<p>A recent analysis of the Sapphire Canyon mudstone core, drilled by NASA’s Perseverance rover in July 2024, adds new and convincing evidence to the ongoing search for life on Mars.</p>



<p>The study describes minerals and textures that - on Earth - are often linked to microbial activity. At the same time, the authors stress that some unknown, nonbiological chemistry could also explain the signals.</p>



<p>“This finding by Perseverance is the closest we have ever come to discovering life on Mars. The identification of a potential biosignature on the Red Planet is a groundbreaking discovery, and one that will advance our understanding of Mars,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. </p>



<p>“NASA’s commitment to conducting Gold Standard Science will continue as we pursue our goal of putting American boots on Mars’ rocky soil.”</p>



<p>The core was taken from a rock named "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-finds-best-evidence-yet-life-on-mars-cheyava-falls-rock/">Chevaya Falls</a>" in Neretva Vallis, an ancient river channel about a quarter mile wide that once fed Jezero Crater’s lake. </p>



<p>After drilling, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-captures-a-surprise-dust-devil-while-taking-high-resolution-selfie-on-mars/">Perseverance</a> sealed the sample for possible return to Earth, where laboratory instruments can perform tests far beyond the rover’s onboard capabilities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-the-martian-mudstone">Inside the Martian mudstone</h2>



<p>Lead author Joel A. Hurowitz of <a href="https://www.stonybrook.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stony Brook University</a> (SBU) reports a fine-grained mudstone with circular reaction fronts informally called leopard spots, plus small nodules embedded in layered sediments.</p>



<p>Perseverance’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/the-detective-aboard-nasas-perseverance-rover/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SHERLOC</a> and <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/heres-how-ai-is-changing-nasas-mars-rover-science/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PIXL</a> instruments mapped organic carbon with phosphate, iron, and sulfur arranged in distinct, repeating patterns.</p>



<p>Two minerals stand out: vivianite and greigite. Vivianite is an iron phosphate, while greigite is an iron sulfide associated with iron and sulfur cycling in oxygen-poor settings.</p>



<p>These features show up in rocks that settled from<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wave-ripples-discovered-mars-surface-indicate-liquid-water-present-4-billion-years-ago/"> water</a>, not in lavas. The site on Mars lies along Bright Angel, a set of outcrops that preserve layers and veins consistent with slow changes after the mud was laid down.</p>



<p>Textures and chemistry point to low temperature reactions that reorganized elements already present in the mud. </p>



<p>That detail matters because low temperatures fit environments that life can handle, while very hot conditions tend to erase delicate signals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-microbes-leave-similar-traces">Earth microbes leave similar traces</h2>



<p>On Earth, vivianite often forms where microbes reduce iron in water-rich sediments and trap phosphorus in blue-green nodules. </p>



<p>Laboratory and field work document biologically mediated vivianite through extracellular electron transfer.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/greigite" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greigite</a> frequently appears where sulfate reducing bacteria drive chemistry in anoxic muds. In controlled experiments, greigite was detected only in live biotic setups after months of incubation.</p>



<p>The Martian rock shows rims rich in vivianite surrounding small cores enriched in greigite. That bullseye pattern matches a sequence of electron transfer reactions seen in some Earth sediments.</p>



<p>None of this proves metabolism happened in Bright Angel mud, but it shows the chemistry is right for it. That is a subtle point, and it is the reason scientists keep the language cautious.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-life-on-mars">Evidence of life on Mars</h2>



<p>A potential biosignature is a feature that might have a biological origin but still needs more data to rule out nonbiological sources. </p>



<p>NASA points mission teams and the public to the Confidence of Life Detection, or CoLD scale, which encourages staged claims and independent checks.</p>



<p>The CoLD mindset is simple in practice. First detect a signal, then exclude contamination, then tackle alternatives, and only then talk about life on Mars with high confidence.</p>



<p>The Bright Angel work sits early on that ladder. It clears several necessary steps but leaves demanding tests for the lab.</p>



<p>Organic compounds can also arrive by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-meteorites-tell-us-about-their-birthplace-in-space/">meteorites</a> or form without biology. The authors note those routes and describe how future analyses could tell paths apart.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-organic-signals-but-no-certainty">Organic signals, but no certainty</h2>



<p>The Mars rover detected organic carbon in several targets within Bright Angel. Reaction fronts rimmed with vivianite surround cores richer in greigite, a pairing consistent with iron and sulfur cycling recorded in the paper.</p>



<p>Mineral veins include calcium sulfate, while the mudstone remains fine-grained and low in magnesium and manganese. There is no sign of intense heating that would reset the rock or scramble tiny textures.</p>



<p>The outcrop sits within layered sediments deposited by water flowing through Neretva Vallis. That channel spans roughly a quarter mile across, which implies sustained flow into Jezero’s ancient lake.</p>



<p>Low temperature context favors life-compatible chemistry, but it does not require life. Abiotic organics and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mineral-discovery-sheds-light-on-mars-fiery-past/">mineral</a> reactions can sometimes copy the same shapes and signals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-proof-but-potential-life-on-mars">Not proof, but potential life on Mars</h2>



<p>“It’s not life itself,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, stressing that this is a potential biosignature, not proof of life. The lead author echoed that caution.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We cannot claim this is more than a potential biosignature,” said Hurowitz. Other officials also underscored the stakes and the limits.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“[But] this very well could be the clearest sign of life that we’ve ever found on Mars,” said Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator. </p>



<p>Caution is not hedging for its own sake. It is how science avoids false alarms when the question is this important.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mars-life_olivine_leopard-spot_Cheyava-Falls_Perseverance-rover_NASA_1big.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mars-life_olivine_leopard-spot_Cheyava-Falls_Perseverance-rover_NASA_1s.webp" alt="NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered leopard spots on a reddish rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls” in Mars’ Jezero Crater in July 2024. Scientists think the spots may indicate that, billions of years ago, the chemical reactions in this rock could have supported microbial life; other explanations are being considered. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS" class="wp-image-1985874"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered leopard spots on a reddish rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls” in Mars’ Jezero Crater in July 2024. Scientists think the spots may indicate that, billions of years ago, the chemical reactions in this rock could have supported microbial life; other explanations are being considered. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS</em></figcaption></figure>



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



<p>If the vivianite and greigite formed through microbe-like metabolisms, then <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-begins-steep-climb-up-martian-crater-rim-jezero-crater/">Bright Angel</a> captures a period when surface waters supported the same chemical strategies some cells use for energy today. </p>



<p>That would extend Mars's habitability into a window when this part of Jezero was still wet.</p>



<p>If abiotic paths made the same pattern, the rock still records redox organization of iron, sulfur, and phosphorus in Martian mud. That is a window into how the planet cycles key elements without biology.</p>



<p>Either outcome matters for the bigger story. Mars did not just dry out, it changed its chemistry over time, and these samples let researchers track that change layer by layer.</p>



<p>The work also flags what to measure next. Isotopes, microtextures, and the exact structure of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-atoms-in-your-body-took-a-400000-light-year-journey-through-space/">carbon</a> in the core can separate metabolic signatures from chemical lookalikes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-search-for-life-on-mars-moves-forward">Search for life on Mars moves forward</h2>



<p>The authors lay out lab experiments and field analogs on Earth to test whether nonbiological reactions can reproduce these textures and mineral pairings. </p>



<p>They also point to analyses that require the sample in a clean Earth lab, including isotope ratios that biology tends to skew.</p>



<p>Sample return planning will shape how fast those tests happen. Meanwhile, the rover can keep mapping where these features cluster and how they relate to other rock units nearby.</p>



<p>PIXL and SHERLOC have shown enough sensitivity to guide that search. The pairing of elemental maps and Raman detections gives a consistent picture that can be applied to other outcrops.</p>



<p>As new targets are logged, the CoLD framework will help communicate progress without getting ahead of the data. That is how a potential biosignature becomes a result people can trust.</p>



<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://youtu.be/ieJKWW8sp2A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This animation depicts water disappearing over time in the Martian river valley Neretva Vallis, where NASA's Perseverance Mars takes the rock sample named “Sapphire Canyon” from a rock called “Cheyava Falls,” which was found in the “Bright Angel” formation. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09413-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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NASA announces discovery of life on Mars with high degree of confidence

A recent analysis of the Sapphire Canyon mudstone core, drilled by NASA’s Perseverance rover in July 2024, adds new and convincing evidence to the ongoing search for life on Mars. The study describes minerals and textures that - on Earth - are often linked to microbial activity. At the same time, the authors stress that some unknown, nonbiological chemistry could also explain the signals. “This finding by Perseverance is the closest we have ever come to discovering life on Mars. The identification of a potential biosignature on...

<p>Has anyone ever told you, "You don't look your age!" While it's usually a flattering compliment for us, it seems this is not just the case for our physical appearance. It turns out, our brains too can look older or younger, and artificial intelligence (AI) is helping us understand why.</p>



<p>In a recent study that bridges artificial intelligence and neuroscience, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have uncovered fascinating insights into brain aging. </p>



<p>The research suggests that the key to maintaining a youthful brain might lie in the health of our blood vessels.</p>



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



<p>With dementia affecting thousands of new patients each year in Sweden alone – over 20,000 to be precise, with Alzheimer's disease accounting for roughly two-thirds of cases – <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-25-years-of-research-revealed-about-brain-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">understanding brain aging</a> has never been more crucial. </p>



<p>This new study offers practical insights into how we might maintain our cognitive health as we age.</p>



<p>The study's innovative approach utilized artificial intelligence to analyze brain images from 739 cognitively healthy 70-year-olds, with women making up slightly more than half of the participant group. </p>



<p>The research team developed a sophisticated AI algorithm that could estimate the biological age of brains from MRI scans.</p>



<p>"The algorithm is both accurate and robust, yet easy to use," explained Professor Eric Westman, the study's principal investigator and professor of Neurogeriatrics at <a href="https://ki.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karolinska Institutet</a>.</p>



<p>He noted that while it's currently a research tool requiring further evaluation, the experts hope to eventually implement it in clinical settings, particularly for dementia investigations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vascular-connection-to-brain-age">Vascular connection to brain age</h2>



<p>Perhaps the most striking finding from the study is the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-sleep-habits-may-age-the-brain-faster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strong connection</a> between vascular health and brain age. </p>



<p>The research team discovered that several factors harmful to blood vessel health were associated with brains that appeared older than the participants' chronological age. These factors included diabetes, previous strokes, cerebral small vessel disease, and inflammation.</p>



<p>"A take-home from the study is that factors that adversely affect the blood vessels can also be related to older-looking brains, which shows how important it is to keep your blood vessels healthy, to protect your brain, by making sure, for instance, that your blood glucose level is kept stable," noted study lead author Anna Marseglia.</p>



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



<p>The research wasn't all about risk factors – it also revealed some encouraging news about the power of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-brain-literally-changes-based-on-daily-activities-and-lifestyle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthy lifestyle choices</a>.</p>



<p> Regular exercise emerged as a significant factor associated with younger-looking brains, suggesting that staying physically active might be one of our best defenses against cognitive aging.</p>



<p>This finding is particularly important because it emphasizes that we have some control over our brain's aging process. </p>



<p>While we can't change our genetics or completely prevent all health conditions, we can make lifestyle choices that promote better vascular health and, by extension, better brain health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sex-based-differences-in-brain-aging">Sex-based differences in brain aging</h2>



<p>Intriguingly, the study uncovered potential sex-based differences in brain aging. </p>



<p>The research team found that factors contributing to older- or younger-looking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/financial-decisions-are-not-as-reliable-in-the-aging-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brains</a> varied between men and women, suggesting that the pathways to building brain resilience might differ between sexes.</p>



<p>This discovery has prompted further research initiatives. </p>



<p>"Next year, we'll launch a study to understand how social health – including social engagement, connectedness, and support – in middle and older age, along with sleep and stress, influence brain resilience, with a focus on women's health factors," said Marseglia.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-the-brain-s-resilience">Boosting the brain's resilience </h2>



<p>The timing of this research is particularly significant. </p>



<p>"Despite the recent introduction of new Alzheimer's drugs, they will not work for everyone with dementia, so we want to study what can boost the brain's resilience against pathological aging processes," notes Marseglia.</p>



<p>This perspective highlights the importance of prevention and understanding the factors that contribute to brain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hobbies-keep-the-brain-sharp-and-slow-cognitive-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a>. </p>



<p>While medical treatments for cognitive decline continue to advance, maintaining good vascular health through lifestyle choices might be our best first-line defense against accelerated brain aging.</p>



<p>The study's findings suggest several practical steps we can take to promote brain health:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Maintain stable blood glucose levels through diet and regular check-ups</li>



<li>Engage in regular physical exercise</li>



<li>Control inflammation through diet and lifestyle choices</li>



<li>Pay attention to vascular health through regular medical check-ups</li>



<li>Consider sex-specific factors in brain health maintenance</li>
</ol>



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



<p>The research team's next steps - focusing on social health factors, sleep, and stress - promise to add another layer of understanding to how we can protect our cognitive health as we age.</p>



<p>This holistic approach to brain health research could lead to more personalized recommendations for maintaining cognitive function throughout our lives.</p>



<p>Understanding brain aging is becoming increasingly important as our global population ages. </p>



<p>This research from Karolinska Institutet not only provides valuable insights into the factors affecting brain age but also offers hope that through proper vascular health maintenance and lifestyle choices, we might be able to keep our brains younger for longer.</p>



<p>For now, the message is clear: taking care of your blood vessels isn't just good for your heart – it's essential for maintaining a youthful, resilient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-cells-develop-faster-in-space-than-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain</a>. </p>



<p>As we await further developments in this field, including the potential clinical implementation of AI-based brain age assessment tools, we can all take steps to protect our vascular health and our cognitive future.</p>



<p>The study is published in <em><a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.14435" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer's &amp; Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association</a>. </em></p>



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AI reveals the secret to keeping your brain young

Has anyone ever told you, "You don't look your age!"...

<p>Whales continue to astonish us with the surprises they reveal, and the most recent discovery is nothing short of extraordinary.</p>



<p>A comprehensive new study reveals that right whales have been underestimated in terms of their longevity. This discovery not only overturns long-standing beliefs but also highlights the remarkable resilience and mysterious nature of these marine giants.</p>



<p>These magnificent creatures, once thought to live only 70 to 80 years, are now known to surpass 130 years, with some nearing the age 150 - far outliving humans.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-right-whales-astonishing-lifespans">Right whales' astonishing lifespans</h2>



<p>This incredible discovery surfaced in an in-depth study that painstakingly analyzed photos of individual whales spanning four decades. </p>



<p>The researchers spotlighted two specific species - the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/southern-right-whales-have-shifted-their-foraging-grounds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern right whale</a>, found in the oceans below the equator, and the North Atlantic right whale, native to the Atlantic coast of North America.</p>



<p>The experts used the photographic data to build survivorship curves - a statistical tool similar to what is used by insurance companies - to calculate these remarkable lifespans.</p>



<p>The data revealed that Southern right whales can live for more than 130 years, with some speculated to reach the ripe old age of 150.</p>



<p>On the other hand, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-stop-the-extinction-of-north-atlantic-right-whales/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Atlantic right whales</a> were found to have an average lifespan of a mere 22 years, with very few surviving beyond 50 years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-impact-on-north-atlantic-whales">Human impact on North Atlantic whales</h2>



<p>According to Greg Breed, the study's lead author at the <a href="https://www.uaf.edu/uaf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alaska Fairbanks</a>, this longevity gap between two closely related species is primarily attributable to human interference.</p>



<p>"North Atlantic whales have unusually short lifespans compared to other whales, but this isn't because of intrinsic differences in biology, and they should live much longer," said Breed. </p>



<p>"They're frequently tangled in fishing gear or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ships-are-disregarding-efforts-to-protect-north-atlantic-right-whales/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">struck by ships</a>, and they suffer from starvation, potentially linked to environmental changes we don’t fully understand.”</p>



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



<p>These findings will not only rewrite biology textbooks but will also recalibrate the scales on which we measure conservation efforts for these creatures.</p>



<p>"To attain healthy populations that include old animals, recovery might take hundreds of years," noted Breed. "For animals that live to be 100 or 150 and only give birth to a surviving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-ever-footage-of-a-blue-whale-nursing-its-calf-captured/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">calf</a> every 10 years or so, slow recovery is to be expected.”</p>



<p>This slow recovery trajectory highlights the critical need for sustained conservation measures and global collaboration to protect these iconic marine mammals.</p>



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



<p>The research also emphasizes the significance of cultural knowledge among whale clusters. </p>



<p>“There’s a growing recognition that recovery isn’t just about biomass or the number of individuals. It’s about the knowledge these animals pass along to the next generation," said Breed. </p>



<p>The loss of older whales disrupts this critical transfer of knowledge and could potentially jeopardize the survival of younger individuals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-the-study-to-other-species">Expanding the study to other species</h2>



<p>With this breakthrough discovery under their belts, the scientists plan to extend their research to other whales.</p>



<p>The objective is to determine if species currently believed to have an average lifespan of around 80 years might also be hiding centennial secrets. </p>



<p>Furthermore, the team is eager to understand how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/echoes-of-the-past-whalings-long-term-impact-on-genetic-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whaling</a> has impacted the number of aged whales in today's populations and predict when their numbers might rebound to match their pre-whaling glory.</p>



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



<p>The dramatic difference in lifespans between Southern and North Atlantic right whales demonstrates the long-lasting consequences of historical and modern whaling practices.</p>



<p>Southern right whales, which faced significantly less hunting pressure in recent decades, are now showcasing their potential for remarkable longevity. </p>



<p>In contrast, North Atlantic right whales bear the scars of centuries of exploitation, compounded by ongoing threats such as fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes.</p>



<p>Whaling not only reduced populations but also eliminated many of the oldest individuals, robbing populations of cultural knowledge that is vital for survival.</p>



<p>These findings emphasize the importance of creating safer ocean environments and reducing human interference to allow whales to reach their full lifespans.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq3086" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>.</p>



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Right whales live nearly twice as long as we thought

Whales continue to astonish us with the surprises they reveal,...

Northern,Lights,Over,Forest,With,Sunset,In,The,Horizon

<p>The Northern Lights, also called the Aurora Borealis, have long fascinated people around the world. They appear as vibrant ribbons of green, pink, purple, and red that seem to move and shift across dark skies. </p>



<p>Scientists attribute this mesmerizing sight to charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. </p>



<p>These displays have typically been seen in northern regions such as Norway, Iceland, Canada, and Alaska, and they have sometimes surprised <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-southern-united-states-this-week-huge-solar-storm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">observers farther south</a> when solar activity ramps up.</p>



<p>Increased solar output toward the end of our star’s current cycle has allowed sightings in places like Texas. That has brought new urgency to research efforts aimed at understanding the precise steps behind the aurora’s appearance. </p>



<p>Professor Peter Delamere, from the <a href="https://www.uaf.edu/uaf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alaska Fairbanks</a>, has led a study to explore what happens at the particle level when these lights dance in rapid, shape-shifting arcs. His recent analysis was published on November 19 in <em>Physics of Plasmas</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-particles-in-aurora-lights">Studying particles in aurora lights</h2>



<p>Until not long ago, many details about the particle processes that produce these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-lights-activity-will-intensify-over-the-next-18-months/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flickering lights</a> remained elusive. </p>



<p>“The dazzling lights <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mystery-lights-called-steve-are-challenging-what-we-thought-we-knew-about-auroras/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">are extremely complicated</a>,” Delamere explained. “There’s a lot happening in there, and there’s a lot happening in the Earth’s space environment that gives rise to what we observe.”</p>



<p>He explained that these processes are difficult to track. </p>



<p>“Understanding causality in the system is extremely difficult, because we don’t know exactly what’s happening in space that’s giving rise to the light that we observe in the aurora,” he continued. “KiNET-X was a highly successful experiment that will reveal more of the aurora’s secrets.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kinet-x-takes-flight">KiNET-X takes flight</h2>



<p>This project, known as the Kinetic-scale Energy and momentum Transport experiment -- <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/missions/sounding-rockets/nasa-wallops-may-rocket-launch-exploring-energy-transport-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KiNET-X</a> -- launched on May 16, 2021, from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. </p>



<p>The mission lifted off just before the end of a nine-day launch window and headed over the Atlantic Ocean. </p>



<p>One of NASA’s largest sounding rockets soared to roughly 249 miles above Earth, then released two canisters of barium thermite. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KiNET-X_rocket-launch_May16-2021_credit-UAlaska-Fairbanks_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KiNET-X_rocket-launch_May16-2021_credit-UAlaska-Fairbanks_1s.webp" alt="A BlackBrant XII sounding rocket carrying the KiNET-X experiment launches from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on May 16, 2021. NASA photo by Terry Zaperach" class="wp-image-1954364"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A BlackBrant XII sounding rocket carrying the KiNET-X experiment launches from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on May 16, 2021. NASA photo by Terry Zaperach</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>About 90 seconds later, on a downward path near 186 miles high, it released the second set of canisters near Bermuda.</p>



<p>Observers on the ground, as well as a NASA research aircraft, watched as the barium clouds formed. Sunlight caused the barium to transform into ionized plasma, creating conditions similar to those seen in natural auroras. </p>



<p>Researchers sought to see if the environment created during the rocket’s flight would help them understand the way low-energy particles from the solar wind gain the energy that powers the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aurora-borealis-seen-as-far-south-as-the-equator-after-largest-known-solar-storm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">swirling curtains of light</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aurora-lights-and-alfven-waves">Aurora lights and Alfvén Waves</h2>



<p>The experiment attempted to form an Alfvén wave, a type of wave found in magnetized plasmas, including the sun’s outer atmosphere and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/earths-magnetic-field-origin-structure-and-impact-on-humanity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s magnetosphere</a>. </p>



<p>Plasmas consist of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-lights-linked-to-electrons-traveling-at-millions-of-miles-per-hour/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">charged particles</a> that can conduct electricity. When something disturbs a magnetic field inside a plasma, the resulting ripple travels through the charged environment as an Alfvén wave.</p>



<p>KiNET-X introduced barium into the upper atmosphere to generate such a disturbance, which then caused electric fields to align with Earth’s magnetic field. </p>



<p>That alignment, as expected, accelerated electrons in much the same way they are sped up in real auroras. </p>



<p>“We generated energized electrons,” Delamere said. “We just didn’t generate enough of them to make an aurora, but the fundamental physics associated with electron energization was present in the experiment.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brief-encounter-with-barium-plasma">Brief encounter with barium plasma</h2>



<p>“It showed that the barium <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noaa-issues-severe-geomagnetic-storm-watch-first-time-since-2005/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plasma cloud</a> coupled with, and transferred energy and momentum to, the ambient plasma for a brief moment,” Delamere said. </p>



<p>The result was a small beam of electrons moving along the planet’s magnetic field line. Because the total amount of energized electrons was small, no visible display formed in the sky. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KiNET-X_green-barium-cloud_credit-UAlaska-Fairbanks_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KiNET-X_green-barium-cloud_credit-UAlaska-Fairbanks_1s.webp" alt="Ionization by the sun turns the green barium cloud of the KiNET-X experiment to purple over the Atlantic Ocean on May 16, 2021. Photo courtesy Don Hampton" class="wp-image-1954362"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Ionization by the sun turns the green barium cloud of the KiNET-X experiment to purple over the Atlantic Ocean on May 16, 2021. Photo courtesy Don Hampton</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Still, in data readouts, scientists identified the beam as a pattern of green, blue, and yellow pixels showing up in the experiment’s magnetic field line information.</p>



<p>“That’s analogous to an auroral beam of electrons,” Delamere said. This finding has given researchers a key indicator for studying those invisible steps that turn free-floating solar wind into streaks of light.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-physics-fits">How the physics fits</h2>



<p>“It’s a question of trying to piece together the whole picture using all of the data products and numerical simulations,” Delamere said. </p>



<p>Through detailed analysis, KiNET-X has helped clarify the link between solar particles, magnetic fields, and those fast-moving streams that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-storm-triggered-stunning-auroras-worldwide-october-11-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light up the night</a>. </p>



<p>Investigators can also draw on past experiments in new ways, comparing data sets to see how electrons behave under similar conditions.</p>



<p>The KiNET-X findings suggest that a small dose of carefully placed energy can trigger large, complex interactions in plasma. </p>



<p>Although the rocket mission produced only a tiny pulse of enhanced particles, the core physics may be similar to the process that unleashes dancing lights above Earth’s poles.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aurora-lights-and-future-studies">Aurora lights and future studies</h2>



<p>Early results confirm that KiNET-X was successful. Researchers expect to keep analyzing the experiment’s data for fresh insights. </p>



<p>Many are eager to see if this approach can be adjusted or repeated to capture even more details about electron acceleration.</p>



<p>Scientists continue to study these brilliant illuminations from many angles. As the solar cycle progresses, the Northern Lights may appear in locations far from the poles. </p>



<p>Researchers hope that future missions like KiNET-X, combined with ongoing modeling, will fill more gaps in our understanding of nature’s most captivating light show.</p>



<p>The possibilities are wide open, and each discovery brings us closer to a full explanation of how our planet interacts with the sun’s energetic winds.</p>



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



<p>The success of KiNET-X relied on a diverse team of researchers and students. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.uaf.edu/uaf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UAF</a> doctoral students Matthew Blandin, Kylee Branning, and Nathan Barnes played key roles, from supporting optical operations to operating cameras and assisting with computer modeling. </p>



<p>Collaborators from <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartmouth College</a>, the <a href="https://www.unh.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of New Hampshire</a>, and <a href="https://www.clemson.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clemson University</a> also contributed their expertise and equipment.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pop/article/31/11/112108/3321344/Alfven-wave-generation-and-electron-energization" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics of Plasmas</a>.</em></p>



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How are auroras made? Space rocket takes a closer look at the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, also called the Aurora Borealis, have long...

<p>Every time we think we're close to fully understanding the human body, something fresh and unexpected shows up. Recently, a team of researchers stumbled upon strange entities, or obelisks, living inside of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toxic-chemicals-from-food-production-pass-into-the-human-body/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human bodies</a> that had escaped notice until now.</p>



<p>Their surprising presence challenges assumptions and raises pressing questions about what else might be lurking unseen inside us.</p>



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



<p>These new visitors appear smaller than the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-age-viruses-hold-clues-to-earth-past-future-climate-and-microbial-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">viruses</a> most people learn about in basic biology classes. Rather than behaving like familiar microbes, they introduce themselves as something different.</p>



<p>Their discovery came about when researchers began analyzing massive genetic libraries, searching for patterns that did not match any known organisms. </p>



<p>This unusual find was led by Nobel Prize winner in Medicine <a href="https://profiles.stanford.edu/andrew-fire">Andrew Fire</a>, from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calling-them-obelisks">Calling them obelisks</h2>



<p>What the researchers uncovered are entities they have chosen to call "obelisks." They do not resemble typical life forms, and their name comes from their distinctive shape. </p>



<p>“The more we look, the crazier we see,” said <a href="https://www.med.unc.edu/cellbiophysio/directory/mark-peifer-phd/">Mark Peifer</a>, a cell and developmental biologist at the <a href="https://www.northcarolina.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a>.</p>



<p>They resemble what scientists call viroids, which are infectious loops of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-world-unraveling-mysteries-life-origin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RNA</a> known for their effects on plants. </p>



<p>Obelisks share certain traits with these plant pathogens, yet they appear in human-associated bacteria. </p>



<p>According to <a href="https://microbiology.osu.edu/people/sullivan.948">Matthew Sullivan</a>, an integrative biologist at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ohio State University</a>, the health implications for humans remain unclear.</p>



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



<p>RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a vital molecule that plays several important roles in all living cells. Think of it as the messenger that helps turn the genetic instructions stored in DNA into the proteins that build and repair your body. </p>



<p>Unlike DNA, which usually forms a double helix, RNA is typically single-stranded and can fold into different shapes to perform various functions. </p>



<p>There are different types of RNA, such as messenger RNA (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-vaccines-linked-to-neurological-blood-and-heart-related-issues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mRNA</a>), transfer RNA (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fathers-diet-impacts-the-health-of-his-future-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tRNA</a>), and ribosomal RNA (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/molecular-fingerprints-could-be-key-to-early-cancer-detection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rRNA</a>) which is a key component of ribosomes, the cell’s protein factories.</p>



<p>But RNA isn’t just about making proteins -- it also helps regulate how genes are expressed and can even act as a catalyst in certain chemical reactions. </p>



<p>For example, some RNA molecules can turn genes on or off, controlling what proteins are made and when. This regulation is crucial for everything from development to responding to changes in your environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strange-rna-loops">Strange RNA loops</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-viruses-found-in-yellowstones-hot-springs-are-1-5-billion-years-old/">Viruses</a> often have protective shells made of proteins. Obelisks seem to lack that familiar coat. Instead, they carry RNA instructions around in tiny loops.</p>



<p>Unlike standard viruses, they do not appear to encode protein shells. These differences suggest that life’s definitions might need some rethinking.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-obelisks-throughout-human-bodies">Obelisks throughout human bodies</h2>



<p>It is not just a single type of obelisk. Thousands of unique varieties have turned up when scientists comb through genetic datasets.</p>



<p>Discoveries have emerged from multiple locations around the world, indicating that these intruders are not rare oddities tucked away in one place.</p>



<p>Not only are these obelisks found far and wide, they also appear in different parts of the human body. They have cropped up in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-in-your-mouth-multiply-in-a-very-unique-way/">bacteria from the mouth</a> and in those dwelling in the intestinal tract.</p>



<p>The genetic signatures hint that distinct types prefer particular regions. This suggests an intricate relationship with our internal ecosystems, though it is too soon to say what they are doing there.</p>



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



<p>Their unusual nature stirs questions about how viruses, viroids, and these newcomers might be related. </p>



<p>A persistent puzzle has always been whether today’s viruses originated from simpler <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-cells-communicate-with-each-other-through-rna/">RNA forms</a> or if they started out more complex and shed traits over time.</p>



<p>Entities like obelisks add color to these debates, leaving scientists wondering how ancient these forms might be and how they took shape during the planet’s biological history.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-categorizing-human-obelisks">Categorizing human obelisks</h2>



<p>Obelisks do not slide neatly into existing categories. They are not standard viruses, not classic bacteria, and not exactly viroids either.</p>



<p>Their discovery hints that we may be missing entire classes of RNA-based life that challenge current textbooks. This complicates efforts to catalog and understand the full range of microbial life.</p>



<p>This investigation involved scanning colossal gene catalogs derived from human-associated microbes. Researchers used new computational tools to spot circular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lifes-molecular-orientation-new-discovery-deepens-the-mystery/">RNA molecules</a>. </p>



<p>These approaches required careful filtering to ensure what they found was not just random noise. The effort paid off, revealing a strange world that had gone unnoticed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fresh-perspective">A fresh perspective</h2>



<p>“This is one of the most exciting parts of being in this field right now,” said <a href="https://biosciences.lbl.gov/profiles/simon-roux/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Simon Roux</a>, a computational biologist at the <a href="https://jgi.doe.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DOE Joint Genome Institute</a> at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.</p>



<p>These sentiments reflect a general feeling among experts who are sifting through molecular data and finding surprises. </p>



<p>The study that introduced obelisks was posted on January 21st on <em>bioRxiv</em>, sparking interest among scientists who study microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-still-so-many-unknowns">Still so many unknowns</h2>



<p>While researchers piece together the story of obelisks, the potential impact on humans remains uncertain. They know these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-world-unraveling-mysteries-life-origin/">RNA circles</a> live inside bacterial cells that, in turn, inhabit our bodies.</p>



<p>If these entities influence bacterial behavior, they could, by extension, shape aspects of our own biology. Nobody can say yet what the long-term implications will be.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-human-obelisks">What's next for human obelisks?</h2>



<p>The human body is more than organs and tissues; it is a crowded universe of tiny creatures, many of them strangers we have not fully met before.</p>



<p>Obelisks may be just one example of what can happen when scientists look at genetic data in new ways. There could be more discoveries ahead, each one forcing us to adjust how we describe life and its building blocks.</p>



<p>Until then, researchers continue to watch, learn, and puzzle over these miniature visitors that have managed to hide in plain sight.</p>



<p>The full study was published in <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>bioRxiv</em></a> and <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Royal Society Open Science</em></a>. </p>



<p>Current research on circular RNA:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.05.30.596730v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Circular RNA in human microbiomes</a>.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.03.24.586467v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Circular RNA in microbiomes</a>.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.20.576352v1.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Classes of Replicating RNAs</a>.</li>
</ul>



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New forms of life discovered inside human bodies

Every time we think we're close to fully understanding the...

<p>In our modern world, food waste remains a significant problem. A shocking revelation from ReFed, a food waste nonprofit, informs us that in 2022, a staggering 5 million tons of food had been wasted by U.S. grocers.</p>



<p>Ultimately, 35% of this discarded food ended up in landfills. What's even more concerning is that over half of that waste - around 2.7 million tons - were only discarded for having passed their labeled expiration dates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-technological-solution-to-food-waste">A technological solution to food waste</h2>



<p>Every problem presents an opportunity for innovation and solutions, and food waste is no exception. New research from Texas McCombs suggests a transformative solution: transitioning from paper shelf <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-waste-could-be-greatly-reduced-with-better-labels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">labels</a> to digital ones.</p>



<p>This shift allows supermarkets to easily lower prices on items nearing their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-develop-smart-food-packaging-show-contamination/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expiration dates</a>, moving them off the shelves and into consumers’ homes, reducing waste and emissions.</p>



<p>Ioannis Stamatopoulos, associate professor of information, risk, and operations management, elaborated on the potential benefits of digital food labels.</p>



<p>“Everyone is better off when dynamic pricing is enabled,” said Stamatopoulos. “There’s less food waste and less emissions from food ending up in landfills.”</p>



<p>Grocers also benefit from the technology, saving time and money. “They can change digital labels - also called electronic shelf labels - with a few keystrokes on a tablet, compared with printing physical labels and sticking them onto shelves.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digital-food-labels-and-inventory-management">Digital food labels and inventory management </h2>



<p>To understand the impact of dynamic pricing, Stamatopoulos collaborated with Naveed Chehrazi of <a href="https://washu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington University</a> in St. Louis and Robert Sanders of the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, San Diego</a> to analyze two European grocery chains adopting digital labels.</p>



<p>At a United Kingdom-based chain, digital labels were introduced for 940 perishable items, displaying discounts as products neared expiration. </p>



<p>This resulted in a 54% increase in price changes, proving how the technology encourages proactive inventory management.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adding-more-dimensions-to-barcodes">Adding more dimensions to barcodes</h2>



<p>Another supermarket chain in the European Union not only embraced electronic labels but took it a step further by introducing expanded barcodes. </p>



<p>These barcodes are not your typical barcodes. They hold crucial inventory details such as packaging dates, lot numbers, and expiration dates. </p>



<p>As inventory nears its "sell-by" date, the store can conveniently lower prices to encourage buying. After implementing these two technologies, the EU stores witnessed an astonishing increase of 853% in price change frequency.</p>



<p>The researchers observed that adopting such rapid price changes is beneficial for shoppers. “If you’re a consumer who really, really cares about price, then you can buy the blueberries that will expire two days later and consume them today," said Stamatopoulos.</p>



<p>These technologies also improve stores’ profitability. "Because the grocery store can put things on discount when they’re about to expire, they can afford larger orders, so they take advantage of economies of scale in ordering,” explained Stamatopoulos.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-of-dynamic-pricing">Challenges of dynamic pricing</h2>



<p>However, despite the long-term benefits of dynamic pricing, it does face some short-term challenges. One major concern is consumer apprehension, as seen when Wendy’s faced backlash in February over its dynamic pricing announcement.</p>



<p>Though the fast-food chain clarified it would only reduce prices during slow periods, the fear of price hikes lingers.</p>



<p>However, Stamatopoulos noted that grocers face a unique limitation. “For retailers to estimate demand very finely and dynamically respond accordingly, so as to squeeze every dollar out of it, I think that’s kind of impossible.”</p>



<p>Another hurdle is the upfront cost. Implementing digital labels, tablets, and daily data updates for thousands of products requires significant investment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-transition-to-digital-food-labels">The transition to digital food labels</h2>



<p>While Europe leads the adoption of these technologies, the U.S. is catching up. Walmart plans to transition to digital price labels in 2,300 stores by 2026, with other retailers like Amazon Fresh and Schnuck’s following suit.</p>



<p>To accelerate adoption, Stamatopoulos suggests government subsidies, akin to those for solar panels or electric vehicles. </p>



<p>"Somebody needs to break this equilibrium,” said Stamatopoulos. “Then things will move to a new era where everybody’s using the additional information.”</p>



<p>By embracing digital innovation, the grocery industry can turn the tide on food waste, paving the way for a more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-inspires-solutions-for-a-sustainable-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainable future</a>.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mksc.2023.0473" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marketing Science</a></em>.</p>



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Digital labels help grocers cut food waste

In our modern world, food waste remains a significant problem....

<p>Patience is often regarded as a noble virtue, but its true essence may stem from how we handle life's relentless challenges and frustrations.</p>



<p>Kate Sweeny, a psychology scientist at <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Riverside</a>, suggests that patience might be less about our moral standing and more about how we handle the everyday irritations that life throws at us.</p>



<p>"Philosophers and religious scholars call patience a virtue, yet most people claim to be impatient," said Sweeny. "That made me wonder if maybe patience is less about being a good person and more about how we deal with day-to-day frustrations."</p>



<p>Sweeny conducted a study that was focused on defining what encompasses patience and impatience, and the factors that contribute to them.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interpreting-patience-and-impatience">Interpreting patience and impatience</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-humans-hate-to-wait-and-what-our-impatience-says-about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Impatience</a>, according to Sweeny, is the emotion experienced when encountering delays that seem unfair, unreasonable, or inappropriate - like heavy traffic during off-peak hours or a meeting dragging on well past its scheduled time.</p>



<p>In contrast, patience is how individuals cope with these feelings of impatience. Psychologists often refer to "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-pinpoints-the-brain-regions-that-regulate-emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotion regulation</a>" as the range of strategies people use to adjust the intensity of their emotions.</p>



<p>In a companion theoretical paper, Sweeny emphasizes that patience represents a specific subset of these strategies, focusing on managing feelings of impatience.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-perfect-storm-for-impatience">The "perfect storm" for impatience</h2>



<p>The researchers identified three scenarios that form the ideal recipe for impatience: a critical situation (like a traffic jam on the way to a favorite band's concert), an uncomfortable waiting state (like a packed waiting room at the DMV), and when there's an obvious person to blame for the delay (such as the lab forgetting to process your medical tests).</p>



<p>People felt more impatient when a delay lasted longer than expected, although the actual length of the delay did not significantly impact their feelings of impatience.</p>



<p>To explore these frustrations, participants were asked to imagine their reactions to everyday aggravations, such as being stuck in traffic, enduring a tedious meeting, or waiting in a crowded room.</p>



<p>The individuals assessed how impatient these situations would make them feel and identified strategies to temper their impatience, including distraction techniques, deep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breathing-exercises-improve-focus-in-children-with-adhd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breathing exercises</a>, or finding a silver lining in the situation.</p>



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



<p>Interestingly, not everyone responded to these irritation-causing situations in the same way. Some were more patient than others. For instance, individuals who were more adaptable to open-ended situations and more emotionally stable displayed less impatience.</p>



<p>Moreover, those who had higher <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/emotional-intelligence-may-be-secret-to-academic-success/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotional intelligence</a> and were better at self-regulation were also more patient, even if they initially felt impatient.</p>



<p>"Our initial findings support many of our ideas about patience and impatience. We have a lot still to learn, but our approach is quite promising in terms of helping people to manage feelings of impatience and ultimately become more patient in their daily lives," noted Sweeny.</p>



<p>These findings present a fresh perspective on patience and impatience - not as intrinsic qualities of a person, but as responses and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-who-are-connected-with-nature-have-better-coping-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coping</a> strategies we embrace when faced with the inevitable irritations of life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-patience-and-personality-traits">Patience and personality traits</h2>



<p>The research sheds light on how personality traits influence an individual's ability to remain patient. People who demonstrate greater emotional stability and adaptability in uncertain situations are less likely to feel overwhelmed by impatience.</p>



<p>Additionally, individuals with high emotional intelligence, who excel in self-regulation and empathy, tend to manage feelings of impatience more effectively. </p>



<p>Traits like agreeableness also play a crucial role in encouraging patience, as such individuals often approach frustrating scenarios with a calm and understanding mindset.</p>



<p>These findings highlight that patience is not just situational but also deeply rooted in personal characteristics, offering a promising avenue for developing interventions to cultivate patience in daily life.</p>



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



<p>In an increasingly fast-paced world, the study’s findings have significant applications.</p>



<p>The ability to manage impatience effectively is crucial in both personal and professional settings. For instance, workplaces can benefit from training programs focused on emotion regulation techniques, helping employees cope with stress and maintain productivity during challenging times.</p>



<p>Moreover, understanding the psychology of patience can aid in conflict resolution by promoting empathy and cooperation. </p>



<p>On an individual level, strategies like mindfulness, reframing negative situations, and practicing gratitude can be integrated into daily routines to enhance emotional well-being and cultivate a more patient approach to life.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01461672241284028" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin</a></em>.</p>



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Patience isn’t a virtue - it’s a coping strategy

Patience is often regarded as a noble virtue, but its...

<p>Humans have a knack for getting around on two legs. Many of us take a long run for granted, trotting along city streets or forest trails without giving it much thought.</p>



<p>Unlike ancient human ancestors like Lucy, modern bodies power us forward at impressive speeds, with our muscles and tendons playing a crucial role.</p>



<p>But there was a time in our deep past when the earliest members of our family tree were nowhere near as quick. </p>



<p>A new study published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)01566-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982224015665%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a></em> takes a careful look at the locomotive ability of one particular human ancestor, and the results are eye-opening.</p>



<p>The research was led by a team of natural scientists, musculoskeletal specialists, and evolutionary biologists affiliated with several institutions in the UK, in collaboration with a colleague from the Netherlands.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lucy-s-bones-reveal-her-running-skills">Lucy's bones reveal her running skills</h2>



<p>Roughly 3.2 million years ago, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-evolution-was-shaped-by-competition-not-just-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hominin</a> known as <a href="https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-afarensis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Australopithecus afarensis</em></a> lived in East Africa. Fossils of one of its most famous members, Lucy, were found in 1974 in <a href="https://asu.elsevierpure.com/en/publications/new-discoveries-of-pliocene-hominids-and-artifacts-in-hadar-inter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethiopia</a>, shedding light on how early human relatives stood and moved.<br><br>Lucy’s skeleton showed that her species could walk upright on two legs, but her proportions and muscular arrangement were very different from what we see in humans today.<br><br>After studying her frame using 3D computer simulations, the researchers concluded that Lucy could run on two legs, yet she never matched the speeds that come so naturally to modern humans.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="zR3gqZFNZC-4149532-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-lucy-s-running-speed-to-the-test">Putting Lucy’s running speed to the test</h2>



<p>A digital model, shaped from Lucy’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-hotspots-may-skew-our-view-of-human-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> bones and data from modern apes, allowed the experts to study how her leg muscles might have worked.</p>



<p>The team plugged these details into a computer program that tried countless ways of activating muscles, then picked the best way to run as fast and efficiently as possible.<br><br>The results showed that even under ideal conditions, Lucy’s top speed was around 16 feet per second, much slower than a typical modern human who can easily push beyond 26 feet per second.<br><br>“It’s a very thorough approach,” explained Herman Pontzer, an evolutionary anthropologist at Duke University.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-for-the-hidden-secret-in-muscles">Searching for the hidden secret in muscles</h2>



<p>Modern humans have a special setup in the lower leg. Compared to an ancient hominin, we carry a more elastic Achilles tendon linked to shorter muscle fibers. </p>



<p>This arrangement helps store and release energy during running, reducing the effort it takes to move forward. In Lucy’s time, these spring-like running features had not yet <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-preferred-the-mountains-and-it-changed-our-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolved</a>.<br><br>Without them, even adding human-like muscles to her frame could not bring her speed up to modern standards.<br><br>“This tells us that the body shape of A. afarensis is significantly limiting its running speed compared to that of modern humans,” said Karl Bates, an evolutionary biomechanics researcher at the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Liverpool</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-speed-can-say-about-survival">What speed can say about survival</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03052" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Running</a> isn’t just about setting personal records. It plays a crucial role in how a species competes for food and escapes predators.</p>



<p>Modern humans, for example, can run long distances at a steady pace. By covering more ground, we found better opportunities to gather resources and cooperate.<br><br>Lucy’s species - with smaller frames and without the muscular tricks of modern legs - might not have covered long distances very well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-body-shape-changed-over-time">How body shape changed over time</h2>



<p>Long legs, a defined Achilles tendon, and specific muscle structures did not just appear overnight. Early hominins began with a body design that was good for standing and walking upright.<br><br>Over generations, certain features shaped up, allowing humans to pick up the pace. As the genus Homo emerged, new body proportions offered better running ability, along with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-are-natural-born-endurance-runners/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">improved endurance</a>.<br><br>This shift provided real-world advantages to our ancestors. By moving faster and more efficiently, they could reach distant places, follow game animals, and expand into new environments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-features-that-help-humans-run">Features that help humans run </h2>



<p>Walking upright and running well are not automatically the same thing. Lucy’s skeleton shows that even though her species walked on two legs, they did not run like we do. The skills and features that help humans run came along later.<br><br>Instead of simply walking better and somehow becoming speedy runners, our ancestors had to accumulate changes one step at a time. Running was not just a byproduct of standing tall; it demanded its own unique tweaks to muscles and bones.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-evolutionary-story-of-running">The evolutionary story of running </h2>



<p>Studies that model ancient skeletons like Lucy offer a peek at how our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/476000-year-old-ancient-woodworking-discovery-rewrites-early-human-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">capabilities evolved</a>. By combining insights from fossils, simulations, and knowledge of modern muscle mechanics, scientists can understand how each piece of the puzzle fits together.<br><br>The findings not only confirm that Lucy’s species lacked the running power of modern humans, they also highlight where in our evolutionary story those extra boosts emerged. </p>



<p>The research reminds us that our ability to run long and hard is not an accident - it is the product of millions of years of subtle, meaningful changes.<br><br>While Lucy’s top running speed and endurance might seem modest, she represents an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/timeline-early-humans-great-migration-reached-america-challenged-again/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earlier chapter</a> in a long series of refinements.</p>



<p>By the time we arrived on the scene, we had the legs and lungs for distance. Though our modern world no longer requires daily runs to survive, the natural gift is still built into our bodies, waiting to be used.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)01566-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.</em></p>



<p>Video Credit: Current Biology (2024)</p>



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Lucy could barely run - what does that say about our ancestors?

Humans have a knack for getting around on two legs....

<p>When we push ourselves on the soccer field or at the gym, a pulled muscle or two often feels like a minor inconvenience. With some rest, our muscles heal, thanks to the incredible process of regeneration. But what if our hearts - the powerhouse of our bodies - had the same ability to repair and regenerate?</p>



<p>A remarkable study by a collaborative research team has revealed that some patients with artificial hearts can regenerate heart muscle. </p>



<p>This discovery could pave the way for revolutionary treatments for heart failure, a condition that affects nearly 7 million U.S. adults and contributes to 14% of annual deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-failure-current-challenges">Heart failure: Current challenges</h2>



<p>Heart failure remains an incurable condition. While medications can slow its progression, the only options for advanced cases are heart transplants or mechanical support through left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). </p>



<p>These devices act as artificial hearts, helping the heart pump blood but offering no cure.</p>



<p>Dr. Hesham Sadek is the director of the Sarver Heart Center and chief of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Arizona <a href="https://medicine.arizona.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Medicine</a>.</p>



<p>“Skeletal muscle has a significant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-zebrafish-heart-regeneration-could-transform-human-cardiac-care/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ability to regenerate</a> after injury. If you’re playing soccer and you tear a muscle, you need to rest it, and it heals,” said Dr. Sadek. "When a heart muscle is injured, it doesn’t grow back. We have nothing to reverse heart muscle loss.”</p>



<p>Dr. Sadek co-led the study alongside international experts, investigating whether heart muscles possess any regenerative potential. </p>



<p>The project was funded by the <a href="https://www.fondationleducq.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leducq Foundation</a> Transatlantic Networks of Excellence Program, a collaborative initiative uniting American and European researchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regeneration-potential-of-heart">Regeneration potential of heart</h2>



<p>The research began with tissue samples from artificial heart patients. These samples were provided by Dr. Stavros Drakos and colleagues at the University of Utah Health and <a href="https://medicine.utah.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Medicine</a>.</p>



<p>Teams from the <a href="https://ki.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karolinska Institute</a> in Stockholm, led by Dr. Jonas Frisén and Dr. Olaf Bergmann, used innovative carbon-dating methods to determine if these tissues contained newly generated cells.</p>



<p>The findings were remarkable: patients with artificial hearts regenerated muscle cells at over six times the rate observed in healthy hearts.</p>



<p>“This is the strongest evidence we have, so far, that human heart muscle cells can actually regenerate, which really is exciting, because it solidifies the notion that there is an intrinsic capacity of the human heart to regenerate,” noted Dr. Sadek.</p>



<p>“It also strongly supports the hypothesis that the inability of the heart muscle to ‘rest’ is a major driver of the heart’s lost ability to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/python-gut-regeneration-offers-clues-for-treating-human-diseases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regenerate</a> shortly after birth.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-rest-in-regeneration">Role of “rest” in regeneration</h2>



<p>Heart muscle cells actively divide in utero but stop shortly after birth, focusing solely on pumping blood without pause. </p>



<p>In 2011, Dr. Sadek published a study in&nbsp;<em><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3099478/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a></em>&nbsp;that highlighted this shift. Later, in <a href="https://www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2014.12.027" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2014</a>, he presented evidence suggesting that patients with artificial hearts might experience some level of heart muscle regeneration. </p>



<p>These findings raised a critical question: does the mechanical support provided by LVADs mimic the “bedrest” needed for muscle recovery?</p>



<p>“The pump pushes blood into the aorta, bypassing the heart,” said Dr. Sadek. “The heart is essentially resting.”</p>



<p>The current study provided direct evidence that resting the heart through artificial support could enable muscle regeneration, marking the first time such irrefutable evidence has been shown in humans.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-variability-in-heart-regeneration">Variability in heart regeneration</h2>



<p>Interestingly, only about 25% of artificial heart patients experience significant muscle regeneration. Dr. Sadek aims to uncover why some patients respond while others do not.</p>



<p>“It’s not clear why some patients respond and some don’t, but it’s very clear that the ones who respond have the ability to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-killifish-regeneration-may-help-us-heal-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regenerate</a> heart muscle,” he noted. </p>



<p>“The exciting part now is to determine how we can make everyone a responder, because if you can, you can essentially cure heart failure.”</p>



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



<p>The potential to enhance heart muscle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/axolotls-regeneration-powers-critically-endangered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regeneration</a> through targeted molecular pathways could transform heart failure treatment. </p>



<p>“The beauty of this is that a mechanical heart is not a therapy we hope to deliver to our patients in the future – these devices are tried and true, and we’ve been using them for years,” said Dr. Sadek.</p>



<p>This study builds on years of research and collaboration, offering renewed hope for millions of heart failure patients worldwide. With further investigation, the dream of curing heart failure could become a reality.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.067156" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Circulation</em></a>.</p>



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Heart muscles may soon be able to regenerate like other muscles

When we push ourselves on the soccer field or at...

<p>A new sensor can detect tiny traces of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antimicrobial-resistance-projected-to-kill-10-million-people-each-year/">harmful antibiotics</a> in food, such as milk and honey. This tool uses advanced technology to make food safety checks faster and more accurate. It could help make sure our food is safer to eat.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-antibiotics-in-food">Finding antibiotics in food</h2>



<p>There is growing concern about antibiotics that show up in everyday foods. Sometimes it’s in milk or honey, and sometimes in other products.</p>



<p>Scientists have now created a new sensor that can detect very small amounts of two antibiotics that are banned by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/controversial-soda-additive-has-been-banned-by-the-fda/">FDA</a>: chloramphenicol (CP) and furazolidone (FZ). Researchers behind this effort aim to address these food safety issues effectively.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-sensor-works">How the sensor works</h2>



<p>The key to the sensor's operation is a special compound called Fmoc-Pro-Phe-OMe. This compound is added to a carbon paste electrode, creating what’s called an FPPO/MCPE sensor.</p>



<p>Scientists used advanced tests, like <a href="https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Map%3A_Organic_Chemistry_(Wade)_Complete_and_Semesters_I_and_II/Map%3A_Organic_Chemistry_I_(Wade)/11%3A_Infrared_Spectroscopy_and_Mass_Spectrometry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mass spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy</a>, to make sure the compound was correct. When this compound is used, the sensor can detect CP and FZ more easily and reliably.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-it-s-better">Why it’s better</h2>



<p>Older methods of detecting antibiotics in food are often slow or not sensitive enough. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03601234.2024.2437925" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The FPPO/MCPE sensor</a> is much more accurate. </p>



<p>It can detect chloramphenicol and furazolidone at extremely low levels, making it a powerful tool for ensuring food safety.</p>



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



<p>Oxidation helps the sensor detect antibiotics because it generates measurable electrical signals.<br></p>



<p>Here’s how it works: when antibiotics like chloramphenicol and furazolidone come into contact with the sensor's surface, they undergo a chemical reaction called oxidation, where the compounds lose electrons.</p>



<p>The sensor's electrode captures these released electrons, creating an electrical current. The strength of this current corresponds to the concentration of the antibiotics present in the sample, with higher concentrations producing stronger signals.</p>



<p>The modified surface of the sensor, enhanced by the Fmoc-Pro-Phe-OMe compound, improves the oxidation process by making it more efficient and selective. This modification allows the sensor to differentiate CP and FZ from other substances, which reduces the chance of false readings.</p>



<p>By monitoring these electrical signals, the sensor can accurately detect even tiny amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nanoplastics-can-alter-the-course-of-antibiotics-within-our-body/">antibiotics</a>, making it a reliable tool for food safety testing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-real-food-samples">Testing real food samples</h2>



<p>To see how well the sensor works, scientists tested it on milk and honey, two foods where antibiotic residues are sometimes found. </p>



<p>The World Health Organization states that antibiotic residues in food can cause allergic reactions and may lead to bacteria becoming <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resistant to antibiotics</a>. This is why it’s crucial to identify these residues before food products reach consumers.</p>



<p>The sensor proved effective, finding even very small amounts of these antibiotics. This makes it a valuable tool for food safety inspectors, producers, and laboratories.</p>



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



<p>Chloramphenicol is banned in many places because it can cause serious health problems, like <a href="https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/regulated-products/chloramphenicol-cvm-updates" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aplastic anemia</a>, and other <a href="https://tropmedhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41182-023-00496-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">serious illnesses</a> such as acute leukemia, contact dermatitis, and anaphylaxis.</p>



<p>Furazolidone is also linked to <a href="https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/veterinary-drug-residues" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health risks</a> and isn’t allowed in food. The antibiotic was ordered to be removed by the FDA and is not permitted for use, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2670425/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">even in animals</a> .</p>



<p>Even the smallest traces of these harmful antibiotics can pose risks to health. This sensor plays a vital role in keeping contaminated products out of the food supply, and ensuring that foods are safe to consume.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-antibiotic-misuse">Addressing antibiotic misuse</h2>



<p>Antibiotics have been used extensively in agriculture to prevent diseases and promote growth in animals. While this has boosted food production, it has also increased the chances of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nano-sensors-can-quickly-detect-pesticides-on-fruits/">antibiotic residues</a> ending up in food. This poses risks to consumers and contributes to the growing issue of antibiotic resistance.<br></p>



<p>By ensuring that residues can be detected even at minimal levels, tools like this sensor encourage producers to adopt safer practices. They also reinforce regulations aimed at reducing the misuse of antibiotics in food production.</p>



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



<p>This sensor could make food testing faster, cheaper, and more reliable. It would make it harder for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/contamination-crisis-microplastics-found-in-88-of-protein-sources/">contaminated food</a> to slip through inspections and encourage farmers and producers to follow the rules when using antibiotics. </p>



<p>In the end, this sensor helps make sure the food on our plates is as safe as it should be.</p>



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



<p>The goal is to protect people by keeping harmful substances out of the food supply. Whether it’s a spoonful of honey or a glass of milk, no one wants hidden antibiotics in their food.</p>



<p>Tools like this sensor make it easier to spot problems and fix them before the food reaches consumers. By improving food safety measures, we can move closer to a healthier and more secure food system for everyone.</p>



<p>The research was published in the <em><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03601234.2024.2437925">Journal of Environmental Science and Health</a></em>, Part B.</p>



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Innovative sensor detects hidden antibiotic residues in milk and honey

A new sensor can detect tiny traces of harmful antibiotics...

<p>The Winter Solstice, often referred to as “the shortest day of the year,” is an astronomical event that marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.</p>



<p>In this region of the world, the solstice also marks the turning point when days gradually grow longer.</p>



<p>While the solstice represents the start of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-winters-are-getting-colder-while-world-is-getting-warmer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">winter</a>, the coldest temperatures often occur weeks later due to the “seasonal lag,” as the Earth continues losing heat.</p>



<p>Beyond its scientific significance, the winter solstice has profound cultural, spiritual, and historical importance across the globe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-winter-solstice">What is the Winter Solstice?</h2>



<p>The Winter Solstice occurs when one of Earth’s poles is tilted farthest away from the Sun, resulting in the least amount of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-we-actually-benefit-from-daylight-saving-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">daylight</a>.</p>



<p>This happens because Earth's axis is tilted at approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Earth’s axis may be imagined as an imaginary pole going right through the center of our planet from ‘top’ to ‘bottom.’ Earth spins around this pole, making one complete turn each day. That is why we have day and night,” explained <a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/Watch_the_Skies/tag/solstice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.</p>



<p>In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice typically occurs between December 20 and 23, with December 21 being the most common date.</p>



<p>On this day, the Sun appears to travel its shortest path across the sky. For those at the Arctic Circle, the Sun may not rise at all, creating 24 hours of darkness. </p>



<p>Conversely, the Antarctic Circle experiences 24 hours of daylight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-winter-solstice-and-daylight-savings-time-dst">Winter solstice and Daylight Savings Time (DST)</h2>



<p>With all of the talk recently about permanently ending <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-we-actually-benefit-from-daylight-saving-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daylight Saving Time (DST)</a>, let's spend a minute discussing how DST can change how we experience the Winter Solstice.</p>



<p>When clocks shift back in the fall to end DST, our mornings get darker earlier because sunrise happens before we wake up. So, on those early winter mornings, it might feel like it’s still night when you roll out of bed. </p>



<p>On the flip side, the evenings stay a bit lighter longer, giving us a little extra daylight after work or school. This shift can make the dark mornings a bit tougher, especially when the sun barely peeks over the horizon.</p>



<p>However, the impact of DST during the winter solstice also means that our evenings aren’t as dark as they would be if we stayed on standard time year-round. </p>



<p>This extra evening light can be a nice boost, making it easier to enjoy outdoor activities or simply have more daylight while winding down your day. </p>



<p>Overall, DST alters the natural daylight patterns around the winter solstice, changing how we perceive and use the limited daylight we get during those chilly winter months.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-significance-of-the-winter-solstice">Cultural significance of the Winter Solstice </h2>



<p>The Winter Solstice has been celebrated across cultures for thousands of years. Early humans observed the solstice as a critical marker of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/peoples-moral-values-literally-change-with-the-weather/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seasonal change</a>, signifying the gradual return of longer daylight hours and the promise of spring.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stonehenge">Stonehenge</h3>



<p>This ancient monument in England aligns with the solstices, suggesting its builders may have used it as a calendar to track astronomical events.</p>



<p>Constructed in several phases between roughly 3000 BCE and 2000 BCE, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stonehenges-famous-altar-stone-has-surprising-origins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stonehenge</a> remains a mystery regarding its exact purpose. It may have served as a burial ground or a ceremonial site.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yule-in-norse-tradition">Yule in Norse tradition</h3>



<p>The Norse people celebrated Yule, lighting fires to symbolize the Sun's rebirth and feasting to mark the turning of the season.</p>



<p>Yule coincided with the darkest days of the year. The festival celebrated the return of the Sun and the lengthening of days, symbolizing hope and renewal.</p>



<p>Yule was dedicated to the gods, particularly Odin, who was associated with wisdom, magic, and the Wild Hunt - a ghostly procession believed to occur during this time. Offerings, feasts, and sacrifices were made to gain their favor.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saturnalia-in-ancient-rome-nbsp">Saturnalia in ancient Rome&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Saturnalia was one of the most popular festivals in ancient Rome, held in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture, wealth, and time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Celebrated annually in mid-December, the festival originally lasted for a single day (December 17) but eventually expanded to a week. </p>



<p>The celebration involved feasting, gift-giving, and a temporary social reversal where traditional roles were upended.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dongzhi-in-east-asia-nbsp">Dongzhi in East Asia&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Dongzhi (冬至), meaning "Winter Solstice" in Chinese, is an important festival in East Asia.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Rooted in the philosophy of Yin and Yang, Dongzhi symbolizes the balance and transformation of natural energies as the days begin to lengthen, bringing more light and warmth.</p>



<p>Modern celebrations like Christmas and Hanukkah incorporate elements of these ancient traditions, emphasizing light and hope during the darkest days of the year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-universal-reminder">A universal reminder</h2>



<p>The Winter Solstice is more than just an astronomical event; it serves as a reminder of nature’s rhythms and humanity’s enduring connection to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/anthropic-principle-we-live-in-a-universe-fine-tuned-to-support-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a>. It symbolizes resilience, as the darkest day paves the way for the return of light.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Across millennia, it has inspired wonder, reflection, and celebration - a testament to the timeless bond between Earth, its inhabitants, and the heavens.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-spiritual-turning-point">A spiritual turning point</h2>



<p>The solstice encourages people to look inward, reflect on the past year, and set intentions for the year ahead, aligning with the natural pause of winter.</p>



<p>This occasion represents the balance and cycles of life, urging us to embrace both light and shadow in our personal journeys.</p>



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



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Winter Solstice: The shortest day of the year has arrived

The Winter Solstice, often referred to as “the shortest day...

<p>Researchers have analyzed cause-of-death data for 24 countries, uncovering the extensive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on life expectancy. </p>



<p>The study reveals sharp declines in life expectancy across most countries in 2020 and 2021, driven by both direct and indirect effects of the pandemic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-expectancy-during-the-pandemic">Life expectancy during the pandemic</h2>



<p>In <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-the-covid-pandemic-influence-the-seasonal-flu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2020</a>, life expectancy fell in all but four of the 24 countries studied, with the United States experiencing the steepest decline of 2.1 years for males.</p>



<p>The downward trend continued into 2021, with females in Bulgaria and males in Latvia suffering losses exceeding two years. Japan and South Korea emerged as notable exceptions, experiencing only minimal declines during this period.</p>



<p>"This study explores the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality across the world and highlights that life expectancy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-lockdowns-weakened-our-immune-systems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">losses</a> had still not returned to pre-pandemic levels in several countries by 2022," noted Antonino Polizzi, lead author and student at the <a href="https://www.demography.ox.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-indirect-impacts-on-mortality">Indirect impacts on mortality</h2>



<p>Beyond COVID-19-related deaths, the study found increased mortality from cardiovascular diseases significantly contributed to the decline in life expectancy. </p>



<p>Russia and Bulgaria were particularly affected, with cardiovascular disease-related losses reaching 5.3 months in Russia in 2020 and 5.5 months in Bulgaria in 2021. These figures may reflect disruptions in prevention and treatment or undercounted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/did-the-pandemic-change-our-transportation-habits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID-19</a> fatalities.</p>



<p>"The pandemic reversed years of progress in reducing cardiovascular deaths in several countries, which constituted one of the largest sources of gains in life expectancy over the period 2015–2019. These losses continued through 2022," noted Professor Jennifer Dowd, Deputy Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pandemic-factors-lowering-life-expectancy">Pandemic factors lowering life expectancy</h2>



<p>Substance abuse and mental health-related causes also surged in certain regions. The United States and Canada saw significant increases in drug-related deaths, contributing to their life expectancy declines. </p>



<p>Latvia faced notable alcohol-related mortality, while suicide and accident mortality typically declined during the pandemic years. However, Japan’s females experienced comparatively large losses from suicide mortality in 2020.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bright-spots-amid-the-crisis">Bright spots amid the crisis</h2>



<p>Despite the many challenges highlighted in the study, there was some encouraging news regarding cancer mortality. </p>



<p>In most countries, deaths from cancer continued to decline during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-makes-a-virus-capable-of-causing-a-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pandemic</a>. This indicates that the disruptions to cancer care, such as screenings or treatments, may not have been as severe as initially feared.</p>



<p>The researchers propose two potential reasons for this trend:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Sustained efforts in cancer care</strong>: Health systems might have prioritized cancer treatments despite the strain of the pandemic, ensuring that patients received the necessary care.</li>



<li><strong>Reclassification of causes of death</strong>: In some cases, individuals with cancer who passed away from COVID-19 might have been recorded as COVID-19 fatalities rather than cancer-related deaths, which could have contributed to the decline in cancer mortality figures.</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-the-pandemic">Lessons from the pandemic </h2>



<p>The findings emphasize the need for resilient health care systems capable of maintaining care for various conditions during global crises. </p>



<p>Addressing regional disparities and developing targeted public health interventions are critical to mitigating the broader <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-can-prevent-future-pandemics-by-protecting-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">impacts of future pandemics</a>.</p>



<p>"This study highlights the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted other causes of death, and the need to analyze different diseases and causes of death in a post-pandemic context to identify factors that can improve global health care systems," said Dr. José Manuel Aburto, a co-author and demographer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lasting-effect-on-global-life-expectancy">Lasting effect on global life expectancy </h2>



<p>In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant and lasting effect on global life expectancy, undoing progress made in areas like reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and other preventable conditions.</p>



<p>Many countries saw increases in mortality, not just from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/staying-home-is-the-new-going-out-after-the-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID-19</a> itself, but also from related issues like delayed medical care and worsening health conditions. This setback has reversed years of health improvements, highlighting vulnerabilities in global health systems.</p>



<p>By studying these changes and understanding the factors behind them, policymakers and health authorities can learn valuable lessons. </p>



<p>This analysis emphasizes the importance of creating healthcare systems that are both robust - able to handle emergencies - and equitable - ensuring all populations have access to care during a crisis.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae508/7928941?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS Nexus</a>.</em></p>



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



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

Life expectancy fell sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers have analyzed cause-of-death data for 24 countries, uncovering the...

<p>In the depths of planet Earth, a hidden microbial world thrives under extreme conditions that are beyond the reach of our regular perception.</p>



<p>This extraordinary and invisible ecosystem harbors an abundance of life forms that flourish in environments such as gold mines, aquifers, and deep boreholes in the seafloor.</p>



<p>But how do these below-the-surface microbiomes compare to the vibrant ecosystems bathed in Earth's sunlight?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovering-the-microbial-deep-dwellers">Discovering the microbial deep dwellers</h2>



<p>Researchers have now investigated this question in a first-of-its-kind comprehensive endeavor undertaken at the <a href="https://www.mbl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Biological Laboratory</a> (MBL).</p>



<p>What they found was incredibly rich <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbial-life-soil-planet-warming-global-carbon-cycle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbial diversity</a> in certain subsurface habitats, which extended up to 491 meters (1,610 feet) below the seafloor and 4,375 meters (14,300 feet) below ground level in terrestrial habitats.</p>



<p>This unprecedented revelation hints at vast, unexplored, subsurface sources of diversity, and presents possible opportunities for finding new compounds and medicines.</p>



<p>The study holds potential for identifying how cells adapt to extremely energy-scarce environments. The findings may also be useful in the search for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expanding-the-search-for-extraterrestrial-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extraterrestrial life</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbial-diversity-below-the-surface">Microbial diversity below the surface</h2>



<p>The study's lead scientist, MBL associate scientist Emil Ruff, addressed some of the common assumptions about life below the Earth's surface.</p>



<p>“It’s commonly assumed that the deeper you go below the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mystery-of-how-diamonds-reach-the-earths-surface-finally-solved/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s surface</a>, the less energy is available, and the lower is the number of cells that can survive,” noted Ruff. </p>



<p>“Whereas the more energy present, the more diversity can be generated and maintained - as in tropical forests or coral reefs, where there’s lots of sun and warmth."</p>



<p>However, the study’s findings tell a different story. In some subsurface habitats, microbial diversity can easily match or surpass the diversity on the surface.</p>



<p>This was found to be especially true for marine environments and for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-microbes-discovered-in-2-billion-year-old-rocks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbes</a> in the Archaea domain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-tale-of-two-realms">A tale of two realms</h2>



<p>The study, which took almost a decade to complete, was also one of the first to compare marine and terrestrial environments in terms of microbial diversity and community composition.</p>



<p>While the experts found that the marine and terrestrial microbiomes differed greatly in composition, their level of diversity was similar. This finding gives rise to a fundamental ecological principle.</p>



<p>“There’s a very clear divide between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diverse-life-forms-from-800-million-years-ago-redefine-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">life forms</a> in the marine and in the terrestrial realms, not just in the surface, but also in the subsurface. The selective pressures are very different on land and in the sea, and they select for different organisms that have a hard time living in both realms," explained Ruff.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-in-low-energy-environments">Microbes in low-energy environments</h2>



<p>The existence of a vast reservoir of microbes kilometers deep - both under our feet and beneath the seafloor - was first broadly recognized by scientists in the mid-1990s.</p>



<p>Now, scientists estimate that between 50 and 80 percent of Earth’s microbial cells live in the subsurface sediments, where energy availability is significantly lower than on the sunlit surface.</p>



<p>The study suggests that potentially half of Earth's microbial diversity can be found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-activities-great-harm-earth-subsurface-deep-interior/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subsurface zones</a>.</p>



<p>In addition, the findings point towards a fascinating phenomenon: in these low-energy environments, life appears to be slowed down to an absolute minimum. Some subsurface cells are estimated to divide only once every 1,000 years. </p>



<p>These microbes live on completely different timescales and could provide intriguing insights about aging.</p>



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



<p>If planets like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-water-found-on-mars-would-cover-the-planet-over-one-mile-deep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars had liquid water</a> at some point in their history, the rocky ecosystems below their surface could resemble those currently on Earth.</p>



<p>“The energy would be very low; the organisms’ generation times would be very long. Understanding deep life on Earth could be a model for discovering if there was life on Mars, and if it has survived,” said Ruff.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbiomes-of-diverse-locations-on-earth">Microbiomes of diverse locations on Earth</h2>



<p>Past studies of microbial life on Earth’s surface and subsurface aren't scarce, but synthesizing the data was challenging due to inconsistencies in methodology across different research groups.</p>



<p>However, in 2016, a breakthrough method allowed for a consistent dataset to compare more than 1,000 samples from 50 marine and terrestrial ecosystems.</p>



<p>Samples from around the world were sent to MBL, where scientists used identical routines to sequence and analyze the microbial DNA present. </p>



<p>This consistent methodology allowed for the first direct comparison of microbiomes from vast and diverse locations.</p>



<p>Ultimately, the research serves as a foundation for exposing the rich tapestry of life forms that inhabit the invisible worlds below the Earth’s crust.</p>



<p>As we continue to explore these subsurface habitats, we stand to learn much about the adaptability and resilience of life in its myriad forms.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq0645" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>.</p>



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



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Half of Earth's microbial life may be hiding beneath the surface

In the depths of planet Earth, a hidden microbial world...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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>



<p>—–</p>



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What caused the planet's longest ice age

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>-----</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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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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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

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

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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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