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Sanjana Gajbhiye

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Rory Arnold

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Rodielon Putol

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Kay Vandette is a freelance writer and has written everything from film and food reviews to travel and lifestyle articles.
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Kay Vandette

Katherine has a background in environmental policy and believes in information sharing and education to address the challenge of climate change. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her cat and husband and enjoys nature, yoga and cooking.

Katherine Bucko

At Earth.com, Jordan explores the latest scientific findings and shares stories that illuminate the beauty and intricacies of our planet. Covering topics ranging from environmental science to sustainable practices, Jordan’s articles aim to spark curiosity and foster a deeper connection to the natural world.

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Jordan Joseph

As a serial entrepreneur, Eric Ralls has long aspired to merge technology with a love for nature and our planet. Founder at Earth.com, EarthSnap, PlantSnap, redOrbit.  "My goal has always been to bring people back to nature, to help them realize that humanity is a part of nature, not 'apart' from nature," says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eric Ralls</a>, Founder and CEO of EarthSnap. "Homosapiens are only one species out of over 8 million species of life with whom we share this planet. Yet humanity treats the earth like it is ours alone to do with as we please, even though we've only been here for a few hundred thousand years out of the 3.5 billion years that this beautiful blue marble has been zipping through the universe."
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Connor Ertz lives in Boston and works as the Marketing Writer for Boston Children's Hospital's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center. He holds degrees in Biology and Chemistry from Gettysburg College, and has been writing for science and news outlets for the last three years. 
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Connor Ertz

In my role as Chief News Editor, I strive to publish studies that are not only fascinating, but also informative. I am grateful for the opportunity to share urgent climate news with Earth.com readers all over the world. 

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Andrei Ionescu

I am a biologist at heart, and interested in all aspects of the natural world. I studied a BSc in Zoology and Botany at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and then received my PhD in Zoology at the same institution. I have subsequently spent much of my life teaching others about the fascinating natural world we have inherited. I am lucky enough to live in South Africa, where wildlife and wild places still abound. 

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Adrián Villellas

Most people go through life feeling glued to their skin. Hands move, feet follow, and the world stays in front of their eyes. Yet a surprising slice of the population has reported slipping loose, hovering a few feet up, and seeing their own body from the outside. 



The phenomenon is called an out-of-body experience (OBE), and its meaning has long puzzled science.



Researchers estimate that anywhere from 5 to 20 percent of global adults have touched this odd territory at least once.



Such accounts crop up in emergency rooms, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psilocybin-deeply-enhances-meditation-insights/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meditation retreats</a>, and even on living-room couches during an afternoon nap. 



Pilots under high G-forces have logged them, and neurologists have induced similar sensations in lab volunteers by tickling a small patch of brain behind the right ear. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-obes-the-strangest-trip-of-all">OBEs: The strangest trip of all</h2>



OBEs share a common script: sight and touch split. People feel <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-human-brain-adapts-to-weightlessness-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weightless</a>, hear the room dimly, and watch themselves from above. 



Laboratory work links the effect to the temporoparietal junction, the brain’s traffic circle for balance, vision, and the sense of owning a body. 



When signals there clash - because of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-eats-away-our-brains-cognitive-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress</a>, epilepsy, lack of oxygen, or a virtual-reality headset - the mind may decide to leave its usual seat.



Historical texts show that monks, shamans, and soldiers have all written about brief departures. Modern imaging backs them up: the body stays put. 



Yet cardiology monitors sometimes register sudden drops in heart rate during an OBE, hinting at a reflex that calms the nervous system when things feel too intense.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surveying-the-floaters">Surveying the floaters</h2>



After years of scattered anecdotes, a fresh survey from the <a href="https://med.virginia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Virginia</a> School of Medicine takes stock. The team surveyed more than 500 adults who were certain they had floated. 



Four out of five said it happened between one and four times; the rest reported at least five departures. Most first left their body in childhood.



Nearly three-quarters called the event spontaneous. Nine percent linked it to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-arabians-burned-harmal-plants-to-heal-and-protect/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychoactive compounds</a>, while 8.2 percent said meditation, visualization, or similar practices did the trick. Only 0.7 percent pointed to hypnosis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-obes-and-the-stress-connection">OBEs and the stress connection</h2>



The new data reveal a heavy shadow of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/child-maltreatment-triples-the-risk-of-substance-use/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early hardship</a>. Many participants recalled medical trauma or abusive homes. 



They also carried more mental-health diagnoses than peers who had never floated, and the likelihood of a diagnosis increased the longer it had been since that first OBE. 



Many people who’ve had out-of-body experiences (OBEs) worry there’s something wrong with them and keep quiet out of fear of being judged. 



“Unfortunately, many mental-health professionals still view these experiences in the same way,” said Weiler, a neuroscientist with UVA’s <a href="https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Division of Perceptual Studies</a>.



Weiler’s team found that individuals who’ve had OBEs often report poorer mental health than those who haven’t. 



However, the researchers believe OBEs may act as “a coping mechanism in response to past trauma,” rather than a sign of illness. 



They urge clinicians to reconsider how they view these experiences and to meet them with “greater openness and sensitivity.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gains-from-leaving-the-body">Gains from leaving the body</h2>



The survey also tracked unexpected upsides. Fifty-five percent of participants said the experience changed their life; seventy-one percent felt a lasting benefit; and forty percent called it the greatest thing that had ever happened to them. 



Many described a lighter view of death, deeper calm, and a sharper sense of connection to other people. These reports match earlier studies in hospital patients, where OBEs sometimes eased anxiety after major surgery.



While stress can tip the brain into an OBE, curiosity clearly plays a role. Some volunteers used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wim-hof-method-helps-fight-stress-inflammation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breathing exercises</a> or sleep-onset tricks to nudge the event on purpose, chasing the mental clarity they felt hovering in the air. 



Scientists studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meditation-slows-biological-aging-at-the-molecular-level/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meditation</a> note similar patterns of detachment during deep practice, though the body stays motionless on the cushion.



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



“This view,” the researchers write, “shifts the focus from causation to the possibility that OBEs may also emerge as a consequence - a coping strategy for navigating difficult or traumatic experiences.” 



Their argument moves attention away from the spectacle of floating and toward the stress that often hides underneath. 



“If OBEs are understood not as symptoms of pathology but as coping mechanisms - especially in response to trauma - this reframing can lead to several important shifts in clinical practice, research, and public understanding,” Weiler explained.



“Ultimately, we hope to reduce the stigma around this topic, encourage help-seeking, and build community and resilience among experiencers.”



Therapists who meet an OBE client might soon ask different questions: not “Why did you split from your body?” but “What weight were you carrying when you launched?” 



Workshops for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/witnessing-trauma-may-cause-ptsd-in-a-different-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PTSD</a> already teach grounding techniques, yet some clinicians now explore whether guided imagery that safely mimics an OBE can loosen painful memories without triggering panic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-obes-go-from-here">Where do OBEs go from here?</h2>



Portable brain scanners and motion-tracking beds promise sharper views of the moment liftoff begins. Researchers aim to map the split-second traffic between inner ear, skin sensors, and sight that lets the self drift. 



Others wonder whether the heart’s slowdown during OBEs could teach new ways to manage panic attacks or chronic pain.



For now, the lesson is plain: when the mind steps outside, it may be staging a clever retreat, buying time until life feels safe again. 



Listening to the story behind that retreat might help bring both mind and body back into easy conversation.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0191886925002545" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Personality and Individual Differences</a>.



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When the mind leaves the body - scientists investigate the incredible phenomenon of OBEs

Most people go through life feeling glued to their skin....

Bright,Red,Sea,Cucumber,(holothuroidea),,Bali,,Indonesia

Best known for their role in cleaning the ocean floor, sea cucumbers may also hold the key to slowing the progression of cancer.



A new study has found that a sugar compound derived from these marine creatures can block an enzyme linked to cancer growth - without the side effects of current treatments.



The findings come from a research team led by the <a href="https://olemiss.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Mississippi</a> (UM) in collaboration with <a href="https://www.georgetown.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Georgetown University</a>. 



By examining the biochemistry of a specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-cucumbers-protect-coral-reefs-from-disease-and-death/">sea cucumber</a> species, scientists uncovered a natural compound that targets Sulf-2, an enzyme known to promote cancer development and spread.



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



Sea cucumbers are soft-bodied marine animals that inhabit ocean floors across the globe, from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea. 



Despite their name, they are not vegetables but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/starfish-are-apparently-one-big-head-crawling-on-seafloor-with-no-body-needed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">echinoderms</a> - relatives of sea stars and sea urchins. 



Their elongated, leathery bodies help them navigate through sand and sediment, where they play a vital ecological role as bottom feeders. 



By ingesting organic matter from the sea floor and excreting cleaner sediment, sea cucumbers contribute significantly to nutrient cycling and the health of marine ecosystems.



In addition to their ecological importance, sea cucumbers have drawn attention for their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-eating-sea-cucumbers-can-prevent-diabetes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medicinal and culinary value</a>, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. 



Rich in collagen, vitamins, and bioactive compounds, they have long featured in traditional remedies and gourmet dishes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-sugars-with-powerful-effects"><a></a>Unique sugars with powerful effects</h2>



Marwa Farrag is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the UM Department of BioMolecular Sciences.



“Marine life produces compounds with unique structures that are often rare or not found in terrestrial vertebrates,” Farrag explained.



“The sugar compounds in sea cucumbers are unique. They aren’t commonly seen in other organisms. That’s why they’re worth studying.”



Farrag led the cancer study, which focused on a molecule called fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, extracted from Holothuria floridana, a species of sea cucumber. 



Through lab testing and computer modeling, the team showed that this compound can successfully inhibit Sulf-2, the enzyme that cancer cells often manipulate to help them spread.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slowing-the-progression-of-cancer">Slowing the progression of cancer</h2>



Our cells are coated in complex sugar structures called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/researchers-successfully-restore-sugar-in-the-brains-sweet-layer-and-recover-memory/">glycans,</a> which help regulate immunity, communication, and the detection of foreign threats. 



In cancer cells, Sulf-2 enzyme patterns change, creating glycan structures that aid disease progression.



“The cells in our body are essentially covered in ‘forests’ of glycans,” said senior author Vitor Pomin, an associate professor of pharmacognosy at UM. 



“Enzymes change the function of this forest - essentially prunes the leaves of that forest. If we can inhibit that enzyme, theoretically, we are fighting against the spread of cancer.”



The team’s experiments showed that the sea cucumber compound effectively blocks Sulf-2 activity. Notably, these results aligned with what their computer simulations had predicted.



“We were able to compare what we generated experimentally with what the simulation predicted, and they were consistent,” said co-author Robert Doerksen, a professor of medicinal chemistry at UM. “That gives us more confidence in the results.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safer-cancer-therapy">Safer cancer therapy</h2>



One of the most promising aspects of the sea cucumber compound is its safety. Many existing treatments that inhibit Sulf-2 also interfere with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweetener-erythritol-sugar-substitute-linked-to-blood-clots-heart-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blood clotting</a> - a serious risk for cancer patients.



“If you are treating a patient with a molecule that inhibits blood coagulation, then one of the adverse effects that can be pretty devastating is uncontrolled bleeding,” said co-author Joshua Sharp, a UM associate professor of pharmacology. 



“So, it’s very promising that this particular molecule that we’re working with doesn’t have that effect.”



The research suggests that a marine-based drug like this could be both safer and more feasible to produce than animal-based alternatives.



“Some of these drugs we have been using for 100 years, but we’re still isolating them from pigs because chemically synthesizing it would be very, very difficult and very expensive,” Sharp said. “That’s why a natural source is really a preferred way to get at these carbohydrate-based <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-scientist-discovers-that-common-non-cancer-drugs-when-combined-can-kill-cancer-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drugs</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clean-efficient-drug-sources">Clean, efficient drug sources</h2>



Harvesting compounds from marine life also carries fewer health risks than obtaining them from land animals, especially when it comes to viral contamination.



“It’s a more beneficial and cleaner resource,” Pomin said. “The marine environment has many advantages compared to more traditional sources.”



Still, some people in parts of Asia consider sea cucumbers a delicacy, so they aren’t a limitless resource. Harvesting large numbers for pharmaceutical use would be impractical and environmentally damaging.



“One of the problems in developing this as a drug would be the low yield, because you can’t get tons and tons of sea cucumbers,” Pomin said. 



“We have to have a chemical route, and when we’ve developed that, we can begin applying this to animal models.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-research-collaboration">Cancer research collaboration</h2>



The study brought together specialists in chemistry, pharmacology, computational biology, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-ever-ocean-dna-study-uncovers-mysteries-of-marine-life/">marine science</a>. It highlights how tackling cancer demands expertise from many different fields.



“This research took multiple expertise - mass spectrometry, biochemistry, enzyme inhibition, computation,” Pomin said. “It’s the effort of the whole team.”



Though still in early stages, this research could pave the way for a new class of cancer therapies derived from the ocean.



These treatments may be both effective and safe. With further development, the strange-looking sea cucumber may soon play an unexpected role in cancer, one of medicine’s biggest battles.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/glycob/article-abstract/35/6/cwaf025/8122264?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glycobiology</a>.



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Sea cucumbers may help slow the spread of cancer, and without the side effects

Best known for their role in cleaning the ocean floor,...

Young,Man,Holding,His,Neck,In,Pain.,Medical,Concept.

When a throbbing knee or aching back refuses to quit, many of us head straight for the pantry. A scoop of ice cream or a fistful of chips can soothe more than the soul. 



Researchers have long noticed the same comfort-seeking reflex in lab animals, hinting that something in the very act of eating can turn down the volume on pain. 



The phenomenon, known as <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3226930/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ingestion analgesia</a>, crops up even when the “meal” is a single lick of sugar water.



The idea that food might blunt discomfort has usually centered on the brain’s reward circuits. 



Yet a growing body of work is pulling the spotlight toward the nerves that sit outside the skull. These peripheral messengers, it turns out, don’t just ferry pain - they can hush it, too.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enter-trpv1-and-d₂o">Enter TRPV1 and D₂O</h2>



Scientists have discovered a novel way to relieve pain by targeting TRPV1, a key ion channel involved in sensing heat and physical discomfort. 



Instead of using conventional painkillers, the approach uses <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_water" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heavy water (D₂O)</a> to subtly alter the channel’s behavior, effectively reducing its overactivity. 



TRPV1 is best known for triggering the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mild-chili-peppers-may-be-the-anti-spice-weve-been-looking-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">burning sensation from chili peppers</a>, but it also plays a central role in many types of pain, with the added benefit of being non-addictive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comfort-food-s-secret-side-effect">Comfort food's secret side effect</h2>



For rodents, a nibble of chocolate during a mild heat test leads to fewer squeaks and squirms. Scientists traced the mellowing effect to hormones that surge as digestion kicks in. 



Chief among them is glucagon-like peptide-1, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weight-loss-drugs-unexpectedly-help-people-drink-less-alcohol/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GLP-1</a>, a gut signal that rises when nutrients hit the small intestine. 



In humans, GLP-1 keeps blood sugar in check by nudging the pancreas to release insulin, but its life in the bloodstream is fleeting - barely one or two minutes.



Drugmakers have stretched that clock by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-alternative-to-ozempic-glp-1-fgf21-may-soon-be-available-for-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crafting GLP-1</a> analogs that linger for hours. These longer-lasting versions already help people with type 2 diabetes and, more recently, individuals seeking weight loss. 



The same molecules have been shown to sap pain inside the brain and spinal cord, raising a simple, tantalizing question: could they also soothe pain at the nerve endings scattered through skin, joints, and organs?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trpv1-channel-the-gatekeeper">TRPV1 channel - the gatekeeper</h2>



Fresh experiments suggest the answer is yes. GLP-1 appears to shoulder past a notorious gatekeeper of pain, the TRPV1 channel. 



Think of TRPV1 as a molecular thermostat: when capsaicin from a pepper, a hot stove, or acidic conditions switches it on, ions rush through its pore, igniting a pain signal. 



In <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/patients-with-chronic-pain-are-turning-to-cannabis-for-relief/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronic pain disorders</a>, the channel can become hypersensitive, turning even a light touch into agony.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TRPV1_water-permeability_drug-free-pain-relief_credit-NBE_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TRPV1_water-permeability_drug-free-pain-relief_credit-NBE_1s.webp" alt="Tracking the water permeability of TRPV1 using up-conversion nanoprobes in single live cells. Credit: Nature Biomedical Engineering" class="wp-image-1973637"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tracking the water permeability of TRPV1 using up-conversion nanoprobes in single live cells. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Nature Biomedical Engineering</figcaption></figure>



Directly blocking TRPV1 has helped in animal tests, but the strategy often wreaks havoc with body temperature, leaving patients flushed or chilled.



GLP-1 seems to take a subtler route. Instead of wedging the channel shut, it tweaks TRPV1 just enough to stop the excess firing while sparing the body’s heat control. The result is a calmer signal with no feverish side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cooling-down-a-hot-channel">Cooling down a hot channel</h2>



Details of that tweak came into sharper focus thanks to a collaboration that stretched from Singapore to Beijing. Professor Liu Xiaogang of the <a href="https://nus.edu.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National University of Singapore</a> and colleagues had pivoted from hormones to water - specifically, heavy water, or D₂O. 



Their team fashioned a luminescent nanoprobe able to tell ordinary H₂O from its heftier cousin as the molecules darted through single TRPV1 pores.



When D₂O slipped through the channel, pain signals in nerve cells sputtered. In living models of both acute and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-with-chronic-pain-have-high-rates-of-depression-and-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronic inflammatory pain</a>, injections of D₂O eased sensitivity without muting other nerve reflexes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trpv1-pain-management-strategy">TRPV1 pain management strategy</h2>



This discovery deepens our understanding of TRPV1 function and lays the groundwork for new pain-management strategies. 



The research team now plans to investigate how D₂O influences additional ion channels, aiming to adapt this mechanism for treating neurological disorders and other clinical challenges.



The solvent-mediated pathway to analgesia stands out as a major advance in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chronic-pain-is-harder-to-treat-in-women-but-a-new-target-offers-hope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pain therapy</a> and could usher in safer, non-addictive options for patients.



Although calming an overactive channel with solvent molecules may sound unconventional, D₂O is already well known in nuclear reactors and biochemical laboratories. 



In small doses it poses little risk, making it an appealing complement - rather than a replacement - to existing drugs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



Pair GLP-1 analogs with the solvent trick and a two-pronged strategy emerges: tamp down abnormal TRPV1 activity while letting the body keep its natural thermostat. 



That approach could offer relief to millions who live with neuropathic pain, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oregano-herb-helps-reduce-and-prevent-joint-pain-from-arthritis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">osteoarthritis</a>, or lingering post-surgical aches.



These are all conditions where current options rely heavily on opioids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, both of which are carry-overs from the last century and are not without drawbacks.



Clinical translation will demand careful dosing studies, long-term safety checks, and creative formulations. 



Yet the blueprint is simple: use a compound we already make after every meal, fortify it so it sticks around, and harness its knack for silencing wayward pain channels. 



Add a dash of heavy water for extra finesse, and the humble act of eating might inspire the next generation of pain relief - no prescription for comfort food required.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-024-01288-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Biomedical Engineering</a>.



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Pain relief breakthrough as scientists discover a safer, non-addictive approach

When a throbbing knee or aching back refuses to quit,...

Gut-brain,Connection,Or,Gut,Brain,Axis.,Concept,Art,Showing,A

Scientists have uncovered a new link between gut bacteria and depression through a small contaminant‑modified lipid molecule. The finding suggests that environmental chemicals in the gut may fuel immune responses tied to mental health.



They set out to discover how one gut bacterium might play an active role in major depressive disorder.



Researchers from Harvard and the Broad Institute focused on <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27421818/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Morganella morganii</a>, a gut bacterium previously <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-021-00991-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">linked</a> to depression, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. 



Their aim was to pinpoint a specific molecule that connects the bacterium to inflammation and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-with-problematic-smartphone-use-suffer-from-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental health</a>.



Using a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/bioassay" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bioassay</a> approach, they discovered unusual <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/phospholipid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phospholipids</a> made by M. morganii. These lipids mimic cardiolipins but include an environmental contaminant, diethanolamine (DEA), instead of the usual glycerol.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contaminant-triggers-inflammation">Contaminant triggers inflammation</h2>



When M. morganii adds a chemical called DEA to its fats (lipids), it changes the molecule in a way that triggers the body’s immune system. 



Tests showed that this new molecule turns on special sensors in immune cells called <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2014.00461/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TLR1 and TLR2</a>.



Once these sensors are activated, the immune cells release a substance called <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4176007/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interleukin-6 (IL-6)</a>. IL-6 causes inflammation and has been <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7139933/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">linked</a> to depression in genetic studies, suggesting it plays a role in mental health.



“There is a story out there linking the gut microbiome with depression, and this study takes it one step further, toward a real understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the link,” said senior author Jon Clardy, the Christopher T. Walsh, PhD Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology in the <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/research/blavatnik-institute" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blavatnik Institute</a> at HMS.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immune-system-and-bacterial-lipids">Immune system and bacterial lipids</h2>



Researchers found that special lipids from M. morganii - called MmDEACLs - can kickstart the immune system by attaching to two receptors, TLR1 and TLR2, which are known for spotting bacterial molecules.



This set off the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a signaling protein linked to long-term inflammation and immune-related illnesses. 



But here’s the twist: only the versions of these lipids that contained DEA caused a strong IL-6 response.



It turns out that small changes in the shape of the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/fatty-acids" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fatty acid chains</a> - like having a double bond instead of a ring - made a big difference in how strongly the immune system reacted. 



This shows that our immune system can pick up on very fine molecular details in bacterial chemicals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters">Why this matters</h2>



This discovery offers strong molecular evidence that gut bacteria altered by environmental pollutants can influence immune pathways tied to depression. 



It suggests <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-with-depression-often-hold-tightly-to-self-doubt/">depression</a> may have an autoimmune or inflammatory component in some cases.



It also raises the possibility that DEA‑modified lipids could serve as biomarkers, helping to identify individuals whose depression may stem from this mechanism.



“We knew that micropollutants can be incorporated into fatty molecules in the body, but we didn’t know how this occurs or what happens next,” Clardy said. “DEA’s metabolism into an immune signal was completely unexpected.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chronic-gut-inflammation-and-depression">Chronic gut inflammation and depression</h2>



Long-term exposure to<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5805548/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> inflammatory signals</a> like IL-6 has been repeatedly linked to the development of depression. 



Elevated IL-6 levels are often found in people with major depressive disorder and can disrupt normal brain signaling, especially in mood-related areas like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.



This supports the idea that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronic inflammation</a>, sparked by environmental contaminants processed by <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3983973/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gut bacteria</a>, could act as a biological trigger for depression in some individuals. 



Rather than being purely psychological, these cases might respond better to treatments that target the immune system.



This work follows earlier <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8001875/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">findings</a> where individual gut bacteria and their molecules were tied to inflammation, immune modulation, and disease outcomes. 



It also strengthens the gut‑immune‑brain concept by adding a contaminant‑mediated chemical twist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environment-and-mental-health">Environment and mental health</h2>



The role of diethanolamine (<a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/diethanolamine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DEA</a>) in this study highlights the broader impact of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11352651/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental micropollutants</a> on human biology. 



DEA is widely used in industrial processes and personal care products, and its presence in the environment means exposure is nearly unavoidable for most people in developed countries.



When a common bacterium like M. morganii transforms DEA into an immune-stimulating molecule, it creates a new layer of interaction between pollution, the microbiome, and the immune system. 



This connection raises public health concerns about how chemical exposures might shape disease risks in ways not previously considered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treating-depression-in-the-gut">Treating depression in the gut</h2>



Researchers note that while the mechanism is clear, further work is needed to determine how often this occurs in depressed individuals and whether blocking this pathway alleviates symptoms.



They plan to explore whether other gut microbes use similar chemical substitutions and what portion of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-too-much-salt-may-contribute-to-depression/">depression</a> cases might involve this contaminant‑inflammation route.



“Now that we know what we’re looking for, I think we can start surveying other bacteria to see whether they do similar chemistry and begin to find other examples of how metabolites can affect us,” said Clardy.



By revealing how a gut bacterium turns a common contaminant into a pro‑inflammatory agent, the study offers new insight into the complex makeup of mental health disorders, and hints at novel ways to detect and treat them.



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<a href="https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/Profiles/display/Person/194993" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sunghee Bang</a> and <a href="https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/Profiles/display/Person/196377" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yern‑Hyerk Shin</a> led this study at <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard Medical School</a> and the <a href="https://www.broadinstitute.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broad Institute</a>, collaborating with <a href="https://bcmp.hms.harvard.edu/faculty-staff/jon-clardy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jon Clardy</a>’s group. 



The study is published in the <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.4c15158" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of the American Chemical Society</a>.



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Bacteria living in your gut may cause depression, not your brain, says a new study

Scientists have uncovered a new link between gut bacteria and...

Early data from NASA’s new PUNCH mission are already revealing how solar storms move through the solar system. The four-spacecraft constellation, now in its final commissioning phase, is giving scientists an unprecedented view of how coronal mass ejections (CMEs) form and travel. 



The data also shows how these massive bursts of solar plasma interact with the space environment surrounding Earth.



These insights were presented at the 246th meeting of the <a href="https://aas.org/meetings/aas246" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Astronomical Society</a> by Dr. Craig DeForest of the Southwest Research Institute (<a href="https://www.swri.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SwRI</a>).



The mission, known formally as the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/punch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PUNCH</a>), aims to map the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/silent-storms-experts-identify-the-mysterious-source-of-solar-wind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar wind</a> and solar atmosphere as a continuous system from the Sun’s surface to interplanetary space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-single-view-across-the-solar-system">Single view across the solar system</h2>



“These preliminary movies show that PUNCH can actually track <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electron-activity-in-auroras-will-help-us-understand-space-weather/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space weather</a> across the solar system and view the corona and solar wind as a single system,” said Dr. DeForest.



“This big-picture view is essential to helping scientists better understand and predict space weather driven by <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/nmp/st5/SCIENCE/cme.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CMEs</a>, which can disrupt communications, endanger satellites, and create auroras on Earth.”



The system’s four suitcase-sized satellites operate as one coordinated array, creating what is effectively an 8,000-mile-wide virtual telescope.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/sun_CME_Punch-Mission_SWRI_1big.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/sun_CME_Punch-Mission_SWRI_1s.webp" alt="NASA’s PUNCH mission, led by SwRI, used its Narrow Field Imager to collect images of solar activity. By blocking the Sun’s bright face, NFI captures the Sun’s atmosphere in unprecedented detail. The June 3 CME shown at the top of the image grew to enormous size, 100 times that of the Sun, as it traveled across the solar system. Credit: NASA/SwRI" class="wp-image-1973627"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NASA’s PUNCH mission, led by SwRI, used its Narrow Field Imager to collect images of solar activity. By blocking the Sun’s bright face, NFI captures the Sun’s atmosphere in unprecedented detail. The June 3 CME shown at the top of the image grew to enormous size, 100 times that of the Sun, as it traveled across the solar system. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA/SwRI</figcaption></figure>



By combining images from each satellite, the mission maps the Sun’s outer atmosphere transforming into the solar wind. 



This stream of charged particles constantly flows from the Sun and shapes conditions throughout the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interstellar-tunnel-found-that-connects-our-solar-system-to-other-stars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar system</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-camera-captures-solar-events">Camera captures solar events</h2>



Each of the <a href="https://punch.space.swri.edu/punch_about_mission.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">four spacecraft</a> carries a specialized camera designed to detect faint, fast-moving solar structures.



Three satellites house Wide Field Imagers, which can see the entire sweep of a CME as it bursts from the Sun and expands outward. 



The fourth satellite features a Narrow Field Imager. Essentially a coronagraph, it blocks the Sun’s intense brightness to capture sharper views of the faint corona.



The first images already include a CME observed in June. These images give scientists detailed snapshots of the Sun’s outer layers during plasma ejections.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-the-journey-in-3d">Tracking the journey in 3D</h2>



Until now, such events were only partly visible, often from fragmented ground-based or spacecraft perspectives. 



PUNCH now enables continuous tracking of a CME’s full journey from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/widest-high-resolution-photo-of-the-sun-ever-captured-solar-orbiter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun</a>'s surface through interplanetary space.



“These first integrated images of our home in space are astonishing, but the best is yet to come,” noted Dr. DeForest.



<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://youtu.be/bOi8fDGtmZo
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Video credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center</figcaption></figure>



“Once the spacecraft are in their final formation and the ground processing is fully sighted over the next few months, we’ll be able to track the solar wind and space weather in 3D throughout our neighborhood in space.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-space-weather">Predicting space weather</h2>



PUNCH launched into orbit on March 11, 2025 with a clear goal: to better understand how solar activity evolves from surface events into large-scale space weather. This weather affects both Earth and spacecraft.



The mission’s unique orbit and imaging capabilities allow it to deliver 3D data on solar material as it travels across the inner solar system.



Space weather caused by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-are-closer-to-predicting-the-timing-and-intensity-of-solar-flares/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar flares</a> and CMEs can interfere with satellite operations, affect astronauts, and disrupt power grids on Earth.



By capturing these phenomena in real time, PUNCH reveals their origins and paths more clearly than ever before. This knowledge is essential for predicting their impacts.



The solar storm mission also marks a technological milestone. 



With its small, coordinated spacecraft and integrated imaging strategy, PUNCH represents a new kind of space observatory. It is compact, cost-effective, and capable of delivering continuous, wide-field observations over vast distances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead-with-punch">Looking ahead with PUNCH</h2>



As the four spacecraft move into final positioning, mission scientists expect to refine their data even further.



Over the coming months, ground teams will complete processing pipelines that stitch together images from all four satellites. The result will be unprecedented 3D movies of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/silent-storms-experts-identify-the-mysterious-source-of-solar-wind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar wind</a> and corona in motion.



The mission will also shed light on basic questions about how solar material and storms change as they leave the Sun.



Why do some bursts move faster than others? How do solar storms evolve as they pass planets and spacecraft? And what clues in their formation could help scientists issue earlier warnings?



With PUNCH, scientists are now seeing space weather as one continuous, connected process - from the moment it ignites at the Sun to the moment it reaches Earth.



The early data has already begun to change how researchers visualize the solar system’s dynamic environment - and in time, it may change how we respond to it.



Information for this article was obtained from a NASA <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/punch/2025/06/10/nasas-punch-releases-its-first-images-of-huge-eruptions-from-sun/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press release</a>.



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Huge 'coronal mass ejection' captured by NASA's new solar mission

Early data from NASA’s new PUNCH mission are already revealing...

News coming your way