<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...

<p>A recent study from <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a> has revealed that interactive screen time such as texting and gaming are more detrimental to adolescents' <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-counteracts-negative-effects-of-sleep-deprivation/">sleep</a> than passive screen engagement like watching television. </p>



<p>The research sheds light on how different types of screen usage can variably impact sleep patterns in teens.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interactive-screen-time">Interactive screen time</h2>



<p>The study was focused on the sleep habits of 15-year-olds. The experts found that those engaging in interactive screen time before bed took approximately 30 minutes longer to fall asleep compared to those who avoided such activities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>And it was not just interactive screen time before bed that affected kids’ sleep, said the researchers. For each hour that kids spent playing video games beyond their usual routine during the day, their sleep was delayed by about 10 minutes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significant-sleep-loss">Significant sleep loss</h2>



<p>“If teens typically play video games for an hour each day, but one day a new game comes out and they play for four hours, that's three additional hours more than they typically play,” said study lead author and postdoctoral scholar David Reichenberger.</p>



<p>“So, that means they could have 15 minutes of delayed sleep timing that night. For a child, losing 15 minutes of sleep at night is significant. It’s especially difficult when they have to get up in the morning for school; if they're delaying their sleep, they can't make up for it in the morning."&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Without adequate sleep, kids are at increased risk of obesity, as well as impaired cognition, emotion regulation and mental health.”</p>



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



<p>For the analysis, the team conducted daily surveys with 475 adolescents, inquiring about their screen-based activities, including communication methods and entertainment preferences.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In addition, the researchers employed accelerometers to accurately track the teens’ sleep duration over a week. These devices, typically worn on the wrist, provided insights into the participants' activity levels to infer sleep patterns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-findings-nbsp">Key findings&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The study revealed that teens spent an average of two hours per day communicating digitally and around 1.3 hours playing video games.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Despite these figures, the most substantial sleep delays were noted in those who engaged in interactive screen time during the hour before bed, leading to about 30 minutes of delayed sleep onset.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-passive-screen-time">Passive screen time</h2>



<p>Interestingly, said Reichenberger, the team found no significant associations between passive screen-based activities and subsequent sleep, like browsing the internet and watching television, videos and movies.</p>



<p>“It could be that these more passive activities are less mentally stimulating than interactive activities, like texting and video game playing.” said study co-author Professor Anne-Marie Chang.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limiting-interactive-activities-nbsp">Limiting interactive activities&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Addressing the question of what parents can do to help protect their teens’ sleep, Professor Chang said it's a tricky situation.</p>



<p>"These tools are really important to everyone nowadays, so it's hard to put a limit on them, but if you're really looking out for an adolescent’s health and well-being, then you might consider limiting the more interactive activities, especially in the hour before bed," said Chang.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jahonline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Adolescent Health</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Interactive screen time has a big impact on sleep among teens

A recent study from Penn State has revealed that interactive...

HUBBLE WATCHES ‘SPOKE SEASON’ ON SATURN

<p>For the past three decades, the Hubble Space Telescope has continued this exploration of Saturn and its ring spokes. With its ultra-sharp vision, <a href="https://www.hubblesite.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble</a> has become an invaluable tool in monitoring these phenomena. </p>



<p>Since Galileo first observed the peculiar "cup handle" features of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturns-rings-will-vanish-from-sight-in-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn</a> in 1610, our understanding of this giant planet has evolved remarkably. It took until 1655 for Christiaan Huygens to accurately describe these features as a disk surrounding Saturn. </p>



<p>This initial observation sparked centuries of curiosity and exploration, leading to the identification of Saturn's four unique concentric rings, named A, B, C, and D, through ground-based telescopes.</p>



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



<p>A significant leap in our knowledge came in the 1980s with NASA's <a href="https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Voyager missions</a>. These probes revealed thousands of concentric ringlets around Saturn, a discovery far beyond the capabilities of earlier telescopes. </p>



<p>More intriguingly, the Voyager scientists observed dark, radial, spoke-like patterns within the ring plane. </p>



<p>These patterns seemed to appear and disappear mysteriously as they revolved around <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturns-rings-may-have-formed-after-two-icy-moons-collided/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn</a>, adding a new layer of complexity to our understanding.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hubble-and-saturn-s-ring-spokes">Hubble and Saturn's ring spokes</h2>



<p>Each year, Hubble follows the “merry-go-round” of the ring spokes, providing insights into their behavior. It is believed that these dark spokes are composed of dust particles, electrostatically levitated above the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturns-rings-are-heating-the-planets-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ring plane</a>. </p>



<p>Intriguingly, their abundance appears to fluctuate with Saturn's seven-year-long seasons, possibly linked to changes in Saturn's magnetic field as it interacts with the solar wind.</p>



<p>On October 22, 2023, Hubble captured a <a href="https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/videos/2023/023/01HGXEG9APP1NAM45S5QZ51RGV?news=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stunning photo of Saturn</a>, approximately 850 million miles from Earth, showcasing the enigmatic ring spokes. </p>



<p>These transient features, first photographed by Voyager 2 in 1981, have a ghostly appearance and persist only briefly, for two or three rotations around Saturn.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-and-opal-contributions">Cassini and OPAL contributions</h2>



<p>Following Voyager, NASA's <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/spacecraft/cassini-orbiter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cassini</a> orbiter also contributed to our understanding during its 13-year mission, which concluded in 2017. </p>



<p>Hubble's ongoing observations are part of the Outer Planets Atmospheres Legacy (<a href="https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13783#:~:text=What%20is%20OPAL%3F,and%20evolution%20as%20gas%20giants." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OPAL</a>) program, which began nearly a decade ago. OPAL annually monitors weather changes on the four gas-giant outer planets, providing valuable long-term data.</p>



<p>Hubble's images suggest that the frequency of spoke appearances is seasonally driven, with variations in both number and contrast of the spokes over <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/mysterious-spoke-season-captured-on-saturn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's seasons</a>. </p>



<p>This year, these ephemeral structures are observable on both sides of the planet, sometimes stretching longer than Earth's diameter!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-insights-on-saturn-s-ring-spokes">Scientific insights on Saturn's ring spokes</h2>



<p>Amy Simon, the OPAL program lead scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, emphasizes the significance of the current phase. </p>



<p>"We are heading towards <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-now-leads-the-solar-system-moon-race-with-145/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn</a> equinox, expecting maximum spoke activity, with higher frequency and darker spokes appearing over the next few years," she explains.</p>



<p>The leading theory, as Simon describes, ties the spokes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-has-megastorms-that-affect-its-weather-for-centuries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's</a> powerful magnetic field and its interaction with solar forces. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electrostatic-levitation">Electrostatic levitation</h2>



<p>Particularly near the equinox, when Saturn and its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-now-know-the-age-of-saturns-rings-and-the-number-might-surprise-you/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rings</a> are less tilted away from the Sun, the solar wind might significantly enhance spoke formation. Planetary scientists hypothesize that electrostatic forces from this interaction levitate dust or ice above the ring to form the spokes.</p>



<p>Despite decades of observation and theory, no single explanation perfectly predicts the formation of these spokes. However, continued observations by Hubble may eventually help solve this enduring mystery of our solar system. </p>



<p>As we progress, each discovery brings us closer to understanding the complexities of Saturn, a planet that continues to captivate and intrigue scientists and stargazers alike.</p>



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Mysterious shadows spotted on Saturn's rings by Hubble

For the past three decades, the Hubble Space Telescope has...

<p>Researchers are describing a new iguana species in southern China which was previously mistaken for a closely related species, Calotes versicolor.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts confirmed that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/excess-sugar-is-toxic-to-rock-iguanas-on-remote-islands/">iguana</a> is genetically distinct from other members of the genus Calotes, and have named the new species Calotes wangi, or Wang’s garden lizard.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinguishing-features-nbsp">Distinguishing features&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The experts found that Calotes wangi has many distinguishing characteristics, including a length of less than 9 centimeters and an orange tongue.</p>



<p>The species name wangi is a tribute to Professor Yuezhao Wang, a former director of the Amphibian and Reptile Research Laboratory and Museum of Herpetology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-discovery-nbsp">Unexpected discovery&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The research team, led by Yong Huang from the Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, published their findings in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1187.110704" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>ZooKeys</em></a>.</p>



<p>“From 2009 to 2022, we conducted a series of field surveys in South China and collected a number of specimens of the Calotes versicolor species complex, and found that the population of what we thought was Calotes versicolor in South China and Northern Vietnam was a new undescribed species and two subspecies,” said Huang.</p>



<p>The study authors noted that the new species is similar to Calotes irawadi, "but differs in having scales between the nasal shield and the orbit and a fourth toe with a claw that can reach between the eyes and tympanum (even to the snout when hind the limbs are adpressed forward)."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitat-and-lifestyle-nbsp">Habitat and lifestyle&nbsp;</h2>



<p>According to Huang, Calotes wangi is found in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and tropical monsoon forests in southern China and northern Vietnam, mostly in mountainous areas, hills and plains on forest edges, arable land, shrub lands, and even urban green belts.</p>



<p>"It is active at the edge of the forest, and when it is in danger, it rushes into bushes or climbs tree trunks to hide. Investigations found that the lizards lie on sloping shrub branches at night, sleeping close to the branches," said Huang.</p>



<p>The small iguana eats a variety of insects, spiders, and other arthropods. "It is active from April to October every year, while in the tropics it is active from March to November or even longer," wrote the study authors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-status">Conservation status</h2>



<p>The researchers noted that the new species is not considered threatened, but may be impacted by habitat fragmentation. “In addition, their bodies are used medicinally and the lizards are also eaten,” they wrote.</p>



<p>The experts suggest that the local government strengthen the protection of their ecological environment and pay close attention to the population dynamics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cryptic-lineages-nbsp">Cryptic lineages&nbsp;</h2>



<p>"Based on extensive spatial sampling across China and comprehensive data on morphology and genetics for species delimitation, we add a new species and more stability to the systematics of Calotes," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Another interesting finding from this study is the presence of subspecies, which highlights the need for more thorough geographic sampling to uncover cryptic lineages."</p>



<p>image Credit: Huang et al.</p>



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Calotes wangi: New iguana species identified in China

Researchers are describing a new iguana species in southern China...

Spacetime,Scifi,Digital,Arts,Concept,,Twist,Clock,Time,Distortion,Warp

Uniting gravity, spacetime, and the quantum realm

Physicists have presented a radical theory that unifies the realms...

<p>New research from the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK Health Security Agency</a> (UKHSA) has presented significant findings regarding the efficacy of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-associated-with-lower-covid-19-vaccine-responses/">COVID-19</a> vaccination.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts found that there is a substantial decrease in the risk of death from COVID-19 following vaccination. However, they also found evidence that this protective effect diminishes after six months.</p>



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



<p>"Risk of death after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has fallen during the pandemic, largely due to immunity from vaccination. In England, the timing and extent of this reduction varied due to staggered eligibility during the primary vaccination campaign, based on age and clinical risk group," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Duration of protection is less well understood. Our objective was to estimate the case fatality risk (CFR) by vaccination status and time since last dose during a period of widespread community testing, to better understand the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and duration of protection."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-case-fatality-risk-nbsp">Case fatality risk&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The researchers analyzed over 10 million COVID-19 cases in adults from May 2020 to February 2022. The team focused on case fatality risk (CFR), which is the proportion of COVID-19 cases that result in death.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This metric was cross-referenced with the vaccination status of individuals, uncovering a strong correlation between vaccination and lowered mortality rates.</p>



<p>"Case fatality risk (CFR) has been a useful metric for observing changes in mortality during the pandemic. When testing patterns are stable, this measure can show changes in risk of death over time, highlighting groups at higher risk of severe disease or death," wrote the researchers.</p>



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



<p>A critical observation from the study is the time-sensitive nature of vaccine efficacy. The data indicates that within six months of receiving the last vaccine dose, CFR was consistently lowest across all age groups.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Beyond this six-month period, the experts observed an increase in case fatality risk, suggesting a waning protective benefit from the vaccine.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-on-mortality-rates">Impact on mortality rates</h2>



<p>The study highlights the success of the COVID-19 vaccination program in reducing mortality rates, particularly among adults over 50. In this group, there was a sharp contrast in CFR between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. </p>



<p>The CFR was 10 times higher in unvaccinated adults (6.3%) compared to those vaccinated within six months of testing positive for COVID-19 (0.6%). Furthermore, the study revealed a significant decline in CFR in early 2021, coinciding with the initial vaccine rollout.</p>



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



<p>Study lead author Florence Halford from the UKHSA’s COVID-19 Vaccines and Epidemiology Division emphasized the importance of these findings.</p>



<p>"COVID-19 Case Fatality Risk reduced after vaccination, with the lowest seen across all age bands when vaccinated up to six months prior to the specimen date. This provides some evidence for continued booster doses in older age groups," said Halford.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-booster-doses">Booster doses</h2>



<p>The research offers strong evidence supporting the need for booster doses, especially in older populations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As the protective effects of the vaccine diminish over time, regular booster doses could be crucial in maintaining low mortality rates amidst the ongoing pandemic.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01410768231216332" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine</em></a>.</p>



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COVID-19 vaccination reduces mortality risk, but only for 6 months

New research from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has...

<p>Insect larvae were already using sophisticated defense tactics during the Cretaceous period about 100 million years ago, according to a new study.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This discovery, stemming from detailed analyses of Burmese amber fossils, highlights the early emergence of various survival strategies among the tiny creatures, crucial to our ecosystems even today.</p>



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



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-insect-decline-what-are-the-causes-and-consequences/">Insect</a> larvae play a wide range of ecological roles, including predator and prey. They are critical for maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity.</p>



<p>Insect larvae are instrumental in decomposing dead matter and wood, contributing significantly to soil formation and the recycling of essential elements. Furthermore, they serve as a primary food source for birds, fish, mammals, and other insects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insect-defense-mechanisms">Insect defense mechanisms</h2>



<p>Faced with the constant threat of predation, many insect larvae have evolved an array of defense mechanisms.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These include physical features such as spines and hairs and behavioral strategies like camouflage and concealment. Over millions of years, this has led to a diverse range of adaptations aimed at survival.</p>



<p>A collaborative study by <a href="https://www.lmu.de/de/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LMU</a>, the <a href="https://www.uni-greifswald.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Greifswald</a>, and the <a href="https://www.uni-rostock.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Rostock</a> sheds new light on early defense strategies used by Holometabolan larvae. </p>



<p>This group includes insects that experience a complete metamorphosis through egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages.</p>



<p>"Holometabolan <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insect-larvae-contribute-to-microplastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">larvae</a> are a major part of the animal biomass and an important food source for many animals. Many larvae evolved anti-predator strategies and some of these can even be recognized in fossils," noted the researchers.</p>



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



<p>The research was focused on well-preserved holometabolan larvae in 100-million-year-old Kachin amber from Myanmar. The team analyzed these fossils to identify defensive specializations, and also to gain insights into the behavior of ancient predators and prey.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"From the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/incredible-discovery-some-mammals-attacked-dinosaurs-and-they-often-won-the-battle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous</a> onward, ambers start to provide a window to the larval forms of Holometabola in the past in an almost life-like manner. While there are older ambers, these have so far not included holometabolan larvae," wrote the study authors. </p>



<p>"Among the different Cretaceous ambers, Kachin amber, found in Myanmar and being around 100 million years old, has been especially productive in providing examples of holometabolan <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unusual-jumping-behavior-recorded-in-beetle-larvae/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">larvae</a> that possess different types of anti-predator structures or allow to infer anti-predator types of behavior."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-findings-about-insect-defense">Key findings about insect defense </h2>



<p>By examining the exceptionally preserved fossils, the researchers determined that anti-predator mechanisms were already highly varied during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-fossils-cretaceous-period/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous</a> period.</p>



<p>"A particularly spectacular example is by far the oldest larva of a scorpionfly to have been discovered, which is the second fossil ever found to have special hairs on its back for attaching camouflage material," said study lead author Professor Carolin Haug.</p>



<p>"Also, I could mention sawfly larvae that lived in leaves and created tunnels in them as they ate their way through the thin layer of the leaf interior." </p>



<p>This research marks a significant advancement in our understanding of ancient insect larvae and their survival strategies, offering insights into the evolutionary pressures that shaped the insects we see today.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The repetitive independent evolution of similar strategies in distantly related lineages indicates that several strategies evolved convergently as a result of similar selective pressures," noted the researchers.</p>



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



<p>"Observing the diversity of the past and the emergence and disappearance of various morphologies helps us better understand these processes, which is particularly important in view of the ongoing biodiversity crisis," said Professor Haug.</p>



<p>The study not only reveals the ancient diversity of defensive strategies among insect larvae but also contributes to a broader understanding of evolutionary processes.</p>



<p>"A point to be emphasized is that although we see many anti-predator strategies we know from modern faunal components, they are not necessarily performed by directly related forms. Instead, it appears that many strategies have evolved repetitively independently due to convergent evolution," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Such a pattern indicates that there are especially successful strategies that have been employed by many lineages, also many modern lineages, and that evolved repetitively. In contrast to that, there are also strategies that are rarer, especially among holometabolans."</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(23)02698-6?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2589004223026986%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>iScience</em></a>.</p>



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



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Insects had sophisticated defense strategies 100 million years ago

Insect larvae were already using sophisticated defense tactics during the...

<p>Researchers have made significant strides in understanding brain activity during daydreaming. The study, conducted on mice, offers insights that could illuminate similar processes in humans.</p>



<p>The research was led by Nghia Nguyen, a PhD student in Neurobiology at the Blavatnik Institute at <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard Medical School</a>. The team tracked the activity of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pregnancy-brain-how-neurons-get-rewired-to-prepare-for-motherhood/">neurons</a> in the visual cortex of mice while they were in a relaxed waking state.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moments-of-quiet-reflection-nbsp">Moments of quiet reflection&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The experts discovered that these neurons occasionally fired in patterns resembling those observed when the mice viewed actual images.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We wanted to know how this daydreaming process occurred on a neurobiological level, and whether these moments of quiet reflection could be important for learning and memory,” Nguyen explained.</p>



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



<p>This study ventured beyond the hippocampus, a region extensively studied for memory and spatial navigation, to focus on the visual cortex’s role in forming visual memories.</p>



<p>”My lab became interested in whether we could record from enough neurons in the visual cortex to understand what exactly the mouse is remembering - and then connect that information to brain plasticity,” said senior author Mark Andermann, a professor of Medicine at <a href="https://www.bidmc.org/">Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center</a> and of Neurobiology at HMS.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinct-neural-patterns-nbsp">Distinct neural patterns&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In their experiments, the researchers showed mice two different checkerboard images and recorded neural activity from around 7,000 neurons in the visual cortex.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts found distinct neural patterns for each image and similar but not identical patterns when the mice viewed a gray screen, suggesting the mice were daydreaming about the images. The daydreams correlated with a state of relaxation, indicated by calm behavior and small pupils.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-representational-drift-nbsp">Representational drift&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Surprisingly, the study revealed that the daydreams could predict future changes in the brain’s response to images, a phenomenon known as “representational drift.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>“There’s drift in how the brain responds to the same image over time, and these early daydreams can predict where the drift is going,” Andermann said.</p>



<p>The team also observed that these daydreams in the visual cortex coincided with replay activity in the hippocampus, hinting at communication between these two brain regions.</p>



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



<p>The findings suggest that daydreaming may play a role in brain plasticity, aiding in distinguishing between different experiences. “Our findings suggest that daydreaming may guide this process by steering the neural patterns associated with the two images away from each other,” Nguyen explained.</p>



<p>The researchers plan to further explore the connections between individual neurons in the visual cortex and how these connections evolve. Andermann reflects on the broader implications of their work: “We were chasing this 99 percent of unexplored brain activity and discovered that there’s so much richness in the visual cortex that nobody knew anything about.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-daydreaming">Human daydreaming</h2>



<p>While it remains to be confirmed if similar patterns occur in human daydreaming, preliminary evidence suggests an analogous process. Studies have shown increased brain activity in the visual cortex when people recall images, aligning with these recent findings in mice.</p>



<p>The study underscores the potential importance of quiet wakefulness and daydreaming in both humans and animals for learning and memory. “If you never give yourself any awake downtime, you’re not going to have as many of these daydream events, which may be important for brain plasticity,” Andermann concluded.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06810-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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



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What happens in the brain while we are daydreaming?

Researchers have made significant strides in understanding brain activity during...

<p>Get ready for a celestial treat this Christmas! As the year winds down, the final full moon of the year, aptly named the Christmas Cold Moon, is set to light up the night sky, promising a beautiful addition to your holiday festivities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-christmas-cold-moon">What is the Christmas Cold Moon?</h2>



<p>The Christmas Cold Moon, the full moon closest to the winter solstice, graces our skies during the last week of December. </p>



<p>This year, it will peak at 7:33 pm EDT on Tuesday, following its rise near sunset from Monday through Wednesday. </p>



<p>Not only does it enhance the holiday spirit by illuminating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-christmas-trees-produce-that-fresh-festive-scent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christmas</a> night, but it also carries deep astronomical and cultural significance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-astronomical-and-cultural-significance">Astronomical and cultural significance</h2>



<p>Astronomically, the Christmas Cold Moon is remarkable for its high trajectory across the sky, resulting in extended visibility. </p>



<p>This phenomenon occurs due to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_tilt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's axis tilting</a> away from the sun during this time of year, allowing the moon to follow a higher path.</p>



<p>Culturally, this full moon has been revered for centuries across various traditions. It symbolizes the return of the sun and longer days post the winter solstice. </p>



<p>Many cultures view it as a beacon of hope and a sign of renewal, adding to its mystique and allure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-christmas-cold-moon-is-a-visual-spectacle">The Christmas Cold Moon is a visual spectacle</h2>



<p>For skywatchers, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-christmas-tree-captured-by-nasas-chandra-observatory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christmas</a> Cold Moon is a sheer delight. Its bright and crisp light, particularly striking against snowy landscapes, creates a magical winter scene. To fully enjoy this spectacle, find a location far from city lights and allow your eyes time to adjust to the dark.</p>



<p>Photographers will find this moon to be a fantastic subject. Using a tripod and a long lens can help capture intricate lunar details. Experiment with various exposures to reveal the lunar surface's features in all their glory.</p>



<p>In summary, the Christmas Cold Moon embodies the festive season's spirit, intertwining astronomical wonders with rich cultural heritage. Its annual appearance is a reminder of the night sky's enduring magic during the holidays.</p>



<p>Mark your calendars for the next full moon, the Wolf Moon, set to appear on January 25.</p>



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



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

The "Christmas Cold Moon" -- Last full moon of 2023 peaks tonight

Get ready for a celestial treat this Christmas! As the...

<p>California has taken a monumental step in water conservation and management by approving new regulations that allow the conversion and recycling of wastewater into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cheap-and-drinkable-water-from-desalination-is-finally-a-reality/">drinking water</a>. </p>



<p>The measure is a critical response to the severe drought conditions that have plagued the state in recent years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-era-in-water-management">New era in water management</h2>



<p>This decision by the <a href="https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/">California State Water Resources Control Board</a> marks a significant shift in water resource management, setting a precedent for other states facing similar challenges.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The new rules permit water agencies to treat wastewater and reintroduce it into the drinking water supply. This process, known as direct potable reuse, positions California as a leader in advanced water recycling standards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decades-in-the-making">Decades in the making</h2>



<p>The journey to this decision has spanned over a decade, involving rigorous scientific reviews and the development of stringent safety standards. The approval of these regulations arrives just before the state-mandated deadline of December 31.</p>



<p>"This is an exciting development in the state's ongoing efforts to find innovative solutions to the challenges of extreme weather driven by climate change," said E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the Water Resources Control Board.</p>



<p>"On top of helping us build drought-resilient water supplies, direct potable reuse offers energy savings and environmental benefits. And most importantly, these regulations ensure that the water produced is not only safe, but purer than many drinking water sources we now rely on."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-climate-change-nbsp">Addressing climate change&nbsp;</h2>



<p>California is now the second state, following Colorado, to permit this form of water recycling. The process aims to add millions of gallons of drinking water to the state's supply, offering a sustainable solution to the pressing issue of water scarcity exacerbated by climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The state has experienced its driest period in recent history, with occasional heavy rainfall providing only temporary relief. </p>



<p>These new regulations are part of California's broader strategy to build drought-resilient water supplies and address the ongoing climate crisis.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toilet-to-tap-recycling-wastewater">Toilet to tap -- recycling wastewater</h2>



<p>Other states have already begun exploring similar measures. Texas initiated wastewater conversion in 2013, and a brewery in California's Half Moon Bay recently adopted recycled wastewater. Colorado's water board approved the process last year.</p>



<p>California's water board reported that water systems can start submitting plans to begin purifying wastewater once the new regulations are finalized by the Office of Administrative Law next year.</p>



<p>Esquivel pointed out that many Californians are already consuming recycled water, as most wastewater treatment plants discharge treated water back into rivers and streams.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Anyone out there taking drinking water downstream from a wastewater treatment plant discharge - which, I promise you, you’re all doing - is already drinking toilet to tap,” said Esquivel. </p>



<p>“All water is recycled. What we have here are standards, science and - importantly - monitoring that allow us to have the faith that it is pure water.”</p>



<p>In summary, California's move to recycle wastewater into drinking water reflects a growing recognition of the need for innovative, sustainable solutions to water scarcity. </p>



<p>These regulations not only address immediate drought concerns but also set a benchmark for future water management strategies in the face of climate change.</p>



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

Toilet to tap: California approves wastewater recycling amid drought crisis

California has taken a monumental step in water conservation and...

Soccer,Players,Chasing,Ball,On,Field

<p>A recent study led by Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with <a href="https://shirazu.ac.ir/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiraz University</a> in Iran, has revealed intriguing insights into the effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-caffeine-levels-reduce-the-risk-of-diabetes/">caffeine</a> on athletes, particularly football (soccer) players. </p>



<p>The research, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114732" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Behavioural Brain Research</em></a>, suggests that while caffeine can enhance certain physical aspects of performance, it may also impair more complex cognitive functions like decision-making and problem-solving.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-popular-dietary-supplement">Popular dietary supplement</h2>



<p>Dr. Pooya Soltani, a senior lecturer in games technology at <a href="https://www.staffs.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Staffordshire University</a>, explains the basis of the study. </p>



<p>“Caffeine is one of the most popular dietary supplements which has been shown to provide benefits during exercise, including football," Soltani said.</p>



<p>"Studies have shown that caffeine can enhance attention, accuracy, and speed, as well as self-reported measures of energy and mood.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, notes Dr. Soltani, “the effects of caffeine on ‘higher’ cognitive functions such as problem-solving and decision-making are often debated, so we decided to investigate this."</p>



<p>The study involved 12 young football players aged 16-17 who underwent a series of tasks to assess the impact of caffeine on decision-making and passing accuracy.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The tasks included performing short and long passes, as well as completing the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test, which measures skills like passing, dribbling, control, and decision-making. Additionally, a computer task was used to assess decision-making in various gameplay scenarios.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-insights-on-athletes-and-caffeine">New insights on athletes and caffeine</h2>



<p>Each participant completed these tasks twice: once after consuming three mg/kg body mass of caffeine and once after a placebo. </p>



<p>The findings indicated a notable improvement in passing accuracy with caffeine intake -- 1.67 percent better in short passes and 13.48 percent in long passes compared to the placebo. </p>



<p>However, Negar Jafari from Shiraz University highlights a concern. “While the short pass accuracy remained consistent among almost all participants before and after caffeine consumption, the performance varied in the case of long passes. Moreover, most of the participants scored lower on decision-making and the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test after consuming caffeine.”</p>



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



<p>While the researchers emphasize that they are not advocating for athletes to completely avoid caffeine, they acknowledge the need for further research on caffeine’s impact on in-game decision-making.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Our findings show that this can be affected by caffeine intake and coaches may find these performance metrics useful to explore in training,” Soltani said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>He also points out that various factors, such as the dosage of caffeine relative to body weight, frequency of intake, and the players’ positions or playing styles, can influence the outcomes. </p>



<p>For instance, a slight decrease in pass accuracy might have different implications for a midfielder compared to a goalkeeper.</p>



<p>This study sheds light on the complex effects of caffeine on athletes, balancing its physical benefits against potential cognitive drawbacks, and underscores the importance of tailored approaches in sports training and nutrition.</p>



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



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Caffeine can reduce athletes’ decision-making abilities

A recent study led by Staffordshire University in the United...

<p>In our increasingly digital world, children encounter a vast array of information online, much of it unverified and generated by robots and artificial intelligence (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-can-predict-human-life-events-including-death/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a>) sources. </p>



<p>A pivotal skill for children in this environment is discerning the reliability of these sources, a key component in developing critical thinking.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-robots-and-trust">Children, robots and trust</h2>



<p>A recent study sheds light on this issue. Titled ‘Younger, not older, children trust an inaccurate human informant more than an inaccurate robot informant,’ the research explores how children aged three to five gauge trustworthiness in both human and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-robots-marketing-and-the-power-of-persuasion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robot</a> informants.</p>



<p>Dr. Li Xiaoqian is a research scholar at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (<a href="https://www.sutd.edu.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUTD</a>). </p>



<p>She, along with her PhD supervisor, Professor Yow Wei Quin, head of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at SUTD, co-authored the study. They found that children’s trust is influenced by an informant's past accuracy. </p>



<p>“Children do not just trust anyone to teach them labels, they trust those who were reliable in the past. We believe that this selectivity in social learning reflects young children’s emerging understanding of what makes a good (reliable) source of information,” explained Li Xiaoqian. </p>



<p>“The question at stake is how young children use their intelligence to decide when to learn and whom to trust.”</p>



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



<p>The study involved participants from Singapore preschools, such as ChildFirst, Red SchoolHouse, and Safari House. </p>



<p>Divided into ‘younger’ and ‘older’ groups based on the median age of 4.58 years, these children interacted with either a human or robot informant. These informants provided either accurate or inaccurate labels for objects like ‘ball’ or ‘book’.</p>



<p>To measure trust, the researchers observed if the children accepted new information from these informants. The robot used was NAO by <a href="https://www.softbankrobotics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SoftBank Robotics</a>, a humanoid robot with a human-like but robotic voice. </p>



<p>To ensure consistency, the human informant mirrored the robot's movements. An experimenter was also present to facilitate the process and ensure the child was comfortable.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-team-learned">What the team learned</h2>



<p>The findings revealed that children trusted informants -- <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-engage-in-social-loafing-when-they-have-robot-team-members/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human or robot</a> -- who had previously provided accurate information. However, they were hesitant to trust informants with a history of inaccuracies, particularly if the informant was a robot. </p>



<p>Additionally, younger children were more likely to trust an unreliable human over an unreliable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-robots-with-charismatic-voices-get-better-results-from-students/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robot</a>, while older children tended to distrust unreliable informants, regardless of their nature.</p>



<p>“These results implicate that younger and older children may have different selective trust strategies, especially the way they use informants’ reliability and identity cues when deciding who to trust," said Dr. Li. </p>



<p>"Together with other research on children’s selective trust, we show that as children get older, they may increasingly rely on reliability cues to guide their trust behavior.”</p>



<p>Previous studies indicate that children consider various factors, like age, familiarity, and language, to assess an informant's reliability. </p>



<p>Younger children might emphasize identity cues more, while older children focus more on the substance of the information provided.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-children-and-robots">Future research on children and robots</h2>



<p>This study is unique in its exploration of children's perceptions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-happens-when-robots-lie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robots</a> compared to humans and their corresponding trust behaviors. </p>



<p>“Addressing these questions will provide a unique perspective on the development of trust and social learning among children who are growing up alongside various sources of information, including social robots,” described Prof Yow.</p>



<p>The research has significant implications for educational methods, especially as robots and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-intelligence-proves-very-useful-to-doctors-when-diagnosing-patients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI tools</a> become more common in classrooms. Children's perceptions of robots as trustworthy sources could evolve with increased exposure to smart machines.</p>



<p>“Designers should consider the impact of perceived competence when building robots and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-able-to-predict-if-a-new-song-will-be-a-hit-with-97-accuracy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI-driven</a> educational tools for young children," emphasized Professor Yow. </p>



<p>"Recognizing the developmental changes in children’s trust of humans versus robots can guide the creation of more effective learning environments, ensuring that the use of technologies aligns with children’s developing cognitive and social needs.”</p>



<p>In summary, future research might expand beyond word learning to other areas, such as tool usage, emotional expression, and episodic memory. The current findings will be influential in design pedagogy. </p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.14048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Child Development</a></em>.</p>



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



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

Who do children trust more, robots or humans? Scientists found out

In our increasingly digital world, children encounter a vast array...

<p>A recent study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.108.083533" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Physical Review D</em></a> marks a significant advancement in cosmology. A team of researchers has analyzed over one million <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/">galaxies</a> to delve into the origins of the universe’s current cosmic structures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This study contributes to the understanding of the ΛCDM model, the standard framework for the universe, which posits the significance of cold dark matter (CDM) and dark energy (the cosmological constant, Λ).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primordial-fluctuations-nbsp">Primordial fluctuations&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The model theorizes that primordial fluctuations, originating at the universe’s inception, acted as catalysts for the formation of all celestial objects, including stars, galaxies, and galaxy clusters.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These fluctuations, initially small, grew over time due to gravitational forces, eventually forming dense regions of dark matter, or halos. These halos then collided and merged, leading to the creation of galaxies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spatial-distribution-of-galaxies">Spatial distribution of galaxies</h2>



<p>The spatial distribution of galaxies, significantly influenced by these primordial fluctuations, has been a key focus for researchers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In addition to this, the galaxy shapes distributed across the universe also reflect these primordial fluctuations. Traditional analysis, however, has primarily centered on the spatial distribution of galaxies as points.</p>



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



<p>The research was led by Toshiki Kurita, a graduate student at the <a href="https://www.kavlifoundation.org/institutes/kavli-institute-for-the-physics-and-mathematics-of-the-universe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe</a> (Kavli IPMU) at the time of the study (now a postdoctoral researcher at the <a href="https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics</a>), and Kavli IPMU Professor Masahiro Takada.</p>



<p>The team developed a novel method to measure the power spectrum of galaxy shapes. This method combines spectroscopic data of galaxies’ spatial distribution with imaging data of individual galaxy shapes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-new-insights-nbsp">Critical new insights&nbsp;</h2>



<p>By analyzing approximately one million galaxies from the <a href="https://www.sdss.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sloan Digital Sky Survey</a> (SDSS), the team successfully constrained the statistical properties of the primordial fluctuations that seeded the formation of the universe’s structure. </p>



<p>The experts discovered a significant alignment in the orientations of galaxies’ shapes, even over distances exceeding 100 million light years, suggesting correlations between distant galaxies whose formation processes are seemingly independent.</p>



<p>“In this research, we were able to impose constraints on the properties of the primordial fluctuations through statistical analysis of the ‘shapes’ of numerous galaxies obtained from the large-scale structure data,” Kurita said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“There are few precedents for research that use galaxy shapes to explore the physics of the early universe, and the research process, from the construction of the idea and development of analysis methods to the actual data analysis, was a series of trial and error.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wonderful-research-achievement">Wonderful research achievement</h2>



<p>The study also confirmed that the observed correlations are consistent with those predicted by inflation theory and do not exhibit a non-Gaussian feature of the primordial fluctuation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Takada, expressing pride in Kurita's work, said: “This research is the result of Toshiki’s doctoral dissertation. It’s a wonderful research achievement in which we developed a method to validate a cosmological model using galaxy shapes and galaxy distributions, applied it to data, and then tested the physics of inflation.”</p>



<p>The research sets a foundation for future studies to further test inflation theory, potentially opening new avenues in cosmological research and deepening our understanding of the universe’s origins and evolution.</p>



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



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

Shapes of one million galaxies hint at the universe’s origins

A recent study published in the journal Physical Review D...

<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>



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<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>



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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