<p>A familiar idea in happiness research says people feel worse through their thirties and early forties, then things lift. That classic U-shape, with a midlife low and a late-life rebound, has been taught in classrooms and splashed across headlines for years.</p>



<p>New evidence released challenges that view. The new study reports that the midlife “unhappiness hump” has faded, and that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strong-immune-resilience-in-midlife-reduces-risk-of-early-death/">mental</a> ill-being now tends to decline with age.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-midlife-distress-has-declined">Midlife distress has declined</h2>



<p>A team led by David G. Blanchflower from <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu/dartmouth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartmouth College</a> analyzed large samples from the United States, the United Kingdom, and a multinational dataset. </p>



<p>“We show this empirical regularity has been replaced by a monotonic decrease in ill-being by age,” wrote Blanchflower. </p>



<p>The drop in the midlife peak is not because older adults suddenly got much happier. The shape changed because younger people’s mental health worsened relative to everyone else.</p>



<p>In U.S. data, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-better-in-midlife-helps-you-age-with-strength/">middle-aged</a> and older adults look roughly stable over time. Younger groups, especially under 25, report higher distress than cohorts the same age did a decade or two ago. The same broad pattern appears in the U.K. and across dozens of other countries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surveys-show-midlife-change">Surveys show midlife change</h2>



<p>The team used the U.S. BRFSS telephone survey, which asks adults how many days in the past 30 days their mental health was not good. </p>



<p>Since the 1990s, BRFSS has run hundreds of thousands of interviews per year, providing a robust base for trend work, and the mental health days item sits in the official questionnaire.</p>



<p>For the U.K., they turned to UKHLS, also known as Understanding Society, which follows about 40,000 households. Mental health there is captured with the GHQ-12, a 12-item scale that sums to 36 points, where higher scores reflect more distress.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-patterns-of-well-being-and-ill-being">Patterns of well-being and ill-being</h2>



<p>To check whether the new pattern shows up globally, the researchers used the <a href="https://sapienlabs.org/global-mind-project/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Minds Project</a>, which assesses mental function using the MHQ. That metric summarizes capabilities across emotional, cognitive, and social <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-quality-carbs-in-midlife-linked-to-healthier-aging/">domains</a> on a scale that increases with better mental health.</p>



<p>These surveys measure subjective well-being and its counterpart, ill-being. The focus is not a one-time diagnosis by a clinician, but how people say they are doing and functioning.</p>



<p>That matters because policymaking often moves on perceptions and daily experience. As the authors show, the age profile in self-reported mental health has tilted in ways that match other social indicators.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distress-falls-with-age">Distress falls with age</h2>



<p>Earlier datasets commonly showed a hump in reported worry, stress, and depression, rising into midlife before easing. Today the line looks more like a steady slope downward with age.</p>



<p>Younger adults now report the highest levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercising-in-midlife-can-reverse-years-of-inactivity/">mental</a> ill-being. Older groups look comparatively more stable, which changes the picture for researchers and planners who assumed midlife was the peak period of distress.</p>



<p>The causes of distress in young people are still being debated. One active line of <a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20211218" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> has found that the rollout of Facebook on U.S. campuses worsened student mental health.</p>



<p>Pandemic disruptions, weak access to timely care, and economic pressures may also play roles. The study authors point to those broad forces as plausible contributors for the last decade’s trend.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-youth-mental-health-crisis">Youth mental health crisis</h2>



<p>Mortality data capture the stakes in stark terms. In 2020, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db433.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suicide</a> ranked as the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34 in the United States.</p>



<p>Education data tell a related story about strain and lost learning time. Rising absenteeism and reports of anxiety in schools fit the broader shift toward higher distress among teens and young adults.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-patterns-of-distress">Shifting patterns of distress</h2>



<p>The new evidence does not say older adults live in perfect happiness. It highlights a relative shift in levels by age that raises concern for youth.</p>



<p>The researchers also do not claim that one single cause explains the change. Social media effects, pandemic exposure, health care access, and labor market scarring could all contribute, and impacts likely differ across communities.</p>



<p>If the highest distress now clusters in youth and early adulthood, then mental health resources should follow the data. Faster access to counseling, school-based supports, and training for primary care would go a long way.</p>



<p>Measurement should keep pace too. Annual reporting that breaks out age bands with consistent cross-sectional methods can catch reversals like this sooner, which helps leaders avoid steering by an outdated map.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0327858" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>PLOS ONE</em></a>.</p>



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No more midlife crisis? Young people now report the most distress

A familiar idea in happiness research says people feel worse through their thirties and early forties, then things lift. That classic U-shape, with a midlife low and a late-life rebound, has been taught in classrooms and splashed across headlines for years. New evidence released challenges that view. The new study reports that the midlife “unhappiness hump” has faded, and that mental ill-being now tends to decline with age. Midlife distress has declined A team led by David G. Blanchflower from Dartmouth College analyzed large samples from the...

<p>A recent study led by <a href="https://nau.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northern Arizona University</a> has confirmed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bee-colonies-are-collapsing-as-climate-change-progresses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bee</a> and butterfly populations are declining in major regions of North America due to ongoing environmental changes. Moreover, as the authors noted, there are significant gaps in pollinator diversity research that hinder conservation efforts.</p>



<p>Recent studies have shown alarming declines in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-twist-in-the-evolution-of-plant-pollinator-relationships/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinator</a> populations, causing concern among scientists and policymakers about the potential negative impacts on ecosystems and agriculture.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Factors such as climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species are linked to these declines, but the research has often focused on well-studied species in easily accessible regions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now, the scientists compiled data on four major families of bees and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterflies-use-visual-and-behavioral-mimicry-to-avoid-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">butterflies</a> to create species distribution models, allowing them to assess changes over time and space across North America.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-pollinator-diversity-in-north-america-nbsp">Tracking pollinator diversity in North America&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The highest species richness was found along North America’s West Coast, particularly in California and the Rocky Mountains. However, the models showed a decline in species richness over the past century in western North America, while there were disproportionate increases in eastern North America.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers also analyzed similar data for a broader sample of potential pollinator species, including both invertebrate and vertebrate species of conservation concern, finding similar trends.</p>



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



<p>Comparisons with climate data indicate that these population changes are at least partly due to the impacts of recent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lighter-colored-and-smaller-winged-tropical-butterflies-are-at-greater-climate-change-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, such as prolonged drought and habitat degradation. Regions experiencing population declines have also been heavily impacted by human land use.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers noted that the apparent increases in the eastern U.S. may partly reflect increased detections in these populous areas, given the rise in citizen science and data collection efforts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widespread-population-changes-in-bees-and-butterflies">Widespread population changes in bees and butterflies</h2>



<p>Overall, the study detected broad trends of population changes in bees and butterflies, as well as other potential pollinators. These results help identify regions of declining populations where conservation efforts can be prioritized.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research also highlighted gaps in existing knowledge of pollinators, including poorly sampled regions and less studied species, suggesting that improved monitoring methods and enhanced citizen science efforts could address these limitations.</p>



<p>“Existing records of North American pollinators suggest that diversity has broadly declined in the western US and southern Mexico in recent decades. Losses are consistent with changes in climate and suggest a need for increased monitoring to inform conservation and mitigation actions,” the authors concluded.<br></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollinator-diversity-nbsp">Pollinator diversity&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Pollinator diversity is a crucial aspect of Earth's ecosystems, encompassing a wide variety of organisms that play a key role in the reproduction of flowering plants by transferring pollen from one flower to another.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-types-of-pollinators-nbsp">Types of pollinators&nbsp;</h3>



<p>This group includes not just the well-known bees and butterflies but also moths, beetles, birds, bats, and even some small mammals.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Each type of pollinator is adapted to specific types of flowers, with variations in body size, shape, and feeding mechanisms allowing them to access pollen and nectar.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-pollinator-diversity-nbsp">Significance of pollinator diversity&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The diversity of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-face-extinction-risk-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinators</a> ensures the pollination of a broad range of plant species, supporting natural ecosystems as well as human agriculture. Different plants bloom at different times and have various shapes and colors to attract their ideal pollinators.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, hummingbirds are attracted to bright red, tubular flowers because their long beaks and tongues are suited to accessing nectar from these types of flowers. Bats, on the other hand, are essential for the pollination of night-blooming plants.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollinator-population-decline">Pollinator population decline</h3>



<p>However, pollinator populations worldwide are facing threats from habitat destruction, pesticide use, climate change, and diseases.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This decline not only affects the pollinators themselves but also poses a risk to biodiversity, agricultural systems, and human food supplies, underscoring the importance of conservation efforts to maintain and enhance pollinator diversity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By protecting natural habitats and implementing pollinator-friendly practices, we can help ensure the survival of pollinators and the continuation of their vital role in the world's ecosystems.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289742" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>PLoS ONE</em></a>.</p>



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Study reveals an alarming decline in pollinator diversity

A recent study led by Northern Arizona University has confirmed that...

Galactic,Catastrophe,-,Andromeda,Galaxy,Collide,With,Milky,Way,Galaxy

<p>The mystery surrounding the origin and evolution of cosmic magnetic fields has long perplexed astronomers and astrophysicists alike. </p>



<p>This fundamental question has been at the forefront of astronomical research, driving the development of world-class radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometer Array (<a href="https://www.icrar.org/our-research/ska/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SKA</a>). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enigma-of-cosmic-magnetic-fields">Enigma of cosmic magnetic fields</h2>



<p>Determining the large-scale <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-matter-may-reveal-the-origin-of-magnetic-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic field structures</a> within the Milky Way has proven to be a formidable challenge for scientists worldwide.</p>



<p>In a study published in <em>The Astrophysical Journal</em>, Dr. XU Jun and Prof. HAN Jinlin from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (<a href="https://english.nao.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NAOC</a>) have made a remarkable discovery. </p>



<p>Their research has revealed the presence of immense magnetic toroids within the halo of the Milky Way. These structures play a crucial role in the propagation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-surges-of-cosmic-radiation-from-space-directly-linked-to-earthquakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic rays</a> and provide essential constraints on the physical processes occurring in the interstellar medium, shedding light on the origin of cosmic magnetic fields.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-magnetic-toroids">Understanding "magnetic toroids"</h2>



<p>In this study, the term "magnetic toroids" describes the structure of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/earths-magnetic-field-origin-structure-and-impact-on-humanity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic fields</a> found in the Milky Way's halo. </p>



<p>These magnetic fields have a toroidal configuration, meaning that they form closed loops around the galaxy, with the field lines running in opposite directions above and below the galactic plane.</p>



<p>The discovery of these colossal magnetic toroids is significant because they play a crucial role in the propagation of cosmic rays and provide essential information about the physical processes occurring in the interstellar medium. </p>



<p>The presence of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strong-magnetic-fields-leave-marks-on-nuclear-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic structures</a> also sheds light on the origin and evolution of cosmic magnetic fields, which has been a long-standing mystery in the field of astronomy and astrophysics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifetime-devotion-to-the-milky-way-s-magnetic-fields">Lifetime devotion to the Milky Way's magnetic fields</h2>



<p>Prof. HAN, a renowned expert in this research area, has been at the forefront of determining the magnetic field structures along the spiral arms of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-at-the-edge-of-our-milky-way-galaxy-travel-more-slowly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galactic disk</a>. </p>



<p>Through a long-term project involving the measurement of pulsar polarization and Faraday effects, he has made significant contributions to our understanding of the Milky Way's magnetic fields.</p>



<p>In 1997, Prof. HAN made a striking observation. He discovered an anti-symmetry in the Faraday effects of cosmic radio sources across the sky, relative to the coordinates of the Milky Way. </p>



<p>This finding indicated that the magnetic fields in the halo of our galaxy possess a toroidal field structure, with reversed magnetic field directions above and below the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-chimney-venting-found-heart-milky-way-galaxy-sagittarius-a/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galactic plane</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-determining-toroid-size-and-strength">Determining toroid size and strength</h2>



<p>Despite this discovery, determining the size and strength of these magnetic toroids has remained a daunting task for astronomers. </p>



<p>There was a suspicion that the observed anti-symmetry in the sky distribution of Faraday effects could be attributed solely to the interstellar medium in the vicinity of the Sun. </p>



<p>This hypothesis was supported by the fact that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-mystery-solved-the-puzzling-behavior-of-a-pulsar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pulsars</a> and nearby radio-emission objects exhibited Faraday effects consistent with the anti-symmetry pattern.</p>



<p>The key to resolving this uncertainty lay in determining whether the magnetic fields in the vast Galactic halo possessed a toroidal structure beyond the Sun's immediate vicinity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovative-approach-pays-off">Innovative approach pays off</h2>



<p>In this study, Prof. HAN proposed an innovative approach to tackle this challenge. He suggested that the Faraday rotation caused by the interstellar medium near <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/see-the-sun-in-exquisite-detail-in-rare-solar-orbiter-video/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Sun</a> could be quantified by measuring a substantial number of pulsars, some of which were recently obtained by the Five-hundred Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (<a href="http://fast.bao.ac.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FAST</a>). </p>



<p>By subtracting this contribution from the measurements of background cosmic sources, the true nature of the Galactic halo's magnetic fields could be revealed.</p>



<p>Dr. XU diligently collected all available Faraday rotation measurement data spanning the past three decades. Through meticulous data analysis, the scientists made a remarkable discovery. </p>



<p>They found that the anti-symmetry of Faraday rotation measurements caused by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uma3-u1-faintest-star-system-found-orbiting-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galactic halo's medium</a> extends across the entire sky, from the center to the anti-center of the Milky Way. </p>



<p>This finding implies that the toroidal magnetic fields exhibiting this odd symmetry are truly colossal in size, spanning a radius range from 6,000 to 50,000 light-years from the center of our galaxy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-understanding-of-the-milky-way-and-magnetic-fields">New understanding of the Milky Way and magnetic fields</h2>



<p>In summary, the study conducted by Dr. XU Jun and Prof. HAN Jinlin marks a significant milestone in our understanding of the Milky Way's physics. </p>



<p>Their discovery of the immense magnetic toroids within the Galactic halo provides crucial insights into the propagation of cosmic rays and the physical processes occurring in the interstellar medium.</p>



<p>This research serves as a landmark in the ongoing quest to unravel the mysteries of cosmic magnetic fields. It opens new avenues for further exploration and promises to deepen our comprehension of the universe we inhabit.</p>



<p>As astronomers continue to probe the depths of space with increasingly sophisticated instruments, studies like this one remind us of the awe-inspiring complexity and grandeur of the cosmos. </p>



<p>The secrets of the Milky Way, once shrouded in mystery, are gradually being unveiled, thanks to the tireless efforts of dedicated scientists like these.</p>



<p>The full study was published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ad3a61" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a>.</p>



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Milky Way galaxy is surrounded by massive magnetic fields

The mystery surrounding the origin and evolution of cosmic magnetic...

<p>A recent study conducted at the <a href="https://forestgeo.si.edu/research-programs/affiliated-programs/biological-dynamics-forest-fragments-project-bdffp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project</a> near Manaus, Brazil, has uncovered new insights into how terrestrial insectivores, a group of birds in the Amazon rainforest, are responding to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-rainforest-and-the-looming-threat-of-drought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasing-challenges-for-amazon-birds">Increasing challenges for Amazon birds</h2>



<p>The experts found that birds in the Amazon face increasing challenges due to their sensitivity to environmental changes.</p>



<p>“While the vibrant and often observed species such as parrots and tanagers continue to capture our attention, the less conspicuous terrestrial insectivores, true denizens of the deep Amazon, face a higher risk due to their heightened sensitivity to environmental changes,” noted study author Vitek Jirinec, an expert in conservation biology at the <a href="https://www.iercecology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Integral Ecology Research Center</a>. </p>



<p>“These birds are crucial indicators of forest health, and understanding their responses to climate variables is essential for conservation efforts.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collecting-detailed-data-on-amazon-birds">Collecting detailed data on Amazon birds</h2>



<p>Using innovative bio-logging technology, the researchers gathered detailed data on the birds’ behavior and physiological responses.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These small devices, attached to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-vanishing-in-the-amazon-represent-a-global-shift-in-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a>, provided continuous monitoring without disrupting their activities. The experts gained unprecedented insights into these Amazon birds, particularly noting their use of thermoregulation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thermoregulation-strategies-of-amazon-birds">Thermoregulation strategies of Amazon birds</h2>



<p>Key findings include the birds' sophisticated use of behavioral and physiological thermoregulation strategies. They begin warming hours before dawn, reaching peak warming rates near sunrise.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Conversely, during midday heat, they moderate warming to stay cooler. The study also highlights the importance of water in avian <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-self-regulated-their-body-temperature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thermoregulation</a>, with behaviors like bathing peaking around sunset to prepare for the night. </p>



<p>However, excessive cooling from tropical rain poses challenges, with some species better equipped to handle it than others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptations-of-amazon-wildlife-nbsp">Adaptations of Amazon wildlife&nbsp;</h2>



<p>As climate change continues to affect global biodiversity, understanding the adaptations of the Amazon’s unique wildlife is crucial for conservation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The thermoregulation strategies of birds in the Amazon provide a coping mechanism under fluctuating temperatures but underscore their preference for a stable environment - stability increasingly threatened by climate change.</p>



<p>“Understanding the capacity for thermoregulation is critical for predicting organismal vulnerability to climate change, especially in lowland <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellite-data-reveals-vulnerable-tropical-forests-on-a-global-scale/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tropical rainforests</a>, where warming conditions combine with high humidity and limited elevational or latitudinal refugia,” noted Jirinec.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-terrestrial-insectivores-in-the-amazon">Terrestrial insectivores in the Amazon</h2>



<p>Terrestrial insectivores in the Amazon rainforest comprise a diverse group of birds that primarily feed on insects found on or near the ground. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/amazonian-birds-are-changing-shape-in-response-to-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> are crucial for maintaining the ecological balance, as they help control insect populations and contribute to the recycling of nutrients. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-physical-adaptations-nbsp">Physical adaptations&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Species like antbirds, ground cuckoos, and some woodcreepers are examples of terrestrial insectivores. These birds typically have strong, agile bodies adapted for quick movements, allowing them to snatch insects from the forest floor or from vegetation.</p>



<p>They also use their keen sense of hearing and sight to detect prey. Once they locate an insect, they might snatch it up in a quick movement or dig it out of the debris with their well-adapted beaks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Terrestrial insectivores have plumage which tends to be more muted, often in shades of brown and green. This helps them blend into their primarily forest floor environment.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The forest's dense undergrowth and the need for quick movements shape the physical characteristics of terrestrial insectivores, including short wings and strong legs, which are perfect for short bursts of speed rather than long flights.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-roles">Ecological roles</h3>



<p>Their role extends beyond simply eating insects; they are part of a more complex food web, serving as prey for larger predators and contributing to the nutrient cycle within their habitat. As a result, their presence and health are good indicators of the overall health of the rainforest ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The feeding strategies and behaviors of terrestrial insectivores can vary. Some might forage in mixed-species flocks, taking advantage of the disturbance other species create to flush out insects, while others might be more solitary hunters.</p>



<p>Overall, these birds are vital to the rainforest ecosystem, but they face threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation, which can reduce their food sources and nesting sites. Protecting the Amazon is essential for the survival of these unique bird species.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/oik.10554" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Oikos</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Amazon birds use sophisticated thermoregulation strategies 

A recent study conducted at the Biological Dynamics of Forest...

<p>Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have made an exciting discovery about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uma3-u1-faintest-star-system-found-orbiting-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galactic structure</a> at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy. </p>



<p>They've identified what appears to be a cosmic "chimney" that serves as an exhaust vent for hot gas. This chimney, extending about 26,000 light-years from Earth, starts at the galaxy's center and is oriented perpendicular to the spiral disk of the Milky Way.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-venting-from-sagittarius-a">Venting from Sagittarius A*</h2>



<p>The idea that eruptions from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-supermassive-black-hole-found-in-the-shadows-of-the-early-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supermassive black hole</a> known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-orbiting-sagittarius-a-appear-rejuvenated-after-stellar-collisions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sagittarius A*</a>, or Sgr A* for short, might be driving this phenomenon is not new.</p>



<p>Indeed, these eruptions could be creating both the chimney and its associated vent. </p>



<p>The chimney itself was previously detected using X-ray data from <a href="https://chandra.si.edu/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chandra</a> and <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/XMM-Newton_overview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">XMM-Newton</a>, a mission by the European Space Agency with NASA contributions. </p>



<p>It was further explored recently with the MeerKAT radio telescope, which illustrated the role of magnetic fields in shaping this structure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-closer-look-at-milky-way-galaxy-exhaust">Closer look at Milky Way galaxy exhaust</h2>



<p>Recent observations from the Chandra X-ray Observatory revealed <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/supermassive-black-hole_galactic-chimney-venting_chandra_nasa_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">several X-ray ridges</a> running roughly perpendicular to the plane of the galaxy. These ridges are thought to be the walls of a cylindrical tunnel that channels the hot galactic gas upward. </p>



<p>Approximately 700 light-years from the galaxy's center, near the top of this chimney, is the newly discovered vent.</p>



<p>"We suspected that magnetic fields are acting as the walls of the chimney and that hot gas is traveling up through them, like smoke," explained Scott Mackey of the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago</a>, the lead author of the study. "Now we've discovered an exhaust vent near the top of the chimney."</p>



<p>The brightness of the vent's walls in X-rays is caused by shock waves generated when the rising hot gas collides with cooler gas. This collision is akin to the sonic booms produced by supersonic planes. </p>



<p>The left side of the vent is notably brighter, suggesting that gas there is striking the tunnel wall more directly and with greater force.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origins-of-the-venting-process">Origins of the venting process</h2>



<p>The study's authors propose that the hot gas likely originates from a series of events that start with material falling into Sgr A* and culminate with eruptions that drive the gas upwards through the chimney and out the vent. However, the frequency of these events remains unclear.</p>



<p>Previous research has shown that dramatic X-ray flares occur every few hundred years near the central black hole, and these could be crucial in propelling the hot gas through the vent. </p>



<p>Additionally, it's estimated that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supermassive-black-holes-are-very-messy-eaters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a> captures and consumes a star every 20,000 years or so, leading to explosive releases of energy.</p>



<p>"We're not sure if this energy and heat are stoked by a large amount of material being dumped onto Sgr A* at once, like a bunch of logs being dumped on a fire, or if it might come from multiple small loads being fed into the black hole similar to kindling being regularly tossed in," commented Mark Morris of the University of California, Los Angeles (<a href="https://www.ucla.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA</a>).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-milky-way-galaxy-structures">Linking Milky Way galaxy structures</h2>



<p>This research not only sheds light on the chimney and vent but also provides insights into larger <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/exploring-the-cosmic-phenomenon-of-mcg-01-24-014/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galactic phenomena</a>. </p>



<p>The particles and energy observed in the vent hint at the origins of two massive structures around the galaxy's center: the Fermi Bubbles and the eROSITA Bubbles. </p>



<p>Both detected in high-energy radiation, these structures extend thousands of light-years from the galaxy's center and align with the chimney and a second X-ray chimney pointing in the opposite direction.</p>



<p>"The origin of the Fermi Bubbles and the eROSITA bubbles are some of the biggest mysteries faced by studies of the high energy radiation from our galaxy," said Gabriele Ponti of the <a href="http://www.inaf.it/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Italian National Institute of Astrophysics</a> in Merate. "We've discovered a small structure that might play a large role in the creation of these gigantic bubbles."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-sagittarius-a">More about Sagittarius A*</h2>



<p>Sagittarius A* (pronounced "Sagittarius A-star") is a supermassive black hole that resides at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way.</p>



<p>Sagittarius A* possesses a mass equivalent to about 4 million suns, all packed into a region smaller than the orbit of Mercury. </p>



<p>Despite its enormous mass, it is invisible to the naked eye because it does not emit any light. However, scientists have detected its presence through the powerful gravitational influence it exerts on nearby stars and gas clouds.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Observations</h3>



<p>Astronomers have studied Sagittarius A* using various techniques, including radio telescopes and infrared observations. These studies have revealed that stars orbit around the black hole at incredible speeds, providing compelling evidence for its existence. </p>



<p>In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration captured the first-ever image of a black hole's event horizon, although this was not Sagittarius A* but rather the black hole at the center of the galaxy M87.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance">Importance</h3>



<p>The study of Sagittarius A* helps scientists better understand the nature of black holes and their role in the formation and evolution of galaxies. It also provides insights into the extreme physics that occurs in the vicinity of these cosmic giants, where the laws of general relativity are put to the ultimate test.</p>



<p>In summary, this important research enhances our understanding of the complex dynamics at the center of the Milky Way and highlights the intricate interplay of forces that shape our galaxy.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ad3248" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Astrophysical Journal</em></a></em>.</p>



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Cosmic 'chimney' found in the heart of our Milky Way galaxy

Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have made an exciting...

<p>Nature's scents are a less explored aspect of our environment that could offer significant health benefits, complementing the well-known visual experiences of nature that ease stress, uplift emotions, and promote <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spending-time-in-nature-improves-physical-and-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physical health</a>. </p>



<p>Gregory Bratman and his team emphasize the importance of understanding how these natural aromas impact our health. Their recent study outlines potential research directions that could deepen our knowledge of olfactory influences on our well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-sophisticated-olfactory-system-at-work">A sophisticated olfactory system at work</h2>



<p>Our sense of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smells-in-nature-help-us-feel-less-more-relaxed-and-cheerful/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">smell</a> functions as a sophisticated chemical detection system. The human nose contains hundreds of olfactory receptors, which are capable of distinguishing over a trillion different scents. </p>



<p>These receptors transmit signals directly to the nervous system, affecting our emotions and behaviors both consciously and subconsciously.</p>



<p>Additionally, the natural environment is abundant in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by plants. These VOCs, capable of persisting in the air for extended periods, perform various roles for plants, including repelling predators and attracting pollinators.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-of-scent-and-well-being">The science of scent and well-being</h2>



<p>"We are immersed in a world of odorants, and we have a sophisticated olfactory system that processes them, with resulting impacts on our emotions and behavior,” said Bratman. Yet, research on how these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unlocking-memories-with-scents-may-help-treat-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scents</a> affect us lags behind visual studies. </p>



<p>Bratman and his colleagues propose a comprehensive framework to explore how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smells-in-nature-help-us-feel-less-more-relaxed-and-cheerful/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nature</a>'s scents influence human health.</p>



<p>The research team, comprising experts from fields such as psychology, ecology, and public health, aims to expand our understanding of these interactions. </p>



<p>The experts have investigated how certain scents might trigger a "subthreshold" response, influencing us without our conscious awareness.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-and-personal-responses-to-nature-s-scents">Cultural and personal responses to nature's scents</h2>



<p>The impact of nature's scents extends beyond mere biological reactions; it is profoundly connected with personal and cultural contexts. </p>



<p>Asifa Majid from the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a>, in collaboration with other researchers, has delved into how cultural backgrounds and personal experiences influence our perceptions of scents. </p>



<p>For instance, certain aromas might universally evoke pleasure, while others resonate with personal memories or vary widely in their reception across different cultures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-activity-alters-olfactory-landscapes">Human activity alters olfactory landscapes</h2>



<p>The experts also examined how human activities alter the olfactory landscape. They found that pollution and habitat destruction can modify or obliterate natural scents, potentially robbing us of their benefits. </p>



<p>Jonathan Williams’ research highlights how natural VOCs react and mix in the atmosphere, emphasizing the need to better understand these processes to mitigate the negative impacts of human activity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-deeper-understanding-of-olfactory-benefits">A deeper understanding of olfactory benefits</h2>



<p>The research underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating insights from various fields to explore the benefits we derive from nature’s aromas. </p>



<p>From the calming practice of Shinrin-yoku, or "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-forest-bathing-fresh-breath-for-teen-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest bathing</a>," to neuroscience and atmospheric chemistry, each discipline contributes to a holistic understanding of how we are affected by nature’s scents.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-s-scents-and-sustainability">Nature's scents and sustainability</h2>



<p>"We live within the chemical contexts that nature creates," said Bratman. By deepening our understanding of these olfactory effects, we can make more informed decisions about our environmental impacts and enhance efforts to protect and sustainably interact with the natural world. </p>



<p>The ongoing research aims not just to enlighten but to empower, guiding future environmental and public health strategies to harness the hidden power of nature's scents.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More about nature's scents&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Nature’s scents are as varied and complex as the landscapes from which they emerge. From the petrichor that rises with the first rain on dry soil to the sweet aroma of blooming flowers in a meadow, each scent tells a story of its origin. </p>



<p>In dense forests, the air carries a mix of moss, damp foliage, and wood from ancient trees, creating a deeply earthy and grounding fragrance.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Coastal scenes are marked by the crisp, salty smell of the sea, intertwined with hints of seaweed and sand. High up in the mountains, the cool air may carry a sharp, clean scent, often tinged with pine or mountain flowers. </p>



<p>Each of these natural aromas has a way of invigorating the senses, often evoking a sense of peace and connection to the Earth.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn3028" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>.</p>



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Nature’s scents linked to improved health and well-being

Nature's scents are a less explored aspect of our environment...

<p>New research on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-whale-shark-day-protecting-the-gentle-giants-of-the-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whale</a> sharks reveals that heavily trafficked shipping lanes intersect with critical feeding grounds of this endangered species, posing significant risks.</p>



<p>The researchers identified areas where these species are most vulnerable to collisions with large shipping vessels. The team mapped whale shark aggregations and overlaid them with shipping traffic data.</p>



<p>Lead author Dr. Freya Womersley from the <a href="https://www.mareco.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Research and Conservation Foundation</a> (MARECO) and the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> emphasized the severity of the threat to these marine giants.</p>



<p>"The almost ubiquitous overlap of at least some large shipping vessel traffic with whale shark aggregations underlines the magnitude of the threat the shipping industry poses," said Dr. Womersley. </p>



<p>"Our findings highlight the need for targeted measures within these areas to reduce the risk of collision and improve the conservation status of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/endangered-whale-sharks-starvation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">endangered whale sharks</a>."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Whale sharks and the growing threat of shipping lanes</h2>



<p>The global merchant fleet has doubled in size over the past 16 years, with over 100,000 ships now transporting goods worldwide. This number is expected to grow by as much as 1,200 percent over the next 27 years. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-new-approach-to-protecting-whales-from-ship-strikes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ship strikes</a>, collisions between vessels and marine wildlife, are a leading cause of death for large marine animals, affecting over 75 species and posing population-level threats.</p>



<p>Whale sharks spend nearly half of their time in surface waters, often in coastal areas frequented by shipping vessels. </p>



<p>Dr. Gonzalo Araujo, director at MARECO, noted the difficulty in quantifying collision-related threats due to the nature of these species. </p>



<p>"Collisions with large ships are likely to be fatal for whale sharks, but evidence is scarce because whale sharks are slightly negatively buoyant, so their bodies sink. To inform conservation efforts, it’s important to quantify collision-related threats even when direct evidence is lacking," said Dr. Araujo.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-high-risk-shipping-sites">Identifying high-risk shipping sites </h2>



<p>Whale <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracking-whale-shark-behavior-is-crucial-for-their-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharks</a>, primarily solitary creatures, gather at specific sites around the world known as constellations to feed. Protecting these high-density areas is crucial. </p>



<p>The researchers leveraged insights from over 75 experts worldwide to map these constellations. The team identified 107 areas across 26 countries with frequent whale shark sightings, based on over 13,000 individual observations. </p>



<p>Using data on large ship positions from Global Fishing Watch, the experts pinpointed regions where collisions are most likely. The most dangerous areas include the coast of mainland Ecuador, Isla Mujeres and La Paz in Mexico, Ewing Bank in the Gulf of Mexico, Kota Kinabalu and Redang Island in Malaysia, Pintuyan in the Philippines, Musandam in Oman, and regions around the Seychelles and Taiwan. </p>



<p>The researchers identified 39 sites where high shipping activity overlaps with peak whale shark occurrences. </p>



<p>"Many of these sites had more than one vessel per square kilometer in core habitats. For example, the constellation in Isla Mujeres in Mexico has an average of 56 ships passing through the core habitat monthly. These sites require urgent action to reduce the threats posed by shipping," said Dr. Chris Rohner, principal scientist at MMF.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mitigating-collision-risks-for-whale-sharks">Mitigating collision risks for whale sharks</h2>



<p>The research team explored mitigation strategies, including simulating vessel movements within the whale shark constellation at Ewing Bank in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Reducing vessel speeds by 75% led to a minor increase in transit time - about 5% - but significantly lowered the risk of collisions.</p>



<p>"One of the benefits of speed reductions is that they can be temporarily introduced during whale shark peak seasons. These speed limits can also be applied to smaller vessels, which are less deadly but can still damage the sharks," explained Dr. Womersley.</p>



<p>Rerouting ships around core habitats had an even smaller impact, with only a 0.5 percent increase in total transit time (about 2.4 hours per vessel) and a 1.1 percent increase in total distance traveled. </p>



<p>"Rerouting is the most direct way to reduce the risk of collision, and our results suggest that this will often be more cost-effective than speed reduction, mainly because whale shark core sites are small. Movements of as little as 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) away from a core whale shark habitat could mean fast transiting ships avoid the site entirely," noted Dr. Araujo.</p>



<p>Amy Fraenkel, executive secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), emphasized the importance of these efforts. </p>



<p>"CMS plays a pivotal role in securing the long-term survival of the whale shark – a globally endangered species. Ensuring the safety of this highly migratory species from vessel collisions within its migratory range, particularly at aggregation sites, is a key goal under CMS," said Fraenkel.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724029231?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science of The Total Environment</a></em>.</p>



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Whale sharks face deadly threats in shipping lanes

New research on whale sharks reveals that heavily trafficked shipping...

<p>The baobab tree, often celebrated as the "mother of the forest" or the "tree of life," captures the fascination of many with its imposing presence and unique features. </p>



<p>Despite its cultural and ecological significance, the evolutionary origins of the baobab tree have remained largely enigmatic, wrapped in a veil of mystery.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-madagascar-as-the-cradle-of-baobabs">Madagascar as the cradle of baobabs</h2>



<p>A new study led by the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, based at the <a href="http://english.wbg.cas.cn/">Wuhan Botanical Garden</a> of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has shed light on these magnificent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-highlights-the-value-of-old-large-trees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trees</a>. </p>



<p>The comprehensive study, which utilized advanced genomic and ecological analyses, pinpoints Madagascar as the ancestral home of the baobab from which all existing species have dispersed.</p>



<p>The research was based on high-quality genomic data from all eight currently existing baobab species. The findings suggest that the baobabs first appeared in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/madagascar-extinctions-linked-to-human-expansion-1000-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Madagascar</a> and subsequently spread across Africa and Australia. </p>



<p>The study reveals how various factors like environmental changes, animal pollinators, and fluctuations in local sea levels have tailored each species to thrive in its specific environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-from-the-genomes">Insights from the genomes</h2>



<p>The genetic clues indicate that all baobabs likely share a common origin in Madagascar. Intriguingly, six out of the eight known species are exclusively found on this island, hinting at a deep-rooted history intertwined with the geological and ecological dynamics of Madagascar. </p>



<p>"What we see about baobabs in Madagascar today was greatly influenced by both interspecific competition and the geological history of the island, especially changes in local sea levels," said Dr. WAN Junnan, the lead researcher of the study.</p>



<p>Understanding how these environmental factors influence the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baobab-trees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Malagasy baobab</a> provides insights that could help predict how baobabs in other regions might respond to similar challenges. </p>



<p>Historical data on global mean sea levels (GMSL) over the past 10 million years suggest that baobab trees were more likely to spread and expand during periods of lower sea levels. </p>



<p>This pattern could be disrupted by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-coastal-salt-marshes-are-keeping-pace-with-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rising sea levels</a> associated with ongoing climate change, potentially impacting the future expansion and survival of baobab populations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-challenges-for-baobab-trees">Conservation challenges for baobab trees</h2>



<p>The unique ecological niches that baobabs inhabit, combined with their limited opportunities for expansion, present a complex conservation challenge. </p>



<p>The loss of habitat for the trees and their crucial pollinators, such as fruit bats and hawkmoths, further threatens these iconic species. As a result, researchers are calling for a reevaluation of the conservation status of some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baobab-trees-dying-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">baobab</a> species.</p>



<p>There are ongoing proposals to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to update the classification of certain baobabs from endangered to critically endangered. This status would better reflect the severe declines some populations have faced.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More about baobab trees</h2>



<p>Baobab <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baobab-trees-dying-off/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trees</a> are among the most iconic and resilient flora native to the arid regions of Madagascar, Africa, and Australia. Known for their enormous trunk girth, baobabs store large quantities of water to endure harsh drought conditions. </p>



<p>These trees are often called "upside down trees" due to the root-like appearance of their gnarled branches. Baobabs can live for thousands of years, which makes them historical landmarks in their respective landscapes.</p>



<p>Their fruit, known as baobab fruit, is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and other nutrients, making it a valuable food source in arid regions. The fruit has a velvety shell and is about the size of a coconut, containing a dry, nutritious pulp that tastes somewhat like a blend of grapefruit, pear, and vanilla.</p>



<p>The baobab also plays a crucial role in the ecosystem as a habitat and food source for various birds and animals, including some endangered species. In addition to its ecological roles, the baobab tree has significant cultural importance and appears in many local myths and legends as a symbol of life and resilience.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07447-4">Nature</a></em>.</p>



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Mysterious origin of baobab trees has finally been revealed

The baobab tree, often celebrated as the "mother of the...

<p>A new study led by the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a> has discovered that Eurasian <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jays-with-greater-intelligence-have-more-self-control/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jays</a> can recall incidental details of past events. According to the experts, these findings suggest that the birds have a form of episodic memory akin to humans.</p>



<p>Humans possess the ability of “mental time travel,” reimagining past experiences and recalling seemingly unimportant details. For a long time, this episodic memory has been considered unique to humans.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-episodic-memory-in-non-human-animals-nbsp">Episodic memory in non-human animals&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-connects-old-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Episodic memory</a> describes the conscious reimagining of our memories and is often considered to be a uniquely human ability. As these phenomenological components are embedded within its definition, major issues arise when investigating the presence of episodic memory in non-human animals,” the authors wrote.</p>



<p>“Importantly, however, when we as humans recall a specific experience, we may remember details from that experience that were inconsequential to our needs, thoughts, or desires at that time,” they added.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This ‘incidental’ information is nevertheless encoded automatically as part of the memory and is subsequently recalled within a holistic representation of the event. The incidental encoding and unexpected question paradigm represents this characteristic feature of human episodic memory and can be employed to investigate memory recall in non-human animals.”&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-episodic-like-memory-in-eurasian-jays">Episodic-like memory in Eurasian jays</h2>



<p>In their study, the researchers aimed to test for episodic-like memory in Eurasian jays, known for their skill in remembering the locations of stored food. The experiment involved seven jays, which watched as food was placed under one of four identical cups. They were then rewarded for selecting the correct cup based on its position.&nbsp;</p>



<p>After training, the birds faced an unexpected memory test: they watched food being placed under one of the cups, now each with unique visual characteristics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>After a 10-minute separation, during which the cups were relocated and rearranged, the jays still identified the baited cup correctly 70% of the time, despite the visual changes and time delay.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eurasian-jays-recall-details-of-previous-experiences">Eurasian jays recall details of previous experiences</h2>



<p>These findings suggest that although the visual differences between the cups were irrelevant during training, the jays noticed and recalled these details during the test. This capability mirrors episodic memory in humans, where incidental details are recorded and accessed later.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers propose that this type of memory might help jays locate food stores. However, future studies are needed to explore whether jays can perform similar memory tasks in non-food-related scenarios.</p>



<p>“As the jays were able to remember details that held no specific value or relevance at the time that the memory was created, this suggests that they are able to record, recall, and access incidental information within a remembered event,” noted the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This is an ability that characterizes the type of human memory through which we mentally 'relive' past events (or episodes), known as 'episodic' memory.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-eurasian-jays">More about Eurasian jays</h2>



<p>Eurasian jays are medium-sized <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/body-sizes-and-shapes-of-birds-are-shrinking-as-the-earth-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> belonging to the crow family, Corvidae. They are native to the broad range of Europe and western Asia. </p>



<p>Eurasian jays are highly intelligent and exhibit complex behaviors, including the ability to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiger-beetles-mimic-toxic-moths-to-deceive-predatory-bats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mimic</a> the calls of other birds and even human-made sounds.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-appearance-nbsp">Appearance&nbsp;</h3>



<p>These birds are known for their striking plumage, which features a mix of pinkish-brown feathers, a white throat, and distinctive blue patches on their wings. Their head is adorned with a black mustache-like stripe and a black crown.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet">Diet</h3>



<p>These jays are omnivorous, feeding on a varied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-plantations-limit-native-birds-diets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diet</a> that includes acorns, seeds, fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. They are particularly noted for their role in oak tree propagation, as they collect and bury acorns to eat later, often forgetting some, which then germinate into new trees.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifestyle">Lifestyle</h3>



<p>Eurasian jays are typically solitary or found in pairs, though they can gather in larger groups during the winter. They have a wide range of vocalizations and are known for their loud, raucous calls. Their nests are built high in trees and are constructed from twigs, roots, and other plant materials, lined with softer items like moss and feathers.</p>



<p>These birds are also notable for their problem-solving skills and the ability to plan for the future. Despite their wide distribution and varied habitats, they tend to avoid areas of dense urban development, preferring woodland environments.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301298" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>PLoS ONE</em></a>.</p>



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



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Eurasian jays possess the ability of ‘mental time travel’

A new study led by the University of Cambridge has...

<p>The universe is vast,&nbsp;filled with countless stars and planets,&nbsp;many of which remain hidden from our view.&nbsp;But thanks to dedicated astronomers and advanced telescopes,&nbsp;we're slowly uncovering the secrets of our cosmic neighborhood.&nbsp;One such project,&nbsp;SPECULOOS (Search for Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars),&nbsp;has just announced a thrilling discovery:&nbsp;an Earth-sized <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/james-webb-detects-signs-of-life-on-exoplanet-k2-18b/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanet</a> orbiting a nearby "ultracool dwarf" star.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speculoos-3b-the-earth-sized-exoplanet">SPECULOOS-3b: The Earth-sized exoplanet</h2>



<p>This newfound world, named SPECULOOS-3b, is about the same size as our Earth but orbits a star vastly different from our Sun. SPECULOOS-3 is a star classified as an ultracool dwarf - meaning it's smaller, cooler, and dimmer than our own star. In fact, it's about the size of Jupiter and twice as cold as our Sun.</p>



<p>What makes SPECULOOS-3b even more fascinating is its incredibly tight orbit. It zips around its star in just 17 hours, a year that's shorter than a day on Earth. </p>



<p>Because of this proximity, one side of the planet is always facing the star, locked in a perpetual day, while the other side remains in eternal darkness. This phenomenon, known as tidal locking, results in extreme temperature differences between the two sides.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speculoos-project">SPECULOOS project</h2>



<p>The SPECULOOS project, led by astronomer Michaël Gillon from the <a href="https://www.uliege.be" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Liège</a>, focuses on hunting for planets around ultracool dwarf stars. These stars are faint and scattered across the sky, making their planets difficult to find. Patience and specialized telescopes are essential for this search.</p>



<p>SPECULOOS employs a network of robotic telescopes strategically placed around the world. These telescopes continuously monitor ultracool dwarf stars. </p>



<p>By observing tiny dips in a star's brightness, astronomers can detect the presence of a planet passing in front of it. This method, known as the transit method, allows scientists to identify and study distant exoplanets.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-sized-exoplanet-lacks-atmosphere">Earth-sized exoplanet lacks atmosphere</h2>



<p>While SPECULOOS-3b's size is similar to Earth, the similarities end there. The planet orbits extremely close to its star, which results in it being bombarded with intense radiation. SPECULOOS-3b receives sixteen times more energy per second than Earth does from the Sun. This immense amount of radiation creates a harsh environment on the planet's surface.</p>



<p>The intense radiation likely makes it impossible for the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alien-life-could-reside-in-dyson-spheres-across-1000-galaxies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planet</a> to hold onto an atmosphere. “In such an environment, the presence of an atmosphere around the planet is highly unlikely," said study co-author Julien de Wit, associate professor of planetary sciences at MIT.</p>



<p>Any atmosphere that SPECULOOS-3b might have had would have been stripped away by the star's relentless energy. Without an atmosphere, the planet cannot retain heat or support conditions necessary for life as we know it. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperature-of-speculoos-3b">Temperature of SPECULOOS-3b</h2>



<p>This lack of atmosphere also exposes the planet's surface directly to the star's radiation, leading to extreme temperature fluctuations. On one side of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-glory-lights-effect-seen-exoplanet-wasp-76b-baffling-astronomers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planet</a>, which is always facing the star due to tidal locking, temperatures are scorching. Meanwhile, the other side, perpetually in darkness, experiences frigid conditions.</p>



<p>“If there’s no atmosphere, there would be no blue sky or clouds - it would just be dark, like on the surface of the moon,” noted <a href="https://www.mit.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a> research scientist Benjamin Rackham. “And the ‘sun’ would be a big, purplish-red, spotted, and flaring star that would look about 18 times as big as the sun looks to us in the sky.”</p>



<p>“We think that the planet is nearly as hot as Venus, so not habitable,” said Rackham. “It’s not hot enough to have a lava surface. It should be solid rock. But depending on how bright that rock is, it could be recently resurfaced due to plate tectonics or volcanic activity, or it could be a planet that’s been eroded by space weathering and has a much darker surface. Going forward, we should be able to distinguish between some interesting scenarios for the surface of the planet.” </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-the-unique-exoplanet">Advantages of the unique exoplanet</h2>



<p>This lack of atmosphere might seem like a disappointment,&nbsp;but it actually presents a unique opportunity.&nbsp;Without an atmosphere to obscure our view,&nbsp;scientists believe that we may be able to study the planet's surface in unprecedented detail.</p>



<p>This unique environment on SPECULOOS-3b offers scientists a rare opportunity to study a planet's surface without atmospheric interference. </p>



<p>“SPECULOOS-3b is the first planet for which we can consider moving toward constraining surface properties of planets beyond the solar system,” said de Wit. “With this world, we could basically start doing exoplanetary geology. How cool is that?” </p>



<p>"The fact that this planet has no atmosphere could be a plus in several respects. For example, it could enable us to learn a great deal about ultra-cool dwarf stars, which in turn will make possible more in-depth studies of their potentially habitable planets."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-earth-sized-exoplanet">Future research on Earth-sized exoplanet</h2>



<p>The upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://webb.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>) is set to revolutionize our understanding of exoplanets.&nbsp;This powerful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-telescopes-can-directly-detect-signs-of-alien-life-in-exoplanet-atmospheres/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">telescope</a> will be able to analyze the light from distant worlds,&nbsp;revealing details about their atmospheres and surfaces.</p>



<p>Researchers are particularly excited about the potential of JWST to study SPECULOOS-3b. "With the JWST, we could even study the mineralogy of the planet's surface!" said Elsa Ducrot, a researcher at the <a href="https://www.observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/?lang=fr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paris Observatory</a>.</p>



<p>The discovery of SPECULOOS-3b is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of astronomers around the world.&nbsp;By developing specialized telescopes and innovative techniques,&nbsp;they are opening our eyes to the incredible diversity of planets that exist beyond our solar system.</p>



<p>As the SPECULOOS project continues to scan the skies,&nbsp;and the James Webb Space Telescope begins its mission,&nbsp;we can look forward to even more exciting discoveries in the years to come.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02271-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Astronomy</a></em>.</p>



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



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Earth-sized exoplanet discovered is only 55-light years away

The universe is vast,&nbsp;filled with countless stars and planets,&nbsp;many of...

<p>Recent findings unveiled at the <a href="https://easo.org/congress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Congress on Obesity</a> in Venice challenge long-held views on sugar intake and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-obesity-rates-spiked-during-the-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">childhood obesity</a>. The study highlights a nuanced approach to understanding how different sugar sources impact <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childrens-health-is-increasingly-affected-by-climate-and-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">children's health</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sugar-sources-and-childhood-obesity">Sugar sources and childhood obesity</h2>



<p>The research suggests that the type of sugar consumed during early childhood may be more significant than the total amount ingested when assessing obesity risks later in life. Interestingly, the study found that total sugar intake at a young age did not correlate with the child's weight by ages 10 or 11. </p>



<p>Children who consumed more natural sugars from sources like fruits and unsweetened dairy products exhibited a lower likelihood of becoming overweight or obese. </p>



<p>In contrast, those with higher sugar intake from processed snacks and sweetened beverages were more likely to have increased weights and higher obesity risk by ages 10 or 11.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthier-choices-for-a-healthier-future">Healthier choices for a healthier future</h2>



<p>Children consuming a higher proportion of their sugar from natural sources such as unsweetened liquid dairy products, like milk and buttermilk, exhibited a lower likelihood of becoming overweight or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/50-percent-kids-obese-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obese</a>.</p>



<p>This beneficial relationship was also observed in those who consumed more sugar from whole fruits.</p>



<p>Conversely, a high sugar intake from processed snacks, including cakes, confectionery, and sweetened dairy drinks like chocolate milk, was linked to higher weight and an increased risk of obesity.</p>



<p>The research was led by Junyang Zou from the <a href="https://www.rug.nl/research/epidemiology/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Groningen's Department of Epidemiology</a>. Zou emphasized the difference between intrinsic sugars - those naturally occurring in foods - and added sugars. </p>



<p>"While high consumption of sugary foods is considered a risk factor for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genetic-risk-childhood-obesity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">childhood overweight</a> and obesity, it’s crucial for children to consume less sugar-rich foods and more fruit and unsweetened dairy products," said Zou.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sugar-s-impact-in-childhood">Sugar's impact in childhood</h2>



<p>To explore these associations further, Zou and her team utilized data from the GEKCO Drenthe study, involving a cohort of children born in the northern Netherlands. </p>



<p>The study used parental reports from food intake questionnaires to analyze the children's sugar consumption across various food groups and its subsequent impact on their body mass index (BMI) and obesity risk.</p>



<p>Despite an average daily <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/u-s-toddlers-eat-too-much-added-sugar-and-it-could-harm-their-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sugar</a> intake of 112 grams, constituting about a third of the daily caloric intake, the study found no direct link between the amount of sugar consumed at age three and the child’s weight at ages 10 or 11. </p>



<p>However, sources of sugar did matter. Higher sugar intake from sugary snacks was associated with an increased BMI Z-score at age 10 or 11, whereas higher intake from whole fruits and unsweetened dairy products was linked to lower BMI Z-scores and reduced weight gain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dietary-recommendations-to-combat-obesity">Dietary recommendations to combat obesity</h2>



<p>The findings advocate for a shift in dietary recommendations for children. Encouraging the intake of fruit and milk over sweetened milk, yogurt drinks, and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sweet-snacks-rewire-the-brain-to-prefer-unhealthy-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sugary snacks</a> could significantly influence a child's risk of developing obesity. </p>



<p>The study calls for more focused research into how different sugars impact health, hinting at potential reasons such as the slower release of sugars from whole fruits compared to sugary snacks and the metabolic differences between sucrose, fructose, and lactose.</p>



<p>The research underscores the importance of not just the quantity but the source of sugar in children’s diets, pointing towards a healthier path for preventing obesity in the future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-eating-healthy-sugar-in-childhood">Benefits of eating healthy sugar in childhood</h2>



<p>Consuming healthy sugars in childhood is essential for promoting overall health and development. Natural sugars found in whole fruits, vegetables, and unsweetened dairy products come with a package of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, providing significant health benefits beyond mere energy. </p>



<p>For instance, fruits deliver essential vitamins like C and A, while dairy products supply crucial nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. The fiber in whole fruits helps slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, preventing blood sugar spikes and crashes, and promoting sustained energy levels and better appetite control.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nutrient-rich-foods-with-natural-sugars">Nutrient-rich foods with natural sugars</h2>



<p>Foods containing natural sugars are also more filling due to their fiber content, which helps children feel full longer and reduces the likelihood of overeating, aiding in maintaining a healthy weight. These nutrient-rich foods support healthy growth and development, with calcium and protein in dairy products playing a critical role in building strong bones and muscles. </p>



<p>Encouraging consumption of natural sugars in childhood can help lower their intake of added sugars found in processed foods, thereby reducing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.</p>



<p>Introducing children to a variety of natural, whole foods helps establish healthy eating patterns that can last a lifetime. Enjoying fruits, vegetables, and unsweetened dairy improves overall diet quality. </p>



<p>Moreover, consuming nutrient-rich foods with natural sugars supports brain health and cognitive function, as antioxidants and vitamins in fruits and vegetables are linked to improved mood and mental well-being.</p>



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



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Natural sugar sources are key to preventing childhood obesity

Recent findings unveiled at the European Congress on Obesity in...

<p>The bubbling,&nbsp;steaming hot springs of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yellowstone National Park</a> are not only a tourist attraction but also a scientific treasure trove.&nbsp;In a remarkable discovery,&nbsp;scientists have unearthed "giant" viruses dating back an astonishing 1.5 billion years in these geothermal cauldrons.&nbsp;These ancient microbes could hold the key to understanding the very origins of life on Earth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-a-virus-giant">What makes a virus "giant"?</h2>



<p>These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-virus-discovered-in-the-deepest-part-of-the-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">viruses</a> are not the typical ones we encounter. The term "giant" refers to their exceptionally large genomes compared to more common viruses. Despite their name, they do not pose any risk to humans. </p>



<p>Instead, these giant viruses provide valuable insights into a period when single-cell organisms were starting to emerge on Earth. They help scientists understand the conditions and processes that influenced the early development of life. </p>



<p>By studying ancient viruses, researchers can gain a better understanding of the evolutionary history and the environmental factors that shaped the origins of life on our planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yellowstone-s-hot-springs">Yellowstone's hot springs</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstone-tourism-generates-over-1-megaton-carbon-annually/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yellowstone</a>'s hot springs are like living fossils,&nbsp;remnants of a time when Earth was a much harsher place.&nbsp;The extreme conditions of these environments – scorching temperatures,&nbsp;high pressures,&nbsp;and toxic elements like arsenic – have allowed these ancient viruses to persist for eons.</p>



<p>Initially,&nbsp;researchers believed that these viruses couldn't be that old.&nbsp;Hot springs are relatively ephemeral geological features,&nbsp;coming and going over time.&nbsp;The prevailing theory was that viruses would have to re-evolve in each new hot spring that formed.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;the new findings have turned this assumption on its head.</p>



<p>"The connections between the viruses and [the hot springs] are ancient," explained Dr. Sumit Bhattacharya, a researcher at <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rutgers University</a>. This suggests that these giant viruses have been thriving in Yellowstone's hot springs for at least as long as cellular organisms have existed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-giant-viruses-in-yellowstone">Giant viruses in Yellowstone</h2>



<p>The viruses found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstone-lake-maintains-ice-cover-despite-warming-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yellowstone</a> are quite diverse.&nbsp;Some consist of bacteria,&nbsp;while others belong to archaea,&nbsp;single-celled organisms that thrive in extreme environments.&nbsp;Still others are made up of eukaryotes,&nbsp;the same type of cells found in plants,&nbsp;animals,&nbsp;and fungi.</p>



<p>This diversity is a testament to the interconnectedness of life. "This work supports the concept that viruses are present wherever cellular life exists, that viruses have existed at least as long as cellular life," noted Dr. Bhattacharya.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virus-adaptation-in-yellowstone">Virus adaptation in Yellowstone</h2>



<p>So,&nbsp;how have these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/viruses-can-either-help-or-harm-their-hosts-immune-systems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">viruses</a> managed to survive for so long in such extreme conditions?&nbsp;The answer lies in their remarkable ability to adapt.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Over billions of years,&nbsp;the bacteria and archaea in these hot springs have borrowed genes from each other to thrive in the heat and toxicity.&nbsp;This process of gene exchange has allowed the viruses to evolve and diversify,&nbsp;playing a crucial role in the long-term stability of the hot spring ecosystems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-to-genomes">Genes to genomes</h2>



<p>The researchers analyzed DNA samples from Lemonade Creek,&nbsp;a hot spring in Yellowstone that reaches temperatures of around 111 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp;They found sequences of archaea,&nbsp;algae,&nbsp;and bacteria that hosted a staggering 3,700 potential <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-a-new-virus-put-an-end-to-the-global-amphibian-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">viruses</a>,&nbsp;two-thirds of which were giant viruses.</p>



<p>Using computer analysis,&nbsp;the team narrowed down the number of officially identified viruses to 25 different types.&nbsp;They believe these viruses use red algae,&nbsp;which thrive in the hot springs,&nbsp;to reproduce.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This association likely began 1.5 billion years ago,&nbsp;when the viruses first evolved by borrowing genes from each other to adapt to the heat and toxins.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-giant-viruses">Importance of giant viruses</h2>



<p>These giant viruses may be ancient,&nbsp;but their discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the origins of life.&nbsp;By studying these microbes,&nbsp;scientists can learn more about how life evolved and adapted to extreme environments.</p>



<p>"Anywhere there's life, we expect viruses. They're not just a passenger. They are the major source of biological material on this planet. They have a huge role in moving genes around." explained Mark Young, an environmental virologist emeritus at <a href="https://www.montana.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Montana State University</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yellowstone-s-virus-legacy">Yellowstone's virus legacy</h2>



<p>The discovery of giant viruses in Yellowstone's hot springs is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of life.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These ancient microbes have survived for billions of years,&nbsp;evolving and changing alongside the Earth itself.&nbsp;Their story is a reminder that life is not static but a dynamic process of adaptation and change.</p>



<p>The next time you gaze upon the bubbling pools of Yellowstone,&nbsp;remember that beneath the surface lies a hidden world of ancient viruses,&nbsp;a legacy of the earliest days of life on our planet.</p>



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



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Giant viruses found in Yellowstone's hot springs have lived there for a very long time

The bubbling,&nbsp;steaming hot springs of Yellowstone National Park are not...

<p>Moose, the majestic giants of North America, are facing a silent threat - a parasitic worm that could be playing a significant role in their decline. New research from Washington State University (<a href="https://wsu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WSU</a>) has shed light on the underestimated impact of&nbsp;<em>Eleaophora schneideri</em>, also known as the arterial worm, on these iconic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forest-biodiversity-benefits-from-large-herbivores-like-elephants-and-moose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animals</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parasitic-worm-s-hidden-moose-invasion">Parasitic worm's hidden moose invasion </h2>



<p>The researchers found that <em>Eleaophora schneideri</em>, a parasitic roundworm, infests the brains of moose in southeastern Idaho. The microscopic early life stage of the worm, called microfilariae, scatter throughout the brain, causing subtle but widespread damage.</p>



<p>"The microfilaria are just scattered throughout their brains, and even though the damage from each is miniscule, they're basically shot-gunning the whole brain," explained Kyle Taylor, a pathologist at WSU’s Washington Animal Disease Diagnostics Laboratory (<a href="https://waddl.vetmed.wsu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WADDL</a>). </p>



<p>"We hypothesize the cumulative effects of large numbers of microfilariae in the brain may be associated with increased morbidity or chance of mortality, with mortality more likely in cases with larger numbers of worms."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moose-brains-infected-by-parasitic-worms">Moose brains infected by parasitic worms</h2>



<p>The research examined 61 recently deceased moose in Idaho. The researchers found no evidence of infection in northern Idaho moose or juveniles. However, a staggering 50% of adult moose in southeastern Idaho were infected. </p>



<p>Of those infected, three had damage to the tips of their ears. This condition is directly attributed to E. schneideri infection. Additionally, four infected moose exhibited atypical behavior before their deaths.</p>



<p>This is the first time researchers have identified this level of parasitic infection in moose. This finding raises alarming questions about the overall health and survival of these populations. The high infection rate suggests a significant threat to moose in the affected regions. </p>



<p>Researchers now face urgent challenges in understanding and mitigating this new risk to moose conservation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-silent-killer">A silent killer</h2>



<p>The arterial worm spreads through tabanid flies like horse and deer flies. Mature worms can grow up to 4.5 inches long. They live in the carotid arteries of the head and neck. There, they mate and release microfilariae into the bloodstream.</p>



<p>Infection can cause elaeophorosis, which disrupts the moose's circulatory system. This can lead to blindness, atypical behavior, and damage to the ears and muzzle. In severe cases, it can even cause death. Other species like deer and elk can also be infected. However, they typically show minimal to no signs of infection.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geographic-spread-of-parasitic-worms">Geographic spread of parasitic worms</h2>



<p>The experts also found that E. schneideri is widespread in southeastern Idaho. This aligns with the parasite's prevalence in neighboring regions of Montana and Wyoming. The distribution of E. schneideri coincides with populations of mule deer, which are natural hosts of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-thing-of-nightmares-parasite-turns-ants-into-zombies-at-dawn-and-dusk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parasite</a>.</p>



<p>The implications of this research are far-reaching. Moose populations have been declining for years across North America. Contributing factors include habitat loss, climate change, and predation. The discovery of this widespread parasitic worm infection adds another layer of complexity to the moose population. This finding underscores the need for further research and monitoring. </p>



<p>Understanding the full impact of E. schneideri is crucial for effective moose conservation efforts. Scientists must now investigate how this parasite interacts with other factors affecting moose populations. This comprehensive approach will help develop strategies to protect and preserve these iconic animals.</p>



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



<p>The next steps for researchers include developing tests to determine if live moose are infected with the parasitic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-discovered-worms-that-kill-tarantulas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">worms</a>. This would allow for targeted interventions and management strategies to protect these vulnerable populations. </p>



<p>"We really need to have an understanding of all the issues related to moose population decline, and this parasite appears to be a factor," noted Taylor.</p>



<p>The story of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moose-contribute-to-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moose</a> and the arterial parasitic worm starkly reminds us of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and nature's delicate balance. Parasites, often overlooked and underestimated, can profoundly impact wildlife populations. </p>



<p>Additionally, we must acknowledge their role as we face conservation challenges in a changing world. Understanding parasites is crucial to protecting our planet's biodiversity. By studying these hidden threats, we can better protect and preserve diverse wildlife. </p>



<p>The study is published in the <em><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-23-00112" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Wildlife Diseases</a></em>. </p>



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



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

Declining moose populations linked to brain-eating parasitic worms

Moose, the majestic giants of North America, are facing a...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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<p>Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. </p>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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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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Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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<p>Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.</p>



<p>The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."</p>



<p>"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."</p>



<p>"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."</p>



<p>The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&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>

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes the first comprehensive estimate of carbon density in the Saharan, Sahel, and Sudanian zones of Africa. In an effort to measure the amount of carbon stored across these drylands, a team of scientists used high-resolution satellite images and artificial intelligence to map nearly 10 billion individual trees. </p>



<p>"The high spatial resolution (50 cm) combined with AI and field measurements used in this study is key to improving tree inventories in drylands," said Pierre Hiernaux, a French researcher working for NASA. "The ever-increasing availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery will make it possible to assess carbon pools and their dynamics at the individual tree level on a global scale."</p>



<p>"This study is exceptional because it is pioneering a type of approach that will revolutionize the monitoring of trees and forests on a global scale: in the short term, it will be possible to map the world's trees from the centre of the Amazon to our schoolyards," said <a href="https://www.inrae.fr/en">INRAE</a> researcher Jean-Pierre Wigneron.</p>



<p>"Many fields of application will become much more efficient and accurate, such as tracking carbon stocks, biodiversity, monitoring logging and protection against illegal forest degradation, in near real time.”</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&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>

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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