside. </p>



<p>The researchers found that 35 buildings in these locations showed measurable subsidence, with many newer structures being the most affected.</p>



<p>In many cases, subsidence began immediately after construction and gradually slowed. However, in some instances, the sinking continued at a constant rate, which could indicate an ongoing risk to structural integrity. </p>



<p>The data also revealed that the impact of subsidence was not limited to individual buildings. Instead, the stress from these structures was transferring to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mycocrete-new-material-made-of-fungi-hopes-to-replace-concrete-in-construction-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surrounding</a> land, affecting areas far beyond the original construction sites.</p>



<p>Sunny Isles Beach exhibited some of the most concerning patterns. Up to 70% of newly built high-rises in this part of Miami showed measurable ground sinking. The region's sandy subsurface geology appears to play a significant role in this phenomenon, as loose sand is more susceptible to compression under heavy loads.</p>



<p>“Our role as a validation partner highlights the importance of geospatial technology in urban risk assessments,” said Milillo. “By confirming these patterns, we’re helping to develop tools for safer urban planning, particularly in geologically sensitive coastal zones.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-coastal-development">What this means for coastal development</h2>



<p>Miami’s barrier islands are already vulnerable to&nbsp;<a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/sea-level/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea-level&nbsp;rise</a>, coastal erosion, and extreme weather. The discovery that urban development is contributing to land subsidence adds another layer of complexity to the challenges faced by city planners, engineers, and policymakers.</p>



<p>As the city continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important to incorporate geological data and remote sensing tools like InSAR into urban planning. These technologies can help identify areas at risk before construction even begins, potentially preventing future structural failures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consequences-of-ground-sinking-in-miami">Consequences of ground sinking in Miami</h2>



<p>Ignoring the risks associated with subsidence could lead to severe consequences. In some cases, prolonged ground sinking can create cracks in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/concrete-becoming-great-carbon-sink-capturing-storing-co2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">building foundations</a>, weaken support structures, and even lead to partial collapses. For a city like Miami, where the demand for high-rise living remains strong, addressing this issue should be a priority.</p>



<p>The research demonstrates the value of scientific collaboration in addressing real-world challenges, particularly in understanding construction-related subsidence.</p>



<p>By combining satellite-based monitoring with on-the-ground engineering expertise, researchers can provide valuable insights that help protect communities and infrastructure in vulnerable coastal regions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safer-construction-practices">Safer construction practices</h2>



<p>The study has sparked renewed discussions about how to build safely in coastal areas prone to subsidence. Engineers, city planners, and policymakers must work together to develop strategies that mitigate the risks associated with ground sinking in Miami and beyond.</p>



<p>One potential approach is to implement stricter <a href="https://www.iccsafe.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">building codes</a> that require developers to conduct detailed geotechnical assessments before construction begins.</p>



<p>Another possibility is to integrate long-term monitoring programs that track subsidence patterns over time, allowing authorities to intervene before structural issues become critical.</p>



<p>“This work showcases the transformative power of geospatial science to uncover hidden risks beneath the surface,” Milillo said. “It’s a call to action for engineers, planners, and policymakers to work together in creating resilient cities.”</p>



<p>By leveraging scientific advancements and promoting responsible <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-plans-to-build-house-on-the-moon-by-2040/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">construction practices</a>, cities like Miami can continue to grow while ensuring the safety and stability of their urban landscapes. </p>



<p>The findings of this study serve as a critical reminder that what happens beneath the surface can have profound implications for the future of coastal development.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024EA003852" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth and Space Science</a>.</em></p>



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



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Dozens of coastal skyscrapers in Miami are sinking

On the barrier islands of Miami, a troubling phenomenon is...

<p>NASA's Artemis program aims to establish a human base on the Moon within the next few decades. However, this endeavor isn't as simple as packing up a spaceship and taking off.</p>



<p>The Moon is not exactly your typical vacation spot - it's an airless, dusty, radiation-charged rock located thousands of miles away from the comforts of Earth.</p>



<p>Yet, despite these harsh conditions, scientists are proving that building a permanent Moon base is not impossible. A lot of careful planning and innovation are required, and this is what's happening right now.</p>



<p>A research paper that comprehensively examines the numerous challenges associated with lunar-based manufacturing and construction, offers an enlightening perspective. </p>



<p>At the heart of their solutions lie three critical technologies - 3D printing, robotics, and artificial intelligence (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-intelligence-will-be-a-game-changer-in-weather-forecasting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a>).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-a-sustainable-moon-base">Building a sustainable Moon base</h2>



<p>A sustainable, long-term lunar presence involves more than just setting foot on the Moon.</p>



<p>It requires the ability to produce essential tools, structures, and systems for habitability right there on the Moon.</p>



<p>"A crucial step is to be able to manufacture whatever is needed on site," emphasized Mohammad Azami, a Ph.D. candidate at Concordia University's Aerospace Robotics Lab (<a href="https://users.encs.concordia.ca/~p_aubinf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CUARL</a>).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trio-of-technologies">Trio of technologies</h2>



<p>These on-site production requirements are where 3D printing, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robosapiens-ai-project-making-industrial-robots-more-free-thinking-adaptable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robotics</a>, and AI come to the forefront. </p>



<p>“These three technologies, operating together, offer versatility,” explained co-author Krzysztof Skonieczny, an associate professor at the Concordia Institute of Aerospace Design and Innovation.</p>



<p>He elaborated that adaptive and flexible solutions are needed to respond to unexpected challenges on the Moon.</p>



<p>Given the unique lunar environment, the equipment required will be equally specialized, often being used for the first time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harnessing-moon-dust-for-the-base">Harnessing Moon dust for the base</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/turning-moon-soil-lunar-regolith-space-debris-into-building-materials/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lunar regolith</a>, a layer of fine yet abrasive dust that envelops the moon’s surface, could considerably reduce the payload from Earth-launched supply missions. </p>



<p>Azami's research in the Concordia Centre for Composites (<a href="https://www.concordia.ca/research/composites.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CONCOM</a>) and CUARL has shown that this dust could be used in a mobile 3D printing robot for on-demand fabrication of complex structures.</p>



<p>Also, regolith serves as an effective barrier against solar radiation, potentially reducing the need to import similar materials from Earth.</p>



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



<p>Moving forward, both the United States and China have plans to establish a long-term base on the Moon by mid-next decade.</p>



<p>While this goal seems achievable for smaller missions, similar to those to the International Space Station or Antarctic research centers, a more extended lunar stay presents new challenges.</p>



<p>Addressing issues like the effects of extended duration on human biology and the legal complications around lunar territorial rights should be a priority.</p>



<p>"These are very important, big-picture challenges. Manufacturing is one piece of a very large puzzle," noted Skonieczny.</p>



<p>As we move forward in our ambitious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lunar-rovers-new-technology-survive-extreme-moon-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar exploration</a> goals, every piece of this puzzle will be critical. </p>



<p>And if the past is any indication, human ingenuity will rise to the challenge and turn these dreams into realities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-moon-as-a-stepping-stone-to-mars">The Moon as a stepping stone to Mars</h2>



<p>Establishing a sustainable presence on the moon is not just an end goal - it’s a crucial step toward deeper <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/civilian-spacewalk-is-a-giant-leap-in-space-exploration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space exploration</a>.</p>



<p>Lessons learned from lunar construction, resource utilization, and long-term human habitation will serve as a blueprint for future missions to Mars and beyond. </p>



<p>The moon’s lower gravity and proximity to Earth make it an ideal testing ground for advanced life support systems, autonomous robotics, and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies.</p>



<p>Moreover, a permanent lunar base could act as a launch hub for deep space missions, which would reduce the need for costly, Earth-based launches.</p>



<p>With infrastructure in place on the Moon, astronauts could prepare for longer missions, refining their ability to work in extreme environments and paving the way for humanity’s next giant leap - setting foot on the Red Planet.</p>



<p>As nations and private companies collaborate to push the boundaries of space exploration, the moon offers a unique opportunity to test and perfect the technologies that will one day carry humans across the solar system. </p>



<p>The journey to Mars starts with building a strong base on the Moon, and the innovations being developed today will be instrumental in achieving this ambitious goal.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S037604212400071X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Progress in Aerospace Sciences</a></em>.</p>



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



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NASA plans to build a Moon base using 3D printing and robots

NASA's Artemis program aims to establish a human base on...

<p>A series of earthquakes rattled parts of Surrey from 2018 into early 2019, catching many people off guard. Residents in Newdigate reported cracked walls and swaying furniture at odd times, raising questions about what could cause such unexpected disturbance.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Scientists stepped up their investigations and discovered a curious link between these seismic events and an oil extraction site several miles away.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surrey-s-earthquakes-raised-questions">Surrey’s earthquakes raised questions</h2>



<p>More than 100 small earthquakes occurred over a short span of time in Surrey.</p>



<p>They measured between 1.34 and 3.18 in magnitude, which is mild on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-detect-major-earthquakes-months-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seismic</a> scale but still disruptive for homeowners living through them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Geologists debated for a while whether the quakes could be connected to a nearby well or if they were simply natural activity. The site in question was located about three to six miles from the affected area.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-earthquake-links-to-oil-extraction">Possible earthquake links to oil extraction</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/earth-sciences/people/academic/dr-matthew-fox" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Matthew Fox</a>, a lead investigator from University College London (<a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>), investigated whether the quakes were triggered by oil extraction activities.</p>



<p>He and his team applied a mathematical model to assess how much the timing and volume of drilling might influence seismic events. </p>



<p>They ran over a million simulations and found a rough match between the well’s pumping schedule and the pattern of tremors.</p>



<p>“Our study suggests there is a link between the ground earthquakes and oil extraction at Horse Hill but we cannot rule out that this link is a coincidence,” said Dr Matthew Fox at the end of his team’s analysis. </p>



<p>He pointed out that more data is needed to confirm a cause-and-effect relationship.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underlying-pressures">Underlying pressures</h2>



<p>Scientists have long recognized that removing oil or other fluids from rock can change <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthquake-activity-will-increase-due-to-glacial-retreat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pressure underground</a>. This subtle shift can travel several miles through cracks and porous rock layers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The specific pace depends on how permeable the surrounding geology is, and even slight stress can set off a sudden slip along a fault. </p>



<p>Researchers suggest that certain types of rock might transfer pressure changes in the matter of a few days, while others could take much longer to show an effect.</p>



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



<p>The British Geological Survey (BGS) and other authorities continue to <a href="https://earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/research/SurreyEarthquakes.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> seismic activity in that region of England. </p>



<p>Some experts believe the quakes were linked to a deeper fault that may have been ready to move anyway. Others see potential ties between drilling and the earth’s movement.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“There has been no significant seismic activity in Surrey for decades, so these earthquakes were unusual events,” said <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/earth-sciences/people/academic/prof-philip-meredith" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Philip Meredith</a> at the end of his review.</p>



<p>He added that there is still a possibility the timing is just chance. The debate highlights that the mechanisms behind induced seismicity can be complex and require thorough data before reaching any firm conclusions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-legal-and-community-impact">Legal and community impact</h2>



<p>Local planning authorities eventually quashed permission for further work at the Surrey site in October 2024. Another project in West Sussex is facing legal scrutiny as well, with residents pushing for careful assessment before exploratory drilling moves forward.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These developments reflect a broader effort to balance the economic interests of energy projects with the concerns of people who live nearby. The legal challenges question whether a region’s full environmental and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthquakes-have-long-lasting-impacts-on-forests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seismic context</a> is being given enough weight before such operations begin.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oil-company-insists-the-earthquakes-were-natural">Oil company insists the earthquakes were natural</h2>



<p>Operators at the Horse Hill site have stated that earlier findings from seismologists satisfied the view that the earthquakes were natural, caused by a deeper and unconnected fault.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This is an incident that was answered and dealt with many years ago when the BGS seismologists were satisfied it was a natural event associated with movement on a deeper, unassociated fault many miles deeper and distant from the site,” said a spokesman for <a href="https://www.ukogplc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UKOG</a>.</p>



<p>He also noted that the company is now shifting focus toward alternative energy activities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monitoring-oil-sites-for-future-earthquakes">Monitoring oil sites for future earthquakes</h2>



<p>Oil extraction can offer economic benefits, yet public safety remains a major priority. Scientists recommend that areas targeted for drilling or pumping should be monitored for a stretch of time before projects begin.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Early seismometers, robust data collection, and transparent reporting can reduce the mystery if quakes do arise. This approach could help communities feel better prepared and help researchers gather key information.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Many experts see a need for more field data to clarify whether pressure changes from drilling are a likely cause or if these quakes are simply random occurrences that happened around the same time.</p>



<p>The study was published in the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/geological-magazine/article/were-the-newdigate-earthquakes-southern-england-of-20182019-triggered-by-oil-extraction/22A5EF8F9934D79FBFED062112DA0611" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Geological Magazine</em></a>.</p>



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



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Earthquakes linked to nearby oil extraction fracking sites

A series of earthquakes rattled parts of Surrey from 2018...

<p>In a world where driverless vehicles capture headlines, there’s a quieter shift shaping the future of transportation. </p>



<p>While many companies focus on ferrying people around busy cities, a growing niche is turning its attention to mundane, repetitive tasks.</p>



<p>These tasks may not grab the spotlight, but they keep logistics, city maintenance, and industrial sites running. Some drivers complain about long hours or hazardous routes, while others quit. </p>



<p>As a result, new ventures are stepping in to hand these “crappy jobs” over to self-driving workhorses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-interest-in-driverless-utility-vehicles">Growing interest in driverless utility vehicles</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.infosys.com/insights/ai-automation/autonomous-technologies.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Autonomous technology</a> is often seen as synonymous with <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/03/1108950/robotaxis-driverless-cars-breakthrough-technologies-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robotaxis</a> or passenger shuttles. </p>



<p>However, engineers are finding that commercial and industrial settings provide more predictable environments for the operation of driverless vehicles.</p>



<p>Warehouses, mining sites, and city service jobs can be streamlined through driverless vehicles that do chores no one else wants to tackle. Businesses see these specialized vehicles as a way to speed up operations, keep workers out of harm’s way, and cut costs.</p>



<p>They also hope to reduce human error, which is often a factor in minor mishaps and lost productivity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-background-a-surge-in-local-expertise">Background: A surge in local expertise</h2>



<p>When Australia’s once-famous car manufacturing sector <a href="https://www.swinburne.edu.au/news/2016/10/collapse-of-australian-car-manufacturing-industry/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collapsed</a> in the mid-2010s, many talented engineers and technicians found themselves jobless. That wave of skill and experience sparked fresh ideas for emerging companies.</p>



<p>One such venture is <a href="https://www.appliedev.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applied EV</a>, co-founded by General Motors veteran <a href="https://www.automobil-elektronik-kongress.de/hosts-speakers/detail/veranstaltung/2024/sprecher/julian-broadbent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julian Broadbent</a>, Chief Executive Officer at Applied EV. </p>



<p>The automotive shakeup pushed him and his team to tackle unappealing but necessary tasks by using robotic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-future-is-electric-epa-sets-strictest-ever-vehicle-emission-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicles</a>. Their approach is gaining attention from global partners.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-path-to-autonomy">One path to autonomy</h2>



<p>Broadbent believes that focusing on less glamorous work is an easier strategy than chasing the hype around driverless taxis.</p>



<p>“Making robot taxis requires huge investment. We found an easier road to market by looking at all the crappy jobs. The dull and dangerous jobs that drivers don’t want to do, the monotonous work,” said Broadbent in an interview.</p>



<p>He sees applications everywhere, from running deliveries in large warehouses to taking on roadside cleaning duties. He also noted that local talent was abundant after major carmakers left Australia.</p>



<p>“We looked out the window and realized we could pick up a lot of talent. Ford, GM, Nissan all left in a hurry,” the chief executive said.</p>



<p>This mindset shaped Applied EV’s focus on tasks that do not require the complex decision-making of urban passenger travel.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-worker-shortages-and-driverless-utility-vehicles">Worker shortages and driverless utility vehicles</h2>



<p>Driver shortages in various regions have sparked fresh thinking. The <a href="https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/ata-chief-economist-pegs-driver-shortage-historic-high" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Trucking Associations</a> reported a shortfall of about 80,000 truck drivers in 2021.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Employers are juggling high turnover and rising wages. Many routes are unappealing, and some companies struggle to retain staff who face monotonous tasks.</p>



<p>Autonomous utility vehicles promise to cover these jobs without risking human safety. Broadbent highlighted how this creates practical solutions for multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/direct-evidence-electric-vehicles-measurably-reduce-carbon-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">industries</a>.</p>



<p>“The public will feel comfortable with this - we’re solving real human problems,” commented Broadbent.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-suzuki-invests-in-autonomous-vehicles">Suzuki invests in autonomous vehicles</h2>



<p>Applied EV’s specialized software, designed to power various <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-electric-car-battery-charges-in-just-4-5-minutes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">commercial vehicles</a>, caught the attention of Japan’s Suzuki. </p>



<p>The giant automaker took a stake in the company with the aim of rolling out driverless solutions that handle chores in places like retail complexes and manufacturing plants.</p>



<p>Instead of competing with larger, self-driving taxi projects, Suzuki and Applied EV hope to build simpler units that move cargo and maintain facilities. </p>



<p>Their vision is to help businesses allocate people to tasks that require a personal touch, while letting robots handle repetitive driving jobs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-australia-s-contribution-to-the-ev-supply-chain">Australia’s contribution to the ev supply chain</h2>



<p>Beyond the engineering talent, Australia supplies critical materials for electric vehicles. According to <a href="https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/minerals/mineral-resources-and-advice/australian-resource-reviews/lithium" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geoscience Australia</a>, the country holds around 6.3 million tons (5.7 million metric tons) of lithium resources.</p>



<p>This mineral is essential for most modern EV batteries. With manufacturers around the globe looking for battery metals, Australia is stepping up as a source of lithium, <a href="https://reneweconomy.com.au/greener-steel-lithium-and-graphite-the-focus-in-new-state-government-funding-round/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">graphite</a>, and other key elements.</p>



<p>That strengthens its position as a valuable player in the broader electric vehicle market, alongside companies like Applied EV.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-driverless-vehicles-promise-to-reshape-industries">Driverless vehicles promise to reshape industries</h2>



<p>There’s a sense of optimism in this corner of the transportation world. More companies are likely to adopt driverless vehicles to manage jobs that typically see high turnover or safety risks.</p>



<p>Mitsubishi has also taken notice of Australian tech expertise by investing about £26 million in Canberra-based <a href="https://www.autoworldjournal.com/mitsubishi-electric-joins-seeing-machines/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seeing Machines</a>, which specializes in driver-monitoring systems. Such deals hint at an appetite for creative solutions that avoid the fiercely competitive space of passenger autonomy.</p>



<p>Rather than aiming for congested roads, outfits like Applied EV look set to reshape behind-the-scenes operations across different industries. They don’t promise futuristic rides or fancy perks.</p>



<p>Instead, they target everyday chores that rarely excite people but are essential for maintaining cities, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-directly-observes-carbon-factories-milky-way-galaxy-wolf-rayet-140/">factories</a>, and farms. With a focus on these overlooked areas, autonomous technology may make life easier for workers while boosting efficiency.</p>



<p>By staying under the radar, these vehicles quietly prove that technology can step in where drivers would rather not tread.</p>



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



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Driverless utility vehicles are taking over boring and risky jobs

In a world where driverless vehicles capture headlines, there’s a...

<p>If we could turn back time to between 45,000 and 29,000 years ago, we would find that the planet was a vastly different place from how it is currently. Early humans were just beginning to establish their presence beyond the African continent, and they may unwittingly have caused a seismic shift in the local ecology.</p>



<p>But how did their arrival impact the delicate balance of the animal kingdom? A recent study offers fresh insights into this ancient relationship.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-scavenger-human-relationship">The scavenger-human relationship</h2>



<p>"Early humans, more than 30,000 years ago, did not live in isolation from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wealth-inequality-exists-in-the-animal-kingdom-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal world</a>; they were integrated into a network of relationships with scavengers," explained Dr. Chris Baumann, one of the key scientists behind the research.</p>



<p>This complex web of interactions, where humans and scavenger animals influenced each other, is often challenging to understand from our modern perspective.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-data-unearthing-the-past">The power of data: Unearthing the past</h2>



<p>Uncovering insights from the depths of history is no simple task. However, researchers from the <a href="https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tübingen</a> and the University of Cologne achieved this by leveraging the extensive ROAD database from the ROCEEH research center. </p>



<p>This database encompasses information from 2,400 prehistoric sites across Europe, Africa, and Asia.</p>



<p>By focusing on zooarchaeological data from European sites once inhabited by humans, the team unearthed intriguing patterns of behavior that had long disappeared into the past.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-effect-on-scavengers">The human effect on scavengers</h2>



<p>Dr. Baumann and his colleagues hypothesize that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-ancient-humans-hunted-elephants-with-stone-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient humans</a> may have hunted and killed more animals than they could consume, thereby increasing the availability of carrion.</p>



<p>At first, this may have been a boon for sizable scavenger animals. "Initially, this benefited large scavengers," noted Baumann.</p>



<p>However, humans soon began to manage their surroundings more carefully, ensuring that large predators were kept at a distance from their settlements.</p>



<p>On the other hand, unthreatening small scavengers like foxes, ravens, or crows were likely tolerated - much like we tolerate urban foxes and raccoons today.</p>



<p>Baumann believes this dynamic resulted in a significant shift in the relationship between humans and scavengers between 45,000 and 29,000 years ago.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-carnivores-were-displaced">Large carnivores were displaced </h2>



<p>"During this period, the late Pleistocene, the large scavengers began to be displaced in favor of smaller species, some of which even benefited from living with humans," noted Dr. Shumon T. Hussain. </p>



<p>This shift was likely driven, in part, by the arrival of modern humans (<em><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthals-homo-sapiens-living-spaces-organized-similarly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Homo sapiens</a></em>) in Europe and the displacement of the region's last Neanderthals.</p>



<p>"Humans further developed their skills and hunted so many animals that significantly more energy became available in the food web," noted Baumann.</p>



<p>This influx of energy resulted in behavioral adaptations and evolutionary changes in scavenging animals, while humans developed new ways of colonizing the landscape. </p>



<p>In effect, humans played a significant role in shaping ecosystems - which may have also influenced human evolution itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-ecological-impact">Long-term ecological impact</h2>



<p>The changes induced by early humans didn’t just alter the dynamics between scavengers and their environment in the short term. These changes triggered a cascade of ecological consequences that echoed through generations.</p>



<p>As large scavengers were gradually pushed away and smaller ones thrived in human-dominated spaces, the ecosystem itself adapted in response. </p>



<p>This shift likely influenced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/danger-zones-climate-change-is-altering-predator-prey-dynamics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predator-prey</a> relationships, competition for resources, and even the genetic evolution of scavenger species over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-domestication-of-animals">Domestication of animals</h2>



<p>Researchers believe that this transition may have contributed to the domestication process, with some animals gradually adapting to human presence and food sources. </p>



<p>The tolerance for smaller scavengers like foxes and birds may have been an early stepping stone to the complex relationships humans share with domesticated animals today.</p>



<p>Furthermore, this adaptation highlights how human activity can leave an enduring mark on biodiversity - whether intentional or not.</p>



<p>Understanding these ancient ecological shifts provides valuable lessons for modern conservation efforts. </p>



<p>The study highlights the importance of considering how human interventions, both past and present, can disrupt or reshape natural ecosystems. The research offers insights into how we might promote more sustainable coexistence with wildlife in the future.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379124006504?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quaternary Science Reviews</a></em>.</p>



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How early humans and small scavengers benefited each other

If we could turn back time to between 45,000 and...

<p>For millennia, the Arctic-boreal zone (ABZ) has acted as a critical carbon reservoir, locking away vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in its frozen soils. Unfortunately, this seems to no longer be true.</p>



<p>A new study confirms that this vital role is rapidly eroding due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-earth-energy-imbalance-temperature-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rising temperatures</a>, increased microbial activity, and intensifying wildfires. </p>



<p>The research, led by the <a href="https://www.woodwellclimate.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woodwell Climate Research Center</a>, shows that one-third of the ABZ is now emitting more carbon than it absorbs, with this figure rising to 40% when emissions from fires are factored in.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-carbon-balance-in-the-arctic">Shifting carbon balance in the Arctic</h2>



<p>The Arctic-boreal zone encompasses tundra, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/single-degree-temperature-warming-boreal-forests-wreak-havoc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">boreal forests</a>, and wetlands across Earth's northernmost regions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Historically, the ABZ has acted as a net carbon sink, absorbing more CO₂ through plant photosynthesis than it released via microbial and plant respiration. </p>



<p>However, the study highlights how this delicate balance is shifting, driven by climate change and a surge in wildfires.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arctic-boreal-zone_abz_study-zone-area_map_credit-WCRC_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arctic-boreal-zone_abz_study-zone-area_map_credit-WCRC_1s.webp" alt="Map of Arctic-boreal zone study area depicting boreal forests, tundra, and permafrost region. Credit: Greg Fiske / Woodwell Climate Research Center" class="wp-image-1958071"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Map of Arctic-boreal zone study area depicting boreal forests, tundra, and permafrost region. Credit: Greg Fiske / Woodwell Climate Research Center</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>“We wanted to develop the most current and comprehensive picture of carbon in the north, and to do that, we knew we needed to account for fire’s growing carbon footprint in this region,” said lead author Anna Virkkala, a research scientist at Woodwell Climate.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“While we found many northern ecosystems are still acting as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountains-both-carbon-sinks-and-carbon-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon dioxide sinks</a>, source regions and fires are now canceling out much of that net uptake and reversing long-standing trends.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-data-behind-the-findings">Data behind the findings</h2>



<p>To assess the ABZ’s changing carbon dynamics, the research team compiled three decades of CO₂ data (1990–2020) from 200 monitoring sites. </p>



<p>The data were drawn from flux towers and chambers that measure gas exchanges between the land and the atmosphere. </p>



<p>These site-level observations were integrated with climate, soil, and vegetation data into the “<a href="https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/14/179/2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ABC Flux</a>” database, which Virkkala oversees.</p>



<p>The process of “upscaling” these data created detailed, high-resolution maps (1km x 1km) of carbon fluxes across the region. This level of detail allowed researchers to pinpoint specific areas where carbon trends are shifting.</p>



<p>“The high resolution of these data means that we can now see how variable the Arctic is when it comes to carbon,” said Sue Natali, lead of the Permafrost Pathways initiative at Woodwell Climate and a co-author of the study.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The Arctic isn’t one single place - it’s a massive area with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-action-and-biodiversity-striking-the-right-balance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diverse ecosystems</a> and climatic conditions. And now we have the capability to track and map carbon processes at a spatial resolution that can reveal what’s happening on the ground.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-summer-greening-vs-winter-emissions">Summer greening vs. winter emissions</h2>



<p>The study provides key insights into the factors driving the ABZ’s changing carbon balance. </p>



<p>While longer growing seasons and increased vegetation in some areas have boosted summer carbon uptake, these gains are overshadowed by increased emissions during the non-growing season. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/permafrost-is-no-longer-permanent-arctic-communities-in-danger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thawing permafrost</a> releases stored carbon, and microbial activity during warmer winters accelerates the release of greenhouse gases.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arctic-boreal-zone_abz_average-co2-balance_2001-2020_map_credit-WCRC_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arctic-boreal-zone_abz_average-co2-balance_2001-2020_map_credit-WCRC_1s.webp" alt="Average terrestrial CO2 balance from 2001–2020 based on a synthesis of field measurements and machine learning models. Credit: Greg Fiske / Woodwell Climate Research Center" class="wp-image-1958065"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Average terrestrial CO2 balance from 2001–2020 based on a synthesis of field measurements and machine learning models. Credit: Greg Fiske / Woodwell Climate Research Center</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>“We are seeing that longer growing seasons and more microbial activity in winter are gradually shifting carbon trajectories,” explained Marguerite Mauritz, an assistant professor at the <a href="https://www.utep.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Texas-El Paso</a> and co-author of the study.</p>



<p>The research also challenges the assumption that a “greener” Arctic will lead to greater carbon storage. While nearly half (49%) of the ABZ showed signs of greening, only 12% of those areas demonstrated an annual net increase in CO₂ uptake.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Warmer conditions often mean more carbon released from permafrost thaw and more biomass available to burn during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfires</a>, further contributing to emissions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fires-amplify-arctic-carbon-loss">Fires amplify Arctic carbon loss</h2>



<p>Wildfires, a growing threat in the ABZ, exacerbate the region’s carbon release. Adding fire emissions to the carbon balance analysis raised the percentage of the ABZ acting as a carbon source from 34% to 40%.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These fires are fueled by increased vegetation and drier conditions, creating a feedback loop that accelerates carbon loss.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arctic-boreal-zone_abz_average-co2-balance_2001-2020_map2_credit-WCRC_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arctic-boreal-zone_abz_average-co2-balance_2001-2020_map2_credit-WCRC_1s.webp" alt="Average terrestrial CO2 balance from 2001–2020 based on a synthesis of field measurements and machine learning models. Credit: Greg Fiske / Woodwell Climate Research Center" class="wp-image-1958068"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Average terrestrial CO2 balance from 2001–2020 based on a synthesis of field measurements and machine learning models. Credit: Greg Fiske / Woodwell Climate Research Center</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>The study highlights the need for more robust monitoring of the ABZ to better understand and mitigate the impacts of these changes.</p>



<p>“Highly collaborative efforts like this are critical for understanding how shifting seasonal dynamics and disturbance patterns can have regional and even global impacts,” Mauritz said.</p>



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



<p>The findings are consistent with a growing body of research indicating that the Arctic is transitioning from a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-carbon-sinks-are-being-pushed-to-their-limits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon sink</a> to a carbon source. </p>



<p>Studies including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-previously-unknown-sources-of-methane-production/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methane (CH₄) emissions</a> from lakes, rivers, and wetlands reinforce this troubling trend. </p>



<p>A warmer Arctic may no longer serve as a reliable buffer against global carbon emissions but instead act as a significant contributor.</p>



<p>“This study may act as a warning sign of bigger changes ahead, and offers a map of places we’ll need to better monitor in the coming decades,” Virkkala said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-warming-and-carbon-dynamics">Arctic warming and carbon dynamics </h2>



<p>The researchers emphasize that understanding these changes is essential for predicting their long-term impact on the global carbon cycle. </p>



<p>The detailed, high-resolution maps created by this study can guide future monitoring efforts and inform climate policy.</p>



<p>By illustrating how and where carbon dynamics are shifting, this research provides critical tools for scientists and policymakers to address the challenges posed by a warming Arctic.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As the study shows, the region’s role in regulating Earth’s carbon balance is changing rapidly - and the consequences may reverberate far beyond the northern latitudes.</p>



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



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Earth's Arctic region has flipped and now emits more carbon than it stores

For millennia, the Arctic-boreal zone (ABZ) has acted as a...

<p>In 2022, the Great Salt Lake - celebrated as the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere - dropped to unprecedented low levels.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This alarming decline has triggered widespread concerns in Utah regarding the lake’s economic value, ecological significance, and potential threats to public health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guiding-decisions-about-great-salt-lake">Guiding decisions about Great Salt Lake </h2>



<p>A new study from <a href="https://www.pdx.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland State University</a> (PSU) represents the first peer-reviewed effort to quantitatively assess the contributing factors behind Great Salt Lake's record-low water volume. </p>



<p>According to the researchers, this detailed analysis is critical for predicting and guiding future decisions about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/great-salt-lake-agriculture-is-draining-a-natural-wonder/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lake management</a>.</p>



<p>“The lake has a lot of social and economic relevance for the region and Utah,” said Siiri Bigalke, the lead author of the study and a PhD candidate in PSU’s Earth, Environment and Society program.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Bigalke's research builds upon earlier work conducted during her master’s studies at <a href="https://www.usu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah State University</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-far-reaching-importance-of-great-salt-lake">Far-reaching importance of Great Salt Lake </h2>



<p>Bigalke highlighted the multifaceted significance of the Great Salt Lake. “It provides over $1.9 billion in annual economic revenue, serves as a vital feeding ground for millions of migratory birds and enhances snowfall over the Wasatch Mountain Range.” </p>



<p>The Wasatch Range hosts 11 ski resorts, and the Winter Olympics will return to Salt Lake City in 2034. The lake influences weather patterns that sustain this recreation and tourism. A compromised lake could have extensive repercussions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yearly-changes-in-lake-volume">Yearly changes in lake volume</h2>



<p>Bigalke collaborated with co-authors Paul Loikith, an associate professor of geography and director of PSU’s Climate Science Lab, and Nick Siler, an associate professor in <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon State University</a>’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.</p>



<p>The team developed a model to track the lake’s annual water volume fluctuations. This model incorporated water inputs - primarily from streamflow and precipitation - as well as water loss from evaporation.</p>



<p>“We developed a model that created alternate scenarios where only one of the input or output variables changed as observed in order to isolate the relative contributions of streamflow, precipitation and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-can-vaporize-water-cause-evaporation-without-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evaporation</a> to the record low volume in 2022,” Bigalke explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-causes-of-the-lake-s-decline">Causes of the lake's decline</h2>



<p>The commonly cited cause of the lake’s decline is reduced streamflows in its three major tributaries, driven by a combination of drought, water diversions, and climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While the PSU study confirmed that shrinking streamflows accounted for about two-thirds of the total water volume drop, it also identified another critical factor: increased evaporation resulting from rising temperatures.</p>



<p>Warmer conditions intensify the rate at which water evaporates off the lake’s surface. This effect, already significant, is likely to worsen over time if temperatures continue to climb.</p>



<p>“As the climate is warming, evaporation off the lake increases, so the contribution from warming to the evaporation is significant,” Loikith said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Without the warming trend, 2022 wouldn't have been a record low. Even though streamflow is dominant, the increase in evaporation was necessary to reach the record low.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-short-term-rebound-vs-long-term-pressures">Short-term rebound vs. long-term pressures</h2>



<p>Although boosting streamflows through measures like water conservation could temporarily help the lake recover some of its lost volume, the longer-term picture is more troubling.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The escalating heat linked to climate change is expected to further intensify evaporation, potentially outpacing any near-term improvements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-of-a-shrinking-lake">Health risks of a shrinking lake</h2>



<p>Beyond economic and ecological losses, a shrinking Great Salt Lake also poses serious health concerns for the roughly 1.2 million residents in the Salt Lake City metro region.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As more lakebed is exposed, dust events could become more frequent, degrading air quality and carrying toxic particles.</p>



<p>“As the lake shrinks, it's exposing this dry lakebed that could possibly increase dust events into the metropolitan area, affecting the air quality for nearby residents,” Bigalke noted.</p>



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



<p>The study authors call for further research to determine precisely how much each factor - rising evaporation, shifting precipitation, and human-driven water diversions - impacts the flow of water into the lake. </p>



<p>This knowledge is pivotal for crafting policies that effectively address the lake’s ongoing decline.</p>



<p>The PSU-led team believes that understanding these variables can help officials plan for a range of scenarios. This is especially crucial in regions susceptible to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-now-the-driving-force-behind-droughts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought</a> and extreme weather events, where the lake’s status could shift rapidly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-a-critical-resource">Managing a critical resource</h2>



<p>The Great Salt Lake’s record low in 2022 stands as a stark reminder of how climate change and resource management decisions intersect.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Policymakers, conservationists, and local stakeholders must collaborate to safeguard the lake for future generations, balancing economic demands with ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>Ultimately, the lake’s future hinges on measures that address <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tackling-the-worlds-climate-driven-water-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water scarcity</a>, curtail water diversions, and mitigate the effects of global warming. The research highlights the urgency of these efforts and the consequences if they are delayed.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GL112154" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Geophysical Research Letters</em></a>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



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Great Salt Lake is rapidly shrinking, and experts say that they finally know why

In 2022, the Great Salt Lake - celebrated as the...

Golden,Trevally,Swim,With,A,Whale,Shark,In,Cenderawasih,Bay,

<p>Massive whale sharks, the gentle giants of the ocean, are engaging in unexpected behavior. According to a new study, whale sharks use oil platforms as migratory stopover sites during their expansive journeys across the globe.</p>



<p>These spotted behemoths don't just randomly cruise the seas - they follow a network of natural and human-made structures that dot their underwater highways.</p>



<p>These observations come from a long-term tracking study conducted by Ben D'Antonio and his colleagues at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (<a href="https://www.aims.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AIMS</a>) and The University of Western Australia (<a href="https://www.uwa.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UWA</a>).</p>



<p>The findings paint a fascinating picture of how these enormous fish navigate the vast expanses of our oceans.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-whale-sharks-across-the-ocean">Tracking whale sharks across the ocean</h2>



<p>The study involved analyzing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-shark-mating-behaviors-observed-for-the-first-time-in-the-wild/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite tracking</a> data from 78 whale sharks over a span of 14 years. The researchers focused on whale sharks that had been tagged at Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay - two critical habitats along the Western Australian coast.</p>



<p>According to lead author Ben D’Antonio, a Ph.D. candidate from the AIMS@UWA program, the study provides crucial insights into how these massive creatures navigate the ocean.</p>



<p>"We mapped their movements across the eastern Indian Ocean and the North West Shelf. The latter area in particular features a number of oil and gas platforms and associated infrastructure," D’Antonio said.</p>



<p>The researchers found that whale sharks use natural underwater formations, such as seamounts, pinnacles, and canyons as navigational aids.</p>



<p>These structures, shaped by ocean currents, act as hotspots for plankton and other small organisms, which provide a reliable food source for the filter-feeding giants.</p>



<p>"Whale sharks travel huge distances across the oceans, and our study illustrates that they tend to use undersea pinnacles and seamounts as stepping stones on these journeys because the currents that flow around these features help to enhance food availability like plankton," said D'Antonio.</p>



<p>Interestingly, the researchers also found that artificial structures, such as offshore oil and gas platforms, may play a similar role in facilitating whale <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-sharks-move-into-dangerous-territory-as-the-climate-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shark migration</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-whale-sharks-like-oil-and-gas-platforms">Whale sharks like oil and gas platforms</h2>



<p>While seamounts and pinnacles can span tens of kilometers, oil and gas platforms are relatively small. Yet, they seem to offer a comparable level of food availability. </p>



<p>Researchers believe this may be due to the way industrial infrastructure affects surrounding marine ecosystems.</p>



<p>"The same is true for the industrial infrastructure found off the north-west coast of Australia," D’Antonio explained.</p>



<p>There is evidence, for example, that plankton are attracted by the artificial lights on these platforms. This discovery suggests that oil and gas platforms may unintentionally benefit marine life by attracting prey species.</p>



<p>However, the role of oil and gas platforms as migratory stepping stones also raises new questions about how their eventual removal could affect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-sharks-face-deadly-threats-in-shipping-lanes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whale shark</a> movement patterns.</p>



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



<p>As oil and gas platforms reach the end of their operational lives, many are scheduled for decommissioning. </p>



<p>The study’s findings suggest that removing these structures could disrupt whale shark migration.</p>



<p>"The removal of platforms at the end of their productive life may change seascape connectivity by removing migratory stepping stones that link important habitats for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-has-caused-a-50-decline-in-sharks-and-rays/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whale sharks</a>," D’Antonio said.</p>



<p>Understanding the extent to which whale sharks depend on these artificial structures is now a priority.</p>



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



<p>Researchers need to determine how frequently the sharks visit platforms and whether they rely on them for sustenance or merely use them as occasional stopovers.</p>



<p>"There is still a need to understand the detail in the relationships between whale sharks and individual oil and gas platforms, like how often and for how long they visit," noted D’Antonio.</p>



<p>These insights are crucial for conservation and management strategies, particularly when planning marine protected areas (MPAs) and making decisions about decommissioning offshore infrastructures.</p>



<p>Policymakers must carefully weigh the ecological consequences before dismantling platforms that may serve an unexpected but important role in whale shark migration.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-conservation-and-risks">Balancing conservation and risks</h2>



<p>While the presence of oil and gas platforms may provide benefits for whale sharks, they also introduce significant risks. Ship strikes from service vessels are a major concern, particularly in areas with heavy industrial activity.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.aims.gov.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AIMS</a> scientist and co-author Dr. Luciana Ferreira pointed out the dangers posed by vessel interactions.</p>



<p>"There are records of fatal interactions between whale sharks and vessels, and a considerable portion of the whale shark population at Ningaloo Reef have scars attributed to vessel strikes," she said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-whale-sharks-offshore-oil-and-pollution">Whale sharks, offshore oil, and pollution</h2>



<p>Pollution is another pressing issue. Discharges, spills, and other contaminants associated with industrial operations can pose serious threats to marine life. </p>



<p>Even subtle environmental changes caused by industrial infrastructure may have unintended consequences for whale shark behavior.</p>



<p>"The presence of the platforms may also have indirect implications by altering migration patterns and disrupting the movements of whale sharks between natural features," explained Dr. Ferreira.</p>



<p>Despite these concerns, whale sharks face threats across their entire distribution. Fishing bycatch, entanglement, and ship strikes are all significant dangers that affect populations globally.</p>



<p>To protect whale sharks effectively, conservationists must take a holistic approach that accounts for both natural and artificial influences on their movements.</p>



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



<p>This study highlights the complexity of whale shark conservation. While natural features remain the primary drivers of migration, artificial structures appear to play a growing role in shaping their movement patterns. </p>



<p>Experts must now investigate whether these structures act as temporary refuges, long-term feeding grounds, or accidental hazards.</p>



<p>More broadly, the study highlights the importance of integrating industrial considerations into marine conservation planning. With careful management, it may be possible to mitigate risks while preserving the unexpected benefits that artificial structures provide.</p>



<p>As decisions about decommissioning offshore platforms loom, scientists and policymakers must work together to ensure that conservation efforts align with the realities of an ever-changing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-sharks-move-into-dangerous-territory-as-the-climate-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine environment</a>. </p>



<p>The future of whale sharks depends on understanding how both natural and human-made factors, such as oil and gas platforms, shape their world - and ensuring that their migratory pathways remain intact for generations to come.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ddi.13950" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diversity and Distributions</a></em>.</p>



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Whale sharks use offshore oil rigs as food stops during migration, harming conservation efforts

Massive whale sharks, the gentle giants of the ocean, are...

<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>

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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