A walk through a park, a moment of quiet under a tree, a glimpse of green spaces from a window - these small encounters with nature might be more than just pleasant distractions. They could be changing people's lifestyle choices.



Researchers from the University of Exeter have found a link between nature and health habits. The study, part of the BlueHealth <a href="https://bluehealth2020.eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">project</a> funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020, tracked smoking and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-social-drinking-feels-so-different-from-drinking-alone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drinking patterns</a> across 18 countries.



The results were clear. People living in the greenest neighborhoods were 13 percent less likely to smoke and 31 percent less likely to drink daily than those in less <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-green-spaces-are-urgently-needed-across-the-global-south/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">green areas</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-visits-reduce-smoking">Nature visits reduce smoking</h2>



The study didn’t stop at measuring green space. It also looked at intentional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cities-in-the-global-south-have-far-less-green-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nature</a> visits. People who made it a habit to spend time in nature - at least once a week - were less likely to smoke. The effect on drinking wasn’t as strong.



“We don’t think it’s simply a coincidence those who are exposed to nature smoke and drink less. A growing number of studies are showing that when people are exposed to nature, they have fewer cravings for substances like alcohol and nicotine,” noted Dr. Mat White from the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a>.



“In part, we think this is because they tend to be calmer and don’t need that 'hit,' which helps them give up smoking, for instance.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-counts-as-green-space">What counts as green space?</h2>



The study defined residential green space as land with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural elements</a> within 250 meters of a person’s home. That includes private gardens, parks, and patches of greenery. Data came from the BlueHealth International Survey, which involved 18,838 adults from 18 countries.



Study lead author Dr. Leanne Martin emphasized that the benefits of nature cut across income levels and educational backgrounds.



“Our finding that nature seems to be beneficial to all in society is hugely important because it goes some way to leveling the playing field in terms of reducing health inequalities,” noted Dr. Martin.



“We've accounted for a wide range of socioeconomic factors in our research and found the benefits are not determined by things like having a higher income or living in more affluent areas. For those people who don’t live in areas with high green space, we’ve found those intentional visits to nature also have huge benefits.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-green-spaces-can-assist-public-health">Green spaces can assist public health</h2>



The study suggests that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprising-mental-health-benefits-of-living-near-green-spaces/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">green</a> spaces could serve as a public health tool. Nature’s calming effect may reduce cravings for cigarettes. The tranquility of a park, the rhythm of a river, or the rustle of leaves could all play a role in easing the urge to smoke. 



But what about alcohol? The study found that while living near green spaces was linked to less daily drinking, the effect was not as strong as it was for smoking. 



Researchers think social habits may be a factor. Drinking often happens in social settings, and those settings might still be present, even in green areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-nature-help-you-break-a-habit">Can nature help you break a habit?</h2>



Public health programs could use these findings. Instead of conventional quit-smoking strategies, they could promote nature visits. A weekly walk through a forest or a park might offer the same calming effect as nicotine - without the health risks.



But what about those without easy access to green spaces? The study suggests that intentional nature visits work, even for people in urban areas. Programs could organize nature outings or create small green spaces in city centers.



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



Previous studies often focused on one country or one type of nature exposure. This study expanded the scope. It covered 18 countries and looked at both residential green space and intentional nature visits.



Despite the cultural and environmental differences across countries, the findings remained consistent. The link between green spaces and lower smoking rates held up across the board. This suggests that nature’s influence isn’t tied to one place or culture - it’s universal.



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



The study lays the groundwork for future research. It opens questions about how much nature is needed to see a health effect. Would a short walk through a park have the same impact as a day spent hiking? Would sitting by a lake offer more benefits than a walk through a garden?



And what about other health risks? If nature can lower smoking rates, could it also reduce other unhealthy habits? More research could explore these questions and refine the role of nature in public health strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-green-spaces-and-healthier-habits">Green spaces and healthier habits</h2>



The <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a> study offers a simple message: green spaces might help people smoke and drink less. Living near greenery or visiting nature regularly seems to make people less likely to reach for a cigarette or a drink.



For public health officials, the findings suggest a low-cost, accessible intervention. Create more green spaces. Promote nature visits. Make nature a regular part of daily life.



For individuals, the takeaway is even simpler. Spend time in nature. Visit a park. Walk through a garden. It could be more than just a relaxing break - it could be a step toward a healthier life.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1353829225000693?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Health &amp; Place</a>.



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Living near nature helps reduce bad habits like smoking

A walk through a park, a moment of quiet under a tree, a glimpse of green spaces from a window - these small encounters with nature might be more than just pleasant distractions. They could be changing people's lifestyle choices. Researchers from the University of Exeter have found a link between nature and health habits. The study, part of the BlueHealth project funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020, tracked smoking and drinking patterns across 18 countries. The results were clear. People living in the greenest neighborhoods were...

Scientists have identified a previously overlooked set of stem cells inside our hair follicles, and it could be a game-changer for people who feel anxious about thinning hair. 



Their work highlights an area higher up in each follicle that appears to control the biological switch between silent and active hair growth phases.



<a href="https://med.virginia.edu/dermatology/faculty/lu-q-le-md-phd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lu Q. Le</a>, MD, PhD, from UVA’s <a href="https://med.virginia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Medicine</a> and his colleagues conducted this investigation to learn how these forgotten cells might prompt new follicles to become active once again.



They believe this finding opens the door for new techniques to address hair loss, but they emphasize that ongoing analysis is needed before final treatments reach the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stem-cell-hair-growth-triggers">Stem cell hair growth triggers</h2>



This newly recognized cell group sits in the upper and middle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-a-hidden-way-that-humans-feel-and-sense-touch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sections of the follicle</a>. Researchers say these cells can renew themselves and produce various specialized offspring that participate in building new hairs.



Some were skeptical about whether follicle activity hinged on lesser-known compartments, but the team reported strong evidence that this region holds untapped power to spark hair regrowth. 



They found that, in lab settings, depleting these cells disrupted the natural cycle of replacing older <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daily-dose-finasteride-magic-pill-regrows-hair-heals-prostate-boosts-heart-health/">hairs</a> with fresh strands.



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



Some people view <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-natural-cure-male-baldness-highly-effective-sugar-2-deoxy-d-ribose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hair thinning</a> as an inevitable rite of passage. Researchers suggest the presence of unique cells, which may be more responsive to therapy, gives fresh reason to think differently.



“It is our hope that these stem cells could one day provide a novel therapy for treating hair loss in people,” said Le. 



That goal remains on the horizon, but the concept has stirred excitement among scientists who study the biology of skin.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-with-existing-therapies">Challenges with existing therapies</h2>



Typical solutions, such as over-the-counter <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482378/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creams</a> or prescription <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513329/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medications</a>, may improve only certain types of hair shedding. Many users also struggle with results that come slowly or plateau.



These new insights, however, add another target for investigation. Experts think that directing medical treatments toward lesser-studied follicle zones could bring more consistent or sustainable outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-bald-scalp">What this means for bald scalp</h2>



The most compelling twist is that these cells are still present in bald areas, even after hair shafts are long gone. That means the problem might not be total cell loss - it could be a matter of reactivating what’s already there.



Le’s team found that the upper follicle stem cells were still intact in human scalp samples taken from bald patients. 



This raises the possibility that with the right signals or drugs, these dormant cells might be coaxed into restarting the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beethovens-dna-reveals-unanswered-questions-about-his-death/">hair</a> cycle from scratch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-few-surprising-details">A few surprising details</h2>



Some of the earliest <a href="https://www.jci.org/articles/view/46307" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tests</a> on mice, documented in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, showed that once these high-placed cells were taken away, hair shafts were lost in parts of the skin.



The animals also displayed disorganized follicles, hinting at a broader role these cells may have in preserving a healthy hair structure.



An earlier <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2203463/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> on skin growth patterns pointed out that multiple factors interact to dictate why certain patches produce hair vigorously while others stay dormant. 



With this new clue, researchers can look more carefully at what signals these newly identified cells send to the surrounding layers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hair-stem-cells-and-the-future">Hair, stem cells, and the future</h2>



Scientists believe that maintaining or boosting the activity of these mid-follicle populations might guard against baldness. 



They are especially intrigued by how these cells might react if transplanted into areas that have gone quiet.



“We plan to fully investigate the potential of these stem cells in human hair follicles,” Le said. 



To get there, the team is examining human samples to see how often these cells remain in bald regions and whether they can be awakened.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-in-the-lab">Next steps in the lab</h2>



To understand how these cells behave over time, researchers are experimenting with different ways to trace their movements inside hair follicles. 



They’ve used genetically marked cells in mice to watch how the upper follicle stem cells migrate and change during the hair cycle.



This tracking helped confirm that these cells not only exist but also actively repopulate lower regions of the follicle, especially the bulge. 



That behavior is key, because the bulge has long been viewed as the main source of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/intermittent-fasting-can-slow-hair-growth-but-it-also-has-many-positive-health-benefits/">hair</a> growth, and it now seems these newly discovered cells are its upstream supply.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hope-for-stem-cells-and-hair-loss">Hope for stem cells and hair loss</h2>



Public health data suggest millions of adults feel uneasy about hair-related changes. Stress, genetics, and medical conditions can all play a role, so there is no single fix that works across the board.



Researchers say this discovery adds another set of possibilities to that conversation. They believe a refined understanding of these mid-follicle cells will guide specialists toward a more targeted approach in the years ahead.



These findings show promise for those who want a new strategy that tackles hair loss at its roots. They also raise interesting questions about how our bodies control tissue renewal.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jci.org/articles/view/180160" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Clinical Investigation</a>.



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Scientists discover hidden stem cells that could reactivate hair growth

Scientists have identified a previously overlooked set of stem cells...

Imagine spending hours on the couch, feeling good about the morning’s workout. You ran, you lifted, you stretched. You believe you've done enough to protect your health. But new research says that may not be true. 



Sitting for extended periods, regardless of exercise, can harm the brain. Even the most active older adults face the risk of faster brain shrinkage if they sit too much.



The study, led by researchers from <a href="https://www.vanderbilt.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vanderbilt University</a>’s Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, tracked older adults for seven years. They examined how long participants sat, how often they moved, and how much their brains shrank over time. 



The results were troubling. Exercise didn’t fully counteract the effects of prolonged <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sedentary-behavior-sitting-for-hours-health-risk-early-death/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sitting</a>. The more hours spent sitting, the greater the brain decline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sitting-for-hours-shrinks-the-brain">Sitting for hours shrinks the brain</h2>



The study showed that even those who exercised for 150 minutes a week still experienced brain shrinkage if they sat for long hours. Memory declined, and the hippocampus lost volume.



Participants wore wrist monitors that tracked every move. On average, they sat for 13 hours a day. That’s a lot of time spent sitting - at the desk, on the couch, in the car. And it took a toll.



Those who sat more had thinner brains in areas linked to memory and Alzheimer’s disease. Reducing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sitting-too-much-can-cause-premature-aging-even-if-you-exercise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sitting</a> time might help protect brain health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-risk-and-sitting">Genetic risk and sitting</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sitting-too-much-can-raise-blood-pressure-even-in-kids/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sitting</a> is bad enough. But for those carrying the APOE-ε4 gene, it’s worse. This gene already raises the risk of Alzheimer’s. The researchers found that it also amplifies the impact of sitting.



People who carry the APOE-ε4 gene lost more gray matter in specific parts of the brain. These areas include the frontal and parietal lobes, which are important for making decisions and remembering information.



Because these brain regions became smaller, APOE-ε4 carriers had more trouble with memory tasks. They couldn’t remember words as easily as others. They also found it harder to name objects quickly. The damage in these brain areas made simple memory tasks more difficult.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-sitting-hurts-the-brain">Why sitting hurts the brain</h2>



When you sit for a long time, blood flow to the brain slows down. This means the brain gets less oxygen and fewer nutrients, which are essential for keeping brain cells healthy. 



With less blood flow, the brain struggles to maintain strong connections between its cells. Over time, this can cause the hippocampus – the part of the brain that manages memory – to shrink.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/walking-can-counteract-the-health-risks-of-sitting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sitting</a> can also lead to more inflammation in the body. Inflammation involves chemicals that can harm brain cells. For people with the APOE-ε4 gene, which is linked to Alzheimer’s, this inflammation could cause even more damage to the brain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sitting-and-brain-decline">Sitting and brain decline</h2>



The study didn’t just look at brain volume once. It tracked changes over seven years. The findings were clear. More sitting meant faster brain shrinkage, especially in those with genetic risk.



Participants sat for an average of 13 hours a day. Even those who exercised regularly couldn’t escape the damage. They still lost brain volume in areas tied to memory, language, and processing speed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exercise-can-t-erase-the-damage">Exercise can’t erase the damage </h2>



You can’t undo hours of sitting with a morning run - the study made that clear. Exercise helps, but it doesn’t erase the damage from hours of inactivity. Movement throughout the day matters more.



Researchers suggest breaking up sitting time with frequent walks, stretches, or standing breaks. Stand during phone calls. Walk around while reading emails. The brain needs regular movement to stay healthy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sitting-brain-size-and-health">Sitting, brain size, and health</h2>



The researchers also used wrist monitors to measure real movement - not self-reported activity. Participants wore them for seven days, 24 hours a day. The data was precise.



MRI scans provided another layer of insight. The experts measured cortical thickness in regions linked to Alzheimer’s. They tracked changes in brain volume over time, focusing on the hippocampus, frontal lobe, and parietal lobe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memory-loss-and-language-decline">Memory loss and language decline</h2>



The findings weren’t just about brain volume. They were about memory too. Those who sat more performed worse on naming tasks. They couldn’t recall names or objects as quickly. They struggled to remember words.



For APOE-ε4 carriers, the decline was steeper. As discussed above, they lost brain volume faster and showed more severe memory loss. The researchers believe sitting speeds up age-related brain changes in those already at genetic risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sitting-less-protects-the-brain">Sitting less protects the brain</h2>



Sitting for long hours can damage the brain, especially in older adults. Even if you exercise, the harm from sitting too much doesn’t go away. You need to keep moving throughout the day to protect your brain.



Most people sit for around nine hours a day. In the study, people sat for 13 hours daily. Cutting down on sitting time can help prevent brain damage. Every step you take could make a difference.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/alz.70157" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s &amp; Dementia</a>.



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Sitting for hours daily shrinks your brain, even if you exercise

Imagine spending hours on the couch, feeling good about the...

The U.S. population is getting older faster than ever, with a median age of 38.9. By 2050, the number of Americans over 65 is projected to rise from 58 million to 82 million. A new kind of robot named E-Bar may soon play a key role in how America supports its aging population.



As this shift continues, the need for practical, everyday eldercare becomes more urgent. But staffing shortages, rising healthcare costs, and changes in family structures have made traditional care more difficult to sustain.



To help meet these challenges, engineers from the <a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) have turned to robotics. 



They’ve developed and tested a device called the Elderly Bodily Assistance Robot, or E-BAR. It’s a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-robots-can-help-you-find-objects-that-youve-lost-or-misplaced/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile robot</a> designed to support elderly users as they walk through their homes, assist them with mobility, and prevent falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-e-bar-the-robot-that-catches-you">E-BAR - the robot that catches you</h2>



Think of E-BAR as a robotic set of handlebars that trails behind an older adult. The person can either walk independently or lean on E-BAR for balance. 



If the person starts to fall, the robot’s side airbags rapidly inflate to cushion and catch them. E-BAR is strong enough to lift someone from a sitting to a standing position - and lower them back down - while following their natural motion.



Falls are a serious problem for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-the-temperature-inside-your-home-safe-for-seniors-a-new-study-has-details/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seniors</a>. They’re currently the leading cause of injury for people over the age of 65. The engineers wanted to create something that would offer both physical support and a sense of independence.



“Many older adults underestimate the risk of fall and refuse to use physical aids, which are cumbersome, while others overestimate the risk and may not do exercise, leading to declining mobility,” explained Harry Asada, the Ford Professor of Engineering at MIT.



“Our design concept is to provide older adults, having balance impairment, with robotic handlebars for stabilizing their body. The handlebars go anywhere and provide support anytime, whenever they need.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-built-for-everyday-living">Built for everyday living</h2>



Right now, E-BAR is controlled by a remote, but the team plans to automate future versions so the robot can follow a user on its own. They also aim to make it slimmer and more flexible for navigating tight spaces.



“I think eldercare is the next great challenge,” said Roberto Bolli, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.



“All the demographic trends point to a shortage of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-glimpse-of-the-future-robots-in-nursing-homes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caregivers</a>, a surplus of elderly persons, and a strong desire for elderly persons to age in place. We see it as an unexplored frontier in America, but also an intrinsically interesting challenge for robotics.”



Asada’s lab has previously explored many elder-support technologies - everything from wearable airbags to robotic walkers. 



But E-BAR is different. It’s meant to be used in the home or in care facilities without the need for a harness or other wearables. That makes it less intrusive and more comfortable.



“Elderly people overwhelmingly do not like to wear harnesses or assistive devices,” says Bolli. “The idea behind the E-BAR structure is, it provides body weight support, active assistance with gait, and fall catching while also being completely unobstructed in the front. You can just get out anytime.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-e-bar-is-built-for-the-job">E-BAR is built for the job</h2>



The team put a lot of thought into how E-BAR should look and function. It has to move through regular doorways, allow users to take full steps, and fully support a person’s weight during posture changes. 



At the base of the device is a sturdy, 220-pound (100 kilogram) platform. This weight keeps it stable as it helps lift and balance a person.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/e-bar-robot_elderly-care_MIT_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/e-bar-robot_elderly-care_MIT_1s.webp" alt="Six of multiple possible assistance scenarios with a prototype of a new robot being developed at MIT. Top row: getting into/out of a bathtub, bending down to reach objects, and catching a fall. Bottom row: powered sit-to-stand transition from a toilet, lifting a person from the floor, and walking assistance. Credit: MIT" class="wp-image-1969763"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Six of multiple possible assistance scenarios with a prototype of a new robot being developed at MIT. Top row: getting into/out of a bathtub, bending down to reach objects, and catching a fall. Bottom row: powered sit-to-stand transition from a toilet, lifting a person from the floor, and walking assistance. Click image to enlarge. Credit: MIT</figcaption></figure>



Underneath, special wheels allow the robot to move in any direction - no awkward turning required. The upper part of E-BAR includes 18 linked bars that adjust like a mechanical crane, helping the person to stand or sit. 



Two arms stretch out in a U-shape to offer additional support, and they contain soft airbags that inflate instantly to help catch a user if they begin to fall.



This airbag feature sets E-BAR apart. It’s the first robot to catch a falling person without needing any wearable gear or harness system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-world-testing">Real-world testing</h2>



In the lab, the robot has already shown promise. A senior volunteer used it during daily activities, like bending to pick something off the floor, reaching overhead, and even stepping over the edge of a bathtub. 



These tasks are often tough for older adults to do safely without help. E-BAR proved it could lend reliable, steady support in each case.



Bolli sees the robot as a good match for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/3000-extra-steps-per-day-lowers-blood-pressure-in-older-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">older adults</a> who still have some muscle strength but need help with everyday movements.



“Seeing the technology used in real-life scenarios is really exciting,” said Bolli.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-robot-assisted-care">The future of robot-assisted care</h2>



The current version of E-BAR doesn’t use fall prediction tools, but that may change. 



Another MIT project led by graduate student Emily Kamienski is developing machine learning algorithms that assess a person’s risk of falling in real time. Combining that technology with E-BAR’s airbags could lead to an even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robosapiens-ai-project-making-industrial-robots-more-free-thinking-adaptable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">safer robot</a> in the future.



Asada believes a range of robotic tools could eventually offer different levels of support as a person’s needs change.



“Eldercare conditions can change every few weeks or months,” said Asada. “We’d like to provide continuous and seamless support as a person’s disability or mobility changes with age.”



<a href="https://youtu.be/DlT6vHx4Dz4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click here to watch a video of E-BAR in action...</a>



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Meet E-Bar, the robot designed to prevent the elderly from falling

The U.S. population is getting older faster than ever, with...

Young,Female,Tourist,In,Friendly,Contact,With,Cow,Met,In

City dwellers in the Netherlands have a curious way of clearing their heads. Rather than see a psychologist or seek therapy through other means, they hop on a train, ramble into the green lowlands, and hug a cow.



The practice, known as “koeknuffelen,” sounds quirky until you try it; within minutes most visitors feel their shoulders drop and their pulse slow.



Scientists have long suspected that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-cats-make-excellent-therapy-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal-assisted therapy</a> works in part because soft noses, steady heartbeats, and wordless company nudge our nervous system toward calm. 



Until now, almost every formal study has focused on dogs, cats, or the occasional rabbit. Cows, though, linger on the fringes - huge, sweet, and largely untested.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cuddling-cows-as-therapy">Cuddling cows as therapy</h2>



Two researchers - Dr. Katherine Compitus of <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York University</a> and Dr. Sonya Bierbower of the United States Military Academy at <a href="https://www.westpoint.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">West Point</a> - set out to change that. 



Their paper, “Cow Cuddling: Cognitive Considerations in Bovine-Assisted Therapy,” appears in the journal Human-Animal Interactions and may tip the field toward larger pasture-mates. 



Conducted at <a href="https://www.shsanctuary.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Surrey Hills Sanctuary</a> in New York State, the pilot project paired 11 volunteers, ages 13 to 79, with two mellow steers named Magnus and Callum.



The work used the 24-item <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312371308_HAIS_The_Human-Animal_Interaction_Scale_Manual" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human-Animal Interaction Scale</a>, a survey that captures how often people stroke, lean on, or otherwise connect with an animal and records the animal’s own moves in return. Each session lasted 45 minutes to prevent fatigue on either side of the fence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-cows-and-people-respond">How cows and people respond</h2>



Magnus and Callum greeted their guests with slow sniffs, accepted hay pellets from open palms, and even settled onto the grass for a shared lounge. 



When interested, they licked sleeves - a bovine version of social grooming - and, when finished, they simply rose and wandered off. Unfriendly gestures were scarce. 



One teenager admitted she had expected headbutts but, instead, “fell in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grass-scarcity-alters-cow-feed-and-dairy-products/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">love with cows</a>” before the session ended.



The steers’ preferences turned out to be surprisingly specific. 



“We have discovered in the current study that bovine-assisted therapy may not only be an effective treatment model that benefits human participants but appears to be enriching to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-makes-dairy-cows-produce-less-milk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cattle participants</a> as well, as shown by their proximity to and continuous interactions with humans,” Dr. Compitus said. 



The data also revealed a gender twist: the animals spent more time beside women than men, and the women, in turn, reported stronger feelings of attachment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-calm-signals-from-cow-therapy">Measuring calm signals from cow therapy</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-a-pill-stop-cows-from-burping-methane/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stress in cattle</a> shows up as loud calls, quick tail flicks, or rigid backs. None spiked during these cuddle sessions. Instead, the animals’ easy breathing and willingness to lie down suggested comfort. 



“Two of the gaps in the research we address in this study are the inclusion of cattle in AAT and an examination of the cognitive processes of animals involved in AAT,” Dr. Bierbower noted. 



For a field that often views animals as passive tools, tracking the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farmers-want-to-talk-to-their-cows-so-ai-is-helping-them-interpret-moos-and-burps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cow’s point of view</a> marks an important shift.



Therapists already use dogs to ease anxiety during dental visits and miniature horses to coax speech from children on the autism spectrum. Cattle bring a different scale. 



A mature steer may top 1,500 pounds, yet these gentle giants lower their heads for scratches much like a Labrador does. That contrast - immense size, peaceful manner - can amplify the sense of safety that therapy animals provide.



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



Touch triggers a release of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oxytocin-holds-the-keys-to-both-your-heart-and-your-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxytocin</a>, sometimes called the “bonding hormone,” in both humans and many mammals. The hormone slows heart rate, reduces cortisol, and boosts feelings of trust. 



While a purring cat can spark that reaction, leaning against a broad cow magnifies the tactile cue: more surface area, deeper vibrations, and a steadier baseline heart rhythm.



Researchers in earlier dog-based trials found that even brief petting lowers blood pressure. The current cattle study hints the same benefit may hold when the animal outweighs the participant by a ton. 



Because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cattle-gallstones-insanely-valuable-are-the-new-must-have-item-in-global-smuggling-rings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cows live in herds</a> and often groom one another, they may already possess social wiring that lets them extend calm to another species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-all-of-this-mean">What does all of this mean?</h2>



Dr. Compitus reaffirmed that the therapy appeared enriching for the steers, citing their close proximity and continuous interactions with humans. 



Yet she also cautioned, “It is unclear without further testing whether the animals sought out the attention of women in general or if the women were more likely to initiate the actions when compared to the men participants.”



Future work will need larger herds, more diverse volunteers, and perhaps heart-rate monitors on both sides of the cuddle. It will also need to check whether cattle enjoy the work long-term or simply tolerate it for snacks. 



Ethical guidelines already require therapy dogs to rest between client visits; similar safeguards for bovine partners will be crucial.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-cow-cuddle-therapy">What's next for cow cuddle therapy?</h2>



Animal-assisted therapy grew from a fringe idea in the 1960s to a mainstream adjunct in hospitals and schools today. 



Adding cows may seem like a pastoral gimmick, yet the early numbers suggest genuine promise. Eleven participants is small, but every study starts somewhere, and Magnus and Callum appear to have opened the gate.



As Dr. Bierbower and Dr. Compitus refine their protocols, mental-health clinics might soon book time at local farms, giving stressed-out teens and weary adults a chance to swap city noise for the slow beat of a cud-chewing companion. 



If larger trials confirm the soothing power of a 1,500-pound hug, the phrase “therapy animal” could soon conjure more than wagging tails - it might also bring to mind a soft-eyed steer waiting beneath an open sky.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2024.0016" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human-Animal Interactions</a>.



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Cows who are 'cuddled' as therapy animals strongly prefer women over men

City dwellers in the Netherlands have a curious way of...

Clocking more than 52 hours a week may do more than sap energy - it appears to alter the architecture of the brain itself.



A new imaging study of healthcare staff shows enlarged volumes in regions tied to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-cells-communicate-to-support-decision-making/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">decision-making</a> and emotional control among people who consistently work long hours, hinting at structural shifts that could influence mental well-being.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-brains-work-overtime">When brains work overtime</h2>



Long schedules have long been blamed for higher rates of heart trouble, metabolic disease, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-with-depression-often-hold-tightly-to-self-doubt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depression</a>. Yet scientists have struggled to identify what relentless work does to the brain's neural tissue.



To probe that question, a team of Korean researchers led by <a href="https://www.yonsei.ac.kr/en_sc/index.do" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yonsei University</a> invited volunteers from the <a href="https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/ci/sereArticleSearch/ciSereArtiView.kci?sereArticleSearchBean.artiId=ART002827338" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gachon Regional Occupational Cohort Study</a> to undergo high-resolution MRI scans. 



The final sample included 110 hospital workers, of whom 32 routinely surpassed the 52-hour threshold set by South Korea’s labor law, while 78 logged standard weeks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chronic-overtime-and-brain-volume">Chronic overtime and brain volume</h2>



Those in the overwork group were generally younger, held their jobs for fewer years and possessed more advanced degrees - reflecting the junior resident physicians and research fellows who often shoulder extended shifts.



After excluding scans of poor quality, the team used voxel-based morphometry, which compares minute differences in grey-matter density, and atlas-based analysis, which maps brain areas against a reference template. 



The goal was to see whether chronic overtime corresponded to measurable differences in brain volume.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-excessive-work-alters-brain-regions">Excessive work alters brain regions</h2>



Analyses converged on several hotspots in the frontal lobe and deeper cortical folds. The atlas comparison revealed a striking 19 percent increase in the middle frontal gyrus among overworked participants.



This ridge, situated just above the temples, contributes to working memory, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neurons-coordinate-group-activities-for-language-processing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">language processing</a>, and top-down attention - skills heavily taxed by time-pressured clinical duties.



Voxel mapping then highlighted sixteen additional sectors, among them the superior frontal gyrus, a planner’s hub for deliberation and goal setting, and the insula, the hidden lobe that integrates bodily signals with emotional awareness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strain-shows-up-in-tissue">Strain shows up in tissue</h2>



Together, the pattern suggests that brains steeped in prolonged stress from work may add circuitry - or at least grow existing circuitry - in areas that juggle competing priorities and regulate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-timing-has-a-powerful-effect-on-our-mood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mood</a>.



While these changes might sound beneficial, the authors caution against rosy interpretations. “Notably, the increased brain volumes observed in overworked individuals may reflect neuroadaptive responses to chronic occupational stress, although the exact mechanisms remain speculative,” the authors wrote.



In other words, tissue growth could hint at swelling or rewiring driven by persistent strain rather than healthy development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-brain-changes">Unraveling the brain changes</h2>



Because the project offers only a snapshot, it cannot show whether large frontal lobes pre-existed and perhaps helped certain workers tolerate marathon schedules, or whether the extra hours sculpted the tissue over time.



“While the results should be interpreted cautiously due to the exploratory nature of this pilot study, they represent a meaningful first step in understanding the relationship between overwork and brain health,” the researchers wrote.



Either way, enlarged control centers do not guarantee sharper performance. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enlarged-brains-impaired-function">Enlarged brains, impaired function</h2>



Earlier behavioral research links excessive duty hours with memory lapses, poor emotional regulation, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-protects-against-work-stress-burnout/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">burnout</a>, echoing the executive and limbic roles of the structures that expanded here.



“The observed changes in brain volume may provide a biological basis for the cognitive and emotional challenges often reported in overworked individuals," noted the study authors. 



"Future longitudinal and multi-modal neuroimaging studies are warranted to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms."



Only repeated scans over months or years can reveal whether brain size shrinks back once work hours normalize or whether the alterations become permanent scars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-global-toll-of-extra-shifts">The global toll of extra shifts</h2>



The <a href="https://www.ilo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Labor Organization</a> estimates that overwork kills more than 800,000 people every year, often via stroke or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart disease</a>. 



Yet policymakers rarely consider neurological fallout when drafting hours-of-service rules. The present evidence, although preliminary, hints that overtime may leave an imprint visible on MRI long before bodily organs fail.



To reduce that risk, experts urge both individual pacing and systemic reform. Employers can rotate demanding tasks, enforce true off-duty periods and foster cultures that prize mental restoration as much as productivity. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overwork-and-brain-health">Overwork and brain health</h2>



Governments, for their part, might revisit thresholds that define a legal workweek, ensuring that statutory limits align with current science.



“The results underscore the importance of addressing overwork as an occupational health concern and highlight the need for workplace policies that mitigate excessive working hours.” the authors said.



In practice, that could mean capping consecutive night shifts, mandating recovery sleep for trainees, or offering mental-health check-ins for employees in unavoidable crunch cycles such as pandemic surges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-the-workweek">Rethinking the workweek</h2>



Confirming the new findings will require broader cohorts - ideally across industries, age ranges, and cultural settings - and techniques that assay brain chemistry as well as anatomy.



Wearable devices that track <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-is-essential-for-memory-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a>, stress hormones, and mood could enrich MRI snapshots with day-to-day context. Combining those streams may reveal thresholds at which adaptive growth tips into harmful swelling or connectivity loss.



For now, the message is plain. The brain is plastic, reshaping itself to meet the demands placed upon it. 



Prolonged weeks of intense problem solving and emotional labor appear to leave a signature in the very regions that power those abilities, raising the stakes for employers and legislators alike to keep workloads within healthy bounds.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2025/05/08/oemed-2025-110057" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Occupational and Environmental Medicine</a>.



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Working too many hours can alter your brain

Clocking more than 52 hours a week may do more...

Creativity can flourish when you leave your comfort zone. A new study shows that relocating - or splitting time between different places - can help people start their most creative projects years earlier than those who stay put.



In fact, scientists from <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ohio State University</a>, New York University in Abu Dhabi, and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis found that Nobel Prize winners who moved more often started their prize-winning research significantly earlier than those who didn’t. 



The research, which analyzed Nobel laureates in chemistry, medicine, and physics from 1901 to 2003, was published in the journal International Economic Review.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creativity-needs-fresh-air">Creativity needs fresh air</h2>



The study found that Nobel laureates who relocated frequently began their groundbreaking work about two years earlier than those who never moved. 



Those who split their time between multiple institutions started even earlier - by as much as 2.6 years.



“They’re hearing interesting ideas at one place and different ideas at another location. They are putting these things together in novel, important ways,” said Bruce Weinberg, one of the study’s authors.



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



According to the researchers, switching locations helps scientists meet others with different perspectives. That mix of ideas can be powerful fuel for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-discover-a-pattern-that-drives-artistic-breakthroughs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creative breakthroughs</a>.



“If they stayed in one place, it would take much longer to happen or may not happen at all,” Weinberg said.



Previous research has often focused on how clusters of scientists in one location - like Silicon Valley or Cambridge - drive innovation. But this new study highlights something different: the power of exposure to new ideas through movement.



“You can be in one place with lots of brilliant people, but after a while, you’ve talked to all of them and you develop a common understanding of how things work,” Weinberg said.



“You’re less likely to come up with this great breakthrough unless you are exposed to a new set of ideas you haven’t heard before. You can do that by moving or working in several locations.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mobility-and-innovation">Mobility and innovation </h2>



The researchers built a detailed dataset tracking the yearly locations of Nobel Prize winners and the year they began the work that led to their awards. They discovered patterns that connect mobility with earlier innovation.



Moving every two years shaved off about two years from the time it took to begin Nobel-winning work. Relocating every five years led to a reduction of 0.7 years. 



Working in multiple places - like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-experiences-alter-time-perception/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">balancing time</a> between a university and a large facility such as CERN - reduced the time to innovation by 2.6 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-head-start-on-greatness">A head start on greatness</h2>



The data also revealed that about 5 to 10% of the Nobel laureates began their prize-winning work in the very first year of their careers. But others took 10, 20, or even up to 40 years.



“It’s not easy for a scientist to move their lab and work to a new location, but it can substantially boost their research,” Weinberg said.



Interestingly, the average time it took for laureates to start their Nobel work stayed consistent over the years, regardless of the scientific field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-the-rest-of-us">What this means for the rest of us</h2>



Academic sabbaticals might offer similar benefits by allowing scholars to work in new or multiple places, providing a potential boost to creativity. While the study didn’t measure sabbaticals directly, the authors noted that examining their effects on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creative output</a> would be a valuable next step.



“For someone who might have taken 10 years to begin their prize-winning research if they stayed in one place, moving every two years could reduce that time by nearly a quarter. That is substantially accelerating their innovations,” Weinberg said.



Though the study focused on a specific group of scientists, Weinberg believes the findings have broader implications for anyone whose work relies on creativity.



“Many scientists work the same way as our study's chemistry, medicine, and physics researchers. They can benefit by moving to new places and being exposed to new ideas,” he said.



“I think the same might even be true of great painters and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-artists-carved-incredibly-detailed-animal-tracks-onto-rocks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artists</a> and anyone in a creative domain - their genius is coming up with novel ideas and expressing them in novel ways. And it helps to move and meet others with different ideas.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creativity-thrives-outside-the-comfort-zone">Creativity thrives outside the comfort zone</h2>



Weinberg also mentioned that there might be an added boost to creativity simply from being in a new setting, even beyond the benefits of meeting new people.



“Going off into a completely different environment, a new context, might help <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/creative-people-make-the-most-of-their-idle-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creative people</a> think in new ways,” he said.



“You’re more likely to come up with that great new idea if you move around, meet new people, have new experiences, encounter new ways of thinking."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/iere.12768" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Economic Review</a>.



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Need a creativity boost? Try a change of scenery

Creativity can flourish when you leave your comfort zone. A...

Antimicrobial,Susceptibility,Testing,In,Petri,Dish.,Microbiologist,Check,Antibiotic,Resistance

Scientists have discovered that a notorious hospital bacterium can digest the very plastics used in sutures, stents, and surgical mesh. By turning the polymer into food, the microbe may cling more stubbornly to devices and linger longer on ward surfaces.



Researchers from <a href="https://www.brunel.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brunel University London</a>, working with a patient-derived strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, found that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-pathogen-is-resistant-to-hospital-disinfectant-cleaners/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pathogen</a> dismantles polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable plastic common in modern medicine. 



The insight challenges the assumption that clinical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/everyday-polymers-that-are-considered-safe-release-harmful-toxins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polymers</a> are immune to microbial attack.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-hospital-plastics-into-food">Turning hospital plastics into food</h2>



The team traced the plastic-eating trick to a single enzyme, which they named Pap1. In laboratory tests, Pap1 reduced a thin PCL film by seventy-eight percent within seven days. The bacterium then used the liberated fragments as its sole carbon source.



“It means we need to reconsider how pathogens exist in the hospital environment,” said professor Ronan McCarthy, who led the study.



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hungry-bacteria-will-devour-plastic-waste/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plastics</a>, including plastic surfaces, could potentially be food for these bacteria. Pathogens with this ability could survive for longer in the hospital environment. It also means that any medical device or treatment that contains plastic could be susceptible to degradation by bacteria.”



PCL is prized because it bends without snapping, melts at low temperatures, and gradually dissolves in the body. Those traits make it ideal for resorbable sutures, drug-delivery patches, and soft tissue scaffolds.



Until now, surgeons assumed the material would vanish only through hydrolysis and harmless metabolic clearance. Pap1 shows that microbes can accelerate the process - and exploit it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-boosts-bacterial-defenses">Plastic boosts bacterial defenses</h2>



When P. aeruginosa chews up plastic, it gains more than nourishment. The broken polymer pieces help the cells weave tougher <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-coexist-in-shared-spaces-by-playing-nice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biofilms</a>, those gluey communal layers that resist disinfectants, immune cells, and multiple classes of antibiotics.



Catheter-related urinary tract infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia already rank among the hardest hospital infections to treat. PCL degradation could fortify the culprit’s defenses, complicating therapy even further.



The <a href="https://www.who.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a> lists P. aeruginosa among the top “critical” pathogens in need of new drugs. Its uncanny ability to evolve resistance and to thrive in damp, nutrient-poor niches makes it a frequent cause of persistent outbreaks.



The study showed that plastic may be an unexpected reservoir of calories, tipping survival odds further in the germ’s favor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-bacteria-may-digest-plastic">More bacteria may digest plastic</h2>



The researchers looked at genetic databases and spotted related enzyme blueprints in other bacteria known to haunt intensive-care units.



Though only PCL digestion was proven, the sequence hints suggest that plastics such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodegradable-living-plastic-contains-bacterial-spores-that-break-it-down/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polyurethane</a> or polyethylene terephthalate - used in everything from vascular grafts to wound dressings - might also be vulnerable.



“The bug's plastic-eating ability is likely helping it survive on surfaces in hospitals, potentially driving hospital outbreaks. We should start to consider focusing on plastics that are harder for microbes to digest and potentially screening pathogens for these enzymes, especially in unexplained prolonged outbreaks,” McCarthy said.



That prospect affects far more than one operating theatre. Cardiac stents, breast implants, dental membranes and bone fillers all rely on polymers for flexibility and strength. If any of those materials can be metabolized, latent infections might smolder undetected until biofilms reach critical mass.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-designing-safer-plastics">Designing safer plastics</h2>



One response is to redesign polymers so their chemical bonds resist enzymatic cleavage. Another is to coat device surfaces with inert barriers or embedded antimicrobials that deny bacteria a foothold. 



Any such solution must preserve the mechanical virtues that made PCL popular in the first place while preventing degradation inside the body.



Research chemists may also mine Pap1 itself for clues. By mapping its active site, they could predict which molecular motifs invite attack and which repel it. That information could steer the next generation of hospital plastics toward safer territory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-hospital-surveillance">Rethinking hospital surveillance</h2>



Hospitals already culture swabs from taps, beds, and keyboard covers. The new data suggest laboratories should add targeted searches for plastic-digesting enzymes.



Environmental isolates that test positive might explain outbreaks whose source has eluded standard surveillance. Cleaning protocols could likewise shift focus: scrubbing away visible grime is not enough if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/previously-overlooked-viruses-may-secretly-shape-bacterial-populations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a> can tuck inside the polymer and nibble at its chains.



McCarthy emphasizes that the present work is an early step. It examined one strain, one enzyme, and one polymer under controlled conditions. Real-world environments mix many microbes, variable temperatures, and diverse materials.



“Plastic is everywhere in modern medicine, and it turns out some pathogens have adapted to degrade it, and we need to understand the impact this has on patient safety,” McCarthy said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-experiments-on-the-horizon">Next experiments on the horizon</h2>



Future studies will test explanted devices for microscopic bite marks, track enzyme genes across hospital genomes and expose other medical plastics to potential degraders.



Animal models may reveal whether in-body digestion changes implant strength or releases inflammatory by-products. Parallel work on coatings and polymer chemistry will explore defenses.



For now, the image is sobering: a superbug perched on a catheter, slowly digesting the tube meant to heal, using the fragments to thicken its fortress and bide its time. The finding upends old assumptions and signals that in the quiet corners of a ward, plastic may not be inert at all - but a secret feast for the enemy within.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(25)00421-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Reports</a>.



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New "superbugs" discovered in hospitals devour medical plastics, boosting infection risks

Scientists have discovered that a notorious hospital bacterium can digest...

Picture this: You’re sipping a warm cup of tea or indulging in a square of dark chocolate. Delicious, right? Now imagine that same treats doing wonders for your heart by lowering your blood pressure. 



According to researchers from the University of Surrey, these tasty treats seem to be more than indulgences - they could help maintain blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health.



The study, recently published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, zeroes in on flavan-3-ols - plant compounds found in cocoa, tea, apples, and grapes.



The findings? Regular consumption of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-chocolate-survive-dna-research-may-help-save-cacao-trees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">compounds</a> may lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel function. Who knew heart health could taste so good?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-everyday-foods-that-lower-blood-pressure">Everyday foods that lower blood pressure</h2>



Flavan-3-ols may sound like something you’d find in a chemistry lab, but they’re actually hiding in your kitchen. These natural compounds are abundant in everyday foods like tea, dark <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chocolate-could-be-the-next-probiotic-powerhouse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chocolate</a>, and apples.



The researchers analyzed data from 145 randomized controlled trials, and the results were intriguing. People who consumed more flavan-3-ols had lower blood pressure. 



But here’s the twist - in some cases, the effects of these compounds were comparable to certain blood pressure medications. Imagine getting a similar result from a cup of tea as you would from a pill.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-tea-and-chocolate-lower-blood-pressure">Can tea and chocolate lower blood pressure?</h2>



A hot mug of tea, a piece of dark chocolate melting in your mouth - it sounds too good to be true.



The study doesn’t suggest swapping medicine for a snack. But it does raise an interesting point: Certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-tea-every-day-proven-studies-to-delay-biological-aging-in-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foods</a> could play a supportive role in managing cardiovascular health.



People with high blood pressure saw the most significant benefits from flavan-3-ols. The takeaway? The foods you love might just love you back - if you consume them in moderation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-beyond-blood-pressure">Benefits beyond blood pressure</h2>



Blood pressure wasn’t the only focus of this study. The researchers also took a closer look at the endothelium - the inner lining of blood vessels.



Think of it as the gateway for blood flow. When the endothelium functions well, blood flows smoothly. When it doesn’t, the risk of heart disease rises.



Flavan-3-ols seemed to strengthen this crucial lining, even in participants whose blood pressure didn’t budge. That means a square of dark chocolate or a few apple slices could potentially protect your heart in ways you can’t see but your body will feel.



Professor Christian Heiss, a cardiovascular medicine expert at the <a href="https://www.surrey.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Surrey</a> and the study’s lead author, is cautiously optimistic about the findings.



“The findings are encouraging for those looking for accessible ways to manage their blood pressure and support their heart health through enjoyable dietary changes," said Professor Heiss.



"Incorporating small amounts of commonly consumed foods like tea, apples, dark chocolate, or cocoa powder into a daily balanced diet could provide beneficial amounts of flavan-3-ols."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tea-and-chocolate-won-t-replace-meds">Tea and chocolate won’t replace meds</h2>



Before you start piling up chocolate bars or guzzling gallons of tea, there’s a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tea-bags-release-millions-of-plastic-particles-during-brewing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caveat</a>. Professor Heiss emphasizes that this study doesn’t give the green light to ditch your prescriptions.



“While not a replacement for prescribed medications or medical advice, including more flavan-3-ol-rich foods in a daily routine could be a valuable addition to a healthy lifestyle, especially for those with higher blood pressure. These are findings that, although promising, require ongoing investigation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-much-is-too-much">How much is too much?</h2>



So, how much flavan-3-ols do you need to see a benefit? The study doesn’t provide a magic number. A cup of tea, a small square of dark chocolate, or a handful of grapes might do the trick. 



But keep it real - too much of anything can backfire. More chocolate doesn’t mean more health benefits. Balance is everything.



Dark chocolate and tea might get all the attention, but other foods are just as rich in flavan-3-ols. Apples, grapes, and even cocoa powder pack a punch. The trick is to incorporate a variety of these foods into your diet - not just the ones that taste like dessert.



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



This study might open the door, but it doesn’t close the case. The researchers are far from finished - they’re just getting started. They want to keep peeling back the layers, uncovering how flavan-3-ols really work over time.



Will these compounds have the same impact on people with various health conditions? How much is enough to make a difference without overdoing it? And could something as ordinary as a cup of tea or a piece of dark chocolate eventually earn a spot in public health recommendations?



The questions hang in the air, unanswered but compelling. The study may have given us a glimpse, but the full picture is still coming into focus. 



Until then, every sip, every bite, every moment of mindful indulgence could be another clue in the unfolding story of how simple foods might carry profound possibilities.



Tea and dark chocolate - not miracle cures, yet far more than mere indulgences. This study reveals how ordinary foods might carry extraordinary benefits for our hearts.



The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf173/8092214?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Journal of Preventive Cardiology</a>.



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Tea, chocolate, and other common treats instead of medications? Yes, doctors say

Picture this: You’re sipping a warm cup of tea or...

While myths about “left-brained” or “right-brained” personalities persist, one long-known division of labor in the brain turns out to be even more significant than people realize.



A new scientific review reveals how the brain maintains separate processing streams for the left and right sides of our visual field - and how it cleverly balances this split to avoid blind spots, all while giving us a seamless experience of the world.



Neuroscientists Earl K. Miller and Scott Brincat of <a href="https://picower.mit.edu/">MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory</a> have synthesized years of research into how this split processing works. Their insights clarify how the brain’s hemispheres divide up visual spatial perception, why this trade-off exists, and how the brain bridges the resulting gap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hemisphere-myths-debunked">Hemisphere myths debunked</h2>



Study co-author Earl K. Miller is a professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT.



“People hear all these myths about the left brain being more analytical and the right brain being more artistic, or people being right-brained versus left-brained. Ninety-nine percent of that is nonsense,” said Miller. "You think with your whole brain.”



Despite this, visual spatial perception really is divided. The brain’s right hemisphere processes what we see on the left, and the left hemisphere processes the right. This separation persists even in high-level cognitive processes like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-stops-paying-attention-to-repeated-distractions/">attention</a> and working memory.



“It’s for good reason,” Miller said. “Perceptual capacity is limited - you can only take in so much at once. If your capacity is fully tied up on the right side of your gaze, you might miss a threat approaching on the left. Splitting resources between both sides helps avoid dangerous perceptual blind spots.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-brain-splits-vision">How the brain splits vision</h2>



When Miller was a student, he learned that information from the left and right visual fields was neatly split between brain hemispheres until reaching the prefrontal cortex, where it was believed to be fully integrated. 



But two decades of research, including Miller and Brincat’s own studies, have painted a more nuanced picture.



Contrary to earlier assumptions, even in the prefrontal cortex, neural activity shows a strong bias toward the “contralateral” hemisphere - the side opposite to where an object appears in view. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bilateral-advantage">The bilateral advantage </h2>



Brain wave measurements, particularly in the gamma frequency range, reveal that neurons in the frontal cortex show increased activity when attending to stimuli on the opposite side.



“As a result, the two hemispheres appear to function surprisingly independently, even for high-level cognitive functions like attention and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pupils-enlarge-dilate-when-working-memory-engaged-focused-on-task/">working memory</a>,” wrote the researchers.



This is why, for example, people and animals can remember more items if those items are presented on both sides of their visual field, rather than all on one side - a phenomenon known as the “bilateral advantage.”



But this advantage has limits. People still track multiple objects less effectively than a single object, even if those objects are split between both sides of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blinking-plays-crucial-role-vision-human-perception/">vision</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-brain-does-share">What the brain does share</h2>



The brain’s division of labor, however, applies only to spatial information - the “where” of visual objects.



Other aspects, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-retinal-cells-explain-complex-color-perception/">color</a> and shape, are processed across both hemispheres. This selective separation allows the brain to maximize its limited perceptual capacity for spatial awareness without compromising recognition of what objects are.



Interestingly, people also show individual differences in their visual capacity across the field of view. To explore this variability, Miller has founded a startup called <a href="https://splitsage.com/">SplitSage</a>, aimed at helping people optimize performance in visually demanding tasks by measuring these perceptual differences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bridging-the-brain-gap">Bridging the brain gap</h2>



Given the persistence of this division, why don’t we encounter any problems when, for instance, a bird flies from the left to the right side of our gaze? Why doesn’t the handoff between hemispheres disrupt our perception of a seamless world?



Studies show that as an object approaches the midline of vision, the hemisphere about to “receive” it ramps up neural activity in anticipation, while the “sending” hemisphere continues to track it for some time after.



“As a tracked target approaches the visual midline, the hemisphere about to receive the target shows a ramp-up of activity well before the crossing time, as if it is anticipating the target,” the experts wrote.



“Further, activity in the sending hemisphere remains high well after the crossing. Thus, for up to a second or more, neural signals reflecting the target are shared across both hemispheres. It is as if both hemispheres are holding the baton.”



This mechanism ensures continuity, much like how a mobile phone switches between cell towers without dropping a call. However, there is a small but measurable performance cost during this “handoff.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-division-and-disorders">Brain division and disorders</h2>



The ability to synchronize hemispheres is crucial. Disruptions in interhemispheric connectivity and synchrony have been linked to neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, depression, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychedelic-use-linked-to-higher-risk-of-schizophrenia/">schizophrenia</a>, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and autism spectrum disorders.



“A foundational understanding of interhemispheric processing, combined with interventions translatable to human patients, offers hope for developing novel network-level treatments,” the authors wrote.



The better scientists understand how the brain manages this division and handoff, the better equipped they are to develop treatments for disorders where this process breaks down.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-halves-one-picture">Two halves, one picture</h2>



The brain’s strategy of splitting visual spatial perception across hemispheres is an elegant solution to a capacity problem.



By managing each side independently, the brain maximizes awareness and minimizes blind spots. And thanks to its anticipatory handoff system, it stitches both halves of the world into the seamless, unified experience we take for granted.



While pop culture myths about “right-brained artists” and “left-brained analysts” remain oversimplified, the real story of how the hemispheres divide and collaborate is far more interesting - and far more relevant to both neuroscience and human health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028393225000880?via%3Dihub">Neuropsychologia</a>.



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How the brain splits vision and puts it back together

While myths about “left-brained” or “right-brained” personalities persist, one long-known...

The ripening of tomatoes may reveal clues about the cellular processes that influence aging, according to a new study. 



Dr. Simon Michaeli from the <a href="https://www.agri.gov.il/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Volcani Institute</a> worked with colleagues in Israel and Germany to explore how a fundamental recycling system in cells affects tomato ripening and possibly our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/klotho-s-kl-protein-discovered-boosts-lifespan-muscle-brain-power-with-one-dose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a> path.



The team discovered that a process known as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41419-023-06154-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">autophagy</a> may be key to shaping when tomatoes ripen, since it helps control a plant hormone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-autophagy-impacts-cellular-aging">How autophagy impacts cellular aging</h2>



Autophagy is a vital cleanup and recycling mechanism in most organisms, excluding bacteria, and is associated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protein-changes-discovered-protect-humans-mammals-from-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a> processes in animals. It breaks down and repurposes damaged parts of the cell to keep everything running smoothly, much like an internal maintenance routine. 



Research suggests it promotes <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4382258/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthier lifespans</a> for animals by clearing out unnecessary cell materials, including proteins that might otherwise build up over time. Studies have hinted at its significance in plants, but it wasn’t always clear if it played a role in fruit ripening. 



The new <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70127" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> shows a direct connection between autophagy and the timing of certain ripening events in tomatoes. The research also notes that slowing ripening doesn’t require halting other key growth functions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hormone-that-controls-fruit-ripening">The hormone that controls fruit ripening</h2>



<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4677914/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethylene</a> is a primary hormone that signals when fruit should turn from green to a softer, more appetizing form. It is famously linked to apples, bananas, avocados, and tomatoes, triggering them to become sweeter, juicier, and sometimes brighter.



Scientists often examine ethylene production to figure out if a fruit is on track for normal ripening. A slight acceleration can lead to fruit that ripens sooner and spoils faster. A delay can mean it stays unripe for longer and might never fully develop ideal taste or texture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tomato-experiments-and-early-ripening">Tomato experiments and early ripening</h2>



Researchers temporarily repressed autophagy genes in mature tomato fruits to test the effect on ripening. Their observations revealed that these tomatoes ripened ahead of schedule, which indicated that autophagy helps to keep ethylene levels in check.



They found that once autophagy was dialed down, ethylene production spiked earlier. In short, limiting a cell’s ability to break down its own parts pushed the fruit to age at a faster pace. 



The study points out that this cellular recycling mechanism has similar anti-aging <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-old-are-you-really-new-tool-measures-aging-from-the-inside-out/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">functions</a> in various organisms, from simple animals to humans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-less-waste">Implications for less waste</h2>



Producers spend enormous effort controlling the ripening process, since it influences everything from shipping schedules to profit margins. 



A big concern is spoilage, which eats into budgets and reduces the variety of produce on store shelves. Any strategy to slow or better control the ripening timeline might cut these losses.



“It is estimated that around 40% of global agricultural produce is lost or wasted, which has significant financial, nutritional, and environmental implications,” explained Michaeli. 



He and his team believe that harnessing what goes on at a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-scientific-review-analyzes-the-potential-and-limitations-of-nmn-for-slowing-down-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cellular level</a> might ensure fresher fruits and a reduced carbon footprint.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-paths-in-fruit-science">Future paths in fruit science</h2>



Experiments with tomatoes are just the tip of the iceberg for exploring how autophagy shapes food quality. It’s possible this process operates in similar ways across different types of produce, though not all fruits respond to ethylene the same way.



Additional research might look at selective targeting of autophagy pathways so that farmers can keep tomatoes from ripening too fast without harming other aspects of plant growth. That could lead to improved shelf life while maintaining the fruit’s taste, nutrients, and color.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-autophagy-ethylene-and-tomatoes-ripening">Autophagy, ethylene, and tomatoes ripening</h2>



Scientists want to pinpoint how autophagy keeps ethylene in balance. They suspect that when cells recycle specific proteins or molecules linked to ethylene, it holds off ripening a bit longer.



“Eventually, we may use our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind ripening to reduce produce loss across the supply chain. The next step is to identify how autophagy regulates the onset of ethylene,” said Michaeli.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-benefits-for-growers">Potential benefits for growers</h2>



Everyone in the food chain stands to benefit from discovering new ways to prolong produce quality. Less spoilage translates into cheaper groceries, a lighter load on landfills, and more choices for people everywhere.



Farmers are eager for any technique that can keep crops in top condition for a longer stretch. If autophagy can be managed without sacrificing flavor or nutrition, it may open the door to practical, eco-friendly solutions that help feed growing populations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-insights-from-ripening-tomatoes">Aging insights from ripening tomatoes </h2>



Beyond fruit biology, this finding sparks curiosity about our own cells. Autophagy is often linked to longevity and healthier aging in animals. It’s not about living forever, but rather about steering body cells toward a more balanced maintenance system.



The tomato example shows one more way autophagy supports life processes, whether that’s controlling the moment a fruit hits peak ripeness or preserving the health of our tissues. Researchers suggest that uncovering parallels in different species may advance our understanding of aging overall.



The study is published in <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70127" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Phytologist</a>.



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Ripening tomatoes may hold clues to delay human aging

The ripening of tomatoes may reveal clues about the cellular...

Have you ever noticed how your fingers become wrinkled when soaked in water? The longer you stay submerged, the more pronounced those wrinkles become. 



But do those wrinkles form in the same pattern every time? That intriguing question recently caught the attention of scientists at Binghamton University, State University of New York (<a href="https://www.suny.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUNY</a>).



A couple of years ago, Professor Guy German published a breakthrough study on why skin wrinkles in water. The common explanation was that water caused the skin to swell, which leads to wrinkling. However, German’s research revealed a more complex story beneath the surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-finger-wrinkles-form">How finger wrinkles form</h2>



Before Professor German’s study, the prevailing belief was that water absorption alone caused skin to wrinkle.



However, the team at the Biological Soft Matter Mechanics Laboratory found that blood vessels beneath the skin actually contract after prolonged exposure to water. This contraction is what creates those familiar loops and ridges on your fingers.



Professor German initially discussed his findings in a 2023 article for The Conversation’s Curious Kids feature. It wasn’t a peer-reviewed journal, but a student’s question that pushed German to dig deeper.



"A student asked, 'Yeah, but do the wrinkles always form in the same way?' And I thought: I haven't the foggiest clue!" said Professor German.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consistency-in-water-induced-wrinkles">Consistency in water-induced wrinkles</h2>



Motivated by the student’s question, the team set out to determine whether the same wrinkle patterns appear after each water immersion.



The study was led by Professor German and Rachel Laytin, a graduate student who was pursuing her Master’s degree. They designed a simple but effective experiment to investigate the question.



Subjects placed their fingers in water for 30 minutes, then had their fingers photographed. The procedure was repeated under identical conditions at least 24 hours later. 



By comparing the before-and-after images, the researchers could assess whether the wrinkle patterns remained consistent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-wrinkles-always-form-the-same-way">Do wrinkles always form the same way?</h2>



The results, published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, confirmed that the wrinkle patterns remained unchanged across multiple immersions.



"Blood vessels don't change their position much - they move around a bit, but in relation to other blood vessels, they're pretty static," explained Professor German. "That means the wrinkles should form in the same manner, and we proved that they do."



The experiment revealed that, despite the variability in other aspects of skin physiology, the underlying blood vessel network remains relatively static. This stability ensures that the topography of water-induced wrinkles is consistent from one immersion to the next.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nerve-damage-prevents-water-wrinkles">Nerve damage prevents water wrinkles</h2>



While investigating wrinkle patterns, the researchers stumbled upon an unexpected finding. 



"We've heard that wrinkles don't form in people who have median nerve damage in their fingers," said Professor German. "One of my students told us, 'I've got median nerve damage in my fingers.' So we tested him - no wrinkles!"



This observation could open doors to further research on how nerve damage affects skin behavior under water. It also suggests a potential diagnostic tool for identifying nerve damage based on the presence or absence of water-induced wrinkles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-family-connection-to-forensics">A family connection to forensics</h2>



While the study’s origins stem from a student's simple question, its implications could extend far beyond the lab.



German's father, a retired police officer in the U.K., dealt with the challenges of identifying bodies recovered from water. Understanding how wrinkle patterns form and remain consistent could aid in forensic investigations, including fingerprinting at crime scenes.



"Biometrics and fingerprints are built into my brain," said Professor German. "I always think about this sort of stuff, because it's fascinating."



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



The study has not only answered one intriguing question but also opened the door to many more. German is eager to explore further questions about how skin responds to prolonged water exposure. 



He believes the Curious Kids feature and the thought-provoking question from a young student were instrumental in inspiring this research.



"I feel like a kid in a candy store, because there's so much science here that I don't know. We thank the people at The Conversation and the wonderful question they asked us, because it does create cool new science," he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-research">Broader implications of the research</h2>



The study has added a new layer of understanding on how human skin behaves under water. The findings could be applied not only in forensic science but also in medical research, particularly in studying skin conditions and nerve damage.



For now, the simple question that sparked the study has been answered: Yes, water wrinkles form in the same pattern every time. 



Yet, the implications of this finding are far from simple. By exploring the relationship between blood vessels and skin topography, German and his team have laid the groundwork for further studies that could transform our understanding of skin physiology and its response to external stimuli.



In the end, what began as a child’s question became a compelling scientific inquiry that has lead to new discoveries and to more questions that are waiting to be answered. And for German, that’s the best part of being a scientist - the constant pursuit of the unknown.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1751616125000517?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials</a>. 



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Finger wrinkles from water could help solve crimes

Have you ever noticed how your fingers become wrinkled when...

A new study shows that an algorithm can look at an ordinary photograph and estimate how fast a body is aging - an insight that could change the nature of cancer care. The research was led by a team of scientists from <a href="https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mass General Brigham</a>, who constructed FaceAge, an AI tool. 



The experts trained the tool on almost 60,000 images of healthy individuals and then tested it on more than 6,000 patients who were starting radiotherapy.



The team found that the typical cancer patient appeared about five years older than their birth certificate suggested, and that each additional year shortened their life expectancy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-selfie-to-biomarker">From selfie to biomarker</h2>



FaceAge is a deep-learning network. It studies fine details - skin texture, muscle tone, and eye shape - then translates those patterns into a single number: your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-biological-age-may-predict-dementia-risk-better-than-birth-date/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biological age</a>.



The process is automatic. If FaceAge receives a head-and-shoulders photo, it can predict an age that reflects the body’s wear and tear better than the chronological age.



How old a person seems has long guided doctors informally. Frail features can steer therapy toward gentler options; youthful vigor can justify aggressive treatment.



Yet such judgments are subjective. FaceAge puts a more objective figure on that impression.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-face-age-and-cancer-prediction">AI, face age, and cancer prediction</h2>



In the study, patients whose biological age topped 85 fared worst, even after the authors adjusted for sex, tumor site, and chronological age.



“We can use artificial intelligence (AI) to estimate a person’s biological age from face pictures, and our study shows that information can be clinically meaningful," said Hugo Aerts, the director of the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) program at Mass General Brigham. 



“This work demonstrates that a photo, like a simple selfie, contains important information that could help to inform clinical decision-making.”



“How old someone looks compared to their chronological age really matters - individuals with FaceAges that are younger than their chronological ages do significantly better after cancer therapy.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faceage-captures-hidden-signals">FaceAge captures hidden signals</h2>



Predicting how long a terminal patient has left is difficult. The researchers asked ten clinicians and scientists to view one hundred portraits of people who were receiving palliative radiotherapy, and to guess whether each person would be alive within months.



Even when the panel knew chronological age and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cancer-thrives-on-human-stress-as-it-spreads-throughout-the-body/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer</a> type, their accuracy barely beat chance.



Adding FaceAge shifted the odds. With the AI number in hand, the group’s predictions improved markedly, suggesting FaceAge captures hidden signals that physicians miss.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teaching-ai-to-see-face-age">Teaching AI to see face age</h2>



The investigators began with public image banks that held 58,851 faces, each tagged with an age. Those photos came from everyday contexts, so the network first learned to recognize normal aging.



Next the team applied FaceAge to clinical snapshots taken during routine treatment setup. Linking those pictures to medical records let the algorithm discover how appearance, disease, and outcome connect.



FaceAge still needs validation in larger and more diverse populations. The study cohort came from only two centers, and lighting or camera angles could skew results.



Cosmetic surgery, heavy makeup, or cultural differences in skin care might also confuse the model. The team plans to follow patients over time to see whether the FaceAge number changes as therapy progresses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-early-detection-system">An early detection system</h2>



“This opens the door to a whole new realm of biomarker discovery from photographs, and its potential goes far beyond cancer care or predicting age,” said co-senior author Ray Mak, a faculty member in the AIM program at Mass General Brigham.



“As we increasingly think of different chronic diseases as diseases of aging, it becomes even more important to be able to accurately predict an individual’s aging trajectory."



"I hope we can ultimately use this technology as an early detection system in a variety of applications, within a strong regulatory and ethical framework, to help save lives."



FaceAge illustrates how artificial intelligence can turn everyday data into medical guidance. A single selfie may soon complement blood tests and scans, giving oncologists a faster, less biased picture of a patient’s resilience. 



If further trials confirm the findings, clinics could upload photos and receive instantaneous biological age estimates that fine-tune treatment plans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faceage-beyond-cancer-care">FaceAge: Beyond cancer care</h2>



Aging underlies <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart disease</a>, diabetes, dementia, and more. An image-based biomarker could therefore aid many specialties by identifying people who need lifestyle changes or preventive therapy years before symptoms appear.



The key will be strict oversight. Algorithms trained on limited datasets risk embedding bias, and patient consent will be vital when personal images feed predictive models.



For now, FaceAge remains a research AI tool. Yet its promise is clear: the face you present to the camera may hold clues to how your body is coping with illness and time. Harnessed responsibly, that knowledge could guide decisions that extend life and improve its quality - one snapshot at a time.



The study is published in <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2589750025000421" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet Digital Health</a>.



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AI tool analyzes "face age" from selfies to predict cancer risk

A new study shows that an algorithm can look at...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&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> Staff Writer 



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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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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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video 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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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