Do you ever stop to wonder how much our lifestyle demands of Earth’s resources? Or how we could adapt our way of life to fit within Earth's boundaries?



The world's population stands at a staggering eight billion. Every human's consumption pattern significantly impacts our environment. So, what cost does our lifestyle impose on the Earth?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planetary-boundaries-pushing-the-limits">Planetary boundaries: Pushing the limits</h2>



Our carbon footprint is no secret. Since the 1960s, we have witnessed a rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, triggering global warming and its <a href="https://search.app?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.earth.com%2Fnews%2Fai-predicts-global-warmings-impact-on-extreme-weather%2F&amp;utm_campaign=aga&amp;utm_source=agsadl2%2Csh%2Fx%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perilous impacts</a>. 



This surge in CO2 levels is just one aspect of our human lifestyle that pushes the limits of our planet.



Back in 2009, scientists identified nine “planetary boundaries.” Crossing these thresholds pushes our planet towards irreversible damage and instability.



These boundaries represent aspects like ocean acidification and global fresh-water utilization. As of 2023, we have already stepped over six of the planetary boundaries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-keeping-lifestyles-within-earth-s-limits">Keeping lifestyles within Earth's limits</h2>



This study was led by Professor Klaus Hubacek, Science, Technology, and Society scholar at the <a href="https://www.rug.nl/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Groningen</a>, Netherlands. 



His academic pursuits revolve around scrutinizing humanity's performance in relation to the planetary boundaries, and identifying changes to prevent us from traversing them further.



"The basic calculation is: given a certain number of people on the planet and the planetary boundaries, how much can we consume to stay inside these limits?” said Hubacek.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-rich-poor-divide-is-massive">The rich-poor divide is massive</h2>



Did you know that just one percent of the world population contributes to 50 times more greenhouse gases than the bottom half - four billion people?



This gaping wealth disparity is a consistent theme within Hubacek's work. One of his papers, recently published in the journal Nature, is specifically focused on this issue.



This paper, backed by a massive dataset covering 201 consumption groups across 168 countries, examines the implications of varying spending habits on six key environmental indicators. 



The findings reveal that a shift towards more sustainable consumption habits by the world's wealthiest 20 percent could slash their environmental impact by 25 to 53 percent.



Moreover, modifying consumption patterns in the food and services sectors might help shift several planetary boundaries back within safety limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-our-lifestyle-and-earth-s-resources">Balancing our lifestyle and Earth's resources</h2>



Hubacek doesn't only illuminate the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-2024-a-call-for-land-restoration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">issue</a>; he also provides possible solutions. In a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02084-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> he co-authored last August, he suggested a diet alteration for the world's wealthiest.



A switch from red meat to legumes and nuts could reduce food-based emissions by 17 percent, even if inhabitants of poorer nations increase their meat consumption.



Another of his <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479724024307?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent studies</a> explores the livestock sector - which dangerously exceeds several planetary boundaries. This paper suggests that countermeasures should be “region-specific,” recognizing cultural and regional disparities.



For instance, a plant-based diet could be ineffective for traditional Mongolian nomads, whose livelihood depends on yaks and their milk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aligning-earth-s-policies-with-lifestyles">Aligning Earth’s policies with lifestyles</h2>



"We shouldn’t focus so much on creating new technical solutions, as there are already so many solutions which we don’t implement," said Hubacek.&nbsp;



Sometimes our policies paradoxically stimulate harmful behavior. For instance, our fossil fuel subsidies globally eclipse the mitigation effect achieved through carbon pricing strategies. 



Other policies can be inconsistent, such as promoting the use of heat pumps and then subsequently raising electricity prices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-towards-a-sustainable-future">Towards a sustainable future</h2>



While individual sustainable efforts are important, tackling this challenge requires cooperation among governments, corporations, and international organizations. 



Policies supporting green industries, renewable energy investments, and public awareness form a vital multi-faceted approach. A global framework, similar to the Paris Accord, could help manage these transitions. 



Establishing a unified, transparent system for tracking consumption and emissions could accelerate progress. Both developed and developing nations must collaborate and share knowledge to address environmental issues at local and global levels effectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-economic-models">Rethinking economic models</h2>



A deeper transformation calls for rethinking traditional economic models that favor relentless growth over ecological balance. This shift involves adopting circular economy principles, where recycling, Earth's resource efficiency, and sustainable lifestyle management become standard.



Unlike the "take-make-waste" model, a circular approach reduces waste and energy use. This change requires policy reforms, innovation, and active participation from key economic sectors. 



It’s about fundamentally reshaping economies to align with the planet’s ecological limits. By embedding sustainable practices into economic policies, nations can secure a healthier future that values ecological stability alongside prosperity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hope-is-not-lost">Hope is not lost</h2>



Hubacek's message is clear: all hope is not lost. Humanity can indeed remain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-life-and-environment-co-evolved-over-500-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">within the planetary boundaries</a>. However, one obstacle remains - our political willingness to tackle climate change.



Hubacek's work, driven by academic interest rather than activism, emphatically calls for an evidence-based approach to policy. 



Ultimately, at the heart of planetary sustainability lies the collective action of us humans– all eight billion of us.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08154-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Human lifestyles are stressing Earth’s natural boundaries

Do you ever stop to wonder how much our lifestyle demands of Earth’s resources? Or how we could adapt our way of life to fit within Earth's boundaries? The world's population stands at a staggering eight billion. Every human's consumption pattern significantly impacts our environment. So, what cost does our lifestyle impose on the Earth? Planetary boundaries: Pushing the limits Our carbon footprint is no secret. Since the 1960s, we have witnessed a rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, triggering global warming and its perilous...

Autumn,Forest,On,A,Sunny,Day.,Autumn,In,The,Park.

Many studies have argued that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spending-time-in-nature-improves-physical-and-mental-health/">spending time in nature</a> provides numerous psychological, emotional, and physical benefits. Now, by examining the attitudes, beliefs, and actions of a group of elders (people over 65) who regularly spent time in a nature area, an international team of scientists has found that fostering social connections around nature-based activities may improve health and quality of life.



In Japan, the term “shinrin-yoku,” or “forest bathing” refers to spending time in nature while engaging all of one’s senses. For elders who encounter difficulties in hiking over difficult trails, forest bathing could be an enjoyable and safe alternative to spend time in nature. In fact, this activity has become increasingly popular among older adults not only in Japan, China, and Taiwan, where this practice originated, but also more recently in the United States.



Between April and June 2022, the scientists surveyed a cohort of 292 older visitors to the Xitou Nature Education Area, a natural preserve in Taiwan. The participants – who were over 65 and visited the park at least once a week – were asked a variety of questions, such as whether they felt supported by others, how much they thought about their futures, and how much purpose they felt their lives had. The analysis revealed that those who discussed their experiences in nature with others had a greater sense of attachment to forest bathing and a stronger sense of purpose in life – factors which, according to previous research – are associated to better physical and mental health and higher quality of life.



These findings could help leisure-service providers working in community recreation departments or retirement villages facilitate leisure activities for the elderly. “Elders can access community and state parks where it is safe for them to spend time in nature: places with walkable paths and convenient, accessible parking, are helpful,” said study co-author John Dattilo, a professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management at the <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a>.&nbsp;



“Better yet, leisure-service providers could arrange transportation and then afterwards facilitate social interactions among participants. Enabling people to get out into nature to experience their surroundings is one aspect of forest bathing. Part of what we found is the linkage between positive social relationships and spending time in nature. So, if leisure-service providers create opportunities for elders to return from an experience, meet over a warm beverage and talk about their experiences, there will be value in these connections for people’s sense of purpose.”



“Forest bathing seems to connect people to the moment and the world. When elders use that same experience to develop social connections and support, they may experience a broad range of benefits associated with physiological functioning as well as cognitive health. These are associations, not cause and effect, but the potential consequences are exciting to consider,” concluded lead author Liang-Chih Chang, a professor of Living Sciences at the <a href="https://www106.nou.edu.tw/~eng/">National Open University</a> in Taiwan.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2023.2174217">Leisure Sciences</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Nature improves the life quality of older adults

Many studies have argued that spending time in nature provides...

Cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, are the leading cause of death globally, and were responsible for nearly 18 million deaths in 2019, while cancers caused 9.6 million deaths in 2017. Many studies have shown that moderate-intensity <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/any-type-of-physical-activity-can-help-protect-the-brain/">physical activity</a> – such as brisk walking, hiking, dancing, riding a bike, or playing tennis – significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.&nbsp;



Although UK’s <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/">National Health Services</a> (NHS) has recommended that adults perform such activities at least 150 minutes a week, a recent review study conducted by the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> has found that even half of this amount – 75 minutes a week or 11 minutes a day – would be sufficient to significantly lower the risk of such diseases, and could help prevent one in ten early deaths.



To clarify the amount of physical activity necessary to reduce the risk of a variety of chronic diseases and early death, the experts carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of 196 peer-reviewed articles, covering over 30 million participants from 94 large study cohorts.&nbsp;



The analysis revealed that accumulating 75 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week reduced the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 17 percent, cancer by seven percent, and early death by 23 percent. For some types of cancers – including head and neck, myeloid leukaemia, myeloma, and gastric cardia cancers – the reduction in risk was even greater (14-26 percent).



&nbsp;“If you are someone who finds the idea of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week a bit daunting, then our findings should be good news. Doing some physical activity is better than doing none. This is also a good starting position – if you find that 75 minutes a week is manageable, then you could try stepping it up gradually to the full recommended amount,” said study senior author Soren Brage, an expert in the benefits of physical activity at Cambridge.



“Moderate activity doesn’t have to involve what we normally think of exercise, such as sports or running. Sometimes, replacing some habits is all that is needed. For example, try to walk or cycle to your work or study place instead of using a car, or engage in active play with your kids or grand kids. Doing activities that you enjoy and that are easy to include in your weekly routine is an excellent way to become more active,” concluded lead author Leandro Garcia, a lecturer in Complexity Science in Public Health at <a href="https://www.qub.ac.uk/">Queen’s University Belfast</a>.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-105669">British Journal of Sports Medicine</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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A quick daily walk reduces the risk of early death

Cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, are the...

A recent study led by the <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/">University of California, San Francisco</a> (UCSF) has shed new light on the causes of a peculiar outbreak of acute severe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-cases-of-hepatitis-detected-in-the-us-and-europe/">hepatitis</a> that surfaced in otherwise healthy children after Covid-19 lockdowns eased in the United States and 34 other countries in the spring of 2022. With around 1,000 cases reported so far, 50 children have needed liver transplants and at least 22 have died, making this mysterious outbreak highly alarming to healthcare professionals.



The scientists found that the disease was linked to co-infections from multiple common viruses, especially a strain of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2), which do not usually cause hepatitis on its own, but require “helper” viruses - such as adenoviruses causing colds and flus - to replicate in the liver. When children returned to school, they became more vulnerable to infections with these common pathogens, and for a small group of these children, getting more than one infection at the same time made them more susceptible to severe hepatitis.



“We were surprised by the fact that the infections we detected in these children were caused not by an unusual, emerging virus, but by common childhood viral pathogens,” said study senior author Charles Chiu, a professor of Medicine and Clinical Microbiology at UCSF.



“That’s what led us to speculate that the timing of the outbreak was probably related to the really unusual situations we were going through with Covid-19 related school and daycare closures and social restrictions. It may have been an unintended consequence of what we have experienced during the last two-to-three years of the pandemic.”



The researchers used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) along with various metagenomic sequencing and molecular-testing methods to examine plasma, whole blood, nasal swabs, and stool samples from 16 pediatric cases in six U.S. states, and compared them with 113 control samples. The analyses detected AAV2 in 93 percent of the cases, and human adenoviruses (HAdVs) in all the cases, with additional co-infections with Epstein-Barr, herpes, and enterovirus discovered in 85.7 percent of cases.



Since AAVs are not considered pathogenic on their own, more research is needed to establish a direct causal link with the severe acute hepatitis. However, the findings suggest that co-infections may trigger more severe hepatitis, especially in vulnerable young children whose immune systems lacked their usual “training” through frequent exposure to pathogens due to lockdowns.



Although the clusters of acute severe hepatitis in children have recently declined, frequent handwashing and staying home when sick are still advised to protect children from this developing this frequently debilitating disease.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05949-1">Nature</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Severe hepatitis outbreak linked to common viruses

A recent study led by the University of California, San...

New research published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwad060">European Journal of Preventive Cardiology</a> indicates that physical activity may counteract some of the negative effects associated with both too little and too much sleep on life expectancy.&nbsp;



The study, conducted by scientists at the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in China, involved more than 90,000 adults and employed accelerometer technology to provide more reliable and objective measurements of physical activity and sleep duration.



Lead author Dr. Jihui Zhang explained the study's findings, stating that "increased physical activity levels weakened the mortality risks associated with short or long sleep duration." This suggests that even though both adequate sleep and exercise are vital for longevity, engaging in physical activity can help mitigate the potential health consequences of poor sleep habits.



While the relationship between sleep, exercise, and health has long been studied, the specific interaction between physical activity and sleep duration had not yet been fully understood.&nbsp;



One key limitation of prior research was the reliance on self-reported data for physical activity and sleep, which can be subjective and prone to inaccuracies. In order to address this issue, the current study utilized accelerometer wristbands to measure participants' movement, offering a more reliable and objective assessment of activity levels and sleep duration.



This groundbreaking research is the first to examine the combined effects of physical activity and sleep duration on mortality risk using accelerometry. The study included a diverse group of 92,221 adults aged 40 to 73 from the UK Biobank cohort, who wore the accelerometer wristbands for a week between 2013 and 2015.&nbsp;



Sleep duration per night was categorized as short (less than six hours), normal (six to eight hours), or long (more than eight hours), and physical activity was divided into tertiles (low, intermediate, high). The researchers also classified moderate to vigorous physical activity as meeting or not meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.



Over a median follow-up period of seven years, 3,080 of the participants died – 1,074 from cardiovascular disease and 1,871 from cancer. The study's primary outcome was all-cause death, with secondary endpoints being death due to cardiovascular disease and death due to cancer.



The analysis reveals that engaging in physical activity can help reduce the mortality risks associated with both short and long sleep duration. The researchers aimed to understand how physical activity influenced the impact of sleep on mortality by examining the volume of activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity levels.&nbsp;



The study accounted for factors that could potentially influence the relationship, such as age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, education level, season of sleep measurement, body mass index, diet, smoking, alcohol intake, and shift work.



The experts found that among participants with low amounts of physical activity, short and long sleep were associated with a 16 and 37 percent increased risk of all-cause death, respectively. However, in those with intermediate amounts of exercise, only short sleep duration was detrimental, raising the likelihood of all-cause death by 41 percent.&nbsp;



Among participants with a high amount of exercise, sleep duration was not linked to an increased risk of death. When it came to cardiovascular death, short sleepers with a low volume of exercise faced a 69 percent elevated risk, which disappeared when exercise increased to moderate or high volumes. For cancer death, long sleepers with low amounts of exercise had a 21 percent increased risk, which disappeared with moderate or high volumes of exercise.



Similar results were observed for moderate to vigorous physical activity. In participants not meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, short and long sleep were associated with 31 and 20 percent increased risks of all-cause death, respectively.&nbsp;



These risks disappeared in those who met the WHO recommendations. For cardiovascular death, short sleepers who did not meet the exercise intensity advice faced a 52 percent elevated risk, which disappeared in those achieving the recommendations. For cancer death, long sleepers not meeting the advice had a 21 percent increased risk, which disappeared in those following the WHO guidance.



"Our findings suggest that health promotion efforts targeting both physical activity and sleep duration may be more effective in preventing or delaying premature death in middle-aged and older adults than focusing on one behavior alone," said Dr. Zhang. He emphasized the importance of achieving healthy amounts of both sleep and physical activity, but acknowledged that the study indicates that "getting sufficient exercise may partially offset the detrimental impact of missing a good night's sleep."



The results of this research underscore the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes both sufficient sleep and regular physical activity. Further, they highlight the potential for physical activity to help mitigate some of the negative effects of inadequate or excessive sleep on life expectancy. As our understanding of the complex interplay between sleep and exercise continues to grow, these findings offer valuable insights for individuals looking to optimize their health and well-being.



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Exercise counteracts negative effects of sleep deprivation

New research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology...

According to a new global analysis of trends in child and adolescent height and body mass index (BMI) led by <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a> (ICL), the advantages of living in cities for children’s and adolescents’ healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-eggs-increases-growth-children/">growth</a> are currently declining across most of the world. 



In the 20th century, cities have provided many opportunities for better education, nutrition, sports, and recreation to children and adolescents, helping them grow taller and have a healthier weight than their rural counterparts in all but a few wealthy countries. However, in the 21st century, this trend appears to reverse as a result of accelerating improvements in rural areas.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed height and weight data from 71 million children and adolescents aged five to 19 across both urban and rural areas in 200 countries from 1991 to 2020. The investigation revealed that, while height and BMI have generally increased around the world since 1990, the degree of change between urban and rural areas varied significantly among various middle- and low-income countries, while remaining largely stable across high-income countries.&nbsp;



“Cities continue to provide considerable health benefits for children and adolescents. Fortunately, in most regions, rural areas are catching up to cities thanks to modern sanitation and improvements in nutrition and healthcare,” said study lead author Anu Mishra, a research associate in Global Environmental Health at ICL.



For instance, in countries such as Brazil, Chile, and Taiwan, the scientists found the biggest gains in rural children’s height during the study period. “These countries have made great strides in levelling up. Using the resources of economic growth to fund nutrition and health programs, both through schools and in the community, was key to closing the gaps between different areas and social groups,” said senior author Majid Ezzati, a professor of Public Health at ICL.



&nbsp;“The issue is not so much whether children live in cities or urban areas, but where the poor live, and whether governments are tackling growing inequalities with initiatives like supplementary incomes and free school meal programs.”



For instance, worrisome trends were identified in sub-Saharan Africa, where children in rural areas have plateaued in height or even become shorter and gained weight more rapidly over the past three decades.



&nbsp;“This is a serious problem at every level, from individual to regional. Faltering growth in school-aged children and adolescents is strongly linked to poor health through life, lost educational attainment, and the immense cost of unrealized human potential,” Ezzati explained.



“Our findings should motivate policies that counter poverty and make nutritious foods affordable to make sure that children and adolescents grow and develop into adults who have healthy and productive lives,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05772-8">Nature</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Children’s health benefits of city life are diminishing

According to a new global analysis of trends in child...

In a groundbreaking psychological study conducted by the <a href="https://www.essex.ac.uk/">University of Essex</a> and Humboldt University of Berlin, researchers have debunked the long-standing myth that drugs fuel creative thinking. Contrary to the popular belief that substance abuse leads to artistic breakthroughs, the study found that narcotics are, in fact, the least effective way to inspire creativity.



This revelation may come as a shock to those who have idolized hard-living musicians, writers, and artists for their seemingly drug-fueled creativity. The study found that the most effective methods to enhance creativity were complex training programs, meditation, and exposure to different cultures. Alcohol and pharmaceutical amphetamines, such as Adderall, had no significant influence on inspiration whatsoever.



"We examined hundreds of papers to uncover the best ways to boost creativity, and I hope the findings will help the growing number of people who rely on their creativity to earn a living," said Dr. Paul Hanel from Essex's Department of Psychology. "What worked best were complex training courses, meditation, and cultural exposure such as studying abroad. We believe it is a positive message that drugs do not enhance creativity, given the side effects of drugs."



The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/aca0000557">Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts</a>, scrutinized the findings from thousands of participants to unravel the mysteries of creativity. The researchers concluded that training programs that emphasize mental techniques to unpack the creative process have the most substantial long-term impacts on creativity. Moreover, they discovered that mindfulness activities such as meditation and open thinking boosted imagination in the short term.



Another crucial finding was that immersing oneself in different countries and experiencing diverse cultures can unconsciously broaden one's horizons. However, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to fostering creativity, as individuals respond better to various situations and techniques.



The researchers hope that their findings will aid schools and employers in better understanding creative thinking.&nbsp;



"Although it once seemed the preserve of artists, creativity is everywhere in the modern world," said Dr. Hanel. "Everyone from family businesses through to giant companies needs to produce material to show their wares on social media. This could be the difference between success or failure for many people, and I hope that this study will help them find inspiration."



"There are many ways to enhance and encourage creative thinking," said study lead author Jennifer Haase. "Creativity is not a skill to be learned and then applied. Creativity results much more from a situational fit between the cognitive mindset and the creative challenge."



Meditation has a significant impact on creativity by fostering a mental environment conducive to innovative thinking and problem-solving. Here's how meditation can enhance creativity:



<ol>
<li>Improved focus and concentration: Meditation helps train the mind to focus on the present moment and eliminate distractions. This heightened level of concentration enables individuals to delve deeper into their thoughts, paving the way for creative ideas and solutions to emerge.</li>



<li>Stress reduction: High levels of stress can impede creativity by making it challenging to think clearly and freely. Meditation is known to reduce stress, calm the mind, and promote relaxation. As a result, the mind is more open to accessing its creative potential.</li>



<li>Enhanced mindfulness: Mindfulness meditation encourages non-judgmental awareness of one's thoughts and emotions. This heightened awareness can lead to the recognition of novel ideas, patterns, and connections that might have been previously overlooked.</li>



<li>Cognitive flexibility: Meditation promotes cognitive flexibility by helping individuals detach from rigid thinking patterns and embrace new perspectives. This flexibility is essential for creative thinking, as it enables people to explore alternative solutions, perspectives, and ideas.</li>



<li>Increased openness to experiences: Regular meditation practice can lead to increased openness to new experiences and ideas, which is a critical component of creativity. Being open to new ideas and perspectives allows individuals to think outside the box and approach problems in innovative ways.</li>



<li>Enhanced neural connections: Research has shown that meditation can alter the brain's structure and connectivity. These changes can lead to improved cognitive functioning, including enhanced creativity. For example, meditation has been linked to increased activity in the default mode network, a brain network associated with creative thinking and daydreaming.</li>
</ol>



Meditation positively impacts creativity by improving focus, reducing stress, enhancing mindfulness, promoting cognitive flexibility, increasing openness to experiences, and fostering beneficial neural connections. By incorporating regular meditation into their routines, individuals can tap into their creative potential and improve their problem-solving abilities.



In conclusion, the Essex Department of Psychology study challenges the long-held notion that drugs and alcohol can spark creativity, offering more effective and healthier alternatives for individuals seeking to enhance their imaginative abilities.



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Meditation is far better than drugs to spark creativity

In a groundbreaking psychological study conducted by the University of...

Overweight or obese people are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This problem is often addressed through behavioral <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/getting-more-sleep-can-boost-weight-loss/">weight loss</a> programs, which encourage lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and increasing physical activity.&nbsp;



A new review study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.122.009348">Circulation:&nbsp;Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes</a> has identified a consistent decrease in risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes for at least five years after behavioral weight loss programs, even if some weight was eventually regained during that period.



“Many doctors and patients recognize that weight loss is often followed by weight regain, and they fear that this renders an attempt to lose weight pointless,” said study co-senior author Susan A. Jebb, a professor of Diet and Population Health at the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a>. “This concept has become a barrier to offering support to people to lose weight. For people with overweight or obesity issues, losing weight is an effective way to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”



According to Professor Jebb, while many studies have already provided evidence that weight loss significantly improves heart health and reduces the risk of diabetes, most of them look at whether new treatments are effective and focus on weight change in the short-term rather than the effect on later disease.&nbsp;



"Individual studies are often too small to detect differences between groups in the incidence of cardiovascular conditions because, fortunately, they affect only a small proportion of the whole group, and studies may not continue long enough to see the effects on ‘hard’ outcomes, such as a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes or a&nbsp;heart attack.”



To overcome these limitations, the researchers analyzed 124 studies totaling over 50,000 participants, with an average follow-up of 28 months. The investigation revealed that, compared to people in less intensive programs and those in no weight loss programs, participants who lost weight through an intensive program had significantly lower risk factors for developing both cardiovascular disease and diabetes, exhibiting lower systolic blood pressure, reduced HbA1c (a protein in red blood cells involved in diabetes), and decreased levels of bad cholesterol.



Although this study had several limitations too – for instance, the information included in the review was not updated after 2019 and the reviewed studies were published solely in English – it nevertheless suggests that intensive weight loss programs might have major long-term clinical benefits. However, further research is needed to compare different types of weight loss interventions, their long-term impact, and how their positive outcomes may be diminished by regaining weight.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Heart health benefits of weight loss persist for years

Overweight or obese people are at increased risk for cardiovascular...

The universal appeal of art and its ability to evoke a range of emotions has long captivated audiences and artists alike. But despite its importance in human culture, the underlying mechanisms that drive our emotional responses to art have remained largely unexplored.&nbsp;



Now, a groundbreaking study from researchers at the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en">University of Turku</a> and Aalto University sheds new light on how viewing visual art affects our emotions and offers potential applications for mental health rehabilitation and care.



The study, which included a diverse sample of 1,186 participants from various countries, involved subjects viewing and assessing over 300 different artworks. The participants' eye movements were recorded as they viewed the art and they were asked to describe the feelings and emotions evoked by each piece. The study employed a combination of online surveys and laboratory-based eye movement recordings to gather data.



"Viewing the art evoked many different kinds of feelings and emotions in people. Even though many of the pieces handled sad or scary topics, the emotions that the people experienced were mainly positive," said study lead author Professor Lauri Nummenmaa from the Turku PET Centre at the University of Turku.



Intriguingly, the researchers found a correlation between the strength of the subject's bodily sensations and the intensity of the emotions they experienced, suggesting that our bodies play a crucial role in the aesthetic experience.



Study co-author Riitta Hari from Aalto University explained that human figures in the artworks were the most interesting subjects and received the most attention from viewers. "People have a tendency to empathize with each other's emotions, and this is probably also the case when we view human figures in art," said Hari.&nbsp;



This empathetic response to human emotions in art may occur through a process known as "mirroring," where the emotions portrayed in the artwork are absorbed by the viewer, often without conscious awareness.



The findings of this study indicate that the emotions and bodily sensations evoked by art can have a profound impact on our overall experience of it. "Bodily sensations can draw people to art: art evokes feelings in the body, and such stimulation of the body's pleasure centers feels pleasant to the viewer," said Professor Nummenmaa.&nbsp;



These insights open up exciting possibilities for leveraging the emotional power of art in mental health rehabilitation and care settings, where it could provide a valuable tool for emotional expression and healing.



One of the most popular theories explaining the emotional impact of art on humans is the concept of emotional resonance or aesthetic resonance. This theory suggests that when people encounter a work of art, they experience an emotional response as a result of a connection or resonance with the piece. The connection can be based on various factors, such as personal experiences, cultural context, or innate human tendencies.



A key aspect of emotional resonance is the idea of empathy and our ability to recognize and relate to the emotions of others. When we view art that depicts human figures, emotions, or situations, we tend to empathize with the subjects and experience emotions similar to those being portrayed. This empathetic response can be triggered by the brain's mirror neuron system, which allows us to understand and share the emotions of others by simulating their experiences internally.



Another component of the emotional impact of art is the role of our cognitive and emotional processing systems. Art can activate various cognitive and emotional processes, such as memory, perception, imagination, and evaluation. These processes can trigger emotional responses, even when the artwork is abstract or non-representational. For instance, certain colors, shapes, or patterns may evoke specific emotions or memories, leading to an emotional reaction to the artwork.



Furthermore, art can serve as a form of communication and self-expression, allowing artists to convey their emotions, thoughts, and ideas to the audience. This shared emotional experience can create a connection between the viewer and the artist, further enhancing the emotional impact of the artwork.



In summary, the emotional impact of art on humans can be attributed to a combination of factors, including emotional resonance, empathy, cognitive and emotional processing, and the communicative power of art. These factors work together to create a unique and personal emotional experience for each individual who encounters a work of art.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2023.2183180">Cognition &amp; Emotion</a>.



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Visual art evokes many feelings and emotions

The universal appeal of art and its ability to evoke...

Due to industrialization, humans are now enjoying greater access to food, less physical toil, and better access to quality health care services than ever before. However, since many people are currently eating more and exercising less, sedentary lifestyles and obesity have led to smaller brain volumes and faster cognitive decline in a significant part of the western population.



Now, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a> (USC) has discovered that some of the lowest rates of heart and brain disease ever reported are found among Indigenous communities from the tropical forests of lowland Bolivia, suggesting that there are optimal levels of food consumption and exercise that can maximize healthy brain aging and decrease the risk of disease.&nbsp;



The scientists enrolled 1,165 participants from two Indigenous societies - the Tsimané and Mosetén – and measured their brain volume by age, along with their body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other markers of energy and overall health.&nbsp;



The analysis revealed that the Tsimané and Mosetén experienced better cardiovascular health and less brain atrophy than U.S. and European populations, and were thus less likely to develop heart disease or neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.



“The lives of our pre-industrial ancestors were punctured by limited food availability,” said&nbsp;study senior author Andrei Irimia, an assistant professor of Gerontology, Biomedical Engineering, and Neuroscience at USC. “Humans historically spent a lot of time exercising out of necessity to find food, and their brain aging profiles reflected this lifestyle.”



Since the Mosetén are more exposed to modern technology, medicine, infrastructure, and education than the Tsimané, they served as an important intermediary population, allowing researchers to compare a variety of lifestyle and health care factors. While both communities showed better health than industrialized populations, the Mosetén fared a bit worse than the Tsimané, reinforcing the hypothesis that industrialized or semi-industrialized societies fail to achieve a healthy balance between daily exertion and food consumption.



“During our evolutionary past, more food and less calories spent in getting it resulted in improved health, well-being, and ultimately higher reproductive success or Darwinian fitness,” said study lead author Hillard Kaplan, a professor of Health Economics and Anthropology at <a href="https://www.chapman.edu/">Chapman University</a>. “This evolutionary history selected for psychological and physiological traits that made us desirous of extra food and less physical work, and with industrialization, those traits lead us to overshoot the mark.”



According to Professor Irimia, the best way to improve brain health and reduce the risk of disease is to have neither too little nor too much food and nutrients, along with a vigorous amount of exercise. “This ideal set of conditions for disease prevention prompts us to consider whether our industrialized lifestyles increase our risk of disease,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2205448120">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Indigenous communities provide clues to healthy brain aging

Due to industrialization, humans are now enjoying greater access to...

According to a team of experts from the <a href="http://www.earth4all.life/">Earth4All</a> initiative, global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-population-10-9-billion/">population</a> could peak at 8.5 billion people by mid-century if the world takes a “giant leap” in investment in economic development. This new projection is significantly lower than other prominent population estimates, including those conducted by the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/">United Nations</a>. 



By using a new system dynamics model, the researchers explored two possible scenarios for population growth. In the first scenario – which they call “Too Little Too Late,” and assumes that the world continues to develop in the same way as it had over the past half a century, with many of the poorest countries breaking free from extreme poverty – the global population is expected to peak at 8.6 billion in 2050, before declining to seven billion in 2100.&nbsp;



In the second one – called the “Giant Leap” and achieved through massive investments in poverty alleviation (mainly through developments in education and health), together with major policy turnarounds on issues related to food and energy security, inequality, and gender equity -poverty is eliminated in a generation (by 2060), and global population will peak at 8.5 billion by 2040 and decline to six billion by the end of the century.



By contrast to scenarios developed by other researchers, these ones take into account the critical importance of rapid economic development. “We know rapid economic development in low-income countries has a huge impact on fertility rates. Fertility rates fall as girls get access to education and women are economically empowered and have access to better healthcare,” said Per Espen Stoknes, Earth4All’s project lead and the director of the Center for Sustainability at the <a href="https://www.bi.edu/?_ga=2.85242906.2056089187.1679897437-779628527.1679897437&amp;_gl=1*1t23jlz*_ga*Nzc5NjI4NTI3LjE2Nzk4OTc0Mzc.*_ga_SY3KTJF2RZ*MTY3OTg5NzQzNy4xLjAuMTY3OTg5NzQzNy4wLjAuMA..">Norwegian Business School</a>.



“Few prominent models simulate population growth, economic development, and their connections simultaneously,”&nbsp;added Beniamino Callegari, an economist at the <a href="https://www.kristiania.no/en/">Kristiania University College</a>.&nbsp;



The analysis revealed that population growth is currently the highest in some nations in Africa and Asia, including Angola, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Afghanistan. “If we assume these countries adopt successful policies for economic development then we can expect population to peak sooner rather than later,”&nbsp;Callegari said.



The scientists also analyzed the connection between population and exceeding planetary boundaries, and found that, contrary to popular beliefs, population size is not the prime driver of exceeding planetary boundaries such as climate change. Instead, the enormous material footprint levels among the world’s richest ten percent plays the highest role in destabilizing the planet.



Thus, according to the researchers’ demographic projections, with an equal distribution of resources, the entire population could achieve living conditions exceeding UN’s minimum threshold without significant changes in developmental trends. “A good life for all is only possible if the extreme resource use of the wealthy elite is reduced,” concluded Jorgen Randers, one of leading modelers at Earth4All.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Global population could peak below nine billion by 2050

According to a team of experts from the Earth4All initiative, global population...

A team of scientists led by <a href="https://www.ttu.edu/">Texas Tech University</a> (TTU) has recently found that introducing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/walnuts-reduce-academic-stress-and-improve-brain-health/">walnuts</a> in our diets could provide significant heart benefits by altering our gut microbiome in a way that increases the production of the amino acid L-homoarginine. The lack of this particular amino acid has been linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease.



“Research has shown that walnuts may have heart-healthy benefits like lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure,” said Mansi Chandra, an undergraduate researcher at <a href="https://www.juniata.edu/">Juniata College</a>, who will present the study findings at&nbsp;<a href="https://discoverbmb.asbmb.org/">Discover BMB</a>, the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.asbmb.org/">American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology</a> (March 25–28, Seattle). “This motivated us to look at how walnuts benefited the gut microbiome and whether those effects led to the potential beneficial effects. Our findings represent a new mechanism through which walnuts may lower cardiovascular disease risk.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



To investigate the gene expression of gut microbes, the experts used metatranscriptomics, a recently developed technology employed to quantify gene expression levels and monitor how these levels shift in response to various conditions, including dietary changes.



“To our knowledge, this is the first study to use metatranscriptomics analysis for studying the impact of walnut consumption on the gut microbiota gene expression. These exploratory analyses contribute to our understanding of walnut-related modulation of gut microbiome, which could be very impactful in learning how gut health impacts our heart health in general,” Chandra explained.



The analysis revealed higher levels of Gordonibacter bacteria –microorganisms that help converting the plant polyphenols ellagitannins and ellagic acid into metabolites which allow them to be absorbed by the body - in the guts of participants following a walnut diet. In addition, the researchers also found higher levels of expression for several genes involved in major metabolic and biosynthetic pathways, including those that increase the organism’s production of L-homoarginine.&nbsp;



Although more research is necessary to better understand the biological mechanisms underlying these changes in the gut microbiome, this study could eventually help inform dietary interventions to improve heart health based on walnuts. &nbsp;



“Since a lot of people are allergic to nuts, these findings also suggest that other food supplements that boost the endogenous production of homoarginine may also be helpful,”&nbsp;Chandra concluded.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Walnuts improve heart health by altering the gut microbiome 

A team of scientists led by Texas Tech University (TTU)...

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.europsy.net/">European Psychiatric Association</a>, experts have found that odors from human sweat may be helpful in treating mental health disorders. In particular, the researchers demonstrated that social anxiety can be substantially reduced through exposure to human "chemo-signals," or body odor.



Lead researcher Elisa Vigna of the Karolinska Institute will present the study results at the European Congress of Psychiatry in Paris.



“Our state of mind causes us to produce molecules (or chemo-signals) in sweat which communicate our emotional state and produce corresponding responses in the receivers," said Vigna. "The results of our preliminary study show that combining these chemo-signals with mindfulness therapy seem to produce better results in treating social anxiety than can be achieved by mindfulness therapy alone."



Overall, the team found that individuals who undertook one treatment session of mindfulness therapy together while being exposed to human body odors showed about 39 percent reductions in anxiety scores, explained Vigna.



Social anxiety is a fear of being around people in social situations, whether it's at work or holiday gatherings. This type of anxiety makes it difficult to live a normal life without excessive worrying.



For the investigation, the experts exposed patients to the sweat samples while they were being treated for social anxiety with mindfulness therapy. The sweat samples were collected from volunteers who were watching short clips from movies that induced specific emotions, such as fear or happiness. The goal was to examine whether these emotions had an effect on the treatment.



"We found that the women in the group exposed to sweat from people who had been watching funny or fearful movies, responded better to mindfulness therapy than those who hadn’t been exposed," said Vigna.



"We were a little surprised to find that the emotional state of the person producing the sweat didn’t differ in treatment outcomes - sweat produced while someone was happy had the same effect as someone who had been scared by a movie clip.&nbsp; So there may be something about human chemo-signals in sweat generally which affects the response to treatment."



It may be that simply being exposed to the presence of someone else has this effect, noted Vigna.&nbsp;



"In fact, that is what we are testing now in a follow-up study with a similar design, but where we are also including sweat from individuals watching emotionally neutral documentaries."



"This should allow us to tease out whether any potential therapy benefits stem from the unconscious perception of specific emotional signals, or whether it is simply to do with human presence, irrespective of emotion.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&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> Editor



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Human sweat could be used to treat mental health problems

In a new study from the European Psychiatric Association, experts...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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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



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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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



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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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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