<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....

<p>Ants, often considered a nuisance in our gardens, may be significantly more important for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-biodiversity-affect-species-interactions/">biodiversity</a> than previously thought, according to a recent study conducted by Rikke Reisner Hansen and colleagues from the Department of Ecoscience at <a href="https://international.au.dk/">Aarhus University</a>. The researchers studied ant mounds on Danish heathlands to understand their impact on other insects and plants.</p>



<p>"The ants drag dead animals back to the ant mound, and this adds carbon and other important nutrients to the surrounding soil," explained Hansen. "The ant mound moreover warms up the surrounding ground, and in springtime, adders, lizards and beetles like to rest near ant mounds for warmth. The heat and the nutrients create unique conditions that allow certain plant species that don’t otherwise thrive on heathland to thrive on the ant mound."</p>



<p>To investigate the role of ant mounds in heathland wildlife, Hansen went to the heath and looked for two types of ant mounds: those belonging to the narrow-headed ant and those belonging to the yellow meadow ant. She dug deep holes next to the ant mounds, enabling her to study how the mounds affected the soil, roots, and wildlife both above and below the mound. She also measured the temperature on top of the ant mound and examined the soil around and underneath it to determine the soil nutrients.</p>



<p>Hansen found that the top part of the ant mound acts like a "miniature Costa del Sol for insects and reptiles. The animals exploit the excess heat from the ants for warmth in early spring and on chilly mornings." She added that plants growing on an ant mound would blossom or come into leaf faster than the same species growing in the surrounding heathland soil. This is a significant advantage for insects that feed on pollen and nectar, as the ant mounds introduce an extra flowering season.</p>



<p>The Alcon blue butterfly, which lives only on heathland where ants are present, has developed a method to trick ants into believing its caterpillar is the ant queen.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The Alcon blue lays its eggs on the rare marsh gentian plant," said Hansen. "The caterpillar feeds on marsh gentian seeds during the first three stages of its life. When it has grown big enough, it falls to the ground and begins to emit a smell and a sound identical to those of a queen ant larva." Worker ants then drag the caterpillar into the nest, sometimes neglecting their own offspring, which can lead to the colony's demise.</p>



<p>Denmark is home to 12 species of gossamer-winged butterflies, with 11 of these species thriving best in places where ants also live. A handful of these species depend on ants to complete their life cycle. Protecting ant mounds can thus be a crucial step in mitigating the biodiversity crisis.</p>



<p>The world, including Denmark, is experiencing a biodiversity crisis, with the loss of species accelerating as important habitats are destroyed through deforestation, heathland cultivation, and bog drainage. In Denmark alone, 1,844 species of animals, plants, and fungi are under threat of extinction. The Alcon blue butterfly, for example, has lost more than 15 percent of its habitat in Denmark within the past 40 years.</p>



<p>Hansen suggests that the way we manage our heathlands could be contributing to this decline. "We tend to manage our heathlands as a homogenous landscape. We often apply the same management method throughout a heathland to preserve it as an open landscape. For example, we allow too many animals to graze the land. Or we use large machines to cut the vegetation. Unfortunately, this destroys the ant mounds."</p>



<p>"To ensure many different plants and animals on the heath, we need to rewild the landscape, or at least return it to the way it was before machinery took over from traditional management systems,”</p>



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



<p>The biodiversity crisis, often referred to as the sixth mass extinction, represents a rapid loss of biodiversity on Earth. Biodiversity, which is the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, is crucial for the stability of ecosystems and the services they provide, including food production, clean water, and carbon sequestration.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, species are disappearing at an alarming rate, much higher than the natural background rate of extinction. It's estimated that dozens of species are going extinct every day. This loss of biodiversity is largely driven by human activities.</p>



<p>Key factors contributing to the biodiversity crisis include:</p>



<h3 id="h-habitat-loss-and-degradation">Habitat Loss and Degradation</h3>



<p>Human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and industrial agriculture lead to destruction of natural habitats, which is the primary cause of the current biodiversity crisis. When habitats are destroyed, the species that live there are often pushed to extinction.</p>



<h3 id="h-climate-change">Climate Change</h3>



<p>Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, as well as increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, can disrupt ecosystems and make it difficult for many species to survive.</p>



<h3 id="h-overexploitation">Overexploitation</h3>



<p>This refers to the unsustainable use of species for resources, such as overfishing or hunting a species to the point where its survival is threatened.</p>



<h3 id="h-pollution">Pollution</h3>



<p>Various forms of pollution, including air, water, and soil pollution, can have devastating effects on biodiversity. For example, pesticides can harm non-target species, and plastic waste can injure or kill marine animals.</p>



<h3 id="h-invasive-species">Invasive Species</h3>



<p>These are non-native species that are introduced to new environments, often by human activities, where they outcompete native species for resources and can cause them to go extinct.</p>



<p>The biodiversity crisis is not just an environmental issue but also a developmental, economic, security, social and moral issue as well. The loss of biodiversity threatens our food supplies, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and sources of wood, medicines and energy. It also interferes with essential ecological functions.</p>



<p>Addressing the biodiversity crisis requires global cooperation. This includes measures to protect and restore habitats, combat climate change, transition to sustainable agricultural practices, and regulate hunting and fishing. Additionally, it involves concerted efforts in scientific research, education, and policy-making to create sustainable solutions for biodiversity conservation.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Ant mounds play a critical role in sustaining biodiversity

Ants, often considered a nuisance in our gardens, may be...

<p>Aliens may contact Earth by 2029, according to a group of scientists at the <a href="https://www.ucla.edu/">University of California Los Angeles</a> who have been studying a NASA probe traveling through space, currently 27 light years away. The researchers speculate that extraterrestrials might have intercepted a signal sent to the probe in 2002 and subsequently returned a signal expected to reach Earth by 2029.</p>



<p>In 2002, as part of a routine procedure to transmit data and establish communication, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a> sent a radio wave transmission to the Pioneer 12 probe. This signal also reached a star located approximately 27 light-years from Earth, as transmissions tend to spread out upon contacting an object. </p>



<p>The scientists are hopeful that this signal was intercepted by extraterrestrial lifeforms who have chosen to respond, meaning that humans will have alien contact.</p>



<p>"This is a famous idea from Carl Sagan, who used it as a plot theme in the movie Contact," said study co-author Howard Isaacson, an astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley, when speaking to PopSci. The 1997 film Contact tells the story of a SETI scientist who discovers evidence of extraterrestrial life on a distant planet 26 light-years away and opts to make first contact using radio wave signals.</p>



<p>The team of researchers examined signals sent from Earth to the Voyager 1, Voyager 2, Pioneer 10, Pioneer 11, and New Horizons spacecraft. They created a map illustrating where the signals may have spread upon being released into the universe. </p>



<p>These spacecraft have been communicating with the Deep Station Network (DSN) radio antennas, downloading scientific and telemetry data. The DSN is NASA's international network of massive radio antennas that support interplanetary spacecraft missions as well as a few Earth-orbiting satellites.</p>



<p>According to the study, published in the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/publications-of-the-astronomical-society-of-australia"><em>Publications of the Astronomical Society</em></a>, the researchers found that transmissions sent to Voyager 2, Pioneer 10, and Pioneer 11 have already come into contact with at least one star. </p>



<p>Pioneer 10's transmissions encountered a white dwarf star in 2002, and the team estimates that the earliest returned transmission, or alien contact, could arrive by 2029. By 2313, Pioneer 10's transmissions will have encountered 222 stars, while signals sent to Voyager 1 and New Horizons are expected to make contact with their first stars in the near future.</p>



<p>The researchers calculated the data transmissions to stars by considering that light covers one parsec every 3.26 years. Using this measurement, they determined the time it would take for transmissions to reach each star, such as those sent to Voyager 1, which have not yet made contact with any stars. </p>



<p>"The earliest we can expect to receive a returned transmission from potential intelligent extraterrestrial life encountered by Voyager 1's transmissions is 2109," they wrote.</p>



<p>Voyager 2's transmissions have made contact with two objects, both in 2007. By 2336, all 272 nearby stars will have been reached, and scientists anticipate a response from aliens by 2033. Signals sent to Pioneer reached a dwarf star in 2018, but researchers believe all 386 stars will have received a signal by 2317.</p>



<p>New Horizons' transmissions have not yet encountered a star, but they are expected to contact one in 2119 and 139 stars by 2338. The earliest possible returned transmission is predicted for 2232. </p>



<p>"Transmissions to New Horizons will not encounter a star until 75 years after the transmissions of any other spacecraft," the researchers explained.</p>



<p>Study lead author Reilly Derrick, an engineering student at UCLA, told PopSci that this research could help the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) by providing a narrower group of stars for researchers to focus on. If aliens make contact, this would be an incredible moment in human history, to say the least.</p>



<h2 id="h-signs-of-extraterrestrial-life">Signs of extraterrestrial life</h2>



<p>The search for extraterrestrial life has been a significant part of space exploration for many decades. While there is no direct evidence of life beyond Earth, there are several signs that scientists look for when investigating the possibility of extraterrestrial life.</p>



<h3 id="h-water">Water</h3>



<p>The presence of water, especially in liquid form, is a primary factor scientists consider when searching for signs of life. This is because water is essential for all known forms of life on Earth. For example, the discovery of water ice on Mars and the potential for liquid water beneath the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus has excited astrobiologists.</p>



<h3 id="h-atmospheric-composition">Atmospheric Composition</h3>



<p>Scientists also examine the composition of a planet's atmosphere for signs of life. Certain gases, such as methane, oxygen, or nitrogen, may indicate the presence of biological activity if found in significant quantities.</p>



<h3 id="h-biosignatures">Biosignatures</h3>



<p>These are any substances, phenomena or patterns that could have been created by life. For instance, certain complex organic molecules, like amino acids, or structures, like stromatolites (formed by microbial mats), could be considered biosignatures.</p>



<h3 id="h-habitable-zone">Habitable Zone</h3>



<p>Also known as the "Goldilocks Zone," this is the area around a star where conditions might be just right - not too hot, not too cold - for liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet. Planets within this zone are considered prime candidates for life.</p>



<h3 id="h-exoplanets">Exoplanets</h3>



<p>The discovery of exoplanets, especially those in the habitable zone of their stars, is another potential sign of life. As of now, thousands of such planets have been discovered.</p>



<h3 id="h-seti-and-meti">SETI and METI</h3>



<p>The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) are initiatives that actively look for signals from intelligent life and attempt to send messages to possible civilizations, respectively. A confirmed extraterrestrial signal would be a clear sign of intelligent life.</p>



<p>It's important to note that these signs are not definitive proof of life, but they indicate the conditions that could support life as we understand it. The search for extraterrestrial life continues to be a fascinating and complex field of research.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Cosmic connection: Aliens could make contact by 2029

Aliens may contact Earth by 2029, according to a group...

<p>Every year, approximately 10 million <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/avian-flu-threatens-bald-eagle-recovery/">waterfowl</a> migrate northward to their breeding grounds in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. However, this landscape is rapidly changing due to shifting weather patterns and agricultural practices, which have drastically transformed the native grasslands that waterfowl have relied on for thousands of years. As a result, some waterfowl species are thriving, while others face decline. A new study led by a research team from <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State University</a> suggests that the timing of nesting plays a crucial role in determining the winners and losers in this region.</p>



<p>Professor Frances Buderman elaborated on the diverse habitats within the region where waterfowl make their nests. These habitats range from idle grassland, cropland, and even over water. Professor Buderman noted a particular challenge for early nesting ducks: "When early nesting ducks arrive in the Prairie Pothole Region, many fields are covered in debris left from the previous fall’s harvest, mainly stubble from cereal grains. Although this habitat looks inviting, the eventual replanting of these fields, as opposed to leaving them fallow, makes the ducks more vulnerable to predators and often results in their nests being destroyed by agricultural activities such as tilling and planting.”</p>



<p>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service have been monitoring the spring population abundances of North American waterfowl since 1955. Their Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey has yielded one of the largest datasets on vertebrate populations globally.</p>



<p>The ducks in this region are typically adapted to nest in mixed-grass prairie. With the surge of agriculture replacing this wild habitat, the birds are left in a state of confusion.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Last year’s stubble looks good to them from the air, but in reality, it does not offer the same advantages and protections that the grass does," said Professor Buderman. "Over time, on a large scale, this association with cropland can lead to lower reproductive success and declining population numbers for early nesting ducks that breed in the region.”</p>



<p>In prior research, Buderman’s group focused on the northern pintail ducks, a species experiencing a decline since the 1980s. They discovered that these ducks' tendency to nest in agricultural fields acted as an “ecological trap,” leading to a decrease in the pintail population the following year, a direct outcome of demographic processes like reproduction and survival.</p>



<p>With this in mind, the researchers set out to understand if the northern pintail's response was unique, potentially explaining the diverging trends in abundance among waterfowl in the region. Their findings, published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13919"><em>Journal of Animal Ecology</em></a>, reveal that the timing of nesting is crucial in determining the effect of nesting in cropland on demographic processes. Early nesting ducks exhibited the most significant negative demographic responses to agricultural fields.</p>



<p>“Early nesting ducks that don’t nest in cropland, and diving ducks such as canvasbacks, nest over water and are not likely to be impacted by this trap," noted Buderman. "Climate change, which may allow farmers to till and plant earlier in the spring, could make matters worse. An earlier spring warm-up could also lead to a mismatch between nesting activities and food availability.”</p>



<h2 id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted">How the research was conducted</h2>



<p>The researchers' first step involved estimating the impact of climate and land-use changes on habitat selection and population dynamics for the nine species of ducks native to the region. This method allowed the researchers to recognize the response patterns of each species and to identify cases where certain species opted for conditions that were detrimental to their population dynamics. For example, the northern pintail has a preference for cropland.</p>



<p>The results of the analysis, however, painted a complex picture. The northern pintail, American wigeon, and blue-winged teal, in particular, often showcased extreme responses to habitat changes. But it's crucial to note, as Buderman points out, that these responses were not uniform. "Each of the species we studied reacted a bit differently to changes in climate and land-use,” she said.</p>



<p>Such variability underlines a nuanced complexity in managing these habitats at the community level. The researchers observed species-level differences in demographic and habitat-selection responses to climate and land-use change, which adds layers of complication to community-level habitat management.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Our work highlights the importance of multi-species monitoring and community-level analysis, even among closely related species," said Professor Buderman. "This underscores the need for a comprehensive approach in conservation efforts, taking into account the unique responses of each species to climatic and land-use shifts, thereby ensuring the preservation of biodiversity in the face of changing environmental landscapes."</p>



<h2 id="h-how-climate-change-impacts-nesting-ducks">How climate change impacts nesting ducks</h2>



<p>Climate change has far-reaching effects on a wide range of species, and nesting ducks are not immune to these impacts. As global temperatures rise and weather patterns become more unpredictable, the ecosystems that ducks and other waterfowl depend on for nesting are undergoing significant changes.</p>



<p>Here's a closer look at how climate change affects nesting ducks:</p>



<h3 id="h-shifts-in-timing">Shifts in Timing</h3>



<p>Warming temperatures can lead to earlier springs, which may cause a shift in the timing of nesting for some duck species. This earlier nesting could potentially lead to mismatches between the timing of duckling hatching and the availability of their food sources, which can in turn affect survival rates.</p>



<h3 id="h-habitat-changes">Habitat Changes</h3>



<p>Climate change can significantly alter waterfowl habitats. Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation can lead to droughts, floods, or the drying up of wetlands, which ducks rely on for nesting. In addition, sea level rise can lead to the loss of coastal habitats used by some duck species.</p>



<h3 id="h-increased-predation">Increased Predation</h3>



<p>Changes in climate can also affect predator populations. For example, milder winters could lead to increased survival and reproduction of predators like foxes and raccoons, which can have a negative impact on duck nest survival.</p>



<h3 id="h-changes-in-food-availability">Changes in Food Availability</h3>



<p>Changes in weather patterns can affect the timing and abundance of food sources that ducks rely on. For instance, a late frost could kill off insects that ducklings feed on, and changes in precipitation can affect the availability of aquatic plants that adult ducks eat.</p>



<h3 id="h-increased-disease-risk">Increased Disease Risk</h3>



<p>Warmer temperatures can also contribute to the spread of diseases that affect waterfowl, such as avian influenza and botulism.</p>



<h3 id="h-migration-disruption">Migration Disruption&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Changes in temperature and weather patterns can disrupt traditional migration routes and timings for ducks. This can lead to ducks arriving at their breeding grounds either too early or too late, which can impact their ability to successfully nest and raise offspring.</p>



<p>Overall, climate change presents a serious challenge for nesting ducks and other wildlife. It's vital that conservation efforts take into account these climate-related threats and work towards strategies that help protect and preserve vital waterfowl habitats. This includes preserving wetlands, managing land use effectively, and working on global efforts to mitigate climate change.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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Early nesting ducks are at risk from climate and land-use changes

Every year, approximately 10 million waterfowl migrate northward to their...

<p>A team of scientists led by a researcher from the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California San Diego</a> (UCSD) has discovered that over the past three centuries, the Asian elephant’s natural habitat has shrunk by a staggering 3 million square kilometers.</p>



<p>To better understand this dramatic decline, the experts developed new insights from a unique data set that models land-use change over 13 centuries. They discovered that habitats suitable for Asian elephants have been cut by nearly two-thirds within the past 300 years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>At their peak, these elephants thrived in grasslands and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-overheating-in-warmer-rainforests/">rainforests</a> that spanned the breadth of Asia. However, the study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30650-8"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a>, estimates that more than 64 percent of historic suitable elephant habitat across Asia has been lost due to land-use practices, particularly during the colonial era. Timber extraction, farming, and agriculture reduced the average habitat patch size by over 80%, from 99,000 to 16,000 square kilometers.</p>



<p>According to the research, the remaining elephant populations today may not have adequate habitat areas. In 1700, 100 percent of the area within 100 kilometers of the current elephant range was considered suitable habitat, but by 2015, this proportion had declined to less than 50 percent. This sets up a high potential for conflicts with people living in those areas as elephant populations alter their behavior and adjust to more human-dominated spaces.</p>



<p>De Silva, an assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences’ Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, and founder of the nonprofit Trunks &amp; Leaves, highlights the dramatic transformation in land use during the 1600s and 1700s, which has consequences that persist even to this day. Researchers from across the globe, including Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Vietnam National University of Forestry, Wild Earth Allies, Zoological Society of London, and Colby College, also contributed to the study.</p>



<p>Study co-author Professor Philip Nyhus of Colby College noted that the research has implications for understanding the history of elephant landscapes in Asia and their potential future. He also highlighted the collaborative and multi-institutional nature of the research.</p>



<p>While the study's immediate focus is on Asian elephants, the results can be used to assess land-use practices and develop conservation strategies for all of the area’s inhabitants. Professor De Silva explains that they are using elephants as indicators to examine the impact of land-use change on diverse ecosystems over a longer time scale.</p>



<p>Historical records of the impact of human actions and climate change on wildlife have been scarce, making long-term assessments difficult. The new study is based on information from the Land-Use Harmonization (LUH) data set, produced by researchers at the University of Maryland. This data set provides historical reconstructions of various types of land uses, including forests, crops, pastures, and others, reaching back to the ninth century.</p>



<p>The authors argue that much more work is needed to understand the possible changes facing these habitats in the future. They caution that attempts at habitat restoration need to be guided under a reckoning of social and environmental justice for historically marginalized communities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Exploring the relationship between past land management practices and the distributions of elephant ecosystems would be a useful direction for future studies from the perspectives of both ecological and social policy,” they note in the report.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-asian-elephants">More about Asian elephants&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are one of the largest land mammals on the planet, second only to their African counterparts. They are a fascinating and intelligent species with a rich cultural history in many Asian countries. Their historic range once spanned the entire Asian continent, from the borders of Persia to the coastlines of China, and from the Himalayan foothills down to the southernmost tip of the Asian continent. However, due to habitat loss, poaching, and human-elephant conflict, their current range is much more restricted, primarily found in India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Southeast Asia.</p>



<p>Asian elephants have several distinctive features. They are smaller than African elephants, with males typically reaching a shoulder height of up to 3.5 meters, compared to the 4 meters of African elephant males. Asian elephants also have smaller, rounded ears and a more arched back. Another distinctive feature is their trunk or proboscis, a remarkable organ with over 40,000 muscles that serve as an arm-like appendage used for feeding, drinking, communication, and even as a sensory organ.</p>



<p>One of the most significant distinctions between Asian and African elephants is that only some male Asian elephants have tusks, while female Asian elephants do not. This is in contrast to African elephants where both males and females can have tusks. In Asian elephants, the tuskless males are known as 'makhnas'. The possession of tusks has unfortunately made Asian elephants a target for illegal ivory poaching.</p>



<p>Asian elephants are a keystone species, meaning they play a crucial role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems they inhabit. They are known as "ecosystem engineers" because of their ability to modify their habitat in ways that benefit other species. For example, by uprooting trees and trampling vegetation, they create clearings that enable new plant growth and provide smaller creatures with access to food and paths through dense vegetation.</p>



<p>These elephants are highly social animals, usually found in closely knit matriarchal groups consisting of related females and their offspring. Male elephants, on the other hand, typically lead solitary lives or form small bachelor groups, and only join female groups during the breeding season.</p>



<p>Sadly, Asian elephants are classified as 'Endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, and poaching for their ivory, meat, and hides.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Conservation efforts for Asian elephants include anti-poaching initiatives, maintaining and restoring their habitats, establishing wildlife corridors to connect fragmented habitats, and resolving human-elephant conflicts in a way that is sustainable for both elephants and people.</p>



<p>—-</p>



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For Asian elephants, shrinking habitats will increase conflicts

A team of scientists led by a researcher from the...

<p>As their populations grow, animals usually tend to get smaller due to increased competition for food resources among conspecifics. For instance, in marine mammal species such as northern fur <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-flu-killed-hundreds-of-seals-in-new-england-last-year/">seals</a>, South American sea lions, and harbor seals, significant declines in body sizes have been observed as their population size increased.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Surprisingly, this has not happened in the case of California sea lions: as their populations increased over the past half a century, males have gotten bigger, while female body size has remained stable, according to a recent study led by the <a href="https://www.ucsc.edu/">University of California, Santa Cruz</a> (UCSC).</p>



<p>“It’s counterintuitive. You would expect that their body size would decrease as dietary resource competition intensified,” said study co-author Paul Koch, a professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UCSC.</p>



<p>The experts examined the size and morphology of sea lion skulls collected between 1962 and 2008 in central California, and analyzed bone samples for clues about where and what these animals were eating.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We found that male California sea lions have expanded their ecological niche, which means they are now foraging on a more diversified group of prey and expanding the places where they are foraging,” explained lead author Ana Valenzuela-Toro, who conducted the research during her graduate studies at UCSC. “Apparently they are now going farther north than they used to, which is consistent with observations reported by other researchers.”</p>



<p>According to the scientists, expanding the breadth of their diets could have helped male sea lions to get bigger even as their numbers increased. At the same time, larger sea lions could travel further, dive deeper, and handle larger prey, thus boosting even more their growth. Finally, as their breeding sites became more crowded, increased competition among males during the breeding season may have favored larger males over time.</p>



<p>The fact that female body size remained stable can be explained by the significant differences between male and female foraging behavior, which creates different selection pressures for the two sexes. While males leave on long foraging trips after the breeding season, females stay in the colony to give birth and raise their pups, so their foraging is restricted to nearby areas, lacking the diversity of resources males have access to.</p>



<p>Although prey was abundant during the period covered in this study, the situation may soon change due to global warming.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This has been a good period for sea lions, but if warm conditions become more frequent, we could see lower availability of their preferred prey, such as sardines and anchovies. Then we might see their population size start to plateau or decrease, and we could even see body size start to decline,” Valenzuela-Toro concluded.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.026"><em>Current Biology</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>



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California sea lions are getting bigger as their population increases

As their populations grow, animals usually tend to get smaller...

<p>For many years, biologists argued that top predators such as lions, wolves, or cheetahs can benefit prey herds by targeting the weakest and slowest animals, and thus providing better opportunities for the healthy, strong animals to reproduce – an assumption formalized in 2003 as the “healthy herd hypothesis.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>While this hypothesis has been often used to suggest that manipulating predator numbers to protect prey could be a useful conservation strategy, hard evidence supporting it has been scarce, and recently, many of its assumptions and predictions have been questioned.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To test the healthy herd hypothesis, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> (U-M) has conducted an experiment on a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-predator-prey-equilibria/">predator-prey</a>-parasite system consisting of predatory fly larvae that feed on the water flea <em>Daphnia dentifera</em>, which hosts a virulent fungal parasite (<em>Metschnikowia bicuspidate</em>).&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to the healthy herd hypothesis, increasing the density of the predator in this three-organism study would help eliminate the fungal pathogen and increase the overall health of the flea populations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the experiment revealed that, although at the highest levels, predation managed to completely eliminate the fungal pathogen, it also dramatically reduced Daphnia population sizes – an outcome not supporting the healthy herd hypothesis.</p>



<p>“The appeal of the healthy herds hypothesis lies in the alignment of multiple conservation goals - simultaneous conservation of predators, reduction of parasitism, and protection of vulnerable populations - as well as the potential to reduce spillover risk to other populations, including humans,” said senior author Meghan Duffy, an aquatic and disease ecologist at U-M. “But even when predators reduce disease in their prey populations, that does not necessarily lead to increased prey population size, as our study shows.”</p>



<p>Other well-known historical examples of attempts to apply the healthy herd hypothesis that have gone wrong include the culling of badgers in the United Kingdom in order to reduce the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in livestock or the culling of bats to reduce the spread of rabies in domestic dogs or wildlife (badgers and bats being the wildlife reservoirs of bovine tuberculosis and rabies, respectively). In both cases, these strategies failed to succeed, and the diseases continued to spread in other animal populations.</p>



<p>“Unless we develop a more comprehensive understanding of when and how predators influence disease, management strategies that propose to reintroduce or augment predator populations could backfire,” explained study lead author Laura Lopez, a former postdoctoral researcher in Professor Duffy’s laboratory, who now works as a Research Vaccine Safety Officer at the <a href="https://www.ncirs.org.au/">National Center for Immunization Research and Surveillance</a> in Australia.</p>



<p>“If your primary concern is the overall population size of a vulnerable animal species, then adding high levels of predation that eliminate disease could be detrimental. Interestingly, intermediate predation levels reduced parasitism in our study without incurring a cost in terms of overall prey density. Any management decisions would need to weigh the potential costs and benefits associated with increasing predation,” Duffy concluded.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4063"><em>Ecology</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>



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Predators increase the health of prey populations, but reduce their size

For many years, biologists argued that top predators such as...

<p>In a new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05941-9"><em>Nature</em></a>, researchers have analyzed data from hundreds of plots in Canada’s <a href="https://nfi.nfis.org/en/">National Forest Inventory</a> (NFI). The goal was to clarify the relationship between tree diversity and changes in carbon and nitrogen storage in soils from natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-forests-are-being-transformed-by-global-warming/">forests</a>. The experts found that preserving the diversity of forests potentially increases the accumulation of these two substances in the soil, helping to sustain soil fertility and mitigate climate change.</p>



<p>Forest soils play a major role in sequestering carbon extracted from atmospheric CO2 during photosynthesis, storing at least three times more carbon as living plants do. At the same time, nitrogen is an essential nutrient driving carbon assimilation and plant growth in forests.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Although a variety of biodiversity-manipulation experiments have already suggested that higher tree diversity can lead to a larger accumulation of carbon and nitrogen in forest soils, this is the first study to provide evidence of a similar outcome in natural forests.</p>



<p>The researchers analyzed organic soil horizon samples from 361 plots and mineral soil horizon samples from 245 plots covering much of Canada’s landmass, and hosting a variety of fir, maple, pine, spruce, hemlock, cedar, and other tree species.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Then, by comparing data from two NFI sample-plot censuses – one from 2000-2006 and another from 2008-2017 – the experts calculated changes in soil carbon and nitrogen storage over time and assessed the relation between these changes and tree diversity, which was quantified as a combination of tree richness (the number of tree species in a sample plot), species evenness (a measure of the relative abundance of tree species), and functional diversity (the various functional traits of tree species within a community).</p>



<p>The analysis revealed that increasing species evenness from its minimum to its maximum value enhanced carbon storage in the organic soil layer by 30 percent and nitrogen storage by 42 percent, while increasing the functional diversity of trees to its maximum value enhanced carbon storage in the soil mineral layer by 32 percent and nitrogen storage by 50 percent.</p>



<p>“Our study, for the first time, shows the sustained benefits of tree diversity in storing soil carbon and nitrogen in natural forests,” said study lead author Xinli Chen, a postdoctoral fellow in Forest Ecology at the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/index.html">University of Alberta</a> in Canada.</p>



<p>“A greater diversity of species translates into a mixture of different types of trees with different ways of acquiring and storing biomass—both in live trunks, roots, branches and leaves and in newly dead and decaying plant detritus on and in the soil,” added co-author Peter Reich, the director of the <a href="https://seas.umich.edu/globalchangebiology">Institute for Global Change Biology</a> (IGCB) at the University of Michigan.</p>



<p>These findings suggest that promoting tree diversity not only increases productivity but can also help mitigating climate change and reducing soil degradation, thus highlighting the importance of biodiversity conservation in forests and guiding efforts to use forests for carbon and nitrogen sequestration.</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>



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Tree diversity increases carbon storage in forest soils

In a new study published in the journal Nature, researchers...

<p>The ocean’s so-called “twilight zone” is located between 200 and 1,000 meters deep, and although it gets very little light, is home to a diversity of organisms and billions of tons of organic matter.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37781-6"><em>Nature Communications</em></a> has found that life in the twilight zone could decline dramatically due to climate change, which could lead to a 20-40 percent reduction in organisms inhabiting this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-ancient-ocean-floor-surrounds-the-earths-core/">ocean</a> region. Moreover, in a high-emissions scenario, life in this zone could be severely depleted within 150 years, and may not recover for millennia.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>By using records from preserved microscopic shells in ocean sediments, the researchers examined how abundant life was in the twilight zone in past warm climates. “We still know relatively little about the ocean twilight zone, but using evidence from the past we can understand what may happen in the future,”&nbsp;said study lead author Katherine Crichton, a postdoctoral fellow in Earth System Modelling at the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>.</p>



<p>“We looked at two warm periods in the Earth’s past, about 50 million years ago and 15 million years ago,” explained senior author Paul Pearson, a professor of Environmental Sciences at <a href="https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/">Cardiff University</a>. “We found that the twilight zone was not always a rich habitat full of life. In these warm periods, far fewer organisms lived in the twilight zone, because much less food arrived from surface waters.”</p>



<p>Animals in the twilight zone feed on particles on organic matter sinking from the ocean surface. Since in warmer waters, this matter is degraded much faster by bacteria, less food is available, thus contributing to significant population declines. The rich variety of life that we are witnessing today in this zone evolved over millions of years, when ocean waters had cooled enough to preserve the food for longer and allowing life to thrive. Unfortunately, due to current global warming, this situation may once more change dramatically.</p>



<p>“Unless we rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this could lead to the disappearance or extinction of much twilight zone life within 150 years, with effects spanning millennia thereafter,” Crichton explained.</p>



<p>“Even a low-emissions future may have a significant impact, but that would be far less severe than medium- and high-emissions scenarios. Our study is a first step to finding out how vulnerable this ocean habitat may be to climate warming.”</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>



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Life in the ocean's twilight zone is facing a dramatic decline

The ocean’s so-called “twilight zone” is located between 200 and...

<p>A recent analysis conducted by researchers at <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/">Purdue University</a> has shed new light on the relationship between pet ownership, stress, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284101"><em>PLOS ONE</em></a>, reveals that while pet owners grew closer to their pets during the pandemic, the links between pet ownership and mental health were more complex than previously thought.</p>



<p>The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to study the impacts of pet ownership on mental health, and the researchers wanted to explore this relationship in more depth. The study included a series of surveys that were conducted prior to the pandemic, during the lockdown period of April to June 2020, the reopening of September to December 2020, and a recovery period from January to December 2021.</p>



<p>The surveys captured the dynamics of dog and cat ownership in the United States and included questions related to participants’ closeness to the pet, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-salt-intake-elevates-stress-in-the-body/">stress</a> and loneliness levels, demographics, housing situation, personality, and other potentially relevant factors. The participants included 1,266 people with dogs and cats, 1,186 with only dogs, 1,128 with only cats, and 657 with no pets.</p>



<p>The results of the survey showed that both dog and cat owners grew closer to their pets during the study period. However, the links between pet ownership and mental health were more complex than expected.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While dog owners experienced a greater reduction in stress and loneliness during the reopening and recovery periods compared to cat owners and participants without pets, the researchers did not find statistically sound evidence that pet ownership eased participants’ stress and loneliness levels during the pandemic. Cat owners, in particular, reported higher levels of stress and loneliness.</p>



<p>However, further analysis showed that pet ownership may have had an impact on certain types of loneliness. Pet owners, in general, reported less loneliness related to romantic relationships compared to non-pet owners.</p>



<p>The researchers noted that the different results seen for dog versus cat owners could be explained by differences in the pet-owner relationship between these two groups.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“People felt closer toward their pets during the COVID-19 pandemic even though pet ownership did not mitigate stress and loneliness," wrote the study authors. "Dog ownership and cat ownership acted differently on mental health, but the difference between them could be partially explained away by the owner-pet relationship.”</p>



<p>The findings of this study add to the growing body of research on the impact of pet ownership on mental health and highlight the need for more research in this area. The researchers plan to continue collecting data through 2023 to capture any further changes in pet-owner relationships, stress, and loneliness.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While pet ownership may not necessarily alleviate stress and loneliness, the relationship between pet and owner may play a significant role in mental health outcomes during times of crisis.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-pets-and-mental-health">More about pets and mental health</h2>



<p>There is a growing body of research which suggests that pets can have a positive impact on mental health. Several studies have found that pet ownership is associated with reduced levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Pets can provide comfort and companionship, which can help to reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Pets can also encourage physical activity and provide a sense of purpose and responsibility, which can help to improve overall well-being.</p>



<p>One study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri found that interacting with pets can help to increase levels of the hormone oxytocin, which is known to have a calming effect on the body. Another study found that pets can help to reduce levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.</p>



<p>Pet therapy programs have also been shown to have positive effects on mental health. These programs involve trained therapy animals visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities to provide comfort and companionship to patients. Studies have found that pet therapy can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).</p>



<p>However, it's important to note that pet ownership is not a panacea for mental health problems. Owning a pet can be a significant responsibility and requires time, effort, and resources. For some people, the demands of pet ownership may actually increase levels of stress and anxiety. Additionally, some people may have allergies or other health conditions that make pet ownership impractical.</p>



<p>Overall, while pets can provide many benefits to mental health, it's important to carefully consider the decision to bring a pet into your life and to ensure that you are able to provide the care and support that your pet needs.</p>



<h2 id="h-can-pets-help-to-reduce-loneliness">Can pets help to reduce loneliness?</h2>



<p>Some pets are known to be particularly social and affectionate, which can make them good companions for people who are feeling lonely. Here are a few examples:</p>



<h3 id="h-dogs">Dogs</h3>



<p>Dogs are known for their loyalty and affection towards their owners. They are social animals and enjoy spending time with their human companions. Dogs also require regular exercise and playtime, which can encourage their owners to stay active and engaged.</p>



<h3 id="h-cats">Cats</h3>



<p>Cats are independent animals that can provide comfort and companionship without requiring as much attention as dogs. They are also known for their soothing purring and relaxing presence, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety.</p>



<h2 id="h-birds">Birds</h2>



<p>Birds are social animals that can form strong bonds with their owners. They are known for their singing and chirping, which can be soothing and calming. Some birds, such as parrots, can also learn to mimic human speech, which can be entertaining and engaging.</p>



<h3 id="h-guinea-pigs">Guinea pigs&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Guinea pigs are social animals that enjoy being around other guinea pigs and humans. They are easy to care for and can be quite affectionate. Guinea pigs are also known for their vocalizations, which can be amusing and endearing.</p>



<h2 id="h-fish">Fish</h2>



<p>While fish may not provide the same level of interaction and companionship as other pets, they can still be calming and relaxing to watch. Fish tanks can also be visually appealing and provide a sense of tranquility and peace.</p>



<p>Ultimately, the best pet to cure loneliness will depend on the individual's personality, lifestyle, and preferences. It's important to carefully consider the demands of pet ownership and choose a pet that is a good fit for your lifestyle and circumstances.</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>

Pets and owners had complex relationships during the pandemic

A recent analysis conducted by researchers at Purdue University has...

<p>Taking a siesta or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/midday-naps-lower-blood-pressure/">midday nap</a> is a common custom in some cultures. While previous studies have argued that sleeping in the middle of the day could potentially affect sleep quality, cognitive functioning, and metabolic processes, the relationship between different types of siestas and metabolic health is still poorly understood.</p>



<p>To clarify these issues, a team of researchers led by <a href="https://brighamandwomens.org/">Brigham and Women’s Hospital</a> has recently assesses the relationship of siestas and siesta duration with obesity and metabolic syndrome in a cohort of 3,275 adults from the Spanish region of Murcia. The experts measured baseline metabolic characteristics, and surveyed the participants on their siesta duration (no siesta, shorter than 30 minutes, longer than 30 minutes), along with other lifestyle factors.</p>



<p>“Not all siestas are the same. The length of time, position of sleep, and other specific factors can affect the health outcomes of a nap,” said senior author Marta Garaulet, a visiting professor in the Brigham’s <a href="https://www.brighamandwomens.org/medicine/sleep-and-circadian-disorders/overview">Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“A previous study that we conducted in a large study population in the UK had found that siestas were associated with an increased risk of obesity. We wanted to determine whether this would hold true in a country where siestas are more culturally embedded, in this case Spain, as well as how the length of time for siestas is related to metabolic health.”</p>



<p>The analysis revealed that people who took afternoon naps longer than 30 minutes were more likely to have a higher body mass index, higher blood pressure, and a cluster of other conditions associated to heart disease and diabetes (metabolic syndrome) compared to those who took no siestas. Moreover, long siestas were linked to later nightly sleeping and food timing, as well as increased energy intake at lunch and cigarette smoking.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, among individuals who took shorter siestas, or “power naps,” the increased risk of obesity and metabolic changes was not present. In addition, short siesta-takers seemed to be less likely to have elevated systolic blood pressure than those who took no siestas at all.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Further studies are needed to investigate the possible benefits of short siestas, particularly in individuals with habits such as having delayed meals and sleep schedules, or smoking.</p>



<p>“This study shows the importance of considering siesta length and raises the question whether short naps may offer unique benefits. Many institutions are realizing the benefits of short naps, mostly for work productivity, but also increasingly for general health,” said co-author Frank Scheer, a senior neuroscientist and professor of Medical Chronobiology at the Brigham’s Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders.</p>



<p>“If future studies further substantiate the advantages of shorter siestas, I think that that could be the driving force behind the uncovering of optimal nap durations, and a cultural shift in the recognition of the long-term health effects and productivity increases that can amount from this lifestyle behavior,” he concluded.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23765"><em>Obesity</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>

How do afternoon naps impact our health?

Taking a siesta or midday nap is a common custom...

Closeup,Right,Side,Portrait,Of,Giant,Anteater,From,Climbing,On

<p>Spores of coprophilous fungi pass through the guts of megafauna (animals weighing over 45 kilograms) as part of their life cycle. As a result,&nbsp; the presence of such spores in sediment samples can provide evidence that large animals lived in a specific time and place.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By analyzing samples from a peat bog in Pantano de Monquentiva – located about 60 kilometers from Bogota, Colombia in the Eastern Cordillera mountains – a team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> discovered that large animals became locally extinct at this location both around 23,000 years ago and 11,000 years ago, severely impacting the ecosystems in which they were embedded.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Considering our current biodiversity crisis, these findings suggest that the disappearance of large animals could once more transform ecosystems that sustain both wildlife and humans.</p>



<p>“We know that large animals such as elephants play a vital role in regulating ecosystems, for example by eating and trampling vegetation,” said&nbsp;study senior author Dunia H. Urrego, a senior lecturer in Physical Geography at Exeter.</p>



<p>“By analyzing samples of fungal spores, as well as pollen and charcoal, we were able to track the extinction of large animals, and the consequences of this extinction for plant abundance and fire activity. We found the Monquentiva ecosystem changed dramatically when large animals disappeared, with different plant species thriving and wildfires increasing.”</p>



<p>Although the analysis of fungal spores does not show which types of megafauna were present, species known to inhabit Columbia during these periods included the giant armadillo and the giant, six-meter-tall ground sloth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to the researchers, most of the plentiful megafauna that existed for thousands of years vanished 23,000 years ago. After about 5,000 years, large animals began once more to populate the Monquentiva, before another wave of extinction decimated them approximately 11,000 years ago. While the causes of these extinctions are not yet clear, scientists argue that climate change, hunting by humans, or even meteor strikes could be plausible explanations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“After the megafauna vanished, plant species at Monquentiva transitioned, with more woody and palatable plants (those favored by grazing animals), and the loss of plants that depend on seed dispersal by animals,” said lead author&nbsp;Felix Pym, a&nbsp;graduate student in Physical Geography at Exeter.</p>



<p>“Wildfires became more common after the megafauna extinctions – presumably because flammable plants were no longer being eaten or trampled upon. Overall, our findings show that this habitat was highly sensitive to the decline of its megafaunal populations.”</p>



<p>The findings suggest that, in the context of our current biodiversity crisis, conservation efforts should take into account the effects of local herbivore declines on the dispersal of various plant species, wildfire activity, and the loss of ecosystem services.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/qua.2022.66"><em>Quaternary Research</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>

Colombian megafauna experienced "waves" of extinctions

Spores of coprophilous fungi pass through the guts of megafauna...

<p>A recent study has revealed that the mysterious comet-like tail of asteroid 3200 Phaethon, the source of the annual Geminid meteor shower, is not composed of dust as previously believed. Instead, the tail consists of sodium gas, challenging long-held scientific assumptions about this enigmatic celestial object.</p>



<p>Discovered in 1983, Phaethon is an asteroid that exhibits comet-like behavior, brightening and forming a tail when near the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aztecs-kept-accurate-time-using-the-sun-and-the-mountains/">Sun</a>. Most meteor showers are the result of comets, so when scientists found that Phaethon's orbit matched that of the Geminid meteors, they assumed the tail was formed by dust escaping from the asteroid's surface due to the Sun's heat. In 2009, NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) confirmed the existence of Phaethon's tail, supporting the dust theory.</p>



<p>However, in 2018, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe">NASA's Parker Solar Probe</a> observed that the Geminid debris trail contained far more material than Phaethon could possibly shed during its close approaches to the Sun. This prompted Qicheng Zhang, a PhD student at the California Institute of Technology and lead author of the study published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acc866"><em>Planetary Science Journal</em></a>, to question the dust hypothesis.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Comets often glow brilliantly by sodium emission when very near the Sun, so we suspected sodium could likewise serve a key role in Phaethon's brightening," explained Zhang.</p>



<p>To test this hypothesis, Zhang examined images from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), which has color filters that can detect sodium and dust. Archival images from STEREO and SOHO were also examined, revealing the tail during 18 of Phaethon's close solar approaches between 1997 and 2022.</p>



<p>SOHO's observations showed the asteroid's tail to be bright in the filter that detects sodium but not in the filter that detects dust. The shape of the tail and the way it brightened as Phaethon passed the Sun also matched what scientists would expect if it were composed of sodium, but not if it were composed of dust. This evidence confirmed that Phaethon's tail is made of sodium, not dust.</p>



<p>Project team member Karl Battams of the Naval Research Laboratory highlighted the significance of the discovery. "Not only do we have a really cool result that kind of upends 14 years of thinking about a well-scrutinized object, but we also did this using data from two heliophysics spacecraft – SOHO and STEREO – that were not at all intended to study phenomena like this."</p>



<p>The researchers suspect that some of the comets discovered by SOHO and the citizen scientists involved in the Sungrazer Project may actually be rocky asteroids like Phaethon, heated up by the Sun. "A lot of those other sunskirting 'comets' may also not be 'comets' in the usual, icy body sense, but may instead be rocky asteroids like Phaethon heated up by the Sun," said Zhang.</p>



<p>A lingering question remains: If Phaethon doesn't shed much dust, how does it supply the material for the Geminid meteor shower observed each December? Zhang's team theorizes that a disruptive event a few thousand years ago, possibly involving a piece of the asteroid breaking apart under rotational stress, caused Phaethon to eject the estimated billion tons of material that make up the Geminid debris stream. The exact nature of this event is still unknown.</p>



<p>Further answers may be forthcoming from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s upcoming DESTINY+ mission, which plans to fly past Phaethon later this decade.</p>



<h2 id="h-more-about-comets-and-asteroids">More about comets and asteroids</h2>



<p>Comets and asteroids are celestial objects found within our solar system, often referred to as small Solar System bodies. While both are remnants of the early solar system, they differ in their composition, structure, and behavior.</p>



<p>Comets are made up of a mixture of ice, rock, and dust, and are sometimes referred to as "dirty snowballs." They are believed to originate from the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, regions located in the outer reaches of the Solar System. When a comet gets close to the Sun, the ice in its nucleus vaporizes, creating a glowing coma (a bright, hazy atmosphere) and a tail that can stretch millions of kilometers. The tail always points away from the Sun due to the solar wind and radiation pressure. Comets typically have elongated, elliptical orbits, which cause them to periodically visit the inner Solar System.</p>



<p>Asteroids, on the other hand, are primarily composed of rock and metal and are the remnants of the early Solar System's building blocks. They are found mostly in the Asteroid Belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, although some can be found in other parts of the Solar System as well. Unlike comets, asteroids do not have a glowing coma or a tail, as they do not contain significant amounts of ice. Their orbits are generally more circular than those of comets, and they can range in size from a few meters to hundreds of kilometers in diameter.</p>



<p>While comets and asteroids are distinct celestial objects, some "crossover" bodies exhibit characteristics of both, such as asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which forms a comet-like tail when near the Sun. The study of these celestial objects helps scientists understand the formation and evolution of the Solar System and offers insights into the potential origins of life on Earth.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC</p>



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Study sheds new light on mysterious asteroid Phaethon

A recent study has revealed that the mysterious comet-like tail...

<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>



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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>



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<p>—–</p>

What caused the planet's longest ice age

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>



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



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Retired professor claims he solved time travel

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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



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



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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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

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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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