<p>Inside our bodies, countless decisions play out silently at the cellular level. Some cells divide, some die, and others are forced out when they no longer serve their purpose. </p>



<p>A study from <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King’s College London</a> and the <a href="https://www.crick.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Francis Crick Institute</a> reveals that epithelial cells use electricity to spot weak neighbors and remove them. This breakthrough offers fresh insight into how diseases like cancer and stroke arise when energy balance within cells is disturbed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-renew-constantly">Cells renew constantly</h2>



<p>Epithelial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hemifusome-newly-discovered-organelle-inside-human-cells-with-immense-potential/">cells</a> form the barrier that lines organs, renewing rapidly to stay protective. Their balance depends on extrusion, the process of ejecting damaged or excess cells. This keeps tissues tightly packed and efficient. </p>



<p>If extrusion falters, cell numbers become chaotic, creating openings for disease. Without this constant regulation, unhealthy cells may linger, disrupt organ integrity, and interfere with critical signaling pathways. </p>



<p>Over time, these disturbances can weaken the protective barrier, encourage unchecked growth, and increase vulnerability to conditions such as cancer, chronic inflammation, or infections that compromise overall tissue health and resilience.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electricity-targets-weak-cells">Electricity targets weak cells</h2>



<p>Earlier work showed that overcrowding forces some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-the-first-cells-life-form-on-earth-scientists-think-they-finally-figured-it-out/">cells</a> to be squeezed out mechanically. The latest discovery goes further. It shows that extrusion is not random but targets energy-poor cells. Crowding pushes sodium into cells through specialized ion channels, altering their electrical signals. </p>



<p>Healthy cells restore balance, but weak ones cannot, triggering shrinkage and eventual extrusion. This reveals a precise surveillance system where tissues actively monitor cellular energy, ensuring only the strongest cells remain. </p>



<p>Such control preserves organ stability, while defects in this mechanism may promote disease progression and unchecked cellular growth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-sense-crowding-with-electricity">Cells sense crowding with electricity</h2>



<p>The researchers noticed a striking prelude to extrusion: cells briefly shrank before being expelled. This stage, termed homeostatic early shrinkage, reflects water leaving the cell. </p>



<p>Roughly 70 percent of extruding cells undergo this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cells-vomit-waste-to-speed-up-healing-in-our-body/">shrinkage</a>. It is not caused by contractile forces but by ion channels regulating water movement. Key players include the potassium channels Kv1.1 and Kv1.2, and the chloride channel SWELL1.</p>



<p>The study revealed that an epithelial sodium channel, ENaC, senses crowding. It acts as a tension detector, letting sodium rush in when cells press against one another.</p>



<p>If a cell has enough ATP, it pumps sodium back out and stabilizes. If not, depolarization occurs, potassium and chloride exit, water follows, and the cell shrinks, crossing the threshold that triggers extrusion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-low-energy-as-a-trigger">Low energy as a trigger</h2>



<p>Time-lapse experiments revealed that cells destined for extrusion show falling ATP levels before they depolarize and shrink. When ATP levels were artificially lowered, extrusion increased. </p>



<p>This shows energy deficiency directly selects <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-space-changes-our-cells-insights-from-the-iss/">cells</a> for removal. In essence, epithelial tissue runs a built-in fitness test: cells unable to maintain their electrical balance are expelled.</p>



<p>"We see this sodium channel acting as a sensor, exposing cells with the least amount of energy and targeting those cells for death," noted study lead author Dr. Saranne Mitchell. </p>



<p>"This mechanism gives epithelia a constant surveillance system to rapidly detect weak cells and remove them. It's like an electrical quality-control check, keeping tissues robust and functional."</p>



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



<p>The study highlights how epithelial tissues are not passive layers but dynamic communities constantly testing their members. By identifying weaker cells early, they can preserve strength and protect organ function.</p>



<p>"By revealing that cells with low energy are targeted for extrusion, our work also adds a new layer into how metabolism can impact many diseases," said Professor Jody Rosenblatt.</p>



<p>"This new insight could suggest how overconsumption, through eating more and consuming more calories, might override this 'low energy trigger' for extrusion and prevent the elimination of defective cells, allowing them to accumulate into cancers." </p>



<p>"It might also reveal how energy deprivation following a stroke, caused by impacted blood supply, could lead to excess extrusion and organ damage."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-use-electricity-effectively">Cells use electricity effectively</h2>



<p>This model highlights energy sufficiency as a deciding factor in cell survival. Much like how mitochondria regulate apoptosis, epithelial extrusion uses energy balance as a checkpoint. </p>



<p>The findings also connect to conditions like cystic fibrosis and cancer, where ion channel malfunctions are common. By linking ion flow, energy, and crowding, this study reframes how tissues maintain integrity.</p>



<p>The discovery paints epithelia as more than static barriers. They are dynamic, electrically sensitive tissues constantly probing their members for weakness. </p>



<p>Cells that cannot meet the energy demands are removed for the greater good of the tissue. Even the faintest electrical flicker within these cellular communities can tip the balance between health and disease.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09514-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: CC0 Public Domain</p>



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Body tissues use electricity to expel weak cells

Inside our bodies, countless decisions play out silently at the cellular level. Some cells divide, some die, and others are forced out when they no longer serve their purpose. A study from King’s College London and the Francis Crick Institute reveals that epithelial cells use electricity to spot weak neighbors and remove them. This breakthrough offers fresh insight into how diseases like cancer and stroke arise when energy balance within cells is disturbed. Cells renew constantly Epithelial cells form the barrier that lines organs, renewing rapidly to...

<p>Every winter, a spectacle unfolds across North America. Millions of monarch butterflies, those radiant creatures with iconic wings, embark on a journey that stretches thousands of miles to their wintering grounds in the forests and mountains of central Mexico.</p>



<p>However, this annual migration faces growing challenges as monarch populations experience a troubling decline.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proposal-to-protect-monarch-butterflies">Proposal to protect monarch butterflies</h2>



<p>In response to this alarming trend, U.S. wildlife officials <a href="https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2024-12/monarch-butterfly-proposed-endangered-species-act-protection" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proposed</a> listing the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.</p>



<p>This status signifies that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/creating-new-forests-to-assist-monarch-butterfly-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. </p>



<p>The monarch butterfly, with its remarkable orange-and-black coloration, plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity by pollinating plants and serving as a food source for various animals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mounting-threats-to-survival">Mounting threats to survival</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-are-monarch-butterflies-vanishing-in-the-winter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">monarch’s plight</a> stems from a combination of threats, including habitat loss due to illegal logging, exposure to insecticides, and the intensifying climate crisis. These factors have disrupted the species’ breeding and migratory patterns.</p>



<p>The butterfly’s eastern migratory population has declined by roughly 80%, while the western population has plunged by more than 95% since the 1980s, according to U.S. wildlife officials.</p>



<p>Without immediate intervention, experts warn the monarch could disappear from the continent by the end of the century.</p>



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



<p>In 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature categorized the migratory monarch butterfly as endangered, citing climate change and habitat loss as primary drivers. </p>



<p>Between 2021 and 2022, the monarchs’ presence in their Mexican <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monarch-butterflies-shift-to-winter-breeding-for-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wintering grounds</a> decreased by 22%, according to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report.</p>



<p>Droughts, frost, and heat across the continent are killing milkweed - the monarchs’ food source - and destroying their habitat.</p>



<p>Eduardo Rendón-Salinas, head of the monarch butterfly program for WWF-Mexico, highlighted the devastating effects of the climate crisis.</p>



<p>"Pollinators are responsible for 75% of the production of the food for humans. To save these monarchs, humans must reduce the emissions of gasses warming the atmosphere. A lot of [monarchs] are dying. That is my call to action," said Rendón-Salinas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-plan-for-preserving-monarch-butterflies">A plan for preserving monarch butterflies</h2>



<p>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed plan aims to bolster conservation efforts by protecting nearly 4,400 acres in California as critical habitat for the western monarch population.</p>



<p>However, experts stress that government protections alone cannot stabilize and reverse population trends.</p>



<p>"Stabilizing and reversing population trends requires an all-hands approach that not only relies on government protections, but also collaboration among landowners, farmers, conservationists, and everyday citizens," said Clay Bolt, the World Wildlife Fund’s manager of pollinator conservation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-resilience-of-monarchs">Resilience of monarchs</h2>



<p>"Despite [the monarch’s] fragility, it is remarkably resilient, like many things in nature when we just give them a chance," said Martha Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.</p>



<p>"Science shows that the monarch needs that chance, and this proposed listing invites and builds on unprecedented public participation in shaping monarch conservation efforts," she explained.</p>



<p>Williams emphasized that providing monarchs with sufficient milkweed and nectar plants, “even in small areas,” could significantly aid their recovery. "Working together, we can help make this extraordinary species a legacy for our children and generations to come," she said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-you-can-help">How you can help</h2>



<p>Protecting the monarch butterfly calls for all of us to act together. You can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milkweed-gardens-are-needed-to-save-monarch-butterflies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">help by planting milkweed</a> and nectar-rich flowers in your garden or community. </p>



<p>Supporting conservation programs and pushing for sustainable practices can also make a difference.</p>



<p>Small changes, like reducing pesticide use, can have a big impact. By working across neighborhoods and nations, we can ensure the monarch butterfly continues its incredible journey for generations to come.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-monarch-butterflies">More about monarch butterflies</h2>



<p>Monarch butterflies are not only famous for their striking appearance, but also for their unique life cycle.</p>



<p>The butterfly undergoes four life stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. The entire process takes about a month. </p>



<p>Remarkably, the monarch’s migration spans several generations, with one generation flying north in spring and subsequent generations continuing the journey until the final one travels back to Mexico in autumn.</p>



<p>Another fascinating aspect is their navigational ability. Monarchs use environmental cues like the position of the sun and Earth’s magnetic field to find their way, even though no single butterfly completes the entire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monarch-butterflies-with-more-white-spots-are-more-likely-to-survive-their-migration-journey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migration</a>.</p>



<p>The protection proposal by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services is reported <a href="https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2024-12/monarch-butterfly-proposed-endangered-species-act-protection">here</a>.<br></p>



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Monarch butterflies may be added to the endangered species list

Every winter, a spectacle unfolds across North America. Millions of...

<p>A minuscule bacterium, named after the legendary hero Conan, has been gaining attention due to its unparalleled ability to thrive in extreme environmental conditions.</p>



<p>Identified as <em>Deinococcus radiodurans</em>, this robust bacterium can endure radiation levels that would easily wipe out other organisms on Earth, including humans.</p>



<p>It's a superhero in its own right, possessing a unique power that has baffled scientists worldwide.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-secret-to-conan-s-sturdiness">The secret to Conan's sturdiness</h2>



<p>The remarkable resistance of this bacterium lies in a cluster of simple metabolites that, when partnered with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/manganese-soil-turns-forests-into-net-carbon-emitters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manganese</a>, form a potent antioxidant shield.</p>



<p>An innovative study has recently shed light on how this antioxidant shield functions and its potential applications.</p>



<p>A team of chemists from <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern University</a> and the <a href="https://www.usuhs.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uniformed Services University</a> (USU) took on the task of investigating this cellular mystery.</p>



<p>By focusing their attention on a synthetic antioxidant named MDP (Mn<sup>2+</sup>-Decapeptide Complex), which was inspired by the resilience of <em>Deinococcus radiodurans</em>, the researchers discovered something extraordinary.</p>



<p>They found that MDP, made up of manganese ions, phosphate, and a small peptide, forms a strong trio complex. This trio is exponentially more effective in protecting against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chernobyl-is-teeming-with-worms-resistant-to-radiation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">radiation</a> than any individual or dual combination of its components. </p>



<p>The antioxidants in this complex are able to mop up the oxygen radicals before they can damage proteins in the bacterial cell that are critical to its repair processes. </p>



<p>This revelation could lead to the design of new synthetic antioxidants that are specifically tailored to address human needs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-science-fiction-real-world-applications">Beyond science fiction: Real-world applications</h2>



<p>Potential applications of such innovations are vast, spanning from the protection of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-radiation-levels-are-measured-for-the-first-time-and-will-help-astronauts-prepare/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">astronauts</a> during lengthy interstellar missions to emergency radiation preparedness. </p>



<p>"It is this ternary complex that is MDP’s superb shield against the effects of radiation," said Brian Hoffman from Northwestern University.</p>



<p>"We've long known that manganese ions and phosphate together make a strong antioxidant, but discovering and understanding the 'magic' potency provided by the addition of the third component is a breakthrough."</p>



<p>"This study has provided the key to understanding why this combination is such a powerful - and promising - radioprotectant," Hoffman explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-conan-bacterium-and-its-microbial-world">The Conan bacterium and its microbial world</h2>



<p>The latest study builds upon <a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/ast.2022.0065">earlier research</a> which was focused on understanding the forecasted radiation resistance capacity of <em>Deinococcus radiodurans</em> on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronauts-kidneys-may-not-survive-a-roundtrip-to-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>.</p>



<p>The Northwestern team successfully measured the accumulation of manganese antioxidants and found that the amount of resistance an organism can put up against radiation directly correlates with its manganese antioxidant content.</p>



<p>In simple words, the more the manganese antioxidants, the higher the radiation resistance.</p>



<p>Past studies have revealed that <em>Deinococcus radiodurans</em> can survive a whopping 25,000 grays of radiation. But the 2022 research discovered that dried and frozen bacteria could endure up to 140,000 grays, a level 28,000 times the lethal dose for humans.</p>



<p>This suggests that such organisms that may be buried on Mars amidst the storm of galactic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-surges-of-cosmic-radiation-from-space-directly-linked-to-earthquakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic radiation</a> and solar protons, could possibly have survived to this day.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powerful-manganese-based-antioxidants">Powerful manganese-based antioxidants</h2>



<p>Further unfolding the mystery of this microbe's radiation resiliance, the team explored a designer decapeptide called DP1.</p>



<p>When paired with phosphate and manganese, DP1 forms the effective free-radical-scavenging agent called MDP, which has been proven to protect cells and proteins against radiation damage.</p>



<p>In a more recent analysis, it was discovered that MDP could potentially play a crucial role in the preparation of irradiated polyvalent vaccines. </p>



<p>"This new understanding of MDP could lead to the development of even more potent manganese-based antioxidants for applications in healthcare, industry, defense, and space exploration," said Michael Daly from USU.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-the-conan-bacterium">Implications of the Conan bacterium</h2>



<p><em>Deinococcus radiodurans</em>, now famous for its unparalleled radiation resistance, continues to captivate scientists seeking to push the boundaries of biotechnology and innovation.</p>



<p>Its antioxidant mechanisms, driven by a manganese-based shield, offer insights that could transform various fields.</p>



<p>For example, the bacterium’s resilience could play a crucial role in space exploration, particularly in protecting astronauts from cosmic radiation on long missions, such as a journey to Mars. </p>



<p>This natural defense system may also aid in preserving biological materials that are vital for deep-space research and future colonization efforts.</p>



<p>Beyond space, the bacterium’s unique properties hold potential in healthcare and industrial applications.</p>



<p>As researchers explore its extraordinary mechanisms, <em>Deinococcus radiodurans</em> stands as a testament to the untapped possibilities within the microbial world.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: USU/Michael Daly</p>



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'Conan the Bacterium' can endure extreme radiation

A minuscule bacterium, named after the legendary hero Conan, has...

<p>Who doesn't enjoy a sweet treat now and then? After all, a little of what you fancy does indeed seem to do you good. Well, unless it’s a fizzy drink, according to a new study.</p>



<p>Unraveling the tangled relationship between sugar and cardiovascular disease, the research suggests that indulging in the occasional treat could potentially lower your risk for heart-related ailments.</p>



<p>On the other hand, regularly gulping down sweet beverages might do just the opposite. This finding challenges long-held assumptions that all sugars are equally detrimental to heart health.</p>



<p>It also highlights the importance of considering not just how much sugar we consume - but also the form and context in which we consume it.</p>



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



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lund University</a> embarked on a mission to understand the complexities of how our consumption of added sugars impacts our heart health.</p>



<p>Intriguingly, they found that not all sugars consumed are equal in the eyes of our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular system</a>.</p>



<p>Suzanne Janzi, a Ph.D. candidate and the corresponding author of the study, noted that the team's most striking discovery was the divergent relationship between different sources of added sugar and cardiovascular disease risk.</p>



<p>Janzi emphasizes that the source and context of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-average-american-consumes-80-pounds-of-sugar-per-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sugar</a> consumed are as significant to consider as the amount of sugar. This unexpected contrast implies that blanket advice to cut down all sugars might not be the most helpful guidance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sugar-intake-and-cardiovascular-disease">Sugar intake and cardiovascular disease </h2>



<p>As we all know, public health bodies across the globe have long advocated for eradicating excess sugar from our diets, in an effort to protect our teeth and promote healthier <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-eating-habits-can-lead-to-lifelong-diseases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eating habits</a>.</p>



<p>However, concrete evidence linking sugar intake to cardiovascular diseases has remained limited.</p>



<p>Given that some of these diseases rank as leading causes of death in Europe, the researchers sought to fill this gap, focusing on diet as an accessible lever for risk reduction. They collected data from two major cohort studies involving over 69,000 participants.</p>



<p>Each individual's consumption of different kinds of sugar was tracked and cross-examined against their incidence of seven distinct cardiovascular diseases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sweet-treats-vs-sugary-beverages">Sweet treats vs. sugary beverages</h2>



<p>The researchers discovered that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-are-consuming-more-sugary-drinks-than-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sugary drinks</a> have the most egregious impact on health, far outweighing any other form of sugar intake.</p>



<p>The risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stroke-deaths-expected-to-rise-to-five-million-by-2030/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ischemic stroke</a>, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and abdominal aortic aneurysm significantly spiked with an increase in these liquid sugars.</p>



<p>"Liquid sugars, found in sweetened beverages, typically provide less satiety than solid forms - they make you feel less full - potentially leading to overconsumption," explained Janzi.</p>



<p>The context of consumption also matters, with treats often savored during social settings or special occasions and sweet beverages consumed more regularly, she added.</p>



<p>Interestingly, various kinds of cardiovascular diseases were impacted differently by sugar intake and, surprisingly, eating occasional treats such as chocolate and pastries hinted at better outcomes than not indulging at all.</p>



<p>"This might reflect underlying dietary behaviors - individuals consuming very little sugar might have very restrictive diets or might be limiting sugar due to pre-existing health conditions," said Janzi.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viewing-diet-and-health-in-a-broader-context">Viewing diet and health in a broader context</h2>



<p>These findings, intriguing as they are, pose several knots that have yet to be unraveled. How different types of sugars trigger diverse responses in our bodies remains an area that needs further exploration.</p>



<p>Moreover, given the cultural specificity of dietary habits, these findings might not directly translate across diverse populations.</p>



<p>"Our findings are based on a Swedish population, which may have dietary habits and lifestyle factors that differ from those in other populations," said Janzi, alluding to the cultural element that is often overlooked in dietary studies.</p>



<p>So, while these insights might not be applicable globally, they highlight the importance of viewing diet and health in a broader, culturally-informed context.</p>



<p>In conclusion, the Lund University study invites us to take a new look at our sugar consumption habits, and reminds us that balancing our sweet tooth with an understanding of the source and context of our indulgence might ultimately hold the key to a healthier heart.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1452085/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Public Health</a></em>.</p>



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Sugary drinks harm heart health, but sweet treats can be beneficial

Who doesn't enjoy a sweet treat now and then? After...

Detail,Of,Pouring,Beer,Into,Glass,,Close-up.,Abstract,Beverages,Background.

<p>A new study has revealed evidence of rice beer brewing dating back approximately 10,000 years at the Shangshan site in Zhejiang Province, China.</p>



<p>This discovery sheds light on the ancient roots of alcoholic beverage production in East Asia and its connections to early agricultural practices and social structures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-early-beer-brewing-practices">Tracing early beer brewing practices</h2>



<p>The study focused on twelve pottery fragments from the Shangshan site in Pujiang County, Zhejiang Province, dating to the early Holocene (10,000–9,000 years before present).&nbsp;</p>



<p>“These sherds were associated with various vessel types, including those for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brewing-beer-in-space-the-future-of-fermentation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fermentation</a>, serving, storage, cooking, and processing,” explained senior author Jiang Leping, a scientist at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (<a href="https://rwsk.zju.edu.cn/rwsken/2019/0621/c30504a1263820/page.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICRA</a>)..</p>



<p>To uncover the vessels' roles, the researchers analyzed microscopic residues on the pottery's inner surfaces and surrounding sediments. </p>



<p>Using microfossil extraction techniques, they identified phytoliths, starch granules, and fungi -- key indicators of food processing and fermentation.</p>



<p>“We focused on identifying phytoliths, starch granules, and fungi, providing insights into the pottery’s uses and the food processing methods employed at the site,” said Jiu Li of <a href="https://www.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>, the study’s lead author.</p>



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



<p>Beer fermentation is the seemingly magical process that turns simple ingredients like water, malt, hops, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-bakers-yeast-have-similar-dna/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">yeast</a> into the delicious brew we all enjoy. </p>



<p>It all starts when brewers mix malted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genetic-variants-help-plants-adapt-to-nitrogen-deficiency/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">barley</a> with hot water to create a mash, which converts the starches into sugars. </p>



<p>Once the mash cools down, they add yeast, the star of the show, which munches on those sugars and produces alcohol and carbon dioxide as byproducts. </p>



<p>This transformation usually takes about one to two weeks, depending on the type of beer being made. </p>



<p>During fermentation, the beer starts to develop its unique flavors and aromas, whether you’re brewing a crisp lager or a rich stout.</p>



<p>But fermentation isn’t just about flavor -- it's also where the alcohol content is created and the beer gets its fizz. </p>



<p>Brewers carefully control the temperature and environment to ensure the yeast does its job properly, avoiding off-flavors and ensuring consistency.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rice-centric-fermentation">Rice-centric fermentation</h2>



<p>Phytolith analysis revealed a substantial presence of domesticated rice, indicating that it was a staple resource for the Shangshan people.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Further investigation revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-study-reveals-secrets-of-weedy-rice-invasion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rice</a> husks and leaves were used in pottery production, underlining rice's centrality in Shangshan culture.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Alongside rice, the researchers identified starch granules from other plants such as Job’s tears, barnyard grass, Triticeae, acorns, and lilies. </p>



<p>Many granules displayed signs of enzymatic degradation and gelatinization, hallmarks of fermentation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traditional-qu-based-brewing-techniques">Traditional qu-based brewing techniques</h2>



<p>Additionally, fungal elements, including <em>Monascus</em> molds and yeast cells, were detected in the pottery residues. Some of these fungi exhibited developmental stages associated with fermentation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These findings align with the traditional qu-based brewing techniques still used in producing red yeast rice <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wine-production-in-a-warming-world-the-winners-and-losers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wine</a> (hongqujiu) in China.</p>



<p>Globular jars showed higher concentrations of <em>Monascus</em> and yeast remains compared to other vessel types like cooking pots and processing basins. </p>



<p>This pattern suggests that these jars were specifically designed for alcohol fermentation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technological-and-agricultural-synergies">Technological and agricultural synergies</h2>



<p>The emergence of this early brewing technology coincided with rice domestication and the favorable climate of the early Holocene, which supported the growth of fermentation-related fungi.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Domesticated rice provided a stable resource for fermentation, while favorable climatic conditions supported the development of qu-based fermentation technology, which relied on the growth of filamentous fungi,” Liu explained.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/rice-beer_ancient-china_pottery_brewing_diagram_credit-IGG_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/rice-beer_ancient-china_pottery_brewing_diagram_credit-IGG_1s.webp" alt="Reconstruction of the production-consumption process involving pottery and food in early Shangshan culture. (A) Plant procurement: collecting wild plants and harvesting rice; (B) plant processing: for food and pottery making; (C) food processing: cooking food and making qu starter with molds, yeast, and rice; (D) food consumption: eating and drinking. Credit: IGG" class="wp-image-1953128"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Reconstruction of the production-consumption process involving pottery and food in early Shangshan culture. (A) Plant procurement: collecting wild plants and harvesting rice; (B) plant processing: for food and pottery making; (C) food processing: cooking food and making qu starter with molds, yeast, and rice; (D) food consumption: eating and drinking. Credit: IGG</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>To confirm their findings, the researchers conducted modern fermentation experiments using rice, <em>Monascus</em>, and yeast.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experiments demonstrated morphological similarities with the fungal remains identified on the ancient pottery.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Control samples of sediment showed significantly fewer starch and fungal remains, ruling out contamination and reinforcing the connection between the residues and ancient fermentation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-significance-of-beer-brewing">Cultural significance of beer brewing</h2>



<p>The study suggests that rice <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beer-may-be-better-for-your-gut-than-probiotics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beer</a> played an important role in ceremonial feasting during the Shangshan period. These rituals may have encouraged the intensified use and cultivation of rice in Neolithic China.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“These alcoholic beverages likely played a pivotal role in ceremonial feasting, highlighting their ritual importance as a potential driving force behind the intensified utilization and widespread cultivation of rice in Neolithic China,” Liu said.</p>



<p>The discovery represents the earliest known evidence of rice-based alcohol production in East Asia. It offers a deeper understanding of how rice domestication, brewing technology, and social structures were interconnected during the early Holocene.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-early-innovation">A window into early innovation</h2>



<p>The findings at Shangshan provide critical insights into the technological and cultural advancements of ancient China.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By revealing the link between early rice agriculture and alcohol fermentation, this research highlights the innovative spirit of the Shangshan people and their influence on subsequent agricultural and social developments.</p>



<p>This study opens doors for further exploration into the interplay between human innovation, environmental factors, and cultural evolution in shaping ancient societies.</p>



<p>----</p>



<p>The research was a collaboration between <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>, the <a href="https://english.igg.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Geology and Geophysics</a> (IGG), and the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (<a href="https://rwsk.zju.edu.cn/rwsken/2019/0621/c30504a1263820/page.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICRA</a>).</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2412274121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a>.</p>



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



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

Ancient humans were drinking beer in China over 10,000 years ago

A new study has revealed evidence of rice beer brewing...

<p>Planetary scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder have made progress in understanding what sparks massive dust storms on Mars, weather phenomena that can envelop the entire planet in swirling clouds of grit. </p>



<p>The findings indicate that relatively warm and sunny conditions may play a key role in initiating these dramatic storms.</p>



<p>Study lead author Heshani Pieris is a graduate student at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (<a href="https://lasp.colorado.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LASP</a>) at CU Boulder.</p>



<p>“Dust storms have a significant effect on rovers and landers on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-captured-in-true-color-like-youve-never-seen-the-red-planet-before/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>, not to mention what will happen during future crewed missions to Mars,” said Pieris. "This dust is very light and sticks to everything.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mystery-of-dust-storms-on-mars">The mystery of dust storms on Mars</h2>



<p>Dust storms on Mars are extraordinary spectacles, often beginning as small, localized events around the planet’s polar ice caps during the latter part of the Martian year, which lasts 687 Earth days. These storms can rapidly grow, spreading across millions of square miles and persisting for days.</p>



<p>In popular media, such as the film <em>The Martian</em>, these storms are depicted as violent enough to wreak havoc on equipment and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-travel-takes-a-greater-toll-on-astronauts-brains-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">astronauts</a>. However, Mars’ thin atmosphere means the storms lack the force to cause such destruction.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Nonetheless, they can pose serious challenges. In 2018, a global dust storm coated NASA’s Opportunity rover in dust, blocking its solar panels and ultimately ending its mission.</p>



<p>“Even though the wind pressure may not be enough to knock over equipment, these dust grains can build up a lot of speed and pelt astronauts and their equipment,” explained Paul Hayne, co-author of the study and an associate professor at LASP.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-investigating-weather-patterns-on-mars">Investigating weather patterns on Mars</h2>



<p>The study focused on two recurring weather patterns on Mars, labeled “A” and “C” storms. Using data from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, particularly the Mars Climate Sounder instrument, the researchers examined eight Martian years (equivalent to 15 Earth years) of observations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>They identified periods of increased surface temperatures - when more sunlight penetrates Mars’ thin <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-mars-missing-atmosphere-hiding-in-plain-sight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmosphere</a> and heats the surface - as a potential precursor to major storms.</p>



<p>The researchers found that about 68% of large dust storms were preceded by a sharp increase in surface temperatures. These warm periods appeared to act as a trigger for storm formation, with a few weeks of heightened heat followed by the emergence of dusty conditions.</p>



<p>“It’s almost like Mars has to wait for the air to get clear enough to form a major dust storm,” Hayne noted.</p>



<p>While the team cannot definitively say that warm conditions directly cause the storms, Pieris pointed out that similar processes occur on Earth. On hot summer days in places like Boulder, Colorado, warm air near the ground rises, forming towering storm clouds.</p>



<p>“When you heat up the surface, the layer of atmosphere right above it becomes buoyant, and it can rise, taking dust with it,” Pieris explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-dust-storms-on-mars">Predicting dust storms on Mars</h2>



<p>Pieris and Hayne are now analyzing data from more recent Martian years to further refine their understanding of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-the-oceans-hidden-influence-on-global-weather-patterns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather patterns</a>. They aim to eventually predict dust storms on Mars in real-time, improving the safety of future robotic and crewed missions.</p>



<p>“This study is not the end all be all of predicting storms on Mars,” said Pieris. “But we hope it’s a step in the right direction.”</p>



<p>Understanding the triggers behind these storms, including why some regional events grow into planet-wide phenomena, is a critical piece of the puzzle.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We don’t even fully understand the basic physics of how dust storms start at the surface,” Hayne added.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-paving-the-way-for-future-exploration">Paving the way for future exploration</h2>



<p>The research lays the groundwork for better tools to predict and mitigate the effects of Martian dust storms.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Such advancements could prove invaluable for future exploration, ensuring that equipment and astronauts are prepared for the challenges of the Red Planet.</p>



<p>As the experts concluded, this research is a foundational step toward building the tools we need to tackle Mars’ extreme weather, by bridging the gap between what we observe and what we can predict.</p>



<p>Pieris will present these <a href="https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1725206">findings</a> on December 10 at the <a href="https://www.agu.org/annual-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 American Geophysical Union meeting</a> in Washington.</p>



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



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

Dust storms can engulf the entire planet of Mars - but how?

Planetary scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder have made...

<p>As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into journalism, newsrooms face the dual challenge of effectively using the technology while transparently disclosing its involvement to readers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>New research from the <a href="https://www.ku.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Kansas</a> (KU) reveals that readers often view AI's role in news production negatively, even when they don't fully understand its specific contributions. This perception can lower their trust in the credibility of the news.</p>



<p>The studies, led by researchers Alyssa Appelman and Steve Bien-Aimé of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at KU, explores how readers interpret AI involvement in news articles and its impact on perceptions of credibility.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-bylines-and-reader-perception">AI bylines and reader perception</h2>



<p>Appelman and Bien-Aimé, along with their collaborators Haiyan Jia of <a href="https://www2.lehigh.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lehigh University</a> and Mu Wu of <a href="https://www.calstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California State University</a>, conducted an experiment to investigate how different AI-related bylines influence readers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Participants were randomly assigned one of five bylines on an article about the safety of artificial sweetener aspartame. These bylines ranged from “written by staff writer” to “written by artificial intelligence,” with variations indicating collaboration or assistance from AI.</p>



<p>The researchers found that readers interpreted these bylines in diverse ways. Even when the byline simply stated “written by staff writer,” many readers assumed AI had played a role in the article's creation due to the absence of a named human author.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Participants used their prior knowledge to make sense of AI’s potential contributions, often overestimating its involvement.</p>



<p>“People have a lot of different ideas on what AI can mean, and when we are not clear on what it did, people will fill in the gaps on what they thought it did,” Appelman explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-and-credibility-a-complex-relationship">AI and credibility: A complex relationship</h2>



<p>Regardless of their interpretation, participants consistently rated news articles as less credible when they believed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-predicts-global-warmings-impact-on-extreme-weather/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a> was involved. This effect persisted even when the byline explicitly indicated human contribution alongside AI assistance. </p>



<p>Readers appeared to prioritize the perceived extent of human involvement in evaluating the article's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-robots-with-a-local-accent-seem-more-trustworthy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trustworthiness</a>.</p>



<p>“The big thing was not between whether it was AI or human: It was how much work they thought the human did,” Bien-Aimé noted.</p>



<p>The findings highlight the importance of clear and precise disclosure about AI’s role in news production.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While transparency is crucial, simply stating that AI was used may not suffice to alleviate reader concerns. If readers perceive AI as having contributed more than a human, their trust in the news could diminish.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transparency-and-ethical-considerations">Transparency and ethical considerations</h2>



<p>The studies highlight the need for greater transparency and improved communication about the use of AI in journalism.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Recent controversies, such as allegations that Sports Illustrated published AI-generated articles while presenting them as human-written, have underscored the risks of insufficient disclosure.</p>



<p>The research also suggests that readers may be more accepting of AI in contexts where it has not traditionally replaced human roles. For instance, algorithmic recommendations on platforms like YouTube are often perceived as helpful rather than intrusive.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, in fields like journalism, where human expertise is traditionally valued, the introduction of AI can create skepticism about the quality and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coaches-can-improve-athletes-lives-by-being-authentic-leaders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">authenticity</a> of the work.</p>



<p>“Part of our research framework has always been assessing if readers know what journalists do,” Bien-Aimé said. “And we want to continue to better understand how people view the work of journalists.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-need-for-improved-reader-education">The need for improved reader education</h2>



<p>Appelman and Bien-Aimé’s findings point to a gap in reader understanding of journalistic practices. Disclosures about AI involvement, corrections, ethics training, or even bylines are often interpreted differently by readers than journalists intend.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To bridge this gap, the researchers emphasize the need for journalists and educators to better communicate the specifics of how AI is used in news production.</p>



<p>“This shows we need to be clear. We think journalists have a lot of assumptions that we make in our field that consumers know what we do. They often do not,” Bien-Aimé said.</p>



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



<p>Both studies call for further investigation into how readers perceive AI’s role in journalism and how these perceptions influence trust in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spending-less-time-on-social-media-improves-your-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">media</a>. By understanding these dynamics, journalists can refine their practices to maintain credibility while leveraging AI’s potential.</p>



<p>As AI continues to shape the future of journalism, the field must navigate the balance between technological innovation and maintaining public trust.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Transparency, clear communication, and ethical practices will be essential to ensuring that AI serves as a tool to enhance rather than undermine the credibility of the news.</p>



<p>The findings are published in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08934215.2024.2424553" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Communication Reports</em></a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882124000537?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans</em></a>.</p>



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



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Readers trust news less when AI is involved

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into journalism, newsrooms...

<p>Fresh reports of a new, deep-sea oil discovery have arrived, and they’re turning heads among everyday people and seasoned industry pros.</p>



<p>Many wonder whether this well could tip the balance of the global market, especially now when energy supply concerns hover in the background.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sea-oil-rumor-confirmed">Deep-sea oil rumor confirmed</h2>



<p>The massive, deep-sea oil discovery was quietly announced in early September during the blur of the US election season by <a href="https://www.talosenergy.com/home/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Talos Energy</a>, a U.S.-based firm that has been eyeing the Gulf of Mexico’s hidden potential.</p>



<p>The well, known as EW 953, stretches down about 19,000 feet below the surface and could yield somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 barrels per day.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The plan is to link it to the South Timbalier 311 Megalodon platform, a host facility partially owned by Talos. <a href="https://walteroil.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walter Oil &amp; Gas</a> holds a solid share, about 56.7%, with Talos having about 33.3%, and Gordy Oil Company claiming 10%. </p>



<p>Sitting at a staggering depth, the well presents a complex engineering challenge that will involve significant cost and incalculable risk at every step.</p>



<p>With the Murphy Oil Corporation’s Sebastian prospect (another planned well in the region that is estimated to produce 6–10 thousand barrels per day) running on a parallel timeline and drilling down around 12,000 feet, this is arguably one of the largest projects in the whole of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cleaning-up-14000-inactive-oil-wells-in-gulf-of-mexico-will-cost-30-billion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gulf of Mexico</a>.</p>



<p>Preliminary figures place the potential total haul at roughly 15 to 25 million barrels of oil equivalent, with the total value of around $1.89 billion. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-market-ripples-and-economic-stakes">Market ripples and economic stakes</h2>



<p>“We are excited about the results of the Ewing Bank 953 well. The well logged better than expected rock properties, which we believe should lead to a robust initial flow rate," enthused Joe Mills, the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at Talos Energy. </p>



<p>With these numbers, energy watchers brace for potential shifts. New sources like this can reshape how oil flows around the world. </p>



<p>Prices might not swing overnight, but traders and analysts pay close attention to each new data point. Some might look at this project and see a chance to ease import pressures. </p>



<p>Others could consider it an opportunity to cement competitive standing on international markets. </p>



<p>A well that’s firing on all cylinders in a strategic location changes the conversation about who calls the shots in future energy negotiations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-past-trouble-with-deep-sea-oil-drilling">Past trouble with deep-sea oil drilling</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/restoring-the-deep-gulf-of-mexico-from-bp-oil-spill-damage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Gulf of Mexico</a> has known deep-sea oil exploration activity for decades, and not all stories have been pleasant. Back in 2010, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deepwater-horizon-spill-today/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deepwater Horizon</a> disaster shook the public’s trust in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-impact-of-offshore-drilling-has-been-greatly-underestimated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">offshore drilling.</a> </p>



<p>Millions of barrels of crude spilled, causing severe environmental harm and prompting global outrage. That memory lingers.</p>



<p>While technology and safety protocols have improved since then, any new venture in these waters reminds observers of the potential risks. </p>



<p>Spill prevention, emergency response plans, and rigorous safety standards remain essential. This new find must still face the scrutiny of those lessons learned.</p>



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



<p>Investors see new wells as possible keys to financial growth. Local economies might anticipate job creation and revenue boosts. Yet, behind the scenes, caution rules the day. </p>



<p>Drilling for oil in deep-sea waters always carries engineering hurdles, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-forms-dust-clouds-that-devastate-marine-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental risks</a>, and regulatory checks. Equipment needs regular monitoring, and unexpected geology can mean higher costs. </p>



<p>Companies must weigh these issues, and their decisions don’t happen in a vacuum. Consumers, activists, and politicians watch closely, shaping what comes next.</p>



<p>Production might start in a few years, but even that timeline can shift. Equipment delays, political negotiations, or unforeseen technical snags could change the story. </p>



<p>The energy sector never follows a neat script. Instead, it jumps from twist to turn, leaving everyone guessing. </p>



<p>Will this new well simply join the mix of global suppliers, or might it eventually reshape who holds influence in this industry?</p>



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



<p>As things stand, the details we have only scratch the surface. It’s a moment that invites big questions about safety, finance, and responsibility. Curious folks keep one ear open, waiting for updates. </p>



<p>The energy world thrives on surprises. If this well hits its targets, we’ll likely hear more about what it means. </p>



<p>For now, all we have are numbers, hopes, and a reminder that deep beneath the waves, there’s still plenty worth watching.</p>



<p>Read more details about this oil discovery <a href="https://www.talosenergy.com/investor-relations/news/news-details/2024/Talos-Energy-Announces-New-Discovery-and-Adds-Additional-2024-Prospect-in-the-Gulf-of-Mexico/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here...</a></p>



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



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

Jaw-dropping deep-sea oil find sparks global anxiety

Fresh reports of a new, deep-sea oil discovery have arrived,...

<p>Dogs have always found unique ways to communicate with humans, but a recent study reveals that dogs trained with soundboards can piece together two-word combinations. These furry friends are not just mindlessly parroting their owners - they are making sense.</p>



<p>Published in the journal&nbsp;Scientific Reports, the study was focused on data from 152 dogs over 21 months, documenting over 260,000 button presses. Of these, an impressive 195,000 were made independently by the dogs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-using-soundboards-for-expression">Dogs using soundboards for expression</h2>



<p>Study co-author Federico Rossano is an associate professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego and director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://cclab.ucsd.edu/">Comparative Cognition Lab</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"This is the first scientific study to analyze how dogs actually use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-learn-to-speak-by-pressing-buttons-on-a-soundboard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soundboards</a>. The findings reveal that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-human-speech-changes-when-we-talk-to-dogs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> are pressing buttons purposefully to express their desires and needs, not just imitating their owners," said Rossano.</p>



<p>"When dogs combine two buttons, these sequences are not random but instead seem to reflect specific requests."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-dog-intentions-with-soundboards">Understanding dog intentions with soundboards</h2>



<p>The most frequently used buttons corresponded to dogs’ basic needs, such as "outside," "treat," "play," and "potty." </p>



<p>Combinations like "outside" + "potty" or "food" + "water" were meaningful and occurred more often than chance would predict. These findings provide compelling evidence that dogs use soundboards intentionally rather than as random or imitative behavior.</p>



<p>"While <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-communication-what-is-your-pet-trying-to-tell-you/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs already communicate</a> some of these needs, soundboards could allow for more precise communication. Instead of barking or scratching at the door, a dog may be able to tell you exactly what it wants, even combining concepts like ‘outside’ and ‘park’ or ‘beach,'" noted Rossano. </p>



<p>"This could improve companionship and strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-soundboard-dogs-vs-owners">Using soundboard: Dogs vs owners</h2>



<p>The study relied on data collected via the FluentPet mobile app, where dog owners logged their pets’ button presses in real time. </p>



<p>The researchers selected 152 dogs that had logged more than 200 button presses each, allowing them to analyze consistent patterns of use.</p>



<p>Advanced statistical tools and computer simulations ruled out randomness and confirmed the intentional nature of the button combinations. Importantly, the experts also compared button usage of dogs to that of their owners.</p>



<p>While humans frequently pressed buttons like "I love you," dogs used such expressions far less often, further supporting the conclusion that dogs were not merely mimicking human behavior.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glimpse-into-future-research">Glimpse into future research</h2>



<p>While the study establishes that dogs can intentionally combine two buttons to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/talking-slower-helps-dogs-understand-what-humans-are-saying/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">communicate</a> immediate needs, the researchers aim to explore even deeper questions about canine intelligence. </p>



<p>Could dogs use soundboards to reference past experiences, absent objects, or future events? Could they combine buttons to communicate ideas for which they lack specific vocabulary?</p>



<p>"We want to know if dogs can use these soundboards to express ideas beyond their immediate needs, like absent objects, past experiences, or future events. If they can, it would drastically change how we think about animal intelligence and communication," said Rossano.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-dog-owners-and-beyond">Implications for dog owners and beyond</h2>



<p>For pet lovers, this study opens up exciting possibilities for deepening the human-canine bond. </p>



<p>With soundboards, dogs might communicate with their owners in ways previously thought impossible. Imagine your furry friend combined words like "outside" and "park" or "play" and "ball" to convey exactly what they wanted.</p>



<p>As future research unfolds, the potential for understanding our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-feel-our-emotions-through-our-heart-rate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal companions</a> could redefine how we think about intelligence and communication across species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-collaborators">Study collaborators </h2>



<p>The study’s co-authors include Amalia P. M. Bastos, now at Johns Hopkins University; Zachary N. Houghton, now at UC Davis; and Lucas Naranjo, an expert with CleverPet, Inc.</p>



<p> While some of the researchers have ties to CleverPet, the company that manufactures the FluentPet devices, the research design and analysis were conducted independently, ensuring unbiased results. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-communication-beyond-soundboards">Dog communication beyond soundboards</h2>



<p>Dogs have always been skilled communicators, even without soundboards. Their body language, vocalizations, and behaviors provide clues to their thoughts and feelings. </p>



<p>For instance, a wagging tail can indicate happiness or excitement, while pinned-back ears may signal fear or discomfort. Dogs also use nuanced behaviors, like leaning into their owners for comfort or barking at specific objects, to express themselves.</p>



<p>Research into canine communication shows that dogs are highly attuned to human emotions and can read facial expressions and respond to tone of voice.</p>



<p>For example, a soothing voice may calm a nervous dog, while a cheerful tone can encourage playful behavior. Dogs even appear to distinguish between human words, recognizing familiar commands and associating specific sounds with actions or outcomes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-communicate-through-scent">Dogs communicate through scent</h2>



<p>Another fascinating aspect of dog communication involves scent. Dogs possess an extraordinary sense of smell, which they use to gather information about their environment and the emotions of other beings. </p>



<p>A quick sniff can tell a dog if another animal is stressed, healthy, or on heat. Scent marking, common during walks, serves as a way to leave messages for other dogs.</p>



<p>While soundboards represent a technological leap in understanding canine communication, they are just one part of the puzzle. </p>



<p>Traditional behaviors, combined with emerging tools like soundboards, offer an even richer view of how dogs convey their thoughts, emotions, and needs. These findings not only deepen our appreciation for our furry companions but also highlight their intelligence and emotional complexity.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-79517-6">Scientific Reports</a></em>.</p>



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Dogs can use soundboards to express their needs

Dogs have always found unique ways to communicate with humans,...

<p>The ocean absorbs up to a third of the world's man-made carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions. However, this carbon absorption comes at a cost, as it leads to the acidification of seawater.</p>



<p>To combat this issue, scientists are exploring ways to increase the alkalinity of seawater, so it can absorb more CO<sub>2</sub> without becoming increasingly acidic. </p>



<p>Professor Ulf Riebesell’s group at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel plays a critical role in this research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-ocean-alkalinity-enhancement">What is ocean alkalinity enhancement?</h2>



<p>Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) involves adding alkaline substances to seawater to increase its capacity to absorb CO<sub>2</sub>. This process also helps counteract the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-acidification-is-spreading-into-deeper-waters/">acidification</a> effects caused by anthropogenic CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.</p>



<p>Alkaline substances, such as limestone, olivine, and various carbonates can dissolve in seawater and neutralize acidity, thereby enabling greater CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration. The approach mimics natural processes where minerals are weathered and transported to oceans over geological timescales.</p>



<p>Different methods are being explored to implement OAE effectively. These include distributing finely ground minerals across large ocean areas or directly injecting alkaline solutions into seawater. The efficiency of OAE depends on factors like ocean currents, water temperature, and the types of minerals used. </p>



<p>Some forms of ocean alkalinity enhancement might also enhance the growth of marine organisms, such as phytoplankton, which play a role in the biological carbon pump by sequestering CO<sub>2</sub> in deeper ocean layers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adjusting-seawater-chemistry-with-alkaline-water">Adjusting seawater chemistry with alkaline water</h2>



<p>The researchers tested the efficiency of CO<sub>2</sub>-equilibrated OAE, a moderate approach that adjusts seawater chemistry by using alkaline water that is pre-saturated with CO<sub>2</sub>.</p>



<p>This method ensures carbon dioxide removal (CDR) before releasing the treated water back into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-weaker-ocean-will-release-more-carbon-into-the-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a>. </p>



<p>To simulate real-world conditions, the team used KOSMOS mesocosms (Kiel Off-Shore Mesocosms for Ocean Simulations). These large test tubes, which are submerged directly into the ocean, isolated eight cubic meters of water for this controlled study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-achieving-ocean-alkalinity">Achieving ocean alkalinity </h2>



<p>Different concentrations of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate were added to achieve varying levels of alkalinity, ranging from what occurs in natural conditions to a level that is double what is found in seawater.</p>



<p>Over a 33-day period, the team monitored the responses of zooplankton by examining metrics such as biomass, diversity, production, and fatty acid composition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-response-of-marine-communities">Response of marine communities</h2>



<p>The results were encouraging. Plankton communities remained stable, and zooplankton tolerated the moderate chemical changes associated with CO<sub>2</sub>-equilibrated OAE.</p>



<p>While the nutritional quality of particulate matter - the primary food source for zooplankton - showed potential deterioration, it did not significantly impact these marine consumers.</p>



<p>The researchers attributed this resilience to the oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) conditions of the subtropical waters, which may have buffered the zooplankton’s responses.</p>



<p>"Our study shows that the increase in alkalinity has minor impacts on the zooplankton and that the food web as a whole remains stable," said Nicolás Sánchez, Ph.D. student and first author of the study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-in-climate-protection">Potential in climate protection</h2>



<p>Ocean alkalinity enhancement holds promise as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. </p>



<p>By enhancing the ocean’s capacity to absorb CO<sub>2</sub> without increasing acidity, OAE could play a vital role in buffering global warming.</p>



<p>It could bridge the gap during the transition to renewable energy, mitigate emissions from hard-to-decarbonize industries, and facilitate the safe removal of historical carbon emissions.</p>



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



<p>However, significant gaps in knowledge remain. The study, which was conducted in the nutrient-poor subtropical waters, provides a promising start but its findings cannot be generalized to all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/co2-declared-ocean-pollutant-international-court-ruling/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine ecosystems</a>.</p>



<p>"Our experiment has shown that CO<sub>2</sub>-equilibrated OAE does not have a lasting impact on zooplankton and the food web in the nutrient-poor subtropical area we studied," said Sánchez.</p>



<p>"But this does not say anything about how it will affect other marine environments, nor about the safety of other, technically more feasible forms of OAE that cause greater changes to seawater chemistry."</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.geomar.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GEOMAR</a> researchers stress the need for extensive investigations across diverse ecosystems and with various OAE approaches. These studies will be essential to develop a responsible framework for the application of alkalinity enhancement. </p>



<p>"Our study is a promising first step towards defining a responsible framework for the application of alkalinity enhancement," Sánchez concludes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-alkalinity-as-a-climate-solution">Ocean alkalinity as a climate solution</h2>



<p>While ocean alkalinity enhancement shows significant potential as a climate mitigation strategy, its implementation requires cautious, science-backed approaches.</p>



<p>This initial experiment demonstrates that moderate OAE interventions can be ecologically safe in specific conditions, but broader studies are crucial to address global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-hidden-skin-could-protect-us-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine variability</a>.</p>



<p>By advancing research on OAE and understanding its implications, scientists can help ensure that this innovative approach becomes a safe and effective tool in the global effort to combat climate change.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ado0264" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.</em></p>



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Ocean alkalinity may safely boost the carbon storage capacity of seawater

The ocean absorbs up to a third of the world's...

<p>Often, stereotypes can paint an inaccurate picture of people. A recent study challenges the stereotype of older adults being risk-averse and weak in decision making.</p>



<p>A study from SWPS University in Poland suggests that, contrary to popular belief, older people are often risk-takers, and can be rather resistant to manipulation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-decisions-of-older-adults">Financial decisions of older adults</h2>



<p>Poland's population is noticeably growing older. According to 2023 data from Statistics Poland (GUS), citizens aged 65 and more numbered 7.5 million, making up over 20% of the total population.</p>



<p>This significant shift has vast implications, as it's often the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/centenarians-on-the-rise-living-over-100-is-now-more-common/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">older adults</a> who are tasked with crucial financial and healthcare decisions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decision-making-by-older-adults">Decision-making by older adults</h2>



<p>Historically, research into the decision-making abilities of older adults has been contradictory. Some studies have found older people to be risk-averse and prone to manipulation, whereas others contradict this view.</p>



<p>The study by <a href="https://english.swps.pl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SWPS University</a> debunks common narratives around aging and decision-making. This research suggests that older adults should not be underestimated or overly shielded.</p>



<p>"Too often, older people are portrayed as defenseless and less capable of making correct decisions, which can lead to their infantilization or exclusion from important choices," noted study co-author Dr. Maciej Kościelniak from the SWPS University's Faculty of Psychology and Law in Poznań.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-older-adults-are-risk-takers">Older adults are risk takers</h2>



<p>The research looked at how the approach of older adults to risky decision-making changes with age, focusing on their susceptibility to the "attraction effect," otherwise known as the decoy effect or asymmetric dominance effect.</p>



<p>Two separate experiments were conducted for this study - an online survey involving 357 participants and a lab-based project with 173 participants. </p>



<p>The participants spanned three age groups - young adults (18-33 years), middle-aged adults (42-57 years), and older adults (65-80 years). All groups were balanced regarding educational background.</p>



<p>The results were unexpected. Older adults proved more likely to take risks than their younger counterparts. Also, both age groups exhibited an equal ability to resist manipulation related to the attraction effect.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-mistakes-learning-and-improving">Making mistakes, learning, and improving</h2>



<p>Initially, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grandchildren-are-a-source-of-joy-and-well-being-for-older-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">older adults</a> made more mistakes, particularly in scenarios with significant financial and social repercussions. </p>



<p>However, with practice and familiarity, they sharpened their decision-making skills. Although it took them longer, by the end of the trial, their performance was on par with that of the younger group.</p>



<p>This observation suggests that, while aging might slow down the processing of new information, it doesn't curb the ability to make sound decisions, nor the resistance to manipulation.</p>



<p>"The discovery that learning ability is comparable between older and younger adults has profoundly influenced my view on cognitive functions in the aging process – it's not simply a story of decline, but rather one of adaptation,"&nbsp;explained Maciej Kościelniak.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shattering-stereotypes">Shattering stereotypes</h2>



<p>The study's findings offer invaluable insight into the cognitive functioning of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-impairs-memory-in-older-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">older adults</a>. They indicate that the ability to make complex decisions in late adulthood is vastly underestimated, and that age-based stereotypes need a revision. </p>



<p>"Whether we're talking about interactions with financial advisors, healthcare workers, or family members helping older people make decisions, our findings suggest that older adults often do not need protection from choices, but rather an opportunity and sufficient time to become familiar with new situations," noted Maciej Kościelniak.</p>



<p>In conclusion, perhaps it's time we reassess our views on aging and capability. After all, as this research indicates, there's much more to our senior citizens than meets the eye.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-stereotypes-involving-older-adults">Other stereotypes involving older adults</h2>



<p>Older adults often face stereotypes that go beyond decision-making. For instance, they are frequently perceived as technologically inept. </p>



<p>While some may take longer to adapt to new devices, studies show that many older adults actively engage with technology, from smartphones to social media platforms. This adaptability demonstrates their willingness to learn and stay connected.</p>



<p>Another common misconception is that aging individuals lose their creativity. Contrary to this belief, research indicates that older adults often channel their life experiences into innovative problem-solving and artistic pursuits. Many renowned artists and writers have produced some of their best work later in life.</p>



<p>Older adults are also wrongly seen as socially isolated. While some experience loneliness, many maintain active social lives, often volunteering, mentoring younger generations, or participating in community activities. This engagement highlights their resilience and continued contribution to society.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/effect-of-age-on-susceptibility-to-the-attraction-effect-in-sequential-risky-decisionmaking/D936EDA8DD61894C61E217984BDEA1DF" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ageing and Society</a>.</em></p>



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Older adults make decisions and take risks just like young people

Often, stereotypes can paint an inaccurate picture of people. A...

<p>The solar system's main asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter, is home to millions of rocky objects. </p>



<p>These asteroids orbit at an average of 250 million kilometers (155 million miles) from Earth. They range in size from large celestial bodies like Vesta, which measures about 530 kilometers (329 miles) in diameter, to countless smaller fragments.</p>



<p>Despite their abundance, the total mass of these asteroids is less than that of Earth's Moon. </p>



<p>Over the last decade, extensive optical surveys have cataloged nearly 750,000 asteroids that are larger than one kilometer in diameter, but the smallest ones have largely remained elusive - until now.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asteroids-and-their-impact-on-earth">Asteroids and their impact on Earth</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/its-official-earth-now-has-two-moons-captured-asteroid-2024-pt5/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Asteroids</a> occasionally find their way into Earth's neighborhood, nudged by the gravitational influence of Mars and Jupiter. </p>



<p>Known as Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), these objects have historically impacted Earth and other planets, shaping their geological and evolutionary paths. </p>



<p>Their potential threats to Earth have made their detection and tracking critical for planetary defense efforts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-main-belt-asteroids">Small main-belt asteroids</h2>



<p>A recent study led by <a href="https://www.mit.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a> astronomers Julien de Wit and Artem Burdanov has leveraged data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>) to spot the smallest main-belt asteroids ever detected. </p>



<p>This effort, which involved researchers from the University of Liège (<a href="https://www.uliege.be/cms/c_8750816/en/uliege" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ULiège</a>) and other institutions, highlights how advanced technologies and innovative techniques can reveal hidden aspects of the solar system.</p>



<p>"The study of small bodies of the solar system is of high importance as they give us a unique view of the early phases of our system, even before the planets formed," explained Emmanuel Jehin, a planetary scientist at ULiège.</p>



<p>"Being able to observe the smallest main-belt asteroids would not only give us clues about the building blocks of planets but also provide a unique window into the source of meteorites falling on Earth."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exoplanet-data-for-main-belt-asteroids">Exoplanet data for main-belt asteroids</h2>



<p>Although De Wit and Burdanov initially focused on exoplanet studies, they subsequently adapted their expertise to search for asteroids.</p>



<p>Their team, renowned for discovering the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trappist-1-has-seven-earth-like-planets-that-may-support-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TRAPPIST-1 planetary system</a>, utilized JWST's sensitivity to infrared light to identify asteroids. Infrared wavelengths are particularly advantageous for observing main-belt asteroids, as these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-large-asteroids-will-pass-near-earth-this-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">objects</a> appear brighter in infrared than in visible light.</p>



<p>The researchers applied a technique called “shift and stack,” which was originally developed in the 1990s. This method involves aligning and stacking multiple images of the same field to highlight faint, moving objects.</p>



<p>Using state-of-the-art GPUs, the team processed over 10,000 JWST images of the TRAPPIST-1 field that were originally intended for exoplanetary studies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discoveries-in-the-main-asteroid-belt">Discoveries in the main asteroid belt</h2>



<p>This innovative approach revealed eight known asteroids and 138 previously undetected ones that ranged in diameter from 10 to several tens of meters. These tiny asteroids represent a new population of main-belt <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2024-pt5-mini-moon-say-goodbye-to-earths-second-moon-we-barely-got-to-know-you/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">objects</a>.</p>



<p>"We thought we would just detect a few new objects, but we detected so many more than expected, especially small ones," said de Wit. "It is a sign that we are probing a new population regime where many more small objects are formed through cascades of collisions."</p>



<p>The findings suggest that many of these small asteroids are fragments from larger collisions, offering critical insights into asteroid population dynamics. </p>



<p>"Statistics of these very small, main-belt asteroids are critical for modeling the asteroid population," explained Miroslav Broz from Prague's <a href="https://cuni.cz/UKEN-1.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charles University</a>. These smaller fragments, often linked by shared orbits, form asteroid families that provide clues to their origins.</p>



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



<p>The study's results on main-belt asteroids have far-reaching implications for planetary defense. By detecting small asteroids further from Earth, scientists can track their orbits better and assess potential threats.</p>



<p>Marco Micheli from the European Space Agency’s <a href="https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/Near-Earth_Object_Coordination_Centre#:~:text=ESA's%20Near%2DEarth%20Object%20Coordination,the%20Agency's%20Planetary%20Defence%20Office.&amp;text=Based%20at%20ESA's%20ESRIN%20site,data%20sources%20and%20information%20providers." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre</a> emphasized the importance of precise orbital determinations enabled by JWST’s capabilities.</p>



<p>"This is a totally new, unexplored space we are entering, thanks to modern technologies," noted Burdanov. "It’s a good example of what we can do as a field when we look at the data differently. Sometimes there’s a big payoff, and this is one of them."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-context-of-asteroid-science">Broader context of asteroid science</h2>



<p>Asteroids vary widely in size and impact potential. While <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-test-simulation-shows-earth-not-prepared-prevent-large-asteroid-strike/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">massive impactors</a>.like the one that potentially caused the extinction of the dinosaurs are rare, smaller asteroids strike Earth more frequently - sometimes with significant consequences.</p>



<p>Observing and understanding these smaller objects is vital for both scientific discovery and practical applications, such as modeling potential impact events.</p>



<p>"It is fantastic to see how archived JWST data can open new doors to a better understanding of the smallest asteroids, which play a crucial role in planetary defense," noted Thomas Müller from the <a href="https://www.mpg.de/institutes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-era-in-asteroid-research">A new era in asteroid research</h2>



<p>This study of main-belt asteroids exemplifies how interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced technology can drive unexpected discoveries.</p>



<p>By repurposing exoplanetary data, researchers have uncovered a new layer of the solar system’s complexity, and paved the way for future breakthroughs in asteroid science and planetary defense.</p>



<p>As de Wit and his colleagues continue their work, their findings showcase the power of looking at existing data through a new lens. Whether studying distant exoplanets or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-has-lost-its-mini-moon-2024-pt5-may-have-come-from-our-main-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nearby asteroids</a>, the JWST continues to prove an invaluable tool for exploring the universe.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08480-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Ella Maru</p>



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Asteroids found in the main belt are the smallest ever detected

The solar system's main asteroid belt, located between Mars and...

<p>Scientists have identified a booster gene in a poplar species that can help certain plants grow exponentially taller and produce more plant matter. </p>



<p>They found this gene after studying trees grown in different environments and noticed big differences in how quickly they sprouted up. </p>



<p>The gene, which they named <em>Booster</em>, caught their eye with its unusual origins and its direct link to stronger growth and better <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-cells-capable-of-photosynthesis-created-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">use of sunlight</a>.</p>



<p>The gene can boost tree height by about 30% in field conditions and by as much as 200% in a greenhouse setting, which signals a possible route toward healthier, more productive plants.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-plants-booster-gene">Finding plants' <em>Booster</em> gene</h2>



<p>The study was led in part by Stephen Long at the <a href="https://illinois.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Illinois</a> Urbana-Champaign and Jerry Tuskan at <a href="https://www.ornl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oak Ridge National Laboratory</a>.</p>



<p>“This discovery could be a game-changer in terms of a big stimulation of photosynthesis and plant productivity," explained Stephen Long.</p>



<p>They focused on <em>Populus trichocarpa</em>, also known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genetically-engineered-wood-poplar-cottonwood-trees-store-more-carbon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black cottonwood</a>, which grows from Baja California up into northern Canada. </p>



<p>This species is often considered a promising candidate for producing biofuels and other useful materials. </p>



<p>It was here that the researchers found <em>Booster</em>, a chimeric gene that emerged from several genetic pieces combined into one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-the-booster-gene-come-from">Where did the <em>Booster</em> gene come from?</h2>



<p><em>Booster</em> developed as a combination of three originally separate genetic sequences. </p>



<p>One came from a bacterium living in the tree’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-leaves-send-signals-to-their-roots-on-dry-days-telling-them-to-keep-digging-deeper-for-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">root zone</a>, one from an ant associated with a fungus that infects the tree, and one from the large subunit of a protein called Rubisco. </p>



<p>Rubisco plays a key role in capturing carbon dioxide during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>. When the team encouraged poplar trees to express <em>Booster</em> more strongly, the results were striking. </p>



<p>The trees showed up to 62% more Rubisco content, about a 25% increase in net leaf carbon dioxide uptake, as much as 37% taller growth in field tests, 88% more stem volume, and, under controlled greenhouse conditions, heights up to 200% taller. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/plants_boost-gene_scientists_Biruk-Feyissa_Wellington-Muchero_ORNL_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/plants_boost-gene_scientists_Biruk-Feyissa_Wellington-Muchero_ORNL_1s.webp" alt="In this photo from July 2024, ORNL’s Biruk Feyissa, left, holds a five-month-old poplar tree expressing high levels of the Booster gene, while then-colleague Wellington Muchero holds a tree of the same age with lower expression of the gene. Credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy" class="wp-image-1953077"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>In this photo from July 2024, ORNL’s Biruk Feyissa, left, holds a five-month-old poplar tree expressing high levels of the Booster gene, while then-colleague Wellington Muchero holds a tree of the same age with lower expression of the gene. Credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Testing the same gene in <em>Arabidopsis</em>, a small flowering plant, increased its biomass and improved its seed output by 50%. </p>



<p>“Conserved chimeric genes such as <em>Booster</em> are often disregarded as non-functional, evolutionary artifacts that no longer influence plant processes. But here we proved just the opposite," explained ORNL’s Biruk Feyissa.</p>



<p>"Our molecular and physiological validation confirmed that <em>Booster</em> <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-photosynthesis-could-transform-power-generation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhances photosynthesis</a> so that plants perform better under steady and fluctuating light conditions.”</p>



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



<p>Both black cottonwood and <em>Arabidopsis</em> belong to a group known as C3 plants. This group includes well-known food crops such as soybeans, rice, wheat, and oats. </p>



<p>If <em>Booster</em> works similarly in these other plants, then farmers might achieve higher production without needing more land, water, or fertilizer. </p>



<p>“Growing high-yielding, perennial bioenergy crops on marginal lands unsuitable for conventional agriculture can help us meet rising demand for liquid biofuels for hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation," noted Tuskan.</p>



<p>Scientists are now looking at putting these findings to the test in various places over longer periods. By trying <em>Booster</em> out in different environments, they can see how well it holds up and what kind of results it delivers over the long haul. </p>



<p>“The discovery opens up a new avenue of scientific thinking. We tend to think of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/revealing-the-secrets-of-photosynthesis-through-pep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a> as a difficult-to-improve process," Tuskan continued. </p>



<p>But in fact, the molecular machinery surrounding photosynthesis has continued to evolve as plants adapted to their environment.</p>



<p>In this case, the exchange of DNA with associated organisms changed a biological process in a fundamental way.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-screening-and-genetic-insights">Screening and genetic insights</h2>



<p>For years, scientists at CBI studied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/should-we-cut-down-all-the-oak-trees-a-disturbing-discovery-makes-this-question-plausible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poplar trees</a> as a steady source of plant material that does not compete directly with food crops. </p>



<p>They carried out a genome-wide association study, collecting samples from around 1,500 wild trees and examining their genetic makeup. </p>



<p>They identified over 28 million single nucleotide polymorphisms to help pinpoint genes related to growth, carbon and nitrogen content, lignin, and more efficient water use. </p>



<p>From there, they looked for genes involved in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/details-photosynthesis-water-viewed-atomic-level-cryo-microscope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthetic quenching</a>, a key process in handling changes in sunlight. </p>



<p>Scientists at CABBI tested poplar in trial gardens in Davis, California. Molecular analysis then showed that <em>Booster</em> linked to genes that influence how plants manage energy flow in changing light conditions. </p>



<p>Researchers used many state-of-the-art technology resources, benefiting from large-scale screening techniques that allowed them to measure physical traits rapidly and accurately.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-booster-and-plant-genes">What's next for <em>Booster</em> and plant genes?</h2>



<p>To sum it all up, this discovery demonstrates how close teamwork across institutions can help uncover useful genetic traits that might have gone unnoticed. </p>



<p>With ongoing support from the Department of Energy’s Biological and Environmental Research Program, these centers will explore <em>Booster</em>’s potential across a wide range of conditions and plant species. </p>



<p>There is interest in seeing if similar results appear in other crops important for the economy and energy production.</p>



<p>If efforts continue and produce steady success, <em>Booster</em> could provide a simple way to improve plant growth. </p>



<p>More productive plants that use resources efficiently would help meet increasing global food demands without straining existing farmland, and that would, quite literally, change everything.</p>



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



<p>This work comes from researchers at two Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Centers: the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (<a href="https://cbi.ornl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CBI</a>) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (<a href="https://cabbi.bio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CABBI</a>) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1534580724006671?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Developmental Cell</a></em>.</p>



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



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

Huge discovery: 'Booster' gene makes plants and trees grows 200 percent taller

Scientists have identified a booster gene in a poplar species...

<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>



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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<p>—–</p>

What caused the planet's longest ice age

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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>



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Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<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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