<p>Italy’s Campi Flegrei has been restless again when it comes to earthquakes, and a new AI approach is helping scientists see what the ground is really doing. </p>



<p>In a peer-reviewed study, researchers from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>, along with colleagues at INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano and the <a href="https://www.international.unina.it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Naples Federico II</a>, reanalyzed continuous seismic records. The team found more than four times as many small earthquakes between January 21, 2022, and March 20, 2025.</p>



<p>The researchers did not detect any direct sign of magma moving upward. Instead, they highlighted very shallow hybrid quakes tied to the hydrothermal system.</p>



<p>That fuller picture matters because small events reveal where the crust is stressed and how energy is moving through the volcanic field. With cleaner detections and sharper locations, scientists can track changes faster and judge when activity starts to cluster in risky ways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-signals-urgent-stakes">Clear signals, urgent stakes</h2>



<p>“Seismicity could change at any time, and that may be the most important thing about this study: this capability of getting a clear view is now operational,” said study co-author Greg Beroza, a geophysics professor at Stanford University.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supervolcano-campi-flegrei-naples-italy-solfatara-crater-phlegraean-fields-signs-of-waking-up/">caldera</a> sits within the Neapolitan area, where more than half a million people live and work. That density means even modest shaking or ground movement can disrupt daily life, strain buildings, and complicate evacuations.</p>



<p>History shows why clarity is essential. During the 1982-1984 crisis, uplift and persistent earthquakes damaged structures across Pozzuoli. A major analysis documented that the events triggered the evacuation of about 40,000 people.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-turns-noise-into-earthquake-signals">AI turns noise into earthquake signals</h2>



<p>The team trained a machine learning workflow on continuous waveforms and used it to scan years of data consistently. That created one catalog rather than a patchwork of methods, so patterns stand out instead of becoming blurred.</p>



<p>AI did more than count earthquakes. The workflow sharpened event locations and magnitudes, turning noisy curves into clean signals that line up with mapped features and known hot zones. </p>



<p>That is the kind of precision emergency managers need when activity jumps in hours, not weeks. One payoff is a much clearer view of the caldera’s thin ring shaped structures and shallow faults. </p>



<p>Those features organize the small quakes and help separate background rumble from changes that could matter for public safety.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcano-under-quiet-strain">Volcano under quiet strain</h2>



<p>Campi Flegrei is a large caldera, the broad depression left by past eruptions, ringed by faults and dotted with old vents and fuming ground. It is not a single cone, it is a field where different parts can wake up at different times.</p>



<p>The region breathes over years through uplift and subsidence known as bradyseism. Those slow vertical motions have been recorded for centuries and often line up with swarms of small earthquakes.</p>



<p>In the new catalog, most activity sits at very shallow depths and traces a narrow ring fault system consistent with surface features and the zone now rising. </p>



<p>The authors reported no direct signature of magma rising toward the surface in this interval. This lowers near-term eruption concern but does not remove the need for close watching.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faults-reveal-hidden-stress">Faults reveal hidden stress</h2>



<p>Faults are breaks in rock that slip when stress overcomes strength, and their length and orientation constrain how big an earthquake could be. When small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthquakes-and-flood-zones-hidden-risks-in-the-pacific-northwest/">quakes</a> line up along a longer fault, planners can bound the upper size of plausible events rather than guess in the dark.</p>



<p>Seeing faults crisply also helps compare present unrest with past episodes. Shaking that migrates onto a new segment or clusters at the edge of the ring may signal a change in how the system stores and releases pressure.</p>



<p>Those signals are not predictions by themselves. They are inputs to models that weigh where stress is building, how close rocks are to failure, and what level of shaking the built environment can handle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-refines-risk-planning">AI refines risk planning</h2>



<p>Near real-time detections let observatories update maps of active zones as conditions evolve. That supports decisions like where to inspect bridges, how to stage ambulances, or when to test public alerts before a busy weekend.</p>



<p>Sharper locations and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-detect-major-earthquakes-months-in-advance/">magnitudes</a> also help engineers validate expected shaking levels against what instruments record in town. With that feedback loop, officials can refine microzonation, revisit building priorities, and tune maintenance schedules before the next swarm.</p>



<p>Past experience is a warning here. During 1982-1984, the harbor shallowed and commerce paused, schools closed, and the government approved new housing to relocate residents. </p>



<p>Planning for unrest is not only about eruptions, it is about everyday disruptions that stack up when the ground keeps moving.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-helps-not-predicts">AI helps, not predicts</h2>



<p>The present results point to pressure within a shallow system, not direct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magma-layer-keeps-the-yellowstone-supervolcano-dormant/">magma</a> rise, during 2022-2025. That aligns with other independent work that has argued for pressure buildup and evolving stress in the crust during long stretches without eruption.</p>



<p>Unrest can still change quickly. More small quakes could organize into tighter clusters, or uplift rates could shift, and those changes would be visible fast with the new tools.</p>



<p>AI does not replace dense earthquake monitoring or local expertise. It helps analysts keep up when data surge, flag subtle changes that a human might miss after a long night, and focus attention on the signals that matter most.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw9038" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>.</p>



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AI detects earthquake surge beneath Europe’s most dangerous volcano

Italy’s Campi Flegrei has been restless again when it comes to earthquakes, and a new AI approach is helping scientists see what the ground is really doing. In a peer-reviewed study, researchers from Stanford University, along with colleagues at INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano and the University of Naples Federico II, reanalyzed continuous seismic records. The team found more than four times as many small earthquakes between January 21, 2022, and March 20, 2025. The researchers did not detect any direct sign of magma moving upward. Instead, they highlighted...

<p>Supernova observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) just opened doors to an amazing spectacle of the universe. Experts at the <a href="https://www.seti.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SETI Institute</a> have revealed new details about the youngest known core-collapse supernova in the Milky Way, known as Cassiopeia A.</p>



<p>The team behind this study is reshaping our understanding of the intricate processes involved in the formation and destruction of molecules and dust within <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cassiopeia-a-resembles-a-shiny-christmas-ornament-in-this-webb-telescope-photo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova remnants</a>. </p>



<p>This remarkable discovery not only provides new insights into the life cycle of stars but also enhances our knowledge of the cosmic elements that contribute to the complexity and diversity of the universe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-probing-a-supernova-with-jwst">Probing a supernova with JWST</h2>



<p>The most unexpected aspect of these observations is the vibrant carbon monoxide (CO) emission captured by JWST's near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy (<a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/12/Cas_A_MIRI_image" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">full image</a>). The study authors described the CO emission as "shockingly bright."</p>



<p>"It is remarkable to see how bright the carbon monoxide emission detected in JWST NIR imaging and spectroscopy, showing a few tens of sinusoidal patterns of CO fundamental rovibrational lines," said Dr. Jeohghee Rho, a research scientist at the SETI Institute who led the research. "The patterns look like they were artificially generated."</p>



<p>The findings from this research touch on three key areas of Cassiopeia A. The team explored the molecular formation, detailed spectroscopy, and temperature indications of the supernova remnant.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemistry-of-supernova-remnants">Chemistry of supernova remnants</h2>



<p>The observations indicate an abundant presence of CO gas in the outer layers of the supernova, far exceeding the amount of argon gas detected.</p>



<p>This significant presence of CO molecules in the supernova's outermost regions is a remarkable discovery, hinting at previously unknown processes at play.</p>



<p>"To see such hot CO in a young supernova remnant is truly remarkable and indicates that CO formation is still happening thousands of years after the explosion," said Professor Chris Ashall of Virginia Tech.</p>



<p>The abundance of carbon monoxide implies a fascinating form of molecular rebirth — the CO molecules are potentially forming anew after the reverse shock of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova explosion</a>.</p>



<p>This reverse shock, which occurs when the explosion's blast wave reflects back upon itself, creates conditions that may facilitate the reformation of these molecules. </p>



<p>The idea that CO can reassemble in such a turbulent and high-energy environment challenges previous assumptions about the resilience and dynamics of molecular structures in supernova remnants.</p>



<p>Furthermore, these molecules might have played a crucial role in preserving the dust within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-rocks-nasa-dart-asteroid-deflection-mission-may-impact-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ejecta</a>, contributing to our understanding of cooling and dust formation after a supernova blast.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-perspective-on-element-formation">A new perspective on element formation</h2>



<p>The researchers also noted significant differences in the formation of elements within two distinct areas of Cassiopeia A. </p>



<p>Both regions showed strong CO gas signals and various ionized elements like argon, silicon, calcium, and magnesium.</p>



<p>This variance offers a unique glimpse into the high velocity of the CO molecules and their fundamental rovibrational lines, which represent transitions involving changes in both vibrational and rotational states.</p>



<p>Based on CO gas emissions, the team was able to make an educated guess about the temperature of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova</a> - a figure close to 1,080 degrees Kelvin.</p>



<p>In addition, high rotational lines indicated the presence of a hotter component, suggesting that CO formation and reformation could be occurring simultaneously.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extremely-hot-gas-in-cassiopeia-a">Extremely hot gas in Cassiopeia A </h2>



<p>Supernovae, like the one that formed Cassiopeia A, are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/t-coronae-borealis-blaze-star-explosion-visible-one-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">celestial explosions</a> that mark the end of a high mass star's life. This happens when the nuclear fuel that powered the star gets depleted, causing the star to collapse under its own gravity.</p>



<p>The aftermath is a cosmic spectacle - the star's outer shell is violently shot into space, outshining an entire galaxy.</p>



<p>Manifestations of extremely hot CO in a young supernova remnant are truly extraordinary, hinting at the continuous formation of CO long after the initial explosion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-the-jwst">The power of the JWST</h2>



<p>This breakthrough was achieved by harnessing JWST's Near-Infrared Camera Instrument (NIRCam), the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), and detailed Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec)-Integral Field Units (IFU) spectroscopy. </p>



<p>The collaborative effort between the SETI Institute and <a href="https://en.snu.ac.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seoul National University</a> enabled the team to chart out the complex structures of synchrotron radiation, argon-rich ejecta, and CO molecules within Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The research highlights the true potential of the James Webb Space Telescope.</p>



<p>The precise role of supernovae in dust formation in the early universe remains an open debate. Future observations and research, driven by the powerful capabilities of JWST, will continue to unveil the enigmas of cosmic dust and molecular formation.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ad5186" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a></em>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, D. Milisavljevic (Purdue University), T. Temim (Princeton University), I. De Looze (UGent), J. DePasquale (STScI)</p>



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'Shockingly bright' carbon monoxide detected in supernova remnant

Supernova observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) just...

<p>A new study led by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has shown how psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, affects the brain. </p>



<p>“A single dose of psilocybin, a psychedelic that acutely causes distortions of space-time perception and ego dissolution, produces rapid and persistent therapeutic effects in human clinical trials,” wrote the study authors.</p>



<p>In animal models, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-learn-why-psilocybin-mushrooms-make-you-hallucinate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psilocybin</a> induces neuroplasticity in cortex and hippocampus. It remains unclear how human brain network changes relate to subjective and lasting effects of psychedelics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychedelics-dissolve-a-key-brain-network-nbsp">Psychedelics “dissolve” a key brain network<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>The researchers discovered that psilocybin temporarily disrupts the default mode network, a crucial brain area involved in introspective thinking, such as daydreaming and remembering.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This desynchronization leads to the characteristic psychedelic experience and could explain psilocybin's potential to treat mental illnesses like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushrooms-depression-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depression</a> and PTSD.</p>



<p>“There’s a massive effect initially, and when it’s gone, a pinpoint effect remains,” said so-senior author Dr. Nico U. F. Dosenbach of <a href="https://medicine.wustl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WUSTL</a>. “That’s exactly what you’d want to see for a potential medicine.”</p>



<p>Dosenbach went on to explain that "you wouldn’t want people’s brain networks to be obliterated for days, but you also wouldn’t want everything to snap back to the way it was immediately. You want an effect that lasts long enough to make a difference."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychedelics-and-brain-activity">Psychedelics and brain activity</h2>



<p>The experts utilized functional MRI scans to observe the brain activity of seven healthy adults before, during, and after consuming psilocybin or methylphenidate. The researchers aimed to correlate changes in brain networks with subjective experiences.</p>



<p>“These days, we know a lot about the psychological effects and the molecular/cellular effects of psilocybin,” said first author Dr. Joshua S. Siegel. “But we don’t know much about what happens at the level that connects the two - the level of functional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fear-and-anxiety-share-a-common-network-in-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain networks</a>.”</p>



<p>Psilocybin caused profound but temporary changes in the brain’s functional networks, particularly the default mode network. </p>



<p>After the acute effects of the drug wore off, small differences from pre-psilocybin scans persisted for weeks.</p>



<p>“The idea is that you’re taking this system that’s fundamental to the brain’s ability to think about the self in relation to the world, and you’re totally desynchronizing it temporarily,” explained Dr. Siegel.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In the short term, this creates a psychedelic experience. The longer-term consequence is that it makes the brain more flexible and potentially more able to come into a healthier state.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-functional-networks-nbsp">Changes in functional networks<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>During the experience, participants rated their feelings of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychedelic-drug-induces-feelings-of-oceanic-boundlessness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transcendence</a>, connectedness, and awe using the validated <a href="https://www.trippingly.net/lsd-studies/2018/5/22/the-mystical-experience-questionaire-30-questions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mystical Experience Questionnaire</a>. </p>



<p>The changes in functional networks corresponded with the intensity of each participant’s subjective experience.</p>



<p>“We were able to get very precise data on the effects of the drug in each individual,” said co-senior author Dr. Ginger E. Nicol.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This is a step toward precision clinical trials. In psychiatry, we often don’t know who should get a particular medicine and how much or how often. By using this approach in clinical trials, we can identify the factors that determine who benefits and who doesn’t, and make better use of the medicines we have.”</p>



<p>However, the researchers caution against self-medicating with psilocybin, which is not FDA-approved and carries risks if taken without professional supervision.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-effects-of-psilocybin-nbsp">Understanding the effects of psilocybin<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>"The dramatic departure from typical synchronized patterns of co-activity may be key to understanding the acute effects of psilocybin and also its persistent neurotrophic effects,” wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>Changes in resting activity are linked to shifts in glutamate-dependent signaling during psilocybin exposure. </p>



<p>This phenomenon, shared by ketamine and psychedelics, engages homeostatic plasticity mechanisms, a neurobiological response to large deviations in typical network activity patterns.</p>



<p>Psychedelics rapidly induce synaptogenesis in the hippocampus and cortex, effects that seem to be necessary for rapid antidepressant-like effects in animal models. </p>



<p>However, understanding the underpinnings of the behavioral effects of psychedelics requires human studies.</p>



<p>Advances in precision functional mapping and individual-level characterization enabled us to identify desynchronization of resting-state fMRI signals, connect these changes with subjective psychedelic effects and localize these changes to depression-relevant circuits (DMN, hippocampus).</p>



<p>These analyses rely on precise characterization of an individuals’ baseline brain organization (for example, individual definition of brain areas, networks and day-to-day variability) to understand how that organization is altered by an intervention.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07624-5?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=commission_junction&amp;utm_campaign=CONR_PF018_ECOM_GL_PBOK_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&amp;utm_content=textlink&amp;utm_term=PID100052172&amp;CJEVENT=cd59fa7b445011ef804a007a0a82b838" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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Psychedelics give the brain flexibility to enter a healthier state

A new study led by the Washington University School of...

<p>New research suggests that taking three-minute resistance <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-significantly-lowers-heart-disease-risk-by-reducing-stress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exercise</a> breaks every 30 minutes over a four-hour period in the evening may improve sleep length. </p>



<p>The study, led by researchers who recruited 30 non-smokers aged 18 to 40, found that participants slept an average of 27 minutes longer after incorporating these activity breaks compared to prolonged sitting.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-resistance-exercise-in-the-evening-nbsp">Resistance exercise in the evening<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Current recommendations discourage intense exercise before bed due to its potential to increase body temperature and heart rate, which can result in poorer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/getting-high-quality-sleep-helps-prevent-depression-and-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep quality</a>. </p>



<p>However, the study explored whether short, simple exercises could positively impact sleep without these adverse effects.</p>



<p>Participants wore activity trackers to record their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/any-type-of-physical-activity-can-help-protect-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physical activity</a> and sleep patterns. They completed two sessions: one with continuous sitting and another with resistance exercise breaks, including chair squats, calf raises, and standing knee raises.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-disruptions-in-sleep-quality">No disruptions in sleep quality</h2>



<p>The results indicated that after the exercise breaks, participants slept longer, averaging 7 hours and 12 minutes compared to 6 hours and 45 minutes after prolonged sitting. Wake times were also later, with participants waking at 8:06 am after exercise breaks versus 7:35 am after sitting.</p>



<p>No significant differences were found in sleep efficiency or the number of awakenings during the night, suggesting that these activity breaks did not disrupt sleep quality.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, there were no notable differences in activity patterns in the 24 hours following each intervention.</p>



<p>The researchers acknowledged several limitations, such as the small sample size and the controlled laboratory setting, and called for further studies involving larger numbers of people in their normal home environments.</p>



<p>“These results add to a growing body of evidence that indicates evening exercise does not disrupt sleep quality, despite current sleep recommendations to the contrary,” wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-influence-of-evening-exercise-nbsp">The influence of evening exercise<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>The experts highlighted that extending sleep duration, particularly for those who sleep less than the recommended nightly total, may potentially reduce metabolic and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crucial-discoveries-will-improve-cardiovascular-disease-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a> risk over the long term. </p>



<p>The simple resistance exercises used in the study can be easily integrated into daily routines, even while streaming content, which may increase adherence to the routine.</p>



<p>“While existing research indicates that evening exercise may not adversely impact sleep, the mechanisms by which it influences sleep quality remain unclear,” they concluded.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-resistance-exercise-nbsp">More about resistance exercise<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Resistance exercise, also known as strength training or weight training, involves activities that cause your muscles to work against an external resistance. This could be weights, resistance bands, or even your body weight. The main goal is to increase muscle strength, size, and endurance.</p>



<p>When you do resistance exercise, you're essentially creating tiny tears in your muscle fibers. Your body repairs these tears, making the muscles stronger and bigger in the process. It's like giving your muscles a workout to build their resilience.</p>



<p>One of the great things about resistance exercise is that it’s versatile. You can lift weights at the gym, use resistance bands at home, or even do bodyweight exercises like push-ups and squats anywhere. It’s suitable for all fitness levels, from beginners to advanced athletes.</p>



<p>Resistance exercise offers numerous benefits beyond just building <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/molecule-in-coffee-trigonelline-keeps-muscles-young/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">muscle</a>. It can improve bone density, boost metabolism, enhance joint function, and even help with weight management. Regular resistance training can also improve your overall physical performance and reduce the risk of injuries.</p>



<p>It's important to start slowly and focus on proper form to prevent injuries. As you get stronger, you can gradually increase the resistance or the number of repetitions to continue challenging your muscles.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001774" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>BMJ Open Sport &amp; Exercise Medicine</em></a>.</p>



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Resistance exercise in the evening can improve sleep

New research suggests that taking three-minute resistance exercise breaks every...

<p>A new study led by the <a href="https://www.uga.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Georgia</a> (UGA) has revealed that one in five U.S. farmers binge drink when under high stress. The research highlights the link between farmers using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-amounts-of-alcohol-have-big-impacts-on-brain-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alcohol</a> to manage stress, driven by the intense and risky nature of their work.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Alcohol is the most acceptable way to deal with that stress versus actually going to talk to somebody about that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/turn-stress-productive-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress</a>, or it’s a way to be able to talk about that stress with friends,” said lead author Christina Proctor, a clinical associate professor at UGA’s College of Public Health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alcohol-as-a-coping-mechanism-nbsp">Alcohol as a coping mechanism<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Unique barriers to healthcare for farming communities include not just the usual rural issues like distance and lack of specialists, but also stigma and distrust of healthcare providers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Farmers fear that seeking mental health care might be seen as an inability to manage their operations. This often leads to increased alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism.</p>



<p>“Farming is a high-risk, physically challenging occupation. Considering farmers report high stress and barriers to seeking healthcare, it is important to understand factors influencing alcohol use to tailor interventions and healthcare resources for alcohol use in rural areas,” wrote the researchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farming-and-mental-health-nbsp">Farming and mental health<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Proctor and her co-author, Noah Hopkins, surveyed 1,045 farmers and found that almost all farmers drink, with over one-third consuming multiple drinks per week. These drinking habits are concerning due to the stigma around mental health care and the associated risk of suicide.</p>



<p>“Knowing the stigma that exists within rural farming populations about seeking care and then looking at death by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/suicide-rate-increases-during-the-week-of-a-full-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suicide</a> numbers, it really is a public health issue because there are drastic, traumatic outcomes associated with not being able to ask for that care, using alcohol to cope and then feeling hopeless,” Proctor said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-support-for-stressed-farmers">Support for stressed farmers</h2>



<p>The study found that farmers who could rely on community support and peers were less likely to drink excessively. Proctor emphasizes the need for community-based support and training for various rural professionals to facilitate open conversations about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-crisis-half-of-the-worlds-population-will-be-affected-by-age-75/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental health</a>.</p>



<p>“If the networks don’t exist, we’ve got to train our bankers. We’ve got to train, you know, farm bureau agents; we’ve got to train feed store managers. Everyone in rural areas has to be willing to have those open and honest conversations about mental health. It starts so basic, but it’s so big.”</p>



<p>The researchers noted that interventions to address stress and alcohol consumption should focus on promoting resilience, reducing stigma, and encouraging peer support to address cultural norms around mental health and alcohol use.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Rural practitioners should develop cultural competence to better serve agricultural communities to prevent alcohol use disorders. To discuss ways to reduce stigma and encourage peer support to address alcohol and mental health disorders in rural farming populations.”</p>



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



<p>Farming is an inherently demanding occupation, often subjecting farmers to significant stress due to a combination of environmental, economic, and personal factors.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-economic-pressures-nbsp">Economic pressures<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>The unpredictability of weather and the impacts of climate change can drastically affect crop yields and livestock health, leading to financial instability.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Market fluctuations, trade policies, and changing consumer demands further compound the economic pressures farmers face, making it challenging to maintain a consistent income.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intensive-labor">Intensive labor</h3>



<p>Additionally, farming is a labor-intensive job that requires long hours and physical exertion, which can lead to physical fatigue and health issues.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isolation">Isolation</h3>



<p>The isolation associated with rural living can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and mental strain, as farmers often work alone or with limited social interaction.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-pressures-nbsp">Cumulative pressures<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>The necessity to make quick decisions in response to unforeseen problems, such as pest infestations or equipment failures, adds another layer of stress.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These cumulative pressures can lead to mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-support-networks-nbsp">Support networks<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Despite these challenges, many farmers find resilience and strength in their connection to the land, their community, and their passion for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farmers-adopt-regenerative-agriculture-better-soil-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">agriculture</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Support networks, including family, friends, and agricultural organizations, play a crucial role in helping farmers manage stress and maintain their well-being.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/1059924X.2024.2374737" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Agromedicine</em></a>.</p>



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Stressed out farmers are turning to alcohol to cope

A new study led by the University of Georgia (UGA)...

<p>A recent discovery led by <a href="https://www.caltech.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caltech</a> scientist Kareem El-Badry has left the scientific community buzzing. The researchers have uncovered an astonishing 21 neutron stars orbiting Sun-like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birth-sun-like-star-hp-tau-captured-by-hubble-space-telescope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a>.</p>



<p>Neutron stars, the dense remnants of exploded massive stars, are inherently very faint and virtually undetectable on their own. </p>



<p>But here's the twist - when they circle around a Sun-like star, these neutron stars create a tug, which causes the Sun-like star to wobble in space.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaia-the-star-revealer">Gaia: The star revealer</h2>



<p>The European Space Agency's Gaia mission was instrumental in helping the astronomers detect these subtle starry wobbles, unveiling a whole new population of these elusive dark neutron stars.</p>



<p>"Gaia is continuously scanning the sky and measuring the wobbles of more than a billion stars, so the odds are good for finding even very rare objects," noted El-Badry. This breakthrough is a testimony of the power of Gaia.</p>



<p>The research had significant contributions from various stellar scientists around the globe. Data from several ground-based <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasas-habitable-worlds-observatory-hwo-telescope-aims-find-inhabited-planets-by-2050/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">telescopes</a> were used to study in-depth about the masses and orbits of the hidden neutron stars.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fascinating-characteristics-of-neutron-stars">Fascinating characteristics of neutron stars</h2>



<p>El-Badry's findings showed that these neutron stars are much farther from their Sun-like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-earth-like-planet-discovered-in-big-dipper-constellation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">companions</a> than previously found pairings, making them too distant to steal material from their partner Sun-like stars. Due to this, they stay dormant and dark.</p>



<p>"These are the first neutron stars discovered purely due to their gravitational effects," noted El-Badry.</p>



<p>However, this discovery presents an intriguing question - how does an exploded star wind up next to a star like our Sun?</p>



<p>The mystery still remains. "We still do not have a complete model for how these binaries form," said El-Badry.</p>



<p>The discovery of these new systems indicates that some binaries survive explosive processes, even though existing models struggle to elaborate how.</p>



<p>"The formation history of these objects is puzzling: it is unclear both how the binaries escaped a merger or dramatic orbital shrinkage when the neuron star progenitors were red supergiants, and how they remained bound when the neuron stars formed," wrote the study authors.</p>



<p>El-Badry expressed his interest in locating dormant black holes in orbit with Sun-like stars. With the help of Gaia data, he has already found two such quiet black holes hiding in our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunspot-region-ar3664-blasted-earth-mars-may-2024-still-very-active/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a>.</p>



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



<p>El-Badry’s team is poised to delve even deeper into the realms of binary star systems with the continuous influx of data from the Gaia mission. </p>



<p>This discovery is just the beginning, as future observations will likely reveal even more hidden neutron stars and dormant black holes. </p>



<p>The enhanced understanding of these systems will provide crucial insights into stellar evolution and the lifecycle of massive stars.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-discovering-sun-like-stars">Implications of discovering sun-like stars</h2>



<p>The discovery of these 21 neutron stars orbiting Sun-like stars has profound implications for the field of astrophysics. It challenges existing theories about the formation and evolution of binary systems, particularly those involving neutron stars. </p>



<p>The data could eventually lead to a paradigm shift in our understanding of stellar dynamics, gravitational interactions, and the end stages of stellar evolution. These findings may also impact other areas of research, such as the study of gravitational waves and the search for exoplanets.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-beyond-sun-like-stars">Research beyond sun-like stars</h2>



<p>The implications of these discoveries extend beyond our own galaxy. By studying these neutron star and Sun-like star binaries, scientists can gain insights into similar systems in other parts of the universe. </p>



<p>This research helps build a more comprehensive picture of how stars and their remnants interact across different cosmic environments.</p>



<p>As Gaia continues to provide unprecedented amounts of data, the hope is that it will unlock more secrets of the universe, enhancing our understanding of the cosmos and our place within it.</p>



<p>"We don't know for sure how these black hole binaries formed either," noted El-Badry.</p>



<p>Indeed, there are gaps in our models for the evolution of binary stars. However, the continued effort to find more of these dark companions will play an essential role in bridging these gaps.</p>



<p>The study is published in<em> <a href="https://astro.theoj.org/article/121261-a-population-of-neutron-star-candidates-in-wide-orbits-from-gaia-astrometry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Open Journal of Astrophysics</a>.</em></p>



<p>Image Credit: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)</p>



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

Discovery: Sun-like stars with secret companions

A recent discovery led by Caltech scientist Kareem El-Badry has...

<p>Polar bear conservation has leaped forward with the introduction of a novel and less invasive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-using-technology-to-protect-our-natural-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a> tracking technology.</p>



<p>This innovative tool, which adheres to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-unravel-the-secrets-of-polar-bear-fur/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fur</a> of the animals, provides a promising outcome from trials on wild polar bears. Its design mimics the hair-clinging capabilities of burrs, earning it the name “Burr on Fur.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-driving-force-behind-the-innovation">Driving force behind the innovation</h2>



<p>The Burr on Fur concept was driven by several key players. Researchers from <a href="https://www.yorku.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">York University</a>, the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alberta</a>, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Manitoba Sustainable Development, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Polar Bears International, all had a hand in this innovative project.</p>



<p>The Burr on Fur initiative began as a challenge posed by Polar Bears International to scientists at 3M, a leading global science and manufacturing company behind inventions such as Post-It notes.</p>



<p>The task was to devise a simple, temporary method for attaching small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-data-technologies-reveal-how-animals-survive-in-a-changing-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tracking units</a> to polar bear fur.</p>



<p>Three different Burr on Fur prototypes were put to the test in the wild on polar bears along the coast of Hudson Bay, Canada. The trackers were compared side-by-side with traditional ear tag transmitters.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-of-traditional-tracking-methods">Limitations of traditional tracking methods</h2>



<p>The current radio collar tracking methods are suitable only for female polar bears, leaving a significant portion of the population unaccounted for, but the introduction of Burr on Fur tags is set to change this.</p>



<p>These new devices not only deliver credible data but also can be used to track both male and female polar bears of nearly all ages.</p>



<p>The tags are designed to be temporary and minimally invasive. They fill an important niche for researchers, enabling them to study adult male and subadult polar bears effectively.</p>



<p>Traditional satellite collars are not effective for studying these groups due to their growth and body structure.</p>



<p>“Successfully attaching telemetry tags to polar bear fur has never been done before, and we’re excited to share the results of this innovative work,” said Tyler Ross, lead author of the paper and researcher at York University.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evaluating-tag-designs-for-polar-bears">Evaluating tag designs for polar bears</h2>



<p>The study evaluated three distinct fur tag designs, along with traditional ear tags, on 58 wild polar bears. </p>



<p>The goal was to compare the time the tags remained active while attached to the bears and how accurate the trackers were. The research spanned from 2016 to 2021, with the bears being handled near Churchill, Canada.</p>



<p>The most successful fur tag proved to be the SeaTrkr Tag, remaining attached to the bears for an average of 58 days and showcasing superior accuracy with the use of GPS/Iridium technology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-polar-bear-behavior">Understanding polar bear behavior </h2>



<p>The Burr on Fur tags have proven effective for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/footprint-dna-helps-scientists-monitor-elusive-animals-like-polar-bears/">monitoring bear behavior</a>, with great promise for future use, especially for bears that must be relocated after coming uncomfortably close to communities.</p>



<p>These new trackers grant scientists an enhanced tool for managing human-bear interactions and conducting applied research. </p>



<p>“Our results are an important step in better understanding the movements and behavior of polar bears, especially adult male bears, which are difficult to track because they can’t be fitted with satellite collars," said study co-author Gregory Thiemann.</p>



<p>"Temporary, fur-mounted tags could also help track the movements of bears relocated after potentially coming into conflict with people, making these tags an important tool for conserving polar bears and keeping northern communities safe."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-polar-bear-conservation">Future of polar bear conservation</h2>



<p>The Burr on Fur tags will gather critical data, including insights into the behavior of polar bears on land during the ice-free period in Hudson Bay.</p>



<p>“This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to improving Arctic wildlife research and conservation technology,” said Geoff York, senior director of research and policy at Polar Bears International.</p>



<p>“These advancements will have tangible implications for wildlife management, aiding in tracking polar bears and promoting improved human-bear coexistence.”</p>



<p>The findings coincide with Arctic Sea Ice Day, an annual event aiming to ignite conversations and actions about the rapidly melting Arctic ecosystem. </p>



<p>Polar Bears International invites people to access the full report and consider its implications for further research and application in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/polar-bears-are-struggling-to-survive-longer-summers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation</a> and coexistence efforts.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em>Animal Biotelemetry</em>.</p>



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Polar bear conservation leaps forward with new tracking technology

Polar bear conservation has leaped forward with the introduction of...

<p>Creativity strikes us in those unexpected moments when the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-health-may-literally-be-a-state-of-mind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain offers solutions</a> to problems we weren't actively considering.</p>



<p>This spontaneous and valuable trait is a uniquely human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rebooting-the-brain-experts-can-transform-cells-into-neurons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">characteristic</a>, shrouded in mystery and unpredictability. Often arriving unbidden, creativity's neurological origins remain an elusive puzzle to unravel.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neuroscience-meets-trailblazing-creativity">Neuroscience meets trailblazing creativity</h2>



<p>An innovative research team led by the <a href="https://healthcare.utah.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Utah Health</a> and working out of <a href="https://www.bcm.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baylor College of Medicine</a> has begun to unravel creativity's enigmatic threads.</p>



<p>The researchers used pioneering brain imaging techniques to uncover the interconnected brain sections that collectively yield innovative thought.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-creativity-at-the-forefront">Brain creativity at the forefront</h2>



<p>This groundbreaking study could ultimately give birth to interventions that catalyze creative thinking or assist individuals grappling with mental disorders that impede the functioning of these brain segments.</p>



<p>Higher cognitive functions like creativity often pose significant challenges to study. Unlike motor function or vision, creativity is not beholden to a single specific brain location. </p>



<p>“There's not a creativity cortex,” said Dr. Ben Shofty, assistant professor of neurosurgery in the <a href="https://medicine.utah.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine</a> and senior author of the study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurturing-grounds-of-creativity-in-the-brain">Nurturing grounds of creativity in the brain</h2>



<p>Even so, creativity is undeniably a unique brain function. Prior discoveries showing that localized brain injury induced by a stroke can lead to fluctuations in creative ability (both enhancing and diminishing it) indicate the feasibility of encrypting creativity's neurological fundamentals.</p>



<p>Dr. Shofty speculated that innovative thought might heavily rely on brain parts activated during meditation, daydreaming, and other intrinsically focused thought types.</p>



<p>Such a network, dubbed the default mode network (DMN), is associated with the "default" thought patterns that emerge without any specific mental effort. </p>



<p>“Unlike most of the functions that we have in the brain, it's not goal-directed. It's a network that operates all the time and maintains our spontaneous stream of consciousness,” noted Dr. Shofty.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-web-of-creativity">Unraveling the web of creativity</h2>



<p>The default mode network is a complex web sprawled across several scattered brain regions. This made it challenging to track the DMN's activity in real time.</p>



<p>The team employed a sophisticated brain activity imaging method to grasp the network's operations during moments of creative thought.</p>



<p>Coupled with the unique opportunity to use patients already undergoing seizure monitoring, the research team could measure brain activity during creative thinking. </p>



<p>A detailed image of creativity's neural basis emerged. “We could see what's happening within the first few milliseconds of attempting to perform creative thinking," said Dr. Shofty.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-creative-ideas-are-sparked">Where creative ideas are sparked</h2>



<p>The team noted that during creative thinking tasks, the DMN was initially activated. Its activity then synchronized with other brain regions responsible for complex problem-solving and decision-making. </p>



<p>This observation led Dr. Shofty to believe that creative ideas originate in the DMN before being appraised by other regions.</p>



<p>Study co-first author Dr. Eleonora Bartoli, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine, said the research shows that creativity is not just associated with the default mode network but fundamentally depends on it.</p>



<p>“We moved beyond correlational evidence by using direct brain stimulation,” said Dr. Bartoli. “Our findings highlight the causal role of the DMN in creative thinking.”</p>



<p>This research also has profound implications for mental health. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-ever-3d-map-of-human-brain-created-by-harvard-and-google/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">network's activity</a> is altered in several disorders like ruminative depression, where the DMN is overactive, potentially leading to increased dwelling on negative, internally directed thoughts.</p>



<p>“Eventually, the goal would be to understand what happens to the network in such a way that we can potentially drive it toward being more creative,” said Dr. Shofty.</p>



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



<p>The advancements in understanding the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-human-brain-processes-visual-information/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neural basis</a> of creativity open up numerous exciting possibilities for future research and practical applications.</p>



<p>One promising avenue is the development of targeted brain stimulation techniques to enhance creative thinking. </p>



<p>By precisely modulating the activity of the DMN and its interconnected regions, scientists may be able to foster creativity in individuals with cognitive impairments or those seeking to boost their innovative potential.</p>



<p>This pioneering work not only expands our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/odors-prompt-brain-cells-to-make-decisions-before-you-know-whats-happening/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">knowledge of the brain</a> but also holds the promise of transforming how we approach creativity, learning, and mental health in the years to come.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awae199/7695856" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brain</a></em>.</p>



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Where does creativity start in the brain?

Creativity strikes us in those unexpected moments when the brain...

<p>A longitudinal study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2024-001295" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>BMJ Public Health</em></a><em> </em>has recently found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/51-percent-of-the-world-relies-on-car-commutes-every-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">commuters</a> who choose to cycle or walk to and from work have lower risks of developing physical and mental issues. Although both types of activity appeared to be beneficial, cycling had the highest advantages.</p>



<p>Active commuting is one of the most practical and sustainable ways to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spending-67-minutes-daily-outdoors-boosts-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">improve health</a>, as scientists have long argued. Yet, previous studies had many limitations, including short monitoring periods, narrow age groups, and limited health outcomes. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-active-vs-inactive-commuting-nbsp">Active vs. inactive commuting<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>In this new study, the scientists collected and analyzed data from the <a href="https://sls.lscs.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scottish Longitudinal Study</a>, which is based on five percent of Scotland’s population derived from Census returns in 1991, 2001, and 2011. </p>



<p>First, the respondents had to select which mode of travel they use for the longest part of their commute. While <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/walking-is-a-powerful-tool-to-boost-brain-health-and-overall-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">walking</a> and cycling were defined as active travel, all the other methods were deemed “inactive.” </p>



<p>The experts then connected these responses to data regarding hospital admissions, deaths, and use of mental health drugs like antidepressants, sedatives, and anxiolytics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Other factors, such as age, sex, socioeconomic factors, distance to work, and pre-existing health issues have also been taken into consideration.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-findings-of-the-study">Key findings of the study</h2>



<p>The analysis revealed that between 2001 and 2018, 4,276 participants died (half of them from cancer), and 52,804 were admitted to hospital (12 percent for cardiovascular issues, seven percent for cancer, and three percent after traffic accidents). Moreover, 38.5 percent were prescribed heart medicines, and 41 percent mental health drugs.</p>



<p>Compared to those who did not engage in active commuting, individuals who walked to work were more likely to be younger females who worked shifts, lived in cities, commuted for shorter distances, and had lower incomes and educational attainment.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Cyclists shared some similarities, being more likely to be younger males who worked shifts, lived in urban areas, and were less likely to own homes or have caregiving responsibilities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-health-benefits-of-active-commuting-nbsp">Clear health benefits of active commuting<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>However, active commuting was clearly linked to reduced risks of death and mental and physical health issues compared to inactive commuting.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cycling-to-work">Cycling to work</h3>



<p>Respondents who cycled to work had a 47 percent lower risk of death from any cause, a 10 percent lower risk of any hospital admission, and a 24 percent lower risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular disease.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Cycling was also associated with a 30 percent lower risk of needing cardiovascular medication, a 51 percent lower risk of dying from cancer, a 24 percent lower risk of hospitalization for cancer, and a 20 percent lower risk of needing mental health medications. </p>



<p>Nevertheless, cyclists were twice as likely to be hospitalized due to road traffic collisions compared to inactive commuters.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-walking-to-work-nbsp">Walking to work<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>On the other hand, walking to work was linked to an 11 percent lower risk of hospital admission for any cause, a 10 percent lower risk of hospital admission for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-worsens-cardiovascular-health-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>, a 10 percent lower risk of needing cardiovascular drugs and a seven percent lower risk of requiring mental health medications.</p>



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



<p>Since the study was observational, it cannot definitively establish cause and effect. Moreover, the researchers identified other limitations, including the fact that census responses only captured a single point in time and did not account for overall physical activity levels or multimodal trips.</p>



<p>According to the authors, despite such limitations, the study strengthens the evidence that active commuting has population-level health benefits and can contribute to reduced morbidity and mortality.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-active-commuting-and-mental-health">Active commuting and mental health</h2>



<p>“That cyclist and pedestrian commuting is associated with lower risks of being prescribed medication for poor mental health is an important finding.”</p>



<p>“These findings provide direct evidence of the health benefits of active commuting in a Scottish context, supporting current policy. This study has wider global relevance to efforts to reduce carbon emissions and to shift to more active and sustainable travel modes.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the experts concluded that the “finding that cyclist commuters have twice the risk of being a road traffic casualty compared with non-active commuters reinforces the need for safer cycling infrastructure.”</p>



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Active commuting: Cycling to work linked to enormous health benefits

A longitudinal study published in the journal BMJ Public Health...

<p>Ever noticed how, in the face of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-world-will-have-half-as-many-farms-by-the-end-of-the-century/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crisis</a>, we tend to rethink our choices, scrutinize our practices, and reassess the impact of our actions on the world around us? The COVID-19 pandemic has instigated a worldwide introspection. One area that has come under the microscope recently is industrialized or intensive farming.</p>



<p>A team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a> has carefully examined the relationship between intensive farming and the risk of future pandemics. The team was led by Professor Steve Hinchliffe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-double-edged-sword-of-intensive-farming">Double-edged sword of intensive farming</h2>



<p>The typical narrative around industrialized farming is that it actually helps curb the risk of zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that jump the species barrier from animals to humans. </p>



<p>The logic is simple: intensive farming utilizes better control mechanisms, implements stringent biosecurity measures, and separates livestock from the wild, which in theory limits disease transmission. But, is this really the case?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risks-of-intensive-farming">Risks of intensive farming</h2>



<p>After meticulously scrutinizing a variety of social and economic factors that usually get side-stepped in conventional risk assessments, the findings presented by Professor Hinchliffe's team shed a different light.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Far from alleviating the risk, industrialized farming might be inadvertently cranking up the odds of an emerging infectious disease (EID), possibly unleashing new pandemics upon us.</p>



<p>"The risks of emergence and transmission of diseases depend on multiple factors, including contact between humans and animals, and how we use land. Livestock farming plays a potentially significant role in those risks, shaping landscapes and providing hosts that can act as the source or amplifiers of emerging pathogens," said Professor Hinchliffe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disease-more-than-just-pathogens-nbsp">Disease: More than just pathogens&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Disease is a multifaceted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sensors-that-detect-plant-stress-could-revolutionize-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phenomenon</a>. The narrative cannot just revolve around pathogens, transmission vectors, or the microbiological aspects. It's a chain reaction set into motion by a nexus of social, economic, and political factors along with ecological and biological elements.</p>



<p>"The founding myth in intensive farming is that we separate livestock from wildlife and thereby shut off the risk of diseases passing between them," noted Professor Hinchliffe.</p>



<p>"But these farms exist in the real world – so buildings and fences can get damaged, wildlife like rats or wild birds can get in, and workers move around."</p>



<p>"In short, there will always be accidents. Once social, economic, and political factors are taken into account, the pandemic risk posed by intensive farming is concerning."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mixed-bag-of-intensive-farming">Mixed bag of intensive farming</h2>



<p>Intensive farming often leads to the creation of a “mixed landscape” – a hodgepodge of farming practices and types, which inadvertently creates an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-have-shaped-plant-biodiversity-for-thousands-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a> conducive to EID risk.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Variations in regional farm structures, cost implications, and subtropical housing conditions can all contribute to a far-from-contained biosecurity environment.</p>



<p>The team also observed closely entwined relationships between large food corporations and national authorities, which, in some cases, resulted in “regulatory capture… and the difficulty of decoupling interests.”</p>



<p>“Increasing on-farm biosecurity, standardization, and efficiency in farm animal production is not the panacea for achieving a disease-free environment," noted co-author Dr. Kin Wing (Ray) Chan.</p>



<p>“Rather we need to reconsider the socio-cultural impacts of intensifying farm animal production on planetary health, environmental sustainability and animal welfare issues.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shift-in-perspective">Shift in perspective</h2>



<p>Reevaluating our farming practices is imperative to reduce the pandemic risks posed by intensive farming.</p>



<p>This means promoting sustainable, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farmers-adopt-regenerative-agriculture-better-soil-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eco-friendly methods</a> that consider all factors involved. A multi-faceted approach is needed to ensure a safer, healthier future for both people and the planet.</p>



<p>This research was a collaborative effort with scholars from <a href="https://www.tufts.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tufts</a> University, <a href="https://www.rau.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Agricultural</a> University, University of <a href="https://www.uow.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wollongong</a>, <a href="https://www.clarku.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clark</a> University, Cambridge Conservation Initiative, and the Institute of <a href="https://www.ids.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Development Studies</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, funders of the study included the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health and the Wellcome Trust.</p>



<p>It’s time for us to assess our farming practices. It's not just about producing more efficiently. It's also about understanding the far-reaching implications of our choices. So, are we ready for a change?</p>



<p>The paper titled "“Understanding the roles of economy and society in the relative risks of zoonosis emergence from livestock,” is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231709" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Royal Society Open Science</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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



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Intensive farming raises pandemic risks

Ever noticed how, in the face of a crisis, we...

<p>Earth, the lovely blue marble we call home, is changing. The culprit? Climate change. On top of warming weather and rising seas, it's causing the ice masses in Greenland and Antarctica to melt, slowing Earth's rotation and slowly lengthening our days. </p>



<p>How could climate change possibly alter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-inner-core-rotation-has-begun-moving-backwards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our planet's rotation</a>, you ask? As the polar ice continues to melt at an ever-increasing pace, water from these typically frosty regions is rushing into the world's oceans. </p>



<p>And guess where most of it is headed? Right smack into the girth of our planet, the equatorial region.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rotation-and-earth-s-changing-climate">Rotation and Earth's changing climate</h2>



<p>The phenomena unfolding due to climate change's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/this-natural-process-is-making-antarcticas-ice-melt-faster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice melt</a> at both poles can be better appreciated through the insights of a seasoned expert. </p>



<p>Enter Benedikt Soja, a distinguished Professor of Space Geodesy at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at <a href="https://baug.ethz.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETH Zurich</a>. </p>



<p>According to Soja, this shift in mass affects the Earth’s rotation. How so?</p>



<p>“This means that a shift in mass is taking place, and this is affecting the Earth’s rotation,” explains Soja. “It’s like when a figure skater does a pirouette, first holding her arms close to her body and then stretching them out,” Soja says. </p>



<p>The spinning pace slows down when the skater’s arms move away from the rotation axis, adding to the physical inertia. </p>



<p>This same principle -- the law of conservation of angular momentum -- governs the Earth's rotation as well. Days on Earth <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-timekeeping-climate-change-has-slowed-earths-rotation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">are growing longer</a>, albeit minimally, due to climate change slowing our planet's spin.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-each-passing-day-is-a-bit-longer">Each passing day is a bit longer</h2>



<p>With the backing of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, Soja's group from ETH Zurich has put forth two compelling studies, published in <em>Nature Geoscience</em> and <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)</em>, discussing how climate change tugs at the Earth's polar movement and alters the day’s length.</p>



<p>Contrary to popular belief, the moon's gravitational pull isn't the only force influencing the length of our days. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-temperatures-increase-scientists-plan-slow-down-rising-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate change</a> is sneaking its hand on the clock as well. </p>



<p>According to the <em>PNAS</em> study, every passing day is marginally longer than its previous because of the water moving from the poles to lower latitudes, and thus halting the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-ice-caps-changing-earths-rotation-need-negative-leap-second/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pace of rotation</a>. </p>



<p>Soja warns, "We humans have a greater impact on our planet than we realize, and this naturally places great responsibility on us for the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-arctic-ice-changing-global-climate-warm-arctic-cold-eurasia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">future of our planet</a>.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-and-earth-s-rotation">Climate change and Earth's rotation</h2>



<p>As the ice continues melting, it's not just about a slower Earth spin or extended days. The researchers show that the melting ice also alters the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-rotation-is-shifting-toward-a-25-hour-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's rotation axis</a>, causing the points where the rotation axis meets the Earth's surface to shuffle around.</p>



<p>This movement, termed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pumping-too-much-groundwater-affects-earths-spin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polar motion</a>, spans some ten meters per hundred years. The causes are not solely surface changes, but deep-seated movements within the Earth's mantle and the heat flows in the liquid metal of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-ancient-ocean-floor-surrounds-the-earths-core/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s outer core</a>.</p>



<p>By using physics-informed neural networks, this team has put together the most extensive model to date, presenting a comprehensive explanation for the causes of long-period polar motion. </p>



<p>“For the first time, we present a complete explanation for the causes of long-period polar motion,” says Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi, one of Soja’s doctoral students and lead author of the study. </p>



<p>“In other words, we now know why and how the Earth’s axis of rotation moves relative to the Earth’s crust.”</p>



<p>This research uncovers the connected and reciprocal nature of the processes occurring both on and inside Earth. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-ice-shelves-melting-faster-due-to-ocean-currents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate change</a> is affecting the very spin and movement of our home planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humanity-needs-to-wake-up">Humanity needs to wake up</h2>



<p>Climate change's impact on Earth's rotation is also anticipated to alter the actual dynamics and mechanics of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solid-metal-ball-discovered-within-earths-inner-core/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s internal core</a>. </p>



<p>Kiani Shahvandi adds, “Ongoing climate change could therefore even be affecting processes deep inside the Earth and have a greater reach than previously assumed.”</p>



<p>But these shifts, while fascinating, are not reason enough for panic. The effects are minor, and it's unlikely that they pose a significant risk. </p>



<p>What's crucial, however, is the reminder that we, as a species, have a significant impact on the very essence and workings of our planet.</p>



<p>Even a slight deviation of just one centimeter on Earth can grow to a deviation of hundreds of meters over the huge distances involved in the orbital mechanics of space travel.</p>



<p>A tiny nudge off-course here can lead to a giant leap of a miscalculation beyond our world. As Soja warns, it might just be the difference between landing in a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lake-sediments-found-in-jezero-crater-hint-at-past-life-on-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbe-filled crater on Mars</a> and missing it completely.</p>



<p>“If the Earth’s rotation is changing only slowly, this effect has to be taken into account when navigating in space -- for example, when sending a space probe to land on another planet,” Soja says. </p>



<p>So, next time you look up at the sky, spare a thought for how our actions are subtly altering Earth's dance in space. This is our world, our responsibility. How will we choose to lead the dance?</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2406930121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.</a></em></p>



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



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Our days are getting longer at an 'unprecedented rate' due to Earth's spin

Earth, the lovely blue marble we call home, is changing....

<p>Today, we explore another fascinating discovery about WASP-39b and its atmosphere, which has recently been exciting astronomers worldwide. This distant planet, 700 light-years from Earth, is unlike anything astronomers have seen before.</p>



<p>Dr. James Kirk from the Department of Physics at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Imperial College London</a>&nbsp;has been pivotal in this discovery.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"There is no planet like this in our Solar System. Now, we have been able to directly measure an exoplanet's morning and evening side over a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alien-weather-exoplanet-wasp-121-b-has-a-dynamic-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wide wavelength range</a>," he states.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wasp-39b-s-atmosphere">WASP-39b's atmosphere</h2>



<p>WASP-39b has a radius larger than Jupiter. However, its mass is similar to Saturn. The planet orbits its star so closely that it experiences a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-predicts-weather-forecast-exoplanet-wasp-43-b/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface temperature</a> of over 1000°C (1832°F).</p>



<p>A day on this planet, due to its proximity to the star, is as swift as its orbit. Fascinatingly, this planet is 'tidally locked.' </p>



<p>This implies that the same side of the planet always faces its star, similar to our Moon's relationship with the Earth.</p>



<p>This synchronization creates a constant 'day' side always exposed to the star's heat and a 'night' side in perpetual darkness. </p>



<p>But here's where things get tricky. There's also a 'morning' and 'evening' side to the planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-morning-and-evening-side-of-wasp-39b">Morning and evening side of WASP-39b</h2>



<p>This remarkable analysis led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stsci.edu/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Space Telescope Science Institute</a>&nbsp;and Dr. James Kirk revealed unusual atmospheric conditions on WASP-39b. The 'morning' side was much cloudier than the 'evening' side.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Notably, astronomers examine the atmospheres of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-exoplanet-hd189733b-glass-rain-hydrogen-sulfide-smells-rotten-eggs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanets</a> by analyzing the light that filters through the planet's atmosphere as it passes in front of its star. </p>



<p>This analysis generally assumes a uniform atmosphere across the planet. But WASP-39b begs to differ.</p>



<p>“This analysis is also particularly interesting because you’re getting 3D information on the planet that you weren’t getting before," explained Néstor Espinoza, an exoplanet researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute and lead author on the study.</p>



<p>"Because we can tell that the evening edge is hotter, that means it’s a little puffier. So, theoretically, there is a small swell at the terminator approaching the nightside of the planet.” </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wasp-39b-atmospheres">WASP-39b atmospheres</h2>



<p>On WASP-39b, the day side, always basking in the star's warmth, is much hotter than the night side. This extreme temperature difference generates a powerful wind at the equator.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now, picture this -- the 'morning' side is where the cooler night wind moves into the scorching day side, while the 'evening' side is where the sizzling day wind carries over to the night side. It creates a tantalizing duality.</p>



<p>This unique atmospheric condition reveals a distinct change in temperature from the morning to the evening side, with the evening registering as a blistering 800°C (1472°F), while the morning remains relatively cooler at 600°C (1112°F).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clouds-data-and-theories">Clouds, data, and theories</h2>



<p>This temperature difference also impacts the way clouds form, leading the team to hypothesize different amounts of cloud cover on the morning and evening sides. </p>



<p>The data aligned with their hypothesis, revealing a cloudier morning side than the evening.</p>



<p>Dr. Kirk's analysis technique focused on the light received as the planet began and ended its pass across the star's surface. </p>



<p>The results matched well with the analyses completed by other team members, lending credibility to the finding.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-study-of-wasp-39b">Future study of WASP-39b</h2>



<p>With the efficacy of the method and the precision of JWST demonstrated, the team now plans to analyze more data from the JWST, which could reveal more about the differences in WASP-39b atmospheres.</p>



<p>“Now we’ve demonstrated the feasibility of this method with JWST, and the precision of JWST is so immense, it really opens up a new avenue into understanding and measuring atmospheric circulation for exoplanets that we were previously largely insensitive to,” Dr Kirk said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It’s really stunning that we are able to parse this small difference out, and it’s only possible due Webb’s sensitivity across near-infrared wavelengths and its extremely stable photometric sensors,” added Espinoza. </p>



<p>“Any tiny movement in the instrument or with the observatory while collecting data would have severely limited our ability to make this detection. It must be extraordinarily precise, and Webb is just that.”</p>



<p>As we delve deeper into the mysteries of these distant worlds and continue to push the boundaries of our knowledge, who knows what other secrets the universe holds?</p>



<p>Will discoveries like these change our understanding of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sulfur-dioxide-found-on-distant-exoplanet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a>? Time will certainly tell. </p>



<p>The study is recently published in the journal&nbsp;<em>Nature</em>.</p>



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



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'Morning' and 'evening' detected on an exoplanet, WASP-39b, for the first time

Today, we explore another fascinating discovery about WASP-39b and its...

<p>Considering the fact that there's always a downpour of information on discoveries here on Earth, it's easy to forget about the mysteries that are yet to be uncovered in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-predicts-weather-forecast-exoplanet-wasp-43-b/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">distant universe</a>, such as the weather and temperatures on brown dwarfs.</p>



<p>Today, we will take a step towards these celestial bodies to delve into the discoveries of a team of globally acclaimed astronomers who recently prepared the most detailed weather report for two distant worlds that exist far beyond our own solar system.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peeking-into-the-unknown">Peeking into the unknown</h2>



<p>The study in question, which is the first of its kind, sheds light on the extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/habitable-exoplanet-gliese-12-b-only-40-light-years-away-earth-like-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheric conditions</a> of celestial objects, painted with swirling clouds of flaming hot sand and a staggering temperature of 950 C (1742F). </p>



<p>The researchers turned their attention to the brown dwarfs, using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to delve into the atmospheric conditions of these fascinating cosmic bodies.</p>



<p>The lead of this revealing study was none other than Professor Beth Biller, Personal Chair of Exoplanet Characterization at the Institute for Astronomy, <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Edinburgh</a>.</p>



<p>Our exploration into these findings will help you understand the significance of this research and what it means for the future of space sciences.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fascinating-brown-dwarfs">Fascinating brown dwarfs</h2>



<p>Now, if you are wondering what brown dwarfs are - they're the cosmic bodies that are larger than planets but smaller than stars. </p>



<p>The particular brown dwarfs that the researchers focused on, collectively named as WISE 1049AB, are the closest and brightest of their kind to Earth, resting at a distance of just about six light years away.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-weather-on-brown-dwarfs">Changing weather on brown dwarfs</h2>



<p>The researchers measured the light waves emitted from their surfaces to track the atmosphere of each brown dwarf. This tracking was possible as the light waves fluctuated when more or less cloudy regions revolved in and out of view. </p>



<p>The researchers visualised this data through light curves, which essentially is a plot of how the brightness of light from each object changes over time. </p>



<p>These plots allowed the team to generate a detailed 3D picture of how the weather of the brown dwarfs changed over the course of a complete rotation, which is between five to seven hours.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-step-closer-to-understanding-the-universe">Step closer to understanding the universe</h2>



<p>Along with mapping the dynamic weather, the researchers also plotted how the light from each object varied by wavelength. </p>



<p>This analysis demonstrated the presence and intricate interaction of gases such as water, methane, and carbon monoxide in their atmospheres.</p>



<p>These insights could potentially bridge the gap in our understanding of brown dwarfs as the missing link between stars and planets - a promising step towards gaining new insights into both. </p>



<p>Furthermore, the JWST’s ability to observe the infrared part of the light spectrum, which is usually blocked by Earth's atmosphere, has opened new frontiers in the study of the early universe, star formation, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-exoplanet-hd189733b-glass-rain-hydrogen-sulfide-smells-rotten-eggs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanets</a> such as brown dwarfs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leap-into-the-future">Leap into the future</h2>



<p>The latest study sets a solid base for future studies of brown dwarfs and other far-off <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearby-exoplanet-lhs-1140-b-best-chance-yet-finding-alien-ocean-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">celestial bodies</a>, building on previous studies which only managed to capture static snapshots of their atmospheres on one side. </p>



<p>This was quite limiting, considering brown dwarfs are known to rotate relatively quickly and their weather can vary greatly over time.</p>



<p>“Our findings show that we are on the cusp of transforming our understanding of worlds far beyond our own. Insights such as these can help us understand the conditions not just on celestial objects like brown dwarfs, but also on giant exoplanets beyond our solar system," Professor Biller explained.</p>



<p>"Eventually, the techniques we are refining here may enable the first detections of weather on habitable planets like our own, which orbit other stars.</p>



<p>In essence, the research points us towards a future where we can look beyond our own planet and explore the weather of distant habitable planets. </p>



<p>So, the next time you check the weather report, just imagine the possibility of checking the weather of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-identified-85-new-exoplanets-that-could-harbor-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">another world</a>. </p>



<p>The study is published in the <em><a href="http://10.1093/mnras/stae1602" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</a>.</em></p>



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



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

Scorching temperatures and storms measured on distant brown dwarfs

Considering the fact that there's always a downpour of information...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.</p>



<p>“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. </p>



<p>The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.</p>



<p>“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”</p>



<p>The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</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>

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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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> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?</p>



<p>One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ACS Reactions</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>

How does salt makes things taste better?

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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 Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;</p>



<p>'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."</p>



<p>"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.</p>



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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