In many places, men face a higher risk of disease but receive less timely care. These observations come from a broad international effort examining hypertension, diabetes, and HIV and aids.



Angela Chang from the <a href="https://www.sdu.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southern Denmark</a> led a team that gathered worldwide information on who falls ill and who actually receives help. The analysis pointed to important differences by sex, affecting disease rates and overall health <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outcomes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sex-differences-affect-health-outcomes">Sex differences affect health outcomes</h2>



Males have higher rates of smoking in most nations according to the <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/343287" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a>. Smoking is a known factor for high blood pressure, making it a key contributor to heart problems. Females tend to lead in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322010249" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a> numbers in many regions, which can contribute to diabetes.



These diseases are not just about risk factors. The study shows that males often end up with higher mortality rates once they develop these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rats-are-spreading-a-deadly-disease-across-cities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conditions</a>. 



Many men <a href="https://menandhiv.org/publication/the-mens-health-gap-men-must-be-included-in-the-global-health-equity-agenda/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fail to visit clinics</a> or hospitals as regularly as women, which could mean they don’t get diagnosed or treated when they need it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disease-risks-and-care-gaps">Disease risks and care gaps </h2>



<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4314-hypertension-high-blood-pressure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hypertension</a>, commonly called high blood pressure, is often undetected. Men skip checkups more frequently, so signs that might be obvious in a routine exam can slip under the radar. If left unaddressed, this condition can lead to complications like stroke and heart failure.



Diabetes also showed worrying trends. In around half of surveyed countries, men were more likely to die from this disease than women. In a few areas, women had a greater <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disease</a> burden, but men were still less likely to receive consistent care in those spots.



HIV and aids <a href="https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2020_global-aids-report_en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data</a> revealed that in most places where statistics were available, men’s prevalence and death rates outpaced those of women. The research suggested that men often lagged behind in testing, treatment, and adherence to medication schedules.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-care-disparities-by-sex">Care disparities by sex</h2>



“Without sex-disaggregated cascade data, we’re flying blind - unable to detect who is falling through the cracks in prevention, diagnosis, and care,” said Angela Chang, senior author of the study.



The team emphasized that many health policies and programs do not consider these persistent differences in how men and women seek health support.



The researchers pointed out that risk factors aren’t only rooted in biology. Gender norms and expectations can increase or lower the likelihood that a person will smoke, receive checkups, or follow a treatment plan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-men-avoid-health-care">Why men avoid health care </h2>



Many men report that they avoid medical care unless absolutely necessary. In <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263198588_Men_and_primary_care_Improving_access_and_outcomes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surveys</a> across different countries, common reasons include fear of diagnosis, lack of time, or the belief that symptoms will go away on their own.



Some researchers suggest that social norms around masculinity encourage toughness and discourage vulnerability. This can stop men from seeking care early, which delays diagnosis and worsens outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-men-s-health-care-disparities">Men’s health care disparities</h2>



“We have long advocated the benefits of publishing sex disaggregated data. Such data can reveal where the health journeys of men and women diverge, be it in relation to the risk factors they are exposed to, their health care seeking behaviors or their experiences in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungal-diseases-that-infect-humans-are-becoming-more-common-in-warming-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health</a> care systems,” said Professors Kent Buse at Global 50/50. 



The experts emphasize that social constructs shape health as much as biology, suggesting that efforts to tackle these disparities should address cultural and systemic factors. The findings highlight the need for balanced health policies. 



Certain measures might need to target men more aggressively, aiming to increase early screening, boost clinic attendance, and raise awareness around symptoms that men are less likely to act on promptly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaps-in-men-s-health-care">Gaps in men's health care</h2>



Policymakers and health professionals may look at these gaps and explore fresh approaches to reach men. From workplace screening programs to flexible clinic hours, there are strategies that address the common reasons men often give for not seeking help.



Experts agree that looking at sex-disaggregated data is the first step toward making sure no one gets left behind. The focus is on gathering stronger, more detailed information. That way, actions can be tailored and effective, ensuring better health for all.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-problem-with-missing-data">The problem with missing data</h2>



A major issue researchers faced was the lack of complete data for many countries. While the team found data on risk and death rates for over 200 countries, full care cascade data, especially broken down by sex, was often missing, particularly for diabetes and hiv and aids.



Without this information, it’s hard to see where and why people are dropping off the care pathway. This makes it more difficult to design effective solutions or understand how patterns differ across age, income, and region.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004592" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Medicine</a>.



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Men die more from preventable health issues but seek less care

In many places, men face a higher risk of disease but receive less timely care. These observations come from a broad international effort examining hypertension, diabetes, and HIV and aids. Angela Chang from the University of Southern Denmark led a team that gathered worldwide information on who falls ill and who actually receives help. The analysis pointed to important differences by sex, affecting disease rates and overall health outcomes. Sex differences affect health outcomes Males have higher rates of smoking in most nations according to the World...

Thanks to groundbreaking technology developed by the <a href="https://www.epfl.ch/en/">Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne</a> (EPFL) in collaboration with the <a href="https://www.lausanneuniversityhospital.com/">Lausanne University Hospital</a> (CHUV), three paraplegics have now been able to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lack-of-sleep-changes-how-you-walk/">walk</a>, swim, and cycle again, after years of inactivity cased by their illness. The new technology consists of spinal cord implants controlled by artificial intelligence software that employs electrical stimulation to reactivate spinal neurons which control trunk and leg muscles.



“Our stimulation algorithms are still based on imitating nature,” said study senior author Grégoire Courtine, a neuroscientist at EPFL and CHUV. “And our new, soft implanted leads are designed to be placed underneath the vertebrae, directly on the spinal cord. They can modulate the neurons regulating specific muscle groups. By controlling these implants, we can activate the spinal cord like the brain would do naturally to have the patient stand, walk, swim or ride a bike, for example.”&nbsp;



The researchers implanted the leads into the patients’ spinal cords, and inserted a pacemaker into their stomach, which they connected to a tablet able to forward a variety of signals to the pacemaker, which in turn activated spinal cord neurons responsible for specific types of movements.&nbsp;



Until now, three paraplegics with complete sensorimotor paralysis have successfully tested the system as part of an ongoing clinical trial. Within a single day, the implants controlled by the stimulation programs enabled the participants to stand, walk, cycle, swim, and control their trunk movements.&nbsp;



“That’s thanks to the specific stimulation programs we wrote for each type of activity,” explained Professor Courtaine. “Patients can select the desired activity on the tablet, and the corresponding protocols are relayed to the pacemaker in the abdomen.”



While the progress these patients achieved in a single day is amazing, the gains visible in a few months of using the new device are even more astonishing. After following a training regimen based on the stimulation programs, the three paraplegics were able to regain muscle mass, move around more independently, and participate in social activities such as having a drink while standing at a bar.



“This study further demonstrates the benefits of our approach,” said Professor Courtine. “We’re now working with&nbsp;<a href="http://onwd.com/">ONWARD Medical</a>, which recently listed on Euronext, to turn our discoveries into genuine treatments that can improve the lives of thousands of people around the world.”



The new technology and its results are described in an article published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01663-5">Nature Medicine</a>.



---



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

Groundbreaking new technology helps paraplegics move again

Thanks to groundbreaking technology developed by the Swiss Federal Institute...

A recent study led by the <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/">Australian National University</a> (ANU) has argued that ancient giant mountain ranges as high as the Himalayas and stretching up to 8,000 kilometers across entire supercontinents may have played a crucial role in the emergence and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-role-did-meat-eating-play-in-human-evolution/">evolution</a> of life on Earth. According to the scientists, the erosion of these supermountains has provided essential nutrients to the oceans while boosting oxygen levels in the atmosphere – which are both necessary ingredients for life to emerge and thrive.



The researchers found that the largest of these supermountains only formed twice in our planet’s history – the first between 2,000 and 1,800 million years ago (called the “Nuna Supermountain”), and the second one between 650 and 500 million years ago (the “Transgondwanan Supermountain”). While the Nuna Supermountain corresponded to the emergence of eukaryotes (the ancestors of plants and animals), the Transgondwanan marked the appearance of large animals 575 million years ago and the Cambrian explosion 45 million years later, when an amazing diversity of animal species emerged and rapidly proliferated.



“What’s stunning is the entire record of mountain building through time is so clear. It shows these two huge spikes: one is linked to the emergence of animals and the other to the emergence of complex big cells,” said study co-author&nbsp;Jochen Brocks, a professor of Earth Sciences at ANU.



According to Professor Brocks and his colleagues, when these supermountains eroded they most probably provided essential nutrients such as phosphorous or iron to the oceans, promoting new biological cycles and driving life on our planet to new levels of complexity. Furthermore, these supermountains may also have boosted oxygen levels in the atmosphere, which was necessary for complex forms of life to breathe.&nbsp;



“The early Earth’s atmosphere contained almost no oxygen. Atmospheric oxygen levels are thought to have increased in a series of steps, two of which coincide with the supermountains,” explained study lead author Ziyi Zhu, a doctoral candidate at ANU.&nbsp;“The increase in atmospheric oxygen associated with the erosion of the Transgondwanan Supermountain is the largest in Earth's history and was an essential prerequisite for the appearance of animals.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Between these two major evolutionary events, there is no evidence of the formation of other supermountains. “The time interval between 1,800 and 800 million years ago is known as the Boring Billion, because there was little or no advance in evolution,” said study co-author Ian Campbell, an emeritus professor of Geochemistry and Geochronology at ANU.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“The slowing of evolution is attributed to the absence of supermountains during that period, reducing the supply of nutrients to the oceans. This study gives us markers, so we can better understand the evolution of early, complex life.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0012821X22000279?dgcid=author#!">Earth and Planetary Science Letters</a>.&nbsp;



---



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

Supermountains were essential for the evolution of life on Earth

A recent study led by the Australian National University (ANU)...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">UC Santa Barbara</a>, experts have investigated a deadly fungal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pigs-are-highly-resistant-to-sars-cov-2-infection/">infection</a> called chytridiomycosis that has been killing amphibians all over the world for decades. The research represents the most comprehensive study to date of the devastating amphibian disease in the Mediterranean region of Baja California.&nbsp;



Amphibians are already severely threatened by invasive species, habitat loss, climate change and pollution. In an effort to safeguard these endangered animals, the scientists have analyzed many aspects of chytridiomycosis, including its origin, genetics, and impact. The findings indicate that the disease is more prevalent on the Baja peninsula than in similar areas of Southern California.



“Contrary to what we had expected, what’s going on in Baja California is very different than what’s going on with chytrid fungus in Southern California, where the species are pretty much the same, and the environment is very similar," said study lead author Andrea Adams.



Chytrids are a large group of soil-dwelling fungi that are typically harmless. Two species of chytrids, however, have evolved to infect the skin of amphibians. In animals with severe infections, the skin responds by thickening. This can be very detrimental because frogs not only "drink through their skin,” but also exchange salts and minerals this way. For many amphibians, thicker skin can be deadly.&nbsp;



The researchers set out to investigate the environmental and biological factors that influence chytrid infection in Baja California, particularly at different elevations.&nbsp;



“We knew chytrid was here, but we didn’t know how it was affecting different species or which variables mattered most,” said study co-author Anny Peralta-García, director of Conservación de Fauna del Noroeste, a nonprofit organization dedicated to research and conservation in Baja California.



“We found that when it comes to chytrid infection, the most important things are where you live and who you are,” said Adams. The team found that chytrid infections were more common and more intense at higher elevations. This is because the environment is cooler and holds more moisture - conditions that are just right for the fungus to thrive.



According to the experts, some species are also more susceptible to the infection than others. For example, the California red-legged frog was among the most infected.



While the researchers found that 68 percent of animals they surveyed in Baja California had the fungus, only 15 percent of amphibians were infected in Southern California. “In Baja California, we found that 99 percent of the California red-legged frogs at the highest-elevation site were infected,” said Adams.



The disease was not only was not only more prevalent in Baja - the infected animals also carried a higher pathogen load. The chytrid fungus has evolved over time, and more virulent or infectious strains could emerge in different locations.



“Right now, our main focus is trying to increase populations of California red-legged frogs in Baja California and Southern California,” said Peralta-García.



“Anny and I are actually doing very similar things,” said Adams. “We are both working to find the best ways to bring these frogs back to places they’ve disappeared from, and we learn a lot from each other.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/global-ecology-and-conservation">Global Ecology and Conservation</a>.



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

Fungal disease is wiping out amphibians in Baja California

In a new study from UC Santa Barbara, experts have...

In a new study from the lab of <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> ecohydrologist Alexandra Konings, experts have identified “double-hazard” zones for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-and-extreme-heat-waves-increase-air-pollution/">wildfire</a> in the western United States. The results show that the risk of wildfire is even greater than expected in areas with a combination of atmospheric dryness and highly sensitive, tinder-dry plants.



According to the researchers, the study suggests that the distribution of vegetation (the arrangement of scrub, alpine meadows, sagebrush, coniferous forest and other plant communities) has amplified the effect of climate change on wildfire hazard across many Western states, creating double-hazard zones.



In these areas that face greater wildfire risks, much more land will burn.



“California and other Western states are working hard to figure out how to adapt to the changing wildfire risk landscape, including long-term decisions around issues such as land use, vegetation management, disaster planning and insurance,” said study co-author Noah Diffenbaugh.&nbsp;



“There’s a wealth of information in this analysis to support decisions about how to more effectively manage the risks of living in the West in the context of a changing climate.”



The experts set out to investigate whether climate change is increasing wildfire hazard uniformly in the West. “I asked, is that true everywhere, all the time, for all the different kinds of vegetation? Our research shows it is not,” said study lead author Krishna Rao.&nbsp;



The study looked at something known as the vapor pressure deficit, which is an indicator of how much moisture the air can suck out of soil and plants.&nbsp;



Vapor pressure deficit has increased over the past 40 years across most of the American West, mostly because warmer air can hold more water. This is one of the primary mechanisms by which climate change is intensifying wildfire hazards.



The experts report that vapor pressure deficit is rising fastest in areas where plants are especially prone to drying out.&nbsp;



The study identified 18 double-hazard zones, where a rapid rise in burn area has occurred with each jump in vapor pressure deficit over the past two decades.&nbsp;



The high-risk areas, which range in size from hundreds to thousands of square miles, have been found in eastern Oregon, Nevada’s Great Basin, central Arizona’s Mogollon Rim and California’s southern Sierra Nevada.



The causes of catastrophic wildfires across the American West are complex, involving factors such as climate change and decades of fire suppression. Furthermore, human populations are growing along the boundary of undeveloped wilderness. This transition zone is referred to as the wildland-urban interface (WUI).&nbsp;



In California alone, more than 11 million residents live in the WUI. The researchers found that communities within the WUI are booming in the very places where ecosystems are most sensitive to drought.



“This redoubles the need to be thinking about what we can do to reduce wildfire impacts in the WUI in general, including for this subgroup of people who are in the most vulnerable locations," said Konings.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.



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

"Double-hazard" wildfire zones identified in the American West

In a new study from the lab of Stanford University...

Both <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/health-60131986">Pfizer/BioNTech</a> and <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/26/health/moderna-omicron-antibodies-booster/index.html">Moderna</a> have recently reported that they are starting clinical trials to test their newly developed Omicron-specific boosters, which may provide better protection against this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/omicron-partial-immune-evasion-after-vaccination/">immune-evasive</a>, highly contagious variant. However, a new study conducted on primates (which is yet to be peer-reviewed) argues that there may not be significant benefits from updating the current vaccines to target specifically the Omicron variant.



A research team led by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ <a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/vrc">Vaccine Research Center</a> has found that macaque monkeys boosted with the original Moderna vaccine had similar protection against Omicron-caused disease in the lungs as animals that received an updated, variant-specific booster. In fact, blood studies have shown that measurable immune responses, such as rises in neutralizing antibody levels, were mostly similar, regardless of the booster used.



According to senior author Robert Seder, the chief of the Cellular Immunity section at the Vaccine Research Center, these findings corroborate those of a previous study published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl8912">Science</a> last year, which showed that a booster shot based on the Beta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was not more effective against this particular variant than the original vaccines designed to target the wild-type virus that emerged in Wuhan in 2019.



“These data would suggest that the initial imprinting of the initial vaccine generated B cells that […] when you give them a boost six or nine months later, they’re cross-reactive to Omicron or Beta or Delta,” said Seder.&nbsp;



“The existing boosters provide improved (but imperfect) protection against infection,” added Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan’s <a href="https://vido.org/">Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization</a>. “Based on these data, it doesn’t look like an Omicron-specific booster would improve that all that much. Certainly both booster formulations provide significant protection compared to the controls, but it may not be necessary to have Omicron-specific boosters.”&nbsp;



Moreover, according to Professor Seder and his colleagues, preliminary data suggests that an Omicron-specific vaccine may not be ideal if given on its own, since it might not generate the same level of cross-immunity as the original vaccines. Thus, if Delta or other variants make a comeback, or if new variants emerge, people may turn out be less protected by the Omicron-based vaccine than by the original ones.



Further research is needed to clarify whether these findings hold in the case of human subjects too, and whether other Omicron-specific vaccines, such as that developed by Pfizer/BioNTech have similar effects.



A pre-print of the study can be found on <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.03.479037v1.full.pdf">bioRxiv</a>.



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

Omicron-specific boosters may not be necessary

Both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have recently reported that they are...

Healthy,Serene,Young,African,American,Girl,Sleeping,Well,In,Comfortable

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/">University of Chicago</a> and the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a> has found that getting more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childrens-sleep-can-be-disrupted-by-even-dim-light-at-bedtime/">sleep</a> can reduce caloric intake, and thus lead to weight loss, without sustained control over dietary habits or increases in the frequency or intensity of physical exercise.



In a randomized clinical trial with 80 adult participants, a team of researchers led by Dr. Esra Tasali, the director of the University of Chicago’s <a href="https://sleep.uchicago.edu/">Sleep Research Center</a> (SRC), has helped young, overweight adults who habitually slept fewer than 6.5 hours per night to increase their sleep duration by an average of 1.2 hours per night through a personalized sleep hygiene counselling session.&nbsp;



“We saw that after just a single sleep counseling session, participants could change their bedtime habits enough to lead to an increase in sleep duration,” said Dr. Tasali. “We simply coached each individual on good sleep hygiene, and discussed their own personal sleep environments, providing tailored advice on changes they could make to improve their sleep duration. Importantly, to blind participants to sleep intervention, recruitment materials did not mention sleep intervention, allowing us to capture true habitual sleep patterns at baseline.”



Dr. Tasali and her colleagues monitored participants’ caloric intake both before and after the change in their sleeping patterns, and found that the increase in sleep duration helped participants reduce this intake by an average of 270 kilocalories per day – which would translate to roughly 12 kg of weight loss over three years if the effects were maintained over a long term.



“Over the years, we and others have shown that sleep restriction has an effect on appetite regulation that leads to increased food intake, and thus puts you at risk for weight gain over time,” said Dr. Tasali. “More recently, the question that everyone was asking was, ‘Well, if this is what happens with sleep loss, can we extend sleep and reverse some of these adverse outcomes?”



Further research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms explaining these results, and to design larger studies on weight control to determine if extending sleep could be of use in weight-loss programs and help prevent or reverse obesity.



“Many people are working hard to find ways to decrease their caloric intake to lose weight - well, just by sleeping more, you may be able to reduce it substantially,” concluded Dr. Tasali.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.8098">JAMA Internal Medicine</a>.



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

Getting more sleep can boost weight loss

A new study led by the University of Chicago and...

Biologist and ethologists have long noticed that some nonhuman animals, such as bears, elephants, or bees have the capacity to self-medicate. However, until recently, no evidence has emerged that animals are also able and willing to assist other suffering members of their species.&nbsp;



In November 2019 though,&nbsp;Alessandra Mascaro, a volunteer at the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.ozouga.org/">Ozouga Chimpanzee Project</a> - a research organization investigating chimpanzee behavior in Gabon, Central Africa - observed a female chimpanzee inspecting a wound on the foot of her adolescent son. Next, the mother was seen catching an insect out of the air, putting it in her mouth, and then applying it onto her son’s wound.



After this extraordinary event, which Mascaro managed to capture on video, the Ozouga team started to monitor the chimpanzees for such wound-tending behavior. Over the next 15 months, they documented 76 more cases.



According to the researchers, these acts of applying insects to others’ wounds are clear examples of prosocial behavior, in which the chimpanzees act in the best interest of others rather than just themselves. 



“This is, for me, especially breathtaking because so many people doubt prosocial abilities in other animals,” said study co-author Simone Pika, a cognitive biologist at the <a href="https://www.uni-osnabrueck.de/en/home/">Osnabrück University</a> in Germany. “Suddenly we have a species where we really see individuals caring for others.”



Further research is needed to clarify which types of insects the chimpanzees use in order to tend one another’s wounds, and what therapeutic properties these insects have. 



“Humans use many species of insect as remedies against sickness - there have been studies showing that insects can have antibiotic, antiviral, and anthelmintic functions,” said Dr. Pika. One theory, which still needs to be tested, is that some of the insects used by chimpanzees may also provide pain relief.



“Studying great apes in their natural environments is crucial to shed light on our own cognitive evolution,” said study senior author Tobias Deschner, a primatologist at the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/index/">Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology</a>. “We need to still put much more effort into studying and protecting them and also protecting their natural habitats.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.12.045">Current Biology</a>.



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

Chimpanzees use insects to tend to each other’s wounds

Biologist and ethologists have long noticed that some nonhuman animals,...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.ecu.edu.au/">Edith Cowan University</a> (ECU), researchers have found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/songbirds-can-control-single-muscle-fibers-while-singing/">muscle</a> strength can be improved in as little as three seconds a day by lifting weights.&nbsp;



In collaboration with researchers from Niigata University of Health and Welfare (NUHW) in Japan, the researchers focused their study on 39 healthy students over the course of four weeks.&nbsp;



The participants performed one muscle contraction at maximum effort for three seconds per day, five days a week.&nbsp;The students were assigned one of three exercises (isometric, concentric or eccentric bicep curls) in which the muscle has different duties while being activated. 



Concentric contraction is achieved by lifting the weight in a bicep curl, eccentric contraction is activated by lowering the weight, and holding the weight parallel to the ground produces an isometric contraction.&nbsp;



Before and after the study period, the experts measured the muscles’ maximum voluntary contraction strength. The same measurements were obtained from an additional 13 students who performed no exercise.



Professor Ken Nosaka, who led the research, said the results show that people don't have to spend vast amounts of time exercising to improve their muscle strength.&nbsp;



“The study results suggest that a very small amount of exercise stimulus - even 60 seconds in four weeks - can increase muscle strength,” said Professor Nosaka.&nbsp;



“Many people think you have to spend a lot of time exercising, but it’s not the case. Short, good quality exercise can still be good for your body and every muscle contraction counts.”&nbsp;



The study revealed that all three lifting methods improved muscle strength, with the biggest gains found among students who performed eccentric contractions. Overall, the eccentric group’s&nbsp;



muscle strength improved by 11.5 percent after a collective effort of just 60 seconds. Students in this group saw significant improvements across all three measurements: concentric strength increased by 12.8 percent, isometric by 10.2 percent, and eccentric strength increased by 12.2 percent.&nbsp;



“Although the mechanisms underpinning eccentric contraction’s potent effects are not clear yet, the fact only a three-second maximal eccentric contraction a day improves muscle strength in a relatively short period is important for health and fitness,” said Professor Nosaka.&nbsp;



The concentric lifting group improved slightly in isometric strength but not elsewhere. The isometric group saw an increase in eccentric strength of 7.2 percent, while the volunteers who did not lift weights showed no improvement.&nbsp;



Professor Nosaka said the findings were exciting for promoting physical fitness and health, such as prevention of sarcopenia – a decrease in muscle mass and strength with aging.&nbsp;



“We haven’t investigated other muscles yet, but if we find the three-second rule also applies to other muscles then you might be able to do a whole-body exercise in less than 30 seconds,” said Professor Nosaka. “Also, performing only one maximal contraction per day means you don’t get sore afterwards.”&nbsp;



The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/16000838">Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports</a>



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

Three seconds a day is all it takes to build muscle strength

In a new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU), researchers...

Known locally as kuluva, the Fijian Dillenia biflora trees have long been a mystery to scientists aiming to understand their position in the evolutionary tree of flowering <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-that-breathe-underwater-could-improve-crop-resilience/">plants</a> and the way in which they were pollinated. Until recently, the Dilleniaceae&nbsp;plant family was believed to offer no nectar rewards and be pollinated mainly by bees. However, a new study led by the <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/">University of South Australia</a> (UniSA) has found that blossom bats (Notopteris macdonaldi) play a fundamental role in the pollination of these plants.



“We discovered that the kuluva flowers never opened on their own, and instead were being pulled off by blossom bats that were after the sugar-rich nectar inside,” said study lead author Sophie Petit, an expert in Pollination Ecology at UniSA.&nbsp;



“The bat lands on a whorl of leaves, removes the corolla, and licks the nectar, covering its nose with pollen in the process. The pollen on the bat is then transported to other flowers of the same species, which are pollinated and produce fruits containing seeds.”



Since kuluva flowers are mature and receptive for one night only during their life cycle, they just have one chance of being pollinated. By removing their corollas - which would otherwise remain forever closed&nbsp;– blossom bats are fundamental for their reproduction.&nbsp;



These findings highlight the need to understand the co-dependence of different species. In this particular case, without blossom bats, some Dillenia trees may not survive - while without these trees, some endangered bat species may become extinct.



“Our discovery has the potential to facilitate the conservation of several threatened tree and bat species across countries,” said Professor Petit. 



“In Fiji, blossom bats are a threatened species. Given that 70 percent of the bats’ dietary samples contained kuluva, it’s obvious that the bats rely heavily on this tree for food. Considering the threatened status of several Dillenia species in different countries, their potential association with bats needs urgent attention, particularly since so many bat species are also threatened.”



“We are currently establishing collaborations in other parts of the Dillenia range. Urgent conservation action is needed, and many nocturnal discoveries await. It’s time for botanists and ecologists to stay up late!” 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0262985">PLoS One</a>.



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

Bats play an active role in plant pollination

Known locally as kuluva, the Fijian Dillenia biflora trees have...

New research led by <a href="https://www.ugent.be/en">Ghent University</a> has found that when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-have-provided-support-during-the-pandemic/">dogs</a> are walked in nature, they contribute a substantial amount of nutrients to the environment through their feces and urine. This has a negative impact on local biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.



The researchers examined four nature reserves around the city of Ghent, Belgium. They estimate that each year, dog feces and urine add an average of 11kg of nitrogen and 5kg of phosphorous per hectare. By comparison, the total levels of nitrogen added across most of Europe through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-fuels-must-be-reduced-immediately-and-drastically/">fossil fuel</a> emissions and agriculture ranges from 5 to 25kg per hectare.&nbsp;



While the addition of nutrients to natural reserves may sound beneficial since it might lead to increased plant growth, this mostly occurs for a very limited number of nutrient-demanding plant species which could then outcompete a large variety of other plants, thus reducing biodiversity.



“In many nature reserves, the management is specifically directed towards lowering soil nutrient levels to enhance plant and animal biodiversity. This can be done through methods like mowing and hay removal. Our findings suggest that the currently neglected inputs of dogs in nature reserves could delay restoration goals,” said study lead author Pieter de Frenne, an expert in Global Change Ecology at Ghent University.



“We were surprised by how high nutrient inputs from dogs could be. Atmospheric nitrogen inputs from agriculture, industry and traffic rightfully receive a lot of policy attention, but dogs are entirely neglected in this respect."



According to Professor De Frenne and his colleagues, keeping dogs on leashes could reduce the fertilization rates in the largest part of the reserves but would in fact increase them in the small areas around paths, leading to inputs as high as 175kg of nitrogen and 73kg of phosphorous per hectare.&nbsp;



However, if the owners picked their dogs’ feces, fertilization levels could be reduced by 56 percent in the case of nitrogen and 97 percent for phosphorous.&nbsp;



These results highlight the need for managers and policy makers to take into consideration currently neglected nutrient inputs by dogs in their management plans and restoration goals, and convince dog owners to collect their animals’ feces on a regular basis in order to mitigate their negative impact on biodiversity.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2688-8319.12128">Ecological Solutions and Evidence</a>.



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

Dog feces can harm the environment and disrupt ecosystems

New research led by Ghent University has found that when...

In any ecosystem, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predators-help-prevent-biodiversity-loss/">predators</a> have the effect of reducing the numbers of prey by killing them for food. On the other hand, prey are fine-tuned to detect, avoid and escape predators, but this comes with costs; it takes time, effort and energy to avoid being a predator’s next meal. As a result, there is a delicate and complex balance between the populations of predator and prey species in an ecosystem.&nbsp;



Ecologists are familiar with counting the numbers of prey caught and killed by predators as a way of determining the impact of the predators on the prey population. However, a new study by scientists from the University of Western Ontario shows that the fear of predators on its own can also cause populations of prey to decrease, and this negative impact has never before been measured.



Professor&nbsp;<a href="https://publish.uwo.ca/~lzanette/">Liana Zanette</a>, her PhD student Marek Allen, and Michael Clinchy, all from Western University’s Department of Biology,&nbsp;monitored the population of free-living, wild song sparrows over three seasons and found that the fear of being attacked by a predator can halve the population of sparrows in five years or less. Avoidance of predation includes being cautious and vigilant, which can so impair parental ability to feed and care for offspring that fewer than half as many young reach adulthood.



“These results have critically important implications for conservation, wildlife management and public policy” explains Zanette, a renowned wildlife ecologist. “The total ecosystem benefits gained from conserving or rewilding native predators, and the full devastation wrought by introduced predators, must all now be re-evaluated.”



Zanette and her colleagues tested the impact of fear itself on the population growth rate of song sparrows by playing recordings of predator and non-predator vocalizations during three annual breeding seasons. They monitored the effects of these manipulations on song sparrow births and survival throughout each year, as well as collecting evidence indicating impacts on population growth beyond the parental generation.&nbsp;



Their findings, published today in the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> (PNAS), showed the significant impact that fear can have on population growth. In the presence of predator vocalizations, sparrows spent time watching out for predators, which prevented them from finding sufficient food for themselves and their young. This resulted in fewer young being born and fewer surviving each developmental stage on the way to adulthood, when compared with the data collected from parent sparrows that heard non-predator vocalizations.



The impact of fear even extended to subsequent generations, the study found. Some offspring that did reach adulthood showed evidence of impaired brain development that would be likely to decrease their chances of survival as adults. This represents a transgenerational impact of predation that could result in reduced population growth over several generations.&nbsp;



The study conclusively demonstrates that ecologists should not only focus on the number of prey killed by predators when assessing the impact of predators on prey populations. Although this is the conventional approach to studying predator-prey relationships, failing to consider the effects of fear itself could lead to significant underestimations of the total impact that predators have on prey population sizes. This could have disastrous consequences when reintroducing predators into wild areas from which they have been absent.



“Fear effects on prey population growth rates are likely the norm in birds and mammals because parental care is a fundamental characteristic of most birds and all mammals, and fear-induced reductions in parental investment and care are commonplace,” contends Zanette.&nbsp; “Having now demonstrated that fear itself can contribute significantly to the total impact predators have on prey populations, we expect this will be found to be true in most ecosystems.”&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fear of predators can damage prey as much as predation itself

In any ecosystem, predators have the effect of reducing the...

A surprising new study from <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">UC Riverside</a> has revealed that we still don't know what the body of Megalodon actually looked like. Despite its notoriety as one of the largest and most fearsome <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/leopard-seals-feed-on-sharks-in-new-zealand/">sharks</a> that ever lived, it turns out that much about Megalodon's appearance remains a mystery.



“The study may appear to be a step backward in science, but the continued mystery makes paleontology, the study of prehistoric life, a fascinating and exciting scientific field,” said Professor Kenshu Shimada of DePaul University.&nbsp;



Otodus megalodon is one of the most infamous ocean predators in history, mainly because of its enormous size. Based on fossilized teeth and vertebrae, scientists believe that the ancient sharks reached lengths of up to 65 feet. They existed on Earth roughly 23 to 3.6 million years ago.



“The cartilage in shark bodies doesn’t preserve well, so there are currently no scientific means to support or refute previous studies on O. megalodon body forms,” said study lead author Phillip Sternes.



With a lack of evidence available, scientists have traditionally modeled Megalodon bodies based on those of modern great white sharks. Great whites are partially warm blooded, and it is believed that Megalodons were as well.&nbsp;



Previously, it was assumed that having some warm blood is an advantage because it could expand sharks’ swimming range, since this would make them less dependent on water temperature. However, it is now believed that partial warm-bloodedness is an advantage because it can increase swimming speed.



“Great whites are among the fastest swimming sharks, so Megalodons were likely also big, fast sharks you would not want to run into in the open ocean,” said Sternes.&nbsp;



The researchers set out to investigate whether a two-dimensional geometric shape analysis could actually distinguish between the body forms of modern warm-blooded species and cold-blooded species within the shark order called Lamniformes, which also includes Otodus megalodon. The results of the study suggest that, when using a two-dimensional analysis, there is no relationship between thermophysiology and body form in Lamniformes.. 



“Although it is still possible that O. megalodon could have resembled the modern great white shark or lamnids, our results suggest that the two-dimensional approach does not necessarily decisively allow the body form reconstruction for O. megalodon,” said study co-author Jake Wood.



“Warm bloodedness does not make you a differently shaped shark,” said Sternes. “I encourage others to explore ideas about its body shape, and to search for the ultimate treasure of a preserved Megalodon fossil. Meanwhile, this result clears up some confusion about previous findings and opens the door to other ideas once again.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



“This new study shows that there are currently no scientific means to support or refute the accuracy of any of the previously published body forms of O. megalodon."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ghbi20/current">Historical Biology</a>.



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

Megalodon's true appearance remains a mystery

A surprising new study from UC Riverside has revealed that...

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. 



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



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



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



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. 



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).



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



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.



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.



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>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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Today’s Video of the Day 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.



"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.



"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."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day 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.



"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.



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.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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Today’s Video of the Day 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;



"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.



"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."



"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."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day 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;



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;



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.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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.

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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;



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;



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. 



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.



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. 



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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.

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.



“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. 



The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.



“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;



“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”



The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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.

How does salt makes things taste better?

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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.

Santiago, Chile in South America

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Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes the first comprehensive estimate of carbon density in the Saharan, Sahel, and Sudanian zones of Africa. In an effort to measure the amount of carbon stored across these drylands, a team of scientists used high-resolution satellite images and artificial intelligence to map nearly 10 billion individual trees. 



"The high spatial resolution (50 cm) combined with AI and field measurements used in this study is key to improving tree inventories in drylands," said Pierre Hiernaux, a French researcher working for NASA. "The ever-increasing availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery will make it possible to assess carbon pools and their dynamics at the individual tree level on a global scale."



"This study is exceptional because it is pioneering a type of approach that will revolutionize the monitoring of trees and forests on a global scale: in the short term, it will be possible to map the world's trees from the centre of the Amazon to our schoolyards," said <a href="https://www.inrae.fr/en">INRAE</a> researcher Jean-Pierre Wigneron.



"Many fields of application will become much more efficient and accurate, such as tracking carbon stocks, biodiversity, monitoring logging and protection against illegal forest degradation, in near real time.”



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> features a visual dataset of.methane emissions from wetlands across the globe. Atmospheric methane levels have reached record highs in recent years, and wetlands are a major source of these emissions.&nbsp;



"Methane is an important greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. On a molecule by molecule basis, methane is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the main driver of warming," says NASA.



"Though human activities, including agriculture, oil and natural gas production and use, and waste disposal, collectively contribute the majority of methane to the atmosphere, about a third of total methane emissions comes from wetlands."&nbsp;



According to NASA, understanding methane emissions from wetlands and other natural sources is critically important for scientists and policymakers who are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions from human activities.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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



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.

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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.

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes why experts are studying zebrafish to gain a better understanding of how the immune system responds to injury. Zebrafish have the ability to repair and regenerate organs.



“Organ regeneration offers an exciting opportunity for studying the immune system and to inquire why some species can regenerate organs like the heart or missing limbs while others like humans cannot,” explained Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski.



Zebrafish sensory organ hair cells are an ideal system to investigate the pathways and cell types involved in regeneration since they are easily destroyed with antibiotics and begin regenerating within five hours. This enabled the researchers to identify the exact timing and genetic programs for each anti-inflammatory macrophage activation state.&nbsp;



“Our hypothesis is that human macrophages do not receive the proper chemical activation 'cocktail' to instruct pro-regenerative processes,” said Dr. Nicolas Denans. “Identifying the molecular recipe of macrophage activation in zebrafish may one day enable us to design regenerative immunotherapies in humans.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“The new evidence is a valuable resource for comparative studies on the genetic programs involved in macrophage-mediated repair and regeneration. In other words, different types of injuries may induce different kinds of inflammatory responses. We want to decipher whether this 'language' is universal or if there are a variety of dialects."



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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.

How the immune system responds to injury

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how record-breaking heat expressed itself around the world in 2022.



Scientists have determined that 2022 was the 5th warmest year since 1880. Furthermore, the last nine consecutive years have been the warmest on record.



From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;



"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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