<p>We tend to explain the world by pointing to what things are, not what they’re interacting with. A new analysis argues that this bias has repeatedly steered science down blind alleys. </p>



<p>The pattern shows up in classic missteps and in how people, even experts, reason today. The upshot: human cognition nudges theory toward inherent properties and away from the environment.</p>



<p>A team of psychology researchers from the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Edinburgh</a> and <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York University</a> mapped this recurring bias across history and in modern minds.</p>



<p>“Early scientific theories across multiple fields share a common pattern, in that they focus too much on built-in features and too little on interactions with surroundings,” said Zachary Horne, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Edinburgh and the paper’s lead author.</p>



<p>“This bias appears throughout the history of science, and its ‘fingerprints’ can even be seen among scientists today.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bias-behind-early-theories"><a></a>The bias behind early theories</h2>



<p>The authors argue that many foundational explanations leaned on assumed inner essences. Medieval accounts of motion, for example, claimed projectiles carried an internal “impetus” that kept them going until it ran out. Only later did Galileo and Newton replace this with dynamics grounded in external forces.</p>



<p>Study co-author Andrei Cimpian highlighted the cost of our default lens: “Some of the most significant achievements have come about as a result of scientific ingenuity," he said.</p>



<p>"But our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-the-brain-process-experiences-over-time/">cognitive processes</a>, which favor explaining phenomena in terms of their inherent properties rather than external factors, seem to have historically slowed scientific discovery.” </p>



<p>The researchers use the label “inherence bias” for this systematic tilt toward built-in features.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-repeated-bias-in-science">Repeated bias in science</h2>



<p>To test whether this pattern is widespread, the team surveyed historians of science in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Each historian listed major transitions: the initial explanation for an observation and the later, more accurate account. </p>



<p>One example is the explanation of tides. Early observers described them simply as the “tidal motions of Earth’s large bodies of water.” </p>



<p>Galileo suggested they were caused by the sloshing of oceans due to Earth’s motion, an idea researchers later categorized as an “inherent” explanation. </p>



<p>Over time, however, this view was replaced by a more accurate understanding. Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton demonstrated that tides are driven by the gravitational pull of the Moon - a model coded as “extrinsic” by the researchers.</p>



<p>Doctoral students trained in philosophy of science coded the responses as “inherent” or “extrinsic.” The vast majority of the nearly 80 initial explanations emphasized inherent properties; later explanations showed much less of that emphasis.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brownian-motion-as-a-case-study"><a></a>Brownian motion as a case study</h2>



<p>Robert Brown’s 1827 observations offer a vivid example. Under the microscope, pollen grains suspended in water jittered. </p>



<p>Early on, many biologists invoked a “vital force” inside living matter. But the pattern didn’t fit the data.</p>



<p>Decades later, the correct mechanism pointed outward: rapid, unseen <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-molecules-found-throughout-the-universe-hint-that-life-began-in-deep-space/">molecules</a> in the surrounding water battering the grains. What looked like life’s essence was really interaction - now textbook “Brownian motion.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-today-s-scientists-fall-for-bias">Today’s scientists fall for bias</h2>



<p>The authors then asked whether contemporary minds fall into the same groove. They ran experiments with practicing scientists, adult non-scientists, and children aged five to nine. Participants received real scientific observations they were unlikely to know and were asked to explain them.</p>



<p>Children, for instance, got: “why a hammer fell at the same speed as a feather on the Moon.” Adult non-scientists were asked to explain sediment appearing in distilled water after boiling. </p>



<p>Scientists confronted harder puzzles, such as why some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-announce-evidence-suggesting-that-our-solar-system-has-nine-planets-again/">planets</a> lose mass over time, why a planet might have a given magnetosphere size, or why the tadpoles of the poisonous dart frog are not poisonous.</p>



<p>Across groups, first-pass theories leaned inward. When faced with sediment in boiled distilled water, one non-scientist reasoned that “heat caused the water to begin to turn into soil” - a throwback to ancient thinking.</p>



<p>Even experts showed the same pull, if in more technical language. On planetary mass loss, some cited “ejecta from volcanoes” and “transformation of matter on the planet into gas that dissipates away from the planet,” proposals that downplayed complex star-planet interactions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fixing-science-starts-with-minds">Fixing science starts with minds</h2>



<p>The researchers emphasized that these are not failures of scientists so much as features of human cognition. The world’s messiness tempts us to reach for what seems built in. That tendency can be productive at times, but it also detours progress when the real drivers are external forces and interactions.</p>



<p>“The path from initial explanatory intuitions to mature scientific understanding is rarely straightforward,” the authors wrote.</p>



<p>“This work suggests that one systematic source of detours may lie in our cognitive architecture itself - in the basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-human-brain-processes-visual-information/">information processing</a> constraints that guide how we first attempt to make sense of unfamiliar phenomena." </p>



<p>"Understanding these constraints is crucial not just for advancing cognitive science, but also for improving how we train future generations of scientists.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-bias-shapes-science-s-path">One bias shapes science’s path</h2>



<p>History’s wrong turns were not random. They followed a recognizable bias toward inherent properties. That same bias shows up today in children, laypeople, and trained researchers when they explain unfamiliar phenomena.</p>



<p>Recognizing the pull of “inherence bias” can help teachers and scientists nudge thinking outward - toward context, interaction, and the environment - so our next theories start closer to the truth.</p>



<p><br>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2424725122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a>.</p>



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Centuries of scientific errors reveal a hidden human bias

We tend to explain the world by pointing to what things are, not what they’re interacting with. A new analysis argues that this bias has repeatedly steered science down blind alleys. The pattern shows up in classic missteps and in how people, even experts, reason today. The upshot: human cognition nudges theory toward inherent properties and away from the environment. A team of psychology researchers from the University of Edinburgh and New York University mapped this recurring bias across history and in modern minds. “Early scientific theories...

White,Summer,Daisies,Reaching,Towards,Blue,Sky

<p>In a remarkable fusion of biology and engineering, the team led by Prof Christian Fankhauser at the <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Lausanne</a> (UNIL), in collaboration with <a href="https://www.epfl.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPFL</a>, has made a significant breakthrough in understanding how plants perceive light. </p>



<p>This study reveals how plants, devoid of visual organs, determine the source of light using the unique optical properties at the air-water interface within their tissues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phototropism-in-plants">Phototropism in plants</h2>



<p>Phototropism, the orientation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-talk-to-plants-using-light-based-messaging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> towards light, is a critical phenomenon for their survival. As Prof Fankhauser explains, "The majority of living organisms (micro-organisms, plants and animals) have the ability to determine the origin of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-why-plants-have-a-burst-of-activity-at-dawn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light source</a>, even in the absence of a sight organ comparable to the eye." </p>



<p>This ability is crucial for plants to optimally position their organs for maximum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-light-affects-seasonal-rhythms-of-plants-in-the-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunlight exposure</a>, facilitating efficient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>, the process by which they convert light energy into chemical energy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-light-detection-mechanism">Light detection mechanism</h2>



<p>The key to this discovery was the observation of a mutant variety of <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em>, a model plant species, with a uniquely transparent stem. Prof Fankhauser's team, in conjunction with DrSc. Andreas Schüler and the UNIL's Electron Microscopy Centre, found that the normal, milky appearance of plant stems is due to air-filled channels in their tissues. </p>



<p>In contrast, the mutant plants had these channels filled with water, giving them a translucent appearance. These channels, it turns out, are crucial for establishing a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-can-control-plants-using-nothing-but-light/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light gradient</a> within the plant, a mechanism previously unknown.</p>



<p>Martina Legris, a postdoctoral fellow in Prof Fankhauser's group, sheds light on the underlying science. She clarifies, “More specifically, air and water have different refractive indices. This leads to light scattering as it passes through the seedling." </p>



<p>This scattering of light, akin to the formation of rainbows, enables the plant to 'read' the light gradient and determine the light source's direction.</p>



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



<p>This fascinating research elucidates a novel mechanism for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-and-temperature-collaborate-to-boost-plant-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light perception</a> in plants, and also provides insights into the formation and functions of air-filled intercellular channels. These channels are known to aid in gas exchange and offer resistance to hypoxia during flooding. </p>



<p>Understanding their development from embryonic stages to adulthood remains an area ripe for exploration. The genetic resources utilized in this study promise to further our understanding of these intricate structures.</p>



<p>In summary, the collaborative efforts of UNIL and EPFL have unveiled a fascinating aspect of plant biology, opening new avenues in our understanding of plant physiology and their interaction with the environment. This study not only enriches our scientific knowledge but also underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research in unraveling the complexities of nature.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adh9384" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a></em>.</p>



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How plants know where to find the light

In a remarkable fusion of biology and engineering, the team...

<p>A recent study by the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Plymouth</a> and Blue Marine Foundation reveals a significant ecological benefit of shipwrecks around the UK's coastline.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These shipwreck sites, estimated at around 50,000, have been acting as refuges for marine life, particularly in areas that are still open to destructive bottom towed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-is-wiping-out-large-bodied-fish-in-the-amazon/">fishing</a>.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>The research shows that shipwrecks, many of which have been on the seabed for over a century, are deterring bottom towed trawling, a method commonly used by fishers to secure catches.</p>



<p>This deterrent effect has preserved the seabed in and around shipwreck sites from the damage typically seen in heavily fished areas. The study found a striking contrast in marine life density between wreck sites and areas actively used for bottom towed fishing.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protected-areas">Protected areas</h2>



<p>On average, marine life density was 240% greater within wreck sites compared to actively trawled areas. This difference was even more pronounced within a 50m radius of the wrecks, where marine life density was 340% greater than control sites.</p>



<p>By contrast, in areas closed to trawling, the abundance of marine life was 149% greater than on wreck sites and 85% greater than the seabed surrounding the wrecks. This indicates that while shipwrecks offer significant protection, fully protected areas show even greater ecological benefits.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trawling-pressure-nbsp">Trawling pressure&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Jenny Hickman, who completed this research as part of her MSc Marine Conservation program at the University of Plymouth, emphasized the lack of trawling pressure at the shipwreck sites.</p>



<p>"The industrial use of bottom towed fishing gear has been commonplace since the 1800s, and has significantly altered marine communities and ecosystem services. Outside of legal protection, only areas inaccessible to trawlers are offered any protection, which is why shipwreck sites are rarely subject to trawling pressure," explained Hickman.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"As many have been in situ for more than 100 years, they offer a baseline of ecological potential when trawling pressure is reduced or removed.”</p>



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



<p>The research was conducted around five shipwreck sites off the Berwickshire coast, believed to have sunk in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team gathered video footage from these wrecks, the surrounding areas, and control locations, assessing the diversity and abundance of marine species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecosystem-recovery-nbsp">Ecosystem recovery&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Joe Richards, Scotland Project Manager for Blue Marine Foundation and co-author of the study, expressed his excitement about the findings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It has long been thought that shipwrecks could be playing an important role in providing sanctuary for marine species to utilize. It is brilliant to see this proven in this study," said Richards.</p>



<p>"The research provides an insight into what might be possible if bottom towed fishing activity is reduced. This feeds into our wider understanding of shipwrecks potential to contribute to ecosystem recovery and enhancement, given the sheer number found on the seabed.”</p>



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



<p>The University of Plymouth and Blue Marine Foundation have a long-standing collaboration, studying the benefits of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Their research, including studies in the Lyme Bay MPA, has informed the UK Government’s approach to MPA management.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers say the latest study demonstrates the importance of factoring wreck sites into future conservation plans, but also the benefits of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) status.</p>



<p>“In recent years, the UK has made significant strides in terms of measures to protect the marine environment. There is still much to be done to reach the goal of having 30% of the ocean protected by 2030, but if we are to get close to that we need detailed evidence about what makes our ocean so special and any existing initiatives that are working well," said study senior author Dr. Emma Sheehan.</p>



<p>"This study builds on our existing work in that regard, and highlights an impact of past human activity that is actually having a positive impact on the seabed today. It is unquestionably something that should be factored into future marine management plans.”</p>



<p>Image Credit: marcusrose.gue</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/maec.12782" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Marine Ecology</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Hidden havens: Shipwreck sites provide a sanctuary for marine life

A recent study by the University of Plymouth and Blue...

Sunspot,Explosions,Sending,Extreme,Uv,Radiation,To,Earth,3d,Animation

<p>The latest images from NASA, revealing a large cluster of sunspots on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-sunspot-may-soon-disrupt-earths-power-grids/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sun’s surface</a>, illustrate fascinating aspects of our nearest star. These sunspots, appearing as small, pepper-like dots, are actually cooler areas on the sun's surface, resulting from dramatic shifts in its magnetic field. </p>



<p>Captured by NASA’s <a href="https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/">Solar Dynamics Observatory</a>, which has been observing the sun for over a decade, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sun_sunspots_archipelago_1big.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunspots form an "archipelago’"</a> that spans more than 15 Earths in width, roughly 120,000 miles across.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-storms-and-sunspots">Solar storms and sunspots</h2>



<p>These sunspots are significant not just for their size but also for their potential to unleash powerful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canyon-of-fire-solar-eruption-extended-more-than-60000-miles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar storms</a> towards Earth. Such storms can cause geomagnetic disturbances, posing risks to power grids, satellites, and other technologies reliant on Earth’s magnetic field. </p>



<p>Sunspots are cooler and darker compared to the surrounding areas on the sun’s surface, with temperatures still reaching a scorching 6,500°F. They are closely associated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-sunspot-may-soon-disrupt-earths-power-grids/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar flares</a> and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), immense energy explosions that contribute to solar storms.</p>



<p>When these solar flares and CMEs occur, they eject enormous clouds of charged gas into space, sometimes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-largest-ever-solar-storm-discovered-through-tree-rings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">directly toward Earth</a>, traveling at incredible speeds. These events can disrupt various technological systems on Earth, including power grids, communications, GPS navigation, and air travel. However, they are also responsible for the creation of beautiful auroras.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vibrational-patterns-nbsp">Vibrational patterns&nbsp;</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.spaceweather.com/">Space Weather</a>, which monitors solar and Earth interactions, had anticipated the emergence of this sunspot group even before its capture by the Solar Dynamics Observatory. The size of the sunspot cluster is so immense that it influences the sun’s vibrational patterns.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Helioseismologists, using these vibrations, detected the sunspot group while it was still on the sun’s far side, with parts of the group yet to fully emerge into view.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-sunspots-on-the-earth">Impact of sunspots on the Earth</h2>



<p>According to earthsky.org, there is potential for Earth-directed M and X solar flares in the coming days. M flares can cause brief radio blackouts in the polar regions and minor radiation storms, while X flares are capable of triggering extensive radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Chris Wicklund, a meteorologist, noted that these sunspots have been actively flaring, suggesting that the upcoming weeks could be significant as the solar particles reach Earth. According to him, this sunspot region is one of the largest observed in the current solar cycle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sunspots-and-the-solar-cycle">Sunspots and the solar cycle</h2>



<p>The solar cycle, approximately 11 years in duration, involves a complete reversal of the sun’s magnetic field, leading to a switch in its north and south poles. The ongoing solar cycle, numbered 25, started in 2019 and is expected to last until around 2030.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The sun’s activity, including the prevalence of sunspots, varies within this cycle, starting with the solar minimum, characterized by fewer sunspots, and gradually moving towards a solar maximum with increased solar activity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Despite the relative tranquility of the solar minimum, this period can still produce solar storms due to solar flares, which occur when energy stored in the sun’s ‘twisted’ magnetic fields is suddenly released.</p>



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



<p>Sunspots are fascinating solar phenomena that have intrigued scientists and astronomers for centuries. Essentially, they are darker, cooler areas on the sun's surface, known as the photosphere. These spots, appearing as temporary blemishes, contrast sharply with the surrounding areas due to their reduced temperature.</p>



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



<p><strong>Cause of sunspots</strong> -- Sunspots form due to the sun's intense magnetic activity. The sun's magnetic field lines can become twisted and tangled, and when these lines become concentrated in a small area, they inhibit the flow of heat from the sun's interior to its surface. This results in cooler, darker regions that we see as sunspots.</p>



<p><strong>Appearance and size</strong> - Typically, sunspots appear darker than their surrounding areas because they are thousands of degrees cooler. They vary greatly in size, with some being as small as Earth, while others can grow to be many times larger.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-sunspot-cycle">The sunspot cycle</h3>



<p><strong>Predictable pattern</strong> -- Sunspots follow an 11-year cycle, known as the solar cycle. During the solar maximum, sunspots are numerous, and during the solar minimum, they are rare. This cycle plays a crucial role in solar radiation and is a significant aspect of solar studies.</p>



<p><strong>Impact on Earth</strong> -- Sunspots can influence Earth in various ways. During periods of high sunspot activity, solar flares and coronal mass ejections are more frequent, potentially impacting satellite operations, communication systems, and power grids on Earth.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-sunspots">Observing sunspots</h3>



<p><strong>Safe observation techniques</strong> -- Observing sunspots requires special techniques as looking directly at the sun can cause severe eye damage. Using a properly filtered telescope or a projection method is safe and effective for sunspot observation.</p>



<p><strong>Historical observations</strong> -- Historical records of sunspot observations date back to ancient times, but the scientific study began in earnest with Galileo's telescopic observations in the early 17th century. These observations have contributed significantly to our understanding of the sun's behavior.</p>



<p>In summary, studying sunspots is crucial for understanding the sun's magnetic field and its effects on solar radiation. This knowledge is vital for predicting space weather and understanding the broader impact on Earth's environment and human technology. </p>



<p>As our observation techniques improve, our comprehension of these mesmerizing solar features continues to grow, unveiling new insights into our closest star.</p>



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Sunspots larger than 15 Earths may soon unleash powerful solar storms

The latest images from NASA, revealing a large cluster of...

<p>In a stark reminder of the growing impacts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indisputable-evidence-of-human-caused-climate-change/">climate</a> change, a recent report from Peru has revealed alarming reductions in the country's tropical glacier coverage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The <a href="https://policycommons.net/orgs/national-institute-of-research-on-glaciers-and-mountain-ecosystems-pe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Institute of Research on Mountain Glaciers and Ecosystems</a> announced on Wednesday that Peru, home to 68% of the world's tropical glaciers, has seen a dramatic 56% decrease in its glacier area over the last six decades.</p>



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



<p>This loss, attributed to rising global temperatures, is not just a matter of environmental concern but also poses significant risks to local communities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The melting glaciers have resulted in the formation of new mountain lagoons, increasing the danger of floods due to potential overflow. This revelation comes from an extensive study involving satellite imagery data up to 2020.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-concerning-loss-nbsp">Concerning loss&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Peru, which once boasted 2,399 square kilometers of ice and snow in 1962, now has only 1,050 square kilometers of glaciers, spread across 2,084 identified glacier sites.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Beatriz Fuentealba, the director of the institute, highlighted the severity of the situation, noting a concerning 6% loss of high mountain glaciers in just four years, from 2016 to 2020. This observation was particularly noted in the Ancash region, where many glaciers have vanished.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glacial-lagoons-nbsp">Glacial lagoons&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The report also brings to light the formation of new glacial lagoons, a number that has increased to 8,466, covering an area of about 1,081 square kilometers. These lagoons, while potentially serving as future water reserves, are located at high altitudes between 4,000 and 5,000 meters, posing significant flooding risks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The new lagoons could be, in the future, water reserves, but being at high altitudes they cause a danger of overflowing and flooding," said Jesus Gomez, director of research on glaciers at the Ministry of the Environment.</p>



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



<p>Peru's tropical glaciers, primarily located above 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, are critical not only for the local ecosystems but also for the communities that depend on them for water and agriculture.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The loss of these glaciers is a clear indication of the urgent need for global action on climate change, as the consequences are now directly affecting countries and communities.</p>



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



<p>The loss of glaciers globally, and particularly in regions like Peru, signifies a profound environmental shift that is deeply interconnected with the broader impacts of climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Glaciers, often referred to as Earth's "freshwater reservoirs," play a crucial role in the global ecosystem. They not only store fresh water but also reflect sunlight, helping to moderate the planet's temperature. However, with rising global temperatures, glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate, leading to a cascade of environmental consequences.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-level-rise-nbsp">Sea-level rise&nbsp;</h3>



<p>One of the most visible effects of glacier loss is the rise in sea levels. As glaciers melt, they add more water to the oceans, contributing to the gradual, yet steady, increase in sea levels. This poses a significant threat to coastal communities and low-lying areas, increasing the risk of flooding and potentially displacing millions of people.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glacial-lakes">Glacial lakes</h3>



<p>Furthermore, the melting of glaciers can lead to the formation of glacial lakes, which can be a source of freshwater but also present a risk of catastrophic outburst floods. These floods can cause widespread destruction, particularly in mountainous regions where communities may be located downstream.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-availability-nbsp">Water availability&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The loss of glaciers also affects water availability. Many rivers are fed by the meltwater from glaciers, especially during the warmer months. With the decrease in glacier volume, the water supply in these rivers is reduced, affecting agriculture, hydropower generation, and the daily life of those who depend on these water sources.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecosystems">Ecosystems</h3>



<p>Moreover, glacier retreat is altering ecosystems. As glaciers recede, they leave behind barren land that undergoes ecological succession, creating new habitats but also disrupting existing ones. This has implications for the flora and fauna that have adapted to the cold glacier environments.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-significance-nbsp">Cultural significance&nbsp;</h3>



<p>In addition, the aesthetic and cultural significance of glaciers cannot be overlooked. Many cultures revere glaciers as sacred entities, and their disappearance can have cultural and psychological impacts on these communities.</p>



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Peru has lost over half of its glaciers in six decades

In a stark reminder of the growing impacts of climate...

Thanksgiving,Day,,Eating,And,Leisure,Concept,-,Group,Of,People

<p>When you eagerly dig into a long-awaited dinner, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hunger-hormones-in-the-gut-can-change-our-eating-behavior/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">signals from your stomach</a>, not your taste buds, tell your brain keep you from eating so much you’ll regret it -- or so it’s been thought. That theory had never really been directly tested until a team of scientists at <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC San Francisco</a> recently took up the question.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taste-wins-over-stomach-signals">Taste wins over stomach signals</h2>



<p>The picture, it turns out, is a little different. The team, led by <a href="https://knightlab.ucsf.edu/more-about-zachary-knight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zachary Knight</a>, PhD, a UCSF professor of physiology in the <a href="https://kavliifn.ucsf.edu/kavli-institute-fundamental-neuroscience" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kavli Institute</a> for Fundamental Neuroscience, discovered that it’s our sense of taste that pulls us back from the brink of food inhalation on a hungry day. </p>



<p>Stimulated by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-tongue-now-has-six-basic-taste-receptors-instead-of-just-five/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perception of flavor</a>, a set of neurons in the brain leaps to attention almost immediately to curtail our food intake.</p>



<p>Knight says, “We’ve uncovered a logic the brainstem uses to control how fast and how much we eat, using two different kinds of signals, one coming from the mouth, and one coming much later from the gut.”</p>



<p>Knight is also an investigator with the <a href="https://www.hhmi.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Howard Hughes Medical Institute</a> and a member of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. He further elucidates, “This discovery gives us a new framework to understand how we control our eating.”</p>



<p>The study could help reveal exactly how weight-loss drugs like Ozempic work, and how to make them more effective.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revisiting-pavlov-s-theories-about-taste">Revisiting Pavlov's theories about taste</h2>



<p>Pavlov proposed over a century ago that the sight, smell and <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/how-does-salt-makes-things-taste-better/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">taste of food</a> are important for regulating digestion. More recent studies in the 1970s and 1980s have also suggested that the taste of food may restrain how fast we eat. </p>



<p>However, it’s been impossible to study the relevant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-behavior-is-influenced-by-the-unconscious-mind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain activity</a> during eating because the brain cells that control this process are located deep in the brainstem. Their location makes them hard to access or record in an animal that’s awake.</p>



<p>New techniques developed by lead author Truong Ly, PhD, a graduate student in Knight’s lab, allowed for the first-ever imaging and recording of a brainstem structure critical for feeling full, called the nucleus of the solitary tract, or NTS, in an awake, active mouse.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-discovery">Surprising discovery</h2>



<p>The team found that when they put food directly into the mouse’s stomach, brain cells called PRLH (for prolactin-releasing hormone) were activated by nutrient signals sent from the GI tract. </p>



<p>However, when they allowed the mice to eat the food as they normally would, those signals from the gut didn’t show up. Instead, the PRLH brain cells switched to a new activity pattern that was entirely controlled by signals from the mouth.</p>



<p>“It was a total surprise that these cells were activated by the perception of taste,” said Ly. “It shows that there are other components of the appetite-control system that we should be thinking about.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-act-between-taste-and-stomach">Balancing act between taste and stomach</h2>



<p>While it may seem counterintuitive for our brains to slow eating when we’re hungry, the brain is actually using the taste of food in two different ways at the same time. </p>



<p>One part is saying, “This tastes good, eat more,” and another part is watching how fast you’re eating and saying, “Slow down or you’re going to be sick.”</p>



<p>Meanwhile, it takes many minutes for a different group of brain cells, called CGC neurons, to begin responding to signals from the stomach and intestines. These drugs act on the same region of the brainstem that Ly’s technology has finally allowed researchers to study.</p>



<p>A deeper understanding of how signals from different parts of the body control appetite would open doors to designing weight-loss regimens designed for the individual ways people eat by optimizing how the signals from the two sets of brain cells interact, the researchers said.</p>



<p>The team plans to investigate those interactions, seeking to better understand how taste signals from food interact with feedback from the gut to suppress our appetite during a meal.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06758-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em>.</p>



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Taste buds are the first line of defense against eating too much and too fast

When you eagerly dig into a long-awaited dinner, signals from...

Ingredients,For,Mediterranean,Diet

<p>A new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202300271" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Molecular Nutrition and Food Research</em></a> highlights the beneficial impact of a Mediterranean diet on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cheese-may-contain-nutrients-that-prevent-cognitive-decline/">cognitive health</a> of older adults.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The extensive research, led by Mireia Urpí-Sardá, explores the biological mechanisms underlying the diet's positive effects on the aging brain.</p>



<p>The study is part of the European "Joint Programming Initiative - A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life" (<a href="https://www.healthydietforhealthylife.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPI HDHL</a>) and spans twelve years. The research involved 840 participants over the age of 65, predominantly women, from the Bourdeaux and Dijon regions of France.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dietary-metabolomic-index-nbsp">Dietary metabolomic index&nbsp;</h2>



<p>"Within the framework of the study, a dietary metabolomic index has been designed - based on biomarkers obtained from the participants’ serum - on the food groups that form part of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-lifestyle-linked-to-a-30-percent-lower-risk-of-death/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean</a> diet. Once this index is known, its association with cognitive impairment is evaluated," explained study co-author Cristina Andrés-Lacueva, a professor at the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Barcelona</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mediterranean-diet-and-key-biomarkers">Mediterranean diet and key biomarkers </h2>



<p>Key biomarkers in this study include levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, gut microbiota-derived polyphenol metabolites, and other phytochemicals.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Some of these indicators have been recognized as marks of exposure to the main food groups of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollution-in-the-mediterranean-sea-is-an-urgent-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean</a> diet, and may also be responsible for the health benefits of this dietary pattern.</p>



<p>The biomarkers are part of a larger set called the metabolome, which is the complete set of small-molecule chemicals found within a biological sample.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Among participants who were not suffering from cognitive decline at the start of the study, the metabolome was analyzed through serum samples.</p>



<p>Over the twelve-year period, cognitive impairment was evaluated using five different neuropsychological tests.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The results revealed a clear protective link between high scores on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-diet-can-lead-to-longer-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean</a> diet serum biomarker index and reduced cognitive decline in older individuals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-mediterranean-diet">Significance of the Mediterranean diet</h2>



<p>Mercè Pallàs, a professor at the <a href="http://www.neurociencies.ub.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UB Neurosciences Institute</a> (UBneuro), emphasized the significance of the team's approach.</p>



<p>"The use of dietary pattern indices based on food-intake biomarkers is a step forward towards the use of more accurate and objective dietary assessment methodologies that take into account important factors such as bioavailability," said Pallàs.</p>



<p>"We found that adherence to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-diet-helps-offset-the-health-impacts-of-obesity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean</a> diet assessed by a panel of dietary biomarkers is inversely associated with long-term cognitive decline in older people," noted study lead author Alba Tor-Roca.</p>



<p>"These results support the use of these indicators in long-term follow-up assessments to observe the health benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet or other dietary patterns and therefore, guide personalized counseling at older ages."</p>



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



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-diet-reduces-the-risk-of-dementia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean</a> diet, inspired by the traditional eating habits of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, is renowned for its numerous health benefits, particularly in promoting heart health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. </p>



<p>This diet emphasizes the consumption of plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Olive oil is a key component, serving as the primary source of added fat, renowned for its heart-healthy properties.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-features-of-the-mediterranean-diet">Key features of the Mediterranean diet</h3>



<p>One of the main features of the Mediterranean diet is its emphasis on fresh, whole foods and minimal processing. Fruits and vegetables are consumed in abundance, providing a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Whole grains, like whole wheat, oats, barley, and brown rice, are preferred over refined grains, offering more fiber and nutrients.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protein-sources-nbsp">Protein sources&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Protein sources in the Mediterranean diet are primarily plant-based, with legumes such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas playing a significant role.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Fish and seafood are also important, recommended at least twice a week, providing heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt are consumed in moderate amounts, while red meats and sweets are limited.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mediterranean-diet-social-aspects">Mediterranean diet social aspects</h3>



<p>Another distinctive aspect of this diet is its social and lifestyle components. Meals are often enjoyed in a communal setting, encouraging slower eating and the enjoyment of food as part of a social experience. Moderate consumption of red wine is also a feature, usually enjoyed with meals.</p>



<p>Overall, the Mediterranean diet is not just about food choices but also about a healthier and more holistic lifestyle, emphasizing plant-based foods, healthy fats, moderate protein from lean sources, and an enjoyable eating experience.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-benefits-of-the-mediterranean-diet">Health benefits of the Mediterranean diet</h2>



<p>The Mediterranean diet offers a multitude of health benefits, making it one of the most recommended eating patterns by health professionals worldwide.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-health">Heart health</h3>



<p>At its core, this diet is heart-healthy, significantly reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The high intake of olive oil, nuts, and fish, which are rich in healthy fats, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, contributes to lower cholesterol levels and improved heart health.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weight-management-nbsp">Weight management&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Moreover, this diet is beneficial for weight management. The emphasis on whole, nutrient-dense foods, along with healthy fats and fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, helps in maintaining a healthy weight and can aid in weight loss.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The high fiber content also contributes to better digestive health and can help prevent constipation and other digestive issues.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diabetes">Diabetes</h3>



<p>Another significant advantage of the Mediterranean diet is its role in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. The diet’s low glycemic index foods help in stabilizing blood sugar levels.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inflammation">Inflammation</h3>



<p>Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties, primarily due to antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables, olive oil, and nuts, can reduce the risk of chronic diseases linked to inflammation, including certain types of cancer.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cognitive-health">Cognitive health</h3>



<p>The diet also has a positive impact on cognitive health. Studies have shown that it may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, possibly due to the combination of healthy fats and high levels of antioxidants.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-longevity">Longevity</h3>



<p>The Mediterranean diet promotes longevity and overall well-being. The combination of nutrient-rich foods, healthy fats, and a lifestyle that emphasizes social eating and moderate physical activity contributes to a longer and healthier life.</p>



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Food for the aging brain: Mediterranean diet protects cognitive health

A new study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and...

<p>A recent study by <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a> and international collaborators provides a comprehensive understanding of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/temperature-variability-endangers-bird-nestlings/">temperature extremes</a> influence the distribution of species, particularly cold-blooded animals.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This study, which is critical in the context of climate change, reveals intricate patterns in the role temperature plays in determining species habitats.</p>



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



<p>"Understanding how temperature determines the distribution of life is necessary to assess species’ sensitivities to contemporary climate change," wrote the study authors.</p>



<p>"Here, we test the importance of temperature in limiting the geographic ranges of ectotherms by comparing the temperatures and areas that species occupy to the temperatures and areas species could potentially occupy on the basis of their physiological thermal tolerances."</p>



<p>This method offered insights into how species' distribution is influenced by temperature and other factors. The research was focused on 60 cold-blooded species from different geographic realms.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-changes-nbsp">Environmental changes&nbsp;</h2>



<p>A key finding is the differential impact of temperature on terrestrial and marine species.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While temperature directly impacts species in oceans, land animals like reptiles, amphibians, and insects show a lesser direct correlation with temperature for their habitat range.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This distinction underscores the complex dynamics in how different species adapt to environmental changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitat-choices">Habitat choices</h2>



<p>The experts also observed a notable pattern concerning species' latitude and their distribution. Species higher in latitudes tend to avoid equatorial regions, even if the temperatures there are within their tolerance range.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This suggests that factors other than temperature, such as negative interactions with other species, might be influencing their habitat choices.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-patterns-nbsp">Surprising patterns&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Study lead author Nikki A. Moore, a PhD student in the Department of Biology at McGill, highlighted the unexpected patterns linked to temperature across species.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It was not surprising to find that temperature doesn’t always limit species ranges, but what was surprising was that, despite the complexity, we found general patterns in the role that temperature plays across species,” said Moore.</p>



<p>“This research helps us to understand general patterns in how sensitive the distributions of different cold-blooded animal species might be to changes in temperature, which will help us to predict how the global distribution of species will change because of climate change.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-species-distribution-nbsp">Species distribution&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The study sheds light on two conflicting hypotheses about species distribution.</p>



<p>“While it had long been thought that species ranges are less limited by temperature and more limited by species interactions in the tropics, the new work shows that higher-latitude species are increasingly excluded from their potential ranges in the tropics, supporting the idea of a trade-off between broad thermal tolerances and performance in the tropics,” said Moore.</p>



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



<p>According to the researchers, predicting and testing how species distributions respond to temperature requires good observations of where species live.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team noted that anyone can get involved in contributing to our knowledge of species distributions through citizen science, using applications such as iNaturalist.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02239-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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How temperature extremes change the distribution of species

A recent study by McGill University and international collaborators provides...

<p>In a groundbreaking discovery, <a href="https://onlinelearning.hms.harvard.edu/hmx/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard Medical School</a> (HMS) scientists have revealed that <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, a common skin bacterium, can directly cause itch by acting on nerve cells. </p>



<p>This new understanding, reported in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.019" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Cell</em></a>, unravels a piece of the complex puzzle of itch and explains the persistent itching associated with skin conditions like eczema and atopic dermatitis.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-molecular-chain-reaction">Molecular chain reaction</h2>



<p>These conditions often disrupt the skin’s microbial balance, leading to an overgrowth of S. aureus. Previously, it was believed that the accompanying skin inflammation was the primary cause of itch in these cases. However, this new research demonstrates that S. aureus alone can trigger itch through a specific molecular chain reaction, culminating in the urge to scratch.</p>



<p>“We’ve identified an entirely novel mechanism behind itch - the bacterium Staph aureus, which is found on almost every patient with the chronic condition atopic dermatitis. We show that itch can be caused by the microbe itself,” said senior author Isaac Chiu, an associate professor of Immunology at the Blavatnik Institute at HMS.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-persistent-itch-nbsp">Managing persistent itch&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The researchers found that S. aureus releases a chemical that activates a protein on nerve fibers that transmit signals from the skin to the brain. When mice were treated with an FDA-approved anti-clotting medicine that blocks the activation of this protein, there was a significant interruption in the itch-scratch cycle, providing symptom relief.</p>



<p>This discovery paves the way for the development of new oral and topical treatments to manage persistent itch in various conditions linked to skin microbiome imbalances, such as atopic dermatitis, prurigo nodularis, and psoriasis. The repetitive scratching characteristic of these conditions can lead to skin damage and heightened inflammation.</p>



<p>“Itch can be quite debilitating in patients who suffer from chronic skin conditions. Many of these patients carry on their skin the very microbe we’ve now shown for the first time can induce itch,” said study first author Liwen Deng, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Chiu Lab.</p>



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



<p>The researchers’ experiments involved exposing mice to S. aureus, leading to increasing itch intensity and worsening skin damage due to repetitive scratching.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The mice also developed alloknesis, becoming hypersensitive to normally non-itch-inducing stimuli. This hyperactive response mirrors the condition in patients with chronic skin ailments characterized by persistent itching.</p>



<p>To identify the bacterial trigger, the team experimented with various modified strains of S. aureus, each lacking specific molecular components. They discovered that the bacterial enzyme protease V8 was solely responsible for initiating itch in the mice. Human skin samples from patients with atopic dermatitis also showed elevated levels of S. aureus and the V8 enzyme.</p>



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



<p>The study demonstrates that V8 triggers itch by activating a protein called PAR1 on skin neurons, which are responsible for relaying various signals, including itch, from the skin to the brain. The experiments further revealed that, once activated, PAR1 initiates a signal that the brain perceives as itch. This response was also observed in human neurons in lab experiments.</p>



<p>Intriguingly, the researchers found that various immune cells and inflammatory chemicals, typically implicated in skin allergies and known to cause itch, did not drive it after bacterial exposure.</p>



<p>“When we started the study, it was unclear whether the itch was a result of inflammation or not,” Deng said. “We show that these things can be decoupled, that you don’t necessarily have to have inflammation for the microbe to cause itch, but that the itch exacerbates inflammation on the skin.”</p>



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



<p>Furthermore, the researchers explored the potential of using PAR1 blockers. Mice treated with these blockers experienced a rapid improvement, with a notable decrease in their urge to scratch and subsequent skin damage.</p>



<p>Overall, these findings highlight a novel mechanism for itch and offer potential pathways for the development of new treatments targeting the skin microbiome. </p>



<p>The research underlines the importance of further exploring the molecular interactions between skin microbes and the nervous system to advance our understanding and management of itch in various skin conditions.</p>



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Common microbe found to be the culprit behind skin itch

In a groundbreaking discovery, Harvard Medical School (HMS) scientists have...

<p>A new study led by the <a href="https://www.geomar.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel</a> has uncovered significant insights into the impact of seafloor mining and ocean warming on deep pelagic jellyfish, particularly the helmet jellyfish.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This research is crucial in understanding the stress responses of midwater organisms, a largely unexplored area in marine biology.</p>



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



<p>The deep sea, one of the largest habitats on Earth, is facing increasing environmental pressures from human activities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>One such activity, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/underwater-upheaval-the-ecological-impact-of-deep-sea-mining/">deep-sea mining</a>, aims to extract seafloor minerals but inadvertently creates suspended sediment clouds, or plumes, that can spread far beyond the mining sites.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-midwater-ecosystems-nbsp">Midwater ecosystems&nbsp;</h2>



<p>These plumes, which can travel for hundreds of kilometers, pose a significant threat to midwater ecosystems, which typically have low sediment levels and are thus highly sensitive to such disturbances.</p>



<p>Dr. Helena Hauss, co-first author of the study and Research Director Marine Ecology at Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE), expressed her concern about the consequences of deep sea mining.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The midwater is crucial for the global ocean’s capacity to store carbon, but also its inhabitants are the main food source for many fish, squid, and marine mammal species and therefore resemble a critical link in the marine food web," said Dr. Hauss.</p>



<p>"They have evolved under much more stable conditions compared to surface dwelling animals, under a constant scarcity of food, and are therefore potentially more susceptible to changing conditions in their environment.”&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fragile-organisms-nbsp">Fragile organisms&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“Midwater species are often fragile, gelatinous and sometimes giant organisms, with low metabolic rates that are difficult to observe in their natural environment and to perform experiments on," added Dr. Henk-Jan Hoving, senior author and group leader of the Deep Sea Ecology group at GEOMAR.</p>



<p>"Their physical fragility may make them particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbance. At the same we have only scratched the surface when it comes to exploring the midwater and most biodiversity still remains unknown, as well as their function in the ecosystem, and their tolerance to change.”</p>



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



<p>For the first time, the researchers have investigated the stress response of a midwater organism - the helmet jellyfish - to simulated sediment plumes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Since determining ‘stress’ in a jellyfish is not a straightforward process, we investigated their response from multiple angles and combined insights gained from their physiology, gene expression and the microbial symbionts on the jellyfish’s exterior," explained Vanessa Stenvers, co-first author of the study and doctoral candidate at GEOMAR and the Smithsonian Institution.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-results">Alarming results</h2>



<p>After approximately 1.5 hours of exposure, the jellyfish accumulated sediment particles and produced excess mucus in response.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“While mucus helped jellyfish maintain a stable microbiome, continuous mucus production is an energetically costly response and can demand a substantial portion of the total energy budget of an animal," said Stenvers.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the highest sediment treatments triggered a marked expression of genes linked to respiration, innate immunity, and wound repair, indicating a stress response.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warming-waters">Warming waters</h2>



<p>Notably, the experts found that sediment-induced stress was more severe than a four-degree increase in sea water temperature, a scenario projected in extreme global warming cases.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Current climate models predict a one-degree rise over the next 84 years, suggesting that sediment plumes are a more immediate threat.</p>



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



<p>The researchers expressed concern that the increased energy expenditure observed in the helmet jellyfish, due to stress responses, might lead to increased food requirements. Given the scarcity of food in deep-sea environments, this could potentially result in starvation.</p>



<p>Gelatinous animals, like the helmet jellyfish, are abundant in deep-sea ecosystems and play a crucial role in these environments. The stress responses observed in the helmet jellyfish may be indicative of broader impacts on similar species.</p>



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



<p>“With deep-sea mining possibly starting in the next decade, which has the potential to disturb nearby water column habitats as well as the seafloor, understanding the combined effects of mining and ocean warming is essential," concluded study co-author Professor Andrew K. Sweetman from the Scottish Association for Marine Science.</p>



<p>The team hopes that their study, which provides a first glimpse into what some of the possible impacts may be in the midwater zone, will be taken into account by mining companies and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to develop mining strategies that reduce the environmental damage as much as possible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-helmet-jellyfish-nbsp">Helmet jellyfish&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The helmet jellyfish, named for its distinct hat-like shape, is a fascinating organism residing in the midwater regions of the deep sea. This environment, characterized by its minimal light and immense pressures, is home to a diverse array of species, many of which remain largely unknown to science.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The helmet jellyfish is an integral part of this ecosystem, and its study offers vital insights into the broader ecological dynamics of deep-sea environments.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sea-food-webs">Deep-sea food webs</h3>



<p>The helmet jellyfish also plays an essential role in deep-sea food webs. Like other gelatinous creatures in the ocean's depths, it contributes to the cycling of nutrients and serves as both predator and prey within its ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This dual role underscores the importance of ensuring the health and stability of species like the helmet jellyfish, as disruptions to their populations could have cascading effects throughout the deep-sea community.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptive-mechanisms-nbsp">Adaptive mechanisms&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Furthermore, the genetic responses of the helmet jellyfish to environmental stress, such as changes in genes related to respiration, immunity, and wound repair, provide a window into the adaptive mechanisms of deep-sea life.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These adaptations are not just vital for the survival of individual species like the helmet jellyfish but are also key to maintaining the resilience of the broader deep-sea ecosystem in the face of global environmental changes.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43023-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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Deep impacts: Helmet jellyfish foretell the dangers of seafloor mining

A new study led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for...

<p>A forest modeling study has revealed important insights into how harvest rotations can be optimized for maximum carbon sequestration, a critical factor in the fight against climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study was led by Catherine Carlisle as a graduate student, alongside Temesgen Hailemariam and Stephen Fitzgerald from the <a href="https://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSU College of Forestry</a>.</p>



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



<p>The researchers determined that a site's productivity, reflecting the rate of tree growth and biomass accumulation, is a key determinant in establishing the ideal time period between timber harvests for maximizing above-ground carbon storage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This finding is particularly relevant for forest managers in the Pacific Northwest, who are looking to balance timber harvesting with carbon sequestration.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-northwest-forests-nbsp">Northwest forests&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Trees play a vital role in climate change mitigation by absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. The researchers noted that the carbon stored in the woody biomass of U.S. forests offsets about 13% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The forests in the Northwest, covering nearly 25 million acres, are among the most productive globally. Specifically, the Oregon Coast Range forests stand out due to their high biomass and carbon densities, fostered by the region's favorable growing conditions.</p>



<p>“Whether short or long harvest rotations are better for maximizing carbon sequestration has been the subject of considerable debate,” said Carlisle. “Future management decisions will need to strive to meet harvest requirements while also striving to maintain high rates of carbon sequestration.”</p>



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



<p>The team used the McDonald-Dunn Research Forest, an 11,000-acre woodland managed by the College of Forestry, as the area for modeling. This forest, home to the Douglas-fir, Oregon's state tree, was chosen due to its varied productivity levels. The study was focused on over 300 stands.</p>



<p>The researchers utilized the Forest Vegetation Simulator, a software suite, to predict vegetation changes in response to different management activities or natural disturbances.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-settling-the-debate">Settling the debate</h2>



<p>“Some forest scientists have argued that multiple but shorter rotations lead to greater sequestration rates because of the accelerated growth rates of younger trees compared to mature or old-growth trees,” said Carlisle, who is now a forest carbon analyst at Finite Carbon.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Others say frequent harvesting won’t allow forest carbon to rebound after each subsequent rotation, and thus longer periods between clearcutting are a better choice. And depending on who you ask, thinning will either enhance forest carbon uptake by facilitating growth in residual trees, or hurt it by removing above-ground biomass.”</p>



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



<p>The study revealed that for highly productive stands, 60-year rotations with a low-intensity thinning at 40 years maximized carbon storage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By contrast, less productive sites showed optimal carbon storage with longer rotations of 80 or 120 years, requiring multiple thinning entries to manage understory vegetation and promote Douglas-fir growth.</p>



<p>“On these longer rotations, multiple entries for thinning were required to prevent buildup of understory vegetation that would have suppressed the growth of overstory Douglas-fir,” Carlisle said.</p>



<p>Moderately productive stands were found to perform the best with 80-year rotations and two low-intensity thinning treatments between harvests, she added.</p>



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



<p>“Forest management decisions in the Northwest in the future will aim to meet harvest requirements while maintaining high sequestration potential of the region’s forests,” said Carlisle.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Management techniques like determining the optimal rotation length and implementing silvicultural treatments can be powerful tools that can allow managers to meet both objectives.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-modeling-nbsp">Forest modeling&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Forest modeling is a sophisticated scientific method used to understand and predict the growth, structure, and behavior of forest ecosystems.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It involves creating computer-based representations or simulations of forests, which help in assessing various aspects such as tree growth, biomass accumulation, carbon sequestration, and the impact of environmental factors and human activities.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-data">Data</h3>



<p>In forest modeling, data from real forests is used to create models that simulate the processes occurring within a forest. These models can be quite complex, incorporating various elements like tree species, soil type, climate conditions, and management practices.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>By adjusting the parameters within the models, scientists can predict how forests will respond to different scenarios, such as climate change, natural disturbances like wildfires or pests, and different forest management strategies.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation">Conservation</h3>



<p>One of the key uses of forest modeling is in the field of forest management and conservation. By simulating different management scenarios, such as varying the timing and intensity of timber harvests or the implementation of conservation practices, forest managers can predict the outcomes and make informed decisions that balance economic needs with ecological sustainability.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-dynamics-nbsp">Carbon dynamics&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Forest models are also crucial in studying carbon dynamics in forests. With growing concerns over climate change, understanding how forests sequester carbon and how different management practices or disturbances can affect this process is vital.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Models can predict how much carbon a forest can store under various conditions, helping in the development of strategies to maximize carbon sequestration and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-dynamics-nbsp">Ecological dynamics&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Additionally, forest modeling is used in research to understand the ecological dynamics of forests. It helps in studying the interactions between different species, the impact of invasive species, and the effects of environmental changes on forest health and biodiversity.</p>



<p>Overall, forest modeling is a powerful tool that provides insights into the functioning of forest ecosystems, supporting efforts in sustainable forest management, conservation, and climate change mitigation.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f14102090" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Forests</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Forest modeling study reveals new insights into carbon sequestration

A forest modeling study has revealed important insights into how...

<p>A new study reveals fascinating insights into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-implant-may-allow-people-to-communicate-through-their-thoughts/">brain activity</a> of soccer fans, shedding light on the neural dynamics of fanaticism. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.rsna.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Radiological Society of North America</a> (RSNA).</p>



<p>The research delves into the emotional and behavioral responses of fans during a soccer match, highlighting how different patterns of brain activation are linked to both positive and negative reactions.</p>



<p>Dr. Francisco Zamorano Mendieta, who led the study, is a researcher in the Department of Imaging at Clínica Alemana de Santiago, and associate professor at Facultad de Ciencias para el Cuidado de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile.</p>



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



<p>“This study aims to shed light on the behaviors and dynamics associated with extreme rivalry, aggression and social affiliation within and between groups of fanatics,” said Dr. Zamorano.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The investigation was focused on the brain mechanisms of 43 male football fans in Chile, where team loyalty and enthusiasm are particularly strong. The volunteers were devoted supporters of Chile's two major rival soccer teams.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While watching a compilation of 63 soccer goals, the brain activity of the participants was measured using fMRI, a noninvasive imaging technique that detects changes in the brain’s blood flow. The results showed that brain activity changed when the fan’s team succeeded or failed.</p>



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



<p>“When their team wins, the reward system in the brain is activated,” said Dr. Zamorano. “When they lose, the mentalization network can be activated, taking the fan to an introspective state. This may mitigate some of the pain of the loss."&nbsp;</p>



<p>"We also observed inhibition of the brain hub that connects the limbic system with frontal cortices, hampering the mechanism that regulates cognitive control and increasing the probability to fall into disruptive or violent behavior.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-group-think">Group think</h2>



<p>According to Dr. Zamorano, the findings may shed light on social dynamics in all walks of life.</p>



<p>“People inherently crave social connections, be it through membership in a running club, participation in a book discussion group, or engagement in virtual forums,” he said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“While these social bonds often form around shared beliefs, values and interests, there can also be an element of persuasive proselytism, or ‘group think,’ which may give rise to unreasoned beliefs and societal discord.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intense-emotional-investment-nbsp">Intense emotional investment&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Dr. Zamorano believes that the zealousness found among some sports fans can serve as a compelling example of intense emotional investment, occasional aggressive behavior and impaired rationality.</p>



<p>“Understanding the psychology of group identification and competition can shed light on decision-making processes and social dynamics, leading to a fuller comprehension of how societies operate."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-opportunity-nbsp">Unique opportunity&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Dr. Zamorano pointed out the challenges of researching fanaticism and partisanship, especially in areas like politics, ethnicity, and identity, where controversy often obscures the neurological underpinnings of extreme allegiance.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Sports fandom, on the other hand, presents a unique opportunity to analyze how intense devotion affects neural activity in a less contentious context, particularly by highlighting the role of negative emotions, the related inhibitory control mechanisms and possible adaptative strategies,” said Dr. Zamorano.</p>



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



<p>Fanaticism is a fervent, often uncritical devotion or zeal towards a cause, idea, or group. It's characterized by intense and sometimes irrational enthusiasm, frequently leading to uncompromising and extreme behavior.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This level of devotion can be directed towards various areas, including sports, politics, religion, or cultural phenomena.</p>



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



<p>The psychology behind fanaticism is complex and involves several aspects of human behavior and social dynamics. Key factors include a strong need for identity and belonging, where individuals align themselves passionately with a group or cause that they see as an extension of their identity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This alignment often leads to a strong in-group versus out-group mentality, where fanatics may develop a deep loyalty to their group while being hostile or dismissive towards others.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-reinforcement-nbsp">Social reinforcement&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Another aspect is the influence of social reinforcement. In groups of fanatics, certain behaviors and beliefs are often reinforced by peers, leading to a solidification of extreme positions. This can also lead to an echo chamber effect, where only the views of the in-group are heard and valued, further entrenching the fanatic's beliefs.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-outcomes-nbsp">Extreme outcomes&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Fanaticism can have a psychological impact on individuals. It can provide a sense of purpose, community, and even euphoria, especially when the group or cause experiences success or gains recognition.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, it can also lead to negative outcomes, such as alienation from those outside the group, impaired judgment, and in extreme cases, aggression or violence, especially when the group perceives a threat or experiences a setback.</p>



<p>The study of fanaticism, particularly through the lens of neuroscience and psychology, provides valuable insights into how and why these intense beliefs and behaviors form, offering potential pathways for understanding and addressing the more harmful aspects of fanatic behavior.</p>



<p>The research will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.rsna.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Radiological Society of North America</a>. </p>



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Sports fan or fanatic? Study reveals the brain activity behind fanaticism

A new study reveals fascinating insights into the brain activity...

<p>On November 17, 2023, Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/">global temperature</a> exceeded 2 degrees Celsius (2°C) above pre-industrial levels for the first time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This critical environmental milestone was reported in ERA5, the fifth reanalysis of the global climate by <a href="https://www.ecmwf.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ECMWF</a>, implemented as part of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shocking-temperature-records">Shocking temperature records</h2>



<p>The ERA5 data, which covers the period from 1940 to the present, indicated that on November 17, the global surface air temperature was 2.07°C higher than the pre-industrial average, a benchmark period from 1850-1900 before the widespread use of fossil fuels.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, provisional data for November 18 showed a temperature anomaly of 2.06°C above the pre-industrial level.</p>



<p>This alarming development, released just before the commencement of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, brings the issue of climate change into sharp focus.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-time-for-action-is-now">The time for action is now</h2>



<p>“The ERA5 record now contains two days where global temperatures exceed the pre-industrial level by more than 2°C," said <a href="https://climate.copernicus.eu/">Copernicus Climate Change Service</a> (C3S) Director Carlo Buontempo.</p>



<p>"That this should happen in the same month that world leaders will gather to take stock of progress towards meeting Paris Agreement commitments at COP28 sends a very clear message - the time for definitive action to tackle climate change is now."</p>



<p>“While exceeding the 2°C threshold for a number of days does not mean that we have breached the Paris Agreement targets, the more often that we exceed this threshold, the more serious the cumulative effects of these breaches will become."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hottest-november-ever">Hottest November ever</h2>



<p>The ERA5 data also revealed that the global surface air temperature on November 17 was 1.17°C above the average for the 1991-2020 reference period, suggesting that November 2023 is on track to be the warmest November recorded.</p>



<p>The ERA5 data are part of the ERA5T dataset, which provides preliminary climate data with a delay of up to five days. These data will undergo verification and will be included in the final ERA5 dataset after the standard 2-3 month quality control period.</p>



<p>The report underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and decisive action to address climate change, a critical topic for discussion at the upcoming COP28.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-the-2-c-limit-so-important-nbsp">Why is the 2°C limit so important?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The 2 degrees Celsius temperature limit is a crucial benchmark in climate change discussions for several reasons:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-basis-nbsp">Scientific basis&nbsp;</h3>



<p>This limit is based on extensive scientific research suggesting that keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius significantly reduces the risks and impacts of climate change.</p>



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



<p>Beyond the 2°C threshold, the likelihood of severe, pervasive, and irreversible impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity increases dramatically.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-level-rise">Sea level rise</h3>



<p>A temperature rise above 2 degrees could lead to more significant sea level rise, affecting low-lying areas and island nations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-weather-events-nbsp">Extreme weather events&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Higher temperatures are associated with more extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, floods, and hurricanes, which have devastating effects on human life, agriculture, and infrastructure.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-and-water-security">Food and water security</h3>



<p>Exceeding the 2 degrees limit could jeopardize food and water security for millions of people, as it affects crop yields and water availability.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-and-economic-impacts">Social and economic impacts</h3>



<p>These environmental changes could lead to significant social and economic disruptions, including increased poverty, migration, and conflict.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tipping-points">Tipping points</h3>



<p>There is a risk of crossing critical thresholds or "tipping points" in the Earth's system, like the melting of polar ice caps and permafrost, which could lead to a cascade of further changes and make it more difficult to control future warming.</p>



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Earth's global temperature exceeded 2°C for the first time

On November 17, 2023, Earth's global temperature exceeded 2 degrees...

<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>



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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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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
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<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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