<p>Every spring and fall, the clock shift throws off sleep and schedules. A new analysis suggests the harm doesn’t stop after a groggy Monday. Modeling light, body clocks, and health points to a simple fix. Pick one time and stick with it - ideally standard time.</p>



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://med.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford Medicine</a> modeled how three policies - permanent standard time, permanent daylight saving time, and the twice-yearly switch - would shape <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colors-of-sunset-and-sunrise-reset-our-circadian-rhythms/">circadian rhythms</a> and downstream health.</p>



<p>The study was led by graduate student Lara Weed in collaboration with Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, the study's senior author.</p>



<p>“We found that staying in standard time or staying in daylight saving time is definitely better than switching twice a year,” said Dr. Zeitzer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-daylight-saving-hurts-health">Why daylight saving hurts health</h2>



<p>The team focused on circadian rhythm, the body’s nearly 24-hour clock that orchestrates sleep, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-metabolism-has-evolved-to-become-energetically-unique/">metabolism</a>, immune function, and more. This clock is adjusted by light: exposure in the morning shifts it earlier, while light in the evening delays it.</p>



<p>“When you get light in the morning, it speeds up the circadian cycle. When you get light in the evening, it slows things down,” said Dr. Zeitzer. “You generally need more morning light and less evening light to keep well synchronized to a 24-hour day.”</p>



<p>The current policy forces a biannual lurch. That jolt has been tied to spikes in heart attacks and fatal crashes right after the spring jump. The new analysis looks beyond that acute window to the year-round misalignment that comes from toggling the clock.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-standard-time-aligns-with-biology">Standard time aligns with biology</h2>



<p>Using county-level sunrise and sunset times, the researchers translated predicted light exposure under each policy into “circadian burden,” the amount the body clock must shift to stay aligned with a 24-hour day.</p>



<p>On average, people would bear the least circadian burden under permanent standard time, which prioritizes morning light. Geography within a time zone matters, as does chronotype.</p>



<p>Early birds - about 15 percent of people - actually fare best under permanent daylight saving time because a bit more evening light stretches their naturally shorter internal day closer to 24 hours. For everyone else, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/keeping-standard-time-all-year-could-greatly-improve-our-health/">standard-time</a> bias toward morning light wins out.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-data-for-a-heated-debate">New data for a heated debate</h2>



<p>The debate, of course, is heated. “You have people who are passionate on both sides of this, and they have very different arguments,” noted Dr. Zeitzer.</p>



<p>Backers of permanent daylight saving time tout brighter evenings for energy, safety, and leisure, though a 1974 trial fizzled within a year as dark winter mornings drew public pushback. </p>



<p>Medical and sleep organizations have rallied behind year-round standard time on theoretical grounds.</p>



<p>“It’s based on the theory that early morning light is better for our overall health,” Dr. Zeitzer said of the endorsements. “The problem is that it’s a theory without any data. And finally, we have data.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clock-policy-shifts-disease-risk">Clock policy shifts disease risk</h2>



<p>To link misalignment to real conditions, the team connected circadian burden with county-level prevalence of stroke, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-driven-by-stress-and-inequality-not-just-diet-and-exercise/">obesity</a>, diabetes, depression, coronary heart disease, COPD, cancer, and arthritis.</p>



<p>The model suggests permanent standard time would trim obesity prevalence by 0.78 percent - about 2.6 million fewer people - and reduce stroke prevalence by 0.09 percent - roughly 300,000 fewer cases - each year across the United States.</p>



<p>Permanent daylight saving time would deliver smaller, but still notable, gains: a 0.51 percent drop in obesity (about 1.7 million people) and a 0.04 percent drop in stroke (around 220,000 cases). As expected, conditions with no clear circadian link, such as arthritis, did not budge in the model.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simulating-how-light-shapes-health">Simulating how light shapes health</h2>



<p>The researchers assumed a fixed, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colors-of-sunset-and-sunrise-reset-our-circadian-rhythms/">circadian</a>-friendly pattern to isolate the time-policy effect: sleep from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., sunlight before and after work and on weekends, and typical indoor lighting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and after sunset.</p>



<p>That created a clean test bed for comparing policies. But real life is messier. Shift work, late-night screens, and indoor living pull people away from morning light and toward evening glow.</p>



<p>“The more light exposure you get at the wrong times, the weaker the circadian clock. All of these things that are downstream - for example, your immune system, your energy - don’t match up quite as well,” Zeitzer said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-impacts-need-broader-tests">Health impacts need broader tests</h2>



<p>Zeitzer stresses that the model almost certainly paints a best-case scenario for light hygiene. “People’s light habits are probably much worse than what we assume in the models,” Zeitzer said. “Even in California, where the weather is great, people spend less than five percent of their day outside.”</p>



<p>Weather, latitude, building design, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/51-percent-of-the-world-relies-on-car-commutes-every-day/">commute</a> patterns, and behavior could all blunt or amplify the benefits of a given policy. The study also doesn’t weigh economic, crime, or social outcomes; those need their own evidence-driven analyses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-standard-time-is-the-best-fit">Standard time is the best fit</h2>



<p>Even if lawmakers pick a time and stop switching, winter will still be dark and summer bright. Changing the policy only relabels the sun’s schedule. </p>



<p>“That’s the sun and the position of Earth,” said Dr. Zeitzer. “We can’t do anything about that.”</p>



<p>If the goal is better health, the model’s message is straightforward. Permanent standard time aligns better with human biology for most people, and any permanent choice beats the twice-yearly flip. The path forward is a policy decision, but this time, it comes with data.</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2508293122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a>.</p>



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Daylight saving time really does harm your health

Every spring and fall, the clock shift throws off sleep and schedules. A new analysis suggests the harm doesn’t stop after a groggy Monday. Modeling light, body clocks, and health points to a simple fix. Pick one time and stick with it - ideally standard time. Researchers at Stanford Medicine modeled how three policies - permanent standard time, permanent daylight saving time, and the twice-yearly switch - would shape circadian rhythms and downstream health. The study was led by graduate student Lara Weed in collaboration with Dr....

Arbor Day: A celebration of trees and their unrivaled importance to the Earth

Hey there, tree-huggers and nature lovers! Today we're going to...

<p>A new mammalian tree of life has been created by a pioneering new study led by scientists from the <a href="https://vetmed.tamu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences</a>. It provides a definitive answer to the long-standing question of the evolutionary timeline of mammals throughout the last 100 million years.</p>



<p>The research, published in Science, was conducted as part of the <a href="https://zoonomiaproject.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoonomia Project</a>. This is a global consortium of scientists working to understand the evolutionary history of the human genome within the context of mammalian evolutionary history by analyzing the largest mammalian genomic dataset ever assembled.</p>



<p>The team, led by Dr. William J. Murphy, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, and Dr. Nicole Foley, an associate research scientist in Murphy’s lab, focused on the field of phylogeny, which examines the evolutionary relationships and diversification of living and extinct organisms.</p>



<p>“The central argument is about whether placental mammals (mammals that develop within placentas) diverged before or after the Cretaceous-Paleogene (or K-Pg) extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs,” said Foley.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



<p>To create the new mammalian tree of life, the researchers performed new types of analyses made possible by the massive scope of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genomes-from-240-mammals-show-what-makes-humans-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoonomia Project</a>, which allowed them to determine when and where mammals diversified and evolved in relation to the K-Pg mass extinction.</p>



<p>Collaborating with researchers at the University of California, Davis; University of California, Riverside; and the American Museum of Natural History, the team concluded that mammals began diversifying before the K-Pg extinction due to continental drifting. This caused the Earth's land masses to drift apart and come back together over millions of years.</p>



<p>Another pulse of diversification occurred immediately after the extinction event, when mammals had more room, resources, and stability, leading to the rich diversity of mammal lineages we see today.</p>



<p>The research conducted by Murphy and Foley, which was funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a>, is part of the larger Zoonomia Project led by Elinor Karlsson and Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, of the Broad Institute.</p>



<p>The project also compares mammal genomes to understand the basis of remarkable phenotypes – the expression of certain genes such as brown vs. blue eyes – and the origins of disease.</p>



<p>Foley elaborated on the diversity among placental mammals, stating, “Mammals today represent enormous evolutionary diversity — from the whizzing flight of the tiny bumblebee bat to the languid glide of the enormous Blue Whale as it swims through Earth’s vast oceans. Multiple species have evolved to echolocate, some produce venom, while others have evolved cancer resistance and viral tolerance.”</p>



<h2>Shared differences across species</h2>



<p>She went on to explain that examining shared differences and similarities across mammalian species at a genetic level can help researchers determine the parts of the genome that are critical to regulating the expression of genes.</p>



<p>Murphy emphasized the significance of Foley’s resolved phylogeny of mammals for the goals of the Zoonomia Project. It seeks to harness the power of comparative genomics as a tool for human medicine and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-land-conservation-stop-the-biodiversity-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity conservation</a>.</p>



<p>“The Zoonomia Project is really impactful because it's the first analysis to align 241 diverse mammalian genomes at one time and use that information to better understand the human genome,” he said. “The major impetus for putting together this big data set was to be able to compare all of these genomes to the human genome and then determine which parts of the human genome have changed over the course of mammalian evolutionary history.”</p>



<h2>How the mammalian tree of life helps human health</h2>



<p>The ability to determine which parts of genes can be manipulated without causing harm to their function is crucial for human medicine. This is another big benefit of the new mammalian tree of life.</p>



<p>A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine, led by Texas A&amp;M geneticist Dr. Scott Dindot, utilized the comparative genomics approach to develop a molecular therapy for Angelman syndrome, a rare and devastating neurogenetic disorder caused by the loss of function of the maternal UBE3A gene in the brain.</p>



<p>This breakthrough was made possible by the groundwork laid by Dr. William J. Murphy and Dr. Nicole Foley's research on mammalian genomes as part of the Zoonomia Project.</p>



<p>Dindot's team harnessed the measures of evolutionary constraint identified by the Zoonomia Project to pinpoint a crucial but previously unknown genetic target. This can be used to restore the expression of UBE3A in human neurons.</p>



<p>Murphy explained that expanding the ability to compare mammalian genomes using the largest dataset in history will help develop more cures and treatments for ailments rooted in genetics, not just for humans but also for other species such as cats and dogs.</p>



<p>“For example, cats have physiological adaptations rooted in unique mutations that allow them to consume an exclusively high-fat, high-protein diet that is extremely unhealthy for humans,” Murphy said.</p>



<p>“One of the beautiful aspects of Zoonomia’s 241-species alignment is that we can pick any species (not just human) as the reference and determine which parts of that species’ genome are free to change and which ones cannot tolerate change. In the case of cats, for example, we may be able to help identify genetic adaptations in those species that could lead to therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease in people.”</p>



<h2>Incredible Contribution of the Zoonomia Project</h2>



<p>Murphy and Foley's phylogeny has played an instrumental role in several subsequent papers that are part of the Zoonomia Project. “It’s trickle-down genomics,” Foley explained.</p>



<p>“One of the most gratifying things for me in working as part of the wider project was seeing how many different research projects were enhanced by including our phylogeny in their analyses. This includes studies on conservation genomics of endangered species to those that looked at the evolution of different complex human traits.”</p>



<p>Foley expressed the significance of definitively answering the heavily debated question about the timing of mammal origins. Producing an expanded phylogeny through the mammalian tree of life lays the foundation for future generations of researchers.</p>



<p>“Going forward, this massive genome alignment and its historical record of mammalian genome evolution will be the basis of everything that everyone's going to do when they're asking comparative questions in mammals,” she said. “That is pretty cool.”</p>



<h2>More about the the Zoonomia Project</h2>



<p>The Zoonomia Project is a groundbreaking international collaborative effort that brings together scientists from around the globe to study the evolutionary history of the human genome within the context of mammalian evolutionary history. By utilizing the largest mammalian genomic dataset ever assembled, the project aims to better understand the genetic basis for traits and diseases in humans and other species.</p>



<p>The project's name, "Zoonomia," is derived from the term "zoonomy," which refers to the scientific arrangement or classification of animals. The Zoonomia Project has two main objectives:</p>



<h3>Comparative Cenomics in the mammalian tree of life</h3>



<p>The project compares the genomes of various mammalian species to identify shared differences and similarities. By analyzing these genomic patterns, scientists can gain insights into the parts of the genome that are critical to regulating gene expression. This knowledge can then be applied to understand the genetic basis of remarkable phenotypes. These include specific physical traits or the origins of diseases.</p>



<h3>Human medicine and biodiversity conservation</h3>



<p>The Zoonomia Project aims to harness the power of comparative genomics as a tool for human medicine and biodiversity conservation. By understanding the evolutionary history of different mammalian genomes, researchers can develop targeted therapies and treatments for various genetic ailments in humans and other species.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the project contributes to conservation efforts by studying the genomics of endangered species and identifying potential genetic factors contributing to their decline. The new mammalian tree of life is a key contributor.</p>



<p>The Zoonomia Project has already made significant advancements, with researchers like Dr. William J. Murphy and Dr. Nicole Foley resolving long-standing debates about the evolutionary timeline of mammals in relation to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.</p>



<p>Moreover, the project has played a crucial role in various research studies, including those focused on conservation genomics of endangered species and the evolution of complex human traits.</p>



<p>The Zoonomia Project's expansive dataset, which includes alignments of 241 diverse mammalian genomes, is expected to serve as the foundation for countless future studies in the field of comparative genomics and mammalian evolution.</p>

Mammalian tree of life traces evolution of mammals back 100 million years

A new mammalian tree of life has been created by...

<p>In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University of Waterloo</a> have introduced a novel mining technique that employs microbes to extract metals and store <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kelp-forests-are-losing-their-capacity-to-trap-carbon/">carbon</a> in the waste generated by mining activities. This innovative method of reusing mining waste, known as tailings, has the potential to revolutionize the mining industry by paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.</p>



<p>Tailings are a by-product of the mining process, consisting of fine-grained waste materials left after extracting the target ore mineral. These residual materials are then accumulated and stored using a technique called dry-stack tailing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As mining practices have evolved over time, they have become more efficient; however, the escalating climate crisis and the growing demand for critical minerals necessitate the development of new ore extraction and processing technologies.</p>



<p>Old tailings tend to contain higher amounts of critical minerals that can be extracted with the assistance of microbes through a process known as bioleaching. In this eco-friendly process, microbes break down the ore, releasing valuable metals that were not fully recovered, at a rate that is significantly faster than natural biogeochemical weathering processes.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-learned">What the researchers learned</h2>



<p>Dr. Jenine McCutcheon, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, explained: “We can take tailings that were produced in the past and recover more resources from those waste materials and, in doing so, also reduce the risk of residual metals entering into local waterways or groundwater.”</p>



<p>Beyond enhancing resource recovery, the microbes also capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it within the mine tailings as new minerals. This process aids in counterbalancing some of the emissions released during the mine's active period and assists in stabilizing the tailings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If applied to an entire mine, microbial mineral carbonation could offset over 30% of a mine site's annual greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, this microbial-driven technique adds value to historical mine tailings that are otherwise classified as industrial waste.</p>



<p>“This technique makes better use of current and past mine sites. Rethinking how future mine sites are designed in order to integrate this process could result in mines that are carbon neutral from the get-go rather than thinking about carbon storage as an add-on at the end," said McCutcheon.</p>



<p>“This technology is a potential game-changer in the fight against climate change, and the mining industry has a unique opportunity to play a significant role in the future of green energy.”</p>



<p>McCutcheon explained that the microbial-driven processes could propel the industry towards carbon-neutral or carbon-negative mining. However, to transition this technology towards large-scale deployment, active engagement from the industry is crucial.</p>



<p>Dr. McCutcheon published this research alongside co-author and associate Professor Ian Power of Trent University in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/"><em>PLOS Biology</em></a>.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-environmental-impact-of-mining">More about the environmental impact of mining</h2>



<p>Mine tailings are the waste materials generated during the extraction and processing of valuable minerals from ores. They typically consist of finely ground rock particles, water, and various chemicals used in the mineral separation process.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These waste materials are stored in tailings storage facilities (TSFs) or tailings dams, which can occupy vast tracts of land and pose significant environmental risks.</p>



<h3 id="h-the-environmental-impact-of-mining-and-mine-tailings-can-be-considerable-and-includes-the-following">The environmental impact of mining and mine tailings can be considerable and includes the following:</h3>



<h4 id="h-water-pollution">Water pollution</h4>



<p>The chemicals and heavy metals in tailings can leach into groundwater and surface water, contaminating water sources and causing harm to aquatic ecosystems. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a common problem, which occurs when sulfide minerals in the tailings react with air and water, forming sulfuric acid that dissolves heavy metals. This can lead to waterways becoming highly acidic and toxic to aquatic life.</p>



<h4 id="h-soil-contamination">Soil contamination</h4>



<p>Tailings can also contaminate soil with heavy metals and chemicals, which can adversely affect plant growth and the health of soil-dwelling organisms. This may result in the degradation of local ecosystems and reduced agricultural productivity.</p>



<h4 id="h-air-pollution">Air pollution</h4>



<p>Dust from tailings storage facilities can become airborne, contributing to air pollution and posing health risks to nearby communities. Moreover, the extraction and processing of minerals often involve the release of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.</p>



<h4 id="h-habitat-destruction">Habitat destruction</h4>



<p>Mining operations often require the clearing of large areas of land, leading to the destruction of habitats and the displacement or loss of plant and animal species. This can also result in the fragmentation of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity.</p>



<h4 id="h-tailings-dam-failures">Tailings dam failures</h4>



<p>The structural failure of tailings dams can lead to catastrophic environmental disasters, as large volumes of toxic waste are released into the environment. This can cause widespread devastation to ecosystems, farmland, and nearby communities.</p>



<h4 id="h-long-term-environmental-risks">Long-term environmental risks:</h4>



<p>Mine tailings can pose long-term environmental risks due to their potential to leach contaminants and generate AMD even after mining operations have ceased. This necessitates ongoing monitoring and remediation efforts to prevent environmental damage.</p>



<p>Given these environmental impacts, there is a growing need for more sustainable and responsible mining practices. Techniques such as bioleaching, as mentioned in the previous answer, can help minimize the environmental footprint of mining activities by extracting valuable metals from tailings in an eco-friendly manner, reducing the need for new mines, and mitigating the risk of pollution.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, the use of microbes to capture carbon dioxide and store it as minerals within the tailings can help offset some of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with mining.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Microbes can be used to store carbon and reuse mining waste

In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the University of Waterloo...

<p>Using hydrophones to “eavesdrop” on a reef off the coast of Goa, India, a team of scientists led by the <a href="https://www.nio.org/"><em>National Institute of Oceanography</em></a> (NIO) in Goa has recently recorded the duration and timing of mating and feeding sounds produced by 21 marine species. The recordings revealed that, while some species were early risers, making sounds from 3am onwards, others were more active later in the day, starting to create a ruckus from around 2pm.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Better understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-warming-is-transforming-the-underwater-soundscape/">underwater soundscapes</a> could shed new light on the behaviors of a variety of marine creatures, as well as on the impact human activities have on ocean life, including the effects of anthropogenic climate change on aquatic ecosystems.</p>



<p>“Acoustic monitoring of underwater environments will enable us to know more about the climate and its related long-term changes in the physical and biological condition of the underwater environment,” said co-author Bishwajit Chakraborty, a former chief scientist at NIO. “For example, as coral reefs are the hub of underwater biodiversity, conducting acoustic studies here is extremely essential to know the state and health of the reef and its inhabitants.”</p>



<p>This study – published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0017248"><em>Journal of the Acoustical Society of America</em></a> - will contribute to a larger project aiming to create a <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.810156/full">Global Library of Underwater Biological Sounds</a> (GLUBS). This project represents a major legacy of the decade-long <a href="https://www.iqoe.org/">International Quiet Ocean Experiment</a> (IQOE), a scientific program running until 2025 and promoting research, observations, and modelling to improve our understanding of ocean soundscapes and the effects of sound on marine species.</p>



<p>GLUBS will be designed as an open-access online platform aiming to collect global information about underwater soundscapes in order to broaden and standardize scientific and community knowledge of these phenomena. Among its many applications, this platform will help improve scientists’ ability to detect in hard-to-access underwater environment how the distribution and behavior of marine life responds to various pressures, such as climate change, fishing, resource development, plastic pollution, or anthropogenic noise.</p>



<p>“Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is an effective technique for sampling aquatic systems that is particularly useful in deep, dark, turbid, and rapidly changing or remote locations,” explained GLUBS leader Miles Parsons.</p>



<p>According to Parsons and his colleagues, GLUBS will not only create and maintain a database of all aquatic species confirmed or anticipated to produce sounds, but also help reveal currently unknown species and contribute to their eventual identification and classification.</p>



<p>“Unidentified sounds can provide valuable information on the richness of the soundscape, the acoustic communities that contribute to it, and behavioral interactions among acoustic groups. However, unknown, cryptic, and rare sounds are rarely target signals for research and monitoring projects and are, therefore, largely unreported,” Parsons said.</p>



<p>In addition, GLUBS will also help delineate essential fish habitats, estimate the biomass of spawning aggregations of commercially or recreationally important soniferous species, help evaluate the degradation and recovery of coral reefs, and identify the possible impact of oil and gas, wind power, and other offshore industries on marine ecosystems.</p>



<p>“We need to listen more in the blue symphony halls.&nbsp;Animal sounds are behavior, and we need to record and understand the sounds, if we want to know the status of ocean life,”&nbsp;concluded Jesse Ausubel, an environmental scientist at the Rockefeller University and one of IQOE’s originators.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Monitoring ocean life through underwater soundscapes

Using hydrophones to “eavesdrop” on a reef off the coast...

<p>In a fascinating new discovery, a team of scientists from the <a href="https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/">San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance</a> and the University of California, Santa Cruz has found that animals' genomic information can help predict which mammal species are more likely to face extinction.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers found that species with smaller historical populations tend to carry higher burdens of damaging mutations and have elevated extinction risk. This indicates that long-term demographic statistics play a crucial role in understanding a species' current conservation status and resiliency.</p>



<p>As our planet experiences rapid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-biodiversity-crisis-is-actually-worse-than-we-thought/">biodiversity</a> loss, tens of thousands of species are at risk of dying out. Identifying the species in most urgent need of conservation is a challenging and expensive process, especially given the limited information available for many of them. This makes it difficult to allocate scarce conservation resources to target the species closest to the brink of extinction.</p>



<p>To address these limitations, the scientists examined the genomes of 240 mammal species, ranging from tiny tree shrews to towering giraffes, killer whales, and even humans.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-discovered">What the researchers discovered</h2>



<p>The experts discovered that the DNA encoded within a single genome – reflecting a species' history over millions of years – can provide a rapid, cost-effective conservation risk assessment. This information is useful even when we know little about the animals' physiological, behavioral, and life history characteristics, or how many individuals remain in the population.</p>



<p>"These results show that genetic information, even if only from a single individual for a given species, offers immediate, actionable guidance for scientists designing conservation strategies as well as those with boots in the field," said co-lead author Dr. Aryn P. Wilder, a conservation scientist at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.</p>



<p>"The limited resources available for the conservation of wildlife species require triage. Our genomic assessment provides a relatively inexpensive method to rapidly identify species at risk of becoming endangered in the future, even when little else is known about that species. This genomic triage enables managers to target limited resources toward species most in need," explained Megan Supple, a research scientist with the UCSC Paleogenomics Lab.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



<p>The researchers used the genomic information to train models that quickly distinguish between threatened and non-threatened species, based on demography, diversity, and mutations that impact fitness.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This will help assess extinction risk and identify which of the thousands of threatened species stand to benefit the most from conservation support. As the number of sequenced genomes grows and the models continue to improve, this approach will become increasingly valuable.</p>



<p>To demonstrate the potential of this genomic risk assessment, the scientists applied their models to three "data-deficient" species: the Upper Galilee Mountains blind mole rat, the lesser chevrotain, and the orca.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These are just a few examples of the thousands of species lacking information on whether they're threatened or not.</p>



<h2 id="h-why-this-study-is-groundbreaking">Why this study is groundbreaking</h2>



<p>The researchers examined the genomes of 240 species, revealing the potential for genomic information to play a vital role in conservation efforts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By analyzing such a vast number of species, scientists were able to estimate the genomic characteristics that best predict extinction risk and build genomic risk assessment models that can be used when other information is lacking.</p>



<p>The authors of the paper are advocating for the inclusion of genomic information in conservation status assessments of species. This would bridge the gap between geneticists and conservation managers, providing a framework for deploying money and resources to species at the highest risk.</p>



<p>“Many potentially endangered species are classified as ‘data deficient,’ meaning that we simply have too little information to determine whether immediate conservation action is required," said Dr. Beth Shapiro. "Our results show that a genome from a single individual can be sufficient to identify the most threatened of these ‘data deficient’ species, enabling us to focus our limited resources where they can be most impactful.”</p>



<p>Study co-senior author Dr. Oliver Ryder emphasized the importance of genomics in conservation efforts: “Our rapidly changing world threatens animal and plant species worldwide – but the use of genomics in conservation is a massive, underappreciated opportunity to protect them."</p>



<p>“We are in an unprecedented era of discovery – a whole new way of seeing the world. We’ve long thought this potential existed, but it’s profound to see it crystallize into a catalyst that will help conservationists make crucial decisions that may save the world as we know it," said Dr. Ryder.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-study">More about the study</h2>



<p>The study is part of the work of the Zoonomia Consortium, the largest comparative mammalian genomics resource in the world, involving more than 150 people worldwide.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A series of papers recently published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/"><em>Science</em></a> also demonstrate how comparative genomics can shed light on how certain species achieve extraordinary feats and help scientists better understand the functional parts of our genome and how they might influence health and disease.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, the researchers identified part of the genetic basis for rare mammal traits, such as the ability to sniff faint scents from miles away.</p>



<p>Many of the genetic samples for the DNA analyses were provided by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's "Frozen Zoo," the largest repository of genetic material of its kind. The Frozen Zoo, or Wildlife Biodiversity Bank, contains viable cell cultures and reproductive material from approximately 10,000 animals representing over 1,100 species and subspecies.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-species-extinction">More about species extinction</h2>



<p>Many scientists believe that we are currently in the midst of a mass extinction event, often referred to as the Sixth Mass Extinction or the Holocene Extinction. This ongoing extinction event is primarily driven by human activities, such as habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species.</p>



<h3 id="h-in-earth-s-history-there-have-been-five-major-mass-extinction-events">In Earth's history, there have been five major mass extinction events:</h3>



<h4 id="h-ordovician-silurian-extinction-about-443-million-years-ago">Ordovician-Silurian Extinction (about 443 million years ago)</h4>



<p>This event resulted in the loss of around 85% of marine species, likely due to glaciation and subsequent changes in sea levels and ocean chemistry.</p>



<h4 id="h-late-devonian-extinction-about-359-million-years-ago">Late Devonian Extinction (about 359 million years ago)</h4>



<p>This extinction event eliminated about 75% of all species, primarily affecting marine life. Possible causes include global cooling, changes in ocean chemistry, and asteroid impacts.</p>



<h4 id="h-permian-triassic-extinction-about-252-million-years-ago">Permian-Triassic Extinction (about 252 million years ago)</h4>



<p>Also known as the "Great Dying," this was the most severe extinction event in Earth's history, resulting in the loss of approximately 90-96% of all species. The cause of this event is still debated, but likely factors include volcanic activity, climate change, and ocean anoxia (a lack of oxygen).</p>



<h4 id="h-triassic-jurassic-extinction-about-201-million-years-ago">Triassic-Jurassic Extinction (about 201 million years ago)</h4>



<p>This event led to the extinction of around 75-80% of all species, including many marine and land-dwelling reptiles. The exact cause is uncertain, but it may have been related to volcanic activity or asteroid impacts.</p>



<h4 id="h-cretaceous-paleogene-extinction-about-66-million-years-ago">Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction (about 66 million years ago)</h4>



<p>This well-known extinction event resulted in the loss of approximately 75 percent of all species, including the non-avian dinosaurs. The primary cause is believed to be an asteroid impact, although volcanic activity might have also played a role.</p>



<p>The current mass extinction event, if it continues at its current rate, could have devastating consequences for biodiversity on Earth, ultimately affecting human societies that depend on healthy ecosystems for survival.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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DNA analysis can predict which animals are at risk of extinction

In a fascinating new discovery, a team of scientists from...

<p>While ecological memory stored in a landscape can usually help ecosystems recover from disturbances such as fires or disease outbreaks, when climate change significantly alters these disturbance patterns – as it happens today - such coping strategies may fail. For instance, ecological memories stored in the warming Arctic may soon be overwritten by new ones, with unforeseen consequences for this region’s capacity to adapt to rapid climate change.</p>



<p>To investigate these issues in interior Alaska during a potentially transformative period for the Arctic’s boreal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-shifting-the-earths-coldest-forest-northward/">forests</a>, a team of over 40 scientists led by the <a href="https://nau.edu/">Northern Arizona University</a> (NAU) has recently been awarded a $9.6 million grant from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This six-year-long project will be part of the <a href="https://lternet.edu/site/bonanza-creek-lter/">Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program</a>, an initiative aiming to improve our understanding of the long-term consequences of changing climate and disturbance regimes in the Alaskan boreal forest.</p>



<p>“We’ve seen how dramatic changes to fire and permafrost in the boreal forest caused by climate warming have already disrupted the way these ecosystems have stabilized themselves for millennia,” said principal investigator Michelle Mack, a professor of Biology at NAU. “Over the next six years, we are going to observe how those legacies and disruptions are shaping the forest’s future and the future for communities who depend on the boreal forest.”</p>



<p>To better understand how human activity has shaped the history of these forests, the scientists will collaborate with Alaska Native tribes to develop research questions that are relevant to their communities and take into account the Natives’ role today in managing Alaskan ecosystems.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Building upon decades of data collected through the Bonanza Creek LTER program, the experts will focus on a network of sites across interior Alaska, investigating topics such as how fires affect successional trajectories, how soil microbes are responding to climate warming, how permafrost thaw is changing the hydrological patterns of the region, and how the aspen leaf miner insect and plant pathogens such as the aspen running canker may determine the ability of aspen to thrive and reproduce.</p>



<p>An example of a previous discovery of the Bonanza Creek team that could be used as a starting point in this new project is that increasingly frequent and severe wildfires in Alaska’s boreal forests have caused faster-growing deciduous trees like paper birch and trembling aspen to colonize areas where slower-growing but more flammable black spruce once dominated. Over the next six years, the researchers plan to monitor a wider variety of forest plots that have burned at different times to clarify how these forests are currently re-growing and changing and what roles fires play in these processes.</p>



<p>“Our work at Bonanza Creek LTER has shown us how uncertain the future of the Arctic boreal forest is. The next stage is for this really talented team to map out what kinds of futures are possible, probable, and how humans will play a role in shaping them,” Mack concluded.</p>



<p>—</p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com"><em>Andrei Ionescu</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></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>

How does climate change alter Alaska’s boreal forest?

While ecological memory stored in a landscape can usually help...

<p>Over the past 100 million years, mammals have evolved to inhabit nearly every environment on Earth, exhibiting a diverse range of unique characteristics and abilities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Zoonomia Project, a multinational and multidisciplinary scientific initiative, has been working diligently to understand this diversity by examining the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/junk-dna-may-set-humans-apart-from-chimpanzees/">DNA</a> sequences of 240 existing mammal species, including aardvarks, African savanna elephants, yellow-spotted rock hyraxes, and zebu cattle.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This week, a special issue of <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adi1599"><em>Science</em></a> published several papers from the Zoonomia team, showcasing the power of comparative genomics to shed light on the extraordinary capabilities of various species and to help scientists better understand functional aspects of our own genome, with potential implications for health and disease research.</p>



<p>The researchers identified regions of mammalian genomes that have remained conserved, or unchanged, across species and millions of years of evolution, implying biological importance.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



<p>By analyzing DNA samples collected from more than 50 institutions worldwide, including many from the San Diego Wildlife Alliance, the team also discovered the genetic basis for rare mammalian traits such as hibernation and the ability to detect faint scents from miles away.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Furthermore, they were able to pinpoint species that may be particularly vulnerable to extinction and identified genetic variants that may have causal roles in both rare and common human diseases.</p>



<p>The Zoonomia Project is a global collaborative effort, with over 150 individuals from seven time zones contributing to the creation of the world's largest comparative mammalian genomics resource.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The project is led by Elinor Karlsson, director of the vertebrate genomics group at the <a href="https://www.broadinstitute.org/">Broad Institute</a> of MIT and Harvard, and a professor of bioinformatics and integrative biology at the UMass Chan Medical School; and Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, scientific director of vertebrate genomics at the Broad, and a professor of comparative genomics at Uppsala University in Sweden.</p>



<p>“One of the biggest problems in genomics is that humans have a really big genome and we don’t know what all of it does," said&nbsp; Karlsson. “This package of papers really shows the range of what you can do with this kind of data, and how much we can learn from studying the genomes of other mammals.”&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-exceptional-traits-discovered">Exceptional traits discovered</h2>



<p>In one of the studies, co-first authors Matthew Christmas, a researcher at Uppsala University, and Irene Kaplow, a postdoctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, collaborated with project leaders to uncover fascinating insights into the role of conserved genomic regions.</p>



<p>The researchers found that at least 10 percent of the human genome is highly conserved across species, with many of these regions occurring outside of protein-coding genes. Astonishingly, more than 4,500 elements are almost perfectly conserved across more than 98 percent of the species studied.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Most of these conserved regions, which have evolved more slowly than random fluctuations in the genome, are involved in embryonic development and regulation of RNA expression. By contrast, regions that changed more frequently shaped an animal's interaction with its environment, influencing factors such as immune responses or the development of its skin.</p>



<p>In addition to these discoveries, the researchers also identified parts of the genome linked to a few exceptional traits in the mammalian world, such as extraordinary brain size, superior sense of smell, and the ability to hibernate during the winter.</p>



<p>Karlsson and Lindblad-Toh stressed the importance of this research for preserving biodiversity. They found that mammals with fewer genetic changes at conserved sites in the genome were at greater risk for extinction.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The scientists argue that having just one reference genome per species could help identify at-risk species. Currently, less than five percent of all mammalian species have reference genomes, highlighting the need for further work to develop these methods.</p>



<h2 id="h-insights-found-into-causes-of-human-disease">Insights found into causes of human disease</h2>



<p>In another study from the Zoonomia Project, researchers led by Elinor Karlsson and Kerstin Lindblad-Toh used mammalian genomes to investigate human traits and diseases.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team focused on some of the most conserved single-letter genomic regions identified in an earlier paper and compared them to genetic variants that scientists have previously linked to diseases such as cancer using other methods. This research also revealed significant findings.</p>



<p>The team discovered that their annotations of the genome based on evolutionary conservation provided more connections between genetic variants and their function than other methods.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, they identified mutations that are likely causal in both rare and common diseases, including cancer, and demonstrated that using conservation in disease studies could make it easier to find genetic changes that increase the risk of disease.</p>



<p>This second study was co-authored by Patrick Sullivan, director of the Center for Psychiatric Genomics at the University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill and a professor of psychiatric genetics at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden; Jennifer Meadows, a genetics researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden; and Steven Gazal, an assistant professor of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-many-questions-left-unanswered">Many questions left unanswered</h2>



<p>A third study, co-led by Steven Reilly, an assistant professor of genetics at Yale University, and Pardis Sabeti, an institute member at the Broad, analyzed over 10,000 genetic deletions specific to humans, using both Zoonomia data and experimental analysis. The researchers were able to link some of these deletions to the function of neurons.</p>



<p>Other notable findings from the Zoonomia Project published today include the revelation that mammals diversified before the mass dinosaur extinction.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, researchers uncovered a genetic explanation for why a famous sled dog from the 1920s named Balto was able to survive the harsh landscape of Alaska. They also discovered human-specific changes to genome organization and used machine learning to identify regions of the genome associated with brain size.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Furthermore, the experts described the evolution of regulatory sequences in the human genome, focused on sequences of DNA that move around the genome, and discovered that species with smaller populations historically are at higher risk of extinction today.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers suggest that these studies - and the breadth of questions they answer - represent only a fraction of what is possible.</p>



<p>"We're very enthusiastic about sequencing mammalian species," said Lindblad-Toh."And we're excited to see how we and other researchers can work with this data in new ways to understand both genome evolution and human disease."</p>



<p>The discoveries made by the Zoonomia Project contribute to our understanding of the conservation and evolution of genetic material in mammals. They also highlight the potential for leveraging this knowledge to inform medical research and improve our understanding of human health and disease.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research paves the way for exciting new opportunities in the fields of genomics, evolutionary biology, and medicine.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-human-genome-project">More about the human genome project</h2>



<p>The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international scientific research initiative that aimed to map and sequence the entire human genome, which is the complete set of DNA present in the human body.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The project began in 1990 and was completed in 2003, involving thousands of scientists from around the world. The primary goals of the HGP were to identify all the approximately 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes in the human DNA, determine the sequences of the three billion chemical base pairs that make up the human genome, and store this information in databases for easy access and analysis.</p>



<h3 id="h-the-human-genome-project-is-of-immense-importance-to-science-and-humanity-for-several-reasons">The Human Genome Project is of immense importance to science and humanity for several reasons:</h3>



<h4 id="h-understanding-the-genetic-basis-of-human-diseases">Understanding the genetic basis of human diseases</h4>



<p>By mapping the human genome, scientists can identify genes associated with specific diseases and conditions, paving the way for more effective treatments, earlier diagnoses, and even personalized medicine tailored to an individual's genetic makeup.</p>



<h4 id="h-evolutionary-biology">Evolutionary biology</h4>



<p>The HGP has deepened our understanding of human evolution and the relationships between different species. By comparing the human genome to those of other organisms, researchers can gain insights into the evolutionary processes that have shaped the human species.</p>



<h4 id="h-development-of-new-technologies">Development of new technologies</h4>



<p>The HGP led to the development of new techniques and tools for sequencing and analyzing DNA, which have since been applied to the study of other organisms and have revolutionized the field of genomics.</p>



<h4 id="h-gene-regulation-and-function">Gene regulation and function&nbsp;</h4>



<p>The HGP has advanced our understanding of how genes are regulated and how they function within the context of the whole genome. This knowledge is essential for understanding the complex interactions between genes and their effects on human health and disease.</p>



<h4 id="h-ethical-legal-and-social-implications">Ethical, legal, and social implications&nbsp;</h4>



<p>The HGP has prompted important discussions regarding the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomic research, such as privacy concerns, genetic discrimination, and the potential for gene editing technologies.</p>



<p>In summary, the Human Genome Project has had a profound impact on science and humanity by providing a comprehensive understanding of the human genome, leading to advancements in medicine, evolutionary biology, and genomics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The knowledge gained from the HGP has opened new avenues for research and has the potential to revolutionize how we approach human health and disease.</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>

Genomes from 240 mammals show what makes humans unique

Over the past 100 million years, mammals have evolved to...

<p>A recent study led by <a href="https://www.uhhospitals.org/services/integrative-health-network">University Hospitals (UH) Connor Whole Health</a> has found that patients with moderate-to-severe pain, stress, or anxiety reported clinically significant reductions in their symptoms after a single session of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-helps-dementia-patients-connect-with-caregivers/">music</a> therapy. </p>



<p>Since improvements in pain-related symptoms was not influenced by patients’ demographic or clinical characteristics, music therapy appears to be effective for acute pain management across a variety of inpatient adult populations.</p>



<p>This research builds upon several important music therapy studies funded by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.murphykulas.org/copy-of-kulas-home-1">Kulas Foundation</a> – United States’ leading organization funding scientific research on the benefits of music therapy – which examined the efficacy of such approaches in palliative care, surgery, sickle cell disease, and cancer treatments.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While these investigations have mainly been conducted at academic medical centers, the new study is the first and largest assessment of the real-world effectiveness of music therapy within community medical centers.</p>



<p>To examine the benefits of music therapy, the experts conducted a retrospective study between January 2017 and July 2020 involving 1,056 adults who received inpatient medical care at eight UH community medical centers, and reported pre-session pain, anxiety, or stress scores equal to or greater than 4 on a scale from 0 to 10.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Certified music therapists provided interventions including live music listening, music-assisted relaxation and imagery, and active music making, and assessed patients’ self-reported pain, stress, and anxiety levels at the beginning and end of each session.&nbsp;</p>



<p>After the music therapy interventions, patients reported clinically significant mean reductions in pain (2.04 units), anxiety (2.80 units), and stress (3.48 units), with all changes exceeding the clinically significant threshold of 1.3 units for moderate-to-severe pain, and 2 for anxiety and stress.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Moreover, among patients reporting a pain reduction score greater than 4, 14 percent fell asleep during the therapy sessions – an important outcome considering the sleep problems patients with moderate-to-severe pain experience during hospitalization.</p>



<p>Finally, after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and operational characteristics, patients receiving a music therapy session in which pain management was the primary goal were 4.32 times more likely to report pain reduction greater than 2 units than those who received a music therapy session in which pain management was not a goal.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This finding raises important questions regarding how music therapists tailor their interventions to address pain when that is the goal of the session, and we will be examining these specific features of music therapy interventions in future research,” said lead author Samuel Rodgers-Melnick, a music therapist and clinical researcher at UH Connor Whole Health.</p>



<p>“The music therapists at UH Connor Whole Health offer non-pharmacological frontline treatment throughout our medical system while addressing issues of stress, pain, and anxiety. Greater Cleveland residents may receive these services during hospitalizations at UH as a clinical service line offering direct evidence-based community benefit,” concluded Seneca Block, the manager of the Expressive Therapy Program at the same institution.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.lww.com/painrpts/Fulltext/2023/06000/Effectiveness_of_music_therapy_within_community.4.aspx"><em>Pain Reports</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<p>—</p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com"><em>Andrei Ionescu</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></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>

Music therapy can reduce pain, stress, and anxiety

A recent study led by University Hospitals (UH) Connor Whole...

<p>A recent study is shedding light on the reasons behind people's inclination to take selfies, and contrary to popular belief, it might not be due to vanity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research, published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/spp"><em>Social Psychological and Personality Science</em></a> on April 27, 2023, reveals that first-person and third-person photos serve different purposes for the individuals capturing them.</p>



<p>The study was led by Zachary Niese, a PhD graduate from <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">The Ohio State University</a> and currently a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Tübingen in Germany.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Niese was able to demonstrate that first-person photos, which capture the scene as viewed through one's own eyes, best represent the physical experience of an event. On the other hand, third-person photos, such as selfies, are more effective in conveying the deeper meaning of an event in people's lives.</p>



<p>"We found that people have a natural intuition about which perspective to take to capture what they want out of the photo," said Niese.</p>



<p>These findings challenge the assumption that people post selfies on platforms like Instagram solely for self-promotion. Instead, as study co-author Professor Lisa Libby points out, "These photos with you in it can document the bigger meaning of a moment. It doesn’t have to be vanity."</p>



<h2 id="h-capturing-a-physical-experience">Capturing a physical experience</h2>



<p>Previous research has indicated that capturing the physical experience of an event or its broader meaning are two primary motivations for taking personal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/historical-photos-suggest-that-rhino-horns-have-gotten-smaller/">photos</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For instance, a person at the beach with a friend may take a photo of the ocean to document the physical experience of the beautiful and relaxing day. Alternatively, they could take a photo with themselves in it to capture the deeper meaning of spending time with that friend.</p>



<p>The researchers conducted a series of six studies involving 2,113 participants to explore the impact of perspective in personal photography.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In one online study, participants read a scenario in which they might want to take a photo, such as spending the day at a beach with a close friend. They were then asked to rate the importance of the experience itself and the significance of the event's broader meaning.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The results indicated that the higher participants rated the event's meaning, the more likely they were to take a photo with themselves in it.</p>



<h2 id="h-second-study-offers-similar-results">Second study offers similar results</h2>



<p>Another recent study has provided further evidence supporting people's intuitions regarding the effectiveness of different photographic perspectives in capturing the experience or meaning of events.&nbsp;</p>



<p>One of the experiments in the study focused on people's Instagram posts, asking them to examine their most recent personal photograph and consider whether it evoked "the physical experience of the moment" or "the bigger meaning of the moment."</p>



<p>The results revealed that when participants were featured in the photo, they were more likely to associate it with the bigger meaning of the moment. Conversely, photos that captured the scene from their visual perspective were linked to the physical experience of the moment.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the study also found that when there was a mismatch between the photo's perspective and the individual's goal in taking the photo, they tended to have a less positive opinion of the image.</p>



<p>In another experiment, participants were asked about their most recent Instagram post featuring one of their photos and whether they aimed to capture the bigger meaning or the physical experience of the moment. They then rated their feelings about the photo on a scale of 1 (not at all positive) to 5 (extremely positive).&nbsp;</p>



<p>"We found that people didn't like their photo as much if there was a mismatch between the photo perspective and their goal in taking the photo," said Professor Libby. For instance, if the participants' goal was to capture the meaning of the moment, they preferred the photo more if it was taken in the third person, with themselves in the image.</p>



<h2 id="h-conclusion-of-the-studies">Conclusion of the studies</h2>



<p>The study's findings suggest that people intuitively understand the perspective they should use in their photos to achieve their desired outcome. Zachary Niese hopes that "this study increases people's knowledge about how photo perspective affects how they react to photos," allowing them to consciously choose the perspective that will best fulfill their goal.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the results imply that people may have more personal motives for posting photos on Instagram and other social media platforms, beyond appealing to their audience.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"This work suggests people also have very personal motives for taking photos. Even on social media, it appears that people are curating images for themselves to look back on to capture the experience or the meaning of the event," said Niese.</p>



<p>Overall, this research offers valuable insights into the psychology behind people's choices in photographic perspective, challenging the notion that photo sharing on social media is solely driven by external validation. It highlights the personal significance that photography holds in capturing and preserving the essence of our experiences and the events that matter most in our lives.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-selfies-and-social-media">More about selfies and social media</h2>



<p>The rise of selfies and social media has had a significant impact on society in various ways, both positive and negative. Here are some key aspects to consider:</p>



<h3 id="h-communication-and-connection">Communication and Connection</h3>



<p>Social media platforms have made it easier for people to stay connected with friends and family, even if they are geographically distant. Sharing selfies and other personal photos can help create a sense of intimacy and maintain relationships. It allows individuals to share their experiences, emotions, and milestones with their online network.</p>



<h3 id="h-self-expression-and-identity">Self-expression and Identity</h3>



<p>Selfies and social media provide an opportunity for individuals to express themselves and present their identity to the world. People can showcase their interests, hobbies, and personalities through the images they share, helping them build a sense of self and connect with like-minded individuals.</p>



<h3 id="h-mental-health">Mental Health</h3>



<p>The impact of selfies and social media on mental health is a topic of ongoing debate. On one hand, sharing selfies can boost self-esteem and promote a positive self-image. However, excessive focus on physical appearance and constant comparison with others can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, the "fear of missing out" (FOMO) can be exacerbated by seeing other people's seemingly perfect lives on social media, increasing feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction.</p>



<h3 id="h-body-image-and-beauty-standards">Body Image and Beauty Standards</h3>



<p>The prevalence of selfies and the tendency to share heavily edited or filtered images on social media have contributed to unrealistic beauty standards. This phenomenon can lead to body dissatisfaction, negative self-image, and even disordered eating behaviors, especially among young people.</p>



<h3 id="h-privacy-and-security">Privacy and Security</h3>



<p>As more people share personal images and information on social media, privacy and security concerns become increasingly important. Oversharing can put individuals at risk of identity theft, online harassment, or even physical danger in some cases.</p>



<h3 id="h-narcissism-and-self-obsession">Narcissism and Self-obsession</h3>



<p>The selfie culture has been criticized for promoting narcissism and self-obsession. While not everyone who takes selfies is narcissistic, the act of constantly sharing images of oneself can foster an excessive focus on one's own appearance and achievements, potentially leading to unhealthy levels of self-absorption.</p>



<h3 id="h-impact-on-tourism-and-public-spaces">Impact on Tourism and Public Spaces</h3>



<p>The popularity of selfies has changed the way people experience tourist attractions and public spaces. Visitors often prioritize getting the perfect selfie rather than immersing themselves in the experience, which can detract from the enjoyment of the place or event. Additionally, the quest for unique and dangerous selfies has led to incidents of trespassing, damage to property, and even accidents or fatalities.</p>



<p>In conclusion, the impact of selfies and social media on society is multifaceted and complex. While these platforms have undoubtedly transformed the way we communicate, connect, and express ourselves, they also bring with them potential risks to mental health, privacy, and personal safety. As with any technological advancement, it is crucial for individuals to use these tools mindfully and strike a balance between the benefits and potential drawbacks.</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>

Scientists have figured out why people like to take selfies

A recent study is shedding light on the reasons behind...

<p>A team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/">Newcastle University</a> in the United Kingdom has found that a plant-based compound purified from a traditional Chinese herb called Astralagus - which has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal purposes - could significantly improve the health outcomes of individuals who previously experienced a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-attacks-young-women/">heart attack</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The medication, known as TA-65®, is produced by the pharmaceutical company <a href="https://www.tasciences.com/">T.A. Sciences</a>. Unlike current cardiovascular treatments, TA-65® appears to efficiently reduce inflammation without negatively impacting immunity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In fact, when given to older patients for over a year after their heart attack, TA-65® significantly increased lymphocytes, thus improving immunity. Moreover, patients treated with this drug experienced less complications, or problems such as chest or joint pain, following the heart attack.</p>



<p>“It has become widely recognized that inflammation plays a key role in the formation, progression, and rupture of a coronary plaque, which induces heart attack, but, importantly, it is also a major risk factor for further complications. Reducing inflammation is, therefore, considered a key treatment target following a heart attack for patients and our study showed that TA-65® reduced inflammation by up to 62 percent,” said senior author Ioakim Spyridopoulos, a professor of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Gerontology at Newcastle.</p>



<p>“While some potent anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to improve outcomes after heart attacks, they result in suppression of the immune system and increase the risk of severe infections. In our study, the widely available drug TA-65® was shown to reduce inflammation but also appears to improve immunity by increasing a patient’s immune cells.”</p>



<p>The researchers - including experts from the <a href="https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/hospitals/james-cook/">James Cook University Hospital</a> - conducted a randomized controlled pilot study in which 90 patients aged 65 or older were given either a placebo drug or TA-65®. The participants had blood measurements taken at baseline, six months, and a year and were reviewed regularly in the clinic for potential side effects.</p>



<p>The investigation revealed that those who received TA-65® - a patented, plant-based compound that helps maintain or rebuild telomeres – had 30 percent fewer side effects, such as fevers or new medical problems, than those given the placebo, while showing reduced inflammation and improved immunity.</p>



<p>The scientists plan to conduct a follow up study with a larger cohort, while also examining whether TA-65® can reduce adverse cardiac events, such as more heart attacks or even death. “If we can show that TA-65® improves the clinical outcomes of patients who have suffered a heart attack, on top of modern treatment options, it will become an important addition to patients’ medical care,” Spyridopoulos concluded.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11357-023-00794-6"><em>GeroScience</em></a>.</p>



<p>—</p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com"><em>Andrei Ionescu</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></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>

Chinese herb improves health of heart attack patients

A team of researchers led by Newcastle University in the...

<p>In a recent study published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1151266"><em>Frontiers in Veterinary Science</em></a>, scientists have discovered that dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) - the canine equivalent of dementia in humans - experience similar disruptions in sleep rhythms and reductions in delta brain waves as human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dolphins-may-also-suffer-from-alzheimers-disease/">Alzheimer's</a> patients.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This groundbreaking research sheds light on the possible similarities in the development and progression of dementia in both humans and dogs, and could potentially pave the way for further studies on the subject.</p>



<p>Alzheimer's disease is well-known for causing disruptions in sleep rhythms in its earliest stages. Affected individuals often experience daytime sleepiness, agitation or confusion around dusk, staying awake longer, and frequently waking up at night. This is believed to stem from damage to the sleep-regulating areas of the brain.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Alzheimer's patients typically spend less time in both REM and non-REM sleep, with the most significant reduction occurring in slow-wave sleep (SWS), a stage of non-dreaming deep sleep characterized by slow "delta" brain waves (0.1 to 3.5 Hz). This is the stage during which day-time memories are consolidated.</p>



<p>The study was led by Dr. Natasha Olby, a professor of Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery at North Carolina State University. The researchers found that dogs with CCDS experienced a similar reduction in sleep time and delta brain waves. This implies that these dogs sleep less and less deeply, echoing the sleep disruptions observed in Alzheimer's patients.</p>



<p>“Our study is the first to evaluate the association between cognitive impairment and sleep using polysomnography – the same technique as used in sleep studies in people – in aged dogs," said Dr. Olby.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



<p>The study involved 28 senior mixed- and full-breed dogs, both male and female, aged between 10.4 and 16.2 years, which corresponds to between 81% and 106% of their average lifespan, depending on size.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The owners of these dogs were asked to complete a questionnaire about their canine companions, rating the severity of CCDS symptoms like disorientation, poor social interactions, and house soiling.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, the researchers conducted examinations of the dogs for potential orthopedic, neurological, biochemical, and physiological co-morbidities.</p>



<p>Based on the findings, 28.5% of the dogs were classified as normal, while the remaining participants were classified with varying degrees of CCDS: 28.5% with mild, 14.3% with moderate, and 28.5% with severe CCDS.</p>



<p>The research team then conducted a series of cognitive tests on the dogs to assess their attention, working memory, and executive control. One such test, the 'detour task', required a dog to retrieve a treat from a horizontal transparent cylinder by accessing it from either end.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The task was made more challenging by blocking off the dog's preferred side, forcing them to demonstrate cognitive flexibility to detour to the other end of the cylinder.</p>



<h2 id="h-creating-a-sleep-clinic-for-dogs">Creating a sleep clinic for dogs</h2>



<p>Dr. Alejandra Mondino, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Natasha Olby's research group at North Carolina State University, and her colleagues performed polysomnography studies on dogs to investigate the relationship between canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) and sleep patterns.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study's findings suggest that dogs with CCDS exhibit changes in sleep-wakefulness cycles that resemble those observed in people with Alzheimer's disease.</p>



<p>The polysomnography studies were conducted in a quiet room with dim light and white noise, simulating a sleep clinic environment. The dogs were allowed to spontaneously take an afternoon nap while electrodes measured their brain waves, electrical activity of the muscles and heart, and eye movements.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The measurements lasted up to two hours but were stopped if the dogs became anxious, attempted to leave the room, or removed the electrodes. Out of the dogs studied, 93% entered drowsiness, 86% entered non-REM (NREM) sleep, and 54% entered REM sleep.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-found">What the researchers found</h2>



<p>The results of the study demonstrated that dogs with higher dementia scores and those who performed poorly on the detour task took longer to fall asleep and spent less time sleeping, and this held true for both NREM and REM sleep.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Furthermore, dogs with poorer memory scores exhibited changes, such as fewer slow oscillations in their electroencephalograms during REM sleep, suggesting that they slept less deeply during this phase.</p>



<p>"In people, slow brain oscillations are characteristic of SWS and linked to the activity of the so-called ‘glymphatic system, a transport system that removes protein waste products from the cerebrospinal fluid," explained Dr. Olby. "The reduction in slow oscillations in people with Alzheimer’s, and the associated reduced removal of these toxins, has been implicated in their poorer memory consolidation during deep sleep.”</p>



<p>Interestingly, dogs with poorer memory displayed more pronounced fast beta waves, between 15.75 and 19 Hz. Strong beta waves are typical of wakefulness in healthy people and dogs, and are not considered normal during sleep, which once again indicates that dogs with CCDS sleep less deeply.</p>



<h2 id="h-day-sleeping-compared-to-night-sleeping">Day sleeping compared to night sleeping</h2>



<p>Additionally, dogs that performed poorly in the 'sustained gaze' task, which measures attention span, demonstrated tighter coupling in delta waves between the two brain hemispheres, a result also found in people with dementia.</p>



<p>While the study's findings show similarities between CCDS and Alzheimer's, the authors caution that it is still unknown if these changes occur during dogs' nighttime sleep rather than their afternoon naps.</p>



<p>“Our next step will be to follow dogs over time during their adult and senior years to determine if there are any early markers in their sleep-wakefulness patterns, or in the electrical activity of their brain during sleep, that could predict the future development of cognitive dysfunction," said Dr. Olby.</p>



<p>This innovative study highlights the potential for further research into the similarities between the development of dementia in dogs and humans. By understanding the connection between CCDS and Alzheimer's disease, researchers may uncover valuable insights into the development, progression, and potential treatment options for both conditions.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-dementia-in-dogs-ccds">More about dementia in dogs (CCDS)</h2>



<p>Dementia in dogs, also known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CCDS), is a neurodegenerative condition that affects a dog's cognitive abilities, behavior, and memory. It is often compared to Alzheimer's disease in humans, as both conditions share similar symptoms and underlying causes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>CCDS is more prevalent in senior dogs, with studies suggesting that over 50% of dogs aged 11 years and older may show signs of cognitive decline.</p>



<h3 id="h-the-symptoms-of-dementia-in-dogs-can-vary-but-some-common-signs-include">The symptoms of dementia in dogs can vary, but some common signs include:</h3>



<h4 id="h-disorientation">Disorientation</h4>



<p>Dogs with dementia may appear confused or lost, even in familiar environments. They may wander aimlessly, become stuck in corners or behind furniture, or have difficulty navigating around obstacles.</p>



<h4 id="h-memory-loss">Memory loss</h4>



<p>Affected dogs may forget previously learned commands, routines, or house training, leading to accidents indoors. They may also fail to recognize familiar people, pets, or objects.</p>



<h4 id="h-altered-sleep-patterns">Altered sleep patterns</h4>



<p>Dogs with dementia may experience disrupted sleep-wake cycles, resulting in increased daytime sleepiness, restlessness at night, and changes in overall sleep quality.</p>



<h4 id="h-changes-in-social-interactions">Changes in social interactions</h4>



<p>Dogs with CCDS might show reduced interest in socializing with people or other pets, display irritability or aggression, or exhibit increased clinginess or separation anxiety.</p>



<h4 id="h-reduced-activity-levels">Reduced activity levels</h4>



<p>Dementia can cause dogs to lose interest in play, exercise, or exploring their environment, leading to an overall decrease in activity levels.</p>



<p>The exact cause of CCDS is not well understood, but it is believed to involve the accumulation of protein deposits in the brain, called beta-amyloid plaques, which interfere with normal brain function.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, factors such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and reduced blood flow to the brain may contribute to the development and progression of the condition.</p>



<p>There is no cure for dementia in dogs, but treatment options are available to manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life for affected dogs.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-these-may-include">These may include:</h3>



<h4 id="h-medications">Medications</h4>



<p>Certain drugs, such as selegiline (Anipryl), have been shown to alleviate some symptoms of CCDS by increasing the levels of dopamine in the brain, which is involved in cognitive function and mood regulation.</p>



<h4 id="h-dietary-supplements">Dietary supplements</h4>



<p>Supplements containing antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients, such as phosphatidylserine and B vitamins, may help support cognitive function and overall brain health.</p>



<h4 id="h-environmental-enrichment">Environmental enrichment</h4>



<p>Providing mental and physical stimulation through interactive toys, puzzles, or games can help maintain cognitive function and slow the progression of CCDS.</p>



<h5 id="h-consistent-routine">Consistent routine</h5>



<p>Maintaining a predictable daily routine, including regular feeding times, walks, and play sessions, can help minimize stress and confusion for dogs with dementia.</p>



<h4 id="h-veterinary-care">Veterinary care</h4>



<p>Regular check-ups with a veterinarian are essential for monitoring the progression of CCDS and adjusting treatment plans as needed.</p>



<p>It is important to consult with a veterinarian if you suspect your dog is showing signs of dementia, as some symptoms can also be indicative of other medical conditions that require different treatments.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Early intervention and management can help improve your dog's quality of life and potentially slow the progression of cognitive decline.</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>

Older dogs with dementia aren’t able to sleep well

In a recent study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science,...

<p>As the Arctic continues to warm and lose its sea ice, the increase in trans-Arctic shipping has significantly reduced travel time and costs for international trade.&nbsp;Yet, a new study reveals that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-arctic-ocean-was-filled-with-freshwater-at-least-twice-in-history/">Arctic Ocean</a> is becoming foggier as a result of disappearing ice, leading to reduced visibility and costly delays for ships that must slow down to avoid hitting dangerous sea ice.</p>



<p>The study, published in the AGU journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102395"><em>Geophysical Research Letters</em></a>, examined the impact of climate change on fog conditions along Arctic shipping routes and how these conditions might change throughout the 21st century.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers used data on Arctic fog collected between 1979 and 2018, along with climate projections from the Fifth Phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. By analyzing this information, the researchers were able to model alternate routes that could minimize foggy days during transit.</p>



<p>For decades, Arctic sea ice has been shrinking, opening up shipping channels in the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route. This has allowed even non-icebreaker vessels to bypass the time-consuming Panama and Suez Canals farther south.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, as ice recedes, cold air is exposed to more warm water, causing warm vapor to condense into fog in these newly opened passages. Hidden chunks of ice already present significant risks to vessels navigating through foggy, low-visibility routes.</p>



<p>"The future of shipping in the Arctic is unclear, but fog could pose a significant challenge," said Xianyao Chen, a physical oceanographer at the <a href="http://eweb.ouc.edu.cn/">Ocean University of China</a>. "When designing shipping routes across the Arctic, we need to consider the impact of fog."</p>



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-learned">What the researchers learned</h2>



<p>The study's findings indicate that ships crossing the Northwest Passage are more likely to encounter fog than those in the Northern Sea Route. Fog in the Northwest Passage, which avoids the Panama Canal, is more frequent and persistent, potentially increasing sailing time by up to three days.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In comparison, the sailing time for the less-foggy Northern Sea Route, which avoids the Suez Canal, is projected to be no more than one day longer. The researchers suggest that both proposed passages would encounter less fog if the routes were shifted farther away from the sea ice edge.</p>



<p>Fog is already impacting the time saved by taking shorter Arctic routes, as shipping speeds on foggy days are slower than on clear days, according to Chen's findings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If the Arctic continues to become foggier, shipping could slow even further unless routes are adjusted. With daily operating costs for large container ships typically ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, a multi-day delay due to fog could quickly increase the costs of a trans-Arctic crossing.</p>



<p>"Avoiding ice is critical," said Scott Stephenson, a physical scientist at the RAND Corporation who was not affiliated with the study. "This study did a good job at identifying the risks of fog - an important environmental constraint in the Arctic, and one that has largely been ignored."&nbsp;</p>



<p>As the Arctic continues to warm and sea ice disappears, understanding and addressing the challenges posed by fog will become increasingly vital for the future of shipping in the region.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-arctic-sea-ice-reduction">More about Arctic sea ice reduction</h2>



<p>The loss of Arctic sea ice has significant implications for both the environment and human populations. As the Earth's climate continues to warm, the Arctic region has been experiencing a more rapid rate of warming, leading to a decline in the extent and thickness of sea ice. This phenomenon, known as Arctic amplification, is causing profound changes to the region's ecosystems, global weather patterns, and human activities.</p>



<h3 id="h-environmental-impacts">Environmental impacts:</h3>



<h4 id="h-albedo-effect">Albedo effect</h4>



<p>Sea ice has a high albedo, meaning it reflects a large portion of incoming sunlight back into space, helping to regulate the Earth's temperature. As sea ice disappears, the darker ocean surface absorbs more solar radiation, further accelerating the warming process.</p>



<h4 id="h-ecosystems">Ecosystems</h4>



<p>The decline of sea ice disrupts the Arctic's delicate ecosystems. Sea ice provides a habitat for various species, such as polar bears, walruses, and seals. As ice diminishes, these animals struggle to find suitable hunting grounds and resting places, putting their survival at risk. Additionally, the loss of sea ice affects the base of the marine food chain, impacting the availability of food for fish and other marine organisms.</p>



<h4 id="h-methane-release">Methane release</h4>



<p>The Arctic region contains vast stores of methane in the form of frozen hydrates on the seabed and within the permafrost. As the region warms and sea ice melts, these methane deposits can become destabilized, releasing potent greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and further exacerbating climate change.</p>



<h4 id="h-ocean-circulation">Ocean circulation</h4>



<p>Melting sea ice contributes to the freshening of the Arctic Ocean's surface waters, which can disrupt the global ocean circulation system. This alteration could lead to significant changes in global weather patterns and climate.</p>



<h3 id="h-human-impacts">Human impacts:</h3>



<h4 id="h-coastal-communities">Coastal communities</h4>



<p>The loss of Arctic sea ice contributes to rising sea levels, putting low-lying coastal communities around the world at risk of flooding and erosion. Indigenous communities in the Arctic also face challenges to their traditional ways of life, as the changing environment impacts their hunting, fishing, and travel practices.</p>



<h4 id="h-shipping-routes">Shipping routes</h4>



<p>The decline in sea ice has opened up new shipping routes in the Arctic, such as the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route. While these routes can potentially reduce travel time and costs for international trade, they also present challenges in the form of increased fog, as mentioned in the previous article, and navigational hazards from hidden ice.</p>



<h4 id="h-geopolitical-tensions">Geopolitical tensions</h4>



<p>The opening of new shipping lanes, as well as the potential for resource extraction in the Arctic, has led to geopolitical tensions among countries with interests in the region. Nations are vying for influence and control over these newly accessible areas, which could contribute to international conflicts.</p>



<h4 id="h-resource-extraction">Resource extraction</h4>



<p>The melting of sea ice has made the Arctic's vast reserves of oil, natural gas, and minerals more accessible. While this presents economic opportunities, it also raises concerns about the environmental impacts of increased resource extraction in the region.</p>



<p>The loss of Arctic sea ice has far-reaching consequences for both the environment and humanity. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, understanding and addressing the complex interplay between Arctic sea ice loss and its cascading effects is critical for the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Arctic Ocean is getting foggy as ice disappears

As the Arctic continues to warm and lose its sea...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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What caused the planet's longest ice age

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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



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Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

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