Adding colorful foods to your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gray-wolves-survived-the-ice-age-by-changing-their-diet/">diet</a> may significantly lower your risk of cognitive decline, according to a new study published by the <a href="https://www.aan.com/">American Academy of Neurology</a>. 

The research suggests that eating at least half a serving per day of strawberries, oranges, peppers - and other foods high in flavonoids - can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by as much as 38 percent.

Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds in plants that are considered powerful antioxidants. The researchers looked at several types of flavonoids, and determined that flavones and anthocyanins may offer the greatest protection against cognitive decline.

"There is mounting evidence suggesting flavonoids are powerhouses when it comes to preventing your thinking skills from declining as you get older," explained study lead author Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard University. 

"Our results are exciting because they show that making simple changes to your diet could help prevent cognitive decline."

The analysis was focused on nearly 50,000 women with an average age of 48 and nearly 28,000 men with an average age of 51 at the start of the study. The individuals reported on their diet for 20 years.

The study participants also evaluated their own cognitive abilities over the course of the study, answering questions that indicated whether their memory had worsened enough for them to notice. 

The people that represented the highest 20 percent of flavonoid consumers had about 600 milligrams in their diets each day. Per 100 gram serving, strawberries have about 180 mg of flavonoids, while apples have about 113 mg.

According to the study, the flavones found in some spices and yellow or orange fruits and vegetables had the strongest protective effects. This particular class of flavonoids corresponded with a 38 percent lower risk of cognitive decline. 

Anthocyanins - found in blueberries, blackberries, and cherries - were associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline. 

"The people in our study who did the best over time ate an average of at least half a serving per day of foods like orange juice, oranges, peppers, celery, grapefruits, grapefruit juice, apples and pears," said Dr. Willett. 

"While it is possible other phytochemicals are at work here, a colorful diet rich in flavonoids - and specifically flavones and anthocyanins - seems to be a good bet for promoting long-term brain health." 

"And it's never too late to start, because we saw those protective relationships whether people were consuming the flavonoids in their diet 20 years ago, or if they started incorporating them more recently."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://n.neurology.org/">Neurology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Colorful foods help prevent cognitive decline

Adding colorful foods to your diet may significantly lower your risk of cognitive decline, according to a new study published by the American Academy of Neurology.  The research suggests that eating at least half a serving per day of strawberries, oranges, peppers - and other foods high in flavonoids - can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by as much as 38 percent. Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds in plants that are considered powerful antioxidants. The researchers looked at several types of flavonoids, and determined that flavones...

We all know what it's like to procrastinate exam preparation, finding ourselves in the library all night cramming information. This is not a particularly effective way to remember – as quickly as we learn the information, it seems to disappear. 

Instead, we should take breaks between learning sessions, which can help us retain the information for longer. This raises the question – why are these intervals of rest so effective for our memory?

It is understood that neurons are activated while learning, forming new neural connections. This allows the knowledge to be stored in our brain, and reactivation of these neural pathways will retrieve the information. 

However, this doesn’t explain how intervals of rest affect our ability to learn, despite the occurrence of this effect being explored thoroughly in terms of animals. 

Neurobiologists with the <a href="https://www.mpi.nl/">Max Planck Society</a>, including Annet Glas and Pieter Goltstein, have been investigating the phenomena of how rest helps learning processes in mice. 

The mice had to memorize where the location of a piece of chocolate was within a maze, having three opportunities to explore and relocate their reward. These tests used different learning intervals each time. 

"Mice that were trained with the longer intervals between learning phases were not able to remember the position of the chocolate as quickly," explains Glas. "But on the next day, the longer the pauses, the better was the mice's memory."

The researchers also measured the neural activity within the prefrontal cortex of the mice during the test. The scientists discovered that the deactivation of this brain region, which is involved in the learning process, reduced the mice’s ability to relocate the chocolate piece. 

"If three learning phases follow each other very quickly, we intuitively expected the same neurons to be activated," states Goltstein. "After all, it is the same experiment with the same information. However, after a long break, it would be conceivable that the brain interprets the following learning phase as a new event and processes it with different neurons."

Despite this hypothesis, the researchers discovered that short breaks between tests resulted in new neural pathways being used each time, while longer breaks resulted in the mice activating the same neural pathways each time which was more effective. "That's why we believe that memory benefits from longer breaks," says Goltstein.

The study ultimately provides insight into the neuronal benefits of taking long study breaks. Spaced learning may take longer, but it will be easier to reactivate previous neural pathways. Remember this next time you are cramming for an exam – slow and steady wins the race!

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

You can remember more by taking breaks

We all know what it's like to procrastinate exam preparation,...

New data from several groups of researchers warns that the number of people with dementia will triple by 2050, and that it will occur in younger and younger individuals. The causes? Demographics and unhealthy lifestyles. 

The different forecasts, reported at the recent <a href="https://www.alz.org/aaic">Alzheimer's Association International Conference</a> in Denver, are intended to warn policymakers and healthcare professionals.

"Improvements in lifestyle in adults in developed countries and other places -l- including increasing access to education and greater attention to heart health issues - have reduced incidence in recent years, but total numbers with dementia are still going up because of the aging of the population," said Dr. Maria C. Carillo, the <a href="https://www.alz.org/">Alzheimer’s Association</a> chief science officer.

The U.S. National Institute on Aging reports that by 2050, people over the age of 65 will make up twice the proportion of the world’s population compared to 2010 - a jump from 8 percent to 16 percent. 

Aging isn’t the only factor, however. Dr. Carillo also lists “obesity, diabetes and sedentary lifestyles in younger people are rising quickly, and these are risk factors for dementia." 

Lifestyle choices can have a big impact early on. Researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, who presented their data at the conference, noted that 350,000 people are diagnosed with younger-onset dementia every year.

Changing demographics and socioeconomic status also appear to be direct indicators of an individual’s risk of dementia. Dr. Ambar Kulshreshtha and other researchers at Emory University found that Alzheimer’s mortality rates were highest in rural areas, and of those rural areas those in the American South were highest. 

“In addition to therapeutics, it's critical to uncover culturally-tailored interventions that reduce dementia risk through lifestyle factors like education, diet and exercise," said Dr. Carillo.

 Kristen Clifford, who is the chief program officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, assures people that support and information are available. "And you have the power to make a new plan and determine how you choose to live your best life with the disease."

---

By <a href="http://rugerpaleo@gmail.com">Alex Ruger</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dementia cases expected to triple over the next three decades

New data from several groups of researchers warns that the...

Moderate drinking may lower the risk of a fatal cardiovascular event among individuals with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-may-lower-the-risk-of-heart-problems/">heart</a> disease, according to a new study published by <a href="https://www.biomedcentral.com/journals">BMC</a>.

"Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption has been reported to be cardio-protective among apparently healthy individuals; however, it is unclear whether this association is also present in those with disease," wrote the study authors.

To investigate, the researchers analyzed data from 48,423 adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) who participated in the UK Biobank, the Health Survey for England, the Scottish Health Survey, and 12 previous studies. 

The individuals, who reported their average alcohol consumption, were followed for up to 20 years. Based on this data, the study authors estimated the risk of CVD-related death.

Drinking up to 15 grams of alcohol per day was associated with a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, or death, but the lowest risk was found among CVD patients who drank between six and eight grams of alcohol per day.

Individuals who drank six grams of alcohol per day had a 50 percent lower risk of recurrent heart attack, angina or stroke compared to those who did not drink. 

The researchers also found that those who drank more than 62 grams of alcohol per day did not have an increased risk of a recurrent or fatal CVD incident compared to individuals who did not drink alcohol.

"Our findings suggest that people with CVD may not need to stop drinking in order to prevent additional heart attacks, strokes or angina, but that they may wish to consider lowering their weekly alcohol intake," said study co-author Chengyi Ding of University College London.

"As alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing other illnesses, those with CVD who do not drink should not be encouraged to take up drinking."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/">BMC Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Light drinking lowers risk of fatality from heart disease

Moderate drinking may lower the risk of a fatal cardiovascular...

Why do some people infected with COVID-19 seem to get by with minor symptoms, while others become critically ill? A new collaborative study led by researchers at <a href="https://www.childrenshospital.org/">Boston Children's Hospital</a> suggests that the severity of COVID-19 symptoms may be linked to how cells in the nose and throat respond to the virus.

"Many studies looking for risk predictors have looked for signatures in the blood, but blood may not really be the right place to look,” said study co-author José Ordovás-Montañés. 

For the current investigation, the experts looked at nasal swabs from 35 adults infected with COVID-19, whose symptoms ranged from mild to severe. Each swab yielded about 562 epithelial cells, and the researchers diligently sequenced the RNA of each and every one. 

The researchers found that these cells changed dramatically post-exposure, with mucus-secreting goblet cells increasing in number while mature ciliated cells dwindled. This is notable because the function of mature ciliated cells is to move microbes and debris out of the respiratory organs. Multiple kinds of cells were infected - including goblet cells, immature ciliated cells, and epidermal cells. 

The cells sampled from people who exhibited critical symptoms displayed delayed interferon response. Interferons are somewhat like the alarm bell for the immune system, and if they don’t signal to the cells that they’re in danger, the whole immune system may be sluggish to counteract viral infection. 

According to Ordovás-Montañés, having the right amount of interferon at the right time could be at the crux of dealing with SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.

Why and how COVID-19 causes this delayed antiviral signal in the nasopharynx is still unclear. Early evidence suggests that the new COVID variants work in a similar manner. It will be up to future studies to untangle the source of COVID-19’s dangerous inner-workings.

However, the new study does provide some hope. Perhaps if symptoms are recognized early on, interferons could be activated with a nasal spray or drops. "The question is, 'How do you make these cells more responsive?'” said Ordovás-Montañés.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell</a>.

---

By <a href="http://rugerpaleo@gmail.com">Alex Ruger</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Severity of COVID-19 may be tied to nasal cells

Why do some people infected with COVID-19 seem to get...

Research published in the <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/jaha">Journal of the American Heart Association</a> has found that babies who were breastfed in the first few days of life had lower blood pressure as toddlers. While it is well-known that sustained and exclusive breastfeeding lowers the risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-fish-lowers-risk-of-recurrent-cardiovascular-events/">cardiovascular</a> disease in adulthood, it was not known at what stage or for how long breastfeeding should take place in order to provide this health benefit.

"This is the first study to evaluate the association of breastfeeding in the first days of life and blood pressure in early childhood," said lead study author Dr. Kozeta Miliku of McMaster University. 

Data for this study came from over 2,400 children (born between 2009-2012) who are part of the ongoing Canadian CHILD Cohort Study. The experts focused on factors that affect the health and development of children. 

The children’s early feeding records were collected from hospitals and divided into three categories of breastfeeding. The overwhelming majority (98 percent) of children were breastfed to some extent; this includes four percent who received only limited breast feeding while in the hospital and none thereafter. Only two percent of children received no breastfeeding at all.

The researchers found that, at three years of age, blood pressure was lower in children who had been breastfed than in those who had not. This result was irrespective of the child’s body mass index, the duration of breastfeeding or whether the child received other nutrition at the same time.

Even the children who had only been breastfed for a few days before leaving hospital showed a lower average blood pressure. This indicates that the benefits to the cardiovascular system are derived from breastfeeding in the very first few days of life. 

"Our study suggests that for cardiovascular outcomes such as blood pressure, even a brief period of breastfeeding is beneficial,” said study senior author Dr. Meghan B. Azad, who is an associate professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Manitoba.

“This points to colostrum as a key factor in shaping developmental processes during the newborn period. For many reasons, sustained breastfeeding should be strongly supported, and it is also important to understand that 'every drop counts,' especially in those critical first few days of life."

---

By <a href="http://bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Just a few days of breastfeeding can lower baby's blood pressure

Research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association...

New research from <a href="https://www.ohsu.edu/">Oregon Health &amp; Science University</a> suggests that older people have less antibodies to fight <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-antibodies-persist-for-at-least-nine-months/">COVID-19</a>. The scientists measured the immune response of fifty people two weeks after their second dose of COVID-19 vaccination.

Among test groups, people in their twenties had about seven times the response to vaccination compared to people between 72 and 80 years of age. The lab results produced a clear pattern - the younger a participant, the stronger the antibody response.

Study senior author Dr. Fikadu Tafesse is an assistant professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology in the OHSU School of Medicine.

"Our older populations are potentially more susceptible to the variants even if they are vaccinated," said Dr. Tafesse.

The researchers stress that even though there is less of an immune response in older people to the COVID vaccine, it is usually still enough to be effective. 

Older people are more susceptible to coronavirus variants than younger people, making the situation even more dangerous. 

There is a solution, scientists say. Vaccination, they point out, is key to ending the pandemic. Although seniors are less protected by the vaccine, vaccination can stop the spread of the virus, thus protecting everyone, older and younger. 

"The vaccine still produces strong immune responses compared with natural infection in most older individuals, even if they are lower than their younger counterparts," said study co-author Dr. Marcel Curlin.

"Vaccination in this group may make the difference between serious and mild disease, and likely reduces the chances of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to another person."

"The good news is that our vaccines are really strong," noted Dr. Tafesse.

Even if an older person contracts COVID-19 after being vaccinated, the vaccine provides some protection and can be the difference between mild symptoms and something much more serious. 

The study is published in the <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/">Journal of the American Medical Association</a>.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Our body's immune response weakens with age

New research from Oregon Health &amp; Science University suggests that...

Among many demanding habitats in which humans can survive, high-altitude environments are one of the most challenging. This is due to oxygen being less abundant in human tissues at high altitudes, a state known as hypoxia. 

Despite the challenges, several civilizations across Earth have managed to settle happily at high altitudes for several millennia, with some showing signs of evolving to this environment biologically. A new study from the <a href="https://www.etag.ee/en/estonian-research-council/">Estonian Research Council</a> concludes that highlanders from Papua New Guinea may be another example of a population physically adapted to high altitudes. 

The new discovery is based on a database of physiological and morphological data from New Guinean populations, recently collected by the <a href="https://papuanpast.hypotheses.org/">Papuan Past Project</a>. The project has brought together researchers from the Estonian University of Tartu, the French university of Toulouse, and researchers from Papua New Guinea. 

"We measured phenotypic traits in Papua New Guineans from two altitude ranges. 89 people originated from Daru (Western Province), a low altitude location, and 73 individuals from villages on the slope of Mount Wilhelm (Chimbu Province), the highest peak of Papua New Guinea (4500 m above sea level)," explained study co-author François-Xavier Ricaut of the <a href="https://edb.cnrs.fr/">Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique</a>. 

Previous research on altitude adaptation has focused on Tibetan, Ethiopian and Andean populations. "Measured phenotypes related to altitude have been shown to differ in several high-altitude populations worldwide but their variation among Papuan populations have been understudied," said study co-author Nicolas Brucato. 

However, Papua New Guinea has been continuously inhabited for 20,000 years, which may explain the favoritism of specific adaptations to live at high altitudes.

Study lead author Mathilde André, an expert in the Institute of Genomics at the <a href="https://www.ut.ee/en">University of Tartu</a>, explained that the researchers filled these gaps by exploring the similarities between Papua New Guinean lowlanders and highlanders across 13 phenotypes. 

"We found that highlanders have a smaller height and waist, larger lung volume and chest depth, and higher haemoglobin concentration compared with lowlanders," said André.

"All of these traits have also been observed in other high-altitude populations worldwide, but for the first time our results may hint to altitude adaptation in Papua New Guinean highlanders," 

The new conclusions show great potential for future studies. "Our work enables us to plan further physiological and genetic analyses to confirm the existence of positive selection to hypoxia in Papua New Guinean highlanders," said co-author Mayukh Mondal. 

"Papua New Guinea has a unique demographic history and genetic diversity. This uniqueness might also be reflected in the way populations adapted to altitude."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

---

By <a href="http://calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Papua New Guineans have biologically adapted to high altitudes

Among many demanding habitats in which humans can survive, high-altitude...

Coffee and caffeine in general have been suspected of causing heart arrhythmias, but the results of a new study suggest that this reputation is unwarranted. In fact, the research shows that coffee consumption may even lower the risk of arrhythmias and other common heart ailments. 

Study lead author Dr. Gregory Marcus is a professor of Medicine at <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/">UCSF</a> who specializes in the treatment of heart arrhythmias.

"Coffee is the primary source of caffeine for most people, and it has a reputation for causing or exacerbating arrhythmias," said Dr. Marcus. "But we found no evidence that caffeine consumption leads to a greater risk of arrhythmias."

The research was focused on data in the UK Biobank involving 386,258 coffee drinkers - a larger sample size than any previous study of its kind. 

“Our population-based study provides reassurance that common prohibitions against caffeine to reduce arrhythmia risk are likely unwarranted," said Dr. Marcus.

The experts used genetics to account for people that naturally metabolize caffeine faster. Overall, they said that higher amounts of coffee were actually associated with a three percent reduced risk of developing an arrhythmia.

The study authors admit there are some limitations to their research. For example, self-reported data is not the most reliable. This means that even with a massive sample size, further research is needed to confirm the effect of coffee on heart health. Dr. Marcus still emphasizes the evidence found in the research. 

"Only a randomized clinical trial can definitively demonstrate clear effects of coffee or caffeine consumption...But our study found no evidence that consuming caffeinated beverages increased the risk of arrhythmia." 

"Coffee's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may play a role, and some properties of caffeine could be protective against some arrhythmias."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine">JAMA International Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Coffee may lower the risk of heart problems

Coffee and caffeine in general have been suspected of causing...

A growing collection of research shows that animals with much less complex minds than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-livestock-create-the-perfect-storm-for-pandemics/">humans</a> are surprisingly connected on a social level. A new study reveals that reef fish and other types of social fish depend on friendships for their very survival. 

Study lead author Dr. Lauren Nadler is an assistant professor in the (NSU) Halmos College of Arts and Sciences at the <a href="https://www.nova.edu/">Nova Southeastern University</a>.

"We studied how the presence of 'friends' versus 'strangers' affected how fish responded to a predator threat," said Dr. Nadler.

"The presence of 'strangers' seemed to distract fish, making them react more slowly and greatly increasing the chance that they would become lunch for a hungry predator when in the wrong social scene."

To investigate how familiarity may influence groups of social fish, the researchers focused on schooling coral reef fish.

Dr. Nadler and her colleagues believe that their results come down to trust. The experts found that reef fish rely on alerts from their trusted friends to avoid predators. 

According to the researchers, the fish must balance the risk of being attacked with the possibility of wasting their energy in response to inaccurate information. It appears that reef fish adjust their reactions to social information based on the level of familiarity in the group.

"Trust among individuals is critical. This is true for humans as well as many other species, including fishes," said study co-author Dr. Jacob Johansen of the University of Hawaii Manoa. 

"Our research in fishes shows that when accurate information transfer breaks down, so too does the chance of survival for the individual and the group as a whole."

The researchers found that the first fish to detect the predator exhibits the greatest amount of vigilance, and that the most useful information is shared among neighboring fish.

"Our work shows that readiness to react to a threat depends on who is around you, if you are a fish," said Dr. Paolo Domenici. "If you are in an unfamiliar social environment, this is already something you need to pay attention to. If you are surrounded by familiar individuals, then you will be able to pay attention to any external threat more readily."

The findings suggest that animals have evolved to associate with friends over strangers to promote survival in the wild. 

"Friendship networks matter, both for humans and for less evolved taxa like fishes," said Dr. Mark McCormick. "The more you can rely on your friends, the easier and more fulfilling your life will be."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/commsbio/">Communications Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Depending on friends makes life easier for reef fish

A growing collection of research shows that animals with much...

A new study from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> has produced evidence that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/adults-are-more-compassionate-when-children-are-nearby/">children</a> who live near woodlands have better cognitive development and a lower risk of emotional and behavioral problems. The research may ultimately influence planning decisions in urban areas.

"Previous studies have revealed positive associations between exposure to nature in urban environments, cognitive development and mental health. Why these health benefits are received remains unclear, especially in adolescents," said study lead author Mikaël Maes.

"These findings contribute to our understanding of natural environment types as an important protective factor for an adolescent's cognitive development and mental health and suggest that not every environment type may contribute equally to these health benefits."

"Forest bathing, for example (being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of a forest), is a relaxation therapy that has been associated with physiological benefits, supporting the human immune function, reducing heart rate variability and salivary cortisol, and various psychological benefits. However, the reasons why we experience these psychological benefits from woodland remain unknown."

The study was focused on data involving 3,568 children and teenagers in 31 schools across London. The subjects ranged in age from 9 to 15, which is a key time in the development of thinking and reasoning.

The researchers used satellite data to estimate each child's daily exposure rate to "green spaces" such as woods, meadows and parks, and to "blue spaces" such as rivers, lakes, and the ocean. 

The goal was to examine the links between natural urban environments and and the children's cognitive development, mental health, and overall well-being.

The analysis revealed that higher daily exposure to woodland - but not grassland - was associated with higher scores for cognitive development. Wooded areas were also associated with a 16 percent lower risk of emotional and behavioral problems two years later. Other green spaces produced a similar effect.

"It's been suggested previously that the benefits of natural environments to mental health are comparable in magnitude to family history, parental age and even more significant than factors like the degree of urbanisation around you, but lower than your parents' socio-economic status," said study co-senior author Professor Mireille Toledano.

"Sensory and non-sensory pathways have been suggested as potentially important for delivering cognition and mental health benefits received from exposure to nature."

"It's critical for us to tease out why natural environments are so important to our mental health throughout the life course - does the benefit derive from the physical exercise we do in these environments, from the social interactions we often have in them, or from the fauna and flora we get to enjoy in these environments or a combination of all of these?"

Study co-senior author Professor Kate Jones said that one possible explanation for the findings may be that audio-visual exposure through vegetation and animal abundance provides psychological benefits. 

"Even though our results show that urban woodland is associated with adolescent's cognitive development and mental health, the cause of this association remains unknown," said Professor Jones. "Further research is fundamental to our understanding of the links between nature and health."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain/">Nature Sustainability</a>.

 ---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Children who live near woodlands have better mental health

A new study from University College London has produced evidence...

We are all familiar with “love at first sight” as it is portrayed in the movies. It seems, however, that this is not the way romantic involvement works in real life. 

The authors of a new study analyzed a sample of research conducted on how romantic relationships are initiated. They found that 75 percent of these studies were devoted to the type of romance that begins with a spark between strangers while only 8 percent covered romantic relationships that form, over time, between friends.

"We might have a good understanding of how strangers become attracted to each other and start dating, but that's simply not how most relationships begin," said study lead author Danu Anthony Stinson, a professor of Psychology at the <a href="https://www.uvic.ca/">University of Victoria</a>.

The researchers used information on romantic relationships derived from 1,900 adults, many of whom were university students. Two-thirds of the adults stated that their current or most recent relationship had begun as a friendship. Moreover, among the university students, starting off as friends was the preferred route to romantic involvement.

The trend was consistent over different genders, education levels and ethnic groups, and was even more pronounced in young adults (between 20 and 30 years of age) and in relationships between members of the LGBTQ+ community.

For individuals whose relationships arose out of friendships, the average duration of the friendship was one to two years before romance developed. The majority of these participants admitted that they did not enter into the friendships with any thoughts of romantic attachment.

Professor Stinson feels that more research is needed into this form of romance initiation as it is the preferred pathway for many people and has largely been overlooked in previous scientific studies. She hopes that the current research findings will encourage people to think critically about their stereotyped notions of love and friendship.

"Our research suggests that the lines between friendship and romance are blurry, and I think that forces us to rethink our assumptions about what makes a good friendship but also what makes a good romantic relationship," said Professor Stinson. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/spp">Social Psychological and Personality Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://bosman@truewan.co.za/">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Friends to lovers - the preferred pathway to romantic involvement

We are all familiar with “love at first sight” as...

To most of us, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/adults-are-not-good-at-daydreaming-but-we-should-be/">dreaming</a> mind is a mystery. Until recently, this was true for scientists as well. Experts at the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/university/">University of Geneva</a> recently used artificial intelligence to take a peek at the sleeping brain. 

Using an electronic encephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) interpreted by artificial intelligence, the researchers gained important insight.

The evidence gathered by the scientists shows that during deep sleep, when the brain is no longer gathering external stimuli, it is instead sorting through memories. 

Different parts of the brain communicate with each other to evaluate our memories, and only the most useful ones are kept. The brain prioritizes memories that have a reward associated with them, and these are usually preserved. 

The researchers already knew that memories are consolidated during deep sleep but wanted to learn more, particularly about the role of emotions in memory consolidation.

Virginie Sterpenich, the principal investigator of the study, is a researcher in the lab of Professor Sophie Schwartz in the Department of Basic Neurosciences at UNIGE Faculty of Medicine.

"To find out which brain regions are activated during sleep, and to decipher how these regions allow us to consolidate our memory, we developed a decoder capable of deciphering the activity of the brain in deep sleep and what it corresponds to," explained Sterpenich. 

"In particular, we wanted to see to what extent positive emotions play a role in this process."

The researchers had people play two different games while awake and monitored their brains. The different games were chosen because they activated different parts of the brain. 

Half the participants won one game, half won the other, so that positive emotions were associated with winning. Next, the experts watched the same people’s brains while they slept. 

The recordings from the sleeping brains were very similar to those of the brains while people played games. This showed that the sleeping brain was actually remembering playing the games. 

The sleepers especially focused on remembering the game they won. The scientists concluded that the brain reinforces positive memories - those associated with a reward. 

Later, participants were tested to see how well they remembered the games. Interestingly, those who had more parts of their brain activated while replaying the memory during sleep were able to remember the game better. Sleep, it turns out, helps us remember important things.        

Sterpenich said that the brain "very clearly" relived the game won and not the game lost by reactivating the regions used during wakefulness. 

"As soon as you go to sleep, the brain activity changes. Gradually, our volunteers started to 'think' about both games again, and then almost exclusively about the game they won when they went into deep sleep."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

What does the brain do while we sleep?

To most of us, the dreaming mind is a mystery....

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-03/05/60418e3bfb2e1e33630595c7/60418eda9747e100015b378c_1920x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=60418e3bfb2e1e33630595c7/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/video">NASA Goddard</a> reveals the surprising influence that humans have on Earth's freshwater resources.

In the first study to assess seasonal variability in water bodies worldwide, researchers have discovered that water levels in human-managed reservoirs fluctuate about four times more compared to natural lakes and ponds. 

"We tend to think of the water cycle as a purely natural system: Rain and snowmelt run into rivers, which run to the ocean where evaporation starts the whole cycle again," said study lead author Sarah Cooley of Brown University. "But humans are actually intervening substantially in that cycle. Our work demonstrates that humans are responsible for a majority of the seasonal surface water storage variability on Earth."

The study was focused on data from NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-2). The primary goal of the ICESat-2 mission is to track changes in the thickness and elevation of ice sheets around the world. The measurements are obtained using a laser altimeter, and elevation is calculated to an accuracy of 25 millimeters. 

The satellite measured seasonal water levels in more than 227,000 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs worldwide from October 2018 to July 2020. The water bodies ranged in size from the American Great Lakes to ponds with areas less than one tenth of a square mile. 

The study revealed that while natural lakes and ponds varied seasonally by an average of .22 meters, human-managed reservoirs varied by .86 meters. This means that, when compared to natural lakes, reservoirs account for 57 percent of the total variation. 

Human influence on freshwater resources was found to beP even stronger in arid regions like the Middle East, American West, India and Southern Africa, where seasonal variability attributed to human activity exceeds 90 percent.

"Of all the volume changes in freshwater bodies around the planet - all the floods, droughts and snowmelt that push lake levels up and down - humans have commandeered almost 60% of that variability," said study co-author Professor Laurence Smith. 

"That's a tremendous influence on the water cycle. In terms of human impact on the planet, this is right up there with impacts on land cover and atmospheric chemistry."

Video Credit: NASA Goddard

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Human impact on Earth's freshwater resources revealed

Today's Video of the Day from NASA Goddard reveals the...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2020-09/18/5f64a5ee550d252b740a8277/5f64a60b3a3d410001502d41_768x432_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5f64a5ee550d252b740a8277/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>


Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features a Copernicus Sentinel-2 view of the Vatnajökull ice cap in southeast Iceland.

Vatnajökull is the biggest glacier in Europe, covering an area of more than 3,200 square miles. 

The ice cap has about 30 outlet glaciers, many of which are shrinking as a result of rising temperatures. One of these glaciers, Vatnajökull, is positioned over some of the most active volcanoes in Iceland such as Bárðarbunga and Grímsvötn.

On the southern side of Vatnajökull, the Jökulsárlón glacial lake has grown to become Iceland's deepest lake. Because it connects with the ocean, the lake contains both seawater and freshwater.

Video Credit: ESA  

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Vatnajökull ice cap in southeast Iceland

Today's Video of the Day from the European Space Agency...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-03/06/60439400303d50146548634f/604394189747e100015b6b80_768x432_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=60439400303d50146548634f/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. This region is one of the most famous places on the planet for viewing wildlife.

The Galápagos Islands are home to many native plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, including giant tortoises and sea lions. 

When Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835, his wildlife observations inspired the theory of evolution by natural selection. In 1959, the Ecuadorian government made the entire archipelago a national park to protect its unique diversity. 

The archipelago is made up of 13 major islands and several smaller islands and islets across 60,000 square kilometers of ocean. According to ESA, repeated volcanic eruptions and ongoing seismic activity have helped form the rugged mountain landscape of the islands. 

The largest of the Galapagos Islands, Isabela, was formed when multiple large volcanoes merged into one single land mass. 

Video Credit: European Space Agency 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Galápagos Islands in the eastern Pacific

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-03/30/606319f849e413767dc34169/60631a549747e100015f83ab_1920x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=606319f849e413767dc34169/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how satellites are helping scientists monitor recreational sites for potentially harmful algae blooms.

Kate Fickas of Utah State University uses satellite images to make sure the water is safe for people and pets.

“I grew up swimming in the Willamette River in Oregon, and diving in lakes over the summer,” said Fickas. “So it means a lot to me that I’m able to not only help develop algorithms for monitoring cyanobacteria blooms, which is interesting in itself, but to be able to take that next step and keep the public safe, and allow them to safely recreate and enjoy the water the way that I do.”

Blooms occur when the populations of algae, phytoplankton, and cyanobacteria explode in numbers as a result of warm temperatures and excessive nutrients.

Fickas noted that many water bodies in Utah meet those conditions, especially with warming temperatures due to climate change, as well as nutrient runoff from agricultural fields and other sources.

Satellites such as Landsat 8 can detect when a lake changes color due to outbreaks of algae. 

Video Credit: NASA Goddard 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Satellites help keep people safe from algae blooms

Today's Video of the Day from NASA Goddard describes how...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2020-09/12/5f5cd0ffae62e42c37657c44/5f5cd1163a3d4100014f0b0b_768x432_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5f5cd0ffae62e42c37657c44/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features a satellite view of the Amazon River in the rainforest of South America.

The Amazon River flows more than 4,000 miles from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean on the northeast coast of Brazil, passing through six countries along the way.

The Amazon is considered the widest river in the world, as well as the largest drainage system, with more than 1,100 tributaries.

These rivers provide a range of habitats for various types of wildlife, including swamps, marshes. and streams.

According to WWF, it is estimated that approximately one-sixth of all the freshwater that drains into the world's oceans goes through the Amazon delta, where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Video Credit: ESA

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Amazon River in South America

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-02/12/60268d766c527231b9c1e9a7/60268d93481d0100014a1398_768x432_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=60268d766c527231b9c1e9a7/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Valentine Island off the coast of western Australia.

The tiny island is located in the King Sound, a large gulf and inlet of the Indian Ocean.

According to the ESA, the King Sound has one of the highest tides in Australia, reaching a maximum tidal round of around 11 to 12 meters. 

The port town of Derby can be found on the eastern shore of the King Sound near the mouth of the Fitzoy River. This area of Australia's Kimberley Region is known for having a coast lined with mangroves that support an abundance of wildlife including birds and fish. 

Video Credit: ESA

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Valentine Island in western Australia

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-05/01/608d6e0e3ff39662f6a006fd/608d6e732ac1fe00019f8fe8_1920x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=608d6e0e3ff39662f6a006fd/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.qut.edu.au/">Queensland University of Technology</a> describes how pumice helped solve the mystery of what killed millions of shearwater birds in 2013. 

The team found evidence that migrating seabirds are eating materials that are not even food, including pumice stones, because they are starving.

Study lead author Dr. Lauren Roman is a researcher at Australia's national science agency CSIRO. She said there was much discussion in the scientific community about the causes of mass mortality of seabirds which are often found with plastic and other non-food items in their stomach.

"We found that in the instance of the shearwater bird deaths in 2013, these birds were starving, and in their starved state had reduced prey discrimination," said Dr. Roman.

"Our study investigates the chicken-and-egg dilemma - do animals starve from eating non-food or do animals eat non-food because they are starving?""

Seabirds are indicator species that can be used to monitor the health of marine ecosystems. Mass mortalities are often indicative of changing food webs and ecological conditions.

The study was focused on short-tailed shearwaters, which migrate from Australia to the North Pacific in April and return late in the year. Among 172 deceased seabirds that were recovered from the New South Wales and Queensland, 96.7 percent had ingested pumice or plastic.

The researchers used satellite systems to track the 2013 shearwater migration and compared the data to locations of a large pumice raft produced by a large volcanic eruption north of New Zealand in 2012.

"We proposed that a short time period between non-food ingestion and death would indicate that birds were already starving at the time of non-food ingestion, and a starving state would be reflected by poor body condition and reduced muscle mass," explained study co-author Professor Scott Bryan, who has been studying pumice rafts for over 20 years.

"Death after a longer period would indicate that birds starved following ingestion of non-food."

Professor Bryan said detailed information about the route of the pumice raft was an integral part to determining the answer of where the birds had consumed the pumice.

"We combined the tracking information data of the short-tailed shearwaters, using location tags on migrating birds, and the geological signature of the ingested pumice."

"By October 2013 when the shearwaters were returning to Australia on their annual migration from the North Pacific, the floating pumice was now located along their flight path as they approached Australia."

Once the experts had established when the birds ate the pumice, and their physical condition at the time, they were able to conclude that the birds were already starving when they ate the pumice. Furthermore, the study revealed that the seabirds had ingested the pumice about 12 to 41 hours before death.

"With a projected increase in challenging times for wildlife because of threats such as climate change, marine pollution and over exploitation of resources, this study has implications for mass mortalities and exacerbation of existing threats to marine species," said Dr. Roman.

Video Credit: Queensland University of Technology 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Pumice solved the mysterious deaths of seabirds

Today's Video of the Day from Queensland University of Technology...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-04/28/60895d2d91172e67c92483e2/60895daebc43a90001bb32d6_1920x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=60895d2d91172e67c92483e2/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">UC San Diego</a> describes how pelicans seem to effortlessly glide along the crests of ocean waves close to shore.

The experts found that pelicans use wind updrafts generated by the waves to conserve energy as they fly. This technique is known as wave-slope soaring.

"There's a community of biologists and ornithologists that studies the metabolic cost of flight in birds that can use this and see how their research connects to our estimates from theory," said study lead author Ian Stokes.

"Likewise, our model generates a basic prediction for the winds generated by passing swell, which is important to physicists that study how the ocean and atmosphere interact in order to improve weather forecasting."

"This is an interesting project because it shows how the waves are actually moving the air around, making wind," said Professor Professor Drew Lucas. 

"If you're a savvy bird, you can optimize how you move to track waves and to take advantage of these updrafts. Since seabirds travel long distances to find food, the benefits may be significant."

Video Credit: UC San Diego 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Pelicans use wind from ocean waves to save energy

Today's Video of the Day from UC San Diego describes...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2020-12/18/5fdcc56f48d0522cb2e619e5/5fdcc588f7a4f600012d0dcf_768x432_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5fdcc56f48d0522cb2e619e5/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Arctic region of Lapland, which is known for its vast wilderness, ski resorts, and natural wonders such as the Northern Lights.

Lapland is Finland’s northernmost region, and borders Sweden, Norway, Russia, and the Baltic Sea. It is also bound by the Norwegian Sea on the west, the Barents Sea on the north, and the White Sea to the east.

In the winter months, Lapland has temperatures of below zero and the Northern Lights, or the Aurora Borealis, can he viewed in the night sky. 

The capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, is considered the official hometown of Santa Claus. Here, the Arctic Circle runs through Santa Claus Village, which is located eight kilometers north of the city center. 

Finland is one of the places in the Arctic Circle where you can experience the Midnight Sun, or 24 hours of sunshine in the summer, and the Polar Night, when the sun does not appear in the winter.

Video Credit: ESA

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The northern European region of Lapland

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-02/21/60326f7a9837ae1b5b831912/60326fb871e1bf0001c36a7a_3840x2160_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=60326f7a9837ae1b5b831912/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://duke.edu/">Duke University</a> describes a strategy used by rice plants that grow their roots in a spiraling pattern for a greater chance of becoming established.

The researchers set up a camera on rice seeds sprouting in clear gel to examine how the roots burrow into the soil. A new picture was captured every 15 minutes for several days after germination.

The team discovered that rice roots use a trick to gain a foothold in the soil by making corkscrew-like motions with the tips of their roots. 

Sprouting seeds face the challenge of anchoring the plant and moving downwards to suck up the water and nutrients the plant needs to grow.

According to the researchers, the spiral growth of root tips is a strategy that rice plants use to grow in hard, compacted soil.

Video Credit: Duke University 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Rice roots use a spiraling strategy to become established

Today's Video of the Day from Duke University describes a...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-02/27/603a578b303d505bbcb19aa7/603a57962db9c10001a8bd8c_1622x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=603a578b303d505bbcb19aa7/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the northern lights over Canada captured by astronauts on September 28, 2017. The video is a time-lapse of nearly 1,000 still frames shot over a span of 15 minutes.

At the time the photographs were taken, the International Space Station was passing from the northwestern region of the United States toward the southeast.

“The time-lapse imagery that we’ve been able to get of auroras is just fascinating to watch,” said Will Stefanov, ISS program scientist for Earth observations at Johnson Space Center. “And just strikingly beautiful to be able to see that process, how the aurora shifts and moves like a live thing. And knowing that for that particular stretch of time, you are pretty much seeing what the crew saw in orbit.”

Just about a week prior to the time-lapse footage, astronaut Randy “Komrade” Bresnik had captured a spectacular photograph of the aurora borealis as the space station passed over Ontario, Canada. 

Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Astronauts share stunning views of the northern lights

Today's Video of the Day from the NASA Earth Observatory...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-02/07/601f811ffe070f323f38c532/601f8148f7a4f6000134c0ad_1920x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=601f811ffe070f323f38c532/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how land subsidence alters the shape of ocean basins and contributes to sea level rise. 

During the last ice age about 20,000 years ago, the northeastern region of the United States, Canada, and other regions were weighed down by ice sheets. When the ice melted and its weight was lifted, the land surface slowly rebounded. 

The resulting land movement, as well as subsidence related to human activities, play a significant role in sea level rise. For example, the Mississippi River Delta is essentially drowning as sinking ground is combined with higher sea levels, according to NASA.

Video Credit: NASA Goddard 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How land subsidence contributes to sea level rise

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2020-05/29/5ed076cfabddfb5f91f42e6a/5ed077039e0eda00017a53d0_1920x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5ed076cfabddfb5f91f42e6a/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.energy.gov/">U.S. Department of Energy</a> describes how climate change is transforming the world's forests. 

The researchers analyzed satellite data and found that the global average tree size has declined over the last century. 

Earth's trees are also becoming increasingly younger, which is due to a higher rate of tree mortality that is linked to global warming and other factors.

"Unfortunately, mortality drivers like rising temperature and disturbances such as wildfire and insect outbreaks are on the rise and are expected to continue increasing in frequency and severity over the next century," explained study lead author Dr. Nate McDowell.

"So, reductions in average forest age and height are already happening and they're likely to continue to happen."

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Video Credit: DOE Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

&nbsp;

Forests are becoming younger and smaller

Today's Video of the Day from the U.S. Department of...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2018-07/29/5b5e15710822e81055b6e518/5b5e157eeac4101b7cac5a2a_o_A_v2.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5b5e15710822e81055b6e518/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> (ESA) provides a glimpse of the famous coastal resort town of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

Located on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in between the desert and the Red Sea, this region was a vacation destination for ancient Romans and Greeks all the way back to the 4th century B.C.

Divers are attracted to Sharm El Sheikh to explore the diverse marine life found in the Red Sea, including hundreds of coral reefs. Ras Muhammad National Park one of the most popular diving destinations in the region, with its clear warm water and breathtaking desert landscape.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Video Credit: European Space Agency

The Egyptian resort town of Sharm El Sheikh

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2020-12/15/5fd8de4b16927a7d440b6297/5fd8de90eea7b60001dc55b0_1920x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5fd8de4b16927a7d440b6297/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_University_of_Technology">Queensland University of Technology</a> describes how climate change may impact the jaguar, the dominant predator of Central and South America.

According to the research, jaguars in the Peruvian Amazon will be able to handle climate change in the short-term, but could become severely threatened as extreme weather events increasingly interfere with food resources.

“Estimates of jaguar numbers are difficult to achieve because the big cats are cryptic by nature, are not always uniquely identifiable, and their habitat can be hostile to humans,” explained study co-author Professor Kerrie Mengersen.

The investigation was focused on data from a 2016 expedition to the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, which covers 20,800 square kilometers in the Loreto region of the Peruvian Amazon. 

Professor Kevin Burrage explained that the predicted outcomes for the jaguars were concerning in the long-term. 

“Our results imply that jaguars can cope with extreme drought and flood, but there is a very high probability that the population will crash if the conditions are repeated over short time periods. These scenarios are becoming more likely due to climate change,” said Professor Burrage.

“The declines may be further exacerbated by hunting of both jaguars and their prey, as well as loss of habitat through deforestation.”

Video Credit: QUT Media

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Jaguars will soon be severely threatened

Today's Video of the Day from the Queensland University of...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-03/04/6040e5e3fb2e1e336302ec6f/6040e628025df600012cf684_1280x720_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=6040e5e3fb2e1e336302ec6f/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> describes what stargazers can see in the sky this month. 

In early March, two reddish objects will line up with Mars: the stars Aldebaran, which forms the angry eye of Taurus the bull, and Betelgeuse, the shoulder of Orion. 

This Friday morning, look for the bright star Antares about 8 degrees below the waning gibbous Moon. In addition, Mercury and Jupiter and Mercury will appear at their closest to each other as morning twilight begins.

On Tuesday, March 9, the waning crescent Moon and the planets Saturn, Jupiter, and Mercury will appear near the horizon as morning twilight begins.

The first day of Daylight Savings Time falls on Sunday, March 14, 2021. Also beginning on this day, a "Wet Moon" or a "Cheshire Moon" will be visible for a few nights. This is when the thin, waxing crescent Moon appears to look like a smile in the evening sky.

On Friday night, March 19, the waxing crescent Moon will form a triangle with Mars and the bright star Aldebaran. This event will be followed by the astronomical end of winter on Saturday, March 20 at 5:37 a.m. EDT.

Also, be sure to look for Venus on March 26 and the full Moon on March 28.

Video Credit: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

NASA skywatching tips for March 2021

Today's Video of the Day from the NASA Jet Propulsion...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-02/26/603918a70ab30f57648ce612/603918c99747e100015a56e6_768x432_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=603918a70ab30f57648ce612/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>


Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Vancouver, a busy seaport on the west coast of British Columbia.

Vancouver is one of Canada's most densely populated and ethnically diverse cities, and is also known for being eco-friendly. 

Officials have developed a plan to make Vancouver "the greenest city in the world." The project involves improving air quality, constructing greener buildings, reducing CO2 emissions, and reducing traffic by promoting cycling, walking, and public transportation use.

Vancouver is already one of the most sustainable cities on the planet, with 95 percent of its electricity coming from renewable energy sources. 

Video Credit: ESA 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Vancouver, British Columbia

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-02/25/6037bc230ab30f5764885c38/6037bc80025df600012c0250_1920x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=6037bc230ab30f5764885c38/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.aalto.fi/en">Aalto University</a> describes how screen time improves the lives of saki monkeys in captivity. 

In collaboration with Korkeasaari Zoo, the researchers built an on-demand video device for white-faced saki monkeys to activate whenever they want. 

"We were very much interested in how we can give animals control over their environment and especially how they can control technology," said study lead author Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas.

"Typically, when we use technology with animals, we use it on them, so we play them sounds or video, rather than giving them the option of controlling the technology themselves."

The device played five different kinds of scenes: marine life such as jellyfish, wiggly worms, zoo animals like zebras, makis and dear, abstract art, or lush forests.

"We got interesting results. First of all, we learned that the monkeys do pay attention to the screen; they watch it and touch it. We also suspect they recognize objects on the screen. One of the videos we had featured meal worms - an everyday meal for them. They actually tried to lick the screen and even went around the tunnel to see if the worms were behind it," said study co-author Vilma Kankaanpää.

The saki monkeys scratched themselves significantly less often when they were offered on-demand videos. For monkeys in captivity, scratching can be a sign of stress.

Video Credit: Aalto University 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Saki monkeys benefit from screen time

Today's Video of the Day from Aalto University describes how...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2020-10/24/5f93968a8e4d532ba4563e8e/5f939768429770000167722b_768x432_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5f93968a8e4d532ba4563e8e/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the world’s largest river delta, the Ganges Delta, which covers an area of around 100,000 square kilometers.

The delta is primarily formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, both of which are visible in the image. The snow-covered Himalayas mountains can also be seen in the top of the photograph.

The Ganges river flows for over 2,400 kilometers from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. The river carries fertile soil and nutrients and deposits them across its vast delta floodplain. 

Video Credit: European Space Agency 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The world's largest river delta

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2021-01/23/600bbd3a77e564304ee8169e/600bbd4feea7b60001e232f3_1920x1080_FES_v1.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=600bbd3a77e564304ee8169e/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
</div>

Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://eros.usgs.gov/image-gallery/image-of-the-week">USGS</a> shows how one of the worst natural disasters in history reshaped the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. 

In December of 2004, an earthquake off the coast of northern Sumatra was so intense that it lifted the seafloor several meters and sent tsunami waves in every direction. The 9.1-magnitude Indian Ocean Earthquake ranks as the third must powerful on record. 

Waves that reached the coast of Sumatra were as high as 30 meters. Landsat images show where the vegetation was completely stripped away along the coast, as well as the recovery in the years that followed. 

Video Credit: USGS

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Indian Ocean tsunami reshaped the coast of Sumatra

Today's Video of the Day from the USGS shows how...