Researchers have uncovered a connection between a specific type of body fat and the abnormal brain proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, detectable up to 20 years before the first signs of dementia.&nbsp;



This discovery, presented at the <a href="https://www.rsna.org/annual-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting</a>, highlights the potential for lifestyle interventions targeting this fat to influence Alzheimer’s development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-detection-of-alzheimer-s-nbsp">Early detection of Alzheimer’s&nbsp;</h2>



Study lead author Mahsa Dolatshahi is a postdoctoral research associate at the <a href="https://www.mir.wustl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology</a> (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.



“This crucial result was discovered because we investigated Alzheimer’s disease pathology as early as midlife - in the 40s and 50s - when the disease pathology is at its earliest stages, and potential modifications like weight loss and reducing visceral fat are more effective as a means of preventing or delaying the onset of the disease,” explained Dolatshahi.&nbsp;



With 6.9 million Americans over 65 currently living with Alzheimer’s - a figure projected to double by 2050 without medical breakthroughs - early interventions could significantly alter the trajectory of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-a-brain-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disease</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifestyle-factors-and-alzheimer-s-disease-nbsp">Lifestyle factors and Alzheimer’s disease&nbsp;</h2>



The study examined how obesity, fat distribution, and metabolic factors contribute to Alzheimer’s pathology. It involved 80 cognitively normal middle-aged participants, with an average age of 49.4 years.&nbsp;



Among them, 57.5% were obese, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 32.31. Participants underwent brain PET scans, body MRI scans, metabolic assessments, and cholesterol analysis. MRI scans of the abdomen measured subcutaneous fat (fat beneath the skin) and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-abdominal-fat-linked-to-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visceral fat</a> (fat surrounding internal organs).



“We investigated the association of BMI, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, liver fat fraction, thigh fat and muscle, as well as insulin resistance and HDL (good cholesterol), with amyloid and tau deposition in Alzheimer’s disease,” Dolatshahi said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visceral-fat-and-brain-protein-accumulation">Visceral fat and brain protein accumulation</h2>



The team analyzed thigh muscle scans to assess fat and muscle volumes, while PET scans measured amyloid plaques and tau tangles - abnormal proteins linked to Alzheimer’s.



Their results showed that higher levels of visceral fat were strongly associated with amyloid accumulation, explaining 77% of the relationship between high BMI and amyloid buildup. Other fat types, such as subcutaneous fat, did not account for this link.



“Our study showed that higher visceral fat was associated with higher PET levels of the two hallmark pathologic proteins of Alzheimer’s disease - amyloid and tau,” Dolatshahi noted.&nbsp;



“To our knowledge, our study is the only one to demonstrate these findings at midlife where our participants are decades out from developing the earliest symptoms of the dementia that results from Alzheimer’s disease.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-metabolic-health-and-alzheimer-s-risk">Metabolic health and Alzheimer’s risk</h2>



The researchers found that increased insulin resistance and reduced HDL (good cholesterol) levels were linked to higher amyloid accumulation. Interestingly, higher HDL levels partially mitigated the impact of visceral fat on Alzheimer’s pathology.



“A key implication of our work is that managing Alzheimer’s risk in obesity will need to involve targeting the related metabolic and lipid issues that often arise with higher body fat,” explained senior study author Cyrus A. Raji, an associate professor of radiology at MIR.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-deeper-look-at-body-fat-distribution">A deeper look at body fat distribution</h2>



While prior studies have linked high <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weight-and-bmi-do-not-accurately-reflect-a-persons-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMI</a> to brain health, this research is unique in distinguishing the effects of visceral fat from other types of body fat.



“This study goes beyond using BMI to characterize body fat more accurately with MRI and, in so doing, reveals key insights about why obesity can increase risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” Dolatshahi said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-obesity-and-brain-blood-flow">Obesity and brain blood flow</h2>



In a related study also presented at RSNA 2024, the team explored how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-obesity-rates-are-surging-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a> and visceral fat affect brain blood flow. Using MRI scans, researchers compared cerebral blood flow in individuals with high versus low visceral and subcutaneous fat. Those with high visceral fat exhibited reduced blood flow throughout the brain, while subcutaneous fat showed no significant impact.



“This work will have a considerable impact on public health because nearly three out of four Americans are overweight or obese,” said Raji.



‘Knowing that visceral obesity negatively affects the brain opens up the possibility that treatment with lifestyle modifications or appropriate weight-loss drugs could improve cerebral blood flow and potentially lower the burden of and reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.”



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Hidden body fat predicts Alzheimer’s 20 years before symptoms

Researchers have uncovered a connection between a specific type of body fat and the abnormal brain proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, detectable up to 20 years before the first signs of dementia.&nbsp; This discovery, presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, highlights the potential for lifestyle interventions targeting this fat to influence Alzheimer’s development. Early detection of Alzheimer’s&nbsp; Study lead author Mahsa Dolatshahi is a postdoctoral research associate at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St....

In a groundbreaking psychological study conducted by the <a href="https://www.essex.ac.uk/">University of Essex</a> and Humboldt University of Berlin, researchers have debunked the long-standing myth that drugs fuel creative thinking. Contrary to the popular belief that substance abuse leads to artistic breakthroughs, the study found that narcotics are, in fact, the least effective way to inspire creativity.



This revelation may come as a shock to those who have idolized hard-living musicians, writers, and artists for their seemingly drug-fueled creativity. The study found that the most effective methods to enhance creativity were complex training programs, meditation, and exposure to different cultures. Alcohol and pharmaceutical amphetamines, such as Adderall, had no significant influence on inspiration whatsoever.



"We examined hundreds of papers to uncover the best ways to boost creativity, and I hope the findings will help the growing number of people who rely on their creativity to earn a living," said Dr. Paul Hanel from Essex's Department of Psychology. "What worked best were complex training courses, meditation, and cultural exposure such as studying abroad. We believe it is a positive message that drugs do not enhance creativity, given the side effects of drugs."



The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/aca0000557">Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts</a>, scrutinized the findings from thousands of participants to unravel the mysteries of creativity. The researchers concluded that training programs that emphasize mental techniques to unpack the creative process have the most substantial long-term impacts on creativity. Moreover, they discovered that mindfulness activities such as meditation and open thinking boosted imagination in the short term.



Another crucial finding was that immersing oneself in different countries and experiencing diverse cultures can unconsciously broaden one's horizons. However, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to fostering creativity, as individuals respond better to various situations and techniques.



The researchers hope that their findings will aid schools and employers in better understanding creative thinking.&nbsp;



"Although it once seemed the preserve of artists, creativity is everywhere in the modern world," said Dr. Hanel. "Everyone from family businesses through to giant companies needs to produce material to show their wares on social media. This could be the difference between success or failure for many people, and I hope that this study will help them find inspiration."



"There are many ways to enhance and encourage creative thinking," said study lead author Jennifer Haase. "Creativity is not a skill to be learned and then applied. Creativity results much more from a situational fit between the cognitive mindset and the creative challenge."



Meditation has a significant impact on creativity by fostering a mental environment conducive to innovative thinking and problem-solving. Here's how meditation can enhance creativity:



<ol>
<li>Improved focus and concentration: Meditation helps train the mind to focus on the present moment and eliminate distractions. This heightened level of concentration enables individuals to delve deeper into their thoughts, paving the way for creative ideas and solutions to emerge.</li>



<li>Stress reduction: High levels of stress can impede creativity by making it challenging to think clearly and freely. Meditation is known to reduce stress, calm the mind, and promote relaxation. As a result, the mind is more open to accessing its creative potential.</li>



<li>Enhanced mindfulness: Mindfulness meditation encourages non-judgmental awareness of one's thoughts and emotions. This heightened awareness can lead to the recognition of novel ideas, patterns, and connections that might have been previously overlooked.</li>



<li>Cognitive flexibility: Meditation promotes cognitive flexibility by helping individuals detach from rigid thinking patterns and embrace new perspectives. This flexibility is essential for creative thinking, as it enables people to explore alternative solutions, perspectives, and ideas.</li>



<li>Increased openness to experiences: Regular meditation practice can lead to increased openness to new experiences and ideas, which is a critical component of creativity. Being open to new ideas and perspectives allows individuals to think outside the box and approach problems in innovative ways.</li>



<li>Enhanced neural connections: Research has shown that meditation can alter the brain's structure and connectivity. These changes can lead to improved cognitive functioning, including enhanced creativity. For example, meditation has been linked to increased activity in the default mode network, a brain network associated with creative thinking and daydreaming.</li>
</ol>



Meditation positively impacts creativity by improving focus, reducing stress, enhancing mindfulness, promoting cognitive flexibility, increasing openness to experiences, and fostering beneficial neural connections. By incorporating regular meditation into their routines, individuals can tap into their creative potential and improve their problem-solving abilities.



In conclusion, the Essex Department of Psychology study challenges the long-held notion that drugs and alcohol can spark creativity, offering more effective and healthier alternatives for individuals seeking to enhance their imaginative abilities.



—



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Meditation is far better than drugs to spark creativity

In a groundbreaking psychological study conducted by the University of...

Dogs have long been considered our best friends, assisting humans in various tasks such as hunting, guarding, and herding. However, research on dog cognition and the nature of dog-human relationships has primarily focused on Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) societies. This leaves a gap in our understanding of the complex bonds between dogs and their owners in diverse cultural environments.&nbsp;



To address this, a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Geoanthropology and the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/index/">MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology</a> studied data on the functions and treatment of dogs in 124 globally distributed societies.



The researchers examined ethnographic data from the eHRAF cross-cultural database to identify societies where dogs serve any of five main functions: hunting, defense, guarding herds, herding, and carrying or transporting supplies. They then gathered data on how dogs were treated in these societies and coded it into three dimensions: positive care, negative treatment, and personhood.



Their findings revealed that the number of functions a dog performs in a society is positively associated with positive care and personhood, and negatively associated with negative treatment. However, not all functions influenced treatment equally.



For example, herding was particularly likely to increase positive care, while hunting had no impact on positive care or negative treatment but did increase the odds of personhood. This suggests that in societies where dogs are kept for hunting, humans are more likely to name their dogs and perceive them as family members.



Interestingly, the study also found that negative treatment and positive care are not mutually exclusive. Out of the 77 societies with data for all three dimensions of dog treatment, 32 showed the presence of both positive care and negative treatment. This indicates that the dog-human relationship is not as simple as "man's best friend," but involves a complex balance between offering care and minimizing costs.



“Our study adds a systematic test for explaining the cultural drivers that shape the variety of dog-human bonds around the world,” said Juliane Bräuer of the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology. “This represents a first step into understanding whether the cognitive and social skills associated with dogs are universal or are influenced by the cultural environment the dogs live in.”



Dogs became human companions through a process known as domestication, which started around 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. The domestication of dogs is thought to have begun when wolves, the ancestors of modern dogs, began to scavenge near human campsites. Over time, a mutually beneficial relationship developed between early humans and these wolves.



The exact process of dog domestication remains debated among scientists, but there are two main hypotheses:



<ol>
<li>Self-domestication hypothesis: This theory suggests that wolves that were more comfortable around humans and showed less fear and aggression had a higher chance of accessing the food scraps left behind by early human populations. As a result, these wolves had a higher survival rate and eventually began to reproduce more successfully than their more aggressive counterparts. Over generations, these tamer wolves evolved into a separate population that increasingly relied on humans for food and protection, eventually leading to the emergence of the first domesticated dogs.</li>



<li>Active domestication hypothesis: In this scenario, early humans took a more active role in the domestication process. They may have captured wolf pups and raised them as pets or working animals, selecting for specific traits such as tameness, loyalty, or hunting ability. As humans selectively bred these wolves, they began to diverge from their wild counterparts, eventually giving rise to the diverse dog breeds we know today.</li>
</ol>



Throughout history, dogs have played various roles in human societies, from hunting and herding to companionship and protection. This close relationship has led to the coevolution of dogs and humans, with both species adapting to the needs of each other. Dogs have developed unique cognitive and social skills that help them understand and communicate with humans, while humans have also evolved to better understand and interpret dog behavior.



The researchers hope that future studies will shed more light on the history of dog-human cooperation. For instance, while roughly half of the world's societies keep dogs for only one purpose, the other half utilize them in multiple ways. Why did some societies begin employing dogs for multiple purposes? Did such use provide significant benefits? And if so, what were they? Answering these questions will offer new insights into how dogs and humans have influenced each other throughout our shared history.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31938-5">Scientific Reports</a>.



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How dogs function in society impacts how they are treated

Dogs have long been considered our best friends, assisting humans...

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> has led to a significant shift in our understanding of the origins of plant branching. By investigating the mechanisms responsible for this process, the scientists have uncovered insights into the appearance of Earth's first land plants millions of years ago.



The research, which focused on vascular plants, has identified a common mechanism for branching despite the fact that these plants exhibit fundamentally different growth patterns.



"Diverse shapes abound in the dominant flowering plant group, and gardeners will be familiar with 'pinching out' plants' shoot tips to stimulate side branch growth, leading to a bushier overall form. However, unlike flowering plants, other vascular plants branch by splitting the shoot apex into two during growth, a process known as 'dichotomy,'" said Dr. Jill Harrison from Bristol's School of Biological Sciences.



The team examined lycophytes, an ancient vascular plant lineage that formed coal seams during the Carboniferous era, as they preserve the ancestral pattern of dichotomous branching. Through a series of surgical experiments on a lycophyte specimen, the researchers discovered that dichotomy is regulated by short-range auxin transport and coordinated in different parts of the plant by long-range auxin transport.



These findings, published in the journal <a href="https://journals.biologists.com/dev">Development</a>, reveal that both flowering and lycophyte branching are regulated by auxin transport. This suggests that similar mechanisms were present in the earliest vascular plants around 420 million years ago.&nbsp;



By combining this new knowledge with discoveries made in the non-vascular, non-branching moss group, the researchers were able to infer the appearance of the first land plants about 480 million years ago.



In a previous study, Dr. Harrison's lab disrupted auxin transport in a moss, causing it to branch in a manner akin to the earliest branching fossils. The combination of these studies implies that the earliest land plants were branched and that branching was lost during the evolution of non-vascular mosses.



Dr. Harrison emphasized the importance of this discovery: "The greening of the land by plants paved the way for all terrestrial life to evolve as it provided food for animals and oxygen to breathe, and branching was a key innovation in the radiation of land plants. Our work implies that branching evolved earlier than thought, which is an important evolutionary conclusion."



Moreover, the revelation that distantly related plants use the same genetic mechanisms to regulate branching offers significant potential for future applications. "The fact that we have shown that plants that are so distantly related use the same genetic mechanisms to regulate branching brings great potential to transfer knowledge in engineering plant shape to improve future productivity and yield," said Dr. Harrison.



Plants play a critical role in maintaining Earth's ecosystems and are essential for the survival of countless organisms, including humans. Here are some of the reasons why plants are so important to the Earth's ecosystems, and why determining exactly how plants evolved is vital to science as we strive to protect them during this period of climate change.



<ol>
<li>Oxygen production: Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into oxygen and glucose. The oxygen they release is vital for the survival of aerobic organisms, including humans and other animals.</li>



<li>Carbon sequestration: Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, using it for photosynthesis and storing it in their tissues. This process, known as carbon sequestration, helps to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.</li>



<li>Food source: Plants form the basis of the food chain, providing energy and nutrients for herbivores, which in turn are consumed by carnivores and omnivores. Without plants, the entire food chain would collapse, causing a massive loss of biodiversity and ecological imbalance.</li>



<li>Habitat provision: Plants create habitats for various organisms, including insects, birds, and mammals. These habitats offer shelter, protection from predators, and breeding grounds for countless species.</li>



<li>Soil formation and preservation: Plant roots help to bind and stabilize the soil, reducing erosion and promoting the formation of new soil. Decomposing plant material also contributes to the formation of nutrient-rich humus, which is essential for the growth of other plants and the overall health of the ecosystem.</li>



<li>Nutrient cycling: Plants play a crucial role in nutrient cycling, taking up nutrients from the soil and incorporating them into their tissues. When plants die and decompose, these nutrients are released back into the soil, making them available for use by other organisms.</li>



<li>Water cycle regulation: Plants help regulate the water cycle by absorbing water from the soil and releasing it into the atmosphere through transpiration. This process contributes to the formation of clouds and precipitation, ensuring a continuous supply of water for the ecosystem.</li>



<li>Climate regulation: Plants influence local and global climate through the processes of evapotranspiration, carbon sequestration, and albedo (the reflection of solar radiation). By affecting temperature, humidity, and other climatic factors, plants play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the Earth's ecosystems.</li>



<li>Medicinal resources: Many plants have medicinal properties and are used to treat various health conditions. They are an essential source of pharmaceutical compounds and play a significant role in the development of new medicines.</li>



<li>Aesthetic and cultural value: Plants contribute to the aesthetic beauty of our environment and have significant cultural value in many societies. They have inspired art, literature, and countless human traditions and beliefs throughout history.</li>
</ol>



In summary, plants are indispensable for maintaining the balance and functioning of Earth's ecosystems. They provide oxygen, food, shelter, and countless other benefits that are essential for the survival of organisms and the health of the planet.



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What did the first plants on Earth look like?

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University of...

In the rapidly urbanizing world we live in, urban <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blue-and-green-spaces-are-beneficial-in-all-stages-of-life/">green spaces</a> such as parks and gardens serve as vital connections to nature for city dwellers. Not only do these green areas contribute to our physical and mental well-being, but they also play a crucial role in regulating heat waves, floods, and carbon sequestration.&nbsp;



However, until recently, the factors affecting carbon sequestration in urban green spaces remained largely unknown, leaving considerable uncertainty in future predictions about the magnitude of carbon sequestration in these ecosystems.



A groundbreaking study led by the <a href="https://www.irnas.csic.es/en/laboratorio-de-biodiversidad-y-funcionamiento-ecosistemico-biofunlab/">BioFunLab research group</a> sheds light on this critical issue, as they collected samples from 56 cities across all continents. The study emphasizes the importance of urban green spaces as carbon reservoirs, with soil carbon levels equivalent to those found in natural areas near cities.&nbsp;



"Our study shows that urban parks in green spaces around the world have an equivalent amount of carbon in the soil to natural areas near our cities, highlighting the role of our parks in a context of climate change," said lead author Manuel Delgado Baquerizo.



The research also reveals that the carbon stored in natural areas and urban parks is controlled by similar climatic factors. "Warmer cities have lower soil carbon content in urban parks and natural ecosystems, which is not good news in our fight against climate change in a warmer world," said Delgado Baquerizo.



However, the researchers found that carbon levels in cities and natural areas are regulated by different biological factors. While carbon in natural areas is closely linked to the primary productivity of the ecosystem, soil microbes play a crucial role in determining carbon levels in urban parks and gardens.&nbsp;



Tadeo Sáez, a member of BioFunLab and co-author of the paper, explained that ecosystem management, such as mowing, is essential in explaining carbon sequestration in urban green spaces. "Our study demonstrates that soil microbes are the main drivers of carbon in urban areas."



The researchers also discovered that the role of microbes as carbon regulators in urban parks has its drawbacks. "Carbon in park and garden soils is more vulnerable to loss through microbial respiration in response to global warming," said Delgado Baquerizo. "These soils have a high proportion of genes associated with the decomposition and mineralization of organic matter," added Tadeo Sáez.



Given the importance of urban parks as carbon reservoirs in a world where seven out of ten people will live in cities by 2050, the researchers conclude that future parks and urban policies should take soil microbiomes into account to maintain soil carbon and its capacity to support multiple ecosystem services, as well as the sustainability of our parks.&nbsp;



"Our study demonstrates the importance of parks as carbon reservoirs in an urbanized world, where 7 out of 10 people will live in cities by 2050. Future parks and urban policies should take into account the soil microbiome to maintain soil carbon and its capacity to maintain multiple ecosystem services as well as the sustainability of our parks," said Delgado Baquerizo.



The proportion of the population with access to urban green spaces can vary significantly depending on the city, country, and region in question. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that urban residents should have access to at least 9 square meters of green space per capita, and that green spaces should be within a 15-minute walk (or 300 meters) of every resident's home.



It's essential for city planners and policymakers to prioritize the creation and maintenance of urban green spaces, as they contribute to the overall quality of life, promote physical and mental health, and offer environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration and heat regulation.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01646-z">Nature Climate Change</a>.



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Parks play an integral role in the fight against climate change

In the rapidly urbanizing world we live in, urban green...

Each year, millions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-birds-adapt-their-gut-microbes-along-the-journey/">birds</a> crash into windows in cities along their migratory path, many of them losing their lives. Although window collisions are considered a major problem for a variety of species of birds, the bodies of these birds can often be a treasure trove of scientific information.&nbsp;



In a recent study published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1365294x">Molecular Ecology</a>, a team of researchers has analyzed fecal samples from 747 birds that crashed into Chicago buildings over a period of three years to investigate the composition of their gut microbiomes. The analysis revealed that the population of microorganisms in these birds’ guts are significantly different from that typically found in mammals.



“In humans, the gut microbiome - the collection of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes living in our digestive tracts - is incredibly important to our general health and can even influence our behavior. But scientists are still trying to figure out how significant a role the microbiome has with birds,” said Heather Skeen, a research associate at the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a> in Chicago.



In mammals, different species usually have their own signature arrays of gut microbes which help them digest food and ward off disease. According to DNA studies, these relationships often go back millions of years, with different species co-evolving with their microbiomes in a symbiotic relationship benefiting both the animal and their microbes.&nbsp;



However, the situation seems to be highly different in birds. “Bird gut microbiomes don’t seem to be as closely tied to host species, so we want to know what does influence them. The goal of this study was to see if bird microbiomes are consistent, or if they change over short time periods,” Skeen explained.



The analysis of fecal samples from 747 birds that crashed into Chicago buildings, belonging to four common species of songbirds called thrushes – supplemented with additional samples collected from thrushes in their summer breeding ground in Michigan, Minnesota, and Manitoba – revealed that, unlike in mammals, the different bird species did not seem to have their own unique set of microbes. By contrast, their gut microbiome appeared to change from season to season and year to year. These findings suggest that birds’ microbiomes are more connected to the environment around them than in the case of mammals.



However, further research is needed to clarify how birds manage to properly digest food and have functional immune systems that can efficiently fight off parasites, if their microbiomes change so much in just a few months.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Birds have surprising gut microbiome composition

Each year, millions of birds crash into windows in cities...

Overweight or obese people are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This problem is often addressed through behavioral <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/getting-more-sleep-can-boost-weight-loss/">weight loss</a> programs, which encourage lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and increasing physical activity.&nbsp;



A new review study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.122.009348">Circulation:&nbsp;Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes</a> has identified a consistent decrease in risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes for at least five years after behavioral weight loss programs, even if some weight was eventually regained during that period.



“Many doctors and patients recognize that weight loss is often followed by weight regain, and they fear that this renders an attempt to lose weight pointless,” said study co-senior author Susan A. Jebb, a professor of Diet and Population Health at the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a>. “This concept has become a barrier to offering support to people to lose weight. For people with overweight or obesity issues, losing weight is an effective way to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”



According to Professor Jebb, while many studies have already provided evidence that weight loss significantly improves heart health and reduces the risk of diabetes, most of them look at whether new treatments are effective and focus on weight change in the short-term rather than the effect on later disease.&nbsp;



"Individual studies are often too small to detect differences between groups in the incidence of cardiovascular conditions because, fortunately, they affect only a small proportion of the whole group, and studies may not continue long enough to see the effects on ‘hard’ outcomes, such as a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes or a&nbsp;heart attack.”



To overcome these limitations, the researchers analyzed 124 studies totaling over 50,000 participants, with an average follow-up of 28 months. The investigation revealed that, compared to people in less intensive programs and those in no weight loss programs, participants who lost weight through an intensive program had significantly lower risk factors for developing both cardiovascular disease and diabetes, exhibiting lower systolic blood pressure, reduced HbA1c (a protein in red blood cells involved in diabetes), and decreased levels of bad cholesterol.



Although this study had several limitations too – for instance, the information included in the review was not updated after 2019 and the reviewed studies were published solely in English – it nevertheless suggests that intensive weight loss programs might have major long-term clinical benefits. However, further research is needed to compare different types of weight loss interventions, their long-term impact, and how their positive outcomes may be diminished by regaining weight.



—



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Heart health benefits of weight loss persist for years

Overweight or obese people are at increased risk for cardiovascular...

The Greenland Ice Sheet, a massive body of ice covering an area of 1.7 million square kilometers (660,200 square miles) in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-ice-will-soon-vanish-during-the-summer/">Arctic</a>, has the potential to raise global sea levels by about seven meters (23 feet) if it were to melt completely.&nbsp;



Understanding the timeline and rate of this melting process is crucial for scientists, as it helps them predict and prepare for the potential impacts on coastal regions worldwide. However, determining the rate at which the ice sheet could melt has proven to be challenging due to the myriad of factors that influence it.



In a groundbreaking new study, climate scientist Dennis Höning from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and his team have identified two critical tipping points that could determine the fate of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Tipping points are thresholds where a system's behavior undergoes an irreversible change, and in this case, could lead to the permanent loss of large portions of the ice sheet.&nbsp;



According to the study, published in AGU's journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2022GL101827">Geophysical Research Letters</a>, if humanity releases 1,000 gigatons of carbon into the atmosphere, it will trigger the melting of the southern portion of the ice sheet.&nbsp;



A more alarming tipping point of 2,500 gigatons of carbon would result in the near-total loss of the ice sheet. Currently, we have emitted about 500 gigatons of carbon, placing us halfway to the first tipping point.



"The first tipping point is not far from today's climate conditions, so we're in danger of crossing it," said Höning. "Once we start sliding, we will fall off this cliff and cannot climb back up."



Between 2003 and 2016, the Greenland Ice Sheet has already experienced significant melting, losing approximately 255 gigatons (billions of tons) of ice each year. A complex interplay of factors, including air and water temperature, ocean currents, precipitation, and others, influences the rate and location of ice loss.&nbsp;



The difficulty in predicting how these factors interact, coupled with the long timescales needed to study such a massive ice sheet, has made it challenging for researchers to accurately forecast how the ice sheet might respond to various climate and carbon emissions scenarios.



Previous research suggested that global warming between one and three degrees Celsius (1.8 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) could irreversibly lead to the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. However, this new study employed a more comprehensive model, combining a whole Earth system model that takes into account all key climate feedback processes with an ice sheet behavior model.&nbsp;



The researchers conducted a series of 20,000-year-long simulations with carbon emissions ranging from 0 to 4,000 gigatons to identify the equilibrium states of the ice sheet and the critical tipping points.



As the ice sheet melts, its surface will be exposed to warmer air temperatures at lower elevations, creating a feedback loop that accelerates the melting process. Höning explains that a brief temperature increase of two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) would not trigger this feedback loop, but maintaining elevated global air temperatures for hundreds of years or longer would.&nbsp;



Once the ice sheet crosses the tipping point, its continued melting becomes inevitable, and even a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide to pre-industrial levels would not be sufficient to regrow the ice sheet significantly.



"We cannot continue carbon emissions at the same rate for much longer without risking crossing the tipping points," Höning warned. "Most of the ice sheet melting won't occur in the next decade, but it won't be too long before we will not be able to work against it anymore."



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Greenland Ice Sheet is approaching a critical tipping point 

The Greenland Ice Sheet, a massive body of ice covering...

A team of botanists from Ecuador, Germany, and the United States have discovered two new species of carnivorous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/native-island-plants-may-not-survive-animal-extinctions/">plants</a>. The species are both part of the genus Pinguicula, which is a group of flowering plants known as butterworts.&nbsp;



Butterworts are capable of catching and digesting small insects with their sticky leaves. The new species were found in the high Andes of southern Ecuador, near the border with Peru. This discovery is significant because the majority of butterwort species are distributed in the northern hemisphere.



Carnivorous plants are plants that have evolved to capture and digest small animals, usually insects, in order to obtain additional nutrients that are lacking in their soil or environment. These plants have developed specialized structures, such as sticky leaves or traps, that allow them to catch and consume their prey.



There are many different types of carnivorous plants, including sundews, Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and bladderworts, among others. Each type of carnivorous plant has its own unique adaptations and mechanisms for catching and digesting prey.



Carnivorous plants are found in a variety of environments, but they are most commonly found in nutrient-poor habitats, such as bogs, swamps, and other wetlands. These plants are able to thrive in these environments by supplementing their nutrient intake with the nutrients obtained from their prey.



The new Pinguicula species, Pinguicula jimburensis and Pinguicula ombrophila, were found in small-scale habitats within the Amotape-Huancabamba zone. This region is characterized by exceptional biodiversity due in part to the fact that the rugged terrain and varied climate of the Andes provide many microhabitats.&nbsp;



Pinguicula jimburensis was found on the shore of a highland lagoon at 3,400 meters, while Pinguicula ombrophila was found on a nearly vertical rock face at 2,900 meters.



Study senior author Tilo Henning is an expert at the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), who specializes in this plant family in this region. Álvaro Pérez of the Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Ecuador and his team were the first to discover the plants, before contacting Henning.



"Both of these new species are only known from a single location, where only a few dozens of plant individuals occur in each case," said Henning. He explained that this narrow endemism, or limited distribution in a particular area, is typical of the Amotape-Huancabamba zone, and there are many more new plant and animal species awaiting discovery.&nbsp;



"The results presented in this study show that the assessment of the Neotropical biodiversity is far from complete. Even in well-known groups such as the carnivorous plants, new taxa are continuously discovered and described, in particular from remote areas that become accessible in the course of the unlimited urban sprawl,” wrote the researchers. “This is both encouraging and worrying at the same time".



"Relentless urban sprawl and the accompanying destruction of habitats pose a massive threat to biodiversity in general, and to the tightly-knit and specialized organisms that depend on their fragile microhabitats in particular," said Henning.



While the two new species are relatively safe from direct human interference, as they both occur within protected areas, human-induced climate change is increasingly affecting ecosystems regardless of location, especially those that rely on regular precipitation, such as mountain wetlands.



The dependence on a constant climate is even reflected in the name of one of the two new species: Pinguicula ombrophila means “rain-loving butterwort," as the plant prefers very wet conditions, receiving moisture from the waterlogged paramo-soil and enjoying the frequent rain and fog typical for this area.&nbsp;



With the discovery of these two new species, the number of Pinguicula species recorded in Ecuador has tripled, as previously only P. calyptrata was known, discovered by none other than Alexander von Humboldt. The authors are convinced that there are many more new species of carnivorous plants around the world waiting to be discovered.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.222.98139">PhytoKeys</a>.&nbsp;



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Two new species of carnivorous plants discovered in Ecuador

A team of botanists from Ecuador, Germany, and the United...

Turtles and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-crocodiles-weighed-1000-pounds-and-walked-on-two-legs/">crocodiles</a> are two of the most endangered animal groups on Earth, with about half of these species currently threatened. To inform conservation efforts, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of which species are currently facing the highest risk of extinction and why.



Now, a team of scientists led by the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a> has found that the most endangered turtle and crocodile species are those that evolved unique life strategies, or ways of dividing their resources and energy for survival, reproduction, and growth. Such species usually play highly specific roles in their ecosystems – including seed dispersal, creating habitats for other species by making burrows, or acting as predators that help maintain balance in their ecosystem - which are unlikely to be replaced by other species if they disappeared.



The experts used state-of-the-art models to simulate extinctions caused by human-led threats to assess how species with different life strategies might be impacted. “A key finding is that the threats do not affect all species equally; they tend to impact particular life history strategies. For example, unsustainable consumption of turtles and crocodiles mainly affects the longest-lived species with the largest clutch sizes, such as sea turtles,” explained senior author Rob Salguero-Gómez, a biologist at Oxford.



The analysis revealed that, if all critically endangered species of turtles, tortoises, and crocodiles went extinct, 13 percent of unique life strategies would be lost. Currently, major threats to all of these species include habitat loss, climate change, and global trade, while species with unique life strategies are also particularly affected by unsustainable local consumption, diseases, and pollution.&nbsp;



For instance, turtles and crocodiles with “slow” life histories – characterized by late maturity and low numbers of offspring – are particularly vulnerable to threats from invasive species and diseases, while species with high reproduction output (higher clutch sizes), such as freshwater turtles and saltwater crocodiles, face significant threats from pollution and unsustainable local consumption.



“The main threat to the viability of these groups of reptiles is habitat loss and fragmentation, which is especially common in species inhabiting the Northern hemisphere. The disappearance of wetlands, increasing urbanization, and the development of intensive agriculture, which already have tangible effects, will likely continue to negatively affect these species and their ability to persist in the mid- to long-term,” said lead author Roberto Rodriguez, a biologist at the <a href="https://www.ua.es/en/">University of Alicante</a> who conducted this research during a fellowship at Oxford.



These findings highlight the urgent need for effective management strategies to protect species overall, while paying particular attention to those with unique life history strategies, whose functions would be most difficult to replace in their ecosystems. Citizens willing to help protect these animals should refrain from purchasing products made from them, support organizations involved in conservation projects, perform responsible ecotourism, and engage in citizen science activities.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37089-5">Nature Communications</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Turtles with unique features are most likely to go extinct

Turtles and crocodiles are two of the most endangered animal...

On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, a rare cosmic event is set to light up the night sky, with five planets – Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars - perfectly aligning at the same time, along with the Moon and a beautiful star cluster known as Messier 35 (M35). This will be the first <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-planetary-alignment-will-be-visible-during-june/">planetary alignment</a> since June 2022, when Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were seen together in a unique event that had not occurred in two decades.



While the previous “parade of planets” was easier to spot with the naked eye, the best way to see this one is to use binoculars and look west approximately 20 minutes after sunset. While Venus – the third brightest object in the sky, after the Sun and the Moon – will be quite easy to see with the naked eye, some of the other planets, such as Uranus and Mercury may be more difficult to spot, particularly from the proximity of city lights. Moreover, since Jupiter and Mercury will only be visible for less than an hour before they disappear over the western horizon, passionate stargazers should make sure they don’t miss this window of opportunity.&nbsp;



Jupiter and Mercury will appear near the horizon, at a magnitude of -1.2 and -1.3, respectively, and will be located in the constellation Pisces, separated by approximately one degree. Higher up in the sky, Venus will shine brightly from the constellation Aries, with a magnitude of -4.0. While these three planets will be easily visible with the naked eye, binoculars might be necessary to spot Uranus, located at about 2° from Venus and shining with a magnitude of 5.8. Finally, Mars will join the parade higher in the sky, close to the first quarter Moon in the constellation Gemini, at a magnitude of 0.9.



Although March 28 is the perfect time for observing this celestial event, the alignment will be visible a few days before and after that date. “Don’t forget to look to the sky&nbsp;the end of the month for the planetary alignment which will have at least five planets – plus the Moon – all visible in almost an arc shape as seen from Earth,”&nbsp;world-famous former&nbsp;astronaut&nbsp;Buzz Aldrin&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealBuzz/status/1636325054219710464?s=20">tweeted</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Five planets will align in the sky tonight

On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, a rare cosmic event is...

In a recently released global water security assessment, United Nations water experts have raised major concerns, revealing that a majority of the world's population currently lives in water-insecure countries. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-water-reservoir-found-on-the-moons-surface/">Water</a> security is crucial to development, and the report suggests that we are far from achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of "clean water and sanitation for all" by 2030.



The report was released on the second day of the <a href="https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/water2023">UN 2023 Water Conference</a> and provides a multidimensional comparison of water security affecting 7.8 billion people across 186 countries. It offers insights midway through the Water Action Decade (2018-2028) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.



Dr. Charlotte MacAlister, the report's lead author and senior water security researcher at the <a href="https://unu.edu/">United Nations University</a> Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), emphasized the importance of water security.



"Without water security, countries are simply incapable of supporting freshwater ecosystems, livelihoods and human well-being," said Dr. MacAlister. She urged for policy discussions to center around these development challenges in the remaining seven years to fulfill SDG 6.



The assessment, published by UNU-INWEH, also known as the UN Think Tank on Water, criticizes the policymakers' primary focus on water scarcity mitigation. The experts argue that this narrow interpretation of water security has derailed the world from meeting SDG 6 by 2030.



To provide a more accurate understanding of global water security, the UNU-INWEH report evaluated water security across ten components: drinking water, sanitation, good health, water quality, water availability, water value, water governance, human safety, economic safety, and water resource stability. The findings are alarming, with 78 percent of the global population (6.1 billion people) currently living in water-insecure countries.



UNU-INWEH's Director, Professor Kaveh Madani, praised the report as "a major contribution" to the UN 2023 Water Conference, held from March 22-24 in New York. He highlighted the need for targeted policy, funding, and action to accelerate progress, meet the 2030 Agenda, and ensure that the most vulnerable and insecure are not left behind.



The global assessment's key findings expose numerous challenges, such as the critical levels of water security faced by Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) due to various compounding factors. The report identified 23 countries as critically water-insecure, including 16 LDCs and 7 SIDS.



Furthermore, the assessment found that only 33 countries from three geographic regions are water-secure. Sweden tops the list, followed by numerous European countries, New Zealand, Cyprus, Australia, Japan, Israel, Kuwait, and Malaysia in the Asia-Pacific region, and Canada and the USA in the Americas.



The report also emphasized that abundant natural water availability does not guarantee water security. Many countries in Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and the Americas with abundant freshwater resources suffer from high rates of WASH-attributed (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) deaths due to limited WASH access, poor water quality, and water having low economic value despite potentially high economic losses due to floods or droughts.



Additionally, access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation remains a distant dream for over half the global population. More than 70 percent (close to 5.5 billion people) do not have safe water access, with Africa having the lowest levels of access at just 15 percent of the region's population.



Worryingly, the situation is not improving. More people die globally from a lack of safe WASH services than those killed in water-related disasters, and 2019 saw increased rates of WASH-attributed mortality in 164 countries.



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UN: World is falling way behind on water security targets

In a recently released global water security assessment, United Nations...

The universal appeal of art and its ability to evoke a range of emotions has long captivated audiences and artists alike. But despite its importance in human culture, the underlying mechanisms that drive our emotional responses to art have remained largely unexplored.&nbsp;



Now, a groundbreaking study from researchers at the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en">University of Turku</a> and Aalto University sheds new light on how viewing visual art affects our emotions and offers potential applications for mental health rehabilitation and care.



The study, which included a diverse sample of 1,186 participants from various countries, involved subjects viewing and assessing over 300 different artworks. The participants' eye movements were recorded as they viewed the art and they were asked to describe the feelings and emotions evoked by each piece. The study employed a combination of online surveys and laboratory-based eye movement recordings to gather data.



"Viewing the art evoked many different kinds of feelings and emotions in people. Even though many of the pieces handled sad or scary topics, the emotions that the people experienced were mainly positive," said study lead author Professor Lauri Nummenmaa from the Turku PET Centre at the University of Turku.



Intriguingly, the researchers found a correlation between the strength of the subject's bodily sensations and the intensity of the emotions they experienced, suggesting that our bodies play a crucial role in the aesthetic experience.



Study co-author Riitta Hari from Aalto University explained that human figures in the artworks were the most interesting subjects and received the most attention from viewers. "People have a tendency to empathize with each other's emotions, and this is probably also the case when we view human figures in art," said Hari.&nbsp;



This empathetic response to human emotions in art may occur through a process known as "mirroring," where the emotions portrayed in the artwork are absorbed by the viewer, often without conscious awareness.



The findings of this study indicate that the emotions and bodily sensations evoked by art can have a profound impact on our overall experience of it. "Bodily sensations can draw people to art: art evokes feelings in the body, and such stimulation of the body's pleasure centers feels pleasant to the viewer," said Professor Nummenmaa.&nbsp;



These insights open up exciting possibilities for leveraging the emotional power of art in mental health rehabilitation and care settings, where it could provide a valuable tool for emotional expression and healing.



One of the most popular theories explaining the emotional impact of art on humans is the concept of emotional resonance or aesthetic resonance. This theory suggests that when people encounter a work of art, they experience an emotional response as a result of a connection or resonance with the piece. The connection can be based on various factors, such as personal experiences, cultural context, or innate human tendencies.



A key aspect of emotional resonance is the idea of empathy and our ability to recognize and relate to the emotions of others. When we view art that depicts human figures, emotions, or situations, we tend to empathize with the subjects and experience emotions similar to those being portrayed. This empathetic response can be triggered by the brain's mirror neuron system, which allows us to understand and share the emotions of others by simulating their experiences internally.



Another component of the emotional impact of art is the role of our cognitive and emotional processing systems. Art can activate various cognitive and emotional processes, such as memory, perception, imagination, and evaluation. These processes can trigger emotional responses, even when the artwork is abstract or non-representational. For instance, certain colors, shapes, or patterns may evoke specific emotions or memories, leading to an emotional reaction to the artwork.



Furthermore, art can serve as a form of communication and self-expression, allowing artists to convey their emotions, thoughts, and ideas to the audience. This shared emotional experience can create a connection between the viewer and the artist, further enhancing the emotional impact of the artwork.



In summary, the emotional impact of art on humans can be attributed to a combination of factors, including emotional resonance, empathy, cognitive and emotional processing, and the communicative power of art. These factors work together to create a unique and personal emotional experience for each individual who encounters a work of art.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2023.2183180">Cognition &amp; Emotion</a>.



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Visual art evokes many feelings and emotions

The universal appeal of art and its ability to evoke...

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Today’s Video of the Day 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.



"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.



"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."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day 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.



"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.



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.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day 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;



"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.



"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."



"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."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day 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;



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;



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.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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;



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;



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. 



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.



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. 



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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Today’s Video of the Day 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.



“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. 



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.



“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;



“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.”



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



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.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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Today’s Video of the Day 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?



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;



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;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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Today’s Video of the Day 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;



'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)."



"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.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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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.



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;



"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."



"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."



"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."



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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Today's Video of the Day 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. 



"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."



"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.



"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.”



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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.

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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.

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> features a visual dataset of.methane emissions from wetlands across the globe. Atmospheric methane levels have reached record highs in recent years, and wetlands are a major source of these emissions.&nbsp;



"Methane is an important greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. On a molecule by molecule basis, methane is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the main driver of warming," says NASA.



"Though human activities, including agriculture, oil and natural gas production and use, and waste disposal, collectively contribute the majority of methane to the atmosphere, about a third of total methane emissions comes from wetlands."&nbsp;



According to NASA, understanding methane emissions from wetlands and other natural sources is critically important for scientists and policymakers who are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions from human activities.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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



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.

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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.

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes why experts are studying zebrafish to gain a better understanding of how the immune system responds to injury. Zebrafish have the ability to repair and regenerate organs.



“Organ regeneration offers an exciting opportunity for studying the immune system and to inquire why some species can regenerate organs like the heart or missing limbs while others like humans cannot,” explained Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski.



Zebrafish sensory organ hair cells are an ideal system to investigate the pathways and cell types involved in regeneration since they are easily destroyed with antibiotics and begin regenerating within five hours. This enabled the researchers to identify the exact timing and genetic programs for each anti-inflammatory macrophage activation state.&nbsp;



“Our hypothesis is that human macrophages do not receive the proper chemical activation 'cocktail' to instruct pro-regenerative processes,” said Dr. Nicolas Denans. “Identifying the molecular recipe of macrophage activation in zebrafish may one day enable us to design regenerative immunotherapies in humans.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“The new evidence is a valuable resource for comparative studies on the genetic programs involved in macrophage-mediated repair and regeneration. In other words, different types of injuries may induce different kinds of inflammatory responses. We want to decipher whether this 'language' is universal or if there are a variety of dialects."



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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.

How the immune system responds to injury

[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Stowers...

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how record-breaking heat expressed itself around the world in 2022.



Scientists have determined that 2022 was the 5th warmest year since 1880. Furthermore, the last nine consecutive years have been the warmest on record.



From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;



"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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



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.

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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



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.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...