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A new executive order aimed at deregulating the U.S. seafood industry is raising red flags among scientists and policy experts. While the order claims to boost competitiveness and cut red tape, critics warn it could do more harm than good - weakening the very systems that protect seafood sustainability.



Scientists from <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">UC Santa Barbara</a> and the University of Washington outlined their concerns in a recent paper. They argue that the executive order misses the mark, prioritizing short-term gains over long-term stability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-the-seafood-deregulation-order">Inside the seafood deregulation order</h2>



Signed in April 2025, the order - titled “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness” - claims that U.S. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-seafood-industry-has-been-hit-hard-by-the-covid-19-pandemic/">seafood markets</a> are held back by overregulation and unfair trade practices. It calls for reducing regulatory burdens, eliminating unsafe imports, and strengthening the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seafood-spoilage-hidden-dangers-in-the-cold-chain/">seafood supply chain</a>.



However, the researchers say the plan is moving too fast and with too little support. They describe it as a policy that risks unraveling decades of scientific progress.



“(It’s) a significant escalation in undoing federal regulatory frameworks, weakening scientific authority and deemphasizing aquaculture development,” said Halley Froehlich of UC Santa Barbara and Jessica Gephart of the University of Washington.



“Instead of reform, it’s dismantling regulations in a very short amount of time,” added Froehlich, the paper’s lead author.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-noaa-s-role-under-threat">NOAA’s role under threat</h2>



The scientists point to cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a major concern. NOAA oversees roughly 500 commercial fishery stocks in the U.S. It plays a key role in managing, monitoring, and protecting marine resources.



Under the new directive, NOAA faces budget cuts, staff reductions, and tighter controls on communication. That’s a serious blow to its ability to coordinate sustainable fishing, especially across regions where fish migrate between countries.



“It’s quite problematic because NOAA is so central to how we manage our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bleaching-effect-coral-loss-threatens-fisheries-and-livelihoods/">fisheries</a>,” Froehlich said. “Data collection, monitoring, oversight, you name it, NOAA is part of that, and a really important part.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-plan-ignores-the-ocean-s-limits">The plan ignores the ocean’s limits</h2>



The executive order is supposed to help boost domestic seafood production. But the researchers argue that the ocean has limits - and we’re already close to reaching them.



“We are not going to get more out of the ocean,” Froehlich said. “We’re already near ‘peak fish,’ meaning maintenance and recovery of our stocks.”



Wild fisheries - both in the U.S. and globally - are already producing at or near their maximum sustainable levels. That leaves <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aquaculture-now-produces-more-food-than-wild-fishing/">aquaculture</a> as the only real path for growth. 



However, the new order gives little attention to farmed seafood and offers even less support to the agencies that regulate it. The scientists call it a mismatch between promises and practical outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cutting-data-cutting-capacity">Cutting data, cutting capacity</h2>



One of the most troubling issues is the potential loss of data. The researchers warn that NOAA’s online databases, climate research, and monitoring tools may be defunded or decommissioned.



Without this data, managing fisheries becomes guesswork. It also makes it harder to prepare for climate-driven shifts in marine ecosystems.



“Without the data, expertise and capacity to study and understand these systems we run the risk of fishery collapses becoming more common and long-lasting,” the authors wrote.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trade-conflicts-and-mismatched-markets">Trade conflicts and mismatched markets</h2>



The executive order also makes assumptions about seafood markets that don’t align with reality. 



Much of the seafood farmed in the U.S. isn’t what consumers demand most. And a large portion of seafood caught in U.S. waters is processed overseas before being sold back into the domestic market.



If tariffs are imposed on imported or foreign-processed seafood, prices for high-demand products like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrimp-crisis-alarming-virus-threatens-global-seafood-supplies/">shrimp</a> could rise sharply. Right now, only about 10% of shrimp eaten in the U.S. comes from domestic sources.



“In disrupting the market dynamics we do have, especially with trade wars with our trading partners, it’s likely that we’re going to have the opposite effect of creating opportunity long-term,” Froehlich said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-alternative-to-seafood-deregulation">An alternative to seafood deregulation </h2>



The paper was submitted as evidence in a recent hearing by the House Natural Resources Committee’s Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee. The scientists hope their findings will influence how Congress approaches <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seafood-will-help-feed-earths-future-population-of-10-billion/">seafood policy</a> moving forward.



“When it comes to any shifts in production, these high levels of uncertainty are not a beneficial thing to happen for the sector,” Froehlich said.



While deregulation may sound appealing to some, the authors argue that a stable, well-regulated system - backed by science and data - is what actually keeps seafood both sustainable and competitive. In their view, cutting corners now could cost the industry far more in the future.



The full study was published in the journal Marine Policy.



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Why seafood deregulation may hurt more than help

A new executive order aimed at deregulating the U.S. seafood...

Most people assume they know what to expect from alcohol: drink enough, and your judgment gets fuzzy. But what if alcohol doesn’t affect everyone the same way?



A recent study from The University of Texas at El Paso (<a href="https://www.utep.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UTEP</a>) suggests that gender shapes how alcohol steers choices.



A research team led by Dr. Alexander Friedman set out to answer a simple but deep question. Does <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cure-for-alcohol-addiction-was-discovered-by-accident/">alcohol</a> sway decision making differently in males and females? Turns out, it does.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alcohol-and-drink-selection">Alcohol and drink selection</h2>



Rats may not attend cocktail parties. Still, they make decisions just like humans do. Especially when rewards are involved.



Friedman’s team designed a clever experiment. They built the REward COst in Rodent Decision making system (RECORD). It is a special arena where rats pick drinks. 



At first, no alcohol was involved. The rats simply chose between drinks with different levels of sweetness. The researchers recorded their sober preferences.



But then came the twist. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-americans-now-link-alcohol-consumption-to-cancer/">Alcohol</a> entered the mix. The drinks now had different alcohol levels. They mimicked sweet cocktails people often enjoy.



Suddenly, male rats started to act differently. They chased stronger alcohol drinks. This happened even though they had earlier preferred sweeter options. Some males kept chasing those strong drinks for up to two months after the experiment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-females-stayed-the-course">Females stayed the course </h2>



Females, however, did not flinch. Despite drinking more alcohol per body weight, female rats stuck with their original choices. They were not tempted by the stronger stuff.



“Our findings demonstrate that acute alcohol consumption profoundly affects male rats’ decision making, suggesting a gender specific vulnerability to alcohol’s effects,” said Friedman. 



“In particular, this study is interesting because it helps us understand the neuronal underpinnings of decision making and how an alcohol induced state can bias our choices.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alcohol-affects-our-decisions">Alcohol affects our decisions</h2>



This study is not just about rats moving through a lab arena. Friedman believes these findings go far beyond laboratory walls. He thinks humans might show similar behavior patterns.



Alcohol plays a big part in many situations where decisions matter. People <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-alcohol-in-moderation-does-not-prolong-life/">drink</a> at business meetings. They drink during family gatherings, and also drink at social events where important choices often happen. 



This research brings up a serious question. Could alcohol push men and women toward different decisions after drinking?



Friedman pointed out that alcohol at work events or social gatherings might cause men to act differently. He believes men could make choices under the influence that they would likely avoid if they were sober. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-nudge-toward-new-solutions">A nudge toward new solutions</h2>



Dr. Robert Kirken, dean of UTEP’s College of Science, feels happy about this work. “We’re incredibly proud of Dr. Friedman and his team for advancing our understanding of how alcohol impacts decision making,” said Kirken.



“This work has the potential to inform more targeted approaches to addressing substance use and its consequences, and it exemplifies the kind of meaningful, translational science we strive to support.”



The study might lead to better treatments for alcohol related problems. Friedman thinks knowing these gender based effects could change how experts treat alcohol <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-small-amounts-of-alcohol-increase-cancer-risk/">misuse</a>. Treatments could get smarter and more personalized.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-alcohol-and-decision-making">Understanding alcohol and decision-making</h2>



The research opens the door to a completely new way of thinking about alcohol and its effects on decision making. 



The results suggest that alcohol does not simply blur choices in the same way for everyone. Instead, its impact appears to depend on deeper factors such as gender and brain biology.



Now, with this foundation in place, scientists have a chance to explore this subject even further. They can study the links between alcohol, brain circuits, and gender-specific behaviors in more detail. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hidden-effects-of-alcohol">The hidden effects of alcohol</h2>



The findings might reveal surprising connections that could change how we understand alcohol’s role in human behavior. Looking ahead, there is hope that doctors and health professionals will one day use this knowledge to help people navigate alcohol’s hidden effects. 



Treatments and advice could become more personal, focusing on how alcohol affects different individuals instead of applying a one-size-fits-all approach. 



For now, one fact stands out clearly. Alcohol does not guide every person down the same path.



The project received strong backing from major institutions, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article-abstract/60/3/agaf017/8113315?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alcohol and Alcoholism</a>.



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Drunk decisions: Alcohol affects men and women differently

Most people assume they know what to expect from alcohol:...

Some of the biggest questions in planetary science are written across the dusty surface of Mars. Why did a planet that once had flowing rivers and lakes end up as a frozen desert? How did Mars lose its grip on liquid water - and what does that say about a planet’s ability to stay habitable? 



A new study may bring us closer to an answer. Scientists from the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/en">University of Chicago</a> have proposed a new model that explains why Mars couldn’t hold on to its early climate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mystery-of-mars-climate">The mystery of Mars' climate</h2>



The team suggests that Mars had short bursts of warmth triggered by gradual changes in sunlight. But each time conditions improved, the planet pushed itself right back into a deep freeze. That’s very different from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-has-a-stabilizing-mechanism-that-keeps-it-habitable/">Earth</a>, which has stayed habitable for billions of years.



“For years, we’ve had this huge unanswered question for why Earth has managed to keep its habitability while Mars lost it,” said Edwin Kite, a participating scientist on NASA’s Curiosity rover and associate professor at the University of Chicago. 



“Our models suggest that periods of habitability on Mars have been the exception, rather than the rule, and that Mars generally self-regulates as a desert planet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-case-of-the-missing-carbon">The case of the missing carbon</h2>



Curiosity’s recent discovery of carbonate-rich rocks on Mars helped make this new theory possible. These minerals were the missing link in a puzzle scientists have been trying to solve for years. 



If Mars once had a thick, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-mars-missing-atmosphere-hiding-in-plain-sight/">carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere</a> - enough to warm the planet and allow water to flow - where did all that carbon go? “People have been looking for a tomb for the atmosphere for years,” Kite said.



Scientists had suspected that, like Earth, Mars might lock away carbon dioxide in its rocks through chemical reactions with water. But early tests by Mars rovers failed to find those carbonate deposits. 



That changed when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-curiosity-rover-finds-sulfur-crystals-martian-rock-hints-at-possible-life/">Curiosity</a> reached higher elevations on Mt. Sharp and finally hit the carbonate-rich layers they’d been hoping to find.



“It really is something you cannot know until you have a rover on the surface,” said study co-author Benjamin Tutolo, a professor at the University of Calgary. 



“The chemistry and mineralogy measurements they provide really are essential in our continuing quest to understand how and why planets stay habitable, in order to search for other hospitable worlds out in the universe.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mars-climate-cycle-worked-against-life">Mars' climate cycle worked against life</h2>



Mars and Earth started out with a lot in common. Both are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rocky-planets-a-new-target-in-the-search-for-extraterrestrial-life/">rocky planets</a>. Both have water and carbon. Both are at a decent distance from the Sun. Yet only one has remained friendly to life.



The new study explains how small differences added up over time. Earth has a built-in thermostat: carbon cycles from the atmosphere into rocks and back again through volcanic activity. 



When Earth heats up, reactions pull carbon dioxide out of the air, cooling things down. Then volcanoes push it back out again, preventing a deep freeze. On Mars, that cycle doesn’t work the same way.



“In contrast to Earth, where there are always some volcanoes erupting, Mars right now is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-volcano-arsia-mons-captured-with-its-head-above-the-clouds-in-sunrise-photo/">volcanically dormant</a>, and the average rate of volcanic outgassing on Mars is slow,” Kite said. 



“So in that situation, you don't really have a balance between carbon dioxide in and carbon dioxide out, because if you have even a little bit of liquid water, you're going to draw down carbon dioxide through carbonate formation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-carbon-in-mars-climate">The role of carbon in Mars' climate </h2>



The carbon imbalance means any brief warming on Mars - such as from a slowly brightening sun - triggers its own undoing. Water reappears. It helps form carbonates. That pulls carbon out of the air. Then the greenhouse effect fades, and Mars cools off again.



The models show Mars could have had warm, wet periods lasting a few million years, followed by dry spells that lasted 100 million years or more. That kind of stop-start habitability, with massive gaps in between, isn’t great for sustaining life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traces-of-environmental-catastrophe">Traces of environmental catastrophe </h2>



Between Curiosity, Perseverance, and the fleet of orbiters circling the planet, we’re finally piecing together a real history of what happened to Mars' climate.



“Fortunately, Mars preserves a trace of that environmental catastrophe in the rocks on its surface,” said Kite. “And today we're in a golden age of Mars science, with two plutonium-powered rovers on the surface and an international fleet of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-insight-mro-spacecraft-teamed-up-with-ai-to-find-a-fresh-impact-crater/">spacecraft</a> in orbit that allow us to deeply explore the planet for these traces.”



The more we understand about how Mars lost its atmosphere, the more we can learn about what keeps a planet stable - and what makes it fragile.



The full study was published in the journal Nature.



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Climate collapse: Why did Mars become a desert?

Some of the biggest questions in planetary science are written...

Aging doesn’t look the same for everyone. Most people know someone who seems to age faster or slower than others. One person may still run marathons in their 70s, while another starts struggling with memory and energy in their 50s. 



This aging discrepancy raises a basic question: Is there a way to actually measure how fast someone is aging?



Scientists from <a href="https://duke.edu/">Duke University</a>, Harvard University, and the University of Otago in New Zealand have created a tool that uses a single brain scan to estimate how quickly your body and mind are aging. And it does this while you’re still in midlife, before major health problems show up.



“The way we age as we get older is quite distinct from how many times we’ve traveled around the sun,” said Ahmad Hariri, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-clues-hidden-in-a-single-scan">Aging clues hidden in a single scan</h2>



The new tool, called DunedinPACE Neuroimaging or DunedinPACNI, can be used with a standard MRI brain scan. It gives doctors and researchers a read on your aging pace and potential risk for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fitness-focused-medicine-physical-activity-reduces-chronic-disease-risk/">chronic diseases</a> long before symptoms appear. 



This kind of early warning system could give people a chance to make changes that might actually slow or prevent serious health problems.



“What’s really cool about this is that we’ve captured how fast people are aging using data collected in midlife,” Hariri said. “And it’s helping us predict diagnosis of dementia among people who are much older.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-most-aging-clocks-get-it-wrong">Why most aging clocks get it wrong</h2>



Many "aging clocks" already exist, but they mostly rely on things like blood tests or genetic markers collected from people of various ages at one point in time. That approach can be misleading.



According to Hariri, things that look like faster aging may simply be because of differences in exposure to things such as leaded gasoline or cigarette smoke that are specific to their generation. "We need to figure out how we can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-technology-uses-eye-scanner-to-measure-biological-aging/">monitor aging</a> in an accurate way."



The new model avoids that problem by using data from a rare and detailed dataset: the Dunedin Study. This long-term project has followed more than 1,000 people born in Dunedin, New Zealand, between 1972 and 1973. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-scans-predict-rates-of-aging">Brain scans predict rates of aging</h2>



Researchers have been tracking the participants' physical and mental health for over 50 years. Every few years, the study measured things like blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index, kidney and lung function - even gum health. 



By analyzing how these markers changed over time, the researchers created a personalized aging rate for each participant.



The team trained DunedinPACNI to predict that rate of aging based only on brain scans taken when the participants were 45. Once the model was trained, it was tested on other datasets from the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Latin America.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-brain-keeps-the-score">Your brain keeps the score</h2>



The results held up across different groups. People who were aging faster, according to the tool, performed worse on cognitive tests, experienced faster shrinkage of the hippocampus - the brain’s memory center - and faced a higher risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/speech-pattern-wfd-that-is-a-clear-indication-a-person-is-in-cognitive-decline/">cognitive decline</a>.



In one sample of 624 older adults, those who were aging the fastest had a 60% higher chance of developing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/risk-of-dementia-is-much-higher-than-previously-thought/">dementia</a> and started showing symptoms earlier than their slower-aging peers.



When the team first saw the results, they were amazed. "Our jaws just dropped to the floor,” Hariri said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-the-brain">More than just the brain</h2>



The tool also revealed a strong link between brain aging and overall physical decline. People with high aging scores were more likely to suffer from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sugary-drinks-linked-to-millions-of-diabetes-and-heart-disease-cases/">heart disease</a>, lung issues, strokes, and other chronic illnesses. 



These individuals were 18% more likely to be diagnosed with a major disease and 40% more likely to die in the next few years compared with people aging at an average pace.



“The link between aging of the brain and body are pretty compelling,” Hariri said.



The model worked just as well across different racial and socioeconomic groups, including low-income and non-white participants in the U.K. and people in Latin America. "It seems to be capturing something that is reflected in all brains,” Hariri said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-populations-growing-problems">Aging populations, growing problems</h2>



Globally, the number of people over 65 is expected to double by 2050. That means more people will deal with diseases like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-benefits-alzheimers/">Alzheimer’s</a>, which already cost the world $1.33 trillion in 2020 and could climb to $9.12 trillion by mid-century.



“But because we live longer lives, more people are unfortunately going to experience chronic age-related diseases, including dementia,” Hariri said.



Current Alzheimer’s drugs don’t stop or reverse the disease - they mostly manage symptoms. One reason they may not work well is that they’re given too late. "Drugs can't resurrect a dying brain,” Hariri said.



That’s where a tool like DunedinPACNI could change things. If doctors can spot who’s at higher risk earlier, they could try new treatments while there’s still time to protect the brain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scans-may-identify-causes-of-faster-aging">Scans may identify causes of faster aging</h2>



Besides tracking dementia risk, the tool could help explain why certain factors - like poor sleep or mental health problems - seem to make people age faster.



“We really think of it as hopefully being a key new tool in forecasting and predicting risk for diseases, especially Alzheimer's and related dementias, and also perhaps gaining a better foothold on progression of disease,” Hariri said.



“More research is needed to advance DunedinPACNI from a research tool to something that has practical applications in healthcare,” said Ethan Whitman, a Ph.D. student in clinical psychology at Duke and the study’s first author.



In the meantime, the researchers hope others will use the tool in studies that already have brain scan data but lack long-term health tracking. It could open a new window into how we age - and how we might slow the process down.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-025-00897-z">Nature Aging</a>.



Image Credit: Ethan Whitman, Duke University



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How fast are you aging? Brain scans reveal hidden clues

Aging doesn’t look the same for everyone. Most people know...

Tropical trees are dying at faster rates than ever before. While deforestation continues to be a major issue, even untouched forests are seeing increased rates of tree death. 



Scientists have long pointed to drought, extreme heat, and wildfires as key contributing factors to tropical tree mortality. But now, they are highlighting another powerful and often-overlooked force: thunderstorms.



Unlike the more familiar hurricanes and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-bomb-cyclones-increasing-due-to-climate-change/">cyclones</a>, these storms are short but intense. Their high winds and lightning can be devastating to trees.



According to a recent study from researchers at the <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies</a>, these storms are becoming more frequent due to climate change - and they’re causing serious harm to tropical forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-climate-cost-of-tropical-tree-death">The climate cost of tropical tree death</h2>



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-forests-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-climate-change/">Tropical forests</a> have massive effects on global climate. They're like the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-rainforest-and-the-looming-threat-of-drought/">lungs of the Earth</a>, and we're seeing trees in them dying at higher rates than in the past, and the composition of forests is changing, too,” said Evan Gora, a forest ecologist at&nbsp;Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. 



“That could be really problematic for the future of not just tropical forests, but for the planet.”



While storms might seem like fleeting events, their impact on tropical forests can be lasting. These powerful bursts of wind and lightning can injure or topple even the largest trees, disrupting forest structure and biodiversity in seconds.



“Being in the forest during a tropical storm is unforgettable,” said study co-author Vanessa Rubio. “As the storm quickly builds, the sky darkens, humidity changes drastically, and strong winds shake the trees. 



"Then, thunder and lightning come. Leaves and branches fall to the ground, rain pours down, and your instinct is to get back to the field station as quickly as possible.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-silent-driver-of-tree-death">A silent driver of tree death</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thunderstorms-are-becoming-more-intense-due-to-climate-change/">Thunderstorms</a> haven’t been given the same attention as other climate-related threats. But that’s starting to change. The team re-examined data from earlier studies on tropical tree death and forest carbon levels. They found that storms are just as significant - if not more so - than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-drought-crisis-un-warns-of-unprecedented-emergency/">drought</a> or heat.



“We were surprised to find that storms may be the largest single factor causing tree death in these forests, and they’re largely overlooked by research into carbon storage in the tropics,” said Gora. 



“Our estimates suggest that storms are responsible for 30 to 60% of tree mortality in the past, and that number must be increasing as storm activity increases by 5 to 25% each decade.”



When the researchers added storms to the largest plot-based study on tropical forest carbon, the picture changed dramatically. The previous data showed a sharp drop in carbon when temperatures rose above a certain point. But adding storms made that link disappear.



“But when you add storms, that relationship goes away,” Gora said. “It basically shows that you have to include storms, or you might not get the answers right.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-double-trouble-for-tropical-trees">Double trouble for tropical trees</h2>



The team found that storms and drought often hit the same forests. The southern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-rings-show-amazon-rainfall-is-getting-more-extreme/">Amazon</a>, for instance, experiences both frequent storms and severe water stress. These combined threats are reshaping the region’s ecology.



“During my studies on threats to tropical forests, my professors, our textbooks, and even overall climate policy never mentioned small, convective storms as a potential source of forest mortality,” said study co-author Ian McGregor.



“I don't remember seeing them in global climate models used to inform climate policy. Given our findings, however, it's clear we need a more thorough understanding of these storms to have more accurate climate models, and thus more effective policy,” he added.



So why have storms flown under the radar until now? Part of the reason is that heat and drought are easier to measure. Tools like weather stations and long-term satellite tracking make it simpler to monitor those threats. 



But storms are different. They strike quickly and cause scattered damage. Satellites often miss the evidence of tropical tree deaths, and it’s nearly impossible for researchers to check vast forests manually after every storm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-trees-from-sky-to-soil">Tracking trees from sky to soil</h2>



To address these challenges, the team launched the Gigante project, co-led by the University of Birmingham. It uses a combination of lightning-tracking systems, drones, and field experts to monitor large areas of tropical forest. 



This enables scientists to pinpoint the location and extent of tree death, when the damage occurs, and which species are most at risk.



“If we make decisions about which species to plant or conserve based on an incorrect understanding of what's actually killing these trees and which species are most vulnerable, those forests won’t reach their full potential,” said Gora. 



Mature trees are especially vulnerable to storm damage. Without clearer insight, we might not realize our reforestation choices were flawed until decades later.



“However, if we can build a more holistic picture of what’s driving forest change, we can be a lot more confident in guiding forest management practices for long-term sustainability," noted Gora.



Understanding why tropical trees are dying isn’t just a scientific concern - it’s a climate priority with global consequences.



The study is to be <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/press-release/thunderstorms-are-major-driver-tree-death-tropical-forests">published</a> in a perspective article in the journal Ecology Letters.



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Tropical tree deaths are increasing, even in untouched forests

Tropical trees are dying at faster rates than ever before....

Fire has licked the planet’s surface for more than 400 million years, scorching forests, clearing grasslands, and lofting smoke into the upper air. Yet pinning down when people stopped fearing flames and started steering them has been surprisingly hard.



A fresh <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2500042122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> of a 300,000‑year‑old sediment core pulled from the East China Sea finds a sharp surge in soot about 50,000 years ago, a signal that stands apart from normal climate‑driven wildfire patterns.



The work, led by Dr. Zhao Debo at the <a href="http://english.qdio.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Oceanology</a>, Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with partners in Germany and France, strings together chemical, archaeological, and climate evidence into one timeline.



“Our findings challenge the widely held belief that humans only began influencing the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ideas-traveled-farther-than-people-in-the-early-days-of-farming/">environment</a> with fire in the recent past, during the Holocene,” said Dr. Zhao Debo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-humans-began-using-fire">When humans began using fire</h2>



Researchers tracked <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01343-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pyrogenic carbon</a>, the charred plant residue left when biomass burns incompletely, because rivers flush those tiny black flecks into coastal mud where they store a record of past fires.



Between 60,000 and 45,000 years ago that charcoal fraction doubled, then stayed high. The jump broke its long connection to East Asian monsoon strength, showing that weather alone could not explain the flames.



Parallel charcoal peaks in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Papua New Guinea–Australia corridor line up with the same window, pointing to a continent‑scale shift rather than scattered lightning <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birth-of-farming-driven-by-humans/">strikes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fire-use-spreads-across-continents">Fire use spreads across continents</h2>



Archaeological <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/more-45000-years-ago-modern-humans-ventured-neanderthal-territory-here-s-what-happened" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hearths</a> from Bulgaria’s <a href="https://visitbulgaria.com/bacho-kiro-cave/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bacho Kiro Cave</a> to northern Australia’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Madjedbebe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Madjebebe</a> site cluster inside the same interval, confirming that <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/more-45000-years-ago-modern-humans-ventured-neanderthal-territory-here-s-what-happened" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">campfires</a> had become routine parts of daily life.



Genetic <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09154-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> trace almost all non‑African ancestry to a single successful wave of Homo sapiens that left Africa about 50,000 years ago, matching the charcoal timeline.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/humans_fire_early-homo-sapiens_map-sites_credit-IOCAS_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/humans_fire_early-homo-sapiens_map-sites_credit-IOCAS_1s.webp" alt="Fire history of Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea–Australia and age distribution of archaeological sites since the last 300,000 years. Credit: IOCAS" class="wp-image-1976185"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fire history of Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea–Australia and age distribution of archaeological sites since the last 300,000 years. Click image to enlarge. Credit: IOCAS</figcaption></figure>



While earlier <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evidence-of-ancient-plant-farming-found-in-east-africa/">humans</a> played with sparks, evidence for habitual fire stretches back at least 250,000 years in Europe, those earlier experiments were local and intermittent. The new record shows the first moment when fire use scales with population growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-migration-cold-nights-and-campfires">Migration, cold nights, and campfires</h2>



The out‑of‑Africa travelers trekked into ice‑age Eurasia where nights dipped well below freezing. Fire kept predators away, cooked meat, dried hides, and allowed late‑night tool making.



“Even during the Last Glaciation, the use of fire had probably started to reshape ecosystems and carbon fluxes,” added <a href="http://english.qdio.cas.cn/people/jzg/202208/t20220803_310174.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Wan Shiming</a>, a co‑author on the study.



Controlled flame also opened new food groups. Roasting tubers breaks down starches, and heated stone cracks to yield sharper blades, advantages that likely boosted survival odds for the migrants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-burning-added-carbon-to-land-and-ocean">Burning added carbon to land and ocean</h2>



Modern wildfires already release between 116 and 385 teragrams of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-10455-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pyrogenic carbon</a> to land and sea each year, a sizable slice of the global carbon ledger. 



When ancient people started burning wood on purpose, they nudged that ledger long before industrial smokestacks appeared.



Charcoal is stable. Some pieces survive for millennia in soils, some drift as <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2305030121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dissolved black carbon</a> into the deep ocean where currents can store it for thousands of years. 



By pushing extra charcoal into these sinks, early fire managers may have offset part of the carbon dioxide they released.



Climate models that begin counting human impacts only with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cave-discovery-of-ancient-avocados-could-rescue-a-global-crop/">farming</a> or factories might therefore miss a slow, earlier perturbation that started when nightly campfires became normal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-human-fire-use-shaped-climate">Early human fire use shaped climate</h2>



The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212682112000261" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">East China Sea</a> record shows that environmental influence is not a recent human monopoly. Small groups with stone tools and wooden spears were already altering regional fire regimes and, in turn, the carbon cycle.



That insight reframes today’s policy debates. If early people changed atmospheric chemistry with nothing but sticks and sparks, eight billion of us wielding fossil fuels carry far more leverage, and responsibility, than any ancestral hunter‑gatherer could imagine.



Fire management still shapes global climate in modern times. Prescribed burns reduce fuel loads but also emit smoke; savanna fires in Africa and Australia pulse <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-first-greenhouse-gas-detecting-satellite-is-now-in-orbit/">greenhouse gases</a> each dry season; boreal megafires now send record carbon plumes aloft. 



Understanding the deep history of intentional burning helps calibrate those modern choices. Fifty thousand years later we still gather around flames, but the scale has ballooned from glowing embers to global power grids.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2500042122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Early humans learned to use and control fire much sooner than previously believed

Fire has licked the planet’s surface for more than 400 million...

Smiling,Mature,Mother,And,Adult,Daughter,On,Sofa,In,Living

Imagine chatting over coffee with your grandmother when she pauses mid-sentence and mutters, “Oh, what’s the word I’m looking for?” That familiar snag - scientists call it word-finding difficulty (WFD) - often arrives long before gray hair or reading glasses. It can feel trivial, yet it quietly hints at how the brain ages.



Those hesitations pop up everywhere, from grocery aisles to family reunions. They even slip into laboratory tasks designed to stress-test language. 



Far from mere annoyance, a faltering word can help clinicians spot trouble brewing in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pupil-size-during-sleep-decides-if-new-or-old-memories-are-replayed/">memory networks</a> years before other symptoms emerge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-word-finding-difficulty-wfd">Word-finding difficulty (WFD)</h2>



Early work at the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Toronto</a> and <a href="https://www.baycrest.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baycrest Health Sciences</a> ties WFD to the same neural highways that falter in Alzheimer’s disease. 



Researchers note that slower speech, rather than the odd lapse, tracks most closely with overall cognitive health. 



Beyond disease, fresh evidence links verbal fluency to longevity; adults who keep words flowing live longer than peers whose speech grows hesitant.



Because everyday talk is complex, scientists break the puzzle into manageable pieces. 



Clues come from spontaneous pauses like “um,” “uh,” and from those frustrating “tip-of-the-tongue” moments when meaning is clear but the sound won’t surface. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-wfd-theories">Three WFD theories</h2>



One camp blames a global slowdown. The processing speed theory says an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aging-hotspot-found-in-the-brain-may-hold-the-key-to-longevity/">aging brain</a> resembles an old laptop that needs a beat to open each file. 



Neural transmissions still fire, just more leisurely, leading to extra silence before the right syllable appears.



Another view, the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33934024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">inhibition deficit</a> hypothesis, argues that older adults struggle to hush irrelevant notions. Competing names or ideas intrude, and mental traffic control can’t wave them aside quickly. 



Yet real-world conversations rarely show a flood of wrong guesses, casting doubt on inhibition as the chief culprit.



A third explanation zooms straight into language. The <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319777924_Research_into_Tip_of_the_Tongue_State_Transmission_Deficit_Model_vs_Blocking_Hypothesis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transmission deficit</a> hypothesis pictures vocabulary as a layered web: concept at the top, word form in the middle, and sound at the bottom. 



Age loosens the link between the middle and bottom tiers, so the speaker knows the concept but can’t launch its sound. That fragile connection makes spoken naming harder than listening or reading, which rely on sturdier routes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-picture-word-game">Picture-word game</h2>



To probe these ideas, scientists use <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35389697/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">picture-word interference</a> tasks. Volunteers see a picture - say, a dog - while a word flashes or plays. If that word is “cat,” its meaning overlaps and slows the answer. 



If it is “fog,” the shared consonant kick-starts articulation. This setup teases apart semantic and phonological forces without the messiness of free conversation.



Moving experiments online has boosted participation. Researchers turned the task into a fast-paced game, keeping attention high across all ages. 



Reaction times shrink into the millisecond range, revealing hiccups long before a listener hears any stumble.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-125-volunteers-revealed">What 125 volunteers revealed</h2>



In one study, 125 adults aged 18 to 85 tackled the game, logged executive-function scores, and recorded natural chat for later analysis. 



Older participants slowed markedly when “cat” accompanied a dog image and enjoyed less help from a “fog” cue. Those patterns matched the weakened pathway predicted by the transmission deficit hypothesis.



Yet when daily speech samples were scored, neither semantic slowdown nor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/speech-planning-how-our-brains-prepare-to-speak/">phonological</a> boost predicted real-life WFD. 



Instead, overall reaction time - the raw speed of pulling any word - stood out as the best indicator. The finding nudged attention back toward general <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-the-speed-at-which-the-brain-processes-information/">processing speed</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speed-outpaces-distraction">Speed outpaces distraction</h2>



Follow-up work confirmed that the cadence of ordinary talk mirrors cognitive vitality. The University of Toronto team found that people who spoke more slowly also scored lower on tasks requiring planning and focus, even when word-finding errors were rare. 



Crucially, pauses to chase a lost word did not track with decline; what mattered was how briskly sentences rolled once the right words appeared.



This distinction eases common worries. A brief hunt for a noun may simply reflect normal aging, whereas a gradual slowdown in fluent speech could wave a red flag earlier than memory tests. 



Clinicians now argue that talking speed belongs in standard cognitive checkups, alongside <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-you-position-your-arm-can-alter-blood-pressure-readings-according-to-scientists/">blood pressure</a> and reflex taps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead-to-early-detection">Looking ahead to early detection</h2>



The picture-word game offers a quick, engaging way to capture subtle shifts before they tip into impairment. Because it measures speed and accuracy together, it may outshine traditional naming lists for spotting risk early. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-baby-talk-reveals-about-infant-learning/">Speech-analysis</a> software, already parsing recordings for millisecond pauses, could soon alert physicians when a patient’s verbal tempo drifts.



Meanwhile, everyday habits still matter. Conversational practice, storytelling, word games, and even learning new languages keep those neural pathways exercised. 



Just as daily walks support the heart, lively chatter supports the mind. And when a loved one stalls on a name, patience helps more than finishing the thought for them. 



Sometimes the right word arrives on its own schedule - one more reminder that brains, like conversations, thrive when given a little time to breathe.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13825585.2024.2315774" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition</a>.



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Scientists identify a speech pattern that is a clear indication of a person in cognitive decline

Imagine chatting over coffee with your grandmother when she pauses...

For nearly a century, brominated vegetable oil - better known as BVO - helped keep that sharp, zesty taste of citrus-flavored sodas evenly distributed from the first sip to the last. 



Most shoppers never noticed the name on ingredient lists, and few paused to wonder why a cooking oil had been blended with <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Bromine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bromine</a>, a heavy chemical element more often associated with pool disinfectants than with beverages.



Over the past year, though, BVO has moved from obscurity into the spotlight. New toxicology studies forced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (<a href="https://www.fda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FDA</a>) to take a hard second look at an additive it once allowed at up to 15 parts per million. 



The agency’s verdict set off a countdown: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soda-taxes-actually-work-improving-both-health-and-mindset/">all sodas</a> sold after August 2, 2025, must be BVO-free, shutting the door on a substance that first slipped into fizz back in the 1930s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-citrus-sodas-and-bvo">Citrus sodas and BVO</h2>



Public worries about <a href="https://cris.msu.edu/news/trending/trending-brominated-vegetable-oil-bvo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brominated vegetable oil</a> started decades ago, when researchers spotted bromine accumulating in human tissue samples taken in the United Kingdom during the 1970s. Animal studies soon linked high BVO intakes with heart and behavioral problems. 



Even so, the FDA kept the ingredient on a short leash rather than banning it outright, capping concentrations and labeling it “interim” while scientists gathered more data. The arrangement limped along for half a century.



Fresh evidence tipped the scale. A 90-day study funded by the FDA and the National Institutes of Health (<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIH</a>) tracked rats fed diets ranging from zero to high levels of BVO. 



Bromine not only flooded their bloodstreams but also settled in the heart, liver, and body fat. Thyroid cells enlarged, thyroid-stimulating hormone climbed, and T4 hormone dipped, hinting at metabolic trouble ahead.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-brominated-oils-raised-alarms">Why brominated oils raised alarms</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-seafood-helps-children-develop-better-social-behaviors/">Thyroid shifts</a> matter because that small gland choreographs energy levels, growth, and mood. When bromine crowds out iodine - its chemical cousin - hormone production stumbles. 



Researchers worry that even subtle, long-term interference could nudge people toward weight gain, sluggishness, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unhealthy-diet-leaves-brain-feeling-foggy-frazzled-sad/">brain fog</a>. 



Because bromine accumulates rather than being flushed straight through, the risk grows the longer someone drinks BVO-laced sodas.



Most major brands ditched BVO years ago. PepsiCo pulled it from Gatorade in 2013 and from Mountain Dew soon after. Coca-Cola quietly reformulated Fanta and Powerade. 



Yet store-brand and regional citrus sodas sometimes clung to the old recipe. In mid-2024, Keurig Dr. Pepper still listed BVO in Sun Drop, though the company pledged to roll out a new formula before year’s end.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fda-ruling-s-impact-on-bvo-sodas">FDA ruling's impact on BVO sodas</h2>



<a href="https://foodsafety.gwu.edu/jim-jones">James Jones</a>, deputy commissioner for human foods, summed up the agency’s thinking: “The proposed action is an example of how the agency monitors emerging evidence and, as needed, conducts scientific research to investigate safety-related questions, and takes regulatory action when the science does not support the continued safe use of additives in foods.” 



The final rule arrived on July 3, 2024, and became effective a month later, with a one-year grace period to drain warehouses and reset production lines.



Between now and August 2, 2025, shoppers can still run into cans made before the deadline. 



The safest approach is old-fashioned label reading - look for “brominated vegetable oil” or “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0300483X76900512" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brominated soybean oil</a>.” After that date, any product that still lists the additive will be pulled from shelves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-beverage-makers-responded">How beverage makers responded</h2>



For companies, swapping out BVO meant finding other ways to keep citrus oils suspended. Many turned to ingredients already common in European and Japanese drinks, where BVO has been banned for years. 



<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691597803055" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sucrose acetate isobutyrate</a> and glycerol ester of wood rosin (<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7009419/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GEWR</a>) emerged as the go-to solutions; both create a dense phase that marries well with fruit oils without relying on bromine. 



Because the substitutes have long safety records abroad, the transition proved smoother than earlier label rewrites involving artificial dyes.



Retailers responded in parallel. National grocery chains began flagging private-label SKUs that needed reformulation, giving suppliers early notice. 



Craft <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultra-processed-foods-like-soda-and-snacks-are-the-new-silent-killer/">soda makers</a>, eager to stand out in a crowded aisle, advertised “BVO-free” right on the front of the bottle, turning regulatory compliance into a selling point.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-science-says-about-bvo">What science says about BVO</h2>



Several studies over the years had very similar results. Bromine lodged in organs after only three months, a blip compared with human drinking habits that can stretch across decades. 



The thyroid, sensitive to iodine balance, responded quickly. Researchers did not observe tumors or acute poisoning, but the hormonal disruptions alone convinced regulators that routine consumption no longer passed the sniff test.



Back in the 1950s, the FDA first labeled BVO “<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/generally-recognized-safe-gras" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">generally recognized as safe</a>,” largely because citrus sodas were already popular. 



By 1970, the agency had reversed its stance, restricting use to citrus drinks and setting the 15-parts-per-million ceiling. Subsequent studies, including one published on May 16, 2022, in Food and Chemical Toxicology, kept adding red flags. 



Taken together, the evidence portrays a slow-burn risk rather than an immediate hazard - yet that is exactly the kind of threat public health agencies try to prevent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-the-u-s-food-code">Changes in the U.S. food code</h2>



The BVO saga hints at future shake-ups in the U.S. food code. The FDA is reassessing a roster of additives, with an eye toward automatic bans on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-in-five-packaged-foods-in-the-u-s-contains-synthetic-dyes/">colorants that cause cancer</a> in animals. 



Speeding up that process would spare consumers from the long twilight period BVO endured. 



For beverage developers, the lesson is clear: lean on ingredients with global acceptance, and keep an eye on toxicology journals as closely as on flavor-trend reports.



By August 2025, American citrus sodas will taste the same to most palates, but the chemistry behind that flavor will have changed. 



With no more swimming pool disinfectants like bromine in your beverages, the drink industry inches toward simpler, more transparent labels - something shoppers have been thirsting for as much as the fizz itself.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691522003350" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food and Chemical Toxicity</a>.



Read the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/brominated-vegetable-oil-bvo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The U.S. FDA ruling on BVO</a>.



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Highly toxic soda ingredient, banned by the FDA in 2024, is still being used today

For nearly a century, brominated vegetable oil - better known...

Fish oil capsules have long been sold for heart and joint health, yet new evidence suggests they may also steady tempers and aggression.



A sweeping <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2154" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meta‑analysis</a> from the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Pennsylvania</a> reports that a daily dose of omega‑3 fatty acids can shrink aggressive behavior by up to 28 percent. <a href="https://crim.sas.upenn.edu/people/adrian-raine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adrian Raine</a>, a neurocriminologist at the university, led the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mood-memory-and-fish-oil">Mood, memory, and fish oil</h2>



Brains run on fat, and two key omega‑3 molecules, eicosapentaenoic acid (<a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Eicosapentaenoic-Acid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPA</a>) and docosahexaenoic acid (<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10776907/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DHA</a>), slip into cell membranes, helping neurons fire smoothly.



Low tissue levels of these fats have been tied to mood swings and impulsive violence, while diets rich in cold‑water fish tend to show the opposite pattern.



Because the body converts plant‑based <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24898228/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alpha‑linolenic acid</a> to EPA and DHA inefficiently, researchers have wondered whether supplements could fill the gap. 



Small trials dating back to the 1990s hinted at behavioral benefits, but sample sizes were too thin to guide policy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aggression-and-fish-oil">Aggression and fish oil</h2>



Raine’s team pored over 28 randomized controlled trials that enrolled 3,918 participates, from children to older adults. 



Across genders, diagnoses, dosages, and study lengths, the capsules produced a modest but reliable drop in both reactive and premeditated aggression.



“I think the time has come to implement omega‑3 supplementation to reduce aggression,” said Raine. 



The average effect size, about 0.22 on the standardized “g” scale, may sound small, yet public‑health experts note that even tiny behavioral shifts can matter when applied to millions.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-chemistry-of-calm">The chemistry of calm</h2>



EPA and DHA dampen production of pro‑inflammatory molecules that sensitize the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-your-brain-makes-a-decision-before-you-know-it/">brain</a>’s stress circuits. They also nudge serotonin and dopamine signaling toward a calmer set point, offering a biochemical explanation for the behavioral change.



Notably, the analysis found benefits at doses as low as 250 milligrams of combined EPA and DHA, an amount found in a single soft gel. 



Higher intakes did not guarantee bigger gains, hinting that individual genetics and baseline diet modulate the response.



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



Most Americans don’t get enough <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2154" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">long-chain omega‑3s</a> from food alone. The average U.S. diet is heavy on <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/expert-answers/omega-6/faq-20058172" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">omega‑6 fatty acids</a> - often in a 10:1 ratio to omega‑3 - which may fuel inflammation and irritability.



Experts recommend at least two servings of fatty fish a week, such as salmon or sardines. 



For those who don’t eat seafood, even a basic supplement may close the gap and improve both physical and mental health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-supplements-that-calm-behavior">Supplements that calm behavior</h2>



One six‑month <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4336833/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trial</a> in 8‑ to 16‑year‑olds reported a 59 percent drop in disruptive conduct that lasted half a year after the study ended. 



Similar shifts have shown up in adult parolees and nursing‑home residents, suggesting age is no barrier.



Public‑school cafeterias could offer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-like-rainbow-trout-suffer-extreme-pain-when-killed-by-air/">fish</a> twice a week, while correctional facilities might issue capsules at intake. Raine notes that such steps are “low cost, low risk,” especially compared with medications or restraint.



Beyond behavior, omega‑3s continue to earn cardiovascular praise. In the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1812792" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">REDUCE‑IT trial</a>, 4 grams of purified EPA cut fatal heart attacks by 25 percent among statin users. 



A calmer mind and a stronger heart in the same pill has obvious appeal for clinicians.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fewer-risks-broad-access">Fewer risks, broad access</h2>



Compared to prescription medications for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamines-role-in-male-aggression-fades-with-fighting-experience/">aggression</a>, fish oil has fewer side effects and is easier to access. It doesn’t require a prescription, and many brands are available over the counter at grocery stores or online.



That said, fish oil should not replace professional treatment when serious behavioral issues are involved. It can be a helpful addition, but therapy, structured support, and in some cases medication are still essential tools.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-room-to-refine-dosing">Room to refine dosing</h2>



Omega‑3 is “not a magic bullet,” Raine warned, stressing that therapy, education, and social support still matter. Most studies followed volunteers for four months; researchers need longer follow‑ups to see whether tempers stay cool.



Scientists also hope to learn why some volunteers improve more than others. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genetic-supergenes-power-explosive-evolution-in-some-fish/">Genetics</a> that alter fatty‑acid metabolism, baseline inflammation, and even gut microbiota may shape response. Tailored dosing could push the average benefit beyond today’s modest figures.



For now, experts say parents of an irritable child, or adults who catch themselves snapping, might consider swapping a sugary snack for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-young-salmon-break-the-typical-migration-rules-boosting-survival-chances/">salmon</a>, or adding a budget fish‑oil capsule to breakfast. The risk is tiny, the price is low, and the evidence is getting harder to ignore.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-needs-fish-oil-most">Who needs fish oil most?</h2>



Not everyone responds the same to omega‑3 fatty acids. Genetic differences, particularly in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3992" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FADS gene</a>, can affect how well the body makes EPA and DHA from plant-based sources.



People of Amerindian or African ancestry may have variations that change their conversion efficiency. 



For some, this means supplements could be especially important to meet their brain’s needs and reduce inflammation-driven behaviors.



The study is published in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38911617/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aggression and Violent Behavior</a>.



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Fish oil supplements shown to control aggression in human studies

Fish oil capsules have long been sold for heart and...

The world’s seas have long acted as a planetary safety net, soaking up excess heat and roughly a quarter of all human-generated carbon dioxide. 



Yet this crucial buffer is anything but uniform. Some waters capture carbon, others release it, and the balance can swing in a matter of days.



Until now, most global maps blurred those variations into month-long snapshots at coarse, 100-kilometer grids. 



A new satellite-driven product called <a href="https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/13/777/2021/">OceanSODA-ETHZ</a> changes that picture, offering eight-day updates at 25-kilometer resolution and revealing the ocean <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-carbon-sinks-are-being-pushed-to-their-limits/">carbon sink</a> in unprecedented detail.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellites-fill-ocean-carbon-gaps">Satellites fill ocean carbon gaps</h2>



Direct readings of surface-water CO2 come from ships and buoys, leaving vast gaps in space and time.



“Increasing the resolution of these global datasets is challenging because the number of direct measurements of carbon dioxide at the ocean’s surface is rather sparse across all regions and times,” explained project co-leader Nicolas Gruber of ETH Zurich.



To fill those gaps, Gruber’s team paired the in situ data with a suite of Earth-observation satellites that sense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-are-substantially-changing-the-seasons-of-the-ocean/">sea-surface temperature</a>, color, wind, and more - variables tightly linked to how much CO2 water can hold.



Feeding that information into a cascade of machine-learning algorithms produced a fine-grained, eight-day global mosaic.



“This new version maps the parameters of the ocean carbon system every eight days at a resolution of about 25 by 25 kilometers, more than 30 times finer than previous products,” Gruber said.



“A critical part of the approach is the use of satellite data, which provides detailed information to interpolate the measurements in time and space.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellites-track-ocean-carbon-changes">Satellites track ocean carbon changes</h2>



Presented this week at <a href="https://lps25.esa.int/">ESA’s Living Planet Symposium</a>, the dataset already highlights dramatic short-term swings. 



An animation released by the team tracks the 2017 Atlantic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-hurricanes-help-oceans-fight-climate-change/">hurricane</a> season, when storms such as Maria and Irma churned deep, carbon-rich waters to the surface.



<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/cEUvoY8krHM?si=cX1giVtLnycyFKqr
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Animation generated using the new OceanSODA-ETHZv2 product by Luke Gregor, Jamie Shutler and Nicolas Gruber</figcaption></figure>



In the visualization, red plumes - areas where the sea outgasses CO2 - flare beneath the swirling wind arrows, then fade as cooler, oxygen-laden surface layers return.



Jamie Shutler from the University of Exeter, while not involved in developing the product, is already using it for storm studies.



“Thanks to its fine detail, the dataset can help us separate and understand the influence of events like hurricanes - where deep water, often high in carbon, can be forced to rise to the surface - which can cause sudden spikes or changes in surface ocean carbon dioxide levels,” said Shutler.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-view-of-ocean-acidification">A new view of ocean acidification</h2>



Every molecule of CO2 that the ocean absorbs reacts with seawater, lowering pH and shifting carbonate chemistry in ways that erode coral skeletons, thin oyster shells, and alter plankton communities.



Until now, researchers tracking this “other CO2 problem” relied on sparse records or coarse climatologies. 



OceanSODA-ETHZ delivers near-real-time fields of surface pH and carbonate ions, letting scientists watch <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-acidification-is-spreading-into-deeper-waters/">acidification</a> pulses unfold as upwelling, rainfall, or melting sea ice change local chemistry.



Because the product also extends back to 1985, analysts can mine four decades of fine-scale variability to see where buffers are weakening and hotspots are emerging. 



Those insights can feed into fisheries management, coastal planning, and global carbon-budget assessments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-esa-powers-new-ocean-maps">ESA powers new ocean maps</h2>



The dataset is the latest deliverable from <a href="https://eo4society.esa.int/">ESA’s FutureEO “Science for Society” program</a>, which funds innovative uses of satellite records.



“The fact that we can use this method to gain new insights into the exchange of carbon dioxide between the ocean and atmosphere - and on the ocean acidification altogether - is a great step forward in ocean science,” said Roberto Sabia, an ocean scientist at <a href="https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth">ESA Earth-Observation</a>. 



Gruber and colleagues emphasize that OceanSODA-ETHZ is not a static atlas but a living product that can assimilate new ship measurements and leverage upcoming satellite missions.



Higher-resolution sensors such as <a href="https://pace.gsfc.nasa.gov/">NASA’s PACE</a> and <a href="https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Copernicus_Sentinel_Expansion_missions">ESA’s Copernicus Expansion</a> promise even clearer views of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plankton-help-predict-ocean-biodiversity-losses/">plankton</a> blooms, sea-surface roughness, and dissolved organic matter - all factors that modulate carbon exchange.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forecasts-of-regional-carbon-uptake">Forecasts of regional carbon uptake</h2>



Ultimately, the goal is to couple these detailed maps with ocean-atmosphere models, yielding short-term forecasts of regional carbon uptake akin to daily weather predictions.



Such tools could alert coastal managers when acidification thresholds are likely to be breached or help negotiators refine national emissions budgets by tracking natural carbon sinks more precisely.



For now, the new product already reshapes our understanding of the ocean’s role in moderating climate. 



Where earlier charts smoothed over crucial dynamics, OceanSODA-ETHZ reveals a living, breathing carbon landscape - one where swirling eddies, roaring storms, and shifting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-ocean-currents-play-a-huge-role-in-earths-climate/">currents</a> all leave their stamp on the planet’s most important carbon reservoir.



Image Credit: ESA



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Satellites reveal how oceans absorb carbon in unprecedented detail

The world’s seas have long acted as a planetary safety...

The James Webb Space Telescope has delivered the clearest, deepest images yet of the Bullet Cluster, unveiling thousands of faint, distant galaxies and offering the most precise map of dark matter in this iconic colliding galaxy cluster.



“With <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-galaxies-revealed-in-a-single-webb-image/">Webb</a>’s observations, we carefully measured the mass of the Bullet Cluster with the largest lensing dataset to date, from the galaxy clusters’ cores all the way out to their outskirts,” said lead author Sangjun Cha, a PhD student at <a href="https://www.yonsei.ac.kr/en_sc/index.do">Yonsei University</a> in Seoul. 



Previous studies relied on less lensing data, leading to less precise estimates of the system’s mass.



“Webb’s images dramatically improve what we can measure in this scene -&nbsp; including pinpointing the position of invisible particles known as dark matter,” said co-author Kyle Finner, an assistant scientist at <a href="https://www.caltech.edu/">Caltech</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-light-shows-the-dark">How light shows the dark</h2>



The Bullet Cluster is made of two massive galaxy clusters bound by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/desi-gravity-study-new-discovery-proves-einstein-right-again/">gravity</a>. It acts as a natural gravitational lens that magnifies background galaxies.



James Jee, a professor at Yonsei University and research associate at UC Davis, is a co-author of the study. “Gravitational lensing allows us to infer the distribution of dark matter,” he said.



To visualize this effect, Jee compares it to ripples on a pond. You can't see the clear water unless there are ripples that distort the shapes of the pebbles below - just as dark matter distorts the light from galaxies behind it.



By measuring thousands of galaxies, the scientists used Webb’s images to weigh visible and invisible mass in the cluster. 



The team also mapped the faint glow of intracluster stars - those not bound to any single galaxy. These drifting stars may closely trace dark matter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-s-dark-matter-reveal">Webb’s dark matter reveal</h2>



Webb’s observations produced a layered view, combining near-infrared data with X-ray imagery from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/chandra-x-ray-observatory/">NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory</a>, revealing hot gas in pink, the bullet shape in the cluster, and the newly refined dark matter distribution in blue.



“We confirmed the intracluster light can be a reliable tracer of dark matter, even in a highly dynamic environment like the Bullet Cluster,” Cha said. 



This strengthens the case that these unbound stars closely trace dark matter’s invisible scaffolding.



The new map reveals detailed structure, including an asymmetric mass region on the left side of the larger cluster. This feature indicates prior collisions that have left behind signatures in the distribution of matter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mysterious-nature-of-dark-matter">Mysterious nature of dark matter </h2>



Dark matter does not emit, reflect, or absorb light, making it notoriously difficult to study. Yet the Bullet Cluster offers a rare laboratory, showing dark matter separated from hot gas during a cosmic collision while still aligning with the galaxies.



“As the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/titanic-galaxy-cluster-collision-defies-all-current-understanding-of-the-universe/">galaxy clusters</a> collided, their gas was dragged out and left behind, which the X-rays confirm,” Finner explained. “Webb’s observations show that dark matter still lines up with the galaxies - and was not dragged away.”



The results set tighter constraints on the possibility of dark matter particles interacting with each other. They support theories that dark matter passes through itself without friction, consistent with its mysterious and ghostly nature.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-to-a-chaotic-past"><a></a>Clues to a chaotic past</h2>



The elongated mass and clumps in the new map hint at a more complex history for the Bullet Cluster, suggesting multiple collisions over billions of years.



“A more complicated scenario would lead to a huge asymmetric elongation like we see on the left,” Jee said.



The Bullet Cluster, located in the Carina <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-jupiter-discovered-in-the-great-bear-constellation/">constellation</a> 3.8 billion light-years from Earth, is so massive that even Webb’s powerful NIRCam could only capture part of it.



“It’s like looking at the head of a giant,” Jee explained. “Webb’s initial images allow us to extrapolate how heavy the whole 'giant' is, but we’ll need future observations of the giant’s whole 'body' for precise measurements.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-missions-deeper-maps">Future missions, deeper maps</h2>



NASA’s upcoming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasas-roman-space-telescope-hopes-to-solve-the-dark-matter-mystery/">Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope</a>, launching by May 2027, will complement Webb’s discoveries with wide-field near-infrared imaging. 



The Roman telescope will enable complete mass estimates of the Bullet Cluster and allow scientists to simulate its ancient collision in detail.



“With Roman, we will have complete mass estimates of the entire Bullet Cluster, which would allow us to recreate the actual collision on computers,” Finner said.



Through these detailed observations, Webb is enriching our understanding of dark matter. It’s also advancing knowledge of how massive structures form and evolve, offering a clearer view of the hidden forces shaping the cosmos.



The study is published in the <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/add2f0">Astrophysical Journal Letters</a>.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC



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Webb telescope uncovers secrets of dark matter in cosmic collision zone

The James Webb Space Telescope has delivered the clearest, deepest...

Coffee is prized for its taste and mental boost. A new study shows that caffeine may also fine‑tune the internal clock that makes cells grow old.



Researchers observed that yeast aged more slowly when caffeine altered the same energy pathways that help human cells <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/">survive</a> under stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-slows-aging-in-yeast-cells">Caffeine slows aging in yeast cells</h2>



Dr. Charalampos (Babis) Rallis of <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/">Queen Mary University of London</a> focused on the yeast species Schizosaccharomyces pombe because its DNA repair and growth controls echo our own. 



The team logged changes in <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9139625/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronological lifespan</a>, the length of time that non‑dividing cells stay viable, then mapped the molecular traffic that caffeine set in motion.



“This is our most exciting find to date,” said Dr. Rallis. The results point to a fuel‑sensing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthy-aging-how-some-people-live-past-100-years/">pathway</a> that kicks in when nutrients dip, mirroring how people burn stored energy between meals.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yeast-helps-us-understand-aging">Yeast helps us understand aging</h2>



Fission yeast may seem worlds apart from humans, but it shares many core <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4772020/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regulatory pathways</a> found in our cells. Systems like <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2779044/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMPK</a> and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3241408/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TOR</a> have been conserved over hundreds of millions of years because they work so well.



This makes yeast an ideal testing ground for decoding how compounds like caffeine affect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-are-experimenting-with-new-approach-to-fight-and-stop-human-aging-necrosis/">lifespan</a> and stress response. What happens in a petri dish often sparks questions that ripple out to animal models and eventually to people.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-caffeine-may-slow-aging">How caffeine may slow aging</h2>



The key player is AMPK, an enzyme that "notices" when the cell’s ATP (energy) balance tilts toward empty and then shifts metabolism to survival mode. 



“Caffeine helps flip that switch,” said <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=913OCBIAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. John‑Patrick Alao</a>, the postdoctoral scientist who ran the experiments.



Earlier <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23551936/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> suggested caffeine blocked <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23551936/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TOR</a>, a growth promoter, but new data reveal the compound reaches TOR indirectly by first waking up AMPK. 



Cells then slow growth, patch damaged DNA, and boost antioxidant defenses, the very responses that lengthen life in many lab organisms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-and-metformin-use-same-pathway">Caffeine and metformin use same pathway</h2>



<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6779524/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Metformin</a>, the common diabetes drug, also charges AMPK and is being tested as a geroprotector in humans. The overlap hints that coffee’s benefits may parallel those seen in metformin cohorts, though dosage and metabolism differ widely.



Both agents dial back inflammation, clear out faulty proteins through autophagy, and keep insulin signaling from running too hot. 



If future trials confirm safety, researchers may combine low‑dose caffeine with metformin analogs to see whether their effects stack without side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-helps-manage-cell-stress">Caffeine helps manage cell stress</h2>



The AMPK pathway doesn’t just manage fuel, it also guides how cells respond to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen/222489" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genotoxic stress</a>, such as radiation or chemicals that harm DNA. 



The yeast data showed caffeine increased sensitivity to DNA damage in some mutants, revealing AMPK's role in damage response.



This dual role, energy control and DNA repair, suggests that caffeine tunes both survival and quality control systems. 



It’s part of a wider stress adaptation strategy that has been conserved across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-a-protein-that-reverses-cellular-aging/">evolution</a>, and is now offering new angles for anti-aging research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-people-who-drink-coffee-may-live-longer">People who drink coffee may live longer</h2>



Observational work involving hundreds of thousands of adults links two to four cups of coffee daily with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31055709/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lower all‑cause mortality</a>. 



Separate <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34468722/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyses</a> in Asian populations find similar protection against heart disease and several cancers.



Because these studies track behavior, not biology, confounding factors like diet, exercise, and income can cloud cause and effect. 



The yeast data now give those population numbers a plausible mechanism anchored in cell chemistry, without the noise of other factors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-caffeine-and-aging">Future research on caffeine and aging</h2>



Yeast tolerate caffeine levels far above a latte, so dose matters when translating findings to people. 



Human AMPK is embedded in tissues that react differently, so benefits in muscle may come at a cost elsewhere if DNA repair stalls during caffeine peaks.



High caffeine can raise blood pressure, trigger anxiety, and interfere with sleep - processes that can speed cell aging if left unchecked. 



Clinical trials that track AMPK activation, cardiovascular markers, and cognitive scores together will be needed before doctors advise specific amounts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-diet-and-exercise">The role of diet and exercise </h2>



Exercise is one of the most well-known ways to activate AMPK in humans. When muscles burn through energy during physical activity, this pathway turns on to help cells adapt and recover.



Certain foods, including those high in polyphenols like berries and green tea, may also give AMPK a nudge. 



Understanding how diet and lifestyle naturally influence this system could lead to everyday habits that support healthy aging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-healthy-lifestyle-matters">A healthy lifestyle matters</h2>



For now, moderate coffee remains a safe pleasure that lines up with epidemiology and basic science. Sleepless nights and energy drinks loaded with sugar still pose risks that no enzyme tweak can erase.



Nutrient‑sensing pathways such as AMPK give researchers a roadmap for therapies, yet lifestyle, steady sleep, balanced diet, and movement, keep the road free of potholes. 



The next wave of studies may explore caffeine analogs that lock onto AMPK with precision, separating the perks from the jitters.



The study is published in <a href="https://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/2025a-alao-microbial-cell/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microbial Cell</a>.



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Scientists learn that caffeine could slow cellular aging under the right conditions

Coffee is prized for its taste and mental boost. A...

A faded coffee ring on a countertop can vanish with a few swipes of a melamine “magic” sponge. Most of those swipes leave behind something you cannot see, and it may follow the water straight to your faucet.



<a href="https://hjxy.nju.edu.cn/English/Faculty/FulltimeTeacher/DepartmentofEnvironmentalSciences/Professors/20230328/i240942.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Rong Ji</a> of Nanjing University studied these invisible leftovers and calls them a silent waste stream escaping from every kitchen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-melamine-in-sponges">Understanding melamine in sponges</h2>



Melamine is an industrial chemical that shows up in all sorts of places - kitchenware, laminates, even some types of insulation. 



It’s prized for its durability, heat resistance, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-we-breathing-cancer-causing-chemicals-in-our-cars/">fire-retardant</a> properties, especially in products like melamine-formaldehyde resin. 



That’s the slick, hard plastic you find in dishes and countertops. In the manufacturing world, it’s a real workhorse. 



But when melamine crosses into the food chain, usually through contaminated products or packaging, that’s when trouble starts.



The problem? The human body can’t properly break it down. Ingesting melamine, especially in large amounts, can lead to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronauts-can-survive-mars-space-journey-but-their-kidneys-will-be-permanently-damaged/">kidney damage</a> or failure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-a-melamine-sponge-works">How a melamine sponge works</h2>



A melamine sponge is made from poly(melamine‑formaldehyde) foam, a brittle plastic baked into a light, open‑cell lattice. Its strands are harder than they look, so the block acts like very fine sandpaper while it lifts stains.



That abrasive action also grinds the lattice itself into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-way-to-remove-microplastics-from-tap-water-home-faucet/">microplastics</a>, particles smaller than one‑fifth of an inch. The process accelerates on rougher surfaces or when extra elbow grease is applied.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-much-plastic-they-shed">How much plastic they shed</h2>



Ji’s team compared several brands and densities, then placed sponges on a mechanical abrader that mimicked a vigorous scrub. They documented an average release of about 6.5 million fibers for every gram of worn sponge.



One‑tenth of a sponge’s mass can disappear during a month of regular cleaning. Using online sales data, the researchers estimated 4.9 trillion fibers could wash down drains worldwide each month at that wear rate.



“The sponge wear could release 6.5 million microplastic fibers per gram. Our study reveals a hitherto unrecognized source of environmental microplastic fiber contamination,” wrote <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=cuWNqHkAAAAJ&amp;hl=zh-CN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yu Su</a>, the study’s first author, in Environmental Science &amp; Technology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microplastics-on-the-move">Microplastics on the move</h2>



Laboratory flumes show that buoyant fibers drift through wastewater, rivers, and finally reservoirs that feed municipal plants. 



Filtration and flocculation remove many, yet not all escape: <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wash-documents/microplastics-in-dw-information-sheet190822.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">counts</a> ranging from zero to 1,000 particles per quart have been recorded in treated drinking water.



The <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/20-08-2019-microplastics-in-drinking-water" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a> concluded that present levels “do not pose an immediate threat to human health,” while urging deeper monitoring. Researchers agree the data set is small and detection methods vary, leaving large gaps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microplastics-and-your-body">Microplastics and your body</h2>



Micro- and nanoplastics have deleterious impacts on mammalian endocrine components such as hypothalamus, thyroid, and ovaries. 



Animal studies connect plastic fragments to hormone disruption, oxidative stress, and altered metabolism. 



Fragments have also been spotted in human tissue. A 2023 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33395930/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">investigation</a> identified polymer specks lodged inside the placenta, demonstrating that particles can cross biological barriers.



Scientists caution that laboratory doses often exceed real‑world exposure. Still, many microplastic fibers carry additives, and their rough surfaces can pick up heavy metals, raising concern over cumulative effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sponge-quality-impacts-waste">Sponge quality impacts waste</h2>



Not every brand sheds the same volume. In Ji’s tests, denser foams resisted fracture and produced fewer fibers per stroke than light, airy versions.



Manufacturers could tweak the polymer recipe or add reinforcing binders to slow wear. Durability would keep the scrubbing power while cutting emissions at the source.



Consumers have options while waiting for product redesigns. Natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-future-of-plastic-biodegradable-durable-and-even-edible/">cellulose</a> or copper scouring pads abrade stains without plastic dust, though they may scratch delicate coatings.



Rotating tools helps one sponge last longer. Allowing the block to dry fully between uses reduces internal swelling, another cause of breakage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-melamine-sponges-and-microplastics">Melamine, sponges, and microplastics</h2>



Household items shed many kinds of debris: polyester laundry, tire dust, and even tea bags contribute to the growing swirl. Tracking each stream reveals both the complexity and the opportunity for targeted fixes.



Small fibers add up because use is constant. The magic‑sponge tally rivals global microfiber discharge from tumble‑dryer vents, reminding us that minor conveniences scale into major outputs.



Scientists still lack a standard way to measure polymer fragments across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unidentified-chemical-found-in-tap-water-across-the-u-s/">water</a>, food, and air. Comparing datasets is difficult, so regulators hesitate to set limits.



Future studies will probe how shape and chemistry influence uptake by cells. Ji’s group now tests whether the branched fibers of melamine foam behave differently from threads released by clothing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-fixes-big-impact">Small fixes, big impact</h2>



Municipal water plants can upgrade with finer membranes that cost far less than a full system overhaul, while households can install under-sink carbon block filters to catch many fragments and improve water taste. 



Policymakers, meanwhile, can steer manufacturers toward tougher, low-shedding foams through procurement guidelines for schools and offices - bulk orders that often shape what ends up on store shelves.



Melamine sponges gained popularity for erasing permanent marker without harsh chemicals, but the next challenge is keeping that cleaning power while reducing invisible waste. 



Ji remains optimistic, comparing abrasion control to seat-belt adoption - a quiet fix that evolved into a daily safeguard.



The study is published in <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c00846" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.



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Scientists warn that your favorite sponge could be contaminating the water you drink

A faded coffee ring on a countertop can vanish with...

Hidden inside the chests of nearly 700 Toronto residents, doctors have spotted the faint fingerprints of air pollution.



Using one of medicine’s most sensitive tools - cardiac magnetic resonance imaging - researchers have shown that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is linked to subtle scarring of the heart muscle, known as diffuse myocardial fibrosis.



The finding helps explain why people who live with polluted air face a greater risk of heart failure, heart attacks, and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-patients-have-a-unique-vulnerability-to-air-pollution/">cardiovascular problems</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-pollutant-big-damage">Tiny pollutant, big damage</h2>



PM2.5 refers to particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, small enough to bypass the lungs’ natural filtering defenses and pass directly into the bloodstream.



Traffic exhaust, coal-fired power plants, industrial smokestacks, and even wildfire smoke all contribute to PM2.5 pollution.



While previous studies have repeatedly shown correlations between high PM2.5 levels and cardiovascular disease, the biological chain of events connecting the two remained hazy.



Kate Hanneman, a cardiothoracic radiologist at the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/">University of Toronto</a> and the <a href="https://www.uhn.ca/">University Health Network</a>, is the senior author of the study.



“If you’re exposed to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-map-reveals-health-threats-from-tiny-particles/">air pollution</a>, you’re at higher risk of cardiac disease, including having a heart attack,” she said. “We wanted to understand what drives this increased risk at the tissue level.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-scans-uncover-pollution-s-toll">Heart scans uncover pollution’s toll</h2>



Hanneman’s team recruited 201 healthy volunteers and 493 patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens the heart’s pumping ability.



Each participant underwent a sophisticated MRI scan that measures how strongly the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-muscles-may-soon-be-able-to-regenerate-like-other-muscles/">heart muscle</a> holds onto a contrast dye. From that signal, physicians can calculate the degree of microscopic scarring that standard tests would otherwise miss.



The researchers then used satellite data, government air-quality monitors, and residential histories to estimate a decade’s worth of PM2.5 exposure for every participant. 



Even within the relatively modest pollution levels found in Canadian cities, a clear pattern emerged. Higher long-term exposure to PM2.5 was linked with higher levels of myocardial fibrosis. 



Particulate pollution may harm hearts even without pre-existing disease, affecting both cardiomyopathy patients and healthy individuals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution-hits-harder-for-some">Pollution hits harder for some</h2>



A deeper dive into the numbers revealed that some groups bear a disproportionate burden. Women showed a stronger pollution-fibrosis relationship than men. Smokers and people with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-minimum-amount-of-physical-activity-needed-to-prevent-high-blood-pressure/">hypertension</a> also displayed heightened sensitivity. 



Those findings suggest that physiological or lifestyle factors can amplify the heart’s vulnerability to polluted air.



“Even modest increases in air pollution levels appear to have measurable effects on the heart,” Hanneman said.



“Our study suggests that air quality may play a significant role in changes to heart structure, potentially setting the stage for future cardiovascular disease.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-below-the-regulatory-radar"><a></a>Below the regulatory radar</h2>



One of the study’s most striking conclusions is that harmful changes occur well below many national and international air-quality standards. 



Most of the Toronto cohort lived in neighborhoods that meet Canadian and World Health Organization guidelines. Yet the researchers still saw progressive scarring as pollution levels rose incrementally.



Public health policy often hinges on the idea of a safe threshold, but these results challenge that assumption.



“There have been improvements in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-are-changing-the-quality-of-our-air/">air quality</a> over the past decade, both in Canada and the United States, but we still have a long way to go,” Hanneman said.



She argues for more stringent regulations, better monitoring, and meaningful reductions in emissions from transportation, industry, and wildfire-prone landscapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution-seen-through-mri">Pollution seen through MRI</h2>



The work also expands the role of medical imaging beyond traditional diagnostics. “Medical imaging can be used as a tool to understand environmental effects on a patient’s health,” Hanneman explained.



By identifying and quantifying early tissue changes caused by pollution, imaging specialists can collaborate with cardiologists, epidemiologists, and public health officials to refine risk prediction and guide interventions.



For clinicians, the practical takeaway is that environmental history belongs in the exam room. 



If a patient commutes along congested highways, works at an industrial facility, or lives downwind of frequent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-making-wildfire-smoke-more-deadly/">wildfires</a>, physicians may want to factor that exposure into cardiovascular risk assessments. 



These environmental risks could be considered alongside established factors like smoking or hypertension.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-long-term-heart-damage">Tracking long-term heart damage</h2>



The Toronto team plans to follow its volunteers over time to see whether diffuse fibrosis translates into overt heart disease and whether reducing pollution exposure can halt or reverse the damage. 



The experts also hope to replicate the study in regions with higher PM2.5 levels to test whether the relationship strengthens under harsher conditions.



Meanwhile, policymakers can draw a clear lesson: cutting particulate pollution yields not only cleaner skies but healthier hearts. Every gram of soot kept out of the atmosphere is a gram of microscopic scarring averted in the population’s cardiac muscle.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.250331">Radiology</a>.



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Air pollution may quietly scar your heart

Hidden inside the chests of nearly 700 Toronto residents, doctors...

If you’ve ever blamed a slice of pizza or a bowl of ice cream for a restless night of sleep, you’re not alone - and you might be onto something. 



A new survey of more than 1,000 Canadian college students links certain food sensitivities, especially lactose intolerance, to poorer sleep and a spike in unsettling dreams.



“Nightmare severity is robustly associated with lactose intolerance and other food allergies,” said lead author Tore Nielsen from the <a href="https://www.umontreal.ca/en/">University of Montréal</a>. 



“These new findings imply that changing eating habits for people with some food sensitivities could alleviate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nightmares-daymares-hallucinations-may-be-early-warning-signs-serious-disease/">nightmares</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-diet-and-dreams">Tracking diet and dreams</h2>



Folk wisdom has long insisted that a heavy meal - or the wrong one - can wreck a good night’s rest. But solid data has been thin.



To dig deeper, Nielsen’s team surveyed 1,082 students at <a href="https://www.macewan.ca/home/">MacEwan University</a> in Edmonton. They asked about eating, bedtime and wake-up routines, overall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-quality-could-be-the-key-to-better-metabolic-health/">sleep quality</a>, dream recall, and how often respondents suffered nightmares. 



Next, the researchers zeroed in on eating patterns, known food allergies or intolerances, and any personal hunch that certain foods affect dreams.



Roughly one-third of participants reported frequent nightmares. Women were more likely than men to remember their dreams and to say they slept poorly. They also reported food intolerances almost twice as often.



About 40 percent of all students felt that late-night eating or specific ingredients influenced their sleep, while roughly 25 percent believed certain foods made their nights specifically worse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dairy-blamed-for-sleep-loss">Dairy blamed for sleep loss</h2>



Among those who pinned their sleep woes on food, sweets, spicy dishes, and dairy products topped the list of potential villains. 



Yet the most consistent pattern emerged when researchers compared diagnosed food sensitivities to nightmare frequency. 



Students who were lactose intolerant had more gastrointestinal discomfort at night, recalled more nightmares, and rated their sleep quality as poorer.



“Nightmares are worse for lactose-intolerant people who suffer severe gastrointestinal symptoms and whose sleep is disrupted,” Nielsen noted. “This makes sense, because we know that other bodily sensations can affect dreaming.”



The logic is straightforward. If undigested lactose creates gas and cramping, that discomfort can seep into the dreaming brain, morphing into threatening imagery and prompting abrupt awakenings.



Repeated interruptions prevent sleepers from cycling into the deeper, restorative stages of rest - and can reinforce a vicious loop of dread and disturbed sleep.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distress-signals-in-the-brain">Distress signals in the brain</h2>



Only about 5 percent of students believed specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-more-fruits-and-vegetables-will-help-you-get-better-sleep/">foods</a> colored the tone of their dreams, but those few often put the blame on dairy or sugary treats.



Interestingly, a similar survey Nielsen ran 11 years ago found a larger share of students convinced that food shapes dreams. 



The drop-off might reflect growing public awareness of food allergies. For example, people who know milk upsets their stomachs may simply avoid it at night, dulling any obvious link.



Still, the new results echo a broader scientific push to understand the “gut-brain axis,” the two-way communication network that lets digestive distress influence mood, cognition, and, apparently, dreamscapes. 



Even modest belly rumblings can send distress signals northward, nudging the brain to script darker stories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-food-really-shape-dreams">Can food really shape dreams?</h2>



Of course, correlation doesn’t prove cause. People who eat poorly may sleep poorly - but chronic sleep loss can also drive cravings for comfort foods. Stress, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/resistance-exercise-in-the-evening-can-improve-sleep/">exercise</a>, and genetics muddy the waters further.



Nielsen calls for controlled trials: volunteers would eat dairy or placebo snacks before bed while researchers monitor gut activity, brain waves, and dream reports.



“We are routinely asked whether food affects dreaming - especially by journalists on food-centric holidays,” Nielsen said. “Now we have some answers.”



Yet big questions linger. Do other intolerances, like gluten sensitivity, twist dream content? Are the effects different in older adults or in kids? And how does mental health, which can influence both diet and dreaming, intertwine with these findings?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat-early-to-stop-nightmares">Eat early to stop nightmares</h2>



While science sorts out the details, the advice is common-sense: if you know milk or cheese bothers you, avoid it late in the evening, especially if nightmares plague you. 



For anyone prone to indigestion at bedtime, lighter, earlier dinners and a pause on sugary or spicy snacks can’t hurt.



More broadly, the study nudges sleep hygiene beyond blue-light screens and blackout curtains to include what (and when) we eat. Our digestive tract doesn’t clock out at night; its complaints can echo loudly in the dream theater.



Until researchers run those carefully controlled cheese-before-bed experiments, moderation in the kitchen remains the gentlest path to sweeter dreams - and quieter nights.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1544475/full">Frontiers in Psychology</a>.



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Nightmares could be triggered by what you eat

If you’ve ever blamed a slice of pizza or a...

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Native Organic Cotton Napkins Set of 4

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Native Organic Cotton Sheet Set

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