<p>Inside our bodies, countless decisions play out silently at the cellular level. Some cells divide, some die, and others are forced out when they no longer serve their purpose. </p>



<p>A study from <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King’s College London</a> and the <a href="https://www.crick.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Francis Crick Institute</a> reveals that epithelial cells use electricity to spot weak neighbors and remove them. This breakthrough offers fresh insight into how diseases like cancer and stroke arise when energy balance within cells is disturbed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-renew-constantly">Cells renew constantly</h2>



<p>Epithelial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hemifusome-newly-discovered-organelle-inside-human-cells-with-immense-potential/">cells</a> form the barrier that lines organs, renewing rapidly to stay protective. Their balance depends on extrusion, the process of ejecting damaged or excess cells. This keeps tissues tightly packed and efficient. </p>



<p>If extrusion falters, cell numbers become chaotic, creating openings for disease. Without this constant regulation, unhealthy cells may linger, disrupt organ integrity, and interfere with critical signaling pathways. </p>



<p>Over time, these disturbances can weaken the protective barrier, encourage unchecked growth, and increase vulnerability to conditions such as cancer, chronic inflammation, or infections that compromise overall tissue health and resilience.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electricity-targets-weak-cells">Electricity targets weak cells</h2>



<p>Earlier work showed that overcrowding forces some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-the-first-cells-life-form-on-earth-scientists-think-they-finally-figured-it-out/">cells</a> to be squeezed out mechanically. The latest discovery goes further. It shows that extrusion is not random but targets energy-poor cells. Crowding pushes sodium into cells through specialized ion channels, altering their electrical signals. </p>



<p>Healthy cells restore balance, but weak ones cannot, triggering shrinkage and eventual extrusion. This reveals a precise surveillance system where tissues actively monitor cellular energy, ensuring only the strongest cells remain. </p>



<p>Such control preserves organ stability, while defects in this mechanism may promote disease progression and unchecked cellular growth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-sense-crowding-with-electricity">Cells sense crowding with electricity</h2>



<p>The researchers noticed a striking prelude to extrusion: cells briefly shrank before being expelled. This stage, termed homeostatic early shrinkage, reflects water leaving the cell. </p>



<p>Roughly 70 percent of extruding cells undergo this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cells-vomit-waste-to-speed-up-healing-in-our-body/">shrinkage</a>. It is not caused by contractile forces but by ion channels regulating water movement. Key players include the potassium channels Kv1.1 and Kv1.2, and the chloride channel SWELL1.</p>



<p>The study revealed that an epithelial sodium channel, ENaC, senses crowding. It acts as a tension detector, letting sodium rush in when cells press against one another.</p>



<p>If a cell has enough ATP, it pumps sodium back out and stabilizes. If not, depolarization occurs, potassium and chloride exit, water follows, and the cell shrinks, crossing the threshold that triggers extrusion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-low-energy-as-a-trigger">Low energy as a trigger</h2>



<p>Time-lapse experiments revealed that cells destined for extrusion show falling ATP levels before they depolarize and shrink. When ATP levels were artificially lowered, extrusion increased. </p>



<p>This shows energy deficiency directly selects <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-space-changes-our-cells-insights-from-the-iss/">cells</a> for removal. In essence, epithelial tissue runs a built-in fitness test: cells unable to maintain their electrical balance are expelled.</p>



<p>"We see this sodium channel acting as a sensor, exposing cells with the least amount of energy and targeting those cells for death," noted study lead author Dr. Saranne Mitchell. </p>



<p>"This mechanism gives epithelia a constant surveillance system to rapidly detect weak cells and remove them. It's like an electrical quality-control check, keeping tissues robust and functional."</p>



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



<p>The study highlights how epithelial tissues are not passive layers but dynamic communities constantly testing their members. By identifying weaker cells early, they can preserve strength and protect organ function.</p>



<p>"By revealing that cells with low energy are targeted for extrusion, our work also adds a new layer into how metabolism can impact many diseases," said Professor Jody Rosenblatt.</p>



<p>"This new insight could suggest how overconsumption, through eating more and consuming more calories, might override this 'low energy trigger' for extrusion and prevent the elimination of defective cells, allowing them to accumulate into cancers." </p>



<p>"It might also reveal how energy deprivation following a stroke, caused by impacted blood supply, could lead to excess extrusion and organ damage."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-use-electricity-effectively">Cells use electricity effectively</h2>



<p>This model highlights energy sufficiency as a deciding factor in cell survival. Much like how mitochondria regulate apoptosis, epithelial extrusion uses energy balance as a checkpoint. </p>



<p>The findings also connect to conditions like cystic fibrosis and cancer, where ion channel malfunctions are common. By linking ion flow, energy, and crowding, this study reframes how tissues maintain integrity.</p>



<p>The discovery paints epithelia as more than static barriers. They are dynamic, electrically sensitive tissues constantly probing their members for weakness. </p>



<p>Cells that cannot meet the energy demands are removed for the greater good of the tissue. Even the faintest electrical flicker within these cellular communities can tip the balance between health and disease.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09514-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: CC0 Public Domain</p>



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Body tissues use electricity to expel weak cells

Inside our bodies, countless decisions play out silently at the cellular level. Some cells divide, some die, and others are forced out when they no longer serve their purpose. A study from King’s College London and the Francis Crick Institute reveals that epithelial cells use electricity to spot weak neighbors and remove them. This breakthrough offers fresh insight into how diseases like cancer and stroke arise when energy balance within cells is disturbed. Cells renew constantly Epithelial cells form the barrier that lines organs, renewing rapidly to...

Charming,Mountain,Landscape,With,Mountain,Goat,In,The,French,Alps

<p>Alpine glaciers are set to lose at least a third of their volume by 2050, regardless of any immediate halt in global warming, according to scientists from the <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Lausanne</a> and international collaborators. </p>



<p>This startling projection about the future of Alpine glaciers is the result of advanced computer modeling and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-intelligence-identifies-new-anti-aging-compounds/">artificial intelligence</a>. </p>



<p>The team developed a computer model that uses machine-learning algorithms and climate data. The model predicts a minimum reduction of 34% in the ice volume of the European Alps by 2050. </p>



<p>This disturbing prediction holds true for Alpine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-arctic-glaciers-are-releasing-a-new-source-of-potent-methane-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a> even under the most optimistic scenario where global warming ceases instantly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-discovery-about-alpine-glaciers">Alarming discovery about Alpine glaciers</h2>



<p>Modeling glaciers is highly challenging over the next few decades, because creating models correctly is a big issue due to the amount of variables and uncertainty involved.</p>



<p>"This is unfortunate, because we really want to know what is going to happen on that timescale, as it will directly affect our lives, homes and jobs," explain the authors. </p>



<p>"We present a new modeling approach, taking advantage of new data and machine-learning methods, that allows us to set our model up much more effectively."</p>



<p>The study focused on how much ice will be lost in the European Alps between now and 2050, even if the climate does not change further.</p>



<p>The team discovered that at least one-third of the ice will be lost, come what may. Even the largest glacier fronts will retreat by several kilometers.</p>



<p>The projections are based on the premise that the inertia in the climate-glacier system would continue to affect the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-glaciers-pose-great-threat-to-biodiversity-in-mountain-ranges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a> despite a halt in warming. </p>



<p>A more dire scenario unfolds when considering the current trajectory of climate change. </p>



<p>Without significant intervention, almost half (46%) of the Alps' ice volume is projected to vanish by 2050, following the melting trend observed over the last two decades. </p>



<p>The situation appears even more alarming when looking at data from just the past ten years, which suggests a potential loss of up to 65% of the ice volume.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-perspective-on-short-term-impacts">New perspective on short-term impacts</h2>



<p>The study is distinct from traditional models in its focus on the near future, specifically the year 2050. By concentrating on this shorter timeframe, the research brings the consequences of climate change into a more immediate perspective.</p>



<p>These findings raise some very difficult questions about the world our children will inherit and the potential impacts on future events, such as the 2038 Winter Olympics in Switzerland.</p>



<p>The implications of such significant ice loss are profound, affecting not just the landscape but also water reserves, infrastructure, and the population.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Samuel Cook, a researcher at UNIL and the first author of the study, emphasized the urgency of the situation. </p>



<p>"The data used to build the scenarios stop in 2022, a year that was followed by an exceptionally hot summer. It is therefore likely that the situation will be even worse than the one we present," said Cook. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-artificial-intelligence-nbsp">The role of artificial intelligence&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The use of artificial intelligence in this study marks a significant advancement in climate modeling. </p>



<p>The deep-learning methods allowed the model to assimilate physical concepts and interpret real climate and glaciological data more effectively. </p>



<p>This innovative approach enables more accurate predictions and a clearer understanding of the impending challenges posed by climate change.</p>



<p>"Machine learning is revolutionizing the integration of complex data into our models," noted study co-author Professor Guillaume Jouvet. </p>



<p>"This essential step, previously notoriously complicated and computationally expensive, is now becoming more accurate and efficient."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-the-alps">More about the Alps</h2>



<p>As discussed above, The Alps, Europe's great mountain range, extend across eight countries, creating a natural barrier and a stunning landscape recognized worldwide. </p>



<p>Within this range, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alarming-study-previously-stable-glaciers-are-now-rapidly-disappearing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a> form a key component, their icy expanse offering both beauty and vital ecological functions.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alpine-glaciers-in-europe">Alpine glaciers in Europe</h3>



<p>These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-pandemic-reduced-the-melting-rate-of-himalayan-glaciers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a> originate from layers of snow that accumulate over time, compacting into dense, moving ice. They shape the Alps' geography, carving deep valleys and sharp peaks, a process that has been ongoing for millennia. </p>



<p>The resulting landscape is not only a magnet for tourists and adventure seekers but also a testament to nature's sculpting prowess.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/peru-has-lost-over-half-of-its-glaciers-in-six-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a> of the Alps serve as crucial water reservoirs for Europe. They store precipitation in the form of ice and release it slowly, feeding rivers and lakes. </p>



<p>This meltwater is indispensable for agriculture, hydroelectric power, and as a source of drinking water for millions of people living in and around the Alpine region.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alpine-glaciers-as-climate-change-indicators">Alpine glaciers as climate change indicators</h3>



<p>Glaciers in the Alps are key indicators of climate change. As temperatures rise, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/himalayan-glaciers-retreating-threat-is-much-worse-than-previously-believed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a> are receding at an alarming rate, providing visible evidence of the planet's warming. </p>



<p>This retreat affects not just the scenic beauty of the Alps but also has far-reaching impacts on water availability, biodiversity, and the region's ecology.</p>



<p>The cultural significance of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/himalayan-glaciers-are-cooling-the-air-around-them-to-survive-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a> is profound. For centuries, they have featured in the folklore, art, and literature of the Alpine countries, shaping the cultural identity of the region. </p>



<p>They also play a major role in the local economy, attracting skiers, hikers, and mountaineers, contributing significantly to the tourism industry.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-and-conservation-efforts">Implications and conservation efforts</h3>



<p>Unfortunately, as discussed in depth above, the future of these magnificent glaciers is under threat. Climate change poses the biggest challenge, with predictions suggesting that many of the glaciers could disappear by the year 2050. </p>



<p>This loss would drastically alter the Alpine landscape and disrupt the delicate environmental balance.</p>



<p>In response, there are various initiatives and scientific studies aimed at understanding and mitigating the impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/half-of-the-worlds-glaciers-will-melt-by-2100/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glacier retreat</a>. </p>



<p>Conservation efforts, sustainable tourism practices, and international cooperation are essential to preserve these natural wonders.</p>



<p>In summary, the Alps and their glaciers are integral to the environmental health, cultural heritage, and economic vitality of the region. </p>



<p>Preserving them is critical for maintaining the unique beauty and biodiversity of the Alps and ensuring a sustainable future for the generations to come.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105029" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Geophysical Research Letters</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Mountain glaciers will lose 50% of their volume by 2050 no matter what humans do

Alpine glaciers are set to lose at least a third...

Particle,,Quantum,Entanglement,(quantum,Correlation).,Quantum,Mechanics,.,3d,Illustration

<p>A team of researchers from the Structured Light Laboratory at the <a href="https://www.wits.ac.za/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of the Witwatersrand</a>, South Africa, has made a significant breakthrough regarding quantum entanglement. </p>



<p>Led by Professor Andrew Forbes, in collaboration with renowned string theorist Robert de Mello Koch, now at <a href="https://english.zjhu.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Huzhou University</a> in China, the team has successfully demonstrated a novel method to manipulate quantum entangled particles without altering their intrinsic properties. </p>



<p>This feat marks a monumental step in our understanding and application of quantum entanglement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topology-in-quantum-entanglement">Topology in quantum entanglement</h2>



<p>Pedro Ornelas, a Master's student and lead author of the study, explains, "We achieved this by entangling two identical photons and customizing their shared wave-function. This process makes their collective structure, or topology, apparent only when they are considered as a single entity." </p>



<p>This experiment revolves around the concept of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radical-new-theory-finally-unites-gravity-spacetime-and-the-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum</a> entanglement, famously referred to as ‘spooky action at a distance’, where particles affect each other's state, even when separated by vast distances.</p>



<p>Topology, in this context, plays a crucial role. It ensures certain properties are preserved, much like how a coffee mug and a doughnut are topologically equivalent due to their single, unchanging hole. </p>



<p>"Our entangled photons are similar," Professor Forbes illustrates. "Their entanglement is flexible, yet some characteristics remain constant." </p>



<p>The study specifically investigates Skyrmion topology, a concept introduced by Tony Skyrme in the 1980s. In this scenario, topology refers to a global property that remains unchanged, like the texture of a fabric, irrespective of how it is manipulated.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quantum-entanglement-applications">Quantum entanglement applications</h2>



<p>Skyrmions, initially studied in magnetic materials, liquid crystals, and optical analogues, are lauded in condensed matter physics for their stability and potential in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-computer-can-instantly-execute-a-task-that-would-normally-take-47-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data storage technology</a>. </p>



<p>"We aim to achieve similar transformative impacts with our quantum-entangled skyrmions," adds Forbes. Unlike previous research that localized Skyrmions at a single point, this study presents a paradigm shift. </p>



<p>As Ornelas puts it, "We now understand that topology, traditionally seen as local, can actually be nonlocal, shared between spatially separated entities."</p>



<p>Building on this, the team proposes using topology as a classification system for entangled states. Dr. Isaac Nape, a co-investigator, compares this to an alphabet for entangled states. </p>



<p>"Just as we differentiate spheres and doughnuts by their holes, our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/full-chemical-complexity-of-quantum-decoherence-finally-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum</a> skyrmions can be categorized by their topological features," he explains.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-insights-and-future-research">Key insights and future research</h2>



<p>This discovery opens the door to new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum</a> communication protocols, utilizing topology as a medium for quantum information processing. </p>



<p>Such protocols could revolutionize how we encode and transmit information in quantum systems, especially in scenarios where traditional encoding methods fail due to minimal entanglement.</p>



<p>In summary, the significance of this research lies in its potential for practical applications. For decades, preserving entangled states has been a major challenge. </p>



<p>The team's findings suggest that topology can remain intact even as entanglement decays, offering a novel encoding mechanism for quantum systems. </p>



<p>Professor Forbes concludes with a forward-looking statement, saying, "We are now poised to define new protocols and explore the vast landscape of topological nonlocal quantum states, potentially revolutionizing how we approach quantum communication and information processing."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-quantum-entanglement">More about quantum entanglement</h2>



<p>As discussed above, quantum entanglement is a fascinating and complex phenomenon in the realm of quantum physics. </p>



<p>It's a physical process where pairs or groups of particles are generated, interact, or share spatial proximity in ways such that the quantum state of each particle cannot be described independently of the state of the others, even when the particles are separated by a large distance.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Discovery and historical context</h3>



<p>Quantum entanglement was first theorized in 1935 by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/einsteins-brain-stolen-science/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Albert Einstein</a>, Boris Podolsky, and Nathan Rosen. They proposed the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox, challenging the completeness of quantum mechanics. </p>



<p>Einstein famously referred to entanglement as "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radical-new-theory-finally-unites-gravity-spacetime-and-the-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spooky action at a distance</a>," expressing his discomfort with the idea that particles could affect each other instantaneously over vast distances.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Principles of quantum entanglement</h3>



<p>At the core of quantum entanglement is the concept of superposition. In quantum mechanics, particles like electrons and photons exist in a state of superposition, meaning they can be in multiple states at once. </p>



<p>When two particles are entangled, they are linked in such a way that the state of one (whether it's spin, position, momentum, or polarization) instantly correlates with the state of the other, no matter how far apart they are.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Quantum entanglement in computing and communication</h3>



<p>Quantum entanglement challenges classical notions of physical laws. It suggests that information can be transferred faster than the speed of light, something that contradicts Einstein's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monster-black-hole-is-spinning-in-the-nearby-galaxy-m87-study-confurms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theory of relativity</a>. </p>



<p>However, this doesn't mean that usable information is being transmitted instantaneously, which would violate causality; rather, it implies a deep-seated interconnectedness at the quantum level.</p>



<p>One of the most exciting applications of quantum entanglement is in the field of quantum computing. Quantum computers use entangled states to perform complex calculations at speeds unattainable by classical computers. </p>



<p>In quantum communication, entanglement is key to developing highly secure communication systems, like quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution, which are theoretically immune to hacking.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Experimental verification and current research</h3>



<p>Since its theoretical inception, quantum entanglement has been demonstrated experimentally multiple times, confirming its bizarre and counterintuitive nature. </p>



<p>The most famous are the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/echo-of-gravitational-waves-heard-for-the-first-time-finally-confirming-their-existence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bell test experiments</a>, which provided significant evidence against local hidden variable theories and in favor of quantum mechanics.</p>



<p>In summary, quantum entanglement, a cornerstone of quantum mechanics, continues to be a subject of intense research and debate. Its perplexing nature challenges our understanding of the physical world and opens up potential revolutionary advancements in technology. </p>



<p>As research progresses, we may find more practical applications for this strange phenomenon, further unlocking the mysteries of the quantum universe.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-023-01360-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Photonics</a></em>.</p>



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Quantum entanglement discovery is a revolutionary step forward

A team of researchers from the Structured Light Laboratory at...

Fall,Colors,,Autumn,Foliage,In,The,Adirondacks,,New,York,State

<p>A remarkable discovery near New York City has unveiled the world's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oldest-fossil-forest-asia/">oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years. </p>



<p>Located in Cairo, Green County, about two hours north of the city by car, the ancient forest offers a glimpse into a prehistoric world that even predates the dinosaurs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-plant-life-in-the-world-s-oldest-forest">Early plant life in the world's oldest forest</h2>



<p>Researchers from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUNY Binghamton</a> and <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardiff University</a> in Wales have unearthed fossils of early plant life at the site. </p>



<p>The forest, stretching from New York to Pennsylvania, featured trees as tall as 65 feet with trunks up to five feet in diameter.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This discovery is pivotal in understanding the planet's climatic evolution, as the emergence of trees played a crucial role in altering Earth’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and laying the groundwork for the atmosphere that supports human life.</p>



<p>First uncovered in 2009, the archaeological site has been meticulously analyzed by the team to accurately date the trees and identify the species that once thrived there.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist from Cardiff University, described the experience, saying, "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees. Standing on the quarry surface we can reconstruct the living forest around us in our imagination."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossilized-woody-roots-nbsp">Fossilized woody roots&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The site, roughly half the size of a football field, contains rocks aged at 385 million years. The discovery of fossilized "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/decaying-tree-roots-may-have-caused-mass-extinctions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">woody roots</a>" of old trees marks a significant turning point in Earth's history. </p>



<p>These roots, with their unique horizontal radial patterns, indicate where vertical tree trunks once stood.</p>



<p>Predominantly, the forest’s trunks were from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/decaying-tree-roots-may-have-caused-mass-extinctions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archaeopteris</a>, a tree species with large wooden roots and leafy branches. </p>



<p>The forest also housed cladoxylopsids, an extinct group of sphenopsids and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-sheds-light-on-the-evolution-of-ferns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ferns</a>, and a third yet-to-be-identified tree type. </p>



<p>Interestingly, all these trees reproduced through spores rather than seeds, a process where small cells multiply to create more plants.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geochemical-changes-in-the-world-s-oldest-forest">Geochemical changes in the world's oldest forest</h2>



<p>Kevin Boyce, a geoscientist at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>, highlighted the significant impact these trees had on the ancient climate. </p>



<p>Their growth process involved "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-rock-weathering-is-a-co2-source-comparable-to-volcanoes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weathering</a>," a chemical reaction that extracts carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converts it to carbon ions in groundwater, which eventually flows to the sea and gets absorbed in limestone.</p>



<p>The researchers believe that a massive flood led to the forest's demise, a theory supported by the discovery of multiple fish fossils on the quarry's surface. </p>



<p>Berry noted the unexpected coexistence of plants previously thought to inhabit mutually exclusive environments.</p>



<p>He explained how they drilled into the fossil soil between the trees to investigate geochemical changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preserving-the-forest-as-a-historical-site">Preserving the forest as a historical site</h2>



<p>In 2020, New York State Assemblyman Chris Tauge introduced a resolution to the Cairo Town Board to protect this significant area. </p>



<p>John Coyne, the supervisor of Cairo, expressed pride and excitement about this discovery, underscoring the collaboration between the county, state, and the town for its preservation.</p>



<p>Before this discovery, the oldest known forest was in Gilboa, New York, located about 25 miles from the Cairo site. </p>



<p>Discovered in the late 19th century, the Gilboa forest was home to Gilboa Trees, or Eospermatopteris, one of the earliest plant species on Earth. </p>



<p>These fern-like trees, reaching around 30 feet tall, lacked wood. A preserved tree stump from Gilboa, initially displayed in a museum in the mid-1900s, was later moved to the <a href="https://nysl.nysed.gov/locpar_ce.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cultural Education Center</a> in Albany, New York.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-archaeopteris-in-the-world-s-oldest-forest">Archaeopteris in the world's oldest forest</h2>



<p>As mentioned above, Archaeopteris trees were the predominant plants in the world's oldest forest. This remarkable plant evolved in the late <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oldest-fossil-forest-asia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Devonian period</a>, over 360 million years ago. </p>



<p>The prehistoric tree, bridging the gap between ferns and the earliest trees, held a pivotal role in transforming Earth's ecosystems.</p>



<p>Scientists discovered Archaeopteris fossils in various parts of the world, from North America to Europe and Africa, revealing its widespread presence. </p>



<p>Archaeopteris dominated late Devonian forests with its towering presence, reaching up to 30 feet in height. It featured a unique combination of large, woody trunks and delicate, fern-like leaves. </p>



<p>These features make Archaeopteris a precursor to modern trees. Its robust root systems allowed for greater nutrient absorption and stability, fostering more complex forest ecosystems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-and-significance">Impact and significance</h2>



<p>The emergence of Archaeopteris played a crucial role in Earth's carbon cycle. By drawing down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, these trees contributed to a significant drop in global temperatures, potentially leading to late <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-species-holds-valuable-evidence-of-plant-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Devonian</a> ice ages. </p>



<p>Despite its success, Archaeopteris disappeared from the fossil record around 359 million years ago, marking its extinction. Its legacy, however, lives on. </p>



<p>Archaeopteris set the stage for the evolution of modern trees, shaping the structure of forests as we know them today.</p>



<p>In summary, this fascinating find pushes back the timeline of our planet's botanical history and furthers our understanding of how ancient ecosystems functioned and evolved. </p>



<p>The Cairo forest, with its deep historical roots and significant scientific value, stands as a testament to the enduring wonders of the natural world.</p>



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World’s oldest forest discovered close to New York City

A remarkable discovery near New York City has unveiled the...

<p>A study from <a href="https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monterey Bay Aquarium</a> has shed light on the pivotal role played by southern sea otters in preserving and enhancing the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-kelp-forests-existed-32-million-years-ago/">kelp forests</a> of California.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research offers profound insights into the dynamics between a keystone species and its environment, providing a hopeful narrative in the face of environmental adversities.</p>



<p>According to the study, southern sea otters have prevented the widespread decline of California's kelp forests over the past century. The research was focused on the period from 1910 to 2016.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-century-of-support-from-sea-otters">A century of support from sea otters</h2>



<p>Once on the brink of extinction due to rampant hunting in the 1800s, the southern sea otter has made a remarkable comeback along California's central coast. </p>



<p>This resurgence has had a big impact on the kelp forests in the region. </p>



<p>"Our study showed that kelp forests are more extensive and resilient to climate change where sea otters have reoccupied the California coastline during the last century," explained study lead author Teri Nicholson, senior research biologist with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Program.</p>



<p>"Where sea otters are absent, kelp forests have declined dramatically. In fact, we found sea otter population density as the strongest predictor of change in kelp canopy coverage across this hundred-year span."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-climate-trends-nbsp">Understanding climate trends&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Utilizing historical surveys of kelp forests, the researchers performed detailed analyses of canopy extent, biomass, and carbon storage. </p>



<p>The team accounted for annual variations and differences in survey methods to provide a comprehensive view of the trends over the last century. </p>



<p>"The use of historical maps provided an important opportunity to help us examine long-term kelp forest trends," said Jess Fujii, scientific and operational leader of the <a href="https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/stories/sea-otter-rescue-and-research" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aquarium's Sea Otter Program</a>. </p>



<p>"This broader view is important for understanding trends related to climate change, and developing effective science-based conservation strategies."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-on-sea-otters-and-kelp-forests">Insights on sea otters and kelp forests</h2>



<p>The study highlighted a significant increase in kelp forest canopy along the central coast, with an estimated 56 percent rise in coverage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By contrast, the northern and southern regions of California saw decreases of 63 and 52 percent, respectively. Remarkably, the overall decline in the state's kelp canopy was just six percent from 1910 to 2016.</p>



<p>Through machine learning frameworks, the researchers identified sea otter population density as the strongest predictor of change in kelp coverage. </p>



<p>This finding underscores the otter's role as a keystone species, vital in maintaining the health and balance of kelp ecosystems. </p>



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



<p>"Today, extreme heat in the ocean is intense and persistent. Beginning a decade ago, this threat now affects more than half the ocean's surface," said study senior author Kyle Van Houtan, a research scientist at Duke University.</p>



<p>"This is a major problem for kelp forests as chronic temperature stress undermines kelp growth and health. Ecosystems are complex, and to give them their best chance at surviving these extreme changes, they need all their component parts. Sea otters, of course, are hugely influential for Pacific kelp forests. Historical studies like this are a crucial demonstration of this dynamic over the long term."</p>



<p>The study not only reinforces the importance of conserving the southern sea otter but also highlights the potential of nature-based solutions in restoring kelp forests.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Healthy kelp forests provide numerous benefits, such as serving as nursery grounds for fisheries, mitigating coastal erosion, and aiding in carbon storage. </p>



<p>The reintroduction of sea otters to their historical ranges could be pivotal in reviving these ecosystems along more stretches of the California coast.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000290" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>PLOS Climate</em></a>.</p>



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Sea otters have protected kelp forests for a century 

A study from Monterey Bay Aquarium has shed light on...

Fishing,Boat,On,The,North,Sea,Fishes,With,A,Trawl

<p>In an alarming study released today, scientists have focused on a previously overlooked factor in climate change: bottom trawling. </p>



<p>This fishing practice, which involves <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-fleets-hidden-industrial-fishing-activity-exposed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dragging hefty nets</a> across the ocean floor, is not just destructive to marine life and habitats, but also a significant contributor to atmospheric carbon emissions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bottom-trawling-and-ocean-floor-carbon">Bottom trawling and ocean floor carbon</h2>



<p>The study, conducted by a global team from institutions including <a href="https://www.usu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah State University</a>, NASA's <a href="https://www.giss.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goddard Institute</a> for Space Studies, and <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/our-programs/pristine-seas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Geographic Pristine Seas</a>, reveals a startling fact.</p>



<p>55%-60% of the carbon dioxide generated by bottom trawling underwater eventually reaches the atmosphere within nine years. </p>



<p>This revelation is critical as the world grapples with reducing emissions from well-known sources like fossil fuels and deforestation.</p>



<p>“We have long known that dragging heavy fishing nets -- some as large as ten 747 jets -- across the ocean floor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/underwater-mountain-range-hawaii/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">destroys sea life</a> and habitats,” said Dr. Trisha Atwood of Utah State University and National Geographic Pristine Seas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Only recently, we have discovered that bottom trawling also unleashes plumes of carbon, which otherwise would be safely stored for millennia in the ocean floor," said Atwood.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-extent-of-bottom-trawling-emissions">Surprising extent of bottom trawling emissions</h2>



<p>The scale of carbon emissions from bottom trawling is alarming. Annually, it doubles the emissions from the global fishing fleet's fuel combustion, comprising about <a href="https://www.fao.org/3/cc0461en/online/sofia/2022/fishing-fleet.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4 million vessels</a>. </p>



<p>Atwood explains, "Our study is the very first to show that over half the carbon released by bottom trawling eventually escapes into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide over the span of about ten years, contributing to global warming. Much like destroying forests, scraping up the seafloor causes irreparable harm to the climate, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-havens-shipwreck-sites-provide-a-sanctuary-for-marine-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">society and wildlife</a>."</p>



<p>The study titled "Atmospheric CO2 emissions and ocean acidification from bottom-trawling," employed data and advanced models to track bottom trawling activities globally from 1996 to 2020. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California Santa Barbara</a>, <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a>, <a href="https://www.jcu.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Cook University</a> also contributed to this important research.</p>



<p>The findings are a significant leap from <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03371-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previous research</a>, indicating that the carbon dioxide released into the ocean from this practice is comparable to the annual emissions of most countries and similar to those from global aviation.</p>



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



<p>Particularly affected regions include the East China Sea, Baltic and North Seas, and the Greenland Sea. There's also concern about Southeast Asia, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, parts of Europe, and the Gulf of Mexico. </p>



<p>However, data limitations in these areas hinder a comprehensive understanding of the full impact.</p>



<p>“Right now, countries don’t account for bottom trawling’s significant carbon emissions in their climate action plans,” said Dr. Enric Sala, National Explorer in Residence and Executive Director of Pristine Seas. </p>



<p>“Our research makes it clear that tackling these and other ocean emissions is critical to slowing the warming of the planet, in addition to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-activities-are-ravaging-adriatic-mollusk-communities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">restoring marine life</a>," Sala continued. </p>



<p>"The good news is that reducing bottom trawling carbon emissions will deliver immediate benefits. The bad news is, delaying action ensures that emissions from trawling will continue seeping into the atmosphere a decade from now.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-and-calls-for-immediate-action">Implications and calls for immediate action</h2>



<p>Interestingly, the study also examines the fate of the carbon that remains in ocean waters post-trawling. Findings suggest that 40%-45% of this carbon stays in the water, exacerbating local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preparing-for-ocean-acidification-a-silent-killer-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean acidification</a> and harming plant and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dolphin-bycatch-from-fishing-activities-is-unsustainable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal life</a>.</p>



<p>“There are more issues with bottom trawling than just the impacts from carbon -- biodiversity and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/billions-of-snow-crabs-vanished-due-to-rising-ocean-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainability</a> for instance,” said Gavin A. Schmidt, the Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. </p>



<p>“But this ‘marine deforestation’ is large enough to be noted and assessed. Hopefully, this can lead to policy efforts that can try to maximize benefits across all of the impacts.”</p>



<p>In summary, this disturbing study highlights the hidden impact of bottom trawling on climate change and calls for immediate policy action to mitigate its effects. </p>



<p>By addressing this overlooked issue, there is potential for significant strides in both protecting our oceans and combating global warming.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-bottom-trawling">More about bottom trawling</h2>



<p>As discussed above, bottom trawling involves dragging heavy nets across the seafloor, indiscriminately capturing everything in their path and causing untold damage.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mechanics-of-bottom-trawling">Mechanics of bottom trawling</h3>



<p>Fishermen use bottom trawls to catch a variety of sea creatures. These large nets, weighted down with heavy gear, scrape along the ocean floor, ensnaring fish, plants, and other marine life. </p>



<p>The method is efficient for mass harvesting but lacks discrimination, capturing both the targeted species and a large amount of bycatch - unwanted sea life.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-impact">Environmental impact</h3>



<p>The environmental impact of bottom trawling is profound. It destroys complex seabed habitats, home to a myriad of creatures, and disrupts ecological balance. </p>



<p>Coral reefs, which take centuries to form, can be decimated in a matter of minutes. This destruction leads to a loss of biodiversity, with long-term consequences for marine ecosystems and the fisheries that depend on them.</p>



<p>In addition, recent studies, like the one discussed previously in this article, have brought to light an alarming aspect of bottom trawling: its contribution to carbon emissions. </p>



<p>Disturbing the seabed releases carbon stored in ocean floor sediments, adding significantly to atmospheric CO2 levels. This aspect of bottom trawling contributes to climate change, a threat that extends far beyond the oceans.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-call-for-change">Urgent call for change</h3>



<p>The global community is becoming increasingly aware of the need to address the issue of bottom trawling. </p>



<p>Conservationists and scientists are calling for stricter regulations, protected marine areas where trawling is banned, and the adoption of more sustainable fishing practices. </p>



<p>The goal is to balance the needs of the fishing industry with the urgent need to protect and preserve our oceanic environments.</p>



<p>In summary, bottom trawling stands as a critical environmental challenge. It depletes fish stocks and destroys marine habitats while also contributing to the broader issue of climate change by emitting an enormous amount of carbon into the atmosphere.</p>



<p>The time for action is now, to ensure the health and sustainability of our oceans for future generations.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1125137/full">Frontiers in Marine Science</a></em>.</p>



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Common fishing method of bottom trawling harms both the ocean and the climate

In an alarming study released today, scientists have focused on...

<p>The complex puzzle of how one <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/free-ranging-cats-are-one-of-the-most-problematic-invasive-species/">species</a> evolves into many has been a subject of fascination and study for evolutionary biologists for decades.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A recent study from <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a> has shed new light on this enigma through an extensive study of Darwin's finches in the Galápagos Islands.</p>



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



<p>Over nearly two decades, the team collected and analyzed data from more than 3,400 individual finches spanning four different species. </p>



<p>The research has been pivotal in establishing a clear relationship between specific beak traits and the longevity of these birds. The study also offers new insights into the mechanisms of species adaptation and survival.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptive-radiation-nbsp">Adaptive radiation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Adaptive radiation is a process where a single species evolves into multiple descendant species, each adapted to a unique environment. While this is a fundamental theory in evolutionary biology, empirical evidence to support this theory has been challenging to obtain.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The drivers of adaptive radiation have often been conceptualized through the concept of 'adaptive landscapes,' yet formal empirical estimates of adaptive landscapes for natural adaptive radiations have proven elusive," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-darwin-s-finches-nbsp">Darwin's finches&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The McGill team focused on Darwin's finches, a classic example of adaptive radiation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Darwin’s finches started to radiate on the Galápagos about 1.5 million years ago; however, radiation of the ground finch (Geospiza) group was more rapid and recent, perhaps starting between 100,000 and 400,000 years ago. The primary phenotypic driver of this radiation at all phylogenetic levels is thought to be variation in beak (and body) size and shape," wrote the study authors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beak-traits-nbsp">Beak traits&nbsp;</h2>



<p>For their investigation, the researchers constructed a detailed "fitness landscape." This landscape helped predict an individual finch's longevity based on its beak traits.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Biological species are diverse in their shape and functions mainly because individual traits, such as beaks, are selected by the environment in which the species are found," explained study lead author Marc-Olivier Beausoleil, a doctoral researcher at McGill.</p>



<p>The experts discovered that finches with beak traits typical of their species enjoyed higher survival rates, whereas those deviating from these traits had lower survival rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fitness-landscape-nbsp">Fitness landscape&nbsp;</h2>



<p>According to the researchers, the traits of each species correspond to fitness peaks that can be compared to mountains on a topographic map separated from other mountains by valleys of lower fitness.</p>



<p>As a result, "the diversity of life is a product of the radiation of species to specialize on different environments; in the case of Darwin's finches, those environments are different food types," explained Professor Andrew Hendry, who has been a part of the project for more than 20 years.</p>



<p>An intriguing aspect of the study's findings is that the finch species have not yet reached the pinnacle of their fitness "mountains." This observation implies that these species are not perfectly adapted to their respective food types, leaving open the question of whether such perfection in adaptation is attainable.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpad160" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Evolution</em></a>.</p>



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Darwin's finches: How one species becomes many

The complex puzzle of how one species evolves into many...

Tired,,Depression,Or,Sad,Basketball,Player,With,Training,Gear,After

<p>At Staffordshire University, a team of sports psychology experts is pioneering a new approach to help young athletes thrive under stress. </p>



<p>Their research reveals that simple cognitive behavioral techniques can significantly alter an athlete's 'stress mindset', leading to improved wellbeing and enhanced performance.</p>



<p>“The common association of stress with distress can negatively impact health, performance, and productivity. Athletes, despite the health advantages of sports, are not immune to mental health challenges," Dr. Paul Mansell, the lead researcher, explains.</p>



<p>"Concerns about deselection from elite programs and academic pressures are real for these young individuals. Our goal is to assist them in adapting to stress, which is often an inevitable part of their lives.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-athlete-stress-mindset">Studying athlete stress mindset</h2>



<p>The research team developed a series of workshops for teenage swimmers and footballers at four different clubs. The timing was critical - the end of the competitive season, when stakes are high. </p>



<p>Participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group, where the focus was on changing stress mindsets, irrational beliefs, self-compassion, and imagery; and a control group.</p>



<p>A key aspect of the program was encouraging athletes to adopt a 'stress-is-enhancing' mindset. </p>



<p>“It is not an event itself which causes us to think and respond in a particular way. Instead, it is our beliefs about an event which influence our thoughts, feelings and behaviours” commented Jason Wright, a researcher on the project.</p>



<p>“When viewed positively, stress can help to fuel our performance. We have all experienced that feeling when the adrenalin kicks and your heart starts beating faster. We encouraged students to embrace this and to see it as their body and mind preparing to perform well.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-imagery-and-visualization-techniques">Imagery and visualization techniques</h2>



<p>Participants used imagery techniques to visualize their responses to stressful events, like crucial races or games. </p>



<p>They focused on elements within their control, such as effort, attitude, and preparation, instead of factors beyond their control.</p>



<p>The program also incorporated self-compassion and mindfulness exercises, aimed at fostering a more understanding and accepting attitude towards oneself in difficult situations.</p>



<p>The results were striking. Post-intervention, there was a notable increase in stress mindset and a significant decrease in negative emotional states like anger, fear, or irritability among the athletes. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-athletes-and-students-embrace-the-stress-mindset">Athletes and students embrace the stress mindset</h2>



<p>The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many athletes adopting imagery techniques for competition preparation.</p>



<p>“Experiencing stress is unavoidable and often beyond our control but this research shows that shifting perceptions of stress from negative to a more balanced view, can help athletes develop helpful rather than unhelpful beliefs," said Dr. Katie Sparks, a Lecturer in Sports Psychology.</p>



<p>“These are techniques that we can all use to better manage the stresses of daily life and ultimately to improve our wellbeing.”</p>



<p>In summary, this innovative approach, the team hopes, will be adopted more widely by professionals working with young athletes, including sports coaches.</p>



<p>It's a method that benefits athletes and can also be valuable for students preparing for exams or anyone facing life's challenges. </p>



<p>By redefining stress, we can empower our youth to transform pressure into a pathway for success.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the <em><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10413200.2023.2296900" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Applied Sport Psychology</a></em>.</p>



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Embracing 'stress mindset' is actually a good thing for athletes

At Staffordshire University, a team of sports psychology experts is...

3d,Rendering,Of,A,Brain

<p>Picture this: You're listening to a gripping true crime podcast during your morning commute, so engrossed in the story that a near-miss on the road jolts you back to reality. </p>



<p>Later, as you recount the podcast to a coworker, you find the latter half of the episode vivid in your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daily-multivitamins-slow-cognitive-aging-and-improve-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory</a>, while the beginning is just a blur. Why is that?</p>



<p>An interesting study from the <a href="https://beckman.illinois.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beckman Institute</a> for Advanced Science and Technology offers some insights. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humans-remember-events-in-a-strange-way">Humans remember events in a strange way</h2>



<p>Psychologists here have found that our brains are more adept at remembering moments following a traumatic event than those leading up to it.</p>



<p>In other words, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-learning-how-the-brain-stores-new-information/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory</a> flows from negative to neutral. This is unintuitive.</p>



<p>“So, our results suggest that if insulted in a conversation, one would better retrieve what was said immediately afterward than what was said immediately beforehand,” said Paul Bogdan, a Ph.D. candidate at the <a href="https://illinois.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</a>.</p>



<p>“You might imagine that humans evolved to have a good memory for what led to negative things,” Bogdan said. “If you got bit by a snake, what foolhardy thing were you doing beforehand?”</p>



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



<p>This revelation has profound implications for understanding eyewitness testimonies, treating PTSD, and addressing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wasabi-linked-to-substantial-boost-in-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory</a> decline in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.</p>



<p>Bogdan, under the guidance of psychology professors <a href="https://experts.illinois.edu/en/persons/florin-dolcos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florin Dolcos</a> and <a href="https://experts.illinois.edu/en/persons/sanda-monica-dolcos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sanda Dolcos</a> at the Dolcos Lab, has been exploring the intricate relationship between mental health and memory. </p>



<p><a href="https://dolcoslab.beckman.illinois.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dolcos Lab</a>, with over 15 years of experience in the field, focuses on how unwanted memories intrude on our daily lives, exacerbating mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. </p>



<p>Their work has led to the development of an 'emotional security system' -- a cognitive therapy approach aimed at maintaining emotional stability and focus despite distressing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lack-of-sexual-satisfaction-linked-to-rapid-memory-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memories</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiment-a-journey-through-memories">Experiment: A journey through memories</h2>



<p>Bogdan's team conducted two parallel experiments, initially with 72 participants and then with 150 to confirm their findings. </p>



<p>Participants were shown a series of images designed to elicit either a negative emotional response or a neutral one. </p>



<p>They were asked to imagine themselves in these scenarios, effectively creating a storyline that linked the images. This process was intended to simulate a string of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-breathing-impacts-memory-formation-during-sleep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memories</a>.</p>



<p>An hour later, participants revisited these images in pairs and were asked to determine the sequence --whether one image occurred immediately before or after another. There was also an option to indicate if they couldn't recall the order.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memory-s-bias-from-negative-to-neutral">Memory's bias from negative to neutral</h2>



<p>The results were strikingly consistent across both experiments. Participants were more accurate in placing the second image when it followed a negative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flavanols-a-key-to-slowing-age-related-memory-loss-in-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory</a> on the timeline. </p>



<p>If shown a negative image first, they remembered the subsequent neutral event images better. </p>



<p>Conversely, if the sequence started with a neutral image, the placement of the preceding negative image was recalled more accurately.</p>



<p>This pattern suggests an unintuitive aspect of memory: we tend to remember what happens after a negative event more clearly than what occurs before it. </p>



<p>Bogdan articulates this with a relatable example: if insulted during a conversation, you're likely to recall what was said immediately after the insult rather than before it.</p>



<p>“Suppose your partner unexpectedly insults you in the middle of an otherwise neutral discussion. Later, when you are trying to make sense of the encounter …, will you more accurately remember what happened before or after the insult?” Bogdan said. “Existing research does not give us a clear answer.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-directions-cognitive-therapies-and-beyond">Future directions: Cognitive therapies and beyond</h2>



<p>The researchers believe this discovery has significant implications. In legal settings, for instance, it suggests that eyewitness accounts of events leading up to a crime might be less reliable than those describing what happened afterward. </p>



<p>In clinical settings, understanding this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-popular-songs-and-movies-shape-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory</a> bias could be crucial in treating PTSD, where a neutral event can trigger an intense emotional response due to the disconnection of the traumatic memory from its original context.</p>



<p>The team is hopeful that these findings will enrich cognitive therapies for PTSD by focusing on recontextualizing traumatic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rewriting-negative-memories-by-activating-positive-ones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memories</a>. </p>



<p>Sanda Dolcos also points out the potential of using positive emotions to forge stronger memories, especially in combating memory issues in aging populations and conditions like Alzheimer's.</p>



<p>“As people age, problems with memories become more serious, especially conditions like Alzheimer’s,” she said. “The memory for context suffers the most. If we know exactly what’s happening, we can build future strategies to better encode information that will help us help others with those conditions.”</p>



<p>In summary, this study advances our understanding of memory and emotion and opens doors to new therapeutic approaches. It challenges us to reconsider how we perceive, recall, and interact with our memories, especially in the aftermath of traumatic experiences.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02699931.2023.2270196" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cognition &amp; Emotion</a></em>.</p>



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Understanding memory: How we remember traumatic events

Picture this: You're listening to a gripping true crime podcast...

Lake,And,Palms,,Mahe,Island,,Seychelles

<p>Recent research has uncovered a notable trend: human settlement significantly alters the uniqueness of island plants.</p>



<p>The study reveals that over the last 3,000 years, human migration to the South Pacific has led to a marked decrease in the diversity of plant species across various islands, a phenomenon scientists term 'homogenization'.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humanity-s-impact-on-the-natural-world">Humanity's impact on the natural world</h2>



<p>This research was spearheaded by Dr. Nichola Strandberg of the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a>, in collaboration with several international institutions.</p>



<p>Dr. Strandberg, reflecting on the study, notes, “Our study demonstrates that in small island groups, human occupation is a driving force behind the homogenization of flora." </p>



<p>This finding highlights the profound impact human actions have on the natural world, especially in regions like the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/treasure-trove-of-fungi-discovered-on-a-south-pacific-island/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Pacific</a>. </p>



<p>Although the study focuses on this area, its implications could extend to the hundreds of thousands of other small islands globally.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-study-was-conducted">How the study was conducted</h2>



<p>The research team, comprising experts from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA, meticulously analyzed fossil pollen records from 15 swamp and lake sites across 13 <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/noumea-in-the-south-pacific-archipelago-of-new-caledonia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Pacific</a> islands. </p>



<p>By comparing the composition of plant life before and after human colonization, they were able to discern the extent of human influence on island ecosystems.</p>



<p>Historically, human migration to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/blenny-fish-survive-rocks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Pacific</a> occurred in two waves. The initial migration, approximately 3,500 to 2,800 years ago, affected western Polynesia, Melanesia, and Samoa. </p>



<p>The subsequent wave, occurring around 1,000 to 700 years ago, saw human expansion to more remote islands, including French Polynesia, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Hawaii, and Aotearoa (New Zealand). These islands had not been previously inhabited.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-island-flora-modified-by-invasive-plants">Island flora modified by invasive plants</h2>



<p>The study found that human settlers quickly modified the local flora, introducing non-native plants and animals and engaging in activities such as agriculture, settlement building, and land clearing through fire. </p>



<p>These actions led to some plant species dwindling or facing extinction, reducing the distinctiveness of the plant species across these islands.</p>



<p>Interestingly, the study also observed that areas at higher elevations tended to retain more unique flora, likely due to less human habitation and impact in these regions.</p>



<p>Professor David Sear, who co-supervised the research alongside Professor Mary Edwards, Professor Peter Langdon, and Dr. Sandra Nogué, heads a broader project aimed at understanding the impact of climate and other natural disturbances on the migration and settlement of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-pacific-island-vegetation-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pacific islands</a>.</p>



<p>Commenting on the broader implications of the study, Professor Sear states, “The implications of this research are that human arrival rapidly impacted the floral communities on tropical islands that previously showed great variety in their native flora, owing to their dispersed and isolated locations." </p>



<p>He further explains how the Polynesian and Lapita peoples reshaped their islands to support their populations, inadvertently homogenizing the previously diverse tropical island flora.</p>



<p>In summary, this research offers valuable insights for Pacific islanders. The study helps them understand how their ancestors adapted to climate changes and natural hazards, and the ways they altered the landscapes they inhabited.</p>



<p>These findings underscore the profound and lasting impact human activities have on our planet's ecosystems, particularly in isolated and diverse regions such as the South Pacific islands.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-023-02306-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology and Evolution</a></em>.</p>



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Plant life on islands loses diversity when humans arrive

Recent research has uncovered a notable trend: human settlement significantly...

<p>In a study that challenges our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fibonacci-spirals-an-unexpected-twist-in-plant-evolution/">plant evolution</a>, an international team of researchers has discovered stunning genetic stability in lycophytes, one of the oldest groups of land plants.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slow-genetic-journey-nbsp">Slow genetic journey&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Lycophytes, resembling ferns in their appearance, have been part of Earth's flora for over 350 million years, witnessing the rise and fall of countless species.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Yet, in a world where change is the only constant, these plants present an anomaly. They have maintained a remarkably consistent genetic structure throughout their extensive history, diverging from the common narrative of plant genetics.</p>



<p>"The exceptionally slow pace of genomic evolution sets these plants apart," said study senior author Dr. Fay-Wei Li, a professor at the <a href="https://btiscience.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boyce Thompson Institute</a>. "Understanding why these plants have changed so little could reveal important aspects of plant evolution and genetics."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-mystery-nbsp">Unraveling the mystery&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In their quest to unravel this mystery, the researchers analyzed the genomes of two lycophyte species: Huperzia asiatica and Diphasiastrum complanatum.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These species, having branched off from a common ancestor around 350 million years ago – a time coinciding with amphibians' first steps on land – presented a fascinating case study.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-remarkable-genetic-stability-nbsp">Remarkable genetic stability&nbsp;</h2>



<p>What the researchers found was astonishing. Approximately 30% of the genes in the plants have remained in the same arrangement since their divergence. This phenomenon, known as synteny, signifies an unusual pattern of genetic stability that is rarely seen in the plant kingdom.</p>



<p>"This study opens a window into the past, showing us how remarkably stable the genetic makeup of these plants has been. It's like finding a living fossil at the genetic level," said study co-author Dr. Li Wang.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-retention-of-duplicated-genes">Retention of duplicated genes</h2>



<p>Another intriguing aspect observed by the scientists was the retention of duplicated gene copies following whole genome duplication events. Typically, in the aftermath of such events, a handful of duplicate genes may evolve new functions, but the majority are lost through a process called diploidization.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the homosporous lycophytes, a group of seedless vascular plants to which H. asiatica and D. complanatum belong, defied this norm. They retained both sets of genes with relatively few alterations, even after hundreds of millions of years.</p>



<p>Dr. David Wickell, a postdoctoral researcher and co-first author of the study, explained this unique retention of duplicated genes, highlighting its rarity and significance in understanding plant evolution.</p>



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



<p>The research not only sheds light on the genetic odyssey of lycophytes but also raises fundamental questions about the forces shaping plant evolution.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Why have these plants maintained genetic stability for so long? What can their unique evolutionary path tell us about the broader processes at play in the plant kingdom?</p>



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



<p>“That homosporous lycophytes have retained so many duplicate genes and so much synteny is fascinating, a little bit surprising, and doesn’t necessarily fit with our traditional ideas of how genomes reorganize themselves after a large-scale duplication,” noted Dr. Wickell.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“While it’s still unclear precisely what is driving this difference, we believe that further study of homosporous plants has the potential to provide novel insights into plant genetics and evolution across all land plants. It also underscores the importance of preserving biodiversity, as these amazing plants hold vital clues to the history of life on Earth.”</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2312607121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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These plants have maintained genetic stability for 350 million years

In a study that challenges our understanding of plant evolution,...

Earth's,Day,And,Love,For,Nature,Concept,With,Beautiful,Woman

<p>Scientists from <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Riverside</a> have uncovered a significant connection between a specific plant organelle and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=aging&amp;start=0">aging</a> process. </p>



<p>This unanticipated discovery is set to improve our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-identified-anti-aging-drugs-using-ai-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a> in plants, and potentially in humans as well.</p>



<p>The research team, led by Professor Katie Dehesh, embarked on a journey to explore which parts of plant cells were instrumental in controlling responses to various stressors such as infections, excessive salt, or insufficient light.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-golgi-body-plants-and-aging">Golgi body, plants, and aging</h2>



<p>In the course of the investigation, the researchers stumbled upon the Golgi body, an organelle known to scientists for over a century, and identified its critical role in plant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/anti-aging-molecule-extends-lifespan-by-improving-cellular-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a>.</p>



<p>“For us, this finding is a big deal. For the first time, we have defined the profound importance of an organelle in the cell that was not previously implicated in the process of aging,” explained Professor Dehesh.</p>



<p>The Golgi body is sometimes humorously described as resembling deflated balloons or dropped lasagna. It comprises a series of membrane-covered sacs responsible for sorting and dispatching various molecules within the cell.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Golgi are like the post office of the cell. They package and send out proteins and lipids to where they’re needed,” said study co-author Heeseung Choi. “A damaged Golgi can create confusion and trouble in the cell’s activities, affecting how the cell works and stays healthy.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cog-protein-nbsp">COG protein&nbsp;</h2>



<p>A crucial component of this cellular post office is the COG protein, which acts much like a postal worker, managing the movement of sacs that transport molecules around the cell.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The COG protein also assists the Golgi bodies in a process called glycosylation -- the attachment of sugars to other proteins or lipids. This process is vital for numerous biological functions, including immune response.</p>



<p>The experiments involved modifying some plants to lack the COG protein. Under normal conditions, these modified plants exhibited no discernable differences from their unaltered counterparts. </p>



<p>However, when deprived of light, a condition that prevents plants from producing sugars necessary for growth, the COG-deficient plants displayed accelerated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daily-multivitamins-slow-cognitive-aging-and-improve-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a> symptoms. </p>



<p>Their leaves turned yellow, wrinkled, and thin - signs typically seen in unmodified plants only after a longer period of darkness.</p>



<p>“In the dark, the COG mutants showed signs of aging that typically appear in wild, unmodified plants around day nine. But in the mutants, these signs manifested in just three days,” explained Choi.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rapid-reversal-of-aging">Rapid reversal of aging</h2>



<p>Remarkably, reintroducing the COG protein into these plants <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/harvard-scientists-fountain-of-youth-pill-sparks-controversy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reversed the aging</a> signs rapidly, suggesting the profound impact of this protein and the Golgi's normal functioning in managing stress.</p>



<p>This discovery is particularly exciting because Golgi bodies are not exclusive to plants but are found in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. </p>



<p>This means that plants could now serve as a model to further investigate the Golgi's role in human aging.</p>



<p>“Not only does our research advance our knowledge about how plants age, but it could also provide crucial clues about aging in humans,” Dehesh said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“When the COG protein complex doesn't work properly, it might make our cells age faster, just like what we saw in plants when they lacked light. This breakthrough could have far-reaching implications for the study of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-reversed-aging-in-mice-by-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a> and age-related diseases.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-golgi-body-and-plant-aging">More about Golgi body and plant aging</h2>



<p>In the bustling city of a cell, the Golgi body plays a crucial role, akin to a highly efficient post office. </p>



<p>As discussed above, this organelle, discovered by Camillo Golgi in 1898, is a central hub for managing, modifying, and dispatching cellular materials. It also plays a key role in plant and human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-in-greener-areas-slows-the-cellular-aging-process/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structure-and-location">Structure and location</h3>



<p>Residing within the eukaryotic cells, the Golgi body exhibits a distinct structure. It comprises a series of flattened, membrane-bound sacs known as cisternae. </p>



<p>These sacs are not mere storage spaces; they are dynamic areas where the processing of proteins and lipids occurs. </p>



<p>The Golgi apparatus, often located near the cell nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum, operates as a critical waypoint between these structures.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modifying-and-sorting-cellular-products">Modifying and sorting cellular products</h3>



<p>One of the primary functions of the Golgi body is to modify proteins and lipids that the endoplasmic reticulum synthesizes. </p>



<p>This modification process includes the addition of sugars (glycosylation), which transforms simple proteins into more complex and functional glycoproteins. </p>



<p>This intricate process equips the proteins with specific "postal codes," directing them to their correct destinations within or outside the cell.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transporting-vital-components">Transporting vital components</h3>



<p>After processing, the Golgi apparatus sorts and packages these materials into vesicles. These vesicles, which are small, membrane-bound carriers, then transport the contents to various parts of the cell or to the cell surface for secretion. </p>



<p>This transport mechanism is vital for numerous cellular activities, including the delivery of enzymes to lysosomes, the secretion of hormones, and the formation of the cell's plasma membrane.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-golgi-body-as-the-hub-of-cellular-communication">Golgi body as the hub of cellular communication</h3>



<p>The Golgi body's role extends beyond processing and sorting. It is instrumental in cell-to-cell communication, ensuring that cells produce and secrete the right molecules in response to environmental signals. </p>



<p>This function is paramount in maintaining the overall health and functionality of multicellular organisms.</p>



<p>In summary, the Golgi body is a cornerstone of cellular function, akin to a well-oiled machine within the vast factory of the cell. Its ability to process, modify, sort, and dispatch cellular materials is crucial for maintaining the cell's integrity and ensuring its smooth operation. </p>



<p>This tiny but mighty organelle continues to be a subject of fascination and study, revealing the intricate complexities of cellular life.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01545-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Plants</em></a>. </p>



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Secrets of human aging discovered in plant leaves 

Scientists from UC Riverside have uncovered a significant connection between...

<p>In a new study from <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell University</a>, researchers have uncovered a significant disconnect between how individuals perceive themselves and how they are perceived by others through their social media posts. </p>



<p>The study, led by Professor Qi Wang of the Culture &amp; Cognition Lab, is the first of its kind to analyze personality perceptions based on online posts, particularly on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secret-social-lives-pandas-have-their-own-version-of-facebook/">Facebook</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-modes-of-self-presentation-nbsp">New modes of self-presentation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>"Our sense of self and identity is externalized in the digitally mediated world. The proliferation of social media and the internet over the past decades has introduced new modes of self-representation and expression," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Posting personal experiences and opinions on social media is a ubiquitous daily activity for many. With the unlimited audience and the permanent storage for the shared information in cyber space, this activity has become an important means for individuals to achieve social bonding and personal expression."</p>



<p>Little is known, however, about how self-presentations through online posts are viewed by other social media users, noted the researchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reality-versus-perception">Reality versus perception</h2>



<p>The results of the study suggest that viewers often perceive social media users differently from how the users view themselves. This discrepancy is evident across various personality traits.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, the research indicates that viewers generally perceive Facebook users as having lower self-esteem and being more self-revealing compared to the users' own self-assessments.</p>



<p>"The impression people form about us on social media based on what we post can differ from the way we view ourselves," said Professor Wang. "A mismatch between who we are and how people perceive us could influence our ability to feel connected online and the benefits of engaging in social media interaction."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-media-posts-nbsp">Social media posts&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Interestingly, the researchers found that the type of content shared influences the accuracy of these assessments. Status updates that included multimedia elements like photos, videos, or links provided a more accurate representation of the user's personality than those composed solely of text.</p>



<p>The research builds on previous studies that explored personality perceptions from personal websites and online profiles.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the Cornell study was uniquely focused on the perceptions formed through social media posts. In this domain, users often do not share cohesive personal narratives and interact with a wide range of acquaintances, some of whom they barely know.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-norms">Social norms</h2>



<p>One of the more intriguing aspects of the study is its findings on cultural norms and their manifestation in online personas. The research showed that Facebook status updates often reflect cultural norms related to gender and ethnicity, even when the viewers were unaware of the user's identity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For instance, female users were rated as more extraverted than male users, aligning with broader societal expectations.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meaning-making-and-misconceptions-nbsp">Meaning-making and misconceptions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>White Facebook users were seen as being more extraverted and having greater self-esteem than Asian users, whose cultures place more emphasis on modesty, noted Professor Wang.</p>



<p>"We present ourselves in line with our cultural frameworks, and others can discern our 'cultured persona' through meaning making of our posts."</p>



<p>The experts said that future research should explore this "outsourced meaning-making process" with larger samples of posts, and on other popular platforms such as Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-authentic-self-expression-nbsp">Authentic self-expression&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Professor Wang said the findings could help developers design interfaces that allow people to express themselves more authentically.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For users, misunderstandings about who they are on social media might not cause direct harm, she said, but could hinder their efforts to foster good communication and relationships.</p>



<p>"If people's view of us is very different from who we actually are, or how we would like to be perceived, it could undermine our social life and well-being."</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294990" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>PLOS One</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Social media posts are not a good representation of our true selves

In a new study from Cornell University, researchers have uncovered...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

What caused the planet's longest ice age

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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