Abyss,Of,Creation:,The,Galactic,Maelstrom

<p>Astronomers have discovered a hidden population of quasars - supermassive black holes blazing from the universe’s childhood - wrapped in cosmic dust.</p>



<p>Using a clever one-two punch of telescopes, researchers first flagged suspiciously luminous galaxies with Japan’s <a href="https://subarutelescope.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subaru Telescope</a>, then aimed NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> (JWST) at them to see what the dust was concealed.</p>



<p>The payoff: seven objects blazing like quasars less than a billion years after the Big Bang, but so dust-shrouded that earlier surveys had missed them.</p>



<p>It’s the first time astronomers have confirmed bright, dust-obscured quasars at such early times. The result effectively doubles the census of luminous quasars from the “Cosmic Dawn,” suggesting voracious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-think-a-black-hole-may-explode-soon-and-theyre-not-going-to-miss-it/">black holes</a> were at least twice as common then as we thought.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quasars-regulate-star-birth">Quasars regulate star birth</h2>



<p>Nearly every large galaxy today harbors a supermassive black hole at its center. Most lie quiet, but when gas spirals in, friction heats the material to extraordinary temperatures, and the black hole lights up as a quasar - outshining its entire galaxy.</p>



<p>That storm of radiation can blow out or heat gas, regulating how stars form. In other words, to understand how galaxies came to be, you need to understand their central black holes.</p>



<p>There’s a lingering puzzle, though: supermassive black holes were already in place very early on. Finding more of them at Cosmic Dawn sharpens the question of how they formed so fast - did they grow from many small “seeds” left by the first stars, or collapse directly from large gas clouds under special conditions?</p>



<p>A key clue is how many existed. If luminous quasars were more common than previously realized, rapid black hole growth may have been widespread rather than rare.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cosmic-fog-conceals-quasars">Cosmic fog conceals quasars</h2>



<p>Historically, quasar searches relied on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthals-vanished-from-uv-rays-no-clothes-homo-sapiens-adapted/">ultraviolet light</a>, which early quasars emit in abundance. Thanks to the expansion of the universe, that UV appears to us as visible light. The catch? Ultraviolet is easily absorbed by dust, and young galaxies are dusty places. If a quasar sits inside a dusty host, much of its UV never escapes.</p>



<p>That’s why the team changed tactics. They started with the Subaru Telescope’s Hyper Suprime-Cam survey (HSC-SSP), which had already revealed a trove of unusually bright galaxies in the distant universe. But those galaxies lacked the telltale “broad emission lines” that usually confirm an active black hole.</p>



<p>Gas racing around the black hole at thousands of miles per second creates broad lines; their width is a smoking gun.</p>



<p>Enter JWST. Because infrared light passes through dust far better than ultraviolet, JWST’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) can look where older instruments were effectively blind.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seven-hidden-quasars-light-up"><a></a>Seven hidden quasars light up</h2>



<p>Between July 2023 and October 2024, the team used NIRSpec to take spectra of 11 of the brightest Subaru-selected galaxies. In seven of them, the broad emission lines popped - undeniable signatures of quasars.</p>



<p>These are the first confirmed examples of dust-obscured but luminous quasars at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ground-based-telescopes-detect-light-from-the-cosmic-dawn/">Cosmic Dawn</a>. JWST has recently found a menagerie of fainter, compact objects nicknamed “Little Red Dots,” many of which host black holes. These are dimmer than the classic early quasars. The new finds are the full-power kind - just veiled.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brightness-like-no-other">Brightness like no other</h2>



<p>Peering into the spectra, the researchers estimated that each newly revealed quasar shines with the energy of a few trillion suns. They are powered by black holes a few billion times the mass of the Sun. That makes them comparable to the brightest unobscured quasars already known from the same era.</p>



<p>The difference comes from dust. It blocks about 70 percent of visible light and nearly all ultraviolet - 99.9 percent - before escape. No wonder earlier UV-based searches overlooked them.</p>



<p>“This discovery was only possible with the unique combination of two powerful telescopes," said lead author Yoshiki Matsuoka from <a href="https://www.ehime-u.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ehime University</a>. "The Subaru Telescope’s wide and sensitive survey allowed us to spot rare, luminous galaxies, and JWST was able to catch the faint infrared light from the hidden quasars." </p>



<p>"This shows how effective the approach of ‘Discover with Subaru Telescope, explore with James Webb’ can be.” </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-doubling-the-headcount-at-cosmic-dawn"><a></a>Doubling the headcount at Cosmic Dawn</h2>



<p>By comparing how many dust-obscured quasars they found with the tally of previously known, unobscured ones, the team concluded that bright quasars in the early universe are at least twice as common as previously thought.</p>



<p>That jump in number density has ripple effects. Black hole growth, galaxy evolution, and even the reionization of the universe all depend on how much quasar light was present and how it shaped its surroundings.</p>



<p>A richer, dustier population of early quasars also hints that black hole feeding frenzies often unfolded inside messy, rapidly forming galaxies - exactly the kind of environments where dust would thrive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peering-deeper-with-alma">Peering deeper with ALMA</h2>



<p>Finding the hidden quasars is step one. Now the team wants to see how they differ - if at all - from their dust-free cousins. </p>



<p>JWST’s spectra contain a forest of emission lines from different elements; their relative strengths and shapes act like diagnostic tools for the temperature, density, and motion of gas near the black hole. Are the obscured quasars blasting stronger winds? Are they embedded in thicker, more turbulent cocoons?</p>



<p>The researchers will also use <a href="https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ALMA</a>, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, to map cold gas and dust in the host galaxies. ALMA can reveal if galaxies hold <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/">star-forming gas</a>, how it moves, and whether quasars stir or expel it.</p>



<p>In parallel, the team plans to expand the hunt to less luminous galaxies to see how far down the iceberg of hidden black holes goes. A new JWST program is already on the calendar, with observations slated to begin early next year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-crowded-early-cosmos">A crowded early cosmos</h2>



<p>Quasars are nature’s lighthouses, and the earliest ones are beacons from a time when the first <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-are-much-bigger-than-we-originally-believed-gas-clouds/">galaxies</a> were assembling.</p>



<p>By switching to infrared eyes and following up the brightest dusty suspects, astronomers have revealed a whole cohort of lighthouses we didn’t know were there. The universe at a billion years old just got more crowded - and a lot more interesting.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/addf4e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Astrophysical Journal</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;</p>



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



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

Quasars cloaked in dust found less than a billion years after Big Bang

Astronomers have discovered a hidden population of quasars - supermassive black holes blazing from the universe’s childhood - wrapped in cosmic dust. Using a clever one-two punch of telescopes, researchers first flagged suspiciously luminous galaxies with Japan’s Subaru Telescope, then aimed NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) at them to see what the dust was concealed. The payoff: seven objects blazing like quasars less than a billion years after the Big Bang, but so dust-shrouded that earlier surveys had missed them. It’s the first time astronomers have...

<p>Babies as young as four months old exhibit signs of self-awareness, according to an innovative study from the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research reveals new details about how infants interact with the space around them and develop self-awareness.</p>



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



<p>The study was carried out in the Birmingham BabyLab, where experts presented babies with a visual stimulus: a ball on a screen moving towards or away from them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>When the ball appeared closest on the screen, a small vibration was given to the babies' hands, simulating a "touch," while their brain activity was closely monitored. This critical data collection took place at Goldsmiths, University of London.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peripersonal-space">Peripersonal space</h2>



<p>“Our findings indicate that even in the first few months of life, before babies have even learned to reach for objects, the multisensory brain is wired up to make links between what babies see and what they feel. This means they can sense the space around them and understand how their bodies interact with that space. This is sometimes referred to as peripersonal space," explained lead researcher Dr. Giulia Orioli.</p>



<p>“Of course, humans do this all the time as adults, using our combined senses to perceive where we are in space and making predictions about when we will touch an object or not. But now that we know that babies in the early stages of their development begin to show signs of this, it opens up questions about how much of these abilities are learnt, or innate.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-development-of-self-awareness-nbsp">Development of self-awareness&nbsp;</h2>



<p>From just four months old, infants demonstrated enhanced somatosensory (tactile) brain activity when they experienced a touch following an object moving towards them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This discovery is pivotal in understanding how self-awareness develops from an early age.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-touch">Unexpected touch</h2>



<p>The researchers also explored how an unexpected touch influenced older infants in the study. They observed that eight-month-old babies showed signs of surprise in their brain activity when the touch on their hand was preceded by the ball moving away from them on the screen.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Seeing the older babies show surprise responses suggests that they had not expected the touch due to the visual direction the object was moving in," said study co-author Professor Andrew Bremner.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"This indicates that as babies proceed through their first year of life, their brains construct a more sophisticated awareness of how their body exists in the space around them.”</p>



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



<p>The team plans to expand their research to include both younger and older participants. This may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the developmental trajectory of multisensory abilities.</p>



<p>The researchers are particularly interested in examining the brain activity of adults in similar scenarios. By doing so, they hope to gain insights into the mature forms of brain activity that infants are gradually developing towards.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team also plans to explore the presence of these multisensory abilities in newborn babies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It is a challenge working with newborns, as they spend such a large portion of their time sleeping and eating, but we are starting to have some success working with this age group, and it is going to be fascinating to see if babies only a few days old have the foundations of a sense of their bodies in space. If so, it could be that we are looking at the origins of human consciousness," said Dr. Orioli.</p>



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



<p>Self-awareness is a key aspect of human consciousness that is complex and multifaceted. It is typically understood as the conscious recognition of oneself as an individual, separate and distinct from the environment and others.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-physical-identity-nbsp">Physical identity&nbsp;</h3>



<p>At its core, self-awareness is about understanding one's own existence and identity. It's what allows individuals to recognize themselves in a mirror or in photographs, which is a milestone often observed in human development during the toddler years.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-internal-states">Internal states</h3>



<p>Beyond physical recognition, self-awareness encompasses an understanding of one's internal states, such as emotions and thoughts, and how these can differ from those of others.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adulthood">Adulthood</h3>



<p>As people grow and develop, self-awareness becomes more complicated. It evolves from basic recognition of the self to include deeper understanding of one's own mental and emotional states.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For instance, adults not only recognize that they are feeling sad, but they can also ponder why they feel that way and how it affects their behavior and decisions.</p>



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



<p>In the context of psychology and neuroscience, self-awareness is often studied to understand its origins, how it develops, and its role in social and cognitive functions. There's a particular interest in understanding at what stage of development self-awareness begins to emerge and how it progresses.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals">Animals</h3>



<p>Self-awareness is not just limited to the human species. Some animals, particularly certain primates and some birds, have shown signs of self-recognition, suggesting that this ability might be more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously thought.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45897-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a>.</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—-&nbsp;</p>



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

Four-month-old babies show signs of self-awareness

Babies as young as four months old exhibit signs of...

A,Field,Of,Staghorn,Corals,(acropora,Sp.),Provides,A,Thicket

<p>The impact of climate change on marine ecosystems is becoming increasingly complex. A recent study offers a new perspective on how climate change and local temperature fluctuations interact to affect marine life.</p>



<p>Study co-author Jon Witman, a professor of Biology at <a href="https://www.brown.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brown University</a>, emphasized the importance of understanding both the steady warming trend and local temperature variability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-organisms-adapt">How organisms adapt</h2>



<p>Witman collaborated with Andrew Pershing of Climate Central and John Bruno from the <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> at Chapel Hill. </p>



<p>The researchers investigated how marine communities adapt to both gradual and variable changes, reviewing processes that either facilitate or hinder adaptation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-climate-and-the-ocean">Studying climate and the ocean</h2>



<p>"Greenhouse gas emissions are warming the ocean with profound consequences at all levels of organization, from organismal rates to ecosystem processes. The proximate driver is an interplay between anthropogenic warming (the trend) and natural fluctuations in local temperature," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"These two properties cause anomalously warm events such as marine heatwaves to occur with increasing frequency and magnitude."</p>



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



<p>However, the interaction between the steadily warming climate and the spikes in local temperatures tends to be underappreciated, said Witman.</p>



<p>“Climate change studies often focus on the trend of global warming. But organisms in the ocean are also experiencing temperature fluctuations, and that’s less studied and therefore less understood," explained Witman.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"What we’re trying to do is to add more reality into ocean climate change studies by considering both the smooth, upward trend of climate warming as well as the variability on top of that trend.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-conditions">Local conditions</h2>



<p>"Marine communities are made up of species that are adapted to the prevailing local conditions. Thermal conditions can be characterized by the mean temperature, the amplitude of the annual cycle, and the interannual variability," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>"These characteristics of ocean temperature strongly influence countless aspects of the physiology and ecology of marine organisms, the composition and diversity of marine communities, and even the structure and dynamics of marine food webs."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-abrupt-heat-spikes">Abrupt heat spikes</h2>



<p>The research highlights that while marine organisms like coral attempt to adapt to gradually rising temperatures, they are also subjected to abrupt spikes, like heat waves, which have dire consequences.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These heat spikes can lead to consequences like coral bleaching, where stressed corals expel algae and turn white, potentially leading to death if conditions don't improve.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Witman pointed to the increased incidence of such events in regions like the Mediterranean, which have seen significant coral bleaching and death.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temporal-ocean-climate-variation">Temporal ocean climate variation </h2>



<p>"Aspects of temporal variation such as the frequency of repeated temperature anomalies and delays in ecological changes (legacy effects) following anomalies are central to understanding the different ecological impacts of climate change. These processes can either accelerate or slow the rate of change and adaptation," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>"There is growing evidence that sessile organisms like corals in more variable thermal habitats are more resistant to thermal anomalies via ecological hardening."</p>



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



<p>Extreme events such as heat waves may alter or damage marine ecosystems in ways that leave them more vulnerable to both progressive climate change as well as the next temperature fluctuation, Witman added.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A more realistic model may help scientists better identify areas where coral is more likely to die off in an extreme event leaving coral-dependent organisms at risk over time, he said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-variable-events">Variable events</h2>



<p>Witman said the responses to variable events like heat waves compound (and are compounded by) the effects caused by rapidly and steadily increasing ocean temperatures.</p>



<p>The study highlights the necessity of considering both steady and variable changes in climate studies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“If we just study how organisms respond to the smooth trend, we miss all the variability, which is driving ecological change,” Witman said. “It’s not just a matter of worsening physiological stress over time; there are also variable events that have their own ripple effects.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smooth-and-spiky">Smooth and spiky</h2>



<p>"The purpose of this review is to advance our understanding of how marine ecosystems have changed and will change in response to climate change," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>"We are specifically interested in understanding the limitations of current approaches and identifying experimental, conceptual, and theoretical approaches necessary to understand the new ocean."</p>



<p>"A key theme of our review is that climate change in the ocean is both smooth and spiky. By smooth, we mean that there are clear temperature trends driving change. For example, Harris et al. interpreted warming as a press perturbation. By spiky, we mean that there is natural, inherent variability on top of the trend."&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The smooth trends and spikes from variability interact, and understanding how processes within organisms and communities filter these interactions is the key to understanding how marine ecosystems will change over the next century."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regions-of-concern">Regions of concern</h2>



<p>A global model developed by the team pinpointed regions of particular concern in the Gulf of Maine, the Caribbean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. In these areas, there are high probabilities of exceptional warming events and “ecological surprises,” wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“These areas, especially, warrant investigation to improve our understanding of what's going to happen in the future - as well as our conception of what we’re calling, ‘the new ocean,’” said Witman.</p>



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



<p>"Published models of species range changes assume a smooth future of gradual change where species declines are due to the trend rather than infrequent extremes (variance), they do not consider geographic variability in temporal variability, and they assume that dispersal and range expansion are smooth (and largely unlimited)," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Future modeling efforts need to incorporate these aspects in order to make more realistic predictions."</p>



<p>"Future marine climate change ecology should consider both the temperature trend and inherent temperature variability, how they interact to exceed thresholds producing extreme events, and how they vary regionally to affect individuals, populations, and communities."</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-022323-082123" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematic</em></a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>---</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>---</p>



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

Ripple effects of climate change have created a 'new ocean'

The impact of climate change on marine ecosystems is becoming...

3d,Printer,Print,Burger,On,A,White,Background,3d,Rendering

<p>Engineers at <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a> are exploring the potential benefits and challenges of 3D food printing. This emerging technology, involving cooking devices such as 3D printers, lasers, and software-driven processes, could soon revolutionize our kitchens, potentially replacing conventional appliances like ovens and microwaves.</p>



<p>Jonathan Blutinger, a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia's Creative Machines Lab, along with Professor Hod Lipson and Professor Christen Cooper from Pace University Nutrition and Dietetics, have examined the complexities of this technology in a recent article published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-023-00182-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">npj Science of Food</a>.</p>



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



<p>The researchers investigated the potential of 3D-printed food to enhance <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/proper-nutrition-in-the-first-1000-days-of-life-is-crucial/">nutrition</a>, improve food safety, and offer customizable meal options.</p>



<p>A significant achievement of Blutinger’s team was their development of a 3D-printing system capable of creating multi-layered food items, such as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Food-printing-scaled.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex cheesecake</a> composed of seven different ingredients, including peanut butter, Nutella, and strawberry jam. </p>



<p>This breakthrough challenges the previous limitations of 3D food printing, which was restricted to uncooked ingredients and often resulted in unappealing dishes.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="eIQAfhHgQg-3187253-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-customizing-nutrition-nbsp">Customizing nutrition&nbsp;</h2>



<p>One of the most striking aspects of this technology is its potential to customize nutrition. As Professor Cooper noted, while 3D-printed food is still processed, it offers an opportunity for more precise nutrient control, which can be especially beneficial for individuals with specific dietary needs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This aspect of personalization is particularly relevant in the context of plant-based meat alternatives, where texture and flavor are critical.</p>



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



<p>The researchers also emphasized the health implications of 3D food printing. “We have an enormous problem with the low-nutrient value of processed foods,” said Cooper.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“3D food printing will still turn out processed foods, but perhaps the silver lining will be, for some people, better control and tailoring of nutrition--personalized nutrition. It may also be useful in making food more appealing to those with swallowing disorders by mimicking the shapes of real foods with the pureed texture foods that these patients--millions in the U.S. alone--require.”</p>



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



<p>Another promising avenue is the use of laser cooking with 3D food printing, allowing for precise flavors and textures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This can create unique food experiences and cater to specific dietary restrictions, making meal planning more convenient for various groups, including athletes and individuals in nursing homes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-remain-nbsp">Challenges remain&nbsp;</h2>



<p>However, challenges remain in commercializing 3D food printing. “Because 3D food printing is still a nascent technology, it needs an ecosystem of supporting industries such as food cartridge manufacturers, downloadable recipe files, and an environment in which to create and share these recipes," said Blutinger.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the experts noted that printed food will likely require novel ingredient compositions due to the unique assembly process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-safety">Food safety</h2>



<p>The technology could also improve food safety, which is especially relevant in the post-COVID-19 era. "With more emphasis on food safety following the COVID-19 pandemic, food prepared with less human handling could lower the risk of foodborne illness and disease transmission. This seems like a win-win concept for all of us," said Blutinger.</p>



<p>While 3D-printed food technology holds immense promise for transforming how we cook and consume food, it also presents a range of challenges that need to be addressed. The Columbia team is paving the way for further research and development in this exciting field.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Jonathan Blutinger/Columbia Engineering</p>



<p>---</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>---</p>



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

Sci-fi comes to life: 3D food printing could revolutionize our kitchens

Engineers at Columbia University are exploring the potential benefits and...

<p>A study conducted by <a href="https://www.ucla.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA</a> psychologists has provided significant insights into how emotions, especially those elicited by music, play a crucial role in forming memories. </p>



<p>The study reveals that emotional responses to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-can-prevent-brain-aging-and-cognitive-decline/">music</a> can transform neutral experiences into memorable events, offering potential therapeutic applications for individuals with PTSD and depression.</p>



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



<p>For the investigation, the experts manipulated the emotions of volunteers through music while they performed simple tasks on a computer. This manipulation led to the creation of distinct, durable memories.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research team, including lead author Mason McClay and corresponding author David Clewett, found that emotional changes induced by music created clear boundaries between different experiences, enhancing memory recall.</p>



<p>“Changes in emotion evoked by music created boundaries between episodes that made it easier for people to remember what they had seen and when they had seen it,” said McClay. “We think this finding has great therapeutic promise for helping people with PTSD and depression.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memory-formation-nbsp">Memory formation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The process of memory formation is complex, involving both the integration of memories into individualized episodes and their subsequent expansion and separation. This balance is critical for understanding and finding meaning in experiences and retaining information.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It’s like putting items into boxes for long-term storage,” said Clewett. “When we need to retrieve a piece of information, we open the box that holds it. What this research shows is that emotions seem to be an effective box for doing this sort of organization and for making memories more accessible.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emotional-responses-nbsp">Emotional responses&nbsp;</h2>



<p>An interesting aspect of the study is the use of custom-composed music to evoke specific emotions like joy, anxiety, sadness, or calmness.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Participants were tasked with creating narratives for neutral images while tracking their emotional responses. The study revealed that emotional changes, whether of high, low, or medium intensity, impacted how participants remembered the timing and order of these images.</p>



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



<p>The research also highlights the significance of the direction of emotional change. Positive shifts in emotion were found to enhance memory integration, while negative shifts tended to separate and expand memories.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Moreover, the researchers noted that participants had better long-term memory for moments when their emotions changed, particularly during intense positive experiences.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-based-therapy">Music-based therapy</h2>



<p>Matthew Sachs from Columbia University emphasized the potential of music as an intervention technique.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Most music-based therapies for disorders rely on the fact that listening to music&nbsp; can help patients relax or feel enjoyment, which reduces negative emotional symptoms," said Sachs.</p>



<p>"The benefits of music-listening in these cases are therefore secondary and indirect. Here, we are suggesting a possible mechanism by which emotionally dynamic music might be able to directly treat the memory issues that characterize such disorders.”</p>



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



<p>Clewett said these findings could help people reintegrate the memories that have caused post-traumatic stress disorder.</p>



<p>“If traumatic memories are not stored away properly, their contents will come spilling out when the closet door opens, often without warning. This is why ordinary events, such as fireworks, can trigger flashbacks of traumatic experiences, such as surviving a bombing or gunfire,” said Clewett.</p>



<p>“We think we can deploy positive emotions, possibly using music, to help people with PTSD put that original memory in a box and reintegrate it, so that negative emotions don’t spill over into everyday life.”</p>



<p>The research was supported by the National Science Foundation, UCLA and Columbia University.</p>



<p>The findings are published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42241-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—-&nbsp;</p>



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

Emotions inspired by music shape our most enduring memories

A study conducted by UCLA psychologists has provided significant insights...

Cyclone,Idai,Heading,Towards,Mozambique,And,Zimbabwe,In,2019,-

<p>In May 2019, Cyclone Idai, one of nature's most formidable forces, unleashed its fury on Mozambique's <a href="https://gorongosa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gorongosa National Park</a>. This event set the stage for a fascinating study, merging the unstoppable force of natural disasters with cutting-edge wildlife research technology. </p>



<p>An international team of researchers, spearheaded by <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Princeton University</a>, documented the cyclone's impact in unprecedented detail, providing new insights into how large-mammal communities respond to natural disasters.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unmatched-technological-arena">Unmatched technological arena</h2>



<p>Gorongosa National Park, renowned for its technological sophistication, was equipped with an extensive network of trail cameras, GPS collars, and other instruments. </p>



<p>This setup, as Hallie Brown, a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton’s Department of Ecology and Environmental Biology, noted, offered an "unprecedented opportunity" to observe the cyclone's effects in real-time. </p>



<p>The resulting study was authored by Brown and her colleagues, including <a href="https://environmenthalfcentury.princeton.edu/experts/robert-pringle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Pringle</a>, an EEB professor, and Ryan Long, an associate professor of wildlife sciences at the <a href="https://www.uidaho.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Idaho</a>.</p>



<p>“This is the first study that has ever been able to track the real-time responses of a large-mammal community to a natural disaster,” said Pringle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildlife-in-the-midst-of-a-natural-disaster">Wildlife in the midst of a natural disaster</h2>



<p>The researchers meticulously observed the animal behavior before, during, and after Cyclone Idai. Brown recollects the harrowing experience. </p>



<p>“We watched the waters rise,” Brown recalled. “We watched the animals’ reactions in the hours, days, weeks after the cyclone: how some of them escaped the floodwaters, and some of them didn’t. Our team used the data we had from before, during and after the storm to create, not just a description of this one event, but a broader set of expectations, so managers can better anticipate the effects of increasingly severe weather events.” </p>



<p>Their observations revealed that animal size was a critical survival factor. Smaller species like oribi and reedbuck suffered significant losses, while larger herbivores like nyala, kudu, sable, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-elephant-day-understanding-celebrating-and-protecting-earths-gentle-giants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elephants</a> recorded no fatalities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-cyclones-and-wildlife-collide">When cyclones and wildlife collide</h2>



<p>The survival strategies of these animals were diverse. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carnivores-healthy-ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bushbucks</a>, for example, sought refuge on termite mounds, using these natural hillocks as islands amid the flood. GPS data showed their desperate attempts to find higher ground, emphasizing the importance of topography in such natural disasters. </p>



<p>In contrast, smaller animals not only struggled to escape the rising waters but also faced post-storm nutritional challenges, as the flood destroyed much of the low-lying vegetation they depended on.</p>



<p>Interestingly, this study mirrors findings from previous hurricane impact research on island populations, like lizards and spiders in the Bahamas, highlighting consistent survival patterns across different species and ecosystems. </p>



<p>The research team advises wildlife managers to prioritize the evacuation of smaller and ecologically vulnerable species before storms and provide supplemental feeding post-disaster to mitigate the effects of lost vegetation.</p>



<p>Carnivores in Gorongosa, such as wild dogs, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-leopards-have-surprisingly-high-genetic-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leopards</a>, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-lion-day-celebrating-the-king-of-the-jungle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lions</a>, fared well during the cyclone. Their prey were concentrated in upland areas, simplifying hunting. Remarkably, lions’ primary prey, warthogs, remained largely unaffected, staying in uplands for several months post-cyclone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-of-collaboration">Power of collaboration</h2>



<p>Hallie Brown lauds the collaborative nature of this study, which brought together experts from various fields like hydrology and large animal ecology. This multidisciplinary approach was key to understanding the complex interactions between the cyclone's impact and the park's wildlife.</p>



<p>In summary, Cyclone Idai's sweep through Gorongosa National Park offered a rare glimpse into how wildlife responds to natural disasters. </p>



<p>This study not only underscores the resilience of nature but also the importance of technological advancements and collaborative research in understanding and mitigating the effects of such catastrophic events. </p>



<p>The insights gained are invaluable for wildlife management and conservation strategies in the face of increasingly severe weather patterns.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06722-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em>.</p>



<p>---</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>---</p>



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

How wildlife survives hurricanes and other natural disasters

In May 2019, Cyclone Idai, one of nature's most formidable...

<p>The Canadian wildfires of 2023 have set a new record for the largest area burned in the country's history. These fires not only devastated vast regions within Canada but also significantly impacted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-air-quality-linked-to-cognitive-problems-in-infants/">air quality</a> across the Northern Hemisphere, extending as far as Europe and China.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A recent study led by Zhe Wang from the <a href="https://www.dlr.de/pa/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Atmospheric Physics</a> (IAP) provides a detailed analysis of this global environmental crisis.</p>



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



<p>“There were photographs from New York City in July in news outlets around the world that showed the city trapped in an almost unbreathable orange haze like something out of a dystopian movie,” said Wang.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“But what we know about long-range transport of particulate matter means that the fires likely impacted Europe and Asia as well. We just didn't know to what extent.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deterioration-of-air-quality">Deterioration of air quality</h2>



<p>The researchers used the Aerosol and Atmospheric Chemistry Model (IAP-AACM), a module of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Earth System Model (CAS-ESM), to simulate the dispersal of pollutants.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The findings revealed a marked deterioration of air quality across almost the entire Northern Hemisphere due to the Canadian wildfires.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widespread-air-pollution">Widespread air pollution</h2>



<p>Six major episodes of widespread air pollution were identified during Canada's wildfire season, severely affecting air quality in both Canada and the United States, and even reaching Europe and Asia.</p>



<p>These episodes resulted in unprecedented levels of PM2.5, fine particulate matter with diameters of 2.5 microns or less, known to be particularly harmful to health.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, on June 7, New York City experienced the worst air quality in over 50 years, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization's air-quality guidelines.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study also revealed significant increases in PM2.5 levels in Europe, western, central, and east Asia, and even the Arctic region, due to the northward movement of the fires.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-greenhouse-gas-emissions-nbsp">Greenhouse gas emissions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Beyond the immediate impact on air quality, the wildfires also had a profound effect on greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers found that the CO2 levels due to the wildfires were substantially high, not only over North America but also over Europe and northwestern Asia.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This surge in greenhouse gases is particularly alarming as it effectively nullifies Canada's plan for reducing human-caused greenhouse gases.</p>



<p>“Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan has been wiped out by a single year of wildfires,” said study co-author Zifa Wang.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-destruction">Forest destruction</h2>



<p>The Canadian wildfires wreaked havoc on forest ecosystems. The uncontrolled flames rapidly consumed vegetation, destroying habitats, and depleting food sources for wildlife.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Furthermore, the aftermath of wildfires often exposes the soil surface, triggering secondary disasters like soil erosion, sediment runoff, and landslides.</p>



<p>These occurrences highlight how wildfires are no longer merely a traditional ecological disturbance but have morphed into an environmental catastrophe.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-reserves-nbsp">Carbon reserves&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Severe forest fires deplete carbon reserves in the vegetation and soil and disrupt the natural succession of forests. The result is a shift from forests to shrubland or grassland, with a consequent reduction in the carbon sequestration capacity of the ecosystem.</p>



<p>The worsening wildfire situation is not exclusive to Canada. Recent years have seen the Amazon Rainforest burning over 90,000 square kilometers in just 10 months in 2019, and the Australian bushfires devouring more than 243,000 square kilometers in 2019-2020.</p>



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



<p>Ultimately, the 2023 Canadian wildfires highlight the interconnectedness of environmental issues. The far-reaching impact on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions underscores the need for global awareness and action in addressing climate change.</p>



<p>"Aside from the direct emissions from forest fires, the peat fires beneath the surface might smolder for several months or even longer and release substantial amounts of CO2. The substantial amounts of greenhouse gases from forest and peat fires might contribute to the positive feedback to the climate, potentially accelerating global warming," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>"To better understand the comprehensive environmental effects of wildfires and their interactions with the climate system, more detailed research based on advanced observations and Earth System Models is essential."</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00376-023-3241-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Advances in Atmospheric Sciences</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—-&nbsp;</p>



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

Canadian wildfires of 2023 were a global environmental setback

The Canadian wildfires of 2023 have set a new record...

<p>In a critical stage of the global plastics treaty negotiations, known as <a href="https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution/session-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">INC-3</a>, a significant setback occurred due to the actions of a small group of primarily oil and plastic-producing countries.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These countries employed stalling tactics to disrupt the progress towards creating an internationally binding legal agreement aimed at tackling the growing crisis of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unprecedented-increase-in-global-ocean-plastic-pollution-since-2005/">plastic pollution</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zero-draft">Zero Draft</h2>



<p>The meeting took place at the <a href="https://www.unep.org/node" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UN Environment Programme</a> (UNEP) Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. As the negotiations neared their conclusion, instead of finalizing a mandate to draft the plastics treaty, the Member States decided to revise the Zero Draft text.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This text, which was initially intended as a foundation for discussions, became overly lengthy and complicated during the negotiations, making further progress even more challenging.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-everything-to-lose">Everything to lose</h2>



<p>Ana Rocha, the Global Plastics Policy Director of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), expressed disappointment in the negotiations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“These negotiations have so far failed to deliver on their promise laid out in the agreed upon mandate to advance a strong, binding plastics treaty that the world desperately needs," said Rocha.</p>



<p>"The bullies of the negotiations pushed their way through, despite the majority countries, with leadership from the African Bloc and other nations in the Global South, in support of an ambitious treaty."</p>



<p>“We have only one year and two negotiating meetings left to hammer out this treaty, and we can’t afford to indulge the interests of a select few. They have nothing to lose, and we have everything to lose. Plastic is burning our planet, destroying communities, and poisoning our bodies. This treaty can’t wait.”&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>The negotiations also faced criticism for lacking discipline and allowing a minority to dominate the process.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The lack of structure resulted in failure to agree on intersessional work, which is crucial for discussing key aspects of the treaty, such as phasing out harmful chemicals and promoting reuse. This stalemate threatens to impede further progress in the next round of negotiations.</p>



<p>Dr. Shahriar Hossain, senior technical adviser at the Environment and Social Development Organization, called for the inclusion of civil society, academia, and scientists in dedicated working groups to ensure a more inclusive process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-downplaying-the-issue">Downplaying the issue</h2>



<p>The Zero Draft, initially a balanced document, ballooned in size by the end of INC-3. Countries like Iran, the Russian Federation, and Saudi Arabia created an informal "group of like-minded countries." This group pushed for low-ambition language and voluntary measures, diverging from the high-ambition mandate for the treaty.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The interventions sought to shift the focus solely to waste management, downplaying the broader impacts of plastic production and disposal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unequal-representation-nbsp">Unequal representation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Civil society also criticized the influence of the fossil fuel and chemical industries in the negotiations. A report from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) highlighted the significant presence of industry lobbyists, overshadowing national delegations and civil society groups.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By contrast, frontline communities, environmental justice groups, and indigenous representatives had limited opportunities to contribute, despite their firsthand experience with the impacts of plastic pollution.</p>



<p>Additionally, certain Member States resisted addressing issues like plastic waste trade and market schemes, citing WTO rules and the Basel Convention, thus avoiding responsibility for the harmful effects of waste colonialism.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-just-transition-nbsp">Just Transition&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Despite these challenges, countries like Angola, Fiji, Kenya, and others from the Africa region and the Pacific Island Developing States (PSIDS) demonstrated strong commitment towards a plastics treaty that prioritizes human rights and environmental justice.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP) also played a prominent role, highlighting the importance of a <a href="https://climatejusticealliance.org/just-transition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Just Transition</a> in the treaty.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-holding-the-planet-hostage">Holding the planet hostage</h2>



<p>“Member States in the room have the moral obligation to prioritize planetary boundaries, human rights and just transition for fenceline communities and waste pickers,” said Merrisa Naidoo, Plastics Campaigner at GAIA Africa.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“A handful of countries must not hold the planet hostage and prevent an ambitious treaty addressing the full life cycle of plastics, which starts at raw material extraction.”</p>



<p>---</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>---</p>



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

Global plastics treaty: Countries with 'nothing to lose' delayed progress

In a critical stage of the global plastics treaty negotiations,...

<p>In a new study from <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado State University</a>, researchers have uncovered the pervasive and inequitable impact of urban noise pollution, revealing a disturbing link to historical practices of racial discrimination.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study represents a significant advancement in our understanding of how systemic injustices, particularly redlining, continue to shape our urban ecosystems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-racial-discrimination">Racial discrimination</h2>



<p>Redlining, a discriminatory practice initiated in 1933 by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation, involved grading neighborhoods based on race and wealth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Wealthier and predominantly white neighborhoods received favorable grades, while diverse, lower-income communities were encircled in red, marking them as undesirable for investment. Though outlawed in 1968, the repercussions of this practice are still evident today, particularly in the distribution and intensity of urban noise pollution.</p>



<p>Sara Bombaci is an assistant professor at CSU's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and the lead author of the study. She emphasized the importance of considering these systemic injustices when examining ecological and evolutionary impacts. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heightened-noise-levels">Heightened noise levels</h2>



<p>The study revealed that neighborhoods which were historically redlined experience significantly higher levels of noise pollution today. Specifically, grade D neighborhoods endure maximum noise levels 17% higher than their grade A counterparts. </p>



<p>For humans, prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can lead to a range of health issues. These include hearing impairment, stress-related illnesses, sleep disturbances, cardiovascular problems, and a diminished quality of life. Children, older adults, and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to these effects.</p>



<p>Noise pollution also disturbs wildlife, affecting communication, reproduction, and survival strategies. For instance, birds may alter their song frequencies to compete with urban noise, which can impact mating calls and territory defense. Other animals might avoid noisy areas altogether, leading to habitat fragmentation and reduced biodiversity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-noise-distribution">Urban noise distribution</h2>



<p>The research team analyzed urban noise distribution across historical racial divisions in 83 U.S. cities, alongside a comprehensive review of hundreds of studies on the impacts of noise on wildlife.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study is the first of its kind to explicitly link noise pollution with redlining, offering a clear example of how environmental issues intersect with social injustices.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The findings are alarming: Not only are communities in redlined areas suffering from higher levels of noise, but this noise is also above the levels known to cause significant health issues.</p>



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



<p>Addressing this injustice is not simply a matter of reducing noise levels. Bombaci argues for a holistic approach to urban planning that integrates noise mitigation into the development of green spaces and parks.</p>



<p>Cities like Denver are working toward equitable planning to improve access to parks and green space in underserved communities. Bombaci said noise should be considered in those plans.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>"If we're adding green space without mitigating impacts of noise, we might not be fully recognizing the benefits of these green spaces,” she said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to Bombaci, wildlife might not bounce back in urban green space if noise pollution remains a problem, but noise mitigation can help. Conservation funding and urban planning can benefit both people and wildlife.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-noise-pollution">Urban noise pollution</h2>



<p>Urban noise pollution is an increasingly recognized environmental concern, characterized by unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activities, including traffic, construction, industrial, and recreational noises.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This type of pollution is prevalent in urban environments, where the density of population and development leads to a greater concentration of noise sources.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sources">Sources</h3>



<p>The sources of urban noise are varied. Traffic noise is a significant contributor, especially near roads and highways. Industrial activities, such as manufacturing and construction, also play a role, often contributing not just to the volume of noise but also to its persistent nature.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Recreational noise from public events, music venues, and nightlife can further exacerbate the situation, particularly in densely populated urban centers.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mitigation-strategies-nbsp">Mitigation strategies&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Addressing urban noise pollution requires a multifaceted approach. Urban planning and design play crucial roles, including the creation of noise barriers, strategic placement of green spaces, and zoning regulations that separate residential areas from major noise sources.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The adoption of quieter technologies in transportation and industry, along with enforcing strict noise control regulations, is essential. Public awareness and education about the impacts of noise pollution may also help to mitigate this issue.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02257-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Inequitable impacts of urban noise pollution harm people and wildlife

In a new study from Colorado State University, researchers have...

Drinking,Wine,Alone.,Sad,Mature,Woman,Being,Alone,At,Home

<p>Red wine, a popular choice for festive occasions like Thanksgiving, is known for its rich flavor and potential health benefits. However, it also brings an unpleasant experience for some – the dreaded "red wine headache." </p>



<p>A recent study by scientists at the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Davis</a>, delves into the reasons behind this phenomenon, particularly in individuals who do not experience headaches from other alcoholic drinks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quercetin-and-red-wine-headaches">Quercetin and red wine headaches</h2>



<p>The research focuses on a specific flavanol found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/muscadine-wine-improves-elasticity-in-aging-skin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">red wine</a> -- quercetin. Commonly present in various fruits and vegetables, quercetin is a celebrated antioxidant, even available as a dietary supplement. </p>



<p>However, its interaction with alcohol in the bloodstream can cause issues. Wine chemist Andrew Waterhouse is a professor emeritus at UC Davis’s Department of Viticulture and Enology. He explains, “When it gets in your bloodstream, your body converts it to a different form called quercetin glucuronide. In that form, it blocks the metabolism of alcohol.”</p>



<p>The study's lead author is Apramita Devi, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis. Devi points out that this interference leads to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, a well-known toxin. </p>



<p>“Acetaldehyde is a well-known toxin, irritant and inflammatory substance,” said Devi. “Researchers know that high levels of acetaldehyde can cause facial flushing, headache and nausea.”</p>



<p>These symptoms are similar to the effects experienced by individuals taking disulfiram, a medication prescribed to deter alcohol consumption.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-and-red-wine-headaches">Genetics and red wine headaches</h2>



<p>Co-author Morris Levin, a neurology professor and director of the <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics/headache-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Headache Center</a> at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests a link between these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-wine-gut-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">red wine</a> headaches and genetic factors. Approximately 40% of the East Asian population possesses an enzyme less effective at breaking down acetaldehyde, increasing their vulnerability to these symptoms.</p>



<p>“We postulate that when susceptible people <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wine-drinking-in-the-americas-traced-back-to-the-15th-century/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consume wine</a> with even modest amounts of quercetin, they develop headaches, particularly if they have a preexisting migraine or another primary headache condition,” said Levin. “We think we are finally on the right track toward explaining this millennia-old mystery.&nbsp; The next step is to test it scientifically on people who develop these headaches, so stay tuned.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wine-production-and-grape-cultivation">Wine production and grape cultivation</h2>



<p>Waterhouse notes that quercetin levels in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/foods-rich-in-flavanols-can-help-burn-excess-fat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">red wine</a> can vary significantly, influenced by factors like grape exposure to sunlight and wine production methods. For example, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-wine-grapes-have-unexpected-gut-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grapes</a> grown with exposed clusters, as in Napa Valley cabernets, tend to have higher quercetin levels.</p>



<p>“Quercetin is produced by the grapes in response to sunlight,” Waterhouse said. “If you grow grapes with the clusters exposed, such as they do in the Napa Valley for their cabernets, you get much higher levels of quercetin. In some cases, it can be four to five times higher.”</p>



<p>A small human clinical trial, funded by the <a href="https://www.winespectator.com/tags/wine-spectator-scholarship-foundation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation</a> and led by UCSF, is in the pipeline. This trial aims to test the red wine headache theory on people, comparing wines with high and low quercetin levels.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unanswered-questions">Unanswered questions</h2>



<p>Despite these findings, several questions remain. The exact reason why some individuals are more prone to red wine headaches than others is still unclear. Researchers are uncertain whether it's the individual's enzymes being more susceptible to quercetin's effects or a higher sensitivity to acetaldehyde buildup.</p>



<p>In summary, this study marks a significant step in unraveling the mystery behind red wine headaches. As Waterhouse concludes, “If our hypothesis pans out, then we will have the tools to start addressing these important questions.” </p>



<p>The research not only sheds light on a long-standing enigma but also paves the way for more personalized approaches to enjoying red wine without the fear of headaches.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-46203-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a></em>.</p>



<p>---</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>---</p>



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

Why red wine gives some people a headache

Red wine, a popular choice for festive occasions like Thanksgiving,...

<p>Scientists have discovered a unique mating behavior in serotine bats (Eptesicus serotinus). Unlike typical mammalian <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/male-moths-use-an-aphrodisiac-during-mating-to-feel-macho/">mating</a> practices that involve penetration, serotine bats engage in a rare form of non-penetrative sex. This study marks the first instance where such behavior has been documented in mammals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strange-anatomy-nbsp">Strange anatomy&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The peculiar anatomy of serotine bats plays a crucial role in their mating process. The researchers observed that the bats' penises are about seven times longer than the females' vaginas and possess a "heart-shaped" head that is seven times wider than the vaginal opening.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Such dimensions make penetration post-erection unfeasible. Instead, the bats utilize their oversized penises, not for penetration but as an extra limb to maneuver the female's tail sheath, facilitating contact mating. This behavior closely resembles "cloacal kissing" seen in birds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oversized-penises-nbsp">Oversized penises&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Nicolas Fasel, the first author of the study from the <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Lausanne</a>, shared their initial curiosity about the bats' disproportionately long penises. “By chance, we had observed that these bats have disproportionately long penises, and we were always wondering ‘how does that work?’"</p>



<p>"We thought maybe it's like in the dog where the penis engorges after penetration so that they are locked together, or alternatively maybe they just couldn't put it inside, but that type of copulation hasn’t been reported in mammals until now.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-evidence">Clear evidence</h2>



<p>The researchers collaborated with a Ukrainian bat rehabilitation center and Dutch citizen scientist Jan Jeucken. The team analyzed 97 mating events captured through video recordings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The recordings provided clear evidence of the non-penetrative nature of the bats' mating, with no penetration observed during any of the mating events.</p>



<p>Remarkably, the male bats were seen grasping their partners by the nape and positioning their pelvises and fully erect penises in a probing manner until contact was made with the female's vulva.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These interactions, sometimes lasting up to 12.7 hours, ended with the female bats' abdomens appearing wet. This hints at the possibility of semen transfer, but further research is needed for confirmation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genital-morphology-nbsp">Genital morphology&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Additionally, the researchers conducted detailed studies of the bats' genital morphology. They measured the erect penises of live serotine bats and performed necropsies on deceased bats, confirming the significant size disparity between the male and female genitalia.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts also noted the unusual length of the female bats' cervixes, which could play a role in sperm selection and storage.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mating-strategies-nbsp">Mating strategies&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The study suggests that the evolution of the serotine bats' oversized penises might be a mechanism to bypass the females' tail membranes, which are typically used for protection against males. This finding sheds light on the complex and diverse mating strategies in the animal kingdom</p>



<p>“Bats use their tail membranes for flying and to capture the insects, and female bats also use them to cover their lower parts and protect themselves from males, but the males can then use these big penises to overcome the tail membrane and reach the vulva," explained Fasel.</p>



<p>Looking ahead, the researchers aim to explore bat mating behaviors in more natural settings and examine penis morphology and mating habits in other bat species. “We are trying to develop a bat porn box, which will be like an aquarium with cameras everywhere,” said Fasel.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Alona Shulenko</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.054"><em>Current Biology</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Peculiar anatomy: Serotine bats have oversized penises that are not used for penetration 

Scientists have discovered a unique mating behavior in serotine bats...

<p>A new study suggests that an increase in visceral abdominal fat in middle age could be linked to the onset of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-link-between-sex-hormones-and-alzheimers-disease/">Alzheimer’s disease</a>. This fat, which surrounds internal organs in the belly, has been associated with brain changes that occur up to 15 years before Alzheimer’s disease’s earliest memory loss symptoms.</p>



<p>According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over six million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s, and this number is expected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050. The disease disproportionately affects women, with one in five women and one in ten men likely to develop it in their lifetime.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-alzheimer-s-risks-nbsp">Early Alzheimer’s risks&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Researchers aimed to identify early Alzheimer’s risks by assessing the association between brain MRI volumes, amyloid and tau uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and factors like body mass index (BMI), obesity, insulin resistance, and abdominal fat in a cognitively normal midlife population. Amyloid and tau are proteins believed to disrupt communication between brain cells.</p>



<p>“No prior study has linked a specific type of fat to the actual Alzheimer’s disease protein in cognitively normal people,” said study author Mahsa Dolatshahi, M.D., M.P.H., a post-doctoral research fellow at the <a href="https://www.mir.wustl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology</a> (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. </p>



<p>“Similar studies have not investigated the differential role of visceral and subcutaneous fat, especially in terms of Alzheimer’s amyloid pathology, as early as midlife.”</p>



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



<p>For the cross-sectional study, researchers analyzed data from 54 cognitively healthy participants, aged 40 to 60 years, with an average BMI of 32. They underwent various tests, including glucose and insulin measurements, glucose tolerance tests, and abdominal MRI to measure the volume of subcutaneous and visceral fat.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Brain MRI measured cortical thickness in regions affected by Alzheimer’s, and PET scans examined disease pathology in 32 participants.</p>



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



<p>The study found that a higher visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio was associated with increased amyloid PET tracer uptake in the precuneus cortex, a region affected early by Alzheimer’s.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This relationship was more pronounced in men than in women. Researchers also found that higher visceral fat measurements relate to an increased burden of inflammation in the brain.</p>



<p>“Inflammatory secretions of visceral fat - as opposed to potentially protective effects of subcutaneous fat - may lead to inflammation in the brain, one of the main mechanisms contributing to Alzheimer’s disease,” explained Dr. Dolatshahi.</p>



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



<p>Senior author Dr. Cyrus A. Raji is an associate professor of Radiology and Neurology, and director of neuromagnetic resonance imaging at the Mallinckrodt Institute. Dr. Raji noted the implications of these findings for early diagnosis and intervention.</p>



<p>“This study highlights a key mechanism by which hidden fat can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. “It shows that such brain changes occur as early as age 50, on average - up to 15 years before the earliest memory loss symptoms of Alzheimer’s occur.”</p>



<p>Dr. Raji suggested that targeting visceral abdominal fat could be a potential method to modify the risk of future brain inflammation and dementia.</p>



<p>“By moving beyond body mass index in better characterizing the anatomical distribution of body fat on MRI, we now have a uniquely better understanding of why this factor may increase risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” he concluded.</p>



<p>The study will be presented next week at the <a href="https://www.rsna.org/annual-meeting">annual meeting</a> of the <a href="https://www.rsna.org/">Radiological Society of North America</a> (RSNA).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visceral-abdominal-fat-nbsp">Visceral abdominal fat&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Visceral abdominal fat, often referred to as visceral fat, is a type of body fat that's stored within the abdominal cavity. It's located near several vital organs, including the liver, stomach, and intestines, which makes its presence more concerning than subcutaneous fat, the fat that's found under the skin.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primary-concerns">Primary concerns</h3>



<p>One of the primary reasons visceral fat is a health concern is due to its active nature. Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat functions almost like an organ itself, releasing hormones and substances that can affect your body negatively. These secretions can lead to inflammation and can negatively impact insulin sensitivity, potentially leading to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.</p>



<p>Moreover, high levels of abdominal fat are associated with a greater risk of serious health issues, such as heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. It's also linked to a higher risk of metabolic disorders and conditions like sleep apnea.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet-and-exercise-nbsp">Diet and exercise&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Interestingly, visceral fat is also more responsive to diet and exercise than subcutaneous fat. This means that lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity and a healthier diet, can be quite effective in reducing visceral fat levels.&nbsp;</p>



<p>People often see improvements in their visceral fat levels and related health risks with weight loss, particularly when it's achieved through a combination of diet and exercise.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-visceral-fat-nbsp">Controlling visceral fat&nbsp;</h3>



<p>It's important to note that while body mass index (BMI) is a common measure of body fat, it doesn't differentiate between types of fat. Therefore, someone with a normal BMI could still have a high level of abdominal fat, making it important to focus on overall health and lifestyle rather than just weight or BMI numbers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and stress management are key factors in controlling visceral fat levels.</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Hidden abdominal fat linked to Alzheimer’s disease

A new study suggests that an increase in visceral abdominal...

<p>Using a cutting-edge, minimally invasive technique, researchers are on the brink of a breakthrough in treating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-covid-is-not-a-single-condition-but-a-spectrum-of-evolving-symptoms/">long COVID</a> patients who have lost their sense of smell. This promising development will be presented at the upcoming annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.rsna.org/annual-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Radiological Society of North America</a> (RSNA).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-post-covid-parosmia">Post-COVID parosmia</h2>



<p>Parosmia, a condition that disrupts the normal functioning of smell, has emerged as a prevalent symptom among COVID-19 sufferers. Recent studies reveal that up to 60 percent of COVID-19 patients experience this condition.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While many recover their olfactory senses over time, a subset of long COVID patients continues to struggle with these symptoms for an extended period, impacting their appetite and overall quality of life.</p>



<p>“Post-COVID parosmia is common and increasingly recognized,” said lead author Adam C. Zoga, M.D., M.B.A., a professor of Musculoskeletal Radiology at <a href="https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jefferson Health</a> in Philadelphia. “Patients can develop a distaste for foods and drinks they used to enjoy.”</p>



<p>In addition to a distorted sense of smell, some affected individuals may experience phantosmia, where they perceive smells that are not present in their environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stellate-ganglion-block-nbsp">Stellate ganglion block&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The researchers focused on the effectiveness of CT-guided stellate ganglion block as a potential remedy for persistent post-COVID parosmia. The stellate ganglia, part of the autonomic nervous system, are nerve clusters located on each side of the neck, playing a role in sending signals to various parts of the upper body.</p>



<p>In their approach, the team employed a stellate ganglion block, a procedure involving the injection of anesthetic directly into the ganglion to activate the regional autonomic nervous system. This quick, minimally invasive technique requires no sedation or pain relief.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Previously, stellate ganglion block has been applied in treating diverse conditions like cluster headaches, phantom limb pain, Raynaud’s and Meniere’s syndromes, angina, and cardiac arrhythmia.</p>



<p>“Parosmia has previously been reported as a rare disorder occurring after brain trauma, brain surgery, stroke, viral syndromes, and with some head and neck tumors,” Zoga explained. The team was initially uncertain about the procedure’s efficacy for parosmia.</p>



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



<p>In the study, 54 patients with at least six months of persistent post-COVID parosmia, unresponsive to conventional treatments, were referred for the procedure. Using CT guidance, the researchers accurately positioned a spinal needle at the neck base for the injection. They included a corticosteroid dose with the anesthetic, hypothesizing that COVID-19 might trigger nerve inflammation.</p>



<p>“The initial patient had a tremendously positive outcome, almost immediately, with continued improvement to the point of symptom resolution at four weeks,” Zoga said. The trial witnessed significant outcomes, including near-total resolution of phantosmia in some patients.</p>



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



<p>Among the 37 patients (65 percent) followed up, 22 (59 percent) reported symptom improvement within a week post-injection. Of these, 18 (82 percent) experienced substantial ongoing improvement a month after the procedure. At three months, these 22 patients noted an average 49 percent symptom improvement.</p>



<p>A second injection was administered to 26 patients on the opposite neck side after a six-week gap. While ineffective for those unresponsive to the first injection, 86 percent of those who had initial improvement reported further progress post-second injection. No complications or adverse events were reported.</p>



<p>“Other treatments have failed to date. This injection is working,” Zoga concluded.</p>



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



<p>Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), refers to a range of symptoms that continue for weeks or even months after the acute phase of a COVID-19 infection has resolved.</p>



<p>This phenomenon has been observed in a subset of individuals who have contracted the COVID-19 virus, caused by SARS-CoV-2.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-symptoms">Symptoms</h3>



<p>Long COVID can affect nearly any organ system. Symptoms include fatigue, brain fog or cognitive impairment, shortness of breath, chest pain, joint or muscle pain, depression or anxiety, fever, loss of taste or smell, and more. These symptoms may fluctuate or relapse over time.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unknown-cause">Unknown cause</h3>



<p>While the exact cause of long COVID was not yet known, it’s thought to be a combination of factors. These include direct damage caused by the virus, a prolonged inflammatory response, an autoimmune response, or persistent presence of low-level virus.</p>



<p>The probability of developing long COVID does not necessarily correlate with the severity of the initial infection. Even individuals with mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 can experience these prolonged symptoms.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-concern">Public health concern</h3>



<p>Long COVID has been increasingly recognized as a significant public health concern. For some individuals, this condition can significantly impact the quality of life and ability to perform daily activities or work.</p>



<p>There is ongoing research into long COVID, including its causes, risk factors, and potential treatments. Care for patients involves managing symptoms and supportive treatments.</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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

Simple treatment restores sense of smell in long COVID patients

Using a cutting-edge, minimally invasive technique, researchers are on 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=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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



<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>



<p>Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>

What caused the planet's longest ice age

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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



<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>



<p id="block-eff5dea3-a9bb-40b5-a923-e5a9978bc0e2">Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p id="block-43e218f4-0391-477c-8396-eb777c8c80a3">Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



<p 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>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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



<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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

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>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



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

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>



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter 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://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



<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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



<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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



<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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



<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

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

News coming your way