A large new study followed 407,618 adults in six European countries for about 11 years and tracked the incidence of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. 



The researchers examined how closely people stuck to a healthful, plant-based diet and how that related to developing more than one of the health conditions.



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



The project was led by Reynalda Córdova, a nutritional epidemiologist at the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a>, working with colleagues across Europe. 



Their team centered the analysis on real-world eating patterns and combined two major datasets to see long term effects.



Chronic diseases often show up in pairs or more. When someone has two or more at the same time, clinicians call it <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5556462/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multimorbidity</a>. Reducing the odds of multiple serious conditions can ease pressure on families and health systems.



In public health, preventing even a modest share of new cases matters because risk compounds when illnesses cluster. 



The analysis used the term “cardiometabolic” to group heart and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-extracts-may-help-treat-metabolic-syndrome/">metabolic</a> problems that often intersect with cancer risk. 



By treating the co-occurrence of conditions as the outcome, the study focused on how disease accumulates over time rather than on single diagnoses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-based-diets-were-rewarded">Plant-based diets were rewarded</h2>



Participants came from the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12639222/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPIC</a> study, and the <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001779" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.K. Biobank</a> (a national research resource that invites adults to share health data for science). These two large cohort projects collect data that connects lifestyle and health records.&nbsp;



Diet quality was scored using a healthful, plant-based diet <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002039" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">index</a> that rewards vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and coffee. 



Dietary intake of refined grains, sweets, and animal products, on the other hand, reversed the points.



A companion unhealthful, plant-based diet index scores higher for refined plant foods and sugary drinks, reflecting differences in plant food quality.



The models estimated <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/hazard-ratio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hazard ratio</a>, which expresses how much risk changes with each 10-point rise in the score. This was calculated after accounting for age, sex, smoking, activity, and alcohol use. 



Events were counted and sequenced to see whether a first diagnosis was followed by another, which mirrors how disease accumulates in life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-based-diet-and-multimorbitity">Plant-based diet and multimorbitity</h2>



Across the combined cohorts, 6,604 people developed two of the three illnesses during follow up. 



A 10-point increase on the healthy <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666756825000613?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant diet score</a> was linked to 11 percent lower risk in EPIC and 19 percent lower risk in UK Biobank data.



In adults younger than 60, the hazard ratio was 0.71, and in those of 60 or older it was 0.86. This shows a stronger association in midlife. 



The pattern for the unhealthful plant score was positive in UK Biobank data, and null in EPIC, underscoring that not all plant-rich eating is the same.



“A healthy plant-based diet might <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-diet-shifts-the-hidden-costs-of-what-we-eat/">reduce</a> the burden of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases among middle-aged and older adults,” concluded Córdova.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthful-plant-based-diet-defined">Healthful plant-based diet defined</h2>



Scores for the healthy pattern rise with vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts, and coffee. Less reliance on refined carbs, sweets, and red or processed meat helps keep the score high.



The unhealthful score climbs with sodas, sweets, white bread, and other refined items. Those choices can crowd out fiber-rich foods that support steady energy and metabolic health.



Separating the healthful and unhealthful versions explains why a plant-based diet can help or harm, depending on the mix. Quality matters more than labels, and the scale captures that difference.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-diet-quality-might-matter">Why diet quality might matter</h2>



A Lancet <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2818%2931809-9/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> linked higher fiber intake with lower risk of several noncommunicable diseases and better glycemic control. 



Fiber also feeds gut microbes that produce short chain fatty acids. These organic substances support metabolic and immune balance.



Other prospective evidence ties plant-based eating patterns to lower type 2 diabetes risk across populations. 



A comprehensive <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2738784" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meta-analysis</a> reported that greater adherence to plant-based diets, especially those rich in healthful plant foods, was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.



These mechanisms align with the new results, where lower weight, lower inflammation, and better insulin sensitivity likely explain part of the link. Diet is not a cure, but quality changes can tilt the odds toward healthier aging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-interpret-this-safely">How to interpret this safely</h2>



Self-reported diet is imperfect, and people may change how they eat after a diagnosis, which can blunt associations. 



Differences that are not measured can also shift estimates, so the authors tested many scenarios to check robustness.



The inconsistency for the unhealthful score between EPIC and UK Biobank suggests that context and measurement matter. Food culture, recall frequency, and how outcomes are captured can all influence results.



Even with caveats, the direction and size of the associations fit prior <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-thrived-on-plant-based-diets-not-meat-alone-780000-years-ago/">literature</a> on plant-rich patterns and long term health. That consistency adds confidence without assuming what a single study proves in every setting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-shifts-in-everyday-choices">Small shifts in everyday choices</h2>



The findings do not require strict rules or total exclusion of animal products. They point to a pattern where plants take the lead while animal products and refined items take a back seat.



Small shifts that raise the healthful plant score are realistic and sustainable. Those shifts also track with widely recommended approaches to lifelong health.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(25)00061-3/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet Healthy Longevity</a>.



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Big health study shows how a plant-based diet protects against disease

A large new study followed 407,618 adults in six European countries for about 11 years and tracked the incidence of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. The researchers examined how closely people stuck to a healthful, plant-based diet and how that related to developing more than one of the health conditions. Why this study matters The project was led by Reynalda Córdova, a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Vienna, working with colleagues across Europe. Their team centered the analysis on real-world eating patterns and combined...

Blood clots cause strokes, heart attacks, and lung damage, and they remain a leading cause of preventable hospital deaths in the United States, according to federal <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/blood-clots/data-research/facts-stats/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data</a>. A new line of research points to a simple lever that might lower risk - the color of light reaching our eyes.



The <a href="https://www.jthjournal.org/article/S1538-7836(24)00543-9/abstract">work</a> explores how specific wavelengths shape biology through the body’s daily timing system. 



Scientists call this the circadian clock, a network that tunes hormones, blood pressure, and blood vessel tone across the 24 hour day, as shown in a comprehensive <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5983320/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a>.



Lead author <a href="https://providers.upmc.com/provider/elizabeth-ann-andraska/3013812" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elizabeth Andraska, M.D</a>., of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (<a href="https://www.medschool.pitt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UPMC</a>), and her colleagues asked a basic question. Does the spectrum of visible light change the way blood forms clots in living organisms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-light-color-on-blood-clots">Testing light color on blood clots</h2>



In a peer reviewed study, the team exposed mice to red, blue, or white light for 12 hours a day over 3 days, then used standard models to trigger clots. 



Red light before the challenge led to nearly five times fewer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-blood-cells-found-to-squeeze-clots-tight-using-physical-force/">clots</a> than blue or white light.



The same study reported no benefit in genetically blind mice, and shining light directly on blood outside the body did not change clotting. That pattern points to an eye to brain pathway rather than a direct effect on blood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blood-clots-and-red-light">Blood clots and red light</h2>



The researchers focused on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blood-platelets-play-a-critically-important-role-in-the-body-that-was-unknown-until-now/">blood platelets</a> - the small cell fragments that stick together to stop bleeding and can spark harmful clots.



Red light exposure was linked to lower platelet aggregation and activation, signaling a less reactive clotting profile.



They also tracked neutrophil extracellular traps (<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2017.105" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NETs</a>), which are sticky webs released by white blood cells to capture microbes but also snag platelets. 



Mice given red light formed fewer NETs in clots and brain tissue after an induced stroke.



The researchers noticed that platelets in the red light group had more healthy fats, including oleic and linoleic acid.



These fats are known to make platelets less likely to stick together, which matched the reduced clotting activity they observed.



Finally, the scientists examined <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4369169/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">megakaryocytes</a>, the bone marrow cells that make platelets. 



Single cell data suggested changes in pathways tied to inflammation, stress responses, and cytoskeletal control, all of which relate to how platelets activate and aggregate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hints-from-human-patients">Hints from human patients</h2>



The investigators went a step further and reviewed outcomes in more than 10,000 adults who had cataract surgery with either standard lenses or lenses that filter a slice of blue light. 



Among people with cancer, who face about a ninefold higher clot risk than the general population according to a recent open access <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12001707/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a>, those with blue light filtering lenses had a lower lifetime risk of venous clots.



That retrospective signal does not prove cause and effect. It does align with the mouse findings and with prior evidence that clotting biology tracks daily timing cues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-it-means-for-you">What it means for you</h2>



This research does not replace proven prevention like movement during long trips, anticoagulants when prescribed, or hospital safety protocols. It does raise a precise, testable idea about light and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ginkgo-biloba-plant-may-be-key-to-preventing-blood-clots-vericose-veins/">clot</a> biology that clinical trials can evaluate.



Light is not acting as a drug in the bloodstream. It seems to work through the optic system and brain timing networks, which then influence immune cells and platelets.



The animal benefit appeared when red light came before the clotting challenge, not after it. That timing suggests a preventive window and warns against over reading the result.



Human biology is more complex than lab models. The lens analysis was observational, so unmeasured variables could explain the signal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-think-about-light-in-daily-life">How to think about light in daily life</h2>



Clotting problems remain common and deadly, especially after hospitalization and in major illnesses. Even small, safe reductions in risk could help many people if confirmed by trials.



Cancer amplifies <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-harness-soundwaves-vibrations-to-strengthen-tissues-and-heal-wounds-blood-clots/">clot</a> risk for biological reasons that include tumor driven inflammation and pro coagulation signals. Any non drug intervention that safely trims that risk would be worth careful testing.



Most modern environments flood us with short wavelength light from screens and overhead fixtures. The new study suggests wavelength balance might matter, along with timing and duration.



Morning light helps set healthy rhythms, while circadian disruption raises cardiovascular strain. That makes lighting a public health question as much as a lab topic.



Expect controlled human studies that standardize wavelength, intensity, timing, and duration. Devices that deliver known doses through the eyes would allow rigorous testing of dose and response.



Researchers will also map how retinal signals talk to the brain and then to bone marrow and immune cells. Those pathways could reveal new drug targets alongside any light based strategies.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jthjournal.org/article/S1538-7836(24)00543-9/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis</a>.



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How the color of light could save you from a heart attack or stroke

Blood clots cause strokes, heart attacks, and lung damage, and...

Teens are known for breaking rules. They often sneak out, lie, and take dangerous risks. Most parents respond the same way: warnings, punishments, threats of losing privileges. But here’s the big question - do those warnings actually work?



A new study looked at what really makes teens stop risky behavior. Turns out, it’s not the threats or punishments that matter most. What matters is how teens feel about their parents when they’re being warned - and whether those parents are living the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/peoples-moral-values-literally-change-with-the-weather/">values</a> they preach.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teens-notice-parents-actions">Teens notice parents' actions</h2>



Teens don’t just hear what parents say. They watch what parents do. A warning about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/harder-lie-convincingly/">lying</a> or drinking means a lot more when it comes from someone who’s consistent, respectful, and acts with integrity. 



If a parent says “honesty matters” but lies to others or bends the rules themselves, teens pick up on that.



That’s what a team of U.S. and Israeli researchers discovered when they asked teens how they reacted to their parents’ warnings. Teens were more likely to accept a warning - not just get defensive - if they saw their parents as living by the values they talk about.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-value-of-walking-the-walk">The value of walking the walk</h2>



The study surveyed 105 teenagers in Israel, with an average age of 15, who had all admitted to doing something risky or rule-breaking in the past month. These included things like skipping school, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-moderate-drinking-severely-harms-health-despite-past-studies/">drinking</a>, or staying out past curfew. 



The researchers wanted to know what happened next - how did their parents respond, and how did the teens feel about it?



The teens rated their parents on how much they lived according to their own values. Did their actions match their words? Did they seem satisfied and energized while doing things they said were important - like being kind, staying responsible, or helping others?



When teens saw their parents as truly practicing what they preached, the warnings felt less like control and more like protection. Even if the consequences were strict, like losing privileges, teens were less likely to rebel.



“Parents really have to ‘walk the walk’ and act on their values if they want their teens to behave responsibly,” said Judith Smetana, a <a href="https://www.rochester.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Rochester</a> psychologist with decades of work studying parent-teen relationships.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-being-a-good-example-isn-t-enough">Being a good example isn’t enough</h2>



Even when parents were seen as role models, some teens still felt frustrated by the warnings. Why? Because those warnings often missed one key ingredient: empathy.



“We were surprised to learn that even children who perceived their parents as demonstrating their values in their everyday <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-moms-meddle-friend-disapproval-worsens-teen-behavior/">behavior</a> experienced their parents’ warnings as frustrating and insensitive to their basic psychological needs,” said Dr. Avi Assor, a professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-listening-is-not-persuasive-in-arguments-does-not-change-minds/">Listening</a> is what really worked. The team found that the only thing that actually led teens to stop risky behavior was when parents took the time to understand their child’s point of view. 



Not just enforcing rules - but asking questions. Trying to see the situation through their child’s eyes. That kind of empathy made teens feel supported, not controlled.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-teens-really-need">What teens really need</h2>



The study draws from a well-known theory in psychology called self-determination theory. It says people are motivated when three key needs are met: autonomy (feeling in control of your own choices), competence (feeling capable), and relatedness (feeling respected and connected to others).



When parents respect these needs - especially autonomy - teens feel understood and are more likely to cooperate. When parents ignore or block these needs, teens feel pushed, powerless, or disconnected. That’s when defiance kicks in.



This isn’t about letting kids run wild. It’s about how rules are communicated. A warning that says, “You messed up and here’s why I’m upset, but I want to understand you” lands very differently than one that says, “You broke the rules, so now you lose your phone.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-key-to-changing-teen-behavior">The key to changing teen behavior</h2>



So what actually works when teens cross the line? <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-treat-their-children-differently-but-do-they-have-a-favorite/">Parents</a> need to live the values they’re trying to teach. Their actions should match their words, showing consistency and authenticity. 



Warnings should come from a place of support, not control. And most importantly, instead of jumping straight to punishment, parents should try to understand their teen’s perspective and take the time to listen.



When teens feel heard and respected, they’re more likely to reflect - and possibly change. It’s not easy, but it’s far more effective than lectures or punishment alone. 



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10964-025-02196-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Youth and Adolescence</a>.



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Why some teens rebel - and how to stop risky behavior

Teens are known for breaking rules. They often sneak out,...

Think about sipping a sugar-free drink that still tastes sweet. Many of us have puzzled over this illusion. Now scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden reveal how our brains transform smell into taste.



The research, published in Nature Communications, shows that the brain encodes certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-dna-may-explain-why-you-love-or-hate-certain-smells/">aromas</a> as if they were flavors themselves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-flavor-and-smell-form">How flavor and smell form</h2>



Flavor is more than taste. It comes from a combination of gustatory signals and retronasal odors, those aromas drifting from the mouth to the nose. 



The insula, known as the taste cortex, was found to integrate these signals earlier than expected. This means the brain does not wait for higher regions to combine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-your-brain-decides-what-smells-good-or-bad/">taste</a> and smell but merges them immediately into one experience.



Study lead author Putu Agus Khorisantono is a researcher in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at <a href="https://ki.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karolinska Institutet</a>. 



“We saw that the taste cortex reacts to taste-associated aromas as if they were real tastes,” explained Khorisantono. "The finding provides a possible explanation for why we sometimes experience taste from smell alone, for example in flavored waters." 



"This underscores how strongly odors and tastes work together to make food pleasurable, potentially inducing craving and encouraging overeating of certain foods.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-brain-links-flavor-and-smell">How the brain links flavor and smell</h2>



The researchers tested 25 adults. First, participants learned to identify sweet and savory flavors through combinations of taste and smell. 



Later, inside a scanner, they received either tasteless odors or odorless tastes. Algorithms trained on brain responses to actual tastes were then tested on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radio-waves-can-boost-our-sense-of-smell-without-contact/">odors</a> alone. The surprising outcome was that odours mimicked the brain’s taste responses.



The study revealed that sweet or savory odors activated the same neural patterns as the corresponding tastes.



This overlap was strongest in the ventral anterior insula, a region connected to olfactory areas. Importantly, the researchers ruled out simple pleasure ratings as the cause. Instead, the brain genuinely encoded odors in a way that matched taste perception.



“This shows that the brain does not process taste and smell separately, but rather creates a joint representation of the flavor experience in the taste cortex,” said senior researcher Janina Seubert. 



“This mechanism may be relevant for how our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-sense-of-smell-and-different-odors-can-influence-how-we-see-colors/">taste</a> preferences and eating habits are formed and influenced.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-flavor-and-smell-matter">Why flavor and smell matter</h2>



The findings highlight the insula as a hub for flavor integration. They also reveal that taste representations can drift over time. Neural patterns of taste identity were less stable across days, echoing results seen in rodent studies. 



This suggests that our flavor experiences are dynamic, adapting with exposure, context, and internal states such as hunger, mood, or attention. 



A flavor that feels vivid and distinct one day may blur or even shift the next, depending on what the brain has recently learned or anticipated.



This fluid quality points to a system designed not for rigid coding but for flexibility, helping us adjust to changing diets, environments, and cultural influences on taste.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flavor-identity-and-reward-value">Flavor identity and reward value</h2>



The study also observed cross-modal decoding in other regions, such as the orbitofrontal cortex, which is known to encode the value of food. 



The researchers propose that the insula forms a shared flavor identity, while the orbitofrontal cortex evaluates its reward value. This dual process could explain why certain odors make foods irresistible and shape long-term eating habits.



The team now wants to test external smells, or orthonasal odors. These are the scents we encounter before eating, like walking past bread or pastries.



“We want to find out whether the activation pattern in the brain’s taste cortex changes from salty to sweet when we walk from the cheese aisle to the pastries in the supermarket,” said Khorisantono. “If so, this could have a significant impact on the foods we choose to consume.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-flavor-and-smell-affect-health">How flavor and smell affect health</h2>



This research reframes flavor as a deeply integrated brain process. Smell and taste are not separate streams but overlapping codes that can trick the brain into tasting without tasting.



Beyond solving everyday mysteries like sweet-tasting flavored water, the work raises questions about cravings, overeating, and how our diets are shaped by environments filled with powerful aromas. 



The research also suggests that everyday exposure to food-related smells in supermarkets, restaurants, offices, and even advertising spaces may influence us more than we realize.



These aromas may prime the brain to expect certain tastes, creating a loop where scent alone can nudge us toward food choices we might not otherwise make. 



Over time, this subtle influence could shape eating habits, nutritional patterns, and even health outcomes, revealing how deeply our sensory world directs behavior long before conscious decisions take place.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63803-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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How smell tricks the brain into tasting flavors

Think about sipping a sugar-free drink that still tastes sweet....

A restless night can leave you groggy the next day. But when sleeplessness becomes chronic, the toll extends beyond fatigue. A new study suggests that insomnia may influence how quickly the brain ages, reshaping memory and thinking over time.



The researchers found that chronic insomnia increases the risk of cognitive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-a-turning-point-when-your-body-starts-aging-faster-proteins-key/">decline</a>. People who struggled with sleep at least three nights a week for three months or more had a 40% higher chance of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia. 



This translates to the effect of adding 3.5 years of brain aging. The researchers emphasize that the study reveals an association, not direct causation.



“Insomnia doesn’t just affect how you feel the next day - it may also impact your brain health over time,” said Dr. Diego Z. Carvalho of the Mayo Clinic, who is a member of the <a href="https://www.aan.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Academy of Neurology</a>.



“We saw faster decline in thinking skills and changes in the brain that suggest chronic insomnia could be an early warning sign or even a contributor to future cognitive problems.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insomnia-and-brain-aging">Insomnia and brain aging</h2>



The research team followed 2,750 older adults, with an average age of 70, for more than five years. Of these participants, about 16% struggled with chronic insomnia. At the beginning, everyone answered questions about whether their sleep had changed in the past two weeks.



The participants also took yearly tests designed to measure memory, attention, and other thinking skills.



A smaller group had detailed brain scans to look for warning signs, including white matter damage from small vessel disease and amyloid plaques, the sticky protein often linked to Alzheimer’s.



As the years passed, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/defying-time-three-ways-to-slow-biological-aging/">patterns</a> began to emerge. People with chronic insomnia were more likely to see their thinking and memory decline. Fourteen percent of them developed mild cognitive impairment or dementia, compared with just 10% of those who slept normally. 



That difference may sound small, but when applied to thousands of people, it becomes significant. Even after researchers adjusted for other health factors like age, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and use of sleep medications, the insomnia group still carried a 40% higher risk.



This finding suggests that the effects of poor sleep cannot be fully explained by other medical conditions. Instead, insomnia itself may be playing a more direct role in how the brain ages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-losing-sleep-impacts-the-brain">Losing sleep impacts the brain</h2>



The researchers compared two groups: people sleeping less than usual and those sleeping more. The contrast was clear. Those getting less sleep scored lower on memory and thinking tests, as if their brains had aged four extra years.



Brain scans confirmed the findings. People with less sleep had more brain damage and more amyloid plaques, the proteins tied to Alzheimer’s. 



The buildup looked like what is seen in people with a dementia risk gene. This suggests that losing sleep often can make the brain age faster and become weaker.



For those sleeping more, the outlook was brighter. Their brain scans showed less damage, hinting that extra rest might help recovery, even if scientists don’t yet know how.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-link-between-insomnia-and-aging">The link between insomnia and aging</h2>



Certain groups proved especially vulnerable. Participants with the APOE ε4 gene experienced sharper declines in memory and thinking. This finding highlights how insomnia may interact with genetic risks to accelerate cognitive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-purpose-the-secret-ingredient-for-healthy-aging/">problems</a>.



“Our results suggest that insomnia may affect the brain in different ways, involving not only amyloid plaques, but also small vessels supplying blood to the brain,” said Dr. Carvalho.



“This reinforces the importance of treating chronic insomnia - not just to improve sleep quality but potentially to protect brain health as we age. Our results also add to a growing body of evidence that sleep isn’t just about rest - it’s also about brain resilience.”



The study used medical records to find people with insomnia. This means some cases might have been missed, or the seriousness of symptoms not fully recorded. 



Even so, the results show how harmful poor sleep can be over time. They highlight the need to check sleep problems more carefully, treat them sooner, and teach people why sleep is important for healthy aging.



The research was funded in part by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Institutes of Health</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214155" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a>.



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Chronic insomnia linked to faster brain aging and dementia risk

A restless night can leave you groggy the next day....

Once upon a time, you went to a florist for a bouquet. Now you can grab one next to the spinach, at the pharmacy counter, even by the chips at a gas station. As fresh flowers have spilled out of specialty shops and into everyday retail, their place in our lives - and who’s buying them - has changed fast.



Researchers at the <a href="https://www.caes.uga.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Georgia</a> College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences wanted to know what, exactly, is going on. 



They teamed up across horticulture and agricultural economics to look not just at what people buy, but why they buy it, how often, and what those habits reveal about the modern consumer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-move-beyond-florists">Flowers move beyond florists</h2>



Drawing on a nationally representative survey of more than 8,500 people, the team found remarkable variety rather than a single archetype. Using marketing-style cluster analysis, they identified 13 distinct kinds of flower buyers.



Some are the classic date-night crowd: heavy on roses, big on Valentine’s Day. Others show up once a year for anniversaries and otherwise keep their wallets shut. 



A growing slice is buying flowers solely for themselves - home-use-only shoppers who treat stems like candles or throw pillows, a mood boost for the living room. 



And then there’s the “everything” group: people who purchase for all kinds of occasions and tend to spend the most overall.



Ask people what flowers mean and the responses span the spectrum. Word clouds from open-ended answers lit up with “beauty” and “smell,” but also “expensive” and “waste.”



Even so, buyers describe tangible upsides. Those who’d purchased flowers in the past year were more likely to report feeling better at home and at work - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-and-self-guided-nature-program-quickly-improves-mood-and-reduces-stress/">improved mood</a>, less stress, higher morale. The effect was strongest among recent purchasers.



As agricultural economist Ben Campbell put it, “there’s a perceived benefit of buying flowers - whether it’s real or not. People feel they’re getting something valuable from the experience.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-covid-changed-how-we-buy-flowers">Covid changed how we buy flowers</h2>



Behind the scenes, the cut-flower supply chain is both global and intricate. Imports - especially roses from Colombia - still dominate U.S. shelves. But the domestic picture has shifted in surprising ways.



When <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-lockdowns-weakened-our-immune-systems/">COVID-19</a> hit, weddings and funerals vanished overnight. Growers plowed under fields. Florists closed their doors. 



And then, stuck at home, people started buying flowers anyway - to brighten kitchen tables and Zoom backgrounds, to mark time when weeks blurred together. Grocery stores and even convenience stores leaned into the demand.



“It became almost like therapy,” said Julie Campbell, the study’s lead author and a horticulture professor. “The habit stuck around.”



That collective turn inward sparked new growth outdoors. From 2017 to 2022, open-field flower acreage in the U.S. more than doubled. 



Much of that expansion came from small and mid-sized farms growing stems that don’t ship well - zinnias, dahlias, snapdragons - varieties that explode with color but wilt on long-haul flights.



Rather than compete with mass-produced roses from the Andes, these growers staked out a complementary niche: seasonal, local, and often more diverse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-farms-find-their-niche">Local farms find their niche</h2>



Today’s bouquets are often a collage of origins. One sleeve might hold Ecuadorian roses, California ranunculus, and Georgia-grown <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-wildflowers-may-be-harming-bees/">wildflowers</a>, all in the same mix.



Consumers seem comfortable with that blend, and many are learning to read seasonality the way they do with produce: peonies in late spring, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunflower-family-tree-explains-evolution-of-flower-symmetry/">sunflowers</a> in midsummer, chrysanthemums in fall.



For domestic growers, that seasonality is an advantage. It allows them to sell what travels poorly and tell a fresher story - field to vase instead of farm to table. For retailers, it’s an opportunity to meet shoppers where they already are.



The UGA study suggests that people inclined to toss a bouquet in the cart also value other small home upgrades. In other words, flowers are converging with the broader “home as haven” mindset that accelerated during the pandemic and never really retreated.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-are-no-longer-just-gifts">Flowers are no longer just gifts</h2>



If there’s one throughline in the data, it’s diversity of intent. Flowers are still gifts, of course, but self-purchase is no longer niche. 



The “everything” buyers - those who grab stems for birthdays, apologies, Tuesdays, and everything in between - anchor the market, yet the once-a-year romantics and the treat-yourself crowd matter too.



That mix is why bouquets now show up in so many retail formats. A pharmacy endcap might catch the anniversary buyer; a grocery display might tempt the self-care shopper who wants tulips with their tomatoes.



It also helps explain the emotional payoffs respondents described. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flower-quality-is-a-critical-driver-of-bee-abundance/">Fresh flowers</a> are a fast, visible change in a room and an affordable luxury compared to furniture or renovations. 



That hit of beauty, scent, and novelty can feel outsize relative to the spend, which reinforces repeat purchases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-the-industry-goes-next"><a></a>Where the industry goes next</h2>



Policy and logistics will continue to shape the landscape - trade agreements, air freight costs, and climate impacts all ripple into what appears in the bucket by the checkout. But the UGA team’s work points to a few practical implications now.



Retailers can segment more intelligently, tailoring assortments and messaging to different buyer types rather than assuming a single use case. 



Growers can lean into their strengths - distinctive, local, and seasonal - without trying to displace imports that excel at year-round volume. 



And marketers can speak to well-being without overpromising: flowers won’t solve life’s problems, but they routinely make spaces feel better, and people notice.



Perhaps the biggest takeaway is the simplest: Americans are still buying flowers - and not just to hand to someone else.



Whether it’s a dozen <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-do-delicate-roses-have-such-harsh-prickles/">roses</a> flown in from Colombia or a handful of dahlias clipped from a nearby farm, fresh stems have become an everyday indulgence. 



They sit by the sink, brighten a desk, bookend the produce aisle, and remind us, in small ways, why bringing a bit of the outside in still resonates.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.ashs.org/view/journals/horttech/35/3/article-p286.xml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HortTechnology</a>.



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Why more people are buying flowers for everyday therapy

Once upon a time, you went to a florist for...

Feeling lonely and cut off from others does not just sting emotionally. Loneliness changes our internal biology in ways that are linked to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and even early death.



A large study of more than 42,000 adults measured thousands of proteins in blood. The researchers mapped how loneliness and social isolation line up with immune system and metabolic pathways. 



The work helps connect the dots between the social experience of loneliness, and concrete risks to our health.



Doctors have warned for years that weak social ties shorten lives. A landmark <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25910392/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meta-analysis</a> found that people who lack social connection have a higher risk of early death, even after accounting for other factors.



Lead author Chun Shen from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a>, examined what might sit in the middle of that pathway and leave a fingerprint in blood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-loneliness-and-disease">Studying loneliness and disease</h2>



The team used the <a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/definition/proteome-297/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proteome</a>, the full set of measurable proteins in blood, to see which signals rise or fall when people report objective social isolation or the subjective feeling of loneliness. 



After accounting for age, sex, income, education, smoking, alcohol use, and body mass index, 175 proteins tracked with social isolation and 26 tracked with loneliness, with notable overlap.



To probe cause and effect, the researchers used <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendelian_randomization" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mendelian randomization</a>. This method treats genetic variants as natural experiments to infer whether loneliness itself shifts protein levels. 



That analysis pointed to five proteins with levels that appear to be driven by loneliness.



“We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why," explained Shen. 



"Our work has highlighted a number of proteins that appear to play a key role in this relationship, with levels of some proteins in particular increasing as a direct consequence of loneliness."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immunity-and-inflammation">Immunity and inflammation</h2>



Many of the proteins tied to weak social connection were part of immune responses. 



Several related to antiviral activity, inflammatory signaling, and the complement system, which is a rapid response arm of immunity.



The study also found that more than half of the proteins linked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-disrupts-college-students-sleep-more-than-screen-time/">isolation</a> or loneliness predicted later risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/">cardiovascular disease</a>, type 2 diabetes, stroke, or death over follow up. Those associations held even after careful adjustment for common confounders.



One protein, adrenomedullin (<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28150464/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ADM</a>), stood out as a consistent mediator between loneliness and disease risk. Higher ADM was tied to greater risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mortality in the cohort.



There is biological backing for ADM’s role in stress physiology and social signaling. In animal <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19420012/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a>, central adrenomedullin peptides increased activity in oxytocin neurons and raised oxytocin levels in blood.



The study linked higher ADM in blood to smaller volumes in brain regions that help sense internal body signals and shape emotion. That pattern offers a plausible route from a social feeling to a whole-body response.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loneliness-disease-and-the-brain">Loneliness, disease, and the brain</h2>



Higher levels of ADM were linked to smaller size in the insula, a brain area that helps the body sense and process internal signals. 



They were also connected to reduced size in the left caudate, which is important for emotion, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/want-to-stay-motivated-focus-on-time-not-money/">motivation</a>, and social behavior.



These associations do not mean neurons are being lost due to loneliness. They do show a clear connection between a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-harms-health-more-than-alcohol-obesity-or-smoking/">social experience</a>, a circulating protein, and variation in brain structure measured years later.



Another protein identified was <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1508419" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ASGR1</a>, which has been tied to cholesterol levels and heart disease. In people, a genetic change that turns off ASGR1 lowers certain types of cholesterol and cuts the risk of coronary artery disease.



The new work suggests that loneliness may nudge ASGR1 levels higher, adding a layer of social biology on top of known genetic effects. 



That is an intriguing connection to how arteries harden and why some people move toward insulin resistance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-numbers-really-say">What the numbers really say</h2>



The study pointed to five proteins with levels that seemed to be directly affected by loneliness and were also tied to health problems. These proteins were ADM, ASGR1, GFRA1, FABP4, and TNFRSF10A.



About nine in ten of the proteins tied to poor social connection were also associated with higher mortality risk in the dataset. More than half were tied to later cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, or stroke.



Genetic approaches such as Mendelian randomization strengthen causal arguments, but they are not perfect. Pleiotropy, where one genetic variant affects multiple traits, can blur the view.



Even so, the convergence of genetic instruments, longitudinal health records, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/100-year-old-people-all-share-these-crucial-blood-biomarkers-that-short-lived-people-dont-have/">blood biomarkers</a>, and brain imaging adds weight.



The story that emerges is that persistent loneliness can change the mix of proteins that steer inflammation, metabolism, and stress. Those changes tack with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poverty-linked-loneliness-causes-real-physical-and-emotional-pain/">poorer outcomes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loneliness-as-a-global-pandemic">Loneliness as a global pandemic</h2>



Loneliness is not just a private struggle. The World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO</a>) has flagged social connection as a public health priority. They created a three-year Commission to push action, as noted in an official <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/15-11-2023-who-launches-commission-to-foster-social-connection" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO news item</a>.



That framing matters because the biology uncovered here points to preventable risk. Social connection is not a pill. It is a lever that can reduce the burden of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in populations.



Clinicians already track <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/c-reactive-protein-test/about/pac-20385228" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">C-reactive protein</a> and other biomarkers of inflammation when they assess metabolic and cardiovascular risk. It will take more work before proteins such as ADM or ASGR1 become clinical targets or routine tests.



Even now, it is reasonable to treat persistent loneliness like a modifiable risk factor. As such, it deserves the same systematic attention as blood pressure or cholesterol. Health systems can screen for it, and community connections can lower it.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02078-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Human Behaviour</a>.



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Study directly links loneliness to serious health issues and diseases, making it a global pandemic

Feeling lonely and cut off from others does not just...

The Roman army did not glue itself together with matching uniforms. It bonded through tight friendships, shared routines, and a language of symbols that told every insider who stood where.



Service was long and demanding, so your unit became your world. Under the emperors, a standard career ran about 25 years, a reality the British <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/introduction-legion-life-roman-army" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">museum</a> explains plainly.



This piece draws on the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336100386_Military_identity_and_personal_self-identity_in_the_Roman_army" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> of Dr. Stefanie Hoss, an archaeologist from the University of Cologne whose research into soldiers’ belts and appearance helps decode how identity worked in practice.



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



In the late Republic, many recruits were farmers or tradesmen who fought part time, so they saw themselves first as citizens and only second as soldiers.



As campaigns stretched and civil wars multiplied, soldiering hardened into a career with pay grades, promotions, and benefits that shaped a new professional identity.



The smallest circle was the tent group, the <a href="https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Contubernales.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contubernales</a>, eight men who cooked, marched, and slept together. Their bonds set the tone for larger circles, from the century to the cohort and then the legion.



Identity could be blunt and direct. Petronius preserves a barracks-style challenge, “commilito, ex qua legione es aut cuius centuria,” 



This translates to: “Comrade, from which legion are you, or of which century?” in <a href="https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/petronius1.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Satyricon</a>, book 82, by Petronius Arbiter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-symbolic-roman-uniforms">Symbolic Roman uniforms</h2>



The Romans spoke identity through things. Shields bore painted emblems, standards carried animals tied to a legion’s founder, and gear bore marks that fixed a man to a unit and a role.



“Together with the crunch of hob-nailed sandals, the jingling of the metal belt pieces must have given soldiers a distinctive ‘sound,’ announcing their presence,” wrote Dr. Hoss in a <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefanie-Hoss/publication/290485985_The_roman_military_belt/links/617ba6920be8ec17a942e77b/The-roman-military-belt.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a>. Outfit and kit broadcast rank and status. The soldier’s belt, the cingulum, was heavy, bright, and noisy by design. 



Modern readers often imagine a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mass-grave-vienna-discovery-tells-the-story-of-a-forgotten-defeat-by-the-roman-empire/">single</a> Roman “uniform,” but the evidence does not support that picture. Styles of tunics, cloaks, boots, and armor varied across time and place.



Scholars who track equipment change argue that similarity came from copying and local production, not from any kind of central planning. 



Evidence shows there was no deliberate design system overseeing the production of Roman uniforms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-roman-uniforms-aimed-to-impress">Roman uniforms aimed to impress</h2>



Belonging also ran through blood and place. Families often sent sons into the same formations for generations, and patronage helped young men enter the legions that their relatives knew.



Regional armies built pride of their own. Legions on the Rhine did not think like legions on the Danube, and both groups left material traces of local habits from pottery to burial customs.



Roman soldiers aimed to look impressive even off the battlefield. Praetorian guards on duty wore belts and sidearms, even when unarmored. Men used crests, brooches, and decorated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-identifies-ingredients-of-the-ketchup-sauce-used-on-food-by-the-roman-empire/">fittings</a> to mark rank and seniority.



Belts did more than hold swords. Their weight changed how men stood and moved while the metal plates produced a distinct soundscape of service. The aural cues separated soldier from civilian.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-uniformity-toward-fashion">Beyond uniformity, toward fashion</h2>



There was copycat behavior, but it looked more like fashion than regulation. In fact, belt mount styles rose and fell in trends that spread through units and regions.



One <a href="https://www.academia.edu/36091452/Sharp_dressed_men_the_Roman_military_belt_as_a_fashion_item_In_JRMES_18_2017_85_100" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">article</a> tracks how belt decoration choices signaled status and taste more than battlefield need, and how those choices turned a basic strap into an identity marker.



The citizen legions never stood alone. The auxilia were noncitizen regiments that brought their own tools, dress, and rituals into the army’s culture.



Over time, lines blurred. Citizenship spread, pay scales shifted, and local recruitment meant neighboring communities fed both auxiliaries and legions, creating mixed identities within single garrisons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-roman-uniforms-carried-identity">Roman uniforms carried identity </h2>



Detachments, or vexillationes, pulled men from home bases for special missions. These temporary teams carried their home identities into new regions and brought new habits back.



That traffic moved symbols and kit styles across provinces. You can see it in equipment decoration that starts in the Danube region and later appears in Britain or Syria.



Soldiers cared about how they would be <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-warriors-may-have-used-psychoactive-plants-for-courage-in-battle/">remembered</a>. Awards called donativa and other decorations recorded achievement while a man served, and stone preserved the memory when he fell.



Funerary monuments show men upright with spear, shield, and decorated belts. The poses are formal, the details precise, and the message clear - a life defined by service, rank, and comrades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-roman-uniforms-were-about-community">Roman uniforms were about community</h2>



Uniformity did not create cohesion. Shared hardship, long service, inside jokes, and recognizable sounds did the real work.



Symbols stitched those bonds into public view. A belt could jingle like a calling card, a shield could speak a unit, and a greeting could nail your identity in a single breath.



Recent work does not treat identity as a side note. An edited <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Identities-in-Antiquity/Skinner-Manolopoulou-Tsouparopoulou/p/book/9781138545168" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volume</a> collects studies that show how ancient people built belonging through objects, habits, and stories.



That broader lens confirms what the military evidence keeps showing. Soldiers found unity in layered identities, from tent to tomb, far beyond any matching tunic.



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Roman soldiers were mostly united, but it wasn't because of their uniforms

The Roman army did not glue itself together with matching...

Eating is never just about filling the stomach. Hunger rises, flavors tempt, and moods decide whether a meal feels right or not. All of these signals meet in the brain, where tiny structures manage big decisions about food.



One of those small but powerful hubs is the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, or BNST. It sits near the center of the brain and is no bigger than a sunflower seed. Despite its size, it plays a surprising role in controlling how much we eat. 



Researchers are now showing that this structure links taste, hunger, and even stress into a single system that can push us toward or away from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-our-brains-tell-us-when-we-need-to-eat-or-drink-neurons-hunger-thirst/">food</a>.



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



Scientists from <a href="https://www.columbia.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a> studied mice to see how the BNST responds to flavors. They offered water flavored with sweet, salty, sour, bitter, or umami tastes and watched the brain in action. 



Sweet flavors activated a set of neurons, and those neurons, in turn, lit up the BNST. This showed that taste signals do not stop at the tongue or even the amygdala but reach deeper into the brain’s appetite circuits.



The discovery matters because it suggests the BNST does not just monitor need. It also listens to pleasure. The pull of sweetness can directly boost activity in this structure, setting the stage for more drinking and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-more-fruits-and-vegetables-will-help-you-get-better-sleep/">eating</a>.



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



When researchers blocked BNST neurons, mice lost much of their interest in sweet water. They drank far less than normal. 



But when those neurons were artificially switched on, the opposite happened. Mice drank more water of any kind - even bitter water they usually avoid.



The message is simple: this structure does not just track <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-eating-habit-may-be-key-to-weight-management/">taste</a>. It can drive behavior, pushing animals to consume more than they otherwise would. The BNST seems wired to amplify motivation itself, not just flavor preference.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-region-guides-eating">Brain region guides eating</h2>



The BNST reacts differently depending on the body’s condition. Hungry mice or salt-depleted ones showed much stronger BNST activity than animals that were full or balanced in nutrients. 



The results show that the BNST adjusts according to need. It encourages consumption when resources are low and quiets down when balance returns.



This flexibility turns the BNST into more than a taste relay. It acts like a central decision point that weighs bodily state against available flavors. The result is a finely tuned system that decides whether to keep eating or stop.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-reward-and-food">Stress, reward, and food</h2>



The BNST does not only deal with hunger or flavor. It connects with circuits that manage stress and reward. 



In some cases, stress suppresses appetite. In others, stress increases it. The BNST helps tip the balance. That explains why eating patterns often shift during emotional highs or lows.



By linking survival needs with emotional state, the BNST ensures that food-seeking happens at the right time. It keeps behavior flexible, guiding choices that fit both body and environment.



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



The BNST in humans looks and behaves much like the one in mice. That makes the research relevant beyond the lab. If scientists can control how this region works, they could design treatments for very different problems.



Activating the BNST might help patients who lose their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-has-a-meal-memory-that-controls-hunger/">appetite</a> during illness or medical treatments. On the other hand, carefully dampening its signals could support weight management in people struggling with overeating.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-drugs-fit-in">Where drugs fit in</h2>



Some of today’s weight-loss drugs already interact with BNST-linked neurons. Understanding exactly how this happens may explain why some patients respond strongly while others see little effect. 



It may also guide improvements. Since food intake involves many brain circuits, targeting only one pathway may not be enough. Still, the BNST offers a promising starting point for designing therapies that act on motivation and need together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-s-role-in-eating">Brain's role in eating</h2>



The BNST sits small and quiet in the brain, but its influence spreads wide. It links taste, hunger, salt balance, stress, and reward into a single system that can either open the door to food or close it. That makes it one of the most important switches for eating behavior.



As research grows, this tiny structure may become a major focus in medicine. By understanding how it balances signals, scientists could develop treatments that restore appetite where it is lost or calm it where it runs out of control. 



In the end, this seed-sized part of the brain might hold the key to shaping healthier eating.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)00976-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell</a>.



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Tiny brain region has a big influence on how much we eat

Eating is never just about filling the stomach. Hunger rises,...

Eight or more alcoholic drinks per week were linked to signs of injury in the brain in a large autopsy <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40203226/">study</a>. The finding points to changes in small blood vessels that help feed and clean brain tissue, which is hard to detect during life.



Those lesions are called <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/hyaline-arteriolosclerosis">hyaline arteriolosclerosis</a>, a thickening of tiny arteries that narrows the passage for blood and stresses nearby cells. 



This process sits within vascular cognitive impairment as described in an American Heart Association <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/str.0b013e3182299496">statement</a>, which outlines how damaged vessels relate to thinking problems.



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



<a href="https://bv.fapesp.br/en/pesquisador/679852/alberto-fernando-oliveira-justo/">Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo, PhD</a>, at the University of Sao Paulo Medical School in Brazil (<a href="https://www.fm.usp.br/fmusp/portal/">FMUSP</a>) led the work. His team used human brains rather than only scans, which lets them count lesions directly and measure brain weight.



"Heavy alcohol consumption is a major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drunk-decisions-alcohol-affects-men-and-women-differently/">global health concern</a> linked to increased health problems and death," said Alberto. 



This project analyzed older adults who agreed to donate their organs for research, creating a window into aging and alcohol exposure.



In the United States, one <a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/what-standard-drink">standard drink</a> contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol. That is roughly 12 ounces of beer at 5 percent alcohol, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which are the serving sizes researchers use to keep totals comparable across people.



The researchers classified participants as never, moderate, heavy, or former heavy drinkers based on interviews with family members. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-alcohol-helped-ancient-people-build-better-societies/">Heavy drinking</a> in this work meant eight or more drinks per week, a level that adds up faster than many people realize when pours are generous at home or at restaurants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



This cross-sectional autopsy analysis included 1,781 people with a mean age near 75 at death. All underwent standardized postmortem exams that recorded brain weight and neuropathology using standard stains to label lesions under the microscope.



Researchers looked for signs of brain damage such as tangled proteins, small strokes, buildup in blood vessels, and thickening of tiny arteries. 



They also calculated a brain mass ratio by dividing brain weight by height and rated cognition using the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (<a href="https://www.understandingalzheimersdisease.com/-/media/Files/uAD/Clinical-Assessment/CDR-Brochure.pdf">CDR-SB</a>) to summarize abilities close to death.



Alcohol exposure was reconstructed from detailed interviews with relatives who knew the person well. This approach is common in autopsy cohorts but it depends on memory and records kept during life.



The team used logistic and linear regression to estimate odds of lesions and differences in continuous measures.



Finally, the team tested whether vascular injury mediated any links between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-small-amounts-of-alcohol-increase-cancer-risk/">drinking and cognition</a>, asking if vessel damage could explain the path from alcohol to poor scores.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-vessel-damage-from-alcohol">Brain vessel damage from alcohol</h2>



Compared with people who never drank, the odds of hyaline arteriolosclerosis were higher in moderate drinkers, heavy drinkers, and former heavy drinkers. 



Reported odds ratios were 1.60, 2.33, and 1.89 respectively with confidence intervals that excluded 1.00, which signals an association in this dataset.



For tau pathology, only heavy and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weight-loss-drugs-unexpectedly-help-people-drink-less-alcohol/">former heavy drinkers</a> showed higher odds of neurofibrillary tangles. Odds ratios were 1.41 for heavy and 1.31 for former heavy drinkers, indicating a specific link to tangles in this cohort.



Former heavy drinking tracked with a lower brain mass ratio and worse cognitive performance at the end of life. 



The beta estimates were negative for mass and positive for impairment, and only former heavy status met the threshold for these outcomes after adjustment for other factors.



The association between alcohol, brain vessels, and cognitive abilities was fully mediated by hyaline arteriolosclerosis in the statistical models. 



In plain terms, the vascular injury appeared to sit between reported drinking and measured cognition within this dataset.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-might-mean">What this might mean</h2>



When small vessels stiffen, they limit blood flow to fragile <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-reveals-the-secret-to-keeping-your-brain-young/">brain circuits</a> that handle attention, speed, and memory. 



Over time, injuries add up as white matter changes and microinfarcts that often go unnoticed in daily life, yet they can slow everyday tasks.



Excessive alcohol use is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. 



Public health <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/facts-stats/index.html">estimates</a> attribute about 178,000 deaths per year to heavy and binge patterns across the country, placing alcohol alongside tobacco and obesity among top sources of avoidable harm.



This autopsy analysis cannot prove the cause, and the authors say so. It shows a statistical signal that aligns with what pathologists and stroke specialists see in vascular cognitive impairment.



Adding alcohol to vascular risks like smoking, hypertension, or diabetes can stack the deck. Reducing intake and treating existing vascular risks could limit future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alcohols-hidden-toll-on-the-brain-revealed/">small vessel injury</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-health-alcohol-future-study">Brain health, alcohol, future study</h2>



The dataset does not track how long people drank or how their habits changed across adulthood. Without a timeline, it is hard to test dose response or recovery during abstinence.



"We found heavy drinking is directly linked to signs of injury in the brain, and this can cause long-term effects on brain health, which may impact memory and thinking abilities," said Alberto. 



Alcohol reports came from informants, so misclassification can occur when records are thin or memories fade. 



These donors came from one urban region with limited formal schooling on average, which can shape both drinking patterns and health access. Future cohort studies can test whether cutting back reverses vascular stress or slows tangle buildup.



Mediation analysis isolates a pathway, but it relies on modeling assumptions. 



Trials and prospective cohorts that measure alcohol objectively and track imaging and cognition could answer questions about reversibility and thresholds.



The study is published in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40203226/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a>.



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Having just one alcoholic drink every day is linked to brain damage in a new study

Eight or more alcoholic drinks per week were linked to...

Male mice can learn to be aggressive just by watching. The twist is that the effect shows up after they see familiar cage mates fight, not strangers, and it appears to run through a specific hub in the brain.



This work adds a new layer to the classic <a href="https://www.simplypsychology.org/bystander-effect.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bystander effect</a>, shifting the focus from helping behavior to the spread of hostile actions. It also highlights observational <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-oil-omega-3-capsules-have-been-found-to-help-control-aggression/">learning</a>, the process of picking up behavior by seeing others do it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aggression-in-male-mice">Aggression in male mice </h2>



Jacob C. Nordman of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (<a href="https://www.siumed.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SIU</a>) and his team designed a simple setup. Mice watched either known peers or unfamiliar mice attack intruders for 10 minutes, then were tested 30 minutes later in their own resident territory.



In a new <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2025/08/18/JNEUROSCI.1018-25.2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a>, the researchers report that only male witnesses who had observed familiar fighters showed a later uptick in attacking. Females did not show the effect, and observing strangers did not change later behavior.



The group chose this design to separate mere exposure to violence from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geese-guide-the-flock-with-boldness-not-aggression/">social</a> context of the model. Familiarity turned out to be the on switch for later aggression in males.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-circuit-of-aggression">Brain circuit of aggression</h2>



The experiments point to the amygdala, a region important for emotion and social signals. Within it, the medial amygdala contains a posterior ventral subdivision that previous work ties to aggression priming.



Prior <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/40/25/4858" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> showed that repeated attacks strengthen connections from this MeApv node to downstream targets that control how often and how long mice attack. That background helped in framing the new results.



The team recorded neural activity in this area during the witnessing phase using fiber photometry, a population recording method that reads calcium-linked fluorescence in defined cells. A recent <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11582208/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> describes how this approach lets scientists monitor activity in freely moving animals.



Signals in excitatory MeApv neurons rose when males watched familiar peers attack, but not when they watched unfamiliar fighters. The pattern fits a model where recognized peers engage circuitry that prepares, or primes, an aggressive state.



“We previously found that these neurons are involved in an ‘aggression priming’ <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamines-role-in-male-aggression-fades-with-fighting-experience/">effect</a>,” said Nordman. The new study tested whether simply seeing known peers act aggressively would recruit the same circuit.



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



Social identity shapes imitation in many species. In humans, a long term longitudinal <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12661882/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> shows that heavier exposure to violent media in childhood predicts more aggressive behavior in young adulthood, even after accounting for important confounders.



A <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/204790" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meta-analysis</a> from 2006 revealed consistent short-term and long-term links between violent media exposure and aggressive behavior, thoughts, and arousal. That literature helps explain why repeated observation can change later actions.



In mice, familiarity may heighten relevance, salience, or identification with the model. The selective MeApv activation during familiar observations hints that the brain tags familiar peers differently, which can bias later choices toward attack.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confirming-the-role-of-neurons">Confirming the role of neurons </h2>



To move beyond correlation, the team manipulated the MeApv neurons during observation. Chemogenetic silencing cuts the later aggression that usually follows watching familiar fighters, which argues the activity is necessary.



The reverse effect was also observed. Activating the same neuron population while males watched strangers, who normally do not trigger the effect, made later attacks more likely.



Related animal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1433993/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence</a> indicates that acute social defeat in adolescence drives long lasting aggression by recruiting MeApv neurons. Putting the findings together, MeApv emerges as a convergence point for both direct experience and observational routes to aggression.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tools-for-tracking-aggression">Tools for tracking aggression</h2>



Terms like chemogenetics and optogenetics describe ways to control defined neurons. Chemogenetics uses engineered receptors that respond to a designer drug to turn cells down or up for minutes to hours.



Optogenetics uses light sensitive ion channels to switch activity with millisecond timing. In this study, chemogenetics handled inhibition and activation during the viewing window, while photometry tracked the activity patterns that predicted later <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gorillas-adjust-their-aggression-based-on-risk-and-reward/">behavior</a>.



These tools let scientists pose causal questions about circuit nodes. If turning down a node prevents the learned behavior, and turning it up installs the behavior when it would not otherwise appear, that node likely sits on a necessary pathway.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-limitations-and-next-steps">Study limitations and next steps</h2>



The work uses mice, so direct translation to people needs care. Sex differences showed up clearly here, and the effect depended on social familiarity, which may play out differently in human groups.



Time scales also matter. The observation lasted 10 minutes and the test came 30 minutes later, so the results speak to short term acquisition expressed soon after witnessing.



Future studies can ask how long the familiarity gated effect lasts and whether repeated observing builds stronger, longer lived priming. Experts can also examine whether adolescence, stress history, or social rank change how the MeApv encodes familiar aggression.



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



Social environments can nudge biology in ways that push behavior. The results suggest that who you watch may matter as much as what you watch when it comes to aggressive scripts.



Public health and education strategies often target exposure volume. Adding social identity and relationship context to that conversation could make prevention efforts more precise.



Circuit level insights can also guide ideas for intervention. If a specific node reads social familiarity and primes later attack, targeted behavioral training or neuromodulation approaches could aim to disrupt that readout before it turns into action.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2025/08/18/JNEUROSCI.1018-25.2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JNeurosci</a>.



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Male aggression may be triggered by the influence of friends

Male mice can learn to be aggressive just by watching....

Anxiety disorders, depression and stress are not fringe concerns. In 2021, anxiety affected 359 million people, while depression affected 332 million people. 



“In 2021 alone, nearly 700 million people were affected globally," said Professor Wei-Hua Yue, dean of the <a href="https://www.pkuh6.cn/Html/News/Articles/101026.html?WebVisitShield=zOaFkQ6TfsGT09qMu7dQ">Peking University Sixth Hospita</a><a href="https://www.pkuh6.cn/Html/News/Articles/101026.html?WebVisitShield=zOaFkQ6TfsGT09qMu7dQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">l</a>. "Together, these disorders account for more than 90 million years of healthy life lost each year.” 



A new comprehensive review of how stress changes the brain - and how those changes relate to anxiety and depression - pulls together evidence on neurotransmitters, hormones, genes, inflammation, and the wiring of neural circuits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-alters-brain-s-wiring-system">Stress alters brain’s wiring system</h2>



The lead voice behind the review, centering on a circuit-focused approach, is Bing-Xing Pan, dean of the Institute of Biomedical Innovation at <a href="https://english.ncu.edu.cn/International.htm">Nanchang University</a>. His team links specific brain pathways to the symptoms people feel.



“We think of neural circuits as the brain's intricate wiring <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-hijacks-the-brain-disrupting-sleep-and-memory/">system</a>, networks of neurons that communicate to regulate specific functions,” said Pan. The point is to study connections in action rather than isolated regions.



By measuring activity in single cells and larger populations - and by carefully altering circuit function - scientists can link networks to behavior. That shift opens the door to targeted tests and treatments. Instead of simply observing symptoms, researchers can now see how certain brain signals cause those feelings or actions.



This deeper insight makes it possible to design therapies that focus on repairing the right connections rather than using a broad trial-and-error approach. 



With time, these discoveries could lead to highly personalized care, where doctors match treatments directly to brain activity patterns - offering more effective and lasting relief for patients.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-pathways-explain-symptoms">Brain pathways explain symptoms</h2>



Animal and human studies show that disrupted prefrontal cortex control over the amygdala tracks with pathological anxiety. Pan puts this pattern into everyday terms.



“For instance, we recently identified that hyperactivity in the prefrontal-amygdala circuit is strongly linked to anxiety-like behaviors,” said Pan. 



The finding ties fear processing to a specific pathway that doctors may one day be able to measure and modulate.



“Reduced function in the hippocampus-nucleus accumbens circuit is associated with anhedonia, a core symptom of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-gut-bacteria-morganella-morganii-could-cause-depression-not-a-brain-disorder/">depression</a>,” explained Pan. That connection helps explain why pleasure and motivation can fade when stress and mood disorders set in.



Independent reviews report that the lateral habenula often acts like an anti-reward center in depression. Overactivation of the lateral habenula - often called the brain’s “anti-reward center” - has been linked to elevated depression-like behaviors



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-current-drugs-fall-short">Current drugs fall short</h2>



Clinical data from early 2024 show that emotional blunting can occur with commonly used serotonergic antidepressants. Rates in one clinical program ranged from 43 to 47 percent across several SSRIs.



“Not all patients respond well. Side effects such as weight gain and emotional blunting are common,” said Professor Yue. Many people need options that fit their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-and-self-guided-nature-program-quickly-improves-mood-and-reduces-stress/">biology</a> more closely.



Response can also vary with stress history, age, and coexisting conditions. A one-size-fits-all plan does not match the variety seen in clinics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeting-brain-stress-circuits">Targeting brain stress circuits</h2>



The review points to circuit-specific ideas for intervention, including neuromodulation that targets misfiring pathways. Mapping symptoms to circuits makes it easier to test whether a therapy hits the right spot.



Sensors, imaging, and blood-based biomarkers could guide choices and track progress. That is the promise of precision psychiatry - data, not trial and error, drive selection.



Future investigations are expected to bring advanced technologies into everyday medical practice, speed up the identification of dependable biomarkers, and encourage the design of treatments that can be applied across different diagnoses. 



The hope is that recognizing common biological features among disorders will make it possible to develop more effective tools more quickly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-stress-on-brain">Impact of stress on brain </h2>



For someone sitting in a clinic, this arc of research matters. A symptom like constant worry can reflect a pattern in prefrontal amygdala signaling that points to a specific treatment plan.



For someone who cannot feel joy, it can signal a weakened line between the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens that needs support. The more we link symptoms to circuits, the easier it becomes to match therapies to people.



This approach moves beyond general labels like “anxiety” or “depression” and instead ties experiences to the specific brain networks involved. For example, when doctors know which pathway is underactive or overactive, they can suggest treatments that directly address that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-stress-harms-the-brains-of-low-status-fish/">imbalance</a>. 



Over time, this could mean fewer side effects, quicker recovery, and more hope for individuals who feel stuck with ineffective options.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11427-025-3024-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science China Life Sciences</a>.



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Stress rewires your brain circuits to fuel anxiety and depression

Anxiety disorders, depression and stress are not fringe concerns. In...

When the air turns hot, your body shifts into cooling mode: you sweat from heat, you lose water, and your brain looks for fast relief, usually in the form of sugar. 



Sweetness signals quick energy, and cold, sugary drinks or treats feel extra tempting because they promise two things at once - fluid to cool you down and sugar to perk you up. 



Heat also dulls appetite for heavy foods, so sipping something sweet feels easier than eating a full meal. 



Add bright ads and ice-cold displays by the checkout, and it’s no surprise that warm days nudge many people toward more sugar than they’d normally choose. But is this just observational bias, or is it a real thing? 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-and-sugar-consumption">Heat and sugar consumption</h2>



A new study looked at what millions of U.S. households actually bought in grocery stores from 2004 to 2019 and asked a simple question: when the temperature rises, do people end up taking in more added sugar? 



The short answer is yes, and the increase shows up most in communities with lower incomes or less formal education. 



The longer answer uncovers a demand-side ripple of climate change that most of us haven’t thought about: heat changes cravings and habits, and those shifts can widen health gaps unless we plan for them.



For every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-use-sugar-in-ways-we-never-imagined/">warming</a>, added sugar rose by about 0.7 grams per person per day, with the sharpest climb from roughly 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. 



That may not sound like much in a day, but across a season and a population, it stacks up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-and-sugar-link">Heat and sugar link</h2>



The project was led by <a href="https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/hep3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pan He</a> of Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. 



She and colleagues paired long running scanner data from tens of thousands of households with local temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation to isolate the temperature effect.



The analysis focused on retail purchases rather than restaurant orders, so it likely undercounts some items consumed away from home. Even so, the signal was clear in warmer months across many regions.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-diabetes-type-5-is-now-officially-recognized-linked-to-nutritional-deficiencies/">temperature</a> response was not linear at every extreme. The increase was strongest in moderate to hot ranges, while the very hottest days showed a flattening.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-temperature-alters-food-choices">How temperature alters food choices</h2>



Beverages did most of the work. The extra sugar came mainly from sodas and fruit drinks, while frozen desserts added a smaller share.



Extreme heat can suppress appetite, which helps explain why the total increase slows on the most sweltering days. That kink does not erase the broader upward link between heat and added sugar.



Price movements did not drive the core pattern. When researchers accounted for food prices, the heat signal largely held.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-feels-the-heat-most">Who feels the heat most</h2>



The effect was largest in households with lower income or less education, a reminder that socioeconomic factors shape both exposure and choices. 



Higher income groups showed smaller changes, likely reflecting access to air conditioning, safer water, and steadier routines.



Patterns varied by background <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-is-making-crop-harvests-wildly-unpredictable/">climate</a> and work setting. People in cooler baseline regions and households with outdoor workers were more responsive to hotter conditions.



“What surprised us most was that the strongest increase in added sugar consumption occurred not during extreme heat, but within a relatively mild temperature range, between 12°C and 30°C," explained Pan He. 



This suggests that even moderate warming can significantly influence dietary behavior, leading to increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and frozen desserts."



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



Excess added sugar is <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/php/data-research/added-sugars.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">linked</a> to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, and average U.S. adults still take in about 17 teaspoons per day. 



That baseline makes a few extra grams per day under future warming more troubling for those already at risk.



The American Heart Association (<a href="https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/how-much-sugar-is-too-much" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AHA</a>) recommends capping added sugars at about 6 percent of daily calories. That comes to roughly 36 grams per day for men and 25 grams for women.



The study’s projection adds context. Under a high emissions pathway, the researchers estimate nearly 3 grams per person per day of additional added sugar by 2095, with the steepest seasonal rise in summer and fall.



Health burdens do not fall evenly. Communities with fewer resources already face higher rates of diet related disease, so a temperature linked nudge toward more sugar can widen gaps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-can-be-done">What can be done</h2>



Public policy can help. City level beverage taxes have been followed by higher shelf prices for taxed drinks and lower purchases of sugary beverages, as shown in a <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002283" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> from Berkeley back in 2017.&nbsp;



Clearer labeling and steady nutrition education can support better choices without adding cost. Water access matters too, especially in neighborhoods with unsafe pipes or limited fountains.



Climate adaptation plans should include diet. Cooling centers, safe drinking water, and employer protocols for hot days can lower the pull of sweet, chilled products when temperatures spike.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-research-on-sugar-intake-and-heat">More research on sugar intake and heat</h2>



Restaurant orders remain a blind spot, and future work can test whether the same pattern appears in quick service and delivery data. 



That matters for sweetened coffees, teas, and blended drinks that often carry substantial added sugar.



The team’s approach can extend to other countries and cultures. 



Regions with popular sweet teas, energy drinks, or bubble teas may show different temperature thresholds but similar upward shifts during warm periods.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02398-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Climate Change</a>.



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Direct link found between the weather and the amount of sugar humans eat

When the air turns hot, your body shifts into cooling...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.



"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.



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



The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.



The research, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.



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Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



-----



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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



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



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.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?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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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



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.

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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