Stellar Jet in Sh2-284

<p>A young and giant star that is forming on the outer edge of our Milky Way just made itself known in spectacular fashion - by beaming a huge jet of gas across 8 light-years of interstellar space. That’s almost twice the distance from our Sun to Alpha Centauri, the next closest star system.</p>



<p>NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>) happened to catch the event in action, and what it saw has scientists buzzing.</p>



<p>The eruption, which tears through space at hundreds of thousands of miles per hour, looks like something out of <em><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/may-the-4th-be-with-you-chemistry-of-star-wars-revealed/">Star Wars</a></em> - a double-bladed lightsaber made of pure plasma. </p>



<p>But this isn’t science fiction. This is a real, powerful stream of gas being flung out from a forming star that already weighs ten times as much as our Sun.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-massive-jet-from-a-giant-star">Massive jet from a giant star</h2>



<p>This wasn’t something astronomers planned to find. The discovery happened during unrelated observations, and it took even the experts by surprise. </p>



<p>The outflow - technically called a “jet” - is extremely rare for a star this massive. Most similar jets come from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-tiny-stars-orbit-each-other-in-just-125-minutes-and-emit-unknown-radio-signals/">small stars</a>.</p>



<p>“We didn’t really know there was a massive star with this kind of super-jet out there before the observation. Such a spectacular outflow of molecular hydrogen from a massive star is rare in other regions of our galaxy,” said Yu Cheng of the <a href="https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Astronomical Observatory</a> of Japan.</p>



<p>“I was really surprised at the order, symmetry, and size of the jet when we first looked at it,” said Jonathan Tan of the <a href="https://www.virginia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Virginia</a> and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mechanics-behind-a-stellar-eruption">The mechanics behind a stellar eruption</h2>



<p>So what’s actually happening here? When stars form, they pull in huge amounts of gas and dust from their surroundings. </p>



<p>But not all that material makes it to the surface. Some of it gets shot back out, blasting away along the poles of the spinning star, likely driven by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-capture-magnetic-fields-from-collapsing-stars/">magnetic fields</a>.</p>



<p>These supercharged jets are like the star’s version of a birth cry - an announcement that something big has arrived.</p>



<p>The jets don’t just happen randomly - they carry traces of the star’s entire growth history. As the forming star gathers mass, the surrounding material channels into a disk that rotates rapidly. </p>



<p>Along the poles of this spinning system, the jet shoots outward in both directions. Over time, the oldest parts of the jet stretch farthest into space, while newer bursts stay closer to the source.</p>



<p>“Originally the material was close into the star, but over 100,000 years the tips were propagating out, and then the stuff behind is a younger outflow,” said Tan.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stellar-nursery-on-the-edge">Stellar nursery on the edge</h2>



<p>This jet isn’t happening anywhere near Earth. It’s coming from a star cluster called Sharpless 2-284, located 15,000 light-years away. </p>



<p>That’s about twice as far from the center of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-ways-black-hole-unleashes-mysterious-flares/">Milky Way</a> as our Sun is. It’s out on the fringes, in a quiet, less-developed corner of the galaxy.</p>



<p>That part of space has fewer heavy elements - things like carbon, oxygen, and iron - than areas closer to the galactic center, and it’s a big deal because the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-planets-formed-in-the-harsh-early-universe/">early universe</a> was also low in these elements.</p>



<p>“Massive stars, like the one found inside this cluster, have very important influences on the evolution of galaxies," said Cheng. </p>



<p>"Our discovery is shedding light on the formation mechanism of massive stars in low metallicity environments, so we can use this massive star as a laboratory to study what was going on in earlier cosmic history,” Cheng explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-debate-about-giant-star-jets">Old debate about giant star jets</h2>



<p>For decades, astronomers have argued over how giant stars form. There are two leading <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/1402.0919" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theories</a>. One says they grow in a steady, stable way, through a process called core accretion. </p>



<p>The other says it’s more chaotic, with gas falling in from different directions in a competition between stars.</p>



<p>Now, new observations from Webb offer strong support for the more stable model.</p>



<p>“Webb’s new images are telling us that the formation of massive stars in such environments could proceed via a relatively stable disk around the star that is expected in theoretical models of star formation known as core accretion,” said Tan.</p>



<p>“However, what we’ve seen here, because we’ve got the whole history – a tapestry of the story – is that the opposite sides of the jets are nearly 180 degrees apart from each other. That tells us that this central disk is held steady and validates a prediction of the core accretion theory,” he added.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-waiting-to-see-what-s-next">Waiting to see what's next</h2>



<p>The star behind the jet is still growing. The Webb team used new theoretical models to match what they saw and figure out what kind of star could be launching the jet. </p>



<p>Everything points to a massive, still-forming star that’s busy pulling in more material and blasting out excess energy.</p>



<p>Other stars in the same area might not be far behind. Data from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array in Chile has already found another dense core nearby - one that could give birth to another massive star soon.</p>



<p>The discovery shows that the outer edges of our galaxy, while often overlooked, may be full of surprises. And thanks to Webb’s sharp eyes, we’re finally seeing them.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/addf4b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a></em>.</p>



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Webb captures a massive cosmic jet from a young star growing in deep space

A young and giant star that is forming on the outer edge of our Milky Way just made itself known in spectacular fashion - by beaming a huge jet of gas across 8 light-years of interstellar space. That’s almost twice the distance from our Sun to Alpha Centauri, the next closest star system. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) happened to catch the event in action, and what it saw has scientists buzzing. The eruption, which tears through space at hundreds of thousands of miles per hour,...

Desert,Planet,,Dry,Planet,Earth,3d-illustration.,Elements,Of,This,Image

<p>A recent study has offered a chilling prognosis for Earth’s future, drawing parallels to the catastrophic scenarios often depicted in Hollywood blockbusters. Researchers have simulated a runaway <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/co2-becomes-a-more-potent-greenhouse-gas-as-climate-changes/">greenhouse</a> effect, suggesting Earth could soon become an "uninhabitable hell" similar to Venus.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This dire situation, characterized by escalated global temperatures and the evaporation of Earth’s surface ocean, could be just a few centuries away, or even sooner.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-evil-twin-nbsp">Earth's evil twin&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Conducted by astronomers at the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Geneva</a> (UNIGE) and France’s <a href="https://www.cnrs.fr/en/cnrs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNRS </a>laboratories in Paris and Bordeaux, the study paints a grim picture. </p>



<p>The researchers warn of a significant increase in global surface temperatures, leading to a stark division between temperate planets and hot post-runaway planets. This transition is considered crucial in understanding the divergent evolution of Venus and Earth.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/venus-secret-past-may-have-implications-for-earths-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Venus</a>, often called Earth's ‘evil twin,’ shares similarities with our planet in size and composition but has an average surface temperature of 870°F (465°C). Its dense atmosphere makes it hotter than Mercury, despite being farther from the sun. </p>



<p>The conditions on Venus are so extreme that its surface can melt lead, and it’s surrounded by toxic sulfuric acid clouds. Venus shines brightly in our night sky, serving as a stark reminder of a planet gone awry.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-runaway-greenhouse-effect-is-irreversible">Runaway greenhouse effect is irreversible</h2>



<p>The study authors point out that while carbon dioxide and methane are known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/state-of-the-climate-greenhouse-gases-hit-a-record-high-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greenhouse gasses</a>, water vapor could be the real trigger for a runaway greenhouse effect on Earth. </p>



<p>As the planet warms due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/co2-becomes-a-more-potent-greenhouse-gas-as-climate-changes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon dioxide</a> and methane emissions, water vapor in the atmosphere, resulting from ocean evaporation, exacerbates the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gas-emissions-reach-another-all-time-high/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greenhouse</a> effect. This creates a vicious cycle where more evaporation leads to more water vapor, trapping even more heat.</p>



<p>“There is a critical threshold for this amount of water vapor, beyond which the planet cannot cool down anymore. From there, everything gets carried away until the oceans end up getting fully evaporated and the temperature reaches several hundred degrees,” said lead author Guillaume Chaverot, a postdoctoral fellow at UNIGE.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to the new climate models, even a minor increase in solar radiation could trigger this irreversible process, making Earth as inhospitable as Venus.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-part-transformation-nbsp">Three-part transformation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The researchers have outlined a three-part process for this transformation, applicable to any planet with oceans, including exoplanets. Initially, there’s an evaporation phase enriching the atmosphere with water vapor.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Following complete ocean evaporation, a ‘dry transition phase’ occurs, where surface temperatures spike dramatically. Finally, a hot and stable ‘post-runaway state’ ensues, akin to Venus’s current state for the past 700 million years.</p>



<p>This research also underscores the importance of temperature data in the search for extraterrestrial life. Exoplanets with temperatures similar to Venus are less likely to harbor life. </p>



<p>According to co-author Émeline Bolmont, an astrophysicist at UNIGE, “by studying the climate on other planets, one of our strongest motivations is to determine their potential to host life.”</p>



<p>The findings of this study, published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202346936" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Astronomy</em></a>, offer a dire warning about Earth’s future, urging a reconsideration of our planet’s trajectory and the imperative to prevent a Venus-like fate.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-runaway-greenhouse-effect">More about runaway greenhouse effect</h2>



<p>As discussed above, the "runaway greenhouse effect" is a climatic phenomenon where a planet experiences uncontrollable and escalating increases in its surface temperature, potentially leading to catastrophic environmental changes. </p>



<p>This effect occurs when a planet's atmosphere contains greenhouse gases in such high concentrations that they trap an excessive amount of solar radiation, preventing heat from escaping back into space. This trapped heat then causes further warming, which in turn releases more greenhouse gases, creating a self-amplifying cycle.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-venus-is-a-living-example-of-runaway-greenhouse-effect">Venus is a "living example" of runaway greenhouse effect</h3>



<p>Earth's closest neighbor, Venus, is a prime example of the runaway greenhouse effect. Venus's thick atmosphere, composed primarily of carbon dioxide, traps heat so effectively that the planet's surface temperature is hot enough to melt lead. This extreme heat is a result of Venus's inability to release solar radiation back into space, highlighting the dangers of excessive greenhouse gas accumulation.</p>



<p>On Earth, the runaway greenhouse effect is a major concern in the context of climate change. Human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, release large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. </p>



<p>If unchecked, this could lead to a similar, albeit less extreme, situation as on Venus, where the increasing temperatures could trigger the release of additional greenhouse gases from natural sources, such as permafrost or ocean sediments.</p>



<p>The consequences of a runaway greenhouse effect on Earth would be dire. It could lead to a substantial rise in sea levels, extreme weather patterns, and the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity. This would have profound impacts on human societies, including food and water scarcity, health risks, and displacement of populations.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-action-needed">Urgent action needed</h3>



<p>In summary, combatting the runaway greenhouse effect requires urgent and collective efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies include transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, and implementing carbon capture technologies. Additionally, reforestation and conservation of existing forests are crucial as trees absorb carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate the effect.</p>



<p>Understanding the runaway greenhouse effect is essential for informed climate policy and action. It emphasizes the need for immediate and coordinated global efforts to preserve Earth's climate stability and avert a catastrophic environment</p>



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Runaway greenhouse effect could turn Earth into an uninhabitable hell

A recent study has offered a chilling prognosis for Earth’s...

<p>The impact of climate change on wildlife behavior, particularly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-predator-prey-equilibria/">predator-prey</a> dynamics in snowy environments, is a growing area of interest among ecologists.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Laura Prugh, a wildlife ecologist and associate professor at the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a>’s School of Environmental &amp; Forest Sciences, is exploring how changing weather patterns and snow consistency due to global warming will affect hunting strategies in various species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-and-disadvantages-nbsp">Advantages and disadvantages&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“When you wear snowshoes in deep snow, you stay on top of the snow. But if you take the snowshoes off, you might go up to your waist. Certain species, such as wolves and lynx, have adapted to deep snow conditions because their feet act like snowshoes,” Prugh said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, she points out that their prey, like caribou and moose, are at a disadvantage due to their weight and hoofed feet, leading to deeper sinking in snow.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>“As climate change is making things warmer and changing the amount of precipitation, it’s going to affect how deep and hard the snow is. And that’s going to affect how deep the animals are sinking into the snow. Few scientists have looked at this before.”</p>



<p>To delve deeper into this phenomenon, Prugh collaborated with Jessica Lundquist, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-danger-zones">Danger zones</h2>



<p>Together with their research team, they studied snow properties to identify “danger zones” where prey animals are more likely to sink, while predators remain on the surface. Their recent paper focuses on these zones for ten predator-prey pairs in Washington’s Methow Valley and Denali National Park in Alaska.</p>



<p>“Imagine having a snow fort - you’ve got this cave under the snow and it has a roof. And when people run on top of your snow fort, you hope it doesn’t collapse on you, right? This is what we are trying to measure: the strength of the snow to support itself against collapsing,” Lindquist said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"But snow is such a dynamic thing. It’s not even one phase; you can’t call it a solid, liquid or gas. It’s all of the above, and that makes snow really fun to study.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snow-density-nbsp">Snow density&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The team used snow density as a proxy for its strength, hypothesizing that denser snow would better support an animal’s weight than light, fluffy snow. They tested this theory in the field, traveling through Denali National Park and the Methow Valley to examine animal tracks and study the surrounding snow’s density and other properties.</p>



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



<p>Both Prugh and Lundquist emphasized the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in this study. Prugh gained a deeper understanding of snow types, while Lundquist learned about identifying animal tracks. They also relished the opportunity to conduct research outdoors. Lundquist shared an anecdote to illustrate this point:&nbsp;</p>



<p>“There’s this Calvin and Hobbes cartoon where Calvin’s standing in front of his class holding a box of water. And he says, ‘this was a snowflake outside.’ It’s unique and exquisite, but when you bring it into the classroom, it melts. The science is outside. You cannot bring snow inside and have the same characteristics as the snow outside.”</p>



<p>This study - published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.09925" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Oikos</em></a> - underscores the complexity of ecological systems and how climate change could significantly alter predator-prey dynamics.</p>



<p>"Understanding when and where danger zones occur remains an outstanding, urgent need for resource managers to anticipate and proactively adapt to changing snow conditions," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



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Danger zones: Climate change is altering predator-prey dynamics

The impact of climate change on wildlife behavior, particularly predator-prey...

<p>The <a href="https://www.seti.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SETI Institute</a> in California has detected an extraordinary series of fast radio bursts (FRBs) – intense and brief pulses of radio waves from a distant source in space. These mysterious bursts, 35 in total, were observed by the <a href="https://www.seti.org/ata">Allen Telescope Array</a> (ATA) and exhibited a unique ‘cosmic slide-whistle’ effect due to a noticeable drop in the center frequency. </p>



<p>FRBs, first discovered in 2007, have long puzzled scientists. These phenomena are thought to emanate from dying stars, known as magnetars, in distant galaxies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Magnetars possess an extremely powerful magnetic field, which is hypothesized to be capable of emitting radio waves across space. While most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-radio-burst-traveled-through-space-for-8-billion-years-to-reach-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FRBs</a> appear to be singular events, a small percentage have been observed to repeat, some even following a regular pattern.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fast-radio-burst-frb-20220912a">Fast radio burst (FRB) 20220912A</h2>



<p>The recent discovery made by the SETI Institute focuses on a specific repeating fast radio burst, labeled FRB 20220912A, situated in a galaxy approximately one billion light-years from Earth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Unlike typical fast radio bursts that last for just milliseconds and vanish, FRB 20220912A was noted for its repetitive nature, occurring 35 times over two months. This particular FRB allowed researchers to confirm existing theories about these bursts, as well as identify new, previously unseen patterns.</p>



<p>“This work is exciting because it provides both confirmation of known FRB properties and the discovery of some new ones,” said lead author Sofia Sheikh, a postdoctoral fellow at SETI. “We’re narrowing down the source of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-radio-bursts-are-even-more-mysterious-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FRBs</a>, for example, to extreme objects such as magnetars, but no existing model can explain all of the properties that have been observed so far.”</p>



<p>The study of FRB 20220912A revealed that there was no discernible pattern in the timing or interval of the energy releases. When the frequency drop of the bursts was converted into sound, it resembled the notes of a whistle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-space-explorers">Deep space explorers</h2>



<p>Avi Loeb of the <a href="https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics</a> has proposed a more speculative theory regarding FRBs. In 2017, he suggested that these signals could be indicative of deep-space explorers billions of light-years away from Earth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to Loeb, leakage from the transmitters of these explorers could result in the brief flashes detected on Earth, influenced by the movement of the probe, its host planet, its star, and the galaxy relative to Earth. “An artificial origin is worth contemplating and checking,” Loeb said.</p>



<p>This discovery opens new avenues for understanding these enigmatic signals and their origins, potentially shedding light on the dynamics of distant galaxies and the universe at large.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-fast-radio-bursts-frbs">More about fast radio bursts (FRBs)</h2>



<p>Fast radio bursts (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-radio-heartbeat-signal-detected-from-distant-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FRBs</a>) are one of the most intriguing mysteries in astronomy. These are extremely brief flashes of radio waves coming from space, lasting just a few milliseconds. Despite their short duration, they are incredibly powerful, releasing as much energy in a millisecond as the Sun does in nearly a century.</p>



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



<p>The origin of FRBs is still largely unknown, making them a hot topic of research. Hundreds have been detected, some repeating and others appearing just once. The repeaters have enabled astronomers to trace them back to their galaxies, providing vital clues about their nature.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extraordinary-energy">Extraordinary energy</h3>



<p>FRBs can come from billions of light-years away, indicating that the phenomena causing them are extraordinarily energetic. Several theories have been proposed regarding their origins, ranging from the mysterious - like black holes and neutron stars - to more speculative ideas like alien technology.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-valuable-insights">Valuable insights</h3>



<p>Interestingly, FRBs are helping scientists learn more about the universe. As these bursts travel through space, they pass through intergalactic material, which can be studied based on the way it affects the radio waves. This has opened a new window for understanding the vast, unseen material in our universe.</p>



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SETI received 35 "fast radio bursts" from space that may be signs of alien life

The SETI Institute in California has detected an extraordinary series...

<p>New observations from space have unveiled the immense dimensions of the world’s biggest iceberg, known as A23a. This colossal ice mass covers an area of 1,500 square miles, has a volume of 263 cubic miles, and weighs nearly one trillion tons. </p>



<p>To put this in perspective, A23a is four times the size of New York City and about 100 million times heavier than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rough-seas-ahead-for-a23a">Rough seas ahead for A23a</h2>



<p>Resembling a tooth in shape, A23a was previously anchored to the ocean floor for 30 years. Now, it’s moving northward at a notable pace, driven by wind and ocean currents.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As it drifts past the <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=Antarctic%20Peninsula&amp;start=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic Peninsula</a>, which extends from the mainland like a tail, it is expected to encounter rougher seas and eventually break apart in the open ocean. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-wildlife-impacts">Potential wildlife impacts</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/">British Antarctic Survey</a> (BAS), which recently observed A23a, reported that the iceberg is traveling northward at approximately 30 miles per day. This movement could potentially disrupt the feeding patterns of local wildlife, such as penguins, especially if it obstructs typical foraging areas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It depends on its trajectory, but there is potential for impact to wildlife if it approaches any of the sub-Antarctic islands,” a BAS representative said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a23a-is-a-free-floating-iceberg">A23a is a free-floating iceberg</h2>



<p>Originating from the Antarctic’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a23a-worlds-largest-iceberg-is-moving-after-30-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filchner Ice Shelf</a> in August 1986, A23a is the largest remaining piece of an initially larger iceberg. After drifting only a few hundred miles, it became grounded on the ocean floor, remaining stationary for the next three decades. </p>



<p>An iceberg becomes "grounded" when its underwater portion, the keel, is deeper than the water’s depth. The <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Space Agency</a>’s CryoSat satellite identified that a section of A23a’s base extended particularly deep, acting like an anchor. Recently, scientists observed that the iceberg has begun moving again, guided north by wind and ocean currents.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-iceberg-alley">Iceberg alley</h2>



<p>The iceberg's journey, monitored by the European Space Agency’s satellite, shows it nearing Clarence Island and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/elephant-island-off-the-coast-of-antarctica/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elephant Island</a>, near the <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/12/A23a_iceberg_shift" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic Peninsula’s tip</a>. </p>



<p>“A23a has put a spurt on and is heading quickly away from Antarctic waters,” the agency commented on December 1. “Like most icebergs from the Weddell sector, A23a is likely to end up in the South Atlantic on a path known as iceberg alley.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lucky-encounter-with-a23a">Lucky encounter with A23a</h2>



<p>Researchers from BAS, aboard the British polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough, recently photographed A23a, calling it a lucky encounter. They also collected samples of ocean surface waters along the iceberg’s route to study potential life forms around it and its impact on oceanic carbon levels.</p>



<p>American planetary scientist Lindy Elkins-Tanton, part of a team that visited A23a last month, shared images of the iceberg on social media, likening it to “sailing alongside a new country.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Currently the largest iceberg in the world, A23a’s status is temporary, as all icebergs eventually break down. As it travels north, warmer water temperatures will cause A23a to thin and eventually disintegrate and melt. The previous record-holder, iceberg A76, which separated from an ice shelf in the Weddell Sea in May 2021, has since split into three parts.</p>



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



<p>As discussed above, icebergs are majestic and colossal formations of ice, captivating the human imagination for centuries. Originating from glaciers or ice shelves, these floating ice masses play a crucial role in the Earth's natural systems.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-formation-and-characteristics">Formation and characteristics</h3>



<p>Icebergs begin their journey as part of glaciers or ice shelves. When chunks of ice break off in a process called calving, icebergs form. This phenomenon mainly occurs in the polar regions, particularly around Greenland and Antarctica.</p>



<p>Typically, icebergs display a stunning array of shapes and sizes. The largest can tower hundreds of feet above water and extend deep below the surface. They consist primarily of freshwater and contain air pockets, which can create captivating patterns and colors.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-their-journey">Their journey</h3>



<p>After breaking away, icebergs drift with ocean currents and winds. Their paths, often unpredictable, can take them thousands of miles from their origin. During this journey, icebergs continuously melt and reshape.</p>



<p>As they melt, icebergs release freshwater and nutrients into the ocean, supporting diverse marine life. This influx of nutrients can lead to blooms of phytoplankton, forming the base of the marine food web.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-climate-change">Impact of climate change</h3>



<p>Icebergs serve as vital indicators of climate change. The rate of iceberg calving can signify changes in the Earth's temperature and the health of polar ice masses.</p>



<p>With rising global temperatures, the formation and lifecycle of icebergs are changing. Increased calving rates and melting are concerns for scientists studying the impacts of climate change on polar regions.</p>



<p>In summary, icebergs, with their immense size and beauty, are more than just a natural wonder. They play a significant role in the Earth's ecosystems and act as indicators of our planet's health. As we witness changes in their behavior and frequency, icebergs remind us of the ongoing challenges posed by climate change.</p>



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



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Biggest iceberg on Earth weighs one trillion tons and is floating freely in the open seas

New observations from space have unveiled the immense dimensions of...

<p>A recent study led by <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a> has uncovered alarming trends regarding the impact of tropical cyclones on global populations. </p>



<p>According to the researchers, there is a steady increase in the number of people at risk from tropical cyclones and the number of days per year these storms threaten health and livelihoods.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>With climate change fueling more frequent and intense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-rainfall-will-wreak-havoc-on-mountain-ranges-as-warming-climate-turns-snow-to-rain/">weather events</a>, this type of research is critical in understanding and responding to these growing threats.</p>



<p>Study lead author Renzhi Jing, a postdoctoral scholar at the Stanford School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of the study.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Understanding the demographics of populations exposed to cyclones is crucial for understanding evolving risks,” said Jing. “It’s particularly important for risk mitigation and achieving other socially desirable objectives, such as education and poverty alleviation.”</p>



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



<p>Tropical cyclones, characterized by rotating systems of clouds and thunderstorms, bring strong winds and heavy rain. Traditional estimates of exposure to these cyclones have been regional, lacking a global perspective and failing to consider population vulnerabilities.</p>



<p>For the investigation, researchers from Stanford, the RAND Corporation, and other institutions used a new model to merge demographic estimates with tropical cyclone wind fields estimates. This allowed the experts to create a comprehensive global profile of populations exposed to these storms between 2002 and 2019.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>The study revealed that approximately 560 million people are exposed to cyclones annually and there has been an increase in the number of people exposed across all cyclone intensities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers also found that the demographic profile of those exposed has shifted, with a decrease in children and an increase in individuals over 60.</p>



<p>Furthermore, socioeconomically deprived populations are more likely to be exposed to tropical cyclones, and this exposure is more pronounced in higher-intensity storms.</p>



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



<p>The findings suggest tropical cyclones can worsen existing inequalities, and highlight the need for targeted interventions to support vulnerable groups, noted the researchers.</p>



<p>“Severe storms hit the poor the hardest, and could worsen socioeconomic and health inequalities,” said study senior author Professor Eran Bendavid. “Interventions for mitigating tropical cyclone impacts should address this vulnerability.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-tropical-cyclones-nbsp">More about tropical cyclones&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Tropical cyclones are intense circular storms that originate over warm tropical oceans. Their formation is fueled by the energy released when moist air rises and condenses, a process that is most efficient when the ocean waters are at least 26°C (79°F).&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>These systems are distinguished by their organized structure, typically featuring a calm eye at the center, surrounded by a wall of thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rainfall.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-cycle">Life cycle</h3>



<p>The life cycle of a tropical cyclone begins with a tropical disturbance, which is essentially a disorganized cluster of thunderstorms. Under the right conditions, such as sufficient ocean heat and low vertical wind shear, this disturbance can evolve into a tropical depression, then a tropical storm, and eventually a cyclone. These stages are marked by increasing organization and wind speed.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-damage">Damage</h3>



<p>Tropical cyclones are known for their potential to cause significant damage. High winds can wreak havoc on infrastructure, vegetation, and power systems. However, the storm surge – the rise in sea level that occurs as the storm approaches the coast – is often the most destructive element, leading to severe coastal flooding.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, the heavy rains associated with these storms can result in inland flooding, and in mountainous areas, trigger landslides or mudslides.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-names">Names</h3>



<p>Globally, these storms are called different names based on their location: hurricanes in the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, typhoons in the Northwest Pacific, and simply cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-category">Category</h3>



<p>They are categorized based on their wind speeds, with the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale being a common method in some regions. This scale ranges from Category 1 (least severe) to Category 5 (most severe).</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-nbsp">Climate change&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The impact of climate change on tropical cyclones is a growing concern. While it's not clear if climate change will increase the total number of cyclones, it is expected to intensify the proportion of high-category storms and increase the volume of rainfall they deliver. Furthermore, rising sea levels can amplify the impact of storm surges, leading to more significant coastal damage.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06963-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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The rising impact of tropical cyclones in a warming world

A recent study led by Stanford University has uncovered alarming...

Ice,Floe,And,Sun,On,Winter,Baikal,Lake

<p>In a disturbing study, researchers have discovered traces of sunscreen agents in the snow at the North Pole, particularly in the glaciers of the Svalbard archipelago. This surprising find, primarily occurring during the long, sunless Arctic winters, reveals the far-reaching impact of human activities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-team-and-methodology">Research team and methodology</h2>



<p>The team, comprising experts from <a href="https://www.unive.it/pag/13526" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ca' Foscari University</a> of Venice, the Institute of Polar Sciences - National Research Council of Italy (<a href="https://www.isp.cnr.it/index.php/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNR-ISP</a>), and the University Center in Svalbard (<a href="https://www.unis.no/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNIS</a>), embarked on a mission to measure these concentrations and trace their origins. </p>



<p>The study was conducted between April and May 2021. Their research marks the first comprehensive survey of personal care product residue in the Arctic, offering valuable insights into their distribution across both space and time.</p>



<p>The researchers collected samples from five glaciers across the Brøggerhalvøya peninsula, strategically choosing sites near human settlements and more isolated areas. This approach enabled them to examine the presence and behavior of so-called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunscreen-ingredients-make-sunlight-toxic-for-corals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emerging contaminants</a> -- still-in-use compounds now under scrutiny for potential environmental harm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-sunscreen-at-the-north-pole">Finding sunscreen at the North Pole</h2>



<p>The results were startling. The team detected various commonly used compounds, including fragrance materials and UV filters used in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunscreen-gives-us-a-false-sense-of-security/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunscreen</a>, at the Earth's extreme Arctic northern latitudes.</p>



<p>Marianna D'Amico, a PhD student in Polar Sciences at Ca' Foscari University of Venice and the study's lead author, emphasized the novelty of their findings. </p>



<p>"We identified contaminants such as Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, and Ethylhexyl Salicylate in Arctic snow for the first time," she noted.</p>



<p>Marco Vecchiato, a co-author and researcher in Analytical Chemistry at Ca' Foscari, explained the significance of their discovery. </p>



<p>"Our findings demonstrate the role of long-range atmospheric transport in delivering these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/citizen-scientists-uncover-microplastics-in-the-remote-arctic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emerging contaminants</a> to remote regions. Intriguingly, we observed the highest contaminant concentrations in winter deposits, when contaminated air masses from Eurasia can more readily reach the Arctic."</p>



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



<p>Vecchiato highlighted an intriguing aspect regarding UV filters, typically found in sunscreens. "The highest winter concentrations of these filters point to their origin in inhabited continental regions at lower latitudes. During the Arctic winter, when the sun never rises, sunscreen use in Svalbard is virtually non-existent."</p>



<p>The study also revealed that the distribution of these contaminants varies with altitude. While most compounds were more concentrated at lower altitudes, Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3, both common in sunscreens, were more abundant at higher altitudes. This finding suggests their transport from lower latitudes via atmospheric circulation.</p>



<p>These discoveries carry significant implications for monitoring and protecting the Arctic ecosystem. Adverse effects of these contaminants, such as disruptions to the endocrine and hormonal systems of aquatic organisms, have already been observed. Some of these compounds are regulated in several Pacific islands and are under scrutiny by the European Union.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-keeping-sunscreen-out-of-the-arctic">Keeping sunscreen out of the Arctic</h2>



<p>Andrea Spolaor, a researcher at CNR-ISP, underscored the importance of understanding how these contaminants travel and settle in polar areas, especially given the rapidly changing climatic conditions in the Arctic, which are evolving four times faster than in the rest of the world.</p>



<p>"It will be crucial to understand how these contaminants are transported and deposited in polar areas, especially in relation to variations in local seasonal conditions," concludes Spolaor. "Such conditions are rapidly changing in response to climate change, which occurs four times faster in the Arctic than in the rest of the world."</p>



<p>In summary, this study not only shines a light on the unseen impact of everyday products like sunscreen but also calls for an urgent reassessment of their environmental footprint, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Arctic.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723070298?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science of The Total Environment</a></em>.</p>



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

Trace amounts of sunscreen found at the North Pole

In a disturbing study, researchers have discovered traces of sunscreen...

<p>In a recent study, researchers have explored why most dogs have brown eyes instead of yellow eyes like their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eastern-wolves-and-grey-wolves-evolved-separately/">wolf</a> ancestors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This difference in eye color may have been a deliberate choice by humans over the course of domesticating dogs, possibly due to a preference for less threatening and friendlier-looking animals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-influence-nbsp">Human Influence&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Molly Selba, an anatomist at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, who was not involved in the study, said that the preference for certain eye colors is another way humans have influenced the appearance of dogs throughout history.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This aligns with the idea that humans have selected dogs for traits that resemble babies - such as large eyes and foreheads, further nurturing the bond between humans and their canine companions.</p>



<p>“It makes sense that eye color would be just one more place where humans have left their mark," said Selba.</p>



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



<p>The study was led by Akitsugu Konno, a behavioral scientist at the <a href="https://www.ntu.ac.jp/en/">Teikyo University of Science</a>. The researchers altered photographs of dogs from 33 breeds to have lighter or darker eyes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The photos were then shown to 142 Japanese volunteers who were asked to rate the dogs on various traits including friendliness, aggressiveness, maturity, and intelligence.</p>



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



<p>The results revealed that dogs with darker eyes were most often perceived as friendly, sociable, and less aggressive. Interestingly, these dogs were also viewed as less intelligent and less mature, more like puppies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"These results support our hypothesis that dark eye color in modern dogs may have been favored by artificial selection during domestication from wolves to dogs and suggest that dogs with dark-colored eyes may have evolutionarily adapted by acquiring a facial trait that sends a non-threatening gaze signal to humans," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-eyes-large-pupils">Dark eyes, large pupils</h2>



<p>Konno believes that humans prefer dark eyes because they make dogs’ pupils seem larger. Human babies have larger pupils than adults and dilated pupils are associated with friendliness.</p>



<p>"We speculate that a darker iris makes it more difficult to distinguish the size of the pupil and thus gives the illusion of a large pupil, which is associated with our perception of being more infant-like," said Konno.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Human studies demonstrate that humans evaluate those with dilating pupils as more friendly, attractive and trustworthy."</p>



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



<p>Selba said she’d like to see the team look at whether the phenomenon holds true across more of the approximately 350 official dog breeds that exist.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It would also be interesting to see whether dark-eyed dogs are adopted more quickly than those with blue or amber eyes, said Selba, noting that shelters often struggle to find homes for dogs with these rarer eye colors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-notable-exceptions-nbsp">Notable exceptions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Konno pointed out that there are notable exceptions, such as the piercing blue eyes that are common among Siberian huskies and some other popular breeds.&nbsp;</p>



<p>He added that huskies might be more closely related to wolves than other dogs - at least in terms of their visual anatomy and communication.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-domestication-nbsp">Dog domestication&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“We really like telling stories about dog domestication but it’s been hard to do solid studies,” said Jessica Hekman, a veterinarian and dog geneticist at the nonprofit Functional Dog Collaborative.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to Hekman, the evidence that people selected for dark eyes is convincing, but it’s not clear whether dogs were originally domesticated that way or if it’s a more recent phenomenon. It is possible that dogs acquired their dark eyes over the past few hundred years as breeders conformed to breed standards, she explained.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.230854" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Royal Society Open Science</em></a>.</p>



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Dogs with dark eyes are perceived as friendly and less aggressive 

In a recent study, researchers have explored why most dogs...

Beautiful,Wing,Of,Dragonfly

<p>A study conducted by researchers at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (<a href="https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JMU</a>) in Bavaria, Germany, discovered that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-dragonfly-species-at-risk-of-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dragonflies</a> undergo seasonal color changes in response to variations in solar radiation. This finding sheds light on the remarkable adaptation strategies of these predatory insects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-colors-play-in-dragonflies">The role colors play in dragonflies</h2>



<p>The researchers found that in spring and autumn, dragonflies with darker color nuances are more likely to take flight, while during the summer months, lighter-colored specimens prevail. </p>



<p>This observation led the scientists to conclude that the color adaptation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragonfly-wing-colors-driven-by-climate-and-sexual-selection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dragonflies</a> plays a crucial role in regulating their body temperature. The rationale behind this lies in the fact that dark colors are more efficient at absorbing heat compared to lighter colors. </p>



<p>Professor Christian Hof, the head of the Chair of Global Change Ecology at JMU, explains that it is not individual animals that change their colors, but rather, it is the average coloration of the entire population at any given time that adjusts to solar radiation. </p>



<p>"What changes and adapts to solar radiation, so to speak, is the average coloration of all dragonflies flying at any one time," said Hof.</p>



<p>This ability to alter their color collectively enables <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragonfly-wings-inspire-antibacterial-medical-implants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dragonfly</a> communities to optimize their thermal dynamics and thrive in various conditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dragonfly-geographic-distribution-and-colors">Dragonfly geographic distribution and colors</h2>



<p>Prior research has shown that, in northern regions where temperatures are colder, darker-colored and larger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-dragonflies-right-themselves-in-mid-air/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dragonfly</a> species tend to dominate due to their enhanced heat retention capabilities. </p>



<p>Conversely, in sun-drenched southern areas, lighter-colored <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-dragonflies-are-thriving-in-a-warmer-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dragonfly</a> species prevail as their coloration protects them from overheating. This study builds upon this existing knowledge and provides further insights into the intricate relationship between coloration, temperature regulation, and geographic distribution.</p>



<p>To delve deeper into the phenomenon of seasonal color change, Dr. Roberto Novella-Fernandez and Professor Christian Hof meticulously examined and analyzed scientific observation data of dragonfly communities in the United Kingdom spanning from 1990 to 2020. The findings were profound. </p>



<p>"For the first time, we were able to prove that the average body brightness of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragonflies-may-migrate-across-the-indian-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dragonflies</a> not only differs between warmer and colder regions but also reveals a distinct seasonal variation. Lighter species tend to be found during months with stronger sunlight, particularly summer, while darker specimens take flight in spring and autumn," explains Roberto Novella-Fernandez, the lead author of the study.</p>



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



<p>The study also uncovered an intriguing connection between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warm-adapted-insects-benefit-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> and the observed seasonal color variation. The evaluated data revealed that this natural color adaptation has undergone changes over the course of climate change. However, it is worthy to note that the primary influence of global warming is on temperature, rather than solar radiation. </p>



<p>As a result, this shift in environmental conditions may render the dragonflies' coloration less optimal, making it more challenging for them to fly under ideal solar radiation conditions. Novella-Fernandez highlights the importance of understanding this aspect in more detail, stating, "Understanding the precise implications of these changes is one of our forthcoming goals."</p>



<p>In collaboration with their counterparts from the <a href="https://www.uni-marburg.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philipps-Universität Marburg</a>, the researchers were able to utilize the available data on the color characteristics of dragonflies to investigate the relationship between changes in species' traits, such as coloration, and environmental transformations. This approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing biodiversity loss. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-dragonfly-color-change">Implications of dragonfly color change</h2>



<p>Christian Hof concludes by highlighting the significance of their research group's contribution to this area. "The aim of our research group at TUM, which received funding from 2018 to 2023 as part of the Bavarian Climate Research Network bayklif, was to contribute to this cause. We are determined to continue our important work at the renowned University of Würzburg," said Hof.</p>



<p>In summary, the remarkable color adaptation exhibited by dragonfly communities in response to seasonal fluctuations in solar radiation adds a captivating facet to our understanding of their ecological strategies. This study unveils the physiological and ecological significance of dragonflies' coloration and highlights the potential impact of climate change on these magnificent creatures. </p>



<p>By investigating the intricate interplay between environmental factors and species characteristics, scientists can gain valuable insights into the causes of biodiversity loss, ultimately contributing to the safeguarding of our natural world.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44106-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a></em>.</p>



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



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Dragonflies change their colors throughout the year

A study conducted by researchers at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) in...

Valley,Of,Himalayan,Mountains,With,Mountain,Lake,On,Track,To

<p>In an era where climate change poses a significant threat to natural resources, recent research highlights a glimmer of hope for the Himalayan glaciers. </p>



<p>The findings suggest that reducing air pollution to levels experienced during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-made-covid-19-patients-sicker-for-longer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID-19</a> lockdowns could significantly slow the melting of these glaciers, crucial for billions of people in Asia.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-reduced-air-pollution">Impact of reduced air pollution</h2>



<p>During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the world witnessed an unprecedented reduction in industrial activities and transportation, resulting in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/safe-levels-of-air-pollution-can-negatively-impact-the-developing-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cleaner air</a>. This period offered a unique opportunity for scientists to study the effects of reduced air pollution on the environment, particularly on the Himalayan glaciers. </p>



<p>An international team, including researchers from India, Germany, and the UK, analyzed data from this period and found that less soot deposition on the glaciers led to a decrease in snowmelt by 0.5 to 1.5 mm per day.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-himalayan-glaciers-a-critical-resource">The Himalayan glaciers: A critical resource</h2>



<p>The Himalayas and the Tibetan highlands form the largest snow-covered region outside the polar areas. The meltwater from these glaciers is a lifeline for rivers in India and China, supporting agriculture, hydropower, and the economies of these nations. </p>



<p>Approximately 4 billion people in South and East Asia depend on the Himalayan snowmelt for their annual fresh water supply. </p>



<p>However, global warming has already caused a significant reduction in the Himalayan glacier area, making the preservation of these glaciers more crucial than ever.</p>



<p>While climate change and its resultant higher air temperatures and precipitation changes are long-term challenges, short-term factors like the deposition of light-absorbing particles, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-from-fossil-fuels-kills-5-million-people-each-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dust and soot</a>, are also major contributors to glacier melting. </p>



<p>The study revealed that reduced emissions during the COVID-19 lockdowns led to less soot and greenhouse gases polluting the air, which, in turn, resulted in a substantial decrease in snowmelt.</p>



<p>The research team utilized the <a href="https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/11/1695/2018/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ECHAM6-HAMMOZ</a> chemistry-climate model with updated soot-snow parameterization for their analysis. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-findings-covid-slowed-himalayan-glaciers-melt">Findings: COVID slowed Himalayan glaciers' melt</h2>



<p>This model was complemented by data from NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (<a href="https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MODIS</a>) and ground-based measurements from Aerosol Robotic Network (<a href="https://www.aeronet.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AERONET</a>) stations in Pakistan and Tajikistan. </p>



<p>These comprehensive data sets helped the scientists understand the impact of reduced air pollution on the snow and atmospheric conditions in the region.</p>



<p>The findings are clear: reduced anthropogenic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/almost-no-place-on-earth-is-safe-from-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air pollution</a> leads to less soot on snow, which in turn reduces snowmelt. During the lockdown period, there was a 25 to 70 mm decrease in snowmelt compared to the 20-year average. This resulted in an increased water storage due to reduced surface water runoff.</p>



<p>"The aerosol optical thickness (AOD), i.e. the atmospheric opacity, over this region decreased by around 10 per cent in April 2020 compared to before the pandemic. This is supported by measurements from MODIS, which also show a reduction in AOD compared to the average of the last 20 years," reports Dr Suvarna Fadnavis from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (<a href="https://www.iitm.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IITM</a>).</p>



<p>Dr. Bernd Heinold from <a href="https://www.tropos.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TROPOS</a> adds, "In the model, we were able to show that the decrease in air pollution reduced snowmelt in spring 2020 by 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters per day and thus reduced the runoff meltwater in the year by up to half."&nbsp;</p>



<p>Prof. Ina Tegen from TROPOS emphasizes the importance of this discovery, saying, "Our results make it clear that of the two processes causing the retreat of the Himalayan glaciers - global climate change and local air pollution - a reduction in air pollution in particular could be a short-term help." </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-urgent-call-to-action">An urgent call to action</h2>



<p>Reducing air pollution to levels experienced during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-term-exposure-to-air-pollution-linked-to-severe-covid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coronavirus pandemic</a> could cut snowmelt by up to half. Such clean air measures would benefit not only the health of billions of people in Asia but also enhance the water supply, agriculture, and ecosystems across vast regions of the continent.</p>



<p>"Even if we were to stop CO<sub>2</sub>&nbsp;emissions immediately, temperatures would not initially fall. However, our results confirm the importance of reducing short-lived climate drivers such as soot and their complementary role in CO<sub>2</sub>&nbsp;mitigation. Reducing air pollution to similar levels as during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 could protect the Himalayan glaciers, which are otherwise at risk of disappearing by the end of the 21st century," Tegen concluded.</p>



<p>In summary, the research underscores the need for clean energy and lower-emission transport to protect the Himalayan glaciers. Such measures would not only improve air quality but also ensure sustainable water supplies, agriculture, and ecosystems in Asia. </p>



<p>As the glaciers currently lose nearly half a meter of ice annually, the urgency to replicate the air quality levels of the COVID-19 lockdowns becomes a critical environmental imperative.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/23/10439/2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics</a></em>.</p>



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



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

COVID-19 pandemic reduced the melting rate of Himalayan glaciers

In an era where climate change poses a significant threat...

Candid,Woman,Smelling,Flowers,Standing,In,A,Park

<p>The mammalian nose, a testament to evolutionary art, holds remarkable capabilities beyond just our sense of smell. It harbors millions of nerve cells, each equipped with thousands of specific odor-chemical receptors encoded in the genome, allowing for the discrimination of trillions of distinct scents. </p>



<p>These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genetic-variations-smell-differently/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">olfactory sensations</a> guide vital behaviors, including assessing food choices, distinguishing friends from foes, and sparking memories.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-our-sense-of-smell">Studying our sense of smell</h2>



<p>A team of researchers, led by scientists from Columbia's <a href="https://zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zuckerman Institute</a>, unravels a previously unrecognized mechanism in the sense of smell in mice, involving the genetic molecule RNA. This finding may shed light on how each sensory cell, or neuron, in mammalian noses becomes specialized to detect a specific odor chemical.</p>



<p>The study focuses on the diversity of sensory neurons in our noses, which possess receptors tuned to detect unique odorants, such as ethyl vanillin, the primary odorant in vanilla, or limonene, the signature odorant of lemons.</p>



<p>Dr. Stavros Lomvardas is the corresponding author of the paper. He explains the significance of this new insight, saying, "How sensory cells in the nose make their receptor choices has been one of the most vexing mysteries about olfaction. Now, the story behind our sense of smell, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-can-a-smell-transport-us-to-another-place/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">olfaction</a>, is becoming clearer, and also more dramatic."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-intricate-winner-takes-all-battle">The intricate "winner-takes-all" battle</h2>



<p>The complexity and drama of sensory refinement occur within the minuscule confines of each <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-sense-of-smell-can-change-the-colors-we-see/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">olfactory</a> neuron's nucleus, where the cell's chromosomes and genes reside. Remarkably, a cell's olfactory receptor genes compete with each other in a "winner-takes-all" contest.</p>



<p>This fierce competition taking place behind the scenes in our sense of smell occurs in stages, starting with numerous contenders and gradually narrowing down until one receptor gene ultimately prevails, defining the cell's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-we-bond-more-with-people-that-smell-like-us/">odorant sensitivity</a>. </p>



<p><a href="https://lomvardaslab.zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu/people/ariel-pourmorady" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ariel Pourmorady</a>, an M.D.-Ph.D. candidate at the Zuckerman Institute, elaborates on the complexity of this battle for genetic supremacy, "It's basically a battle between a thousand contenders." </p>



<p>Dr. Lomvardas and his team provide unprecedented insight into the final stage of this process, unveiling the emergence of the winning gene from the pool of finalists.</p>



<p>"It turns out that the genome has a certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-smell-spatial-navigation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spatial organization</a> in the nucleus and changes in this structure are pivotal when it comes to which genes are expressed into proteins, like olfactory receptors,” said Pourmorady. “We are learning just how important this process is within maturing olfactory cells.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-diverse-cast-behind-our-sense-of-smell">A diverse cast behind our sense of smell</h2>



<p>The intricate process behind our sense of smell involves a diverse cast of molecular characters. Various gene-regulating molecules either enhance or suppress the production of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-we-bond-more-with-people-that-smell-like-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">olfactory receptors</a> by influencing specific genes within the genome. </p>



<p>Additionally, there is another group of molecular entities that reshape sections of the genome, favoring specific receptor genes. In 2014, Dr. Lomvardas first discovered these molecular hubs and aptly named them "Greek Islands" due to their resemblance to the islands in the Aegean Sea.</p>



<p>Pourmorady further emphasizes the importance of genomic structure and its influence on olfactory receptor genes. He explained, "It turns out that the genome has a certain spatial organization in the nucleus, and changes in this structure are pivotal when it comes to which genes are expressed into proteins, like olfactory receptors. We are learning just how important this process is within maturing olfactory cells."</p>



<p>The researchers' extensive study utilizes data from mouse studies, pointing towards RNA as the central molecule orchestrating the gene-choosing mechanism within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loss-of-smell-may-be-the-earliest-warning-of-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">olfactory system</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-rna-a-key-player">The role of RNA: A key player</h2>



<p>While RNA is primarily known as the intermediary molecule responsible for translating genetic code into proteins, assisting in functions like odorant detection, the researchers present compelling evidence for an additional role played by RNA.</p>



<p>Pourmorady highlights this pivotal function of RNA, saying, "It looks like the RNA the cell makes during gene expression also is altering the genome's architecture in ways that bolster the expression of one olfactory receptor gene while also shutting down all the others."</p>



<p>Although there are still gaps to be filled in our understanding of genome control, the researchers assert that the outlines of this intricate process are beginning to take shape. It all starts with maturing olfactory cells, which initially express multiple receptor genes at specific genomic hubs. </p>



<p>These hubs, coalescing with gene-regulating molecules and complexes, including the Greek Islands, provide the initial platform for receptor gene expression. The RNA then navigates through the contenders, whittling them down until only one gene prevails. This gene's corresponding hub produces the highest amount of RNA, facilitating receptor-gene expression. </p>



<p>However, the RNA, much like a "slinky saboteur," ventures to other hubs, contributing to changes in the genome's structure, effectively suppressing gene expression. Consequently, each mature olfactory neuron in the nose possesses only one odorant receptor on its surface.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decoding-the-molecular-marvels">Decoding the molecular marvels</h2>



<p>Dr. Lomvardas concludes with enthusiasm about the extraordinary progress being made in decoding the molecular and genomic intricacies in our sense of smell within a single cell's nucleus.</p>



<p>"We are reaching the edge of science fiction when it comes to the molecular and genomic details we now can observe inside a single cell's nucleus. We need to keep going back in to figure out the rest of this olfaction puzzle," Lomvardas said.</p>



<p>In summary, this study sheds light on the fascinating mechanics behind smell perception in mammals. The discovery of RNA's additional role in shaping the olfactory system's gene expression provides a crucial piece of the puzzle. </p>



<p>As researchers continue to peel back the layers of this intricate process, our understanding of the sense of smell will deepen, leading to new insights and potentially revolutionary applications in the fields of biology and medicine.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06845-4." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.</p>



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



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

The story behind our sense of smell is coming into focus

The mammalian nose, a testament to evolutionary art, holds remarkable...

Hurricane,Over,The,Atlantic,Seen,From,A,Satellite.,Elements,Of

<p>In a significant advancement in climate research, an international team of experts has linked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-news-ocean-oxygen-loss-may-ultimately-reverse/">ocean</a> weather systems with the global climate.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research, led by Professor Hussein Aluie from the <a href="https://www.rochester.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Rochester</a>, offers a new perspective on how the Earth's climate system operates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-ocean-s-influence-on-weather">Studying the ocean's influence on weather</h2>



<p>The ocean has weather patterns like what we experience on land, but on different time and length scales, explained study lead author Benjamin Storer, a research associate in Professor Aluie’s Turbulence and Complex Flow Group.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A weather pattern on land might last a few days and be about 500 kilometers wide, while <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caribbean-salt-affects-global-climate-study-reveals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a> weather patterns such as swirling eddies last three to four weeks but are about one-fifth the size, noted Storer.</p>



<p>These patterns have always been thought to impact climate scales, but until now, the specifics of this interaction were unclear. </p>



<p>“Scientists have long speculated that these ubiquitous and seemingly random motions in the ocean communicate with climate scales, but it has always been vague because it wasn’t clear how to disentangle this complex system to measure their interactions,” said Professor Aluie.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We developed a framework that can do exactly that. What we found was not what people were expecting because it requires the mediation of the atmosphere.”</p>



<p>The method used for the study involved a mathematical technique devised by Professor Aluie in 2019, which the team refined and implemented into advanced coding.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This technique enabled the experts to analyze energy transfers across various scales, from global circumferences to as small as 10 kilometers, using both advanced climate models and satellite data.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-and-key-insights">Implications and key insights</h2>



<p>The findings indicate that ocean weather systems both gain and lose energy when interacting with climate scales. This interaction closely mirrors global atmospheric circulation patterns.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Particularly noteworthy is the role of the intertropical convergence zone near the equator, responsible for a significant portion of global precipitation. This atmospheric band is a hotbed for energy transfer, intensifying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-has-nearly-doubled-in-the-last-decade/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a> turbulence.</p>



<p>Storer and Aluie said that studying such complex fluid motion happening at multiple scales is not easy, but it has advantages over previous attempts to link weather to climate change. They believe the team’s work creates a promising framework for better understanding the climate system.</p>



<p>“There’s a lot of interest in how global warming and our changing climate is influencing extreme weather events,” said Professor Aluie. “Usually, such research efforts are based on statistical analysis that require expansive data to have confidence in the uncertainties."&nbsp;</p>



<p>"We are taking a different approach based on mechanistic analysis, which alleviates some of these requirements and allow us to understand cause and effect more easily.”</p>



<p>The collaborative effort included contributions from Michele Buzzicotti of the <a href="https://web.uniroma2.it/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Rome Tor Vergata</a>, Hemant Khatri of the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Liverpool</a>, and Stephen Griffies from <a href="https://www.princeton.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Princeton</a>. </p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adi7420" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science Advances</em></a><em>. </em></p>



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

Study reveals the ocean's hidden influence on global weather patterns

In a significant advancement in climate research, an international team...

Central,Organ,Of,Human,Nervous,System,Brain,Anatomy.,3d

<p>Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the treatment of depression by using a novel method: electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. Their recent pilot clinical trial at the <a href="https://lindnercenterofhope.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lindner Center of HOPE</a>, led by Francisco Romo-Nava, MD, PhD, has shown promising results.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-brain-body-connection">Understanding the brain-body connection</h2>



<p>Dr. Romo-Nava, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the <a href="https://www.uc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cincinnati</a> and a UC Health physician scientist, emphasizes the critical role of brain-body communication in psychiatric disorders. </p>



<p>“We think that the connection between the brain and the body is essential for psychiatric disorders,” said Romo-Nava. “Many of the symptoms of mood disorders or eating disorders or anxiety disorders have to do with what one could interpret as dysregulation in this brain-body interaction.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spinal-cord-depression-connection">Spinal cord/depression connection</h2>



<p>The spinal cord, according to Dr. Romo-Nava, plays a key role in conveying information from the body to the brain, impacting our emotional state or mood. In cases of major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ketamine-is-very-effective-in-treating-severe-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depressive disorder</a>, this pathway might be overloaded, leading to an ineffective adjustment of mood.</p>



<p>“For example, chronic stress could lead to a hyperactive brain-body circuit that eventually burns the system out and prevents it from adjusting itself in an effective and optimal way,” Romo-Nava said.</p>



<p>To address this, the team developed a noninvasive spinal cord stimulation technique, for which Dr. Romo-Nava obtained a patent in 2020. This method aims to decrease the flow of information in the brain-body circuit, allowing the brain to better regulate itself. "It's about reducing the noise in the system," says Romo-Nava.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methodology-and-key-insights">Methodology and key insights</h2>



<p>The trial involved 20 patients, with half receiving <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/spinal-cord-stimulation_depression-treatment_Photo-Colleen-Kelley-UC_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">active spinal cord stimulation</a> and the other half a control version. Participants underwent three 20-minute sessions weekly for eight weeks. </p>



<p>The primary focus was on the feasibility, safety, and patient tolerance of the stimulation. The device used was compact, with electrodes placed on the patient's back and shoulder.</p>



<p>Despite being a pilot study with a small sample size, the results were encouraging. Patients receiving active stimulation reported a greater decrease in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/depression-increases-the-risk-of-stroke/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depressive symptoms</a>. However, Dr. Romo-Nava urges caution in interpreting these results due to the study's preliminary nature.</p>



<p>“We used a current that is so small that it’s about 10 times smaller than the one known to induce tissue damage, so that’s also pretty encouraging because there’s a lot to explore in terms of what is the optimal dose and session frequency,” he said.</p>



<p>“We need to be cautious when we interpret these results because of the pilot nature and the small sample size of the study,” he said. “While the primary outcome was positive and it shows therapeutic potential, we should acknowledge all the limitations of the study.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treating-depression-through-the-spinal-cord">Treating depression through the spinal cord</h2>



<p>The treatment showed mild side effects like skin redness and temporary sensations during sessions. Interestingly, the study noted a cumulative decrease in diastolic blood pressure among participants, suggesting a potential impact on autonomic functions.</p>



<p>However, a virtual reconstruction showed that the current from the device moves through the body, reaching the spinal gray matter in the spinal cord, but not the brain itself.</p>



<p>“That supports our hypothesis that it is the modulation of these pathways of information that then may induce an effect on the mood-relevant areas in the brain,” he said. “So it is not the current that reaches the brain, it is the change in the signal that then has an effect. This study is not sufficient to prove all of these components of the hypothesis, but we think it’s a great start.”</p>



<p>Looking ahead, the team is seeking funding for an expanded trial and the development of a portable stimulation device. "Our aim is to confirm the safety and effectiveness of this method for treating psychiatric disorders and to determine the optimal dosage and frequency," concludes Dr. Romo-Nava.</p>



<p>This research marks a significant step towards understanding and potentially revolutionizing the treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02349-9">Molecular Psychiatry</a></em>.</p>



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



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

Treating depression with electrical stimulation of the spinal cord

Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the treatment of...

<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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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>



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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<p>-----</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>



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<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...

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</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.</p>



<p>"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."</p>



<p>"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."</p>



<p><em>Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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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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