The holiday season, filled with festive gatherings and delicious food, can be challenging for anyone committed to a healthy lifestyle.&nbsp;



A new national survey by <a href="https://www.orlandohealth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orlando Health</a> finds that nearly 40% of Americans worry about overeating during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-people-die-from-heart-attacks-during-the-holidays/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">holidays</a>. However, experts reassure that a few holiday treats are not a cause for guilt or concern over weight gain long-term health impacts.



“Holidays come around once a year, and indulging in a few traditional foods and favorite recipes that may have a little extra sugar or fat is not going to affect your health or derail your healthy habits,” said Sara Riehm, a registered dietitian at Orlando Health.&nbsp;



Riehm notes that, for many, the anxiety about holiday <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-nuts-every-day-does-not-cause-weight-gain-but-it-does-improve-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weight gain</a> far outweighs actual weight gain during this time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthy-holiday-habits">Healthy holiday habits</h2>



The survey also revealed some common yet counterproductive tactics people use to avoid overindulgence.&nbsp;



One in four respondents, for instance, skip meals before a holiday event in an attempt to “save” calories. Riehm warns against this strategy, as it often leads to overconsumption once hunger takes over.



“It’s a lot easier to make healthier decisions when we're not hungry. Having a light meal with protein and fiber before a party helps you feel fuller and make mindful choices about what you’re eating,” Riehm advised.



She suggests balancing a serving of a favorite holiday treat with nutritious options like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-fruits-and-vegetables-improve-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vegetables</a> or a fruit salad to ensure a balanced plate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-debunking-the-detox-myth">Debunking the “detox” myth</h2>



Another common response to holiday indulgence is the urge to “detox” or “cleanse” afterward. The survey showed that a third of people feel the need to detox post-holidays, believing it will offset any negative effects of holiday treats.&nbsp;



However, Riehm explains that these detox measures are not only ineffective but could also pose health risks.



“We can't really detox the body from the so-called ‘toxins’ that we're getting from our food,” she said. “Our liver and kidneys are already designed to remove toxins from the body without the need for juices or supplements.”&nbsp;



She further cautions that detox methods often involve extreme calorie restrictions, potentially leading to dangerous drops in blood sugar and disturbing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tool-detects-changes-in-gut-health-to-help-prevent-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gut health</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthy-goals-in-the-holiday-season">Healthy goals in the holiday season </h2>



Rather than resorting to drastic measures, Riehm recommends seeking guidance from a registered dietitian to help manage a balanced and sustainable plan through the holiday season and beyond.



“With so much information, misguided advice, and pseudoscience out there, registered dietitians are going to be your number one source for evidence-based nutrition information,” she said.&nbsp;



According to Riehm, dietitians, unlike self-designated nutritionists, are licensed to provide medical nutrition therapy, making them a reliable resource for developing lasting, health-centered strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-informed-choices">Making informed choices </h2>



For Joshua Walker, a participant in a six-week lifestyle program at the Orlando Health Center for Health Improvement, working with Riehm revealed surprising insights into his <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-healthy-diet-can-reduce-brain-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diet</a>. 



Walker, who carefully manages his diet and exercise, discovered that foods he once considered healthy were elevating his blood sugar.



“I was eating tons of carbs and fruit, and that turns into sugar inside the body,” Walker explained.&nbsp;



Through minor adjustments guided by Riehm, he stabilized his blood sugar and feels confident that he can navigate the holidays without compromising his health goals.&nbsp;



Walker now enjoys the flexibility to indulge without fear: “If Grandma made an apple pie that I’m just looking at and it’s speaking my name, I’ll go ahead and eat a slice.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consistency-over-perfection">Consistency over perfection</h2>



Riehm emphasizes that sustainable health is built on consistency and flexibility rather than strict avoidance.&nbsp;



“No diet or healthy habit is going to be successful in the long term without a little bit of flexibility,” she said.&nbsp;



Rather than fixating on each meal, Riehm advocates a balanced approach: “The same way that one healthy meal is not going to make a huge difference in your health outcomes, having one unhealthy meal is also not going to make a huge difference.”



Ultimately, the key to maintaining a healthy weight over the holidays is to enjoy traditional foods in moderation and make informed, mindful choices without guilt. 



Embracing this balanced perspective allows holiday celebrations to be a joyful experience rather than a source of stress.



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Worried about holiday weight gain? Here's what the experts say

The holiday season, filled with festive gatherings and delicious food, can be challenging for anyone committed to a healthy lifestyle.&nbsp; A new national survey by Orlando Health finds that nearly 40% of Americans worry about overeating during the holidays. However, experts reassure that a few holiday treats are not a cause for guilt or concern over weight gain long-term health impacts. “Holidays come around once a year, and indulging in a few traditional foods and favorite recipes that may have a little extra sugar or fat is...

Sitting for long periods of time has been linked to an alarming number of adverse health conditions such as poor heart health, diabetes, weight gain, dementia, and multiple cancers. Even if you exercise regularly, prolonged sitting and other sedentary behaviors can wreak havoc on your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeling-loved-as-a-teen-linked-to-healthier-adulthood/">health</a>.



Despite an urgent need for answers, particularly for those who have sedentary jobs, it has remained unclear how much more moving and how much less sitting is needed to prevent serious health hazards.&nbsp;



Now, exercise physiologists at <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University Irving Medical Center</a> have identified one potential solution. The experts report that just five minutes of walking during every half hour of sitting can offset some of the most harmful effects.



The study, led by Dr. Keith Diaz, is the first to look at more than just two or three potential activities to mitigate prolonged sitting. The researchers tested five different scenarios, including one minute of walking after every 30 minutes of sitting, one minute after 60 minutes, five minutes after 30, five minutes after 60, and no walking.&nbsp;



“If we hadn’t compared multiple options and varied the frequency and duration of the exercise, we would have only been able to provide people with our best guesses of the optimal routine,” said Dr. Diaz.



Ultimately, the study revealed that the most effective solution was five minutes of walking for every 30 minutes of sitting. This was the only amount of movement that significantly lowered both blood sugar and blood pressure, noted the researchers.&nbsp;



For example, five minutes of walking for every 30 minutes of sitting was found to help regulate how the participants responded to large meals - reducing blood sugar spikes by 58 percent compared with prolonged sitting.&nbsp;



Any amount of walking was associated with lower blood pressure compared to sitting all day without movement. “This is a sizeable decrease, comparable to the reduction you would expect from exercising daily for six months,” said Dr. Diaz.&nbsp;



Furthermore, walking for any length of time (except one minute every hour) was associated with significant improvements in mood and less fatigue.&nbsp;



“The effects on mood and fatigue are important,” explained Dr. Diaz. “People tend to repeat behaviors that make them feel good and that are enjoyable.”&nbsp;



The research continues, as the team is now testing 25 different doses of walking among a wider variety of participants.



“What we know now is that for optimal health, you need to move regularly at work, in addition to a daily exercise routine,” said Dr. Diaz. “While that may sound impractical, our findings show that even small amounts of walking spread through the work day can significantly lower your risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.acsm.org/education-resources/journals/medicine-science-in-sports-exercise">Medicine &amp; Science in Sports &amp; Exercise</a>.



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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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Experts find a healthy solution for prolonged sitting

Sitting for long periods of time has been linked to...

Social networks may be crucial for the survival and success of individuals that live in groups. Being connected to others may help an individual to access food, avoid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clash-of-the-top-predators-wolves-are-eating-sea-otters/">predation</a>, disease and parasites, and reproduce fruitfully. The ecological and evolutionary importance of network structure has been recognized for a long time, although the reasons that network structures vary within and between species have not been investigated in depth.&nbsp;



For decades, researchers on Cayo Santiago, an island off the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico, have been studying rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), that were introduced from India in 1938. These primates are given supplemental food and water, and are monitored by staff of the Caribbean Primate Research Center (CPRC) on a daily basis to record births, deaths and behavioral patterns.&nbsp;



The macaques are highly social and live in matrilineal kin groups, of which there are 19 on the island. Females groom one another as a way of social bonding, and this can also be used as a measure of connectedness. Previous research has shown that the social networks of older females change as they age, with more mature females prioritizing relationships with their closer partners and kin, while reducing their contact with less favored females. These older females do not spend any less time grooming others, or being groomed themselves, but they do focus their attentions on a smaller circle of partners.



In a new study, led by scientists from the University of Exeter, the same groups of macaques were investigated to find out whether this change in social connectedness of older females has any effect on the cohesion and structure of the social network as a whole. The researchers stress that older people also tend to reduce the number of social relationships they have with others, and focus their attention and effort on close friends and family. The effect that this has on human society has also not been investigated.&nbsp;



“For both humans and macaques, focusing on close friends and family in later life may bring a variety of benefits,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://psychology.exeter.ac.uk/staff/profile/index.php?web_id=Erin_Siracusa">Dr Erin Siracusa</a>, from Exeter’s&nbsp;<a href="https://psychology.exeter.ac.uk/research/centres/crab/">Centre for Research in Animal Behavior</a>. “Our study aimed to find out what knock-on effect these individual age-related changes have for how well connected a society is overall.”



“We had information on six monkey groups collected over eight years, and representing, in total, 19 social networks,” she explained.



The 19 social networks contained differing proportions of old females (over 18 years of age), although none had more than 20 percent. The researchers hypothesized that networks with a greater proportion of old individuals would be more sparsely connected due to the older animals having fewer social partners (ie., the presence of more old females would have an effect on the overall structure of the network).&nbsp;



“The first thing we found is that that older female macaques are poor influencers,” said Siracusa. “By having fewer friends, older females are less able to transmit knowledge and experience outside their immediate social circles.”



However, the researchers did not find any differences between the structure of networks containing a greater proportion of old females and those containing a greater number of young adults. This was despite the fact that the older females have reduced social networks.&nbsp;



The team proposed that, since no more than 20 percent of monkeys were old in any given group that was studied, it was possible that this was too few individuals to affect the overall network structure. They decided to use a computer model to simulate the possible effects if a greater proportion of the network was made up of old individuals, and also if the old monkeys were even older than 18 years of age.&nbsp;



By modeling age-based differences in two interaction patterns (number of social partners and the tendency to link with kin) using data collected in the field, the researchers found that the age composition of a group can have important consequences for its cohesiveness and connectedness. Interestingly, these effects did not necessarily scale in the linear manner that might be expected in response to a linear increase in proportion of old individuals in the network.



“We found really substantial consequences for network structure, which could affect useful things like information transmission and cooperation, and could also limit the spread of disease,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://psychology.exeter.ac.uk/staff/profile/index.php?web_id=Lauren_Brent">Professor Lauren Brent</a>, also from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>.



“In humans, population aging is poised to be one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st Century. Our findings suggest this could have far-reaching effects on the structure of our societies and the way they function.”



With the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health">global human population of over-60s expected to double by 2050</a>, the findings suggest social structures, cohesion and connectedness could all change significantly.



The findings, published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0061">Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences</a>, also indicate that any animal group containing disproportionately large numbers of old, or large numbers of young individuals, is likely to experience a shift in the social network structure. This is because young and old individuals differ in the level of their social activities.



For example, the removal of older individuals through trophy hunting could alter important processes in the remaining group, such as communication, cooperation and access to resource-related knowledge. Younger individuals may also be more aggressive and less socially cohesive, which could have repercussions for network connectivity and structure.&nbsp;



"Consequently, through its effects on network structure, shifting age demography may have broader implications than previously appreciated for group dynamics and persistence, and thus warrants further research," concluded the study authors.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Aging populations have less cohesive social networks

Social networks may be crucial for the survival and success...

Scientists have long known that older adults living with food insecurity are more likely to face malnutrition, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/acts-of-kindness-can-help-relieve-depression/">depression</a>, and physical limitations which significantly affect their life quality. Although research has shown that the <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a> (SNAP) – U.S.’s largest federally funded nutrition-assistance program – has managed to reduce hunger and food insecurity in the general population, not much is known about how SNAP impacts brain aging in older adults.



Now, a team of scientists led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a> has examined the relationship between food insecurity, SNAP, and cognitive decline and discovered that food sufficiency and participation in SNAP can mitigate accelerated cognitive decline in the elderly.



The researchers analyzed a representative sample of 4,578 older U.S. adults who had to report their food insecurity and were classified as either food sufficient or insufficient. According to their SNAP status, they were also classified as SNAP participants, SNAP-eligible nonparticipants, and SNAP-ineligible nonparticipants.



The analysis revealed that rates of cognitive decline were similar in SNAP participants and SNAP-ineligible nonparticipants, both of which were lower that those of SNAP-eligible nonparticipants. Moreover, the greatest rate of cognitive decline found in the food insecure group was equivalent to being 3.8 years older, while the greatest rate observed in the SNAP-eligible nonparticipants was equivalent to being 4.5 years older.



“For an aging population, roughly four years of brain aging can be very significant,” said study lead author Muzi Na, an assistant professor of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State. “These results really point to the importance of food security for people as they age and the value that SNAP can have in improving people’s cognitive health as they age. We need to make sure that people have access to — and encourage them to use — the SNAP program as they age.”



However, further research is needed to comprehensively assess the impact of addressing food insecurity and promoting SNAP participation on the cognitive health of older adults.



The study is published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2022.12.012">The Journal of Nutrition.</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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Food insecurity increases cognitive decline in older adults

Scientists have long known that older adults living with food...

Imagine if we could reverse the effects of aging simply by exercising. A new study, published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/JP283836">The Journal of Physiology</a>, suggests that exercise may indeed make the muscle cells of lab mice more youthful and may help ameliorate the adverse effects of aging in humans too.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The process of aging involves predictable, progressive changes to cells. During their life, cells express different patterns of genes, and those patterns of expression (epigenetics) are unique to each phase in a cell’s life, from young to old, such that it is easy to identify a cell’s age. Older cells become less able to regenerate, suffer from the shortening of their telomeres and show increasing numbers of dysfunctional mitochondria. Eventually, these accumulating conditions lead to a loss of cellular function and to cell death.&nbsp;



However, it is possible to rejuvenate aged cells and make them "act young" again. For example, a human ovum may be over 30 years old before it is fertilized, at which time it becomes reprogrammed to form numerous pluripotent cells that give rise to a new individual with "young" cells.&nbsp;



Initially, scientists imagined that many genetic factors must be involved in turning back the hands of time like this, but in 2006 a study by Dr. Kazutoshi Yamanaka and Dr. Shinya Yamanaka showed that it was possible to reprogram cells in this way using just four master genes named Oct3/4, Klf4,&nbsp;Sox2 and&nbsp;c-Myc,&nbsp;often abbreviated to&nbsp;OKSM. These four reprogramming factors are often called the Yamanaka factors.



The four protein transcription factors can make highly specialized cells (such as skin cells) revert back to stem cells, which are in a younger and more adaptable state. Dr. Shinya Yamanaka received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this discovery. In subsequent research it has been shown that, in the correct dosages, inducing the Yamanaka factors throughout the body in rodents can ameliorate the hallmarks of aging by resetting the gene expression patterns such that the cells mimic the characteristics of more youthful cells.



It has long been established that exercising has beneficial effects for people, in terms of increased strength of bones and muscles, improved mobility and endurance, and lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. But it now looks that exercising may help rejuvenate the epigenetic nature of cells as well. In previous research, mice nearing the end of their life-spans were given weighted wheels on which to run, thus ensuring that they built up muscle while they exercised. After two months of regular weighted wheel running, their muscle cells had the epigenetic age of mice eight weeks younger than sedentary mice of the same age.



Based on these findings, the authors of the current research decided to compare the epigenetic (gene expression) profiles in skeletal muscle fibers from mice who had been allowed to exercise late in life and from mice that overexpressed&nbsp;OKSM&nbsp;in their muscles,&nbsp;as well as to genetically modified mice that overexpressed only&nbsp;Myc&nbsp;in their muscles. Of the four factors,&nbsp;Myc&nbsp;is the one induced by exercising skeletal muscle.&nbsp;It is thought that Myc&nbsp;may serve as a naturally induced reprogramming stimulus in muscle, making it a useful point of comparison between cells that have been reprogrammed via over expression of the Yamanaka factors and cells that have been reprogrammed through exercise. This "reprogramming” reflects how an environmental stimulus can alter the expression of genes.&nbsp;



Using global gene expression analysis in the muscle fibers of the different groups of mice, the research team (six of whom are affiliated with the University of Arkansas), found that the factor Myc&nbsp;was elevated in muscle fibers following exercise training in aged mice. Thus, the team concluded that exercise does indeed promote a gene expression profile that is more typical of youthful cells.&nbsp;



While it would be nice to imagine we could someday manipulate levels of Myc&nbsp;in muscles to achieve the rejuvenating effects of exercise without doing the hard work, this would not be the correct approach, explained study co-author Kevin Murach, an assistant professor in the U of A’s Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation.&nbsp;



First,&nbsp;Myc&nbsp;would not be able to replicate all the beneficial downstream effects that exercise has throughout the body. It is also known that&nbsp;the expression of Yamanaka factors, such as Myc, can trigger cancerous tumors in animals, and rewire the cell so far back that it loses its specific identity. Clearly, there are inherent dangers to manipulating the expression of these factors. Instead, Murach&nbsp;thinks manipulating&nbsp;Myc&nbsp;might best be employed as an experimental strategy to understand how to restore exercise adaptation to old muscles showing declining responsiveness.&nbsp;



Possibly it could also be a means of supercharging the exercise response of astronauts in zero gravity, or of people confined to bed rest who only have a limited capacity for exercise.&nbsp;Myc&nbsp;has many effects, both good and bad, so defining the beneficial ones could lead to a safe therapeutic that could be effective for humans down the road.



Murach sees their research as further validation of exercise as a polypill. “Exercise is the most powerful drug we have,” he said. In this light, it should be considered a health-enhancing, and potentially life-extending, treatment along with medications and a healthy diet.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Exercise may actually be the fountain of youth

Imagine if we could reverse the effects of aging simply...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ade6049">Science Advances</a> has investigated how watching <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/environmental-disaster-movies/">movies</a> – a favorite pastime for billions of people – makes us feel and think in comparison to other activities such as performing tasks or resting. According to the experts, film watching leads to a “flatter” brain hierarchy, suggesting that less neural computation is needed when performing such an activity, a finding which could explain the pleasurable and escapist feelings people have when engaging in such activities.



The scientists used high resolution large-scale neuroimaging data from 176 people watching clips from movies including Home Alone, Inception, Erin Brockovich, The Social Network, or The Empire Strikes Back to examine the hierarchical reorganization of the brain movie watching elicits.



By building whole-brain models of the neural activity elicited by movie watching and comparing it to models emerging from performing tasks or resting, the experts discovered that the brain hierarchy is flatter when watching movies, suggesting that the brain is less driven by internal dynamics and needs less computation during such as activity, thus making us feel momentarily free from the stressful experience of working and having to solve problems. While watching movies, the brain is allowed to just absorb the cinematic narrative, in a process apparently responsible for the highly motivating and soothing pleasure elicited by movies.



“The study provides novel, important insights into the causal mechanisms underlying complex changes in brain hierarchy. Using more naturalistic stimuli such as movies provide a fast and convenient way to measure important changes in the anatomical connectivity found in, for example, neuropsychiatric disorders, and can lead to new insights in vulnerable populations including children,” explained study lead author Gustavo Deco, a neuroscientist at the <a href="https://www.upf.edu/en/">Pompeu Fabra University</a> in Spain.&nbsp;



“This study provides intriguing new evidence for how movies can change the whole-brain hierarchical organization needed for orchestrating brain computation,” added lead author Morten L. Kringelbach, a professor of Neuroscience at the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a> and <a href="https://international.au.dk/">Aarhus University</a>.&nbsp;



“The brain abstracts coherent narratives from still images and sound, which sets us free to transcend the rat race of survival, if even for the briefest moment. The study shows the truth of words of the late great French director Jean-Luc Godard: ‘Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world.’”



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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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How does watching movies affect our brain?

A new study published in the journal Science Advances has...

Children learn at a young age how to help other humans and, by the age of two, can understand that people have feelings, thoughts and experiences that may differ from their own. The start of prosocial behavior (helping others) can be recognized at this age when children carry out actions for the purpose of helping, comforting, sharing or co-operating. But does this early empathy extend to non-human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-animals-feel-safe-using-wildlife-crossings/">animals</a> as well?



According to the authors of a new study on whether young children spontaneously help pet dogs, two key psychological capacities are necessary before a child begins to act prosocially. Firstly, the child must be able to infer the mental state of others, including their knowledge, emotions, beliefs and goals. Second, the child must be motivated to behave prosocially towards others, and especially to help them reach their own or joint goals.&nbsp;



In the latest study, scientists from Duke University and from the University of Michigan tested whether children aged between two and three years spontaneously helped dogs to access a food treat or dog toy that was positioned just out of the dog’s reach. In this case, helping the dog necessitated both the ability to recognize the dog’s goals, and a motivation to behave prosocially on the part of the young children.



The researchers recruited 97 children between the ages of 1.7 and 3.1 years, from the city of Ann Arbor and surrounding towns. Among these children, 44 had pet dogs at home while 53 did not. The children took part in 338 trials at the University of Michigan’s child laboratory, between 2015 and 2020, where dogs were presented with a desirable item (food or toy) that was beyond their reach. There were three friendly dogs involved, namely Fiona, Henry and Seymour, and for each trial they were kept in a medium-sized pen from which they could see the desirable items through the sides.&nbsp;



The results, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/hai.2023.0001">Human-Animal Interactions</a>,&nbsp;showed that children spontaneously helped dogs to get the out-of-reach treats and toys in 50 percent of all trials where the dogs attempted to access these items themselves. The dogs would indicate their desire to acquire the item by either scratching on the sides of the pen, or attempting to lick the item through the enclosure gaps.&nbsp;



In contrast, if the dog showed no interest in accessing the out-of-reach toy or treat, children only offered it the objects in 26 percent of instances. The researchers found that several other factors influenced whether children would help the dogs. Children who had a pet dog at home were more likely to help a dog access the object, and they were also more likely to help the dog in cases where the treat was a food item rather than a toy. Livelier dogs who were more engaged with a child were more readily helped than aloof dogs.&nbsp;



“These findings lend support to our hypothesis that children’s early-developing proclivities for goal-reading and prosociality extend beyond humans, to other animals," said Dr. Rachna Reddy, a lead scientist at Duke University.



“From several perspectives, children’s proclivities to attribute desires and goals to pet dogs during real-life, in-person interactions is unsurprising,” added Dr. Reddy, who is also a research associate in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. “However, we observed as early as two years of age, children behave in ways showing they are not only able to read the goal-directed behavior of another animal but can, and do, employ that knowledge to help an animal reach its own goal.”



The researchers suggest that, because helping behavior develops at such a young age in children, and because it is so culturally widespread, it may have significance in the evolutionary history of humans. Their findings add to a wide body of literature emphasizing that helpful, prosocial motivation has had a key role in the evolutionary success of humans.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“In addition to informing us about childhood helping, these early child behaviors may have important evolutionary significance,” said Dr. Reddy.&nbsp;



The researchers now suggest that future research will be necessary to examine additional psychological components of inter-specific instrumental helping, including the emotions that underlie children’s motivation to help dogs, how these motivations – as well as their cognitive attributions – are shaped by culture, and how all of the preceding processes change throughout a child’s development.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Prosocial behavior by young children extends to dogs

Children learn at a young age how to help other...

Green,Leaves,Of,Medicinal,Cannabis,With,Extract,Oil.medical,Marijuana,Flower

A new study led by the <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a> (WSU) has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabidiol-marijuana-treat-addiction/">cannabidiol</a> (CBD) – a non-psychoactive component of cannabis – inhibits the metabolism of nicotine, thus potentially allowing nicotine-addicted individuals to curb their need of smoking. Although more research is needed to confirm these results in humans and determine appropriate dosage levels, these findings show promise for the treatment of nicotine addiction and could help improve public health.



“The whole mission is to decrease harm from smoking, which is not from the nicotine per se, but all the carcinogens and other chemicals that are in tobacco smoke,” said study senior author Philip Lazarus, a professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at WSU. “If we can minimize that harm, it would be a great thing for human health.”



Cigarette smoking is currently a major health problem, with one in five people in the United States dying annually from smoking-related issues. Although other nicotine delivery methods, such as vaping, snuff, and chew are often considered less harmful, they also contain a variety of chemicals that can cause cancers and other illnesses.



The scientists tested CBD and its main metabolite (called 7-hyroxycannabidiol) on microsomes from human liver tissue, as well as specialized cell lines which allowed them to zoom in on individual enzymes related to nicotine metabolism. The analysis revealed that CBD inhibited several of these enzymes, including the major one for nicotine metabolism (CYP2A6), which helps metabolizing over 70 percent of nicotine. The impact of CBD on this enzyme appeared quite strong, inhibiting its activity by over 50 percent even at relatively low CBD concentrations.



Currently, the researchers are developing a clinical study to assess the effects of CBD on nicotine levels in smokers by measuring their nicotine levels in the blood and comparing them to those of people from a placebo group. If the results will be positive, they will perform a much larger study examining the relation between CBD and nicotine addiction.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00259">Chemical Research in Toxicology</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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Cannabidiol could help cure nicotine addiction

A new study led by the Washington State University (WSU)...

Although the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-risk-linked-to-specific-environmental-pollutants/">Covid-19</a> pandemic has affected the entire globe, the number of infections and deaths is unevenly distributed between geographical regions, and the risks of severe infections is extremely variable from individual to individual. Better understanding why some people develop asymptomatic infections, while others lose their lives is crucial for finding reliable treatments and controlling the pandemic.



Now, a team of scientists from <a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/">Eötvös Loránd University</a> (ELTE) in Hungary has examined over one thousand studies about risk factors for Covid-19 in order to understand how demographic factors (age, gender), the interaction of the coronavirus with other infectious and non-communicable comorbidities, genetic polymorphisms, lifestyle, gut microbiota, established immune memory, genetic variations in the coronavirus, or environmental factors such as air pollution and socioeconomic factors influence the severity of Covid.



The analysis revealed that advanced age is among the strongest risk factors for Covid-related mortality, with the risk of death in adults doubling approximately every six to seven years of life. According to the experts, aging of lung tissue and the immune system, together with age-related increases in sterile systemic inflammation levels may be responsible for this phenomenon.



In the case of comorbidities, the scientists discovered that, although some chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or cardiovascular issues are clear risk factors, the impact of various immunological, neurological, or mental diseases is still unknown. Even in the case of lung diseases, the scientists observed controversial cases. For instance, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has an aggravating effect on Covid-19 infections, allergic asthma has been found to be a neutral or even risk-reducing underlying condition.



Current data also shows that men are twice at risk of developing severe Covid-19 than women (regardless of age) – most likely due to differences in genes that play a key role in the immune system - but women have greater chances of struggling with long-Covid symptoms after the acute phase of the infection. Moreover, pregnant women who are infected with the coronavirus are at high risk of developing gestational hypertension, and are more frequently admitted to intensive care.



Many studies have also focused on the indirect effects of the environment, with poor socioeconomic status, poor housing conditions, or belonging to ethnic minorities often leading to more severe disease outcomes. While regular physical activity and a healthy diet are important for strengthening the immune system and mitigating the effects of SARS-CoV-2, poor nutrition and exposure to air pollution or other infectious respiratory diseases can lead to more severe infections. Finally, although alcohol consumption was found to increase the risk of severe Covid-19, the impact of smoking is still highly debated.



“Awareness of these factors can help decisions in the clinic (whom to treat, how to allocate resources), and also public health decisions at the population level. While prevalent immunity from previous infections and vaccinations (and the emergence of the Omicron variants) has substantially reduced the overall risk of severe outcomes compared with the first waves of the pandemic, the risk factors identified in previous analyses are likely to continue to shape relative risks in the future,” the authors concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v15010175">Viruses</a>.&nbsp;



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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



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.

COVID risk factors revealed from over 1,000 studies

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the entire globe, the...

Sleeping at night in a room with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-light-affects-seasonal-rhythms-of-plants-in-the-us/">artificial light </a>is known to affect the duration and quality of sleep. Melatonin, the hormone produced in the pineal gland, promotes sleepiness as evening darkness descends, and leads us to wake up as the morning light strengthens. Artificial light during the night hours can disturb sleep patterns by reducing the production of melatonin at an inappropriate time. But what about the fact that the sky becomes light so much earlier in summer than in winter? Does this affect the duration or quality of our sleep?



Although it makes sense that changing day length and light exposure during the different seasons could affect our sleep, this is difficult to measure objectively. Many people wake to the call of an alarm clock in order to get to school or work timeously, and therefore modify their sleep patterns artificially. Some studies where people have assessed the quality and duration of their own sleep have suggested an increase in sleep duration during winter, when day length is shorter, but scientific measures are needed to determine how, exactly, the seasons affect sleep.&nbsp;



Many species of animals hibernate as a way of surviving the harsh conditions of winter, but humans show no such behavioral or physiological adaptation. However, they have been shown to exhibit seasonal patterns in the production of certain hormones and to become less active in winter and consume more calories. A new study of people with sleep problems has now investigated empirically whether the characteristics of sleep vary depending on the time of year.&nbsp;



“Possibly one of the most precious achievements in human evolution is an almost invisibility of seasonality on the behavioral level,” said Dr. Dieter Kunz, corresponding author of the study, based at the Clinic of Sleep &amp; Chronomedicine at the St Hedwig Hospital, Berlin. “In our study we show that human sleep architecture varies substantially across seasons in an adult population living in an urban environment.”



The study was led by Ms Aileen Seidler, a researcher in Dr. Kunz’s working group at the Charité Medical University of Berlin. Data on sleep characteristics were collected from 188 patients (98 women and 90 men, aged between 17 and 81 years) who had undergone polysomnography at the St Hedwig Hospital. These studies are regularly carried out on patients who experience sleep-related difficulties, using a special laboratory where patients are asked to sleep naturally without an alarm clock, and the quality and type of sleep can be monitored, as well as the length of sleep.&nbsp;



The researchers were interested in variables such as the total duration of sleep, the time spent in REM sleep (the phase during which the brain is more active and dreaming takes place), the time spent in deep, slow-wave sleep, the time taken to fall asleep (sleep latency), and the time taken between sleep onset and the first period of REM sleep (REM latency). They collected data from participants in all months of the year and averaged the results for each month over a full year.&nbsp;



The results of the study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1105233">Frontiers in Neuroscience</a>, show that, even for an urban population of adults experiencing sleep difficulties, there are clear seasonal effects on certain sleep parameters. Urban dwellers are typically exposed to lower levels of natural light and higher light pollution, but the participants still needed an extra hour of sleep during the winter months than they did in the summer. This result was not statistically significant, although the trend was clearly apparent.&nbsp;



The time spent in REM sleep was an average of 30 minutes longer during the winter months, and this result was statistically significant. REM sleep is known to be directly linked to the circadian clock, which is affected by changing light levels. The researchers also found that REM latency was significantly shorter in winter and early autumn compared to late spring and late autumn. In addition, the duration of deep, slow-wave sleep was largely stable over the year, except for a significant decrease in duration shown in autumn.&nbsp;



The team acknowledged that these results may have been affected by the particular sleep disturbances experienced by the patients, and would need to be validated in a population with normal sleep patterns. However, the fact that a seasonal influence was detected in people with sleep problems may mean that this effect would be even more apparent in a healthy population.



The authors state that this is one of few studies investigating seasonal changes in polysomnography-documented human sleep architecture that looks for subtle changes by comparing months and not just seasons.



The experts suggest that seasonal changes in sleep characteristics may have implications for recommendations regarding sleep routines. For example, people may be encouraged to go to bed earlier in winter in order to fulfil the need for extra sleep time during this season. The twice-annual turning of the clock may also help people to adjust to seasonal changes in physiology that may underlie the sleep changes identified in this study.&nbsp;



“Seasonality is ubiquitous in any living being on this planet,” said Kunz. “Even though we still perform unchanged, over the winter human physiology is down-regulated, with a sensation of ‘running-on-empty’ in February or March. In general, societies need to adjust sleep habits including length and timing to season, or adjust school and working schedules to seasonal sleep needs.”



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Humans need more sleep in the winter

Sleeping at night in a room with artificial light is...

In a new study published by <a href="https://global.oup.com/">Oxford University Press</a>, experts describe how television shows can ultimately benefit the planet. The research confirms that nature documentaries inspire people to become interested in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-pass-down-memories-to-help-offspring-survive/">plants</a>, and to seek out more information about them.&nbsp;



"Plants underpin life on Earth and are essential to human existence. Alarmingly, almost 40% of plant species are under threat of extinction, with plants that are not directly useful to humans being particularly vulnerable," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"Plant diversity and its untapped resources require urgent protection to safeguard our future, but conservation initiatives are biased towards mammals and birds. Plant awareness disparity, formerly known as plant blindness, describes our tendency to ignore plant life and has been suggested to play a crucial role in the bias against funding and support for plant conservation programs."



According to the researchers, previous studies suggest that nature documentaries - such as Planet Earth II, Seven Worlds, and One Planet - have made viewers more aware of the featured animal species. "Here, we investigated whether the plant-focused popular BBC show Green Planet had a similar effect for plants and stimulated audience engagement for information after the broadcast."



Green Planet, a 2022 documentary narrated by Sir David Attenborough, was watched by nearly five million people in the United Kingdom. The film featured a diverse range of plant species from across the globe.&nbsp;



To investigate whether Green Planet inspired plant awareness among viewers, the experts looked at online behavior around the time of the broadcast. In particular, they analyzed Google search engine and Wikipedia activities.



The study revealed that Green Planet had a substantial impact on the viewers’ interest in the plant species that were highlighted in the film.&nbsp;



Google Trends showed that during the week after the broadcast of the relevant episode,&nbsp; 28 percent of search terms represented plants mentioned in the BBC documentary. In addition, more than 31 percent of the Wikipedia pages related to plants on Green Planet had an increase in the number of visits during the week after the species were featured.&nbsp;



“I think that increasing public awareness of plants is essential and fascinating," said study lead author Joanna Kacprzyk. “In this study, we show that nature documentaries can increase plant awareness among the audience. Our results also suggest that the viewers found certain plant species particularly captivating. These plants could be used for promoting plant conservation efforts and counteracting the alarming loss of plant biodiversity.“



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcac149">Annals of Botany</a>.



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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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Watching TV can inspire people to appreciate plants

In a new study published by Oxford University Press, experts...

According to music psychology expert Michael Bonshor of the University of Sheffield, to create a happy song, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-helps-dementia-patients-connect-with-caregivers/">music</a> artists should combine a major key, 7th chords, 137 BPM (beats per minute), strong beats, four beats in every bar, and a verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure. Moreover, happy songs should have a short intro, repeated riffs, bright tone, high volume, and a mix of predictability and surprise.



“Previous studies have found songs are perceived as happy if they are in a major key, with a sweet spot of approximately 137 beats per minute. We like ‘7th chords’ as they add interest; regular chords use three notes, whereas ‘7th chords’ add an extra note which provides a sense of musical ‘tension’ and ‘relief,’” Bonshor explained.



“Alongside this, cheery songs usually&nbsp;have a strong 1-2-1-2 beat to them, so that you can dance along – and a short introduction means the song kicks off with a bang straight away, and there’s not a long build up. We like high volume when it comes to how our happy songs are made, with notes played in a bright and bouncy way by instruments such as trumpets or electric guitars instead of mellower instruments. Finally, a repetitive rhythm or guitar riff that people can latch onto and becomes memorable is the cherry on the cake.”



According to Dr. Bonshor’s formula, the happiest song ever created and performed is “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys, followed by “I Got You” (I Feel Good) by James Brown, “House of Fun” by Madness, and “Get the Party Started” by P!nk. Moreover, this “happy formula” has now been turned by Jamie P and Oliver Price into a pitch-perfect track called “<a href="https://soundcloud.com/mullerlight/the-lighter-note?utm_source=clipboard&amp;utm_medium=text&amp;utm_campaign=social_sharing">The Lighter Note</a>.”



Here are the top 10 happiest songs according to Dr. Bonshor’s formula:



<ol><li>“Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys</li><li>“I Got You” (I Feel Good) by James Brown</li><li>“House of Fun” by Madness</li><li>“Get the Party Started” by P!nk</li><li>“Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel</li><li>“Sun Is Shining” by Bob Marley</li><li>“I Get Around” by The Beach Boys</li><li>“YMCA” by Village People</li><li>“Waterloo” by ABBA</li><li>“September” by Earth, Wind &amp; Fire</li></ol>



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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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Which songs make people the happiest?

According to music psychology expert Michael Bonshor of the University...

Ghosting is the act of ending a relationship by cutting off all communication and simply “disappearing” without explanation. This behavior is associated particularly with the relationships we foster using social media, and can pertain to the end of a romantic relationship or to a friendship. Messages sent, or calls made, are simply not answered and this leaves the sender confused, insecure and hurt.&nbsp;



A new study by researchers from the <a href="https://www.uga.edu/">University of Georgia</a>, Athens, and the University of Mississippi, has found that nearly two-thirds of participants interviewed have ghosted and been ghosted as part of a relationship breakup. The researchers were particularly interested in whether people with a stronger need for closure are more affected by being ghosted, and whether they are more or less likely to use ghosting as a means to get out of their own personal relationships.&nbsp;



“Ghosting is becoming a common strategy, and it creates an ambiguous situation where one party doesn’t really know what’s going on,” said Leckfor, a doctoral student in the UGA Department of Psychology. “We were interested in what individual differences or personal characteristics might influence a person’s intentions to use ghosting. We also wanted to know if people with a high need for closure were less likely to use ghosting, or if they would hurt more after being ghosted.”



Studies have shown that social rejection of any kind activates the same pain pathways in the brain as physical pain, meaning there’s a biological link between rejection and pain. This implies that rejection without an understanding of what went wrong, can leave people feeling very hurt and insecure about themselves and what actually happened. Humans have evolved to stay connected to others and this makes ghosting all the more cruel on the recipient.&nbsp;



In the current study, participants were asked to reflect on a past relationship, either a time they were ghosted or a time they were directly rejected. They then answered questions about their psychological needs satisfaction – feelings of belonging, self-esteem, control and meaningful existence – after their relationship ended. Ghosted participants had some of the lowest needs satisfaction, meaning they were hit hardest by the rejection, and those who wanted closure reported even lower needs satisfaction.



“For recipients, desire for closure has this magnifying effect. When someone with a high need for closure recalled a time where they were ghosted or directly rejected, it hurt more than if they had a low need for closure,” Leckfor said. “But they also felt more positive after recalling times when they were acknowledged by their partner.”



In contrast, when someone considered initiating a breakup, the connection between closure and ghosting was less clear-cut.



“We actually found that people who had a higher need for closure were slightly more likely to intend to use ghosting to end a relationship,” Leckfor said. “Even though things may be ambiguous on the recipient side, the person who is ghosting sees it as a distinct end to the relationship. Those results weren’t definitive in our study, but they pose an interesting avenue for future research.”



So why do people ghost others as a way of ending a relationship? Disappearing off the face of the social media world may well present a way to avoid awkward confrontations and taking responsibility for the hurt caused. It also spares the ghoster from the hard work of empathizing with the rejected individual and dealing with their own uncomfortable emotions. And, in our fast-paced and busy world, cutting off all contact is often simply more convenient.&nbsp;



Technology may also contribute to the tendency to ghost as the many dating apps give us the idea that there are lots more “fish in the sea” and each individual is disposable. Just keep scrolling through the photos. Furthermore, if people believe that there is one true love for them out there, a soulmate as such, then they will be more keen to move on from a relationship that is proving to be different from their expectations.&nbsp;



Despite these potential explanations for why ghosting appears to be gaining in popularity as a neat and no-hassle way of moving on to other options, it remains that leaving a relationship in this way causes a type of ostracism that threatens a person’s basic psychological needs for belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence and control.&nbsp;



The researchers report, in their publication in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/02654075221149955">Journal of Social and Personal Relationships</a>, that their results indicate participants with a higher need for closure are sometimes more likely to use ghosting to end their relationships because they feel this brings an abrupt end and a distinct close. However, these same participants reported lower needs satisfaction when ghosted by their partners than when directly rejected. The researchers report that “… the need for closure is less influential when deciding how to end a relationship, but it appears to play an important role in amplifying both positive and negative experiences within a relationship.”



“The individuals who were ghosted by a friend reported feeling just as bad about the relationship as those who wrote about a time when they were ghosted by a romantic partner,” Leckfor said. “In psychology in general, a lot of literature regarding adult relationships focuses on romantic relationships. This [research] shows that friendships are really important to study as well.”



It also relates back to the role of technology in our relationships. There have been several studies on how people initiate, maintain and end relationships without technology, but as more human connectivity moves to social media, dating apps, texting or Zoom, those relationships can change. And individual traits, such as a need for closure, will factor into how we use those technologies.



“Now, almost everybody uses these technologies to communicate and maintain these different types of relationships,” Leckfor said. “Knowing when these technologies can be helpful to build social connections or maintain your personal well-being, versus knowing when they might be harmful, is the end goal of what I hope my work in this area conveys to the public.”



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Ghosting is harder on people with a high need for closure

Ghosting is the act of ending a relationship by cutting...

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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

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features 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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...