Scientists have proposed a new explanation for dark matter and how the elusive substance that anchors galaxies might have taken shape in the newborn universe.



The scenario begins with weightless particles zipping through the cosmic furnace and ends with a chill population of massive pairs that could still be drifting through space today.



The work - carried out by physicists at <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartmouth College</a> - offers predictions that astronomers can check against existing observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background, the after-glow of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/if-the-big-bang-theory-is-correct-what-exactly-happened/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Bang</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-particles-after-the-big-bang">Particles after the Big Bang </h2>



“Dark matter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/existence-of-dark-matter-confirmed-by-new-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">started its life</a> as near-massless relativistic particles, almost like light,” said Robert Caldwell, senior author of the study. “That’s totally antithetical to what dark matter is thought to be - it is cold lumps that give galaxies their mass.”



In the model designed by Caldwell and undergraduate researcher Guanming Liang, countless high-energy quanta filled the universe just after the Big Bang. These particles, similar to the photons that carry light, hurtled about at near-light speed.



Under certain conditions, two such quanta could lock together because their spins pointed in opposite directions, rather like the attraction between the north and south poles of tiny magnets. 



The moment they bonded, the new entity’s energy plummeted and its inertia skyrocketed. Within a flash it went from a racing ray to a hefty relic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-sudden-drop-in-energy"><a></a>A sudden drop in energy</h2>



“The most unexpected part of our mathematical model was the energy plummet that bridges the high-density energy and the lumpy low energy,” Liang explained.



The researchers liken the transformation to steam condensing into water - a hot, diffuse gas suddenly collapses into a cooler, denser phase.



“At that stage, it's like these pairs were getting ready to become dark matter,” Caldwell said. “This phase transition helps explain the abundance of dark matter we can detect today. It sprang from the high-density cluster of extremely energetic particles that was the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-planets-formed-in-the-harsh-early-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early universe</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cooper-pairs-as-a-clue"><a></a>Cooper pairs as a clue</h2>



The paper introduces a brand-new particle to trigger the shift, yet the authors argue that nature already provides a parallel. In certain superconducting metals, two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massless-dirac-electrons-seen-moving-in-four-dimensions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electrons</a> with opposite spins form so-called Cooper pairs that glide without electrical resistance.



“We looked toward superconductivity for clues as to whether a certain interaction could cause energy to drop so suddenly,” Caldwell noted. “Cooper pairs prove that the mechanism exists.”



If the analogy holds, the relic pairs born in the cosmic dawn would have cooled into a nearly pressure-free state - a key hallmark of the unseen matter whose <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/theory-gravity-exists-without-mass-so-dark-matter-does-not-exist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravity</a> sculpts galaxies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-simple-model-for-dark-matter">A simple model for dark matter</h2>



Dark matter accounts for roughly eighty-five percent of all mass, yet the universe’s overall energy density has fallen dramatically since its first moments.



Liang points out that the new theory addresses both facts at once: “Structures get their mass due to the density of cold dark matter, but there also has to be a mechanism wherein energy density drops to close to what we see today.”



The abrupt condensation of massless quanta into massive pairs drains energy from the radiation budget while boosting the matter budget, squaring theory with observation.



“The mathematical model of our theory is really beautiful because it's rather simplistic - you don't need to build a lot of things into the system for it to work,” said Liang. “It builds on concepts and timelines we know exist.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-signature-written-in-ancient-light">A signature written in ancient light</h2>



Because the transition would have left the paired particles almost motionless, the team predicts a distinctive imprint on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/universe-more-complicated-less-clumpy-than-it-should-be-cosmic-microwave-background-cmb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic microwave background</a>.



The CMB has already been mapped by satellites and ground-based projects, and more precise surveys are under way at the Simons Observatory in Chile and in planned CMB Stage-4 experiments.



“It's exciting,” Caldwell said. “We're presenting a new approach to thinking about and possibly identifying dark matter.”



The researchers emphasize that their proposal is testable: if future CMB data reveal the subtle pattern predicted by their equations, the case for heavy pairs born from light-like quanta will strengthen. If not, the idea will need revision or replacement - exactly how science should proceed.



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



For now the paper stakes out a middle ground between theoretical elegance and observational reach. 



Upcoming missions will either expose the predicted CMB trace or tighten the limits on how dark matter could have formed. Either outcome will refine our view of the invisible framework that holds the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-than-one-big-bang-may-explain-cosmic-expansion-without-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmos</a> together.



Should the ancient sky bear the scar of those primordial pairings, physicists might finally glimpse how ghostly matter traded light speed for lasting weight - and reshaped the universe in the process.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.191004" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physical Review Letters</a>.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA and M. Montes (University of New South Wales)



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Where did dark matter come from? The answer may be surprisingly simple

Scientists have proposed a new explanation for dark matter and how the elusive substance that anchors galaxies might have taken shape in the newborn universe. The scenario begins with weightless particles zipping through the cosmic furnace and ends with a chill population of massive pairs that could still be drifting through space today. The work - carried out by physicists at Dartmouth College - offers predictions that astronomers can check against existing observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background, the after-glow of the Big Bang. Particles after the...

A study from <a href="https://ok.ubc.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UBC Okanagan</a> is providing new insights into the impact of therapy dogs and programs across various gender identities. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-therapy-dogs">Studying therapy dogs</h2>



The goal of the research, led by Dr. John-Tyler Binfet, was to determine whether the positive effects of canine therapy may differ across genders in a campus setting.



There is abundant evidence that dog therapy programs are beneficial for emotional and social well-being. However, most past studies were predominantly focused on female participants.&nbsp;



The UBC Okanagan study analyzed the effectiveness of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ten-minutes-with-a-therapy-dog-can-help-relieve-er-patients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dog</a> therapy programs among students identifying as female, male, and gender diverse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-well-being-resources-nbsp">Well-being resources&nbsp;</h2>



"Facilitating access to on-campus well-being resources is important in light of the prevalence of mental health challenges faced by post-secondary students, especially first-year students," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"Supporting students’ well-being and reducing factors contributing to ill-being is paramount to reducing the risk of students dropping out or underperforming academically."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gender-specific-study">Gender-specific study</h2>



Dr. Binfet has conducted numerous studies on the benefits of canine therapy, but to his knowledge, this is the first gender-specific study about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/full-time-hospital-therapy-dogs-benefit-both-patients-and-staff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">canine therapy</a>.



“Previous research has explored if it works and how it works, but not who it works for,” said Dr. Binfet. “This was one of the first studies that examined whether canine-assisted interventions work equally well for varied genders.”



The study participants were students who self-selected their gender group. Prior to the therapy sessions, they provided reports of well-being; specifically measuring their self-perceptions of social connectedness, happiness, optimism, stress, homesickness and loneliness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dimensions-of-well-being-from-therapy-dogs">Dimensions of well-being from therapy dogs</h2>



"For the purpose of our study, well-being was conceptualized as 'a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community,'" wrote the researchers.



"As this definition incorporates both positive and negative dimensions of well-being, we designed our study to incorporate aspects of both well-being and ill-being."



A total of 163 students participated in the study: 49% women, 33% men, and 17% identifying as non-binary or other genders. These students, in groups of three or four, took part in 20-minute sessions with a therapy dog and handler. After their session, they filled out a post-session survey.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The results showed a notable increase in overall well-being among participants and a decline in feelings of homesickness, stress, and loneliness.&nbsp;



Furthermore, the positive impact of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/petting-a-dog-even-when-its-not-your-own-can-boost-your-health-for-months/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">canine</a> intervention therapy was consistently observed across all gender identities.



“In light of previous studies that note participants were predominantly women, our sampling of men, genderfluid and two-spirit participants furthers our understanding that the efficacy of these interventions does not appear to be gender dependent,” said Dr. Binfet.&nbsp;



“The vast majority of responses showed that the dogs helped the students feel and experience something positive regardless of their gender.”



The research may have profound implications for mental health and wellness programs at post-secondary institutions. As educators constantly strive to find inclusive, low-cost, and accessible solutions for student well-being, the gender inclusivity of canine therapy may be a promising resource.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/hai.2023.0037" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human-Animal Interactions</a>.&nbsp;



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Therapy dogs benefit student well-being across all genders

A study from UBC Okanagan is providing new insights into...

While many of us are familiar with popular dietary regimens like the Mediterranean or DASH diet, a report from the <a href="https://www.heart.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association</a> promotes a diet that you've probably never heard of:the portfolio diet. A recent study suggests that this diet may significantly decrease the risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-diet-may-save-your-life-six-key-foods-lower-the-risk-of-heart-disease/">heart disease</a> and stroke.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-portfolio-diet-nbsp">Portfolio diet&nbsp;</h2>



The portfolio diet specifically targets the reduction of "bad" LDL cholesterol, which is a prominent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The primary components of the portfolio diet include:



<ul>
<li>Plant-based proteins like soy and legumes.</li>



<li>Foods rich in viscous fiber such as oats, barley, berries, apples, and citrus fruits.</li>



<li>Nuts and seeds.</li>



<li>Phytosterols that decrease cholesterol absorption, available in fortified foods or as supplements.</li>



<li>Avocado and plant-based oils rich in monounsaturated fats.</li>
</ul>



Dr. Andrea Glenn is the lead author of the study and a registered dietitian at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston and the University of Toronto.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consistent-health-benefits-nbsp">Consistent health benefits&nbsp;</h2>



"Through this research, we found that the portfolio diet score was consistently associated with a lower risk of both heart disease and stroke, highlighting an opportunity for people to lower their heart disease risk through consuming more of these foods recommended in the diet," said Dr. Glenn.



While prior studies have established that the portfolio diet can reduce LDL cholesterol levels comparably to early-generation statins, not much was known about its long-term effects on cardiovascular disease risk.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



This prompted researchers to analyze the diet data of 166,270 women and 43,970 men who were initially free from cardiovascular diseases in the mid-1980s to early 1990s. The participants' diets were assessed every four years using food questionnaires.



After nearly 30 years, participants with the highest adherence to the portfolio diet had a remarkable 14 percent reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, in comparison to those with the lowest adherence.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lowering-ldl-cholesterol-nbsp">Lowering LDL cholesterol&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Kristina Petersen, an associate professor of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State, commented on the importance of lowering LDL cholesterol.



"We're always looking at ways to reduce the risk of heart disease, and one effective way to do that is to lower blood cholesterol levels, particularly LDL cholesterol," said Dr. Petersen



Although she was not involved in the current study, Dr. Petersen co-authored an AHA scientific statement that evaluated 10 prevalent diets based on their heart health benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-forward-diet">Plant-forward diet</h2>



The portfolio diet bears resemblance to other heart-healthy diets in terms of emphasizing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, plant protein, nuts, and plant oils.



While this diet may not be as well known as the DASH and Mediterranean diets, there are significant overlaps, said Dr. Glenn. The portfolio diet, she said, is more "plant forward" and discourages animal proteins more than other dietary patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-public-awareness-nbsp">Lack of public awareness&nbsp;</h2>



Despite its potential heart-health benefits, the portfolio diet's lack of public awareness is evident. Dr. Glenn hopes that these new findings will elevate its status and emphasize its flexibility.



"It's not an all-or-nothing approach. You can take your own diet and make a few small changes and see cardiovascular benefits," said Dr. Glenn.



"You also do not have to follow it as a strict vegan or vegetarian diet to see benefits, but the more of the foods (from the portfolio diet) that you eat, the greater your heart disease risk protection, as we saw in the current study. We need to get the word out."



The findings are published in the American Heart Association journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.065551">Circulation</a>.



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Plant-forward portfolio diet reduces heart disease risk

While many of us are familiar with popular dietary regimens...

Deforestation in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/amazon-animals-will-suffer-as-the-rainforest-turns-into-savanna/">Amazon</a> is heating up land surfaces as far as 100 kilometers away, according to a new study led by Dr. Edward Butt at the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a>.



The research highlights the pivotal role tropical forests play in land surface cooling, an effect observed over significant distances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-amazon-deforestation">Studying Amazon deforestation</h2>



While it has been previously recognized that clearing tropical forests leads to immediate climate warming in the vicinity, the researchers wanted to investigate the climate impact of Amazon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-deforestation-crisis-how-can-we-stop-massive-forest-losses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deforestation</a> in more distant regions. 



The study specifically gauged the climate effects in areas up to 100 kilometers from the deforestation sites.



Dr. Butt emphasized the urgent need to understand the impact of Amazon's forest loss.



“The world is getting warmer as a result of climate change. It is important that we understand how deforestation of the Amazon ecosystem is contributing to climate warming," said Dr. Butt. "If deforestation is warming surrounding regions, this would have big implications for people living in those areas."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



The experts integrated satellite data to track land surface temperature changes and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brazilian-amazon-crisis-deforestation-is-escalating-in-indigenous-territories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon forest loss</a> from 2001 to 2020. 



With data from 3.7 million locations across the Amazon basin, the researchers compared warming that had occurred over regions with varying amounts of local and regional deforestation.



For clarity, the scientists categorized deforestation within two kilometers of a data point as "local." Beyond this, land up to 100 kilometers away, was deemed "regional."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The data revealed that in zones with minimal local and regional deforestation, the average land temperature change from 2001 to 2021 was just 0.3°C.&nbsp;



By contrast, areas subjected to both local and regional deforestation witnessed an average temperature surge of 4.4°C.



“The regional warming due to Amazon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deforestation-linked-to-irreversible-transition-in-the-amazon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deforestation</a> will have negative consequences for the 30 million people living within the Amazon basin, many of whom are already exposed to dangerous levels of heat," wrote the study authors. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-warming-scenarios">Potential warming scenarios</h2>



The team also projected the potential warming of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/rio-negro-is-shrinking-as-drought-strikes-the-brazilian-amazon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brazilian Amazon</a> in the next 30 years based on two scenarios of future deforestation. 



In the first scenario, the Forest Code is ignored and protected areas not safeguarded. The second scenario anticipates some level of forest protection.&nbsp;



The findings suggest that in Mato Grosso state, located in the southern Amazon where forest loss is rampant, reducing deforestation could mitigate future warming by over 0.5°C.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-amazon-deforestation-implications">Amazon deforestation implications </h2>



“It is well known that protecting tropical forests is crucial in the fight against global climate change. Our work shows that protecting forests will also have big benefits at a local, regional and national scale," said Professor Dominick Spracklen from the University of Leeds.



“We show that reducing deforestation would reduce future warming across the southern Amazon. This would benefit people living across the region through reducing heat stress and reducing the negative impacts on agriculture.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Study co-author Dr. Celso von Randow is a researcher from the Brazilian <a href="https://www.gov.br/inpe/pt-br" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Institute for Space Research</a>.



“In Brazil, studies on the importance of conserving forests for carbon storage are common, but we still lack studies on their biophysical effects. This is important because the Amazon is warming rapidly due to climate change, and now exacerbated by deforestation," said Dr. von Randow.&nbsp;



“New efforts to control deforestation across the Brazilian Amazon have been successful and deforestation rates have declined over the last year, and now we see benefits of possibly reducing the warming affecting people living in this region. Recognizing such benefits will hopefully result in more widespread support for continued efforts to reduce deforestation and protect forests.” 



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2309123120">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Amazon deforestation has far-reaching impacts

Deforestation in the Amazon is heating up land surfaces as...

The first wide-scale assessment of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiders-transfer-mercury-contamination-from-water-to-land-animals/">methylmercury</a>, a very poisonous form of mercury, in adult amphibians in the U.S. to date has found that this toxic compound is common, widespread and, in some cases, can reach very high levels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-amphibians-and-mercury">Studying amphibians and mercury</h2>



The study, titled “Broad-scale Assessment of Methylmercury in Adult Amphibians,” and published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c05549" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Science and Technology</a>, encompasses data from over 3,200 amphibians spanning 14 species across 26 populations. This collaboration involved scientists from various regions of the country.



“Amphibians are the most endangered group of vertebrates worldwide, but until this study, we knew relatively little about the variability of mercury bioaccumulation in amphibians,” said Anne Kinsinger, the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a> (USGS) Associate Director for Ecosystems.&nbsp;



“Trailblazing USGS science, like this study, provides a solid foundation for research and helps managers address the most pressing issues facing fish and wildlife conservation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methylmercury-concentrations-nbsp">Methylmercury concentrations&nbsp;</h2>



The investigation unveiled a range of methylmercury concentrations in <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/how-do-amphibians-breathe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphibians</a>, influenced by factors including the specific site, as well as the life history characteristics of the amphibians, such as their diet, size, and sex. 



Some locations revealed barely detectable levels, while others demonstrated concentrations exceeding wildlife health benchmarks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercury-levels-vary-in-amphibians">Mercury levels vary in amphibians</h2>



While the study noted substantial variation in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warming-temperatures-methylmercury/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methylmercury</a> levels across amphibians, the range was less extensive than that reported for other species like dragonflies, fishes, and birds. 



This lesser variation in amphibians is thought to be due to the current focus on sampling from wetlands, in contrast to the diverse habitats considered in studies on other animal species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bioaccumulation-nbsp">Bioaccumulation&nbsp;</h2>



Mercury, recognized as a global contaminant of concern, is suspected to be a contributing factor to the declining numbers of amphibians, though its specific role in this decline is yet to be fully understood.



Produced by aquatic microbes, methylmercury is the most bioavailable and toxic form of mercury for vertebrates. It enters the food chain and accumulates within animals, a process referred to as bioaccumulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unknown-health-effects">Unknown health effects</h2>



“Despite its toxicity, scientists only have a limited understanding of methylmercury’s effects on amphibians,” said lead author Brian Tornabene, a postdoctoral fellow at USGS. “The results from this study can be used to inform future research on the health effects of methylmercury exposure on amphibians, which for some was very high.”



The study also provides new methodologies and baseline data critical for assessing mercury risk, particularly for species under conservation concern, including those listed under the Endangered Species Act, according to co-author Michael Adams, the leader of the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative.



A novel approach proposed by the study involves using dragonfly larvae as proxies for assessing methylmercury bioaccumulation in amphibians, especially for species that are challenging to sample directly. This method is currently being implemented in a <a href="https://geonarrative.usgs.gov/dmp/">nationwide project by the USGS/National Park Service</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The current findings highlight the particular vulnerability of amphibians to environmental contaminants like mercury, owing to their reliance on aquatic habitats. It also acknowledges the need for a deeper understanding of how exposure to contaminants, in conjunction with other threats such as diseases, impacts amphibian populations.



By providing a comprehensive view of methylmercury variation in amphibians, this study marks a significant step forward in unraveling the complex interplay between environmental contaminants and amphibian health and conservation.



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Amphibians threatened by mercury, with unknown health impacts

The first wide-scale assessment of methylmercury, a very poisonous form...

As the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-made-covid-19-patients-sicker-for-longer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID-19</a> pandemic emerged, one of the most pronounced impacts was observed on cruise ships. A disproportionate number of cruise ship passengers were infected with the virus and stranded onboard for quarantine.&nbsp;



This scenario highlighted the urgent need for improved ventilation on cruise ships to distribute fresh air, especially in cabins and other enclosed areas, to reduce viral transmission.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-airborne-viruses-nbsp">Airborne viruses&nbsp;</h2>



A new study published by the <a href="https://www.aip.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Institute of Physics</a> investigated how ventilation can influence the transmission of airborne viruses in a standard cruise ship cabin. This examination was based on the guidelines established both before and after the pandemic.



“The most recent standards and regulations on room safety regarding the airborne transmission of viruses focus on high rates of air exchange,” said study co-author Dimitris Drikakis. 



“But this can be inefficient in terms of energy consumption, can compromise passenger comfort as it generates strong air drafts, and most importantly, can spread saliva droplets up to five times more when passengers cough.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-computer-simulations">Computer simulations</h2>



To comprehend the implications thoroughly, Drikakis and his team simulated virus droplets resulting from a cough in a typical cruiser cabin designed for two or more occupants. These simulations factored in varying ventilation rates and the positioning of the individual coughing.&nbsp;



The range for computational fluid dynamics testing was broad, between 1.5 to 15 air changes per hour (ACH), encompassing scenarios from minimal ventilation to rates that surpassed the newest recommendations.



“The study reveals that a higher ventilation rate is not the best strategy to avoid spreading airborne diseases,” said Drikakis. “Complete evaporation of the saliva droplets may not necessarily mean all viruses or bacteria become instantly inactive. Therefore, we should aim at minimum droplet spreading inside the cabin and different ventilation strategies for occupied cabins.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ideal-ventilation-strategy-nbsp">Ideal ventilation strategy&nbsp;</h2>



Upon evaluating the results, the research team proposed an ideal ventilation strategy. Systems should function at medium flow rates of about 3 ACH when cabins are occupied and then ramp up to 15 ACH for a minimum of 12 minutes post-vacancy.&nbsp;



This method ensures a complete air refreshment for subsequent occupants. Additionally, they advocate for a "clearance wait time" of at least 12 minutes for rooms of comparable sizes, maintaining a minimum of 15 ACH.



“Our main argument for the proposed values is the necessity to minimize droplet spreading while maintaining good ventilation levels, comfort, and energy consumption,” stated Drikakis.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



This approach offers a more energy-efficient solution and elevates passenger comfort - a stark contrast to the practice of leveraging higher ventilation rates.



“Our main argument for the proposed values is the necessity to minimize droplet spreading while maintaining good ventilation levels, comfort and energy consumption,” said Drikakis. “Keeping ventilation at the proposed values reduces energy consumption and improves passenger comfort in contrast to the use of higher ventilation rates.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/5.0169992" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics of Fluids</a>.



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Cruise ships rethink ventilation to minimize viral spread

As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, one of the most pronounced...

A recent study led by the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/">University of Sydney</a> has revealed a concerning decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics used to treat common infections in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-may-be-isolating-too-long-for-covid-19-infection/">children</a> and babies worldwide.&nbsp;



This alarming resistance to antibiotics is leading to outdated global guidelines and a subsequent rise in avoidable deaths, particularly in regions such as South-East Asia and the Pacific.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-updates-urgently-needed">Updates urgently needed</h2>



The study highlighted that many antibiotics, which are recommended by the World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO</a>), show less than 50 percent effectiveness in combating childhood infections like pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. 



This indicates that the global guidelines on antibiotic use urgently require updates. It is worth noting that these findings are further supported by data in the journal "Lancet South East Asia."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thousands-of-preventable-deaths">Thousands of preventable deaths</h2>



Regions facing the brunt of this crisis include South-East Asia and the Pacific, specifically nations like Indonesia and the Philippines. Thousands of preventable child deaths in these areas result from the growing antibiotic resistance each year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-health-threat">Global health threat</h2>



The WHO has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top 10 global public health threats.&nbsp;



Among newborns, approximately three million sepsis cases are reported worldwide every year, leading to almost 570,000 deaths. A significant portion of these deaths can be attributed to antibiotics that are ineffective in treating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-have-been-found-in-clouds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria resistant</a> to them.



Of particular concern, the antibiotic ceftriaxone, commonly used in Australia to treat a myriad of child infections, is now found to be effective in only one out of three cases of newborn sepsis or meningitis. Another drug, gentamicin, often prescribed alongside aminopenicillins, is similarly losing its efficacy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-research">Focus of the research</h2>



Study lead author Dr. Phoebe Williams is an infectious disease specialist at the University’s School of Public Health and <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/infectious-diseases-institute/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute</a>. Her research is focused on reducing antimicrobial resistance in high-burden healthcare settings in Southeast Asia.



Antimicrobial resistance poses a more significant threat to children as newer antibiotics are less frequently tested on them.



For the study, the experts scrutinized 6,648 bacterial isolates from 11 countries, relying on data from 86 publications.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wake-up-call-nbsp">Wake-up call&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Williams said the study should be a wake-up call for the whole world, including Australia. "We are not immune to this problem - the burden of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sloths-may-hold-a-secret-weapon-against-antibiotic-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antimicrobial resistance</a> is on our doorstep," she said.



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-linked-to-increase-in-antibiotic-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antibiotic resistance</a> is rising more rapidly than we realize. We urgently need new solutions to stop invasive multidrug-resistant infections and the needless deaths of thousands of children each year.”



“Antibiotic clinical focus on adults and too often children and newborns are left out. That means we have very limited options and data for new treatments.”



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



Currently, Dr. Williams is researching the potential of an older antibiotic, fosfomycin, to counteract multidrug-resistant urinary tract infections in Australian children. She's also actively collaborating with the WHO’s Paediatric Drug Optimisation Committee to expedite children's access to effective antibiotics.



Study senior author Paul Turner is the director of the Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit at Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap and a professor at the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a>.



“This study reveals important problems regarding the availability of effective antibiotics to treat serious infections in children,” said Turner. “It also highlights the ongoing need for high quality laboratory data to monitor the AMR situation, which will facilitate timely changes to be made to treatment guidelines.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100291">The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia</a>.&nbsp;



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Antibiotics for childhood infections are becoming ineffective

A recent study led by the University of Sydney has...

Scientists have uncovered a new species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sarabosaurus-dahli-a-newly-discovered-mosasaur-species-provides-incredible-evolutionary-insights/">mosasaur</a>, a marine lizard that thrived during the late Cretaceous. The 24-foot beast offers intriguing clues about the evolution of these ancient creatures.



The species has been named Jormungandr walhallaensis in reference to the Norse sea serpent and the North Dakota city of Walhalla near its discovery site.&nbsp;



“The tale of Jormungandr paints a wonderful picture and helps contribute to our understanding of the northernmost regions of the interior seaway, especially with the mosasaurs, and discoveries such as these can pique scientific curiosity," said study co-author Nathan Van Vranken from Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-questions-nbsp">Evolutionary questions&nbsp;</h2>



Mosasaurs, as large carnivorous aquatic lizards, have long captivated the scientific community. The very term "mosasaur" even predates "dinosaur."&nbsp;



The discovery of the first mosasaur more than 200 years ago sparked numerous queries. Among them: their evolutionary journey towards developing flippers and full aquatic adaptation, which is believed to have occurred three or perhaps even four times.&nbsp;



Another mystery revolves around their kinship – are they more closely related to monitor lizards or snakes? The recent study is helping to answer these questions.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-awe-inspiring-fossil">Awe-inspiring fossil</h2>



In 2015, experts unearthed an awe-inspiring fossil in northeastern North Dakota. This specimen includes an almost intact skull, jaws, cervical spine, and several vertebrae.



Amelia Zietlow, the study's lead author and a PhD student at the <a href="https://www.amnh.org/">American Museum of Natural History</a>’s Richard Gilder Graduate School, provides a vivid description: “If you put flippers on a Komodo dragon and made it really big, that’s basically what it would have looked like."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-iconic-mosasaurs-nbsp">Iconic mosasaurs&nbsp;</h2>



A detailed examination revealed that Jormungandr possessed characteristics found in two iconic mosasaurs: Clidastes, the more primitive and smaller variant, and Mosasaurus, a formidable creature stretching nearly 50 feet, which existed alongside the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex.&nbsp;



Notably, this new species, estimated at 24 feet, boasted flippers, a shark-like tail, "angry eyebrows" due to a bony ridge on its skull, and a somewhat stumpy tail, shorter than its body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-giant-sea-monsters-nbsp">Giant sea monsters&nbsp;</h2>



“As these animals evolved into these giant sea monsters, they were constantly making changes,” said Zietlow. “This work gets us one step closer to understanding how all these different forms are related to one another.”



The study suggests that Jormungandr existed about 80 million years ago and was an evolutionary precursor to the colossal Mosasaurus.



“This fossil is coming from a geologic time in the United States that we don’t really understand,” said study co-author Clint Boyd from the North Dakota Geological Survey. “The more we can fill in the geographic and temporal timeline, the better we can understand these creatures.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/items/13b0485f-c73f-47f9-8d1d-0d4ab6aaedfb">Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History</a>.



Image Credit: © Henry Sharpe



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Jormungandr: 24-foot lizard is a new link in mosasaur evolution

Scientists have uncovered a new species of mosasaur, a marine...

A recent study highlights the crucial role played by Earth's upper atmosphere in shaping large geomagnetic storms. The study underscores the profound influence these storms can have on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/communications-satellites-may-disrupt-astronomical-observations/">satellite</a> communications, with potential disruptions to power grids, radio signals, and GPS.



The international collaborative study was led by <a href="https://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nagoya University</a> in Japan and the University of New Hampshire in the United States. The research offers intriguing new insights into the development of geomagnetic storms.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-wind">Solar wind</h2>



Historically, the Sun has been perceived as the primary driver of geomagnetic storms. The Sun's outer layer, composed of hot charged particles, emits a solar wind which interacts with Earth's magnetosphere.&nbsp;



These interactions with the magnetic field around our planet are known to influence space weather, affecting both Earth and our technological assets in space.



Central to the magnetosphere is the magnetotail, which extends in the direction of the solar wind. Within it lies the plasma sheet region, dense with charged particles or plasma. This region acts as a reservoir for particles that infiltrate the inner magnetosphere, triggering the currents behind geomagnetic storms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



The goal of the study was to determine the proportion of plasma in the magnetosphere originating from Earth, especially during geomagnetic storm events.&nbsp;



The team focused on a significant geomagnetic storm that occurred between September 7-8, 2017, caused by a huge coronal mass ejection from the Sun. This storm disrupted the magnetosphere, leading to interference with crucial communication systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ion-transport-dynamics-nbsp">Ion transport dynamics&nbsp;</h2>



To understand the ion transport dynamics during the storm, the team leveraged data from various space missions, like the NASA/Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, the Japanese Arase mission, the ESA/Cluster mission, and the NASA/Wind mission.&nbsp;



By distinguishing ions from the solar wind and the ionosphere, the experts identified significant changes in the near-earth plasma sheet's composition and characteristics, which directly influence the progression of a geomagnetic storm.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



“The most important discovery was that at the beginning of the geomagnetic storm, the plasma changed from mostly solar to mostly ionospheric,” explained study lead author Lynn Kistler. “This shows that the geomagnetic storm drives more outflow from the Earth’s ionosphere, and that the ionospheric plasma can move quickly throughout the magnetosphere.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Overall, our research contributes to understanding the development of geomagnetic storms by showing the importance of Earth’s ionospheric plasma."



“We found compelling evidence that plasmas from not only the Sun but also the Earth drive a geomagnetic storm. In short, the properties of the plasma sheet (the density, the particle energy distribution, the composition) will affect geomagnetic storms, and these properties are different for different sources.”&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41735-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Geomagnetic storms are influenced by Earth's atmosphere

A recent study highlights the crucial role played by Earth's...

A study led by researchers at <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Imperial College London</a> reveals that if immediate measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are not taken, the world is on track for 1.5°C of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/">warming</a> before 2030. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



The research is the most recent and detailed analysis of the global carbon budget. The carbon budget is essentially an estimate of how much carbon dioxide we can emit while still limiting global warming to specific temperature increases.



The Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed by 196 countries, established a goal of capping the global temperature rise to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels. The greater goal is to limit this temperature increase to 1.5°C. Progress on these targets is often measured using the remaining carbon budget.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dwindling-carbon-budget-nbsp">Dwindling carbon budget&nbsp;</h2>



The Imperial study has discovered that the carbon budget is significantly smaller than prior estimates. The researchers estimate that for a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C, there are less than 250 gigatons of carbon dioxide left in the global carbon budget.



The experts warn that if carbon dioxide emissions remain at 2022 levels of about 40 billion gigatons per year, the carbon budget will be exhausted by around 2029, committing the world to warming of 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.



This dwindling carbon budget is attributed to two main factors: the relentless rise in global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels, and a refined understanding of the cooling effect of aerosols, which has been decreasing globally.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-we-are-not-doing-enough">We are not doing enough</h2>



Dr Robin Lamboll, the study's lead author, highlighted the severity of the situation. “Our finding confirms what we already know – we’re not doing nearly enough to keep warming below 1.5°C."



“The remaining budget is now so small that minor changes in our understanding of the world can result in large proportional changes to the budget. However, estimates point to less than a decade of emissions at current levels."



"The lack of progress on emissions reduction means that we can be ever more certain that the window for keeping warming to safe levels is rapidly closing."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-un-climate-report">UN Climate Report</h2>



Dr Joeri Rogelj, a professor of Climate Science &amp; Policy at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, noted that these findings align with the UN Climate Report from 2021.&nbsp;



“That report from 2021 already highlighted that there was a one in three chance that the remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C could be as small as our study now reports," said Dr. Rogelj.



“This shows the importance of not simply looking at central estimates, but also considering the uncertainty surrounding them.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-definitive-answers">Definitive answers</h2>



For those wondering about the 2°C target, the study estimates the carbon budget for that is around 1,200 gigatons. Without intervention, this budget could be expended by 2046.



While there's been debate about the precise remaining carbon budget due to various influencing factors, this research is more definitive. The experts used advanced climate modeling to address uncertainties, which means their estimates more reliable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-net-zero">Net zero</h2>



One of the key takeaways is the concept of net zero, which refers to balancing out emissions produced with those removed from the atmosphere. The study suggests there's a lot we don’t know about how the climate will react as we approach net zero.&nbsp;



For instance, while factors like melting ice might cause further warming, increased vegetation growth could absorb significant carbon dioxide, leading to a cooling effect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Lamboll said these uncertainties further highlight the urgent need to rapidly cut emissions. “At this stage, our best guess is that the opposing warming and cooling will approximately cancel each other out after we reach net zero."



“However, it’s only when we only when we cut emissions and get closer to net zero that we will be able to see what the longer-term heating and cooling adjustments will look like."



“Every fraction of a degree of warming will make life harder for people and ecosystems. This study is yet another warning from the scientific community. Now it is up to governments to act.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01848-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Climate Change</a>.



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Window to avoid 1.5°C warming is nearly closed, study reveals

A study led by researchers at Imperial College London reveals...

Young,Hiker,Man,Taking,Selfie,Portrait,On,The,Top,Of

In the age of social media, selfies have become a big part of our daily communication. These digital self-portraits have surged in popularity alongside smartphones.



But, even though selfies have become ingrained in our culture, we still don’t understand how people use them to communicate. This is the central focus of a new study from the <a href="https://www.uni-bamberg.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bamberg</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-selfie-meanings-nbsp">Selfie meanings&nbsp;</h2>



“Although the term ‘selfies’ is now celebrating its 21st birthday, and although selfies are known in art history for nearly 200 years in photography and more than 500 years in paintings, we still lack a clear classification of the different types of selfies,” said study lead author Tobias Schneider.



Earlier studies established three primary motives behind taking selfies: self-expression, documentation, and performance. While some scientists used hashtags and metadata to extract selfie meanings, the photo itself often remained unexplored.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



To investigate, the Bamberg team presented a group of study participants with random selfies and noted their first impressions. 



“Most research addresses direct visual factors, neglecting associative factors that viewers have in mind when browsing through our selfie-oriented world,” said study senior author Professor Claus-Christian Carbon. “Here we used personal reports and associations to describe and categorize selfies in a systematic way.”



Using a database called Selfiecity, the team created a dataset of 1,001 selfies. These images were free from any text and taken using mobile cameras or selfie sticks.



Overall, 132 online participants were presented with a variety of selfies, which were randomly generated. The individuals recorded their spontaneous reactions.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-semantic-profiles-nbsp">Semantic profiles&nbsp;</h2>



Based on thousands of reactions, the researchers identified 26 categories of selfies. A subsequent cluster analysis grouped these into five primary "semantic profiles."



The largest of the semantic profiles was named "aesthetics": pictures that highlight style or aesthetic experience. This category was closely followed by "imagination": selfies that provoke viewers to speculate about the selfie-taker's surroundings or activities.



The third profile named "trait" includes selfies that elicit personality-related terms. The last two profiles are "state," focusing on mood or ambiance, and "theory of mind," pushing viewers to surmise the motives or identity of the selfie-taker.



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



According to the researchers, the results suggest that participants were picking up on visual language which we use to communicate different aspects of ourselves - whether that’s our mood or a new outfit.



“We were quite impressed how often the category ‘theory of mind’ was expressed, because this is a very sophisticated way of communicating inner feelings and thoughts,” said Schneider. “It shows how effective selfies can be in terms of communication.”



“Research never ends. We need more free reports on selfies, more descriptions of how people feel about the depicted persons and scenes, in order to better understand how selfies are used as a compact way of communicating to others.”



“We definitely need larger, more diverse, and cross-cultural samples in the future to understand how different groups and cultures use selfies to express themselves,” added Carbon.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1233100" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Communication</a>.



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How do we use selfies to communicate?

In the age of social media, selfies have become a...

A new study led by <a href="https://www.tamu.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M University</a> has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-deprivation-makes-you-angry/">anger</a>, typically regarded as a negative emotion, can actually serve as a powerful motivator for individuals striving to attain challenging goals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mix-of-emotions-nbsp">Mix of emotions&nbsp;</h2>



“People often believe that a state of happiness is ideal, and the majority of people consider the pursuit of happiness a major life goal,” said lead author Heather Lench, PhD, a professor in the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A&amp;M.&nbsp;



“The view that positive emotion is ideal for mental health and well-being has been prominent in lay and psychological accounts of emotion, but previous research suggests that a mix of emotions, including negative emotions like anger, result in the best outcomes.”



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



This viewpoint aligns with the functionalist theory of emotion, suggesting that all emotions, whether positive or negative, are responses to environmental stimuli, serving to alert individuals to significant situations that demand action.



In their quest to delve deeper into the role of anger in goal achievement, the researchers undertook a series of experiments with over 1,000 participants and analyzed survey responses from an additional 1,400 individuals.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



Participants were subjected to conditions designed to invoke various emotional responses, including anger, and were subsequently presented with challenging objectives.



One of the experiments had participants view specific visuals intended to induce certain emotional or neutral states, followed by a task involving solving word puzzles. Another scenario involved completing a skiing video game with varying levels of difficulty.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



Across the various experimental setups, the experts consistently observed that anger enhanced the participants’ ability to meet their goals, especially in comparison to a neutral emotional state. This was evident through improved performance metrics such as higher scores or quicker response times. In certain instances, anger was even associated with an increased propensity to cheat in order to attain a more favorable outcome.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anger-increases-effort">Anger increases effort</h2>



Additionally, the study took into account survey data from the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections. Prior to the elections, participants were asked to rate their potential level of anger should their preferred candidate lose.&nbsp;



Post-election, they reported on their voting behavior. The data revealed that those who anticipated anger in the event of their candidate’s loss were more likely to participate in the voting process, although their choice of candidate was not influenced by their anger.



“These findings demonstrate that anger increases effort toward attaining a desired goal, frequently resulting in greater success,” Lench said, further highlighting that anger’s efficacy in achieving goals was particularly pronounced in situations where the goals posed a substantial challenge, and was less associated with success in simpler tasks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-balanced-emotional-spectrum-nbsp">A balanced emotional spectrum&nbsp;</h2>



Lench also acknowledged that while anger was a common facilitator of success, other emotions such as amusement or desire were sometimes linked to goal attainment too.



Ultimately, these findings contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting the utility of a balanced emotional spectrum, including both positive and negative emotions, in promoting overall well-being.&nbsp;



“People often prefer to use positive emotions as tools more than negative and tend to see negative emotions as undesirable and maladaptive. Our research adds to the growing evidence that a mix of positive and negative emotions promotes well-being, and that using negative emotions as tools can be particularly effective in some situations,” Lench concluded.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000350" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Personality and Social Psychology</a>.



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Anger can be a powerful motivator to achieve major life goals

A new study led by Texas A&amp;M University has found...

A new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.066017">Circulation</a> has found that cardiovascular fatalities attributed to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scorching-reality-extreme-heat-worsens-cognitive-decline/">extreme heat</a> in the United States are on a trajectory to potentially more than double by the mid-21st century.&nbsp;



“Climate change and its many manifestations will play an increasingly important role on the health of communities around the world in the coming decades,” said lead author Sameed Khatana, an assistant professor of Medicine at the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a> and a staff cardiologist at the <a href="https://www.va.gov/philadelphia-health-care/">Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center</a>.&nbsp;



“Climate change is also a health equity issue as it will impact certain individuals and populations to a disproportionate degree and may exacerbate preexisting health disparities in the U.S.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



By employing county-level data from 2008-2017, the experts established a correlation between increased extreme heat days and cardiovascular deaths.&nbsp;



This analysis set the stage for projections into the future, incorporating anticipated demographic changes and greenhouse gas emissions scenarios.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The investigations revealed a 162 percent increase in excess cardiovascular deaths due to extreme heat by 2036-2065, even if proposed emissions reductions are achieved. Without these reductions, the increase could reach 233 percent.



The key findings of the study include:



<ul>
<li>From 2008 to 2019, extreme heat was linked to an average of 1,651 additional cardiovascular deaths annually.</li>



<li>A projected 162 percent increase in excess cardiovascular deaths due to extreme heat is expected by mid-century, even with proposed greenhouse gas emissions reductions.</li>



<li>If greenhouse gas emissions reductions are not implemented, the increase in excess cardiovascular deaths could reach 233 percent.</li>



<li>Adults aged 65 and older may face a 2.9 to 3.5 times greater increase in heat-related cardiovascular deaths compared to adults aged 20-64.</li>



<li>Non-Hispanic Black adults are projected to experience a 3.8 to 4.6 times greater increase in cardiovascular deaths due to extreme heat compared to non-Hispanic white adults.</li>



<li>Projected increases in deaths due to extreme heat were not significantly different among adults in other racial or ethnic groups, or between men and women.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multifaceted-issue">Multifaceted issue</h2>



“The magnitude of the percent increase was surprising. This increase accounts for not only the known association between cardiovascular deaths and extreme heat, but it is also impacted by the population getting older and the proportionate increases in the number of people from other races and/or ethnicities in the U.S.,” Khatana explained, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the issue.



Study co-author Robert Brook from <a href="https://www.med.wayne.edu/">Wayne State University School of Medicine</a> echoed these concerns and emphasized the urgent need for action. “Even under the more optimistic moderate scenario of this study, greenhouse gas emissions will increase for some time before tapering down. Moreover, most of the pollutants persist in the atmosphere for numerous years, and as such, the long-term trend is for significant increases in the frequency of extreme heat events despite near-term actions.”



“In conjunction with the growth of more susceptible and vulnerable populations - aging adults and people relocating to warmer locations - heat-related cardiovascular disease deaths are expected to increase over the coming decades. Nevertheless, the study shows that the magnitude of adverse cardiovascular disease effects may be somewhat mitigated by taking earlier action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underestimated-projections-nbsp">Underestimated projections&nbsp;</h2>



As Brook further explained, although such projections are alarming, they are most likely underestimations of what may actually happen. “The projections of this study focus on cardiovascular disease deaths, and, therefore, they represent conservative estimations of the adverse effects on cardiovascular health due to extreme heat,” he said.&nbsp;



“Nonfatal heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure hospitalizations outnumber fatal events and are also highly likely to be linked with extreme heat days. The full extent of the public health threat, even just due to cardiovascular death, is likely much greater than presented in this study. “



The forecasts bring to light the potential of infrastructural changes, like enhancing greenery in communities, to mitigate the impact of extreme heat on individuals in the U.S. While certain European studies provide some evidence supporting this approach, there is a noticeable gap in similar research within the United States.



Finally, Brook also stressed the role of pollution linked to extreme heat. “Fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) causes more than 6 million deaths per year. This study adds to the evidence that the full extent of the harmful effects posed by air pollutants extends beyond PM2.5. By substantially increasing extreme heat days, greenhouse air pollutants pose yet further threats to our well-being,” he concluded.



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Heat-related cardiovascular deaths may double in the coming decades

A new study published in the journal Circulation has found...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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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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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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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

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

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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

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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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



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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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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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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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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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



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.

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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...

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