Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Saharan dust over the Bay of Biscay, where a phytoplankton bloom makes the water appear bright green and blue. According to NASA, sediment runoff likely contributes to some of the color, especially in areas closer to the shore.



"For the past few decades, scientists have been observing natural ocean fertilization events - episodes when plumes of volcanic ash, glacial flour, wildfire soot, and desert dust blow out onto the sea surface and spur massive blooms of phytoplankton. But beyond these extreme events, there is a steady, long-distance rain of dust particles onto the ocean that promotes phytoplankton growth just about all year and in nearly every basin," says NASA.



In a recent study, researchers from Oregon State University, the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and NASA set out to investigate how mineral dust from land fertilizes the growth of phytoplankton in the ocean. For the research, the team analyzed satellite observations and developed an advanced computer model.



"According to the new study, dust deposition onto the ocean supports about 4.5 percent of yearly global export production - a measure of how much of the carbon phytoplankton take up during photosynthesis sinks into the deep ocean. However, this contribution approaches 20 percent to 40 percent in some ocean regions at middle and higher latitudes," explained NASA.



"Phytoplankton play a large role in Earth’s climate and carbon cycle. Like land plants, they contain chlorophyll and derive energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. They produce oxygen and sequester a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide in the process, potentially on a scale comparable to rainforests. And they are at the bottom of an ocean-wide food pecking order that ranges from tiny zooplankton to fish to whales."



Lorraine Remer, a research professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, noted that dust particles can travel thousands of miles before falling into the ocean, where they nourish phytoplankton long distances from the dust source.



“We knew that atmospheric transport of desert dust is part of what makes the ocean ‘click,’ but we didn’t know how to find it,” said Professor Remer.



The image was captured on April 8, 2011 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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Desert dust over the Bay of Biscay

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features...

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features shows wildfire smoke from Canada pouring into the northeastern United States.



"Winds typically move smoke from fires in Quebec toward the east and out to sea. But in June 2023, a persistent coastal low centered near Prince Edward Island instead steered smoke south into the United States. This image, from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 16 (GOES-16), shows smoke sweeping into New York and Pennsylvania on the morning of June 7, 2023," says NASA.



"Smoke reaching the northeastern United States from Canada in 2023 from fires raging in western Canada has mostly arrived at fairly high altitudes. But since the fires in Quebec are relatively close to the northeast U.S., a much larger proportion of the smoke arrived in surface-level air."



"Around the time of the image, AirNow air quality monitors measured levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) soaring above 400 micrograms per cubic meter of air in Syracuse, New York - the highest on record for the city since routine measurements began in 1999."



Ryan Stauffer, an atmospheric scientist based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, noted that the smoke pollution from New York to the D.C. region is the most significant since at least July 2002, when a similar situation occurred with nearby fires in Quebec. “This event is rivaling, and in some cases will likely surpass the observed 2002 smoke pollution.”



According to Stauffer, the air quality index for PM2.5 in New York City surpassed 175 (code red) on June 6, topping the previous record of 167 from 2002. On June 7, “the D.C. region joined New York City and experienced some of its most smoke-polluted air in the past 25 years,” he said.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Smoke from Canada pours into New York and Pennsylvania

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the largest man-made reservoir in California, Lake Shasta, which filled to nearly 100 percent capacity in May 2023. This is the highest level that Shasta has reached in four years.&nbsp;



"Since 2019, a prolonged period of extreme drought resulted in dwindling reservoir levels. In the early months of 2023, heavy rains and meltwater from an above-average mountain snowpack caused a notable turnaround," said NASA.



"Lake Oroville, the state’s second-largest reservoir, was also near capacity on May 29, at 97 percent full. Both Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake are critical not only for water storage, but also for flood control, recreation, irrigating cropland in the Central Valley, and preventing saltwater intrusion into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta."



NASA noted that full reservoirs do not ensure plentiful water for years into the future, and that the past four years are a testament to how drastically reservoirs can change in a short amount of time.&nbsp;



"The California DWR is collaborating with other agencies to incorporate better forecasting and observation technologies in order to optimize water releases."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Lake Shasta reaches nearly 100 percent capacity

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Quebec, where about 160,000 hectares have burned since the start of the year.



"An unusually intense start to Canada’s wildfire season filled skies with smoke in May 2023. Then, at the beginning of June, scores of new fires raged in the central Canadian province of Quebec, some of which were ignited by lightning," says NASA.



"The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this view of smoke billowing from the fires on June 3. Shortly after the fires started, about 5,000 residents were ordered to evacuate near the city of Sept-Îles in the province’s east."&nbsp;



"As the fires grew, evacuations were extended to an additional 9,000 people in surrounding communities and in western Quebec’s Val-d’Or and Normétal municipalities. As of June 5, more than 150 wildfires were active in Quebec."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Forest fires rage in Quebec

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the west coast of South America. The photo was captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station while orbiting over the Atacama Desert and Central Andes Mountains near the border of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.



"Over the Pacific Ocean, marine stratocumulus clouds develop over cold water that rises from the ocean depths as the Peru current (Humboldt current) flows north along the west coast of South America," says NASA. "The coastline is marked by low mountains that are dissected by canyons carved by rivers that flow down the western side of the Andes."



The Atacama Desert receives less than 0.2 inches of rain per year on average. According to NASA, this dry environment provides an ideal setting to conduct Mars analog studies.



"Active and inactive volcanoes comprise the Central Andean Volcanic Arc within the Atacama Desert and Andes Mountains. One of the inactive volcanoes visible in this photo is Bolivia’s Nevado Sajama, which has a maximum elevation of 6,542 meters (21,463 feet). Nevado Sajama and other volcanoes in the region often have glaciers and snow cover due to their high elevation."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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The west coast of South America

Northern,Light,,Aurora,Borealis,At,Kirkjufell,In,Iceland.,Kirkjufell,Mountains

NASA's Parker Solar Probe, on its journey to the Sun, has revealed previously unseen structures of the solar wind, right where it is formed. The way the probe perceives it, the solar wind emanates from the Sun's surface much like water jets from a showerhead.



A paper published in the journal Nature this week, led by scientists Stuart D. Bale from the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Berkeley</a>, and James Drake of the <a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland-College Park</a>, illustrates how the Parker Solar Probe has detected streams of high-energy particles. These particles mirror the supergranulation flows within coronal holes, suggesting these regions as the birthplace of the "fast" solar wind.



Coronal holes are unique areas where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magnetic-field-solar-radiation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic field</a> lines radiate from the Sun's surface without looping back inward, consequently forming open field lines that encompass most of the space surrounding the Sun.



During quiet periods of the Sun, these holes are primarily located at the poles, preventing the fast solar wind they produce from reaching Earth. However, every 11 years, the Sun's activity peaks, its magnetic field flips, and these holes can be seen all over the Sun's surface, leading to bursts of solar wind aimed directly at Earth.



<h2 id="h-origins-of-the-solar-wind">Origins of the solar wind</h2>



The process of how and where the solar wind originates is crucial for predicting solar storms. These storms, while responsible for the <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/catch-the-aurora-borealis-in-iceland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's breathtaking auroras</a>, can also disrupt satellites and the electrical grid. As Drake puts it, "Winds carry lots of information from the Sun to Earth, so understanding the mechanism behind the Sun's wind is important for practical reasons on Earth."



The scientists describe the coronal holes like showerheads. From the bright spots where magnetic field lines dive into and out of the Sun's surface, evenly spaced jets burst forth. These jets of charged particles are flung out of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/measures-suns-energy-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun</a> when the oppositely directed magnetic fields in these funnels collide and reconnect.



Bale explains, "The photosphere is covered by convection cells, like in a boiling pot of water, and the larger scale convection flow is called supergranulation." He goes on to illustrate how these supergranulation cells pull the magnetic field down with them into a funnel, intensifying the magnetic field. "The spatial separation of those little drains, those funnels, is what we're seeing now with solar probe data," he said.



The Parker Solar Probe's detection of some exceptionally high-energy particles - ones traveling at speeds 10 to 100 times faster than the solar wind average - led the researchers to believe that this process, known as magnetic reconnection, must be the source of the wind. The primary purpose of launching the probe in 2018 was to establish the origin of these high-energy particles: were they caused by magnetic reconnection or acceleration by plasma or Alfvén waves?



"The big conclusion is that it’s magnetic reconnection within these funnel structures that’s providing the energy source of the fast solar wind," Bale concluded. The research strongly suggests that it's reconnection that's responsible for the high-energy particles detected.



The same funnel structures, as Nour Raouafi of the <a href="https://www.jhuapl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University</a> suggests, probably align with the bright jetlets that can be seen from Earth within coronal holes. "Solving the mystery of the solar wind has been a six-decade dream of many generations of scientists. Now, we are grasping at the physical phenomenon that drives the solar wind at its source — the corona,” Raouafi said.



<h2>Sampling the solar wind</h2>



The solar wind evolves into a homogeneous, turbulent flow as it traverses the 93 million miles to Earth. The charged particles and entangled magnetic fields interact with Earth's magnetic field, dumping electrical energy into the upper atmosphere, which excites atoms and produces vivid auroras. Understanding and predicting intense solar winds, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-storms-earths-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar storms</a>, and their effects near Earth are some of the key goals of NASA's Living With a Star program, which funded the Parker Solar Probe.



The probe's main task is to determine the structure and acceleration of the solar wind near its birthplace, the Sun's surface or photosphere. The probe must approach the Sun closer than ever before - within 13 million miles, or about 25 to 30 solar radii.



According to Bale, once the probe dives below that altitude, the solar wind undergoes minimal evolution and displays more of its initial structure. This allows scientists to see the imprints of the Sun on the wind.



In 2021, the probe's instruments identified magnetic field switchbacks in Alfvén waves, closely associated with the regions generating the solar wind. As the probe neared the Sun, it became clear that the probe was moving through structured jets of material, rather than mere turbulence. Bale, Drake, and their colleagues traced these jets back to the supergranulation cells in the photosphere, where the magnetic fields accumulate and funnel into the Sun.



<h2>Mysteries and questions remain</h2>



The question that loomed was, what accelerates the charged particles in these funnels? Is it magnetic reconnection, which would catapult the particles outward, or hot plasma waves streaming out of the Sun, which would allow particles to ride a wave?



The detection of extremely high-energy particles within these jets suggested to Bale that magnetic reconnection must be responsible for particle acceleration and the generation of Alfvén waves, which could give the particles an additional thrust.



Bale further explained, "Our interpretation is that these jets of reconnection outflow excite Alfvén waves as they propagate out. That's an observation that's well known from Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-lights-linked-to-electrons-traveling-at-millions-of-miles-per-hour/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetotail</a>, as well, where you have similar kind of processes. I don't understand how wave damping can produce these hot particles up to hundreds of keV, whereas it comes naturally out of the reconnection process."



The Parker Solar Probe can approach the Sun no closer than 4 million miles, or about 8.8 solar radii above the surface, without risking damage to its instruments. Bale anticipates that data collected from this altitude will confirm their conclusions, despite the Sun's heightened activity during its solar maximum. This increased activity might obscure the processes that scientists aim to observe.



"We're lucky that we launched it in the solar minimum," Bale commented, reflecting on the Parker Solar Probe's journey. He implied that the quieter solar activity during the probe's launch allowed them to make discoveries that would have been impossible during more chaotic solar conditions.



<h2>More about NASA’s Parker Solar Probe</h2>



<a href="http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s Parker Solar Probe</a> is a pioneering mission that has set its sights on our very own star, the Sun. The probe's main goal is to uncover the mysteries of the corona, the Sun's outer atmosphere, and to learn more about the highly energetic particles present in the solar wind.



Named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker, the probe was launched on August 12, 2018. It's the first spacecraft to be named after a living individual. <a href="https://news.uchicago.edu/story/eugene-parker-legendary-figure-solar-science-and-namesake-parker-solar-probe-1927-2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eugene Parker</a> is the scientist who first theorized the existence of the solar wind back in 1958.



The Parker Solar Probe is unique because it ventures closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft. It's designed to withstand the extreme temperatures and conditions near the Sun. The probe is shielded by a 4.5-inch-thick carbon-composite shield, which can withstand temperatures up to about 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.



The probe is equipped with four major instrument suites that are designed to measure magnetic fields, plasma and energetic particles, and capture images of the solar wind. These suites include the Fields Experiment (FIELDS), the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS), the Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR), and the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) investigation.



Over the course of its seven-year mission, the probe will complete 24 orbits of the Sun, coming within 4 million miles of the Sun's surface. This is about seven times closer than any previous mission.



The Parker Solar Probe has several primary science objectives. One is to trace the flow of energy that heats and accelerates the solar corona and solar wind. Another is to determine the structure and dynamics of the plasma and magnetic fields at the sources of the solar wind. The probe also aims to explore the mechanisms that accelerate and transport energetic particles.



By achieving these objectives, scientists hope to improve their ability to forecast <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-weather-forecast-data/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space weather</a> events that impact life on Earth, as well as satellites and astronauts in space. The mission encapsulates the essence of exploration, as it journeys into a region of space never before explored by human-made objects.

The solar wind, which creates beautiful auroras on Earth, is now less mysterious

NASA's Parker Solar Probe, on its journey to the Sun,...

How do the lifestyle and environment of our four-legged companions impact their health and aging? Professor Noah Snyder-Mackler from the <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">ASU</a> School of Life Sciences poses this question, underlining the fact that the shorter lifespan of dogs and the intensive care they receive from their owners make them perfect models for studying the effects of social and physical environment on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flat-faced-dogs-remain-wildly-popular-despite-severe-health-risks/">health</a>, aging, and survival.



Now, an enormous survey and data collection effort involving over 21,000 dog owners has shed light on key social determinants that influence the health and aging of our beloved canines.



<h2 id="h-dogs-need-other-dogs">Dogs need other dogs</h2>



The findings indicate that a dog's social support network has the most substantial impact on their health outcomes. In fact, social support is found to be five times more influential than financial factors, household stability, or the owner's age.



Under the guidance of Professor Snyder-Mackler, PhD student Bri McCoy, and MSc student Layla Brassington, the team embarked on an extensive analysis of the collected data, which represented a staggering 21,410 dogs.&nbsp;



The researchers aimed to identify the vital social factors for a healthy lifestyle, a significant stride in the Dog Aging Project's community-science endeavor.



<h2 id="h-the-dog-aging-project">The Dog Aging Project</h2>



For those unfamiliar, the Dog Aging Project is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the University of Washington and Texas A&amp;M School of Medicine.&nbsp;



The initiative includes over a dozen institutions around the country, including ASU. It aims to understand how genes, lifestyle, and the environment influence aging and disease outcomes. So far, more than 45,000 dogs from across the U.S. are enrolled in the project.



Daniel Promislow, the co-director and principal investigator, proudly describes the study's broad reach. He notes that the data gathered through the Dog Aging Project will allow follow-up studies to explore how and why environmental factors affect dogs' health.



The ASU team used a large survey that posed a variety of questions to dog owners about themselves and their pets. The inquiries spanned numerous areas, including physical activity, environment, dog behavior, diet, medications and preventatives, health status, and owner demographics.



<h2 id="h-five-key-factors-that-influence-a-dog-s-wellbeing">Five key factors that influence a dog’s wellbeing</h2>



From these responses, the team identified five key factors - neighborhood stability, total household income, social time with children, social time with animals, and owner age - that combined to shape a dog's social environment and were associated with canine wellbeing.



The analysis revealed that the environment in which a dog lives significantly impacts their health, disease diagnoses, and physical mobility, even after accounting for the dog's age and weight. Specifically, financial and household adversity correlated with poorer health and reduced physical mobility.&nbsp;



Conversely, more social companionship, such as living with other dogs, was associated with better health. The influence of social support was five times stronger than financial factors.



McCoy emphasizes the importance of social companionship for a dog's health, mirroring the importance of social connections among humans and other animals.



<h2 id="h-study-finds-a-few-unexpected-results">Study finds a few unexpected results</h2>



Two unexpected findings emerged from the study, which is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoad011/7161464">Evolution Medicine and Public Health</a>. First, an inverse relationship was found between the number of children in the household and dog health. Brassington explains that dedicating more time to children likely results in less time spent with the "furry" children. McCoy frames this as a "resource allocation" issue, rather than children being harmful to dogs.



The second counterintuitive finding highlighted the role of finance in disease diagnoses. Dogs from wealthier households tend to have more diseases diagnosed, likely due to more frequent veterinary care and the financial ability to afford additional tests.



The study's results were consistent across both pure and mixed breed dogs, as well as specific breeds. However, as the data was obtained through owner-reported surveys, there may be errors, biases, or misinterpretations.



<h2 id="h-next-steps-for-the-research-team">Next steps for the research team</h2>



The research team's next steps involve exploring potential links between survey data and underlying physiology. Professor Snyder-Mackler is interested in understanding how these external factors are translating into tangible health effects on dogs.&nbsp;



"We now want to understand how these external factors are getting under the skin to affect the dog's health - how is the environment altering their bodies and cells?" he noted.



The researchers are keeping a close eye on a subgroup of around 1,000 dogs from the larger study. These animals are part of a focused cohort where blood and other biological samples are being collected over several years to uncover these environmental impacts.



"In future research, we will look at electronic veterinary medical records, molecular and immunological measures, and at-home physical tests to generate more accurate measures of health and frailty in the companion dog," said Professor Snyder-Mackler.



<h2 id="h-study-s-conclusions-are-very-clear">Study’s conclusions are very clear</h2>



Still, the central takeaway from the study is clear. "Having a good network, having good social connectedness is good for the dogs that are living with us, said McCoy. "But the structure and equities that are in our society also have a detrimental effect on our companion animals as well. And they are not the ones thinking about their next paycheck or their health care.”



In conclusion, the findings could serve as a prescription for people to lead healthier lives. After all, what is good for our dogs may also be good for us.



“Overall, our study provides further evidence for the strong link between the social environment and health outcomes that reflects what is known for humans," said Professor Snyder-Mackler.&nbsp;



"We need to focus more attention to the role of the social environment on health and disease, and continued investigation of how each environmental factor can contribute to more years of healthy living (i.e., 'healthspan') in both companion dogs and humans."



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-bond-between-dogs-and-humans">More about the bond between dogs and humans</h2>



The bond between dogs and humans is an enduring relationship that dates back thousands of years. Dogs were among the first animals to be domesticated, and this long-shared history has resulted in a deep emotional and social bond between the two species.



<h3 id="h-companionship">Companionship&nbsp;</h3>



At the heart of this bond is the notion of companionship. Dogs, often referred to as "man's best friend," are cherished members of many families worldwide. They provide their owners with emotional support, companionship, and often contribute to their sense of safety and security.



This connection goes beyond simple companionship. Numerous studies have shown that having a dog can provide a range of health benefits. For example, dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and are less likely to experience heart attacks.&nbsp;



Dogs also promote a more active lifestyle, as they require regular exercise. This increased physical activity can benefit the cardiovascular system and help maintain a healthy weight.



<h3 id="h-psychological">Psychological&nbsp;</h3>



Psychologically, the bond between dogs and humans can also have profound impacts. Interacting with dogs can lead to lower stress levels and can even help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. The simple act of petting a dog can increase levels of the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin and decrease the production of the stress hormone cortisol.



<h3 id="h-emotional">Emotional</h3>



Furthermore, dogs have been shown to offer significant social and emotional benefits. For children, growing up with a dog can aid in their emotional development and boost their self-esteem.&nbsp;



Dogs can also teach children about responsibility, empathy, and compassion. For older adults, dogs can provide companionship and a sense of purpose, which can help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.



It's also important to note that dogs have evolved to understand human emotions and to respond in ways that provide comfort and companionship. They are attuned to human emotions and often react empathetically to their owners' feelings. This emotional intelligence, combined with their unconditional love and loyalty, makes the bond between humans and dogs truly special.



<h3 id="h-two-way-street">Two-way street&nbsp;</h3>



However, this bond is not a one-way street. Just as humans derive emotional and health benefits from their dogs, the dogs also thrive on the love, care, and companionship provided by their human partners. As the study we discussed earlier suggests, dogs' health and well-being can be greatly affected by their social environment, which underscores the importance of this mutual bond.



Ultimately, the bond between dogs and humans is a symbiotic relationship characterized by mutual affection, emotional connection, and shared benefits. It's a relationship that is treasured by many and continues to be a subject of fascinating scientific study.



—-



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Dogs live longer and happier lives when they get to socialize often

How do the lifestyle and environment of our four-legged companions...

A significant upsurge in the usage of non-LSD hallucinogens among young adults in the United States is causing concern among researchers. An insightful study conducted by the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> and Columbia University reveals that in the period between 2018 and 2021, the use of these drugs by individuals aged 19 to 30 almost doubled.



Back in 2018, it was found that 3.4% of young adults reported having used non-LSD hallucinogens in the past year. This figure spiked to 6.6% in 2021.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-sudden-surge-is-surprising">Sudden surge is surprising</h2>



While this prevalence remains relatively low compared to substance usage like alcohol and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/infectious-pathogen-has-spread-to-90-percent-of-cannabis-farms-in-california/">cannabis</a>, this sudden surge over a mere three years presents potential public health worries.



"The increase in non-LSD hallucinogen use occurred while LSD use remained stable at around 4% in 2018 and 2021," stated Megan Patrick, a research professor in the Survey Research Center at U-M's Institute for Social Research.&nbsp;



Patrick, who is a co-author of the study, emphasized that the leap in prevalence is substantial and raises critical health-related concerns.



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



This noteworthy information was uncovered as a part of the Monitoring the Future study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the results were published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/add.16259">Addiction</a>.&nbsp;



The study, involving a longitudinal follow-up of 12th-grade students transitioning into adulthood, focused primarily on substance use and health.



In addition to the overall increase in hallucinogen usage, the research team discovered that the consumption of these substances was notably higher among males compared to females.&nbsp;



Additionally, white young adults reported higher usage rates than Black young adults, and those whose parents possessed a college education, indicating a higher socioeconomic status, were also found to use these substances more frequently.



While the reasons behind the usage of these drugs, whether recreational or therapeutic, were not identified in the study, previous research has shown a link between nonmedical hallucinogen use and an increased risk of substance use disorders, self-harm, injury, and anxiety.



"With increased visibility for medical and therapeutic use, potentially comes diversion and unregulated product availability, as well as a lack of understanding among the public of potential risks," explained Katherine Keyes, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School and the lead author of the study.



<h2 id="h-national-trend-of-psychedelic-drug-use-for-therapy-may-play-a-role">National trend of psychedelic drug use for therapy may play a role</h2>



Professor Keyes noted that despite the trend of psychedelic and hallucinogenic drugs being used for therapeutic purposes, approved therapeutic use under professional healthcare supervision is still rare in the United States. Thus, the trends observed in the study most likely represent nonmedical and nontherapeutic drug use.



The study found the use of psilocybin, commonly found in "shrooms," to be particularly prevalent among the non-LSD hallucinogens. "This is a rising concern for young adult health," Patrick warned.



As part of the Monitoring the Future study, participants were asked about their usage of LSD and other hallucinogens, such as mescaline, peyote, "shrooms," or PCP. The frequency of usage varied greatly, with responses ranging from none to 40 times or more over the past year.



The researchers are committed to keeping a watchful eye on these trends and are eager to delve deeper into the motives behind the usage of these substances by young adults. It is critical, they stress, to understand these motivations and patterns of use to mitigate any negative repercussions effectively.



This crucial research work was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/">National Institutes of Health</a>.



<h2 id="h-more-about-psychedelic-drugs-used-in-therapy">More about psychedelic drugs used in therapy&nbsp;</h2>



The use of psychedelic and hallucinogenic substances for therapeutic purposes has been an emerging field of research over the past decade. These substances include compounds like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), dimethyltryptamine (DMT, found in ayahuasca), and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).



The therapeutic value of these substances lies in their ability to profoundly alter perception and cognition, which can facilitate therapeutic introspection and personal insight when used in a carefully controlled setting under the guidance of a trained professional.



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



One of the most researched applications of psychedelic therapy is in the treatment of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).



For instance, studies have shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy can lead to significant and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in individuals with life-threatening cancer. Other studies have suggested that psilocybin can reset the brain's connectivity, leading to lasting therapeutic effects.



Similarly, MDMA has been investigated as a potential treatment for PTSD. In clinical trials, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has been shown to produce significant improvements in individuals with severe PTSD, often in cases where traditional therapies have failed.



<h3 id="h-addiction-treatment-and-therapy">Addiction treatment and therapy&nbsp;</h3>



In addition to mental health applications, some researchers are exploring the use of psychedelics for addiction treatment. Certain psychedelic substances, such as ibogaine (derived from the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga), have shown promise in reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with substance abuse disorders, including alcohol and opioid addiction.



It's important to note, however, that while this research is promising, it is still in the relatively early stages. Most of these substances remain classified as Schedule I drugs under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, which means they are not currently accepted for medical use and have a high potential for abuse.



<h3 id="h-doctor-supervision-is-crucial">Doctor supervision is crucial</h3>



Further, the therapeutic use of these substances involves carefully controlled dosages and settings, and is coupled with psychotherapy - it's not a matter of simply taking the drug. Self-medication with psychedelic substances can have serious risks and should not be attempted without professional guidance.



Despite these challenges, the push for further research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances is gaining momentum. With ongoing clinical trials and a growing body of research, it's possible that we may see changes in the regulatory status and medical acceptance of these substances in the future.



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