<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>Brazilian scientists have made a fascinating discovery about the history of maize, also known as corn. </p>



<p>They've found traces of this ancient, partially domesticated plant in Brazil, which is farther from the crop's historic point of origin in Mexico than any other similar evidence. But the story doesn’t just end here.</p>



<p>The maize specimens discovered by the scientists were found hidden away in the Peruaçu Valley of Minas Gerais state, and they offer a fresh perspective on our understanding of the plant’s history.</p>



<p>The study was led by a group of dedicated researchers from the <a href="https://www5.usp.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of São Paulo</a> (USP) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA).</p>



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



<p>According to commonly accepted theory, maize was domesticated in Mexico by early farmers. </p>



<p>When archeologists from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) conducted initial excavation work in the Peruaçu Valley back in 1994, they discovered maize cobs, straw, and seeds of partially <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/maize-plant-genetics-shape-root-health-and-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">domesticated maize</a>. They dismissed these as domesticated maize that simply hadn't grown properly, rather than imagining that it was still in the process of domestication.</p>



<p>The current research findings indicate that the crop may have been exported before being fully domesticated, and may actually have undergone the final stages of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/domesticating-plants-permanently-alters-their-microbiome/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">domestication</a> in South America - far from its Mexican origins.</p>



<p>This controversial idea was first proposed in 2018. Back then, genetic studies on living plants gave a hint that our age-old understanding of maize history might need a revision.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connecting-the-dots-with-genetic-evidence">Connecting the dots with genetic evidence</h2>



<p>The magical world of genetics brought these forgotten specimens from 1994 back into the limelight.</p>



<p>A re-examination of the old material revealed traits that tied it to the ancestral plant, Teosinte, which was native to Mexico, and was first domesticated around 9,000 years ago. This ancient plant reportedly arrived in southwestern Amazonia about 6,000 years ago.</p>



<p>The current findings have been published in the journal <em>Science Advances</em>. Study lead author Flaviane Malaquias Costa was part of the research team while she was a PhD candidate and postdoctoral researcher at Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ-USP).</p>



<p>“These samples were initially considered specimens of domesticated maize that had failed to grow sufficiently," said Malaquias Costa.</p>



<p>"However, in light of genetic evidence that the final domestication process may have occurred in South America, we analyzed the material again and found several traits shared with the ancestral plant from which maize originated in Mexico 9,000 years ago and that arrived in southwestern Amazonia 6,000 years ago."</p>



<p>Peruaçu Valley is approximately 4,400 miles (7,150 km) from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blue-agave-and-bats-face-a-sustainability-crisis-in-mexico/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mexico</a>, and the samples found there exhibit the most primitive characteristics ever discovered at such a distance from maize’s center of origin.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timeline-of-maize-arrival-in-brazil">Timeline of maize arrival in Brazil</h2>



<p>Though there were human populations in Peruaçu Valley around 10,000 to 9,000 years ago, maize seems to have arrived in the region relatively late - around 1,500 years ago.</p>



<p>Interestingly, the samples dated back to between 1,010 and 500 years ago, and displayed traits of partial domestication. This time period mostly precedes the arrival of Europeans in South America.</p>



<p>Thus, it seems that the local Indigenous communities completed the domestication of this maize species through their relentless efforts in selecting, managing, and stabilizing traits that eventually formed today’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-use-genomic-testing-to-trace-the-history-of-corn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South American maize</a> varieties.</p>



<p>Courtesy of Fábio de Oliveira Freitas, a researcher at EMBRAPA Genetic Resources and Biotechnology in Brasília, this piece of information becomes another chapter of the maize saga.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-family-ties">Identifying family ties</h2>



<p>Further insights gained from the Peruaçu Valley samples revealed their close relation to the Entrelaçado variety of maize from the Brazilian states of Rondônia and Acre.</p>



<p>According to Elizabeth Ann Veasey, a professor at ESALQ-USP, this variety originated in South America through the selection of various other maize populations.</p>



<p>She extended this point by drawing parallels between the ancient traces and extant varieties discovered during the study in several locations across Brazil and Uruguay.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-journey-from-wild-to-domesticated-maize">The journey from wild to domesticated maize</h2>



<p>The transition from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/billions-of-people-depend-on-wild-plant-and-animal-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wild plant</a>, Teosinte, to domesticated maize is marked by certain morphological traits. One such marker is the number of grain rows.</p>



<p>While Teosinte, the wild grass native to Mexico that was first domesticated around 9,000 years ago, typically has fewer than eight rows of seeds per ear (cob), modern South American maize varieties grown in lowland areas have eight to 26 rows.</p>



<p>On the other hand, the ancient samples from Peruaçu Valley showcase between four and six rows per ear.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-the-science-the-cultural-impact">Beyond the science: The cultural impact</h2>



<p>Such a monumental discovery not only reshapes our scientific understanding but also holds a significant cultural value. The Peruaçu Valley is home to some of the rarest cave art in the world that features crops.</p>



<p>Besides being depicted on the cave walls, maize was discovered in buried baskets, possibly as offerings for the dead.</p>



<p>Furthermore, there are significant geopolitical implications. If it is established that the final domestication of maize took place in Brazil, these genetic resources can no longer be considered exotic.</p>



<p>This will necessitate conservation efforts and discussions regarding property rights in international treaties.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn146" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>.</p>



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<p></p>

Maize samples found in Brazil may rewrite the crop's history

Brazilian scientists have made a fascinating discovery about the history...

<p>Animals, much like humans, accumulate knowledge and wisdom as they age. A growing body of research highlights the profound impact that older animals have on their groups and ecosystems. </p>



<p>However, human activities, especially hunting and fishing, are threatening this invaluable resource, pushing many species toward instability and decline.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals-that-defy-time">Animals that defy time</h2>



<p>Some species achieve astonishing lifespans. Bigmouth buffalo fish can live up to 127 years, Greenland sharks can reach 392 years, and certain sponges live for over 10,000 years.</p>



<p>These extended lifespans allow the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-conservation-day-2024-saving-species-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creatures</a> to gather knowledge about their environments and pass it on to younger generations.</p>



<p>In a recent paper published in&nbsp;the journal <em>Science</em>, researchers noted that Earth's old animals are in a state of decline.</p>



<p>The analysis, which was based on data from over 9,000 peer-reviewed papers, warns that the few animals reaching old age are often targeted due to their size, unique features, or reproductive potential.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-longevity-conservation-for-old-animals">Longevity conservation for old animals</h2>



<p>Eliminating the largest and most experienced animals has significant consequences for social structures and group survival. Keller Kopf, lead researcher and ecologist at <a href="https://www.cdu.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charles Darwin University</a>, advocates for "longevity conservation," which emphasizes protecting older individuals. </p>



<p>"That simplistic idea about old individuals not being important for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-animal-day-2024-building-a-legacy-of-compassion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">populations</a>, or for environments, is really not the full story," said Kopf.</p>



<p>He and his co-authors argue that old animals play vital roles in biodiversity and ecosystem health, and therefore need targeted protection policies and management strategies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-knowledge-in-animal-populations">Cultural knowledge in animal populations</h2>



<p>Older animals often act as reservoirs of cultural knowledge, maintaining stability within their groups. </p>



<p>Older female elephants, for example, possess a "social memory" that helps identify friends and foes, detect dangers like lions, and guide the group to water sources during droughts. Similarly, postmenopausal orcas excel at locating salmon for their pods.</p>



<p>The removal of older individuals destabilizes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-got-their-colors-150-million-years-before-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">populations</a>. This loss of cultural transmission explains why some fish populations fail to recover, even after fishing bans are implemented.</p>



<p>"The trouble is once culture is lost, it is very hard to regain," said Kopf.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grandmother-hypothesis-and-group-stability">Grandmother hypothesis and group stability</h2>



<p>Older mammals often contribute significantly to the survival of their offspring and subsequent generations - a phenomenon known as the "grandmother hypothesis."</p>



<p>While their reproductive output declines with age, their knowledge and assistance in raising young bolster group success. </p>



<p>For instance, deep-sea corals, which can live for thousands of years, provide critical habitats for marine life. Furthermore, older birds often ensure better care for their offspring.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fisheries-and-collapse-of-collective-memory">Fisheries and collapse of collective memory</h2>



<p>The targeting of older fish in fisheries has dire consequences for species survival. Culum Brown, a fish biologist at Macquarie University, emphasizes that older fish carry essential cultural knowledge. </p>



<p>"The key thing here is that many important behaviors, such as migration to breeding and feeding grounds, are transmitted socially in lots of species of fish," said Brown.</p>



<p>"Imagine a fish swimming around in the ocean. The chances of finding the best feeding or breeding locations by chance is virtually zero." Losing older fish disrupts these learned behaviors, leading to potential population collapse.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wisdom-and-social-learning-in-conservation">Wisdom and social learning in conservation</h2>



<p>Kopf’s research underscores the importance of "cultural transmission" in animals. This concept acknowledges that animals possess culture and that older individuals transmit critical social learning. </p>



<p>The accumulated knowledge of older individuals, such as where to locate scarce resources or find shelter, becomes irreplaceable in challenging environments.</p>



<p>More conservationists now recognize the need to preserve social learning and cultural knowledge within animal populations. </p>



<p>"A term that has definitely pretty much only been used for people in the past is ‘wisdom,’ and we’ve used that term - wise - in the title (of the study)," said Kopf. This wisdom, stored in older animals, often holds the key to a species’ survival.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tragic-loss-of-wisdom-and-experience">Tragic loss of wisdom and experience </h2>



<p>Hunting practices that target older animals exacerbate species’ vulnerabilities.</p>



<p>For instance, older elephants, which play pivotal roles in group dynamics, are systematically hunted for their large tusks and trophy value. </p>



<p>This loss impacts not just the individuals but also the social fabric of their groups.</p>



<p>Kopf’s findings on the importance of older animals offer a poignant reflection on human society. "It’s made me think a lot more about how we don’t value older people in our society," he noted. </p>



<p>This neglect of older generations results in a loss of wisdom and experience that could benefit humanity. "What is that doing for the modern world?” said Kopf.</p>



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



<p>Longevity conservation could provide a solution. This approach involves targeted policies to protect older individuals, recognizing their role in maintaining biodiversity and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-and-possibly-even-insects-have-emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystem</a> services. </p>



<p>By prioritizing these efforts, we can safeguard not just individual species but the intricate webs of knowledge and survival strategies they sustain.</p>



<p>Protecting older animals is not just about preserving the past. It is a step toward ensuring the future stability and richness of life on Earth. </p>



<p>As researchers continue to reveal the critical roles of older animals, it becomes clear that their survival is intertwined with our planet’s ecological health.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado2705" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>.</p>



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'Old and wise' animals are essential for the survival of species

Animals, much like humans, accumulate knowledge and wisdom as they...

<p>Clothing is more than just fabric and fashion -- our clothes tell stories about who we are as humans, where we've been, and how we've adapted over time. </p>



<p>But when did our human ancestors first decide that we needed to cover up and wear clothes? </p>



<p>This question has puzzled scientists for years. David Reed, associate curator of mammals at the <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Museum of Natural History</a>, has been digging into this mystery by studying an unlikely source: lice.</p>



<p>Reed's work focuses on these tiny parasites that have been our unwelcome companions for thousands of years. </p>



<p>"We wanted to find another method for pinpointing when humans might have first started wearing clothing," Reed said. </p>



<p>"Because they are so well adapted to clothing, we know that body lice or clothing lice almost certainly didn’t exist until clothing came about in humans."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lousy-clues-hidden-in-our-hair">Lousy clues hidden in our hair</h2>



<p>By examining the DNA of modern human lice, Reed and his team have calculated that we started wearing clothes about 170,000 years ago. </p>



<p>This was a significant technological leap that allowed our ancestors to migrate out of Africa into colder climates. </p>



<p>"It’s just interesting to think that humans were able to survive in Africa for hundreds of thousands of years without clothing and without body hair," Reed noted. </p>



<p>"And that it wasn’t until they had clothing that modern humans were then moving out of Africa into other parts of the world."</p>



<p>This research, funded by the National Science Foundation (<a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NSF</a>), suggests that there was a substantial period when humans roamed the African continent without the warmth of body hair or the protection of garments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lice-humans-and-the-first-clothes">Lice, humans, and the first clothes</h2>



<p>Lice are more than just a nuisance; they're evolutionary markers. Unlike many parasites, lice stick closely to their hosts over long periods. </p>



<p>This host-parasite relationship allows scientists like Reed to trace changes in human history based on changes in lice populations. </p>



<p>"We use these lice as a marker, if you will, as a marker of their host’s evolutionary history," he explained.</p>



<p>Interestingly, the study shows that we began wearing clothes around 70,000 years before venturing into colder regions -- a move that started about 100,000 years ago. </p>



<p>This gap implies that clothing wasn't just a response to colder climates but perhaps a development that had other social or practical motivations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-humans-got-cold-too">Early humans got cold, too</h2>



<p>Back in 2003, geneticist Mark Stoneking from the <a href="https://www.mpg.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute</a> estimated that clothing use began around 107,000 years ago. </p>



<p>Reed's study, however, includes new data and refined calculation methods, offering a different perspective. </p>



<p>"The new result from this lice study is an unexpectedly early date for clothing, much older than the earliest solid archaeological evidence, but it makes sense," noted Ian Gilligan, a lecturer at <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Australian National University</a>.</p>



<p>The timing of clothing's emergence seems to align with the harsh conditions of the Ice Ages. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/disastrous-climate-changes-of-the-last-ice-age-could-happen-again/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Last Ice Age</a> occurred about 120,000 years ago, but Gilligan suggests that humans started bundling up during the preceding Ice Age, around 180,000 years ago. </p>



<p>With modern humans appearing about 200,000 years ago, this period was crucial for developing technologies that would ensure our survival.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-humans-needed-clothes-to-survive">First humans needed clothes to survive</h2>



<p>Clothing wasn't the only advancement that helped our ancestors thrive. Reed pointed out that other innovations played a role. </p>



<p>"The things that may have made us much more successful in that endeavor hundreds of thousands of years later were technologies like the controlled use of fire, the ability to use clothing, new hunting strategies, and new stone tools," he said.</p>



<p>One of the challenges in studying ancient clothing is the lack of physical evidence. Early garments wouldn't have survived millennia buried in the earth. </p>



<p>Direct evidence like eyed needles only appeared about 40,000 years ago, and tools suitable for scraping animal hides date back to about 780,000 years ago. </p>



<p>Reed's lice research fills in the gaps, offering a biological clue where archaeological evidence is scarce.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lice-aren-t-often-seen-as-heroes">Lice aren't often seen as heroes</h2>



<p>Collecting lice samples from around the world, including places like homeless shelters and health clinics, was essential for the study's success. </p>



<p>These parasites provide a unique dataset that can be applied across various fields, from medicine to ecology. </p>



<p>"It gives the opportunity to study host-switching and invading new hosts, which has everything to do with diseases that do the same thing, like emerging infectious diseases that affect humans," Reed explained.</p>



<p>"From an evolutionary standpoint, it’s interesting to learn about the evolutionary histories of a mammal and its parasite that are so intertwined, so interconnected over vast, long time scales. They just generate such interesting evolutionary questions," he continued.</p>



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



<p>To sum it all up, by examining lice, Reed and his team found clues about when our early human ancestors first decided to wear clothes.</p>



<p>This was a pivotal moment in Earth history that allowed humans to migrate around the globe and adapt to new environments and extreme weather.</p>



<p>If our distant relatives hadn't figured out how to create and wear clothes roughly 170,000 years ago, chances are the species would not have survived, and we wouldn't be here today reading this article.</p>



<p>This fun but important research highlights the fact that humans have always been resourceful, even the very first ones. </p>



<p>The incremental survival steps they took during the Last Ice Age led to the complex societies we have today. Whether that's a good thing, or a bad thing, will be left open for discussion on another day.</p>



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



<p>Study co-authors were Melissa Toups, previously with UF and now at Indiana University, Andrew Kitchen, formerly with UF and presently at The Pennsylvania State University, and Jessica Light of Texas A&amp;M University. The researchers completed the five-year project with the help of Reed’s NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award, which is granted to researchers who exemplify the teacher-researcher role.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/28/1/29/984822" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molecular Biology and Evolution</a></em>.</p>



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



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

When did early humans first start wearing clothes, and why?

Clothing is more than just fabric and fashion -- our...

<p>Primordial black holes are enigmatic remnants from the universe's infancy that hold the key to unlocking some of the biggest secrets in space.</p>



<p>These small yet powerful black holes, along with elusive dark matter, remain among the most perplexing mysteries in astrophysics. Though theorized for decades, they have yet to be directly observed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primordial-black-holes-and-dark-matter">Primordial black holes and dark matter</h2>



<p>Conventionally, when we speak of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-triple-system-first-evidence-showing-gentle-black-hole-formation-v404-cygni/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole formation</a>, we visualize a massive dying star collapsing onto itself.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, the early universe's turbulent environment might have allowed many minuscule black holes to form, even before the birth of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/odd-galaxy-may-hold-clues-to-the-first-stars-of-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first stars</a>.</p>



<p>These black holes from the universe's dawn, known as primordial black holes (PBHs), might form mysterious dark matter, which makes up 85% of the total mass in the universe.</p>



<p>In a game-changing approach, new research proposes that we scale our search both up and down to uncover these elusive entities. </p>



<p>This radical proposal suggests that signs of these primeval black holes could range from the enormously vast, such as empty planetary bodies, to the fantastically small, such as microscopic passageways in everyday materials on Earth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hollow-primordial-black-holes">Hollow primordial black holes </h2>



<p>The researchers imagine a captivating scenario where a trapped primordial black hole inside a large celestial object, such as an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-impact-sparked-two-years-of-darkness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asteroid</a> or a planet, would consume its liquid core, leaving it hollow. </p>



<p>In a different scenario, a fleeting primordial black hole might leave behind straight tunnels large enough to be visible under a microscope, if it passes through a solid material, including substances present on Earth.</p>



<p>"The chances of finding these signatures are small, but searching for them would not require much resources and the potential payoff, the first evidence of a primordial black hole, would be immense," explained Dejan Stojkovic, PhD, professor of physics in the University of Buffalo<a href="https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> College of Arts and Sciences</a> and the study's co-author.</p>



<p>Taking a new approach to this cosmic detective work, the researchers emphasize that conventional methods have failed in the quest to discover primordial black holes, sparking the need for innovative thinking.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-in-the-universe">Clues in the universe</h2>



<p>The experts proceeded to estimate how large a hollow celestial body could be without caving in on itself and the likelihood of a primordial black hole passing through an Earthly object.</p>



<p>The comforting conclusion was that such an occurrence would not be fatal to humans.</p>



<p>“Because of these long odds, we have focused on solid marks that have existed for thousands, millions or even billions of years," said study co-author De-Chang Dai, PhD, of <a href="https://www.ndhu.edu.tw/?Lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Dong Hwa University</a> and <a href="https://case.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Case Western Reserve University</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trapped-primordial-black-holes">Trapped primordial black holes</h2>



<p>When the universe was an infant, dense zones in the rapidly expanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-study-claims-our-universe-is-27-billion-years-old-double-the-current-age-estimate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmos</a> could have collapsed and formed PBHs.</p>



<p>While PBHs would have much less mass than stellar black holes born from dying stars, they would still be intensely concentrated. </p>



<p>A PBH might become trapped within a planet, moon, or asteroid during or after its formation and absorb the liquid core of the object, leaving nothing but a hollow shell.</p>



<p>What happens next? The PBH might escape the object if it's hit by an asteroid. If the object survives, it could be a hollow celestial body, detectable via telescopes. </p>



<p>By studying an object's orbit, scientists can deduce its mass and density.</p>



<p>"If the object has a liquid central core, then a captured PBH can absorb the liquid core, whose density is higher than the density of the outer solid layer," said Stojkovic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-everyday-items-as-black-hole-detectors">Everyday items as black hole detectors</h2>



<p>On a smaller scale, PBHs might pass through objects without a liquid core, leaving behind a straight tunnel. Everyday items could, therefore, act as black hole detectors. </p>



<p>The odds of a PBH passing through a human are minuscule. Even if it did, one probably wouldn't notice. </p>



<p>Due to its small tension, a PBH would not tear apart human tissue. Furthermore, it moves so fast that it cannot release much of its kinetic energy during a collision.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unresolved-mysteries-of-the-cosmos">Unresolved mysteries of the cosmos</h2>



<p>Theoretical studies like these are vital as they challenge existing notions and open up new possibilities in the quest to decipher universal truths. </p>



<p>The unresolved mysteries of the cosmos, like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-dark-matter-does-not-exist-and-the-universe-is-27-billion-years-old/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a>, continue to baffle us, thereby motivating us to explore new frameworks beyond the century-old theories of quantum mechanics and general relativity.</p>



<p>"The smartest people on the planet have been working on these problems for 80 years and have not solved them yet," stated Stojkovic. </p>



<p>"We don’t need a straightforward extension of the existing models. We probably need a completely new framework altogether," he added.</p>



<p> In the grand scheme of things, we've only just scratched the surface of the universe’s mysteries.</p>



<p>These potentially hollow celestial bodies and microscopic tunnels in everyday objects could be the breadcrumbs leading us to the holy grail of astrophysical discovery - primordial black holes.</p>



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



<p>The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and National Science and Technology Council (Taiwan).</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2212686424002449" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics of the Dark Universe</a></em>.</p>



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



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Tiny black holes from the early universe are zipping through our bodies

Primordial black holes are enigmatic remnants from the universe's infancy...

<p>Scientists have made a fascinating discovery that rewrites our understanding of early American survival. For the first time, direct evidence shows that ancient Americans, specifically the Clovis people, relied heavily on mammoths and other large animals for food.</p>



<p>This new information about the diet of these early people not only indicates how they expanded across the Americas but also sheds light on the extinction of large, Ice Age animals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-were-the-clovis-people">Who were the Clovis people?</h2>



<p>The Clovis people arrived in North America around 13,000 years ago, likely via the Bering Land Bridge. </p>



<p>Known for their unique, fluted projectile points, they weren’t just hunters but also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-used-interesting-technique-hunt-big-animals-clovis-points/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expert toolmakers</a> who used scrapers and blades for diverse survival needs.</p>



<p>Once considered the first inhabitants of the Americas, the Clovis people have now been relegated to a different status as older, pre-Clovis sites have been discovered. </p>



<p>The decline of the Clovis culture, which is also linked to megafaunal extinctions, suggests that environmental changes and overhunting were involved.</p>



<p>However, their influence persisted and impacted later cultures, with their tools and strategies becoming foundational for subsequent Paleo-Indian populations in North America.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet-of-ancient-americans">Diet of ancient Americans</h2>



<p>The study, recently featured in the journal <em>Science Advances</em>, used stable isotope analysis to understand the diet of a Clovis mother from a 13,000-year-old burial site in Montana. </p>



<p>Before this, researchers inferred <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/homo-juluensis-new-human-species-vanished-just-fifty-thousand-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prehistoric</a> diets by studying tools or animal remains. </p>



<p>Now, for the first time, scientists have been able to analyze the food consumed by the Clovis people directly, thus offering a more complete picture of their lives.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/mammoth-hunt_ancient-humans_clovis-site_credit-Eric-Carlson_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/mammoth-hunt_ancient-humans_clovis-site_credit-Eric-Carlson_1s.webp" alt="An artist’s reconstruction of Clovis life 13,000 years ago shows the Anzick-1 infant with his mother consuming mammoth meat near a hearth. Another individual crafts tools, including dart projectile points and atlatls. A mammoth butchery area is visible nearby. The scene is inspired by the La Prele mammoth site in Wyoming and set against the Montana landscape where the Anzick burial was discovered. Credit: Eric Carlson" class="wp-image-1952744"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>An artist’s reconstruction of Clovis life 13,000 years ago shows the Anzick-1 infant with his mother consuming mammoth meat near a hearth. Another individual crafts tools, including dart projectile points and atlatls. A mammoth butchery area is visible nearby. The scene is inspired by the La Prele mammoth site in Wyoming and set against the Montana landscape where the Anzick burial was discovered. Credit: Eric Carlson</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>The findings strongly suggest that the Clovis people specialized in hunting large mammals instead of focusing on smaller animals or plants. </p>



<p>These ancient humans lived in North America when mammoths roamed across both northern Asia and the Americas. </p>



<p>Mammoths, being abundant and migratory, provided a stable source of fat and protein for the humans.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-mammoths-in-clovis-expansion">Role of mammoths in Clovis expansion</h2>



<p>"The focus on mammoths helps explain how Clovis people could spread throughout North America and into South America in just a few hundred years," explained co-lead author James Chatters from <a href="https://www.mcmaster.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McMaster University</a>.</p>



<p>This reliance on mammoths allowed the ancient Americans to expand rapidly, as they did not need to depend on local, unpredictable food sources.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clovis-technology-and-mammoths">Clovis technology and mammoths</h2>



<p>The study also revealed an interesting link between Clovis technology and their diet.</p>



<p>"What's striking to me is that this confirms a lot of data from other sites. For example, the animal parts left at Clovis sites are dominated by megafauna, and the projectile points are large, affixed to darts, which were efficient distance weapons," said Ben Potter, co-lead author and archaeology professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (<a href="https://www.uaf.edu/uaf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UAF</a>).</p>



<p>This hunting technology was critical to the Clovis <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-did-early-humans-first-start-wearing-clothes-and-why-parasites-lice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lifestyle</a>, enabling them to target massive, dangerous animals like mammoths from a safe distance. </p>



<p>"Hunting mammoths provided a flexible way of life. It allowed the Clovis people to move into new areas without having to rely on smaller, localized game, which could vary significantly from one region to the next," Potter noted.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mammoth-diet-of-ancient-americans">Mammoth diet of ancient Americans </h2>



<p>The research team was able to estimate the Clovis diet by analyzing isotopic data from earlier studies of Anzick-1, an 18-month-old Clovis child. Adjustments for nursing helped researchers model the mother’s diet. </p>



<p>"Isotopes provide a chemical fingerprint of a consumer's diet and can be compared with those from potential diet items to estimate the proportional contribution of different diet items," explained Mat Wooller, the director of the Alaska Stable Isotope facility at UAF.</p>



<p>The isotopic fingerprint revealed that mammoths made up around 40% of the diet of the Clovis mother, while other large animals, like elk and bison, made up the rest. </p>



<p>Surprisingly, small mammals contributed very little to her diet. When researchers compared her diet with that of other carnivores from the same era, including American lions and wolves, they found it most closely resembled that of the scimitar cat (<em>Homotherium serum</em>), a specialist mammoth predator.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-ice-age-extinctions">Implications for Ice Age extinctions</h2>



<p>These findings also have implications for understanding the extinction of large animals from the Ice Age. Environmental changes reduced habitats for megafauna, which may have increased their vulnerability to human hunters.</p>



<p>"If the climate is changing in a way that reduces the suitable habitat for some of these megafauna, then it makes them potentially more susceptible to human predation. These people were very effective hunters," noted Potter.</p>



<p>"You had the combination of a highly sophisticated hunting culture - with skills honed over 10,000 years in Eurasia - meeting naïve populations of megafauna under environmental stress," said Chatters.</p>



<p>This mix of experienced hunters and vulnerable prey may have accelerated the extinction of animals like the mammoth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaboration-with-indigenous-communities">Collaboration with Indigenous communities</h2>



<p>Another important aspect of this research on ancient Americans' reliance on mammoths is its emphasis on ethical collaboration with Indigenous communities. </p>



<p>Potter and Chatters actively engaged with Native Americans in Montana and Wyoming to address their concerns and interests.</p>



<p>"It is important and ethical to consult with Indigenous peoples on questions relating to their heritage,” said the researchers.</p>



<p>The team worked closely with Shane Doyle, executive director of Yellowstone Peoples, who consulted tribal representatives throughout Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. </p>



<p>"The response has been one of appreciative consideration and inclusion," noted Doyle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptability-and-hunting-skills-of-early-americans">Adaptability and hunting skills of early Americans</h2>



<p>"I congratulate the team for their astounding discovery about the lifeways of Clovis-era Native people and thank them for being tribally inclusive and respectful throughout their research," said Doyle. </p>



<p>"This study reshapes our understanding of how Indigenous people across America thrived by hunting one of the most dangerous and dominant animals of the day, the mammoth."</p>



<p>This study not only highlights the incredible adaptability and hunting skills of the Clovis people but also stresses the importance of consulting with Indigenous communities in research involving their ancestors. </p>



<p>It enriches our understanding of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tool-flint-discovery-challenges-theory-of-human-cultural-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early humans</a> shaped the environment and their role in the extinction of some of the most iconic creatures of the Ice Age.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr3814" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.</em></p>



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



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Mammoths fed and clothed early Americans, resulting in their extinction

Scientists have made a fascinating discovery that rewrites our understanding...

<p>Next time you spot a Norway rat scurrying around in Central Europe, remember, it's not technically a local. Non-native species, often introduced by humans, are causing a significant decline in indigenous species, globally.</p>



<p>They have been implicated in a colossal 60 percent of worldwide species extinctions in recent years. A new study shows that some non-native species are now endangered in their homeland, and would benefit from conservation measures to protect them.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effect-of-globalization-on-species-distribution">Effect of globalization on species distribution</h2>



<p>This intriguing find comes from a collaboration of biologists from the University of Vienna and La Sapienza University in Rome. </p>



<p>The study, published in the journal <em>Conservation Letters</em>, examines the paradoxical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-conservation-day-2024-saving-species-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation</a> predicaments posed by non-native species.</p>



<p>Our increasingly interconnected world has caused many animal and plant species to migrate to new areas. These invasive species can endanger local species by introducing competition or new diseases. Interestingly, though, some of these invasive species are facing extinction in their native homes. </p>



<p>This presents a compelling paradox, and prompts questions about whether we should protect or control non-native populations of endangered species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extent-of-the-paradox">Extent of the paradox</h2>



<p>The recent study explores how widespread this conservation paradox is among non-native mammal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-we-failing-the-worlds-most-threatened-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>. Worldwide, humans have introduced 230 mammal species to new regions.</p>



<p>"We were very surprised by this high number, as we assumed that invasive species are also common in their area of origin," noted study lead author Lisa Tedeschi from <a href="https://www.uniroma1.it/en/pagina-strutturale/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Sapienza University</a> and the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-saviors-foreign-territories">Unexpected saviors: Foreign territories</h2>



<p>The study details interesting instances where invasive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-extinctions-shatter-the-harmonious-balance-of-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> have flourished outside their native lands. </p>



<p>For example, the crested macaque and wild rabbit both face severe declines in their original habitats whereas, in new territories, their numbers have remained stable or even increased. This finding implies that invasive populations could potentially rescue these endangered species from extinction in their homelands.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-globalization-in-nature-conservation">Role of globalization in nature conservation</h2>



<p>The study raises valid questions about the current methods for assessing global extinction risks. Often, non-native populations are not considered in these assessments. </p>



<p>However, the researchers argue that including these populations could improve the threat assessment for some species. </p>



<p>Franz Essl, a biodiversity researcher from the University of Vienna, states that this could decrease the global extinction risk for 22 percent of the analyzed species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protection-efforts-for-non-native-species">Protection efforts for non-native species</h2>



<p>While recognizing the value of non-native populations in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-know-far-less-about-four-footed-animals-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> conservation, the study also warns of potential downsides. Diverting attention towards such populations could reduce protection efforts for native ranges which may be more threatened. </p>



<p>Plus, these species could negatively impact the local flora and fauna of their new range. Franz Essl concludes that the future may see more species threatened in their native ranges but thriving in new areas.</p>



<p>Thus, the tricky task of striking a balance between the benefits and risks of non-native populations needs to be addressed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-non-native-species-are-not-always-invasive">Non-native species are not always invasive </h2>



<p>Non-native species are not always considered invasive. In some cases, they integrate into ecosystems without causing significant harm. </p>



<p>For example, certain plants and animals introduced centuries ago have become naturalized, contributing to biodiversity and even serving as critical resources for local wildlife. The distinction between invasive and non-invasive alien species is vital for targeted conservation efforts.</p>



<p>Additionally, non-native species are often unintentionally introduced through human activities such as trade, tourism, and transportation. </p>



<p>For instance, the zebra mussel, native to Eastern Europe, spread across North America by hitching rides on ships. Once such species are established, controlling them can be costly and challenging, often requiring coordinated international efforts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-types-of-non-native-species">Different types of non-native species</h2>



<p>While many discussions focus on mammals, non-native species include a wide range of organisms such as birds, insects, and plants.</p>



<p>Non-native plants like kudzu in the United States can outcompete native flora, while insect species, such as the emerald ash borer, have devastated tree populations in North America. These examples highlight the need for comprehensive management strategies across multiple species and ecosystems.</p>



<p>Climate change further complicates the issue, as shifting temperatures and habitats can make regions more hospitable to different types of non-native species.</p>



<p>This can exacerbate their spread, introducing new risks to ecosystems that are already under stress. Understanding the interplay between climate change and non-native species is critical for future conservation policies.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/conl.13069" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conservation Letters</a>.</em></p>



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



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How non-native species are saving themselves from extinction

Next time you spot a Norway rat scurrying around in...

<p>In ancient Rome, fisherman gladiators wielded nets and tridents to survive against heavily armed opponents. Today, a similar tactic is used by much smaller and more fascinating predators - slingshot spiders (<em>Theridiosoma gemmosum</em>).</p>



<p>These arachnids, also known as ray spiders, have evolved a unique hunting technique: instead of waiting for prey to fly into their web, they use it like a catapult to ensnare unsuspecting prey. </p>



<p>But how do these spiders decide when to release their ballistic nets? Recent research suggests they might actually be listening for their next meal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slingshot-spider-arsenal">Slingshot spider arsenal</h2>



<p>Slingshot <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/save-a-spider-day-protecting-our-connection-with-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a> create a flat web and then pull back the center and anchor it with a taught thread. This creates a cone-shaped web that can spring forwards when released.</p>



<p>Perched at the back tip of the cone, they wait for the right moment to release the thread and launch it forward to entangle their prey. Their remarkable strategy inspired researchers to investigate further, which revealed surprising details about how these spiders hunt.</p>



<p>"Slingshot spiders are really tiny, so they can be quite hard to find," said Sarah Han, from the <a href="https://www.uakron.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Akron</a>, USA.</p>



<p>Han spent hours searching riverbanks for the distinctive cone-shaped webs, nestled in crevices and on rocks. "It does take some time to develop the eye for them," she noted.</p>



<p>Once Han relocated the spiders to a laboratory, she provided twigs for web construction and collected mosquitoes to test their hunting behavior. By attaching mosquitoes to strips of black paper and filming the spiders' interactions with them, the team gained valuable insights.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-listening-for-dinner">Listening for dinner</h2>



<p>The experiments showed that slingshot spiders launch their webs even before their prey make physical contact with the structure. Using high-speed cameras, Han observed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/holy-grail-artificial-spider-silk-indistinguishable-from-natural-silk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a> released their webs when flapping mosquitoes were nearby, despite there being no direct contact.</p>



<p>To probe further, Han introduced a tuning fork that replicated the frequency of mosquito wingbeats. The spiders still launched their webs, confirming that they were using sound as a means of detection when prey approached.</p>



<p>Han and her colleague Todd Blackledge suspect that sound-sensitive hairs on the spiders’ legs enable this extraordinary ability. By perceiving vibrations both in the web and the surrounding air, the spiders can determine when prey is within range.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-precision-and-speed">Precision and speed</h2>



<p>Once the spiders release their webs, the action is astonishingly fast. Han meticulously tracked web trajectories and calculated their acceleration at an incredible 50G (504 m/s²).</p>



<p>The webs reach speeds of nearly 1 m/s, and capture prey within 38 milliseconds. This lightning-quick reaction leaves little chance for the insects to escape.</p>



<p>Moreover, the spiders showed a remarkable preference for targeting prey in front of their webs. They were successful in 76 percent of attempts when the insect was in front of the web, compared with only  29 percent when the prey was behind the web.</p>



<p>This precision suggests slingshot spiders might compare sound vibrations traveling through their webs to those reaching their legs via air. This mechanism helps them avoid misfires and ensures their hunting efforts are efficient.</p>



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



<p>Understanding the slingshot spider’s hunting strategy not only showcases nature’s ingenuity but also opens avenues for biomimetic applications. </p>



<p>Could these precision-based mechanisms inspire new technologies in robotics or materials science? Time will tell, but for now, the slingshot spider remains a testament to evolution’s creativity and efficiency.</p>



<p>This research, published in the&nbsp;<em>Journal of Experimental Biology</em>, adds yet another chapter to the fascinating world of arachnid behavior. By listening for their prey, slingshot spiders are able to capture prey that are significantly larger than themselves. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proactive-behavior-of-slingshot-spiders">Proactive behavior of slingshot spiders</h2>



<p>Slingshot spiders belong to the family&nbsp;<em>Theridiosomatidae</em>, a group of orb-weaving spiders known for their unique web structures and hunting methods. </p>



<p>These spiders are primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions, preferring humid environments near water bodies where flying insects are abundant. </p>



<p>Despite their small size, slingshot spiders demonstrate remarkable engineering skills by creating highly elastic webs capable of storing immense potential energy.</p>



<p>Unlike many other spider species, slingshot spiders’ webs are not passive traps. These webs require constant maintenance to ensure optimal elasticity and effectiveness.</p>



<p>The spiders frequently rebuild and adjust their webs, particularly after a successful hunt. This proactive behavior underscores their reliance on precision and efficiency in capturing prey.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nocturnal-activity-of-slingshot-spiders">Nocturnal activity of slingshot spiders</h2>



<p>Interestingly, slingshot spiders exhibit a degree of nocturnal activity, relying on low light conditions to hunt more effectively. </p>



<p>This behavior helps them avoid predators and increases the likelihood of encountering prey, which is often more active during the evening and night hours. Their ability to blend into their surroundings further aids their survival, as their small size and muted coloration make them difficult to spot.</p>



<p>The advanced sensory abilities of these small spiders also extend beyond hearing. Some studies suggest that they may detect changes in air pressure or subtle environmental cues, which allows them to anticipate prey movements.</p>



<p>The combination of sensory and mechanical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spider-man-web-slinging-technology-has-become-a-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptations</a> places slingshot spiders among the most specialized hunters in the arachnid world.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <em><a href="https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/227/23/jeb249237/363202/Directional-web-strikes-are-performed-by-ray" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Biology</a></em>. </p>



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



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<p>----</p>

Slingshot spiders listen for the right moment to launch their webs

In ancient Rome, fisherman gladiators wielded nets and tridents to...

<p>Ultra-processed&nbsp;food&nbsp;products&nbsp;are convenient to eat, and&nbsp;there is no denying that the combination of sugar, salt, and fat is extremely enticing.</p>



<p>These food items,&nbsp;from ready-to-eat meals to packaged snacks and soft drinks,&nbsp;not only appeal to our palates but also&nbsp;affect&nbsp;our brain's reward system, thus leading us to crave&nbsp;more.</p>



<p>Yet&nbsp;have we ever stopped&nbsp;to think about what this convenience costs us in terms of nutrition?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ultra-processed-foods-and-muscular-health">Ultra-processed foods and muscular health</h2>



<p>A fresh perspective has emerged from recent research that casts a shadow over the consumption of ultra-processed foods.</p>



<p>The study revealed that people who consume a diet with high levels of such foods tend to store more fat inside their thigh muscles. This occurs regardless of our calorie intake or physical activity.</p>



<p>What&nbsp;makes this study unique is its approach in&nbsp;analyzing the role of ultra-processed foods in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/molecule-in-coffee-trigonelline-keeps-muscles-young/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">muscle health</a>.</p>



<p>But why focus on thigh muscles? This choice isn't random. Higher amounts of intramuscular fat in the thigh could escalate the risk for knee osteoarthritis, which is a prevalent and costly global health issue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quality-of-diet-quality-of-life">Quality of diet, quality of life</h2>



<p>The researchers, from the <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, San Francisco</a>, set out to assess the potential correlation between ultra-processed food intake and intramuscular fat in the thigh.</p>



<p>"This is the first imaging study looking into the relationship between MRI-based skeletal muscle quality and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-diet-quality-in-adolescence-linked-to-lifelong-health-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quality of diet</a>," said Dr. Zehra Akkaya, a researcher in the UCSF Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging.</p>



<p>The&nbsp;results&nbsp;were&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;data&nbsp;from&nbsp;more than 600&nbsp;participants who had not developed osteoarthritis and were part of the Osteoarthritis Initiative. The participants had an average age of 60, and an average BMI of 27, which is generally considered obese.</p>



<p>The&nbsp;disturbing&nbsp;news,&nbsp;however,&nbsp;was&nbsp;that nearly&nbsp;40% of&nbsp;the food they had eaten within the past year was ultra-processed.</p>



<p>The researchers concluded that the more ultra-processed foods participants consumed, the more intramuscular fat they had in their thigh muscles, irrespective of their overall energy (caloric) intake or level of physical activity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-onset-of-knee-osteoarthritis">The onset of knee osteoarthritis </h2>



<p>Furthermore, an intriguing correlation was observed - the fat in thigh muscles might be linked to the onset and progression of osteoarthritis in the knees.</p>



<p>"Research from our group and others has previously shown that quantitative and functional decline in thigh muscles is potentially associated with onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis," said Dr. Akkaya. </p>



<p>"On MRI images, this decline can be seen as fatty degeneration of the muscle, where streaks of fat replace muscle fibers."</p>



<p>With the muscle fibers in the thighs being replaced by fatty tissue, muscular weakening and degeneration may precede the onset of osteoarthritis. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-smarter-choices-for-better-health">Making smarter choices for better health</h2>



<p>Until now, the approach to fighting osteoarthritis has focused on modifiable lifestyle factors such as sufficient exercise, a healthy diet, and obesity prevention.</p>



<p>But this study indicates that the consumption of ultra-processed foods may also be a modifiable factor in the prevention of this health condition.</p>



<p>"Since this condition is highly linked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-the-epidemic-crisis-of-our-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a> and unhealthy lifestyle choices, there are potential avenues for lifestyle modification and disease management," noted Dr. Akkaya.</p>



<p>Understanding the relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and muscle composition can help us make better dietary choices, ultimately leading to enhanced musculoskeletal health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visceral-fat-and-chronic-diseases">Visceral fat and chronic diseases </h2>



<p>The effects of consuming ultra-processed foods extend far beyond thigh muscles and the link to osteoarthritis.</p>



<p>A growing collection of evidence shows that these foods contribute significantly to the  development of visceral fat - the fat stored around internal organs. Visceral fat is very closely linked with the prevalence of chronic diseases such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweetener-erythritol-sugar-substitute-linked-to-blood-clots-heart-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart disease</a>, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.</p>



<p>Subcutaneous fat, by contrast, is metabolically inactive and cannot induce an inflammatory response that increases systemic disease.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addictive-nature-of-ultra-processed-foods">Addictive nature of ultra-processed foods</h2>



<p>Another issue is that ultra-processed foods affect the brain's reward system, making us resistant to reducing the consumption of these foods.</p>



<p>The addictive&nbsp;nature&nbsp;of the high sugar, salt, and fat content rewires&nbsp;our brains to crave more of these substances, leading&nbsp;to overindulgence and a vicious cycle of poor dietary choices.</p>



<p>The&nbsp;researchers stress that&nbsp;the reduction&nbsp;of these foods in our diet could help in improving muscle composition, as well as overall metabolic and cardiovascular health.</p>



<p>This broader perspective reinforces the&nbsp;need&nbsp;to&nbsp;lower&nbsp;dependence&nbsp;on ultra-processed foods and&nbsp;move&nbsp;toward nutrient-dense, whole foods that&nbsp;align with both musculoskeletal and systemic health.</p>



<p>The study was described in a <a href="https://press.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/14_pr_target.cfm?ID=2536">press release</a> by the Radiological Society of North America.</p>



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Eating ultra-processed foods makes your muscles weaker and more fragile

Ultra-processed&nbsp;food&nbsp;products&nbsp;are convenient to eat, and&nbsp;there is no denying that the...

<p>Desert ants, particularly the species <em>Cataglyphis nodus</em>, have amazed scientists with their navigational skills using magnetic field.</p>



<p>Researchers, led by Dr. Pauline Fleischmann from the University of Oldenburg, Germany, have unveiled a fascinating discovery about these ants.</p>



<p>Unlike other insects, they rely on a unique component of Earth's magnetic field for  orientation. This finding suggests that desert ants possess a distinct mechanism for magnetoreception that potentially involves tiny particles of magnetite or other magnetic minerals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magnetoreception-in-animals">Magnetoreception in animals</h2>



<p>Magnetoreception - the ability to detect the Earth's magnetic field - remains a topic of intense scientific debate.</p>



<p>One theory centers on the radical-pair mechanism, a light-dependent quantum effect that allows an organism to detect subtle changes in the direction of the magnetic field.</p>



<p>Evidence from the Collaborative Research Centre's Magnetoreception and Navigation in Vertebrates project supports the radical-pair mechanism in small songbirds and possibly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-queens-turn-to-cannibalism-recycle-bodies-for-colony-disease-control/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insects</a>, such as monarch butterflies.</p>



<p>Another theory involves tiny magnetic particles, within sensory or nerve cells, that act like compass needles.</p>



<p>Animals such as pigeons, bats, and sea turtles are thought to use this particle-based system. Both mechanisms appear to coexist in nature, demonstrating the complexity of magnetoreception across species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-desert-ants-have-magnetic-sensitivity">Desert ants have magnetic sensitivity</h2>



<p>To identify which mechanism desert <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-use-chemical-trails-to-guide-their-friends-to-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ants</a> use, scientists from the <a href="https://uol.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oldenburg</a> conducted behavioral experiments.</p>



<p>They hypothesized that animals using a particle-based system would respond to the north-south polarity of the geomagnetic field, while those using the radical-pair mechanism detect the field’s inclination.</p>



<p>Dr. Fleischmann, along with Dr. Robin Grob, Johanna Wegmann, and Dr. Wolfgang Rössler, explored the magnetic sense displayed by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/desert-ants-use-earths-magnetic-field-for-navigation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">desert ants</a>.</p>



<p>The experts focused on whether the ants detect the geomagnetic field’s inclination or polarity. This research builds on Fleischmann’s 2018 doctoral discovery that desert ants have a magnetic sensitivity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-manipulating-magnetic-fields">Manipulating magnetic fields</h2>



<p>The team conducted experiments on a Greek ant colony, using Helmholtz coils to create artificial magnetic fields. </p>



<p>Ants emerging from a nest were guided through a tunnel to an experimental platform, where their "learning walks" were filmed. These walks are crucial as ants memorize the nest entrance direction, using the magnetic field to enhance their visual memory.</p>



<p>“We suspect the ants use the magnetic field to train their visual memory,” Fleischmann explained. A recent study in&nbsp;<em>PNAS</em> on ant brain development supports this hypothesis.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-desert-ants-rely-on-polarity">Desert ants rely on polarity </h2>



<p>In their experiments, the researchers altered the magnetic field’s inclination without affecting the behavior of the ants.</p>



<p>The ants continued to look towards their nest entrance. However, when the field’s polarity was reversed by 180 degrees, the ants misjudged the nest’s location entirely. This indicates that desert ants rely on polarity, not inclination, for navigation.</p>



<p>"This type of compass is particularly useful for navigation over comparatively short distances," said Fleischmann. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eastern-monarch-butterfly-populations-have-plummeted-by-59-percent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch butterflies</a> and songbirds, by contrast, use magnetic inclination as a navigational aid on their long-distance migrations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-navigational-skills-of-desert-ants">Navigational skills of desert ants </h2>



<p>Desert ants thrive in harsh environments like the North African Sahara’s salt pans or Greek pine forests, where landmarks are scarce. </p>



<p>Despite traveling hundreds of meters in search of food, they return to their nest entrance with remarkable precision. Their zig-zag outbound patterns transform into straight-line paths on their return.</p>



<p>This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary diversity of magnetoreception. Ants, bees, and wasps, all members of the Hymenoptera order, exhibit unique sensory adaptations. </p>



<p>"The fact that desert ants use a different mechanism for magnetoreception than other insects opens up new avenues for studying the evolution of sensory perception in the animal kingdom," noted Fleischmann.</p>



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



<p>Understanding the magnetic sense of desert ants not only deepens our knowledge of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-destabilizing-ant-plant-relationships/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insect</a> navigation but also highlights the intricate evolution of sensory systems.</p>



<p>This research paves the way for further investigation into how diverse species adapt to their environments using the Earth's magnetic field as a guide.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-on-desert-ants">More on desert ants</h2>



<p>Desert ants are not just remarkable for their magnetic sense; they are also masters of adaptation. They thrive in some of the world’s most extreme environments, enduring temperatures that can exceed 50°C (122°F). </p>



<p>These ants have specialized heat-shock proteins that allow them to survive such intense heat. Additionally, their silvery body hairs reflect sunlight, which helps them maintain lower body temperatures.</p>



<p>Another fascinating aspect of desert ants is their reliance on path integration for navigation. They use a combination of step counting and celestial cues, such as the position of the sun, to calculate their precise location. </p>



<p>This allows them to find their way back to their nest even when their outward journey involves complex, winding routes.</p>



<p>Desert ants also exhibit impressive teamwork. They collaborate to transport large food items back to the nest and adapt their strategies based on environmental challenges. These survival traits make them an excellent model for studying behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)01519-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a></em>.</p>



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



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Desert ants have a unique way of using Earth's magnetic field for navigation

Desert ants, particularly the species Cataglyphis nodus, have amazed scientists...

<p>Rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and ocean heatwaves -- 2023 brought alarming new climate warming records in just about every measurable category.</p>



<p>One of the most concerning was the rise in global mean temperature, reaching almost <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1.5 degrees</a> Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.</p>



<p>Scientists have been working to determine what triggered this sudden surge in global warming. </p>



<p>They considered anthropogenic influences like greenhouse gases, the El Niño effect, and natural events like volcanic eruptions.</p>



<p>Yet, these factors leave an unexplained warming gap of 0.2 degrees Celsius.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-theory-changes-in-cloud-cover">New theory: Changes in cloud cover</h2>



<p>A research team from the Alfred Wegener Institute (<a href="https://www.awi.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AWI</a>) proposes that changes in Earth's cloud cover may explain this warming gap. </p>



<p>"In addition to the influence of El Niño and the expected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unprecedented-heat-is-popping-up-in-hotspots-across-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">long-term warming</a> from anthropogenic greenhouse gases, several other factors have already been discussed that could have contributed to the surprisingly high global mean temperatures since 2023," said Dr. Helge Goessling, lead author from AWI. </p>



<p>Dr. Goessling mentioned factors like increased solar activity, excess water vapor from volcanic eruptions, and fewer atmospheric aerosol particles. </p>



<p>But adding these elements still leaves 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) unexplained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-0-2-degree-gap-mystery">The 0.2-degree gap mystery</h2>



<p>"The "0.2-degree-Celsius 'explanation gap' for 2023 is currently one of the most intensely discussed questions in climate research," noted Dr. Goessling.</p>



<p>To investigate further, climate modelers from AWI and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (<a href="https://www.ecmwf.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ECMWF</a>) analyzed satellite data from NASA. </p>



<p>They also used the ECMWF's reanalysis data, which combines observational data with weather models. The data revealed an alarming trend - 2023 recorded the lowest planetary albedo since at least 1940.</p>



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



<p>Planetary albedo is all about how much sunlight a planet reflects back into space. Think of it as the planet's "shine factor." </p>



<p>Earth, for example, reflects about 30% of the sunlight that hits it, which means its albedo is 0.3 (on a scale from 0 to 1). Different surfaces on a planet contribute to this reflection. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-underestimate-sea-ice-melt-and-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bright areas like ice caps</a> and clouds bounce a lot of light back, while darker areas like oceans and forests absorb more sunlight. </p>



<p>The balance of reflected and absorbed sunlight plays a huge role in shaping a planet's climate and energy budget.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/earth-albedo_cloud-impact_illustration_credit-Yves-Nowak_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/earth-albedo_cloud-impact_illustration_credit-Yves-Nowak_1s.webp" alt="Considering the globe as a whole, high clouds and cloud-free scenes result in warming of the Earth's atmosphere, as less energy escapes into space than arrives from the sun. For low clouds, it's the opposite, so their decline leads to warming. Credit: Alfred-Wegener-Institut / Yves Nowak" class="wp-image-1952676"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Considering the globe as a whole, high clouds and cloud-free scenes result in warming of the Earth's atmosphere, as less energy escapes into space than arrives from the sun. For low clouds, it's the opposite, so their decline leads to warming. Credit: Alfred-Wegener-Institut / Yves Nowak</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>On Earth, changes in albedo can have a big impact. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-planting-trees-in-the-arctic-is-not-a-good-climate-solution/">When</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-planting-trees-in-the-arctic-is-not-a-good-climate-solution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-planting-trees-in-the-arctic-is-not-a-good-climate-solution/">ice melts</a> due to warming, it exposes darker water or land underneath, which absorbs more sunlight and speeds up the warming process -- a feedback loop known as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-tree-planting-warm-earth-science-behind-albedo-effect/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">albedo effect</a>. </p>



<p>"What caught our eye was that, in both the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> and ECMWF datasets, 2023 stood out as the year with the lowest planetary albedo," said study co-author Dr. Thomas Rackow from ECMWF.</p>



<p>Lower albedo means less sunlight reflected, contributing to increased <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2024-shatters-heat-records-earths-hottest-year-is-here/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global temperatures</a>. But what caused this drop in albedo?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-low-altitude-clouds-and-warming-surge">Low-altitude clouds and  warming surge</h2>



<p>The answer lies in declining low-altitude clouds, particularly in the northern mid-latitudes and tropics. This trend was most pronounced over the Atlantic, which coincidentally saw unusual heat records in 2023. </p>



<p>"It’s conspicuous that the eastern North Atlantic, which is one of the main drivers of the latest jump in global mean temperature, was characterized by a substantial decline in low-altitude clouds," said Dr. Goessling.</p>



<p>The decline in low cloud cover means a reduction in Earth’s albedo, intensifying global warming.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-clouds-in-climate-regulation">Role of clouds in climate regulation</h2>



<p>Clouds play a critical role in moderating Earth's temperature. They reflect sunlight, providing a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-cool-the-climate-more-than-previously-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cooling effect</a>. </p>



<p>Low clouds are especially important since they lack the greenhouse effect seen in higher clouds, which trap heat. </p>



<p>As lower cloud cover declines, the cooling effect diminishes, contributing to warmer temperatures. "If there are fewer low clouds, we only lose the cooling effect, making things warmer," Goessling explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-contributing-to-fewer-low-clouds">Factors contributing to fewer low clouds</h2>



<p>But what’s causing fewer low-altitude clouds? A combination of factors could be at play. </p>



<p>Stricter marine fuel regulations have reduced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aerosol-formation-earths-lower-atmosphere-soas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheric aerosols</a> -- tiny particles that serve as condensation nuclei for cloud formation. </p>



<p>Aerosols also reflect sunlight, and fewer aerosols mean less cloud formation and less sunlight being reflected.</p>



<p>Natural climate fluctuations and ocean feedbacks might also contribute, but Goessling believes these aren't the whole story. "Global warming itself may be reducing low cloud cover," he said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warming-surge-and-cloud-loss">Warming surge and cloud loss</h2>



<p>This feedback loop between warming and cloud loss could indicate a worrying trend. </p>



<p>"If a large part of the decline in albedo is indeed due to feedbacks between global warming and low clouds, as some climate models indicate, we should expect rather intense warming in the future," noted Dr. Goessling.</p>



<p>This means we might cross the critical 1.5-degree threshold of global warming sooner than anticipated. </p>



<p>If that happens, the remaining carbon budgets under the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paris Agreement</a> would shrink, making adaptation measures even more urgent.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cloud-cover-and-global-warming">Cloud cover and global warming</h2>



<p>The study sheds light on why temperatures surged so suddenly and highlights the importance of Earth's cloud cover in regulating climate. </p>



<p>Reduced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cloud-engineering-can-temporarily-cool-our-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cloud cover</a>, particularly at low altitudes, lessens Earth's ability to reflect solar radiation, adding to the warming already driven by greenhouse gases. </p>



<p>With climate models pointing to this feedback as a significant factor, urgent action becomes even more vital to manage future warming and minimize extreme weather events.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq7280" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>.</p>



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Unexpected source to blame for rapid surge in global warming

Rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and ocean heatwaves -- 2023...

<p>Chimpanzees are renowned for having the most complex memory among animals, apart from humans. Their short-term or working memory is especially impressive.</p>



<p>They can remember not only when and where fruits are ripe, but also use this knowledge to plan which fruit-bearing trees to visit and even where to sleep -- ensuring they can feast on these fruits first thing in the morning. </p>



<p>However, while much is known about how chimpanzees locate and exploit plant-based resources, the cognitive strategies they use to obtain animal-based foods have remained less explored.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-locating-elusive-prey-underground">Locating elusive prey underground</h2>



<p>Until recently, researchers had limited understanding of how chimpanzees locate critical non-plant foods. </p>



<p>Now, a team from the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/web/ub/">University of Barcelona</a> (UB) and the <a href="https://janegoodall.org/">Jane Goodall Institute</a> in Spain has led a study revealing that wild chimpanzees in Africa employ sophisticated cognitive skills to find and consume army ants concealed in underground nests. </p>



<p>This discovery, published in the journal <em>Nature Communications Biology</em>, marks the first documentation of how chimpanzees rely on spatial and episodic-like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-connects-old-memories/">memory</a> to extract social insects hidden beneath the surface.</p>



<p>The study shows that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-pass-tool-use-skills-across-generations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">these primates</a> can successfully overcome a challenging cognitive task to exploit a difficult animal food source in the wild over extended periods.</p>



<p>By doing so, chimpanzees provide insight into the evolutionary underpinnings of cognitive abilities shared by both non-human primates and humans.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenge-of-locating-hidden-insects">Challenge of locating hidden insects</h2>



<p>Army <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-are-shifting-to-new-habitats-to-cope-with-climate-change/">ants</a> (<em>Dorylus spp.</em>), also known as marabunta, boast the largest colonies of social insects on Earth. </p>



<p>Rich in protein and minerals -- key nutrients for chimpanzees -- these hymenopterous insects are notoriously elusive.</p>



<p>They build their nests under rocks, roots, and fallen vegetation, and move unpredictably, posing a significant foraging challenge.</p>



<p>To uncover how chimpanzees meet this challenge, the team analyzed 679 visits by chimpanzees to four army ant nests in Senegal’s Dindefelo community nature reserve from 2018 to 2022.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzees-memory-of-hidden-nests">Chimpanzees' memory of hidden nests</h2>



<p>Study first author Andreu Sánchez-Megías is a PhD student at UB. </p>



<p>"We studied if chimpanzees intentionally return to nests, the strategies they use to detect if ants are present, the availability of these insects and the extent to which chimpanzees consume them.” </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/chimpanzee_using-stick-tool_credit-Jane-Goodall_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/chimpanzee_using-stick-tool_credit-Jane-Goodall_1s.webp" alt="A chimpanzee carries a stick to use as a tool to eat army ants. The chimpanzees insert these tools into the ant nests until the insects climb on the tool and then eat them. Credit: Andreu Sánchez-Megías" class="wp-image-1952667" style="width:300px;height:auto"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A chimpanzee carries a stick to use as a tool to eat army ants. The chimpanzees insert these tools into the ant nests until the insects climb on the tool and then eat them. Credit: Andreu Sánchez-Megías</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>According to Sánchez-Megía, ant nests are scarce and nearly always impossible to see, and thus, for the chimpanzees, remembering the exact location of the nest is a good <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-foraging-behavior-changing-climate-warming-waters/">foraging strategy</a>. </p>



<p>"The nests are abandoned and reoccupied at irregular intervals, and this key component of the ants’ behavior allows chimpanzees to repeatedly visit the same nests to feed on these insects," said Sánchez-Megías.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spatial-memory-in-chimpanzees">Spatial memory in chimpanzees</h2>



<p>By recalling not only where the nests are located but also past outcomes -- whether ants were found previously -- chimpanzees exhibit <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-chickadees-have-an-extraordinary-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">episodic-like memory</a>. </p>



<p>In humans, this type of memory corresponds with the ability to remember where, when, and what happened in past events.</p>



<p>Since non-human animals cannot verbally communicate their memories, scientists refer to this as episodic-like memory, indicating it is similar yet not identical to human episodic memory.</p>



<p>A key finding of this study is that chimpanzees employ four senses -- sight, smell, taste, and touch -- to inspect empty nests and detect whether ants are present. </p>



<p>This multi-sensory approach adds a new dimension to our understanding of how primates navigate complex <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rhesus-monkeys-quickly-learn-that-patience-is-rewarding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foraging challenges</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-study">Broader implications of the study</h2>



<p>Study senior author R. Adriana Hernandez-Aguilar is an evolutionary anthropologist at UB, </p>



<p>"It is important to emphasize that the study of chimpanzee cognition in an ecologically relevant context -- such as the savannah where our research was carried out -- contributes to better understanding the evolution of human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lifestyle-choices-in-young-adulthood-impact-cognitive-ability-in-midlife/">cognitive capacities</a>, given that the first hominins inhabited similarly dry, open, and hot landscapes," said Hernandez-Aguilar.</p>



<p>This research advances our knowledge of primate cognition and has important implications for conservation. </p>



<p>As chimpanzees are endangered, understanding the strategies they use to secure essential foods can inform efforts to protect their habitats and ensure their survival. </p>



<p>By revealing that chimpanzees rely on advanced memory and problem-solving abilities to exploit challenging animal food sources, this study broadens our perspective on primate intelligence and its evolutionary roots. </p>



<p>The findings serve as a reminder that these extraordinary creatures possess cognitive talents that can inspire deeper appreciation and inform more effective <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-machine-learning-can-help-us-protect-chimpanzees/">conservation</a> measures.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-024-07206-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications Biology</a></em>.</p>



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



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

Chimpanzees have remarkable spatial memory and sense of direction

Chimpanzees are renowned for having the most complex memory among...

<p>The combined effects of sea level rise, permafrost thaw subsidence, and coastal retreat threaten to reshape Arctic coastal regions on an unprecedented scale, surpassing the impact of any single climate hazard.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to scientists, this compounding set of factors will lead to drastic land loss, posing significant challenges for Arctic communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overlapping-hazards-magnify-coastal-retreat-nbsp">Overlapping hazards magnify coastal retreat&nbsp;</h2>



<p>While decades of research have documented the growing threat of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fighting-coastal-erosion-electricity-turns-sand-into-a-sea-wall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coastal erosion</a> in the Arctic, the additional roles of sea level rise and permafrost thaw subsidence have been less explored.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This gap in understanding has limited the ability to evaluate the full extent of these combined processes and their impacts on Arctic landscapes.</p>



<p>A new study by researchers from the <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/who-we-are/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> (WHOI) and other institutions, focuses on the Alaska Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP). Spanning more than 60,000 square kilometers, this low-lying, ice-rich region experiences some of the Arctic’s most extreme rates of erosion and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-level-warnings-what-coastal-cities-must-prepare-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea-level rise</a>.</p>



<p>“Our findings highlight the risks that compounding climate hazards pose to coastal communities and underscore the need for adaptive planning for Arctic communities within zones of 21st-century land loss,” the experts wrote.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-stark-forecast-for-arctic-shorelines">A stark forecast for Arctic shorelines</h2>



<p>The study presents a stark forecast for the North Slope shoreline, predicting a dramatic inland retreat by 2100 due to the interplay of these three hazards.</p>



<p>“Compound <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-permafrost-melt-devastating-role-accelerating-global-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> impacts accelerate coastal change,” said lead author Roger Creel, a postdoctoral scholar in WHOI’s Department of Physical Oceanography. “There is this nonlinear acceleration in coastal impacts that we should be expecting will happen in places like Northern Alaska.”</p>



<p>The shoreline is expected to retreat farther inland than it has been in over 100,000 years, during the last interglacial period.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“By 2100, the combined effects of coastal erosion, sea level rise, and permafrost thaw subsidence will likely push the North Slope shoreline inland to a location it hasn't reached since the last interglacial period over 100,000 years ago,” explained co-author Benjamin Jones of the <a href="https://www.uaf.edu/uaf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alaska Fairbanks</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-projections-of-coastal-retreat-nbsp">Projections of coastal retreat&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The researchers utilized advanced tools to assess future land loss, including 5-meter topography, satellite-derived lake depth measurements, and empirical data on permafrost thaw subsidence.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team incorporated these with projections of coastal erosion and sea level rise under medium- and high-emission scenarios from the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report</a>.</p>



<p>“This research highlights the value of working across disciplinary boundaries for more robust projections of coastal Arctic evolution in the coming century,” said co-author Julia Guimond, an assistant scientist at WHOI.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Our work shows that by 2100, total land loss will exceed erosional losses by up to eight times. Here we focus on processes affecting Alaska's Arctic Coastal Plain, but a key takeaway is the compounding effects of multiple hazards and that applies to coastal resilience planning across the globe.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permafrost-thaw-a-hidden-dominator">Permafrost thaw: A hidden dominator</h2>



<p>The study emphasizes that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rapid-permafrost-thaw-in-alaska-threatens-global-climate-balance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">permafrost thaw</a> subsidence will be the dominant factor driving land loss, surpassing even sea level rise and coastal erosion in its long-term impacts.</p>



<p>“Along ice-rich permafrost coastlines, the land surface is falling faster than the sea levels are rising,” noted co-author Pier Paul Overduin from the <a href="https://www.awi.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Over the coming decades, permafrost thaw subsidence will move the coastline farther inland than coastal erosion or sea level rise alone will move it, and this subsidence will dominate Arctic coastal change over the long term.”</p>



<p>Creel highlighted the need for greater awareness among decision-making agencies, such as the <a href="https://www.usace.army.mil/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Army Corps of Engineers</a> and <a href="https://www.fema.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FEMA</a>, to allocate resources more effectively.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“These sorts of bodies with a lot of resources may have not been paying enough attention to permafrost thaw subsidence as an agent of coastal change. This study is a wake-up call to expand the conversation.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-communities-on-the-frontline-of-change">Communities on the frontline of change</h2>



<p>An Arctic coastline shaped by inundation will create unprecedented challenges for the communities that call this region home. These include the loss of infrastructure, hunting grounds, subsistence routes, and cultural heritage sites.</p>



<p>“Future research on Arctic shoreline evolution should be motivated by the needs of these communities, who will need support to respond to the paradigm shift in 21st-century Arctic coastal change that we project here,” the authors concluded.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2409411121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Photo by: Benjamin M. Jones, Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks</p>



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Accelerating coastal retreat in Alaska: The triple threat

The combined effects of sea level rise, permafrost thaw subsidence,...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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<p>—–</p>

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What caused the planet's longest ice age

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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>



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<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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