When you meet someone for the first time, take in a book's cover, or glance at a storefront, your mind rapidly constructs an initial impression. These instant perceptions stick around for a while, even when they're unfounded. 



But in a turn of events, new research suggests sleeping could aid in perceiving beyond the "book's cover" and help us make better decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-strong-first-impression">A strong first impression </h2>



A team at Duke University recently rolled out an intriguing study. The researchers addressed the age-old question - does it pay off to make a strong first impression or does the last word have a stronger impact?



To investigate, the team devised an experiment based on an imaginary garage sale. Participants were asked to sift through virtual boxes filled with unwanted goods and select items for the sale. 



The participants' earnings depended on the boxes they chose, hence they were motivated to figure out the worth of each box.



The secret was, however, that all of the boxes had the same total value. What differed was the arrangement of valuable and worthless items. Some boxes had valuable items right on top, others in the middle, at the bottom, or intermixed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primary-bias-and-poor-decisions">Primary bias and poor decisions</h2>



After opening the boxes, the participants were asked to gauge the value of each and select their preferred ones. Some had to make instant decisions, while others "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colors-of-sunset-and-sunrise-reset-our-circadian-rhythms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">slept on it</a>" and decided after a day. 



An interesting pattern emerged – the instant decision-makers tended to remember boxes not by their entire content but by the initial items they encountered. This discovery points towards a psychological trend known as "primacy bias."



Study lead author Allie Sinclair is a PhD candidate under Dr. Alison Adcock, a Duke professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.



"We found that people are strongly biased by first impressions," noted Sinclair. The participants repeatedly chose boxes with valuable items on top. 



Unveiling "treasures" before low-priced items made a box more appealing than if it was the other way round. They not only favored boxes that started strong, but also overvalued them.



Sinclair, now a postdoctoral fellow at the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Pennsylvania</a>, explained that primacy bias could lead to irrational comparisons and inaccurate estimates of value.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-rational-choices-after-sleep">More rational choices after sleep</h2>



But there's a twist in the tale. Participants who had a day to think rendered more rational choices. They treated boxes with valuable items at any position equally. 



"They made more rational choices, equally favoring boxes with clusters of valuable items at the beginning, middle, or end," said Sinclair.



This finding suggests that delaying a decision might help us avoid the pitfalls of primacy bias. "When it's over, our brain knits it all together in memory to help us make better choices - and that neat trick happens overnight,” said Dr. Adcock.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleeping-for-everyday-decision-making">Sleeping for everyday decision-making</h2>



The insights from this study offer profound implications for how we approach decision-making in everyday life. Whether we're buying a car, choosing a meal, or hiring a new team member, the tendency to rely on first impressions can lead to skewed assessments of value.



By recognizing the power of primacy bias, we can actively counter its effects by allowing ourselves time to reflect on all available information. Such a practice could enable us to make more informed, balanced decisions. 



Encouraging a brief pause or even a strategic overnight delay before arriving at significant decisions might be the key to sidestepping biases and making choices that align closer with the true merits of the situation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-of-memory-consolidation">Science of memory consolidation</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-increases-feelings-of-hope-happiness-and-gratitude/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">role of sleep</a> in this study highlights the fascinating process of memory consolidation. During sleep, our brains engage in an intricate activity of reorganizing and reinforcing stored information, a vital function for learning and decision-making. 



This neurological process enhances our capacities for rational thought, allowing us to access a more comprehensive understanding of complex information. 



As the study illustrates, this can mitigate the allure of initial impressions. Understanding the relationship between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleeping-less-than-seven-hours-high-blood-pressure-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a> and cognitive function opens promising avenues for improving educational methodologies, therapeutic practices, and even business strategies. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleeping-on-a-decision">Sleeping on a decision</h2>



"Judging from first impressions may actually be a good thing for choices in the moment," said Dr. Adcock. However, for decisions with longer-term implications, it's worth "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/micro-naps-in-the-brain-some-regions-sleep-while-others-stay-awake/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleeping</a> on it."



Sinclair believes there's wisdom in the idea of delaying decisions, especially in matters of consequence, like hiring or dating.



This research, backed by a <a href="https://duke.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a> Health Scholars Award to Alison Adcock, is an exciting first look at how our brain's summary of experiences impacts our future choices.



The study is published in the <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fxge0001638" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Psychology</a>. 



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'Sleeping on it' is the best way to make a rational decision

When you meet someone for the first time, take in a book's cover, or glance at a storefront, your mind rapidly constructs an initial impression. These instant perceptions stick around for a while, even when they're unfounded. But in a turn of events, new research suggests sleeping could aid in perceiving beyond the "book's cover" and help us make better decisions. A strong first impression A team at Duke University recently rolled out an intriguing study. The researchers addressed the age-old question - does it pay off...

While previous observational research has suggested that light <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-amounts-of-alcohol-have-big-impacts-on-brain-health/">alcohol</a> consumption may provide heart-related benefits, a large study led by the <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/">Massachusetts General Hospital</a> (MGH) has found that alcohol intake at all levels is in fact linked to cardiovascular disease. According to the researchers, any benefits that were observed before most likely resulted from other lifestyle factors common among light to moderate drinkers.



The study included 371,463 adults from the<a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/"> UK Biobank</a>, a large biomedical database containing in-depth genetic and health information about a vast number of UK residents. The participants had an average age of 57 and an average alcohol consumption of 9.2 drinks per week. Consistent with earlier studies, light to moderate drinkers appeared to have the lowest risk of heart disease, followed by people who abstained from drinking completely. As expected, participants who drank heavily had the higher risk of developing cardiovascular issues.



However, the researchers found that light to moderate drinkers often tended to have healthier lifestyles than abstainers, such as more physical activity and vegetable intake, and less smoking. Taking these lifestyle factors into account significantly lowered any supposed benefit associated with light alcohol consumption.&nbsp;



By conducting advanced genetical analyses of samples taken from the participants, the scientists discovered that individuals with genetic variants that predicted higher alcohol consumption were indeed more likely to consume larger amounts of alcohol and to have hypertension and coronary artery disease.&nbsp;



The investigations also revealed that there are substantial differences in heart disease risk across the spectrum of alcohol consumption for both genders, with minimal increases in risk when consuming between zero and seven drinks per week, much higher risks when progressing from seven to 14 drinks, and particularly high when consuming over 21 drinks per week.



These findings suggest that the relationship between alcohol intake and cardiovascular risk is an exponential rather than linear one. Thus, while cutting back on alcohol consumption could benefit even people who have just one drink per day, the health gains of reducing alcohol intake are more substantial and clinically meaningful for people who drank more.



“The findings affirm that alcohol intake should not be recommended to improve cardiovascular health; rather, that reducing alcohol intake will likely reduce cardiovascular risk in all individuals, albeit to different extents based on one’s current level of consumption,” concluded senior author Krishna G. Aragam, a cardiologist at MGH.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2790520">JAMA Network Open</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

Even light alcohol intake can damage the heart

While previous observational research has suggested that light alcohol consumption...

According to Dr. Peter M. Kistler, many medical professionals advise their patients with heart disease to avoid coffee because coffee can increase their heart rate. However, new research presented at the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.acc.org/">American College of Cardiology</a> shows this may not be sound advice. The findings suggest that coffee is beneficial to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cocoa-beans-reduce-the-risk-of-fatal-cardiovascular-events/">cardiovascular</a> system.



The studies used data from the UK BioBank, and patients were grouped by how much coffee they consumed each day.



One study looked at the effect coffee had on people without heart disease. The researchers analyzed data from 382,535 individuals with no known heart disease.&nbsp;



The experts found that consuming two to three cups of coffee per day lowered the risk of developing several types of heart disease by 10 to 15 percent. However, those who drank one cup of coffee per day had the lowest risk of stroke or heart-related death.&nbsp;



The second study included 34,279 individuals who had been diagnosed with some type of cardiovascular disease. Once again, consuming two to three cups per day seems beneficial because it leads to a lower probability of dying compared to no coffee consumption. Notably, no amount of coffee adversely affected heart rhythm problems.&nbsp;



In fact, the study looked at 24,111 people who had atrial fibrillation and discovered that drinking one cup of coffee a day lowered the risk of dying by almost 20 percent compared to non-coffee drinkers.&nbsp;



The final study attempted to determine if there were any differences in effects based on the type of coffee consumed. They looked at instant vs. ground coffee and caffeinated vs. decaf. Overall, they discovered that the benefits were the same whether someone drank instant or ground coffee.&nbsp;



However, drinking decaffeinated coffee does not provide the same benefits as caffeinated coffee. Although decaf seems to reduce overall cardiovascular disease, it did not minimize incident arrhythmia or heart failure.&nbsp;



The study had some limitations, but the authors believe that coffee positively affects our cardiovascular system. They think this is due to the more than 100 bioactive compounds found in coffee beans. Among other benefits, these compounds reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, boost metabolism, and block receptors associated with abnormal heart rhythms.



The research will be presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session show.



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By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Two cups of coffee a day keeps the heart doctor away

According to Dr. Peter M. Kistler, many medical professionals advise...

People usually think of the highly beneficial omega-3 fatty acids as connected mainly to fish. But now, a new study led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a> has found that a plant-based version of this nutrient – the alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) – has a positive effect on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eat-a-handful-of-walnuts-every-day-for-better-heart-health/">heart health</a>, significantly reducing the risk of heart disease for those who do not eat seafood.



In a comprehensive review of previous studies, Penn State researchers discovered that consuming ALA found in plant-based foods such as walnuts or flaxseeds was associated with a 10 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 20 percent reduced risk of fatal coronary heart disease.



“People may not want to eat seafood for a variety of reasons, but it’s still important for them to consume omega-3s to reduce the risk of heart disease and to promote overall health,” said study co-author Penny Kris-Etherton, a professor of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State. “Plant-based ALA in the form of walnuts or flaxseeds can also provide these benefits, especially when incorporated into a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.”



The scientists found evidence that even for people who consume seafood regularly, adding plant-based omega-3s to their menu could further improve their heart health.&nbsp;



“When people with low levels of omega-3s in their diet ate ALA, they saw a benefit in terms of cardiovascular health. But when people with high levels of omega-3s from other sources ate more ALA, they also saw a benefit. It could be that ALA works synergistically with other omega-3s,” explained study co-author Jennifer Fleming, an assistant professor of Nutrition at Penn State.



According to the researchers, ALA has beneficial effects on reducing atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins – such as total cholesterol, low density-lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides – as well as inflammation and blood pressure. Current dietary guidelines recommend to consume half an ounce of walnuts or just under a tablespoon of flaxseed oil per day in order to reap these benefits.



Further studies are needed to clarify the effects of ALA on other major chronic diseases and to evaluate whether the recent scientific literature supports new, higher dietary recommendations for ALA, particularly for people who also consume significant amounts of seafood.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmac016">Advances in 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

Plant-based omega-3s are beneficial for heart health

People usually think of the highly beneficial omega-3 fatty acids...

According to a recent study from <a href="https://www.physoc.org/">The Physiological Society</a>, one of the best ways to keep your muscles healthy is to have a lifetime of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-physical-activity-protects-the-brain-from-aging/">physical activity</a>. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen analyzed muscle, stem cell, and nerve activity in 46 males. The experts concluded that older, active adults with a history of lifelong exercise have better functioning muscles compared to younger adults with a sedentary lifestyle.



For the investigation, the participants were separated into three groups: young sedentary (15), elderly lifelong exercise (16), and elderly sedentary (15). As the individuals executed a heavy resistance exercise, the researchers measured their force during the movement and took blood and muscle samples.&nbsp;



Older, active adults with a lifelong history of exercise performed better on the exercise, and also had more satellite cells in their muscles. These cell types protect the nervous system and are essential for muscle regeneration. 



The study authors noted that previous studies like this one have only been focused on professional athletes.



"This is the first study in humans to find that lifelong exercise at a recreational level could delay some detrimental effects of aging. Using muscle tissue biopsies, we've found positive effects of exercise on the general ageing population. This has been missing from the literature as previous studies have mostly focused on master athletes, which is a minority group," explained lead author Casper Soendenbroe.



"Our study is more representative of the general population aged 60 and above, as the average person is more likely to take part in a mixture of activities at a moderate level."



The researchers us to know that we don't have to be super athletes to make a difference in our health. Participating in activities like swimming, biking, or running throughout our lifetime can help protect our muscles against age-related deterioration.&nbsp;



However, more research is necessary to support a broad conclusion. Most noteworthy is that this study only involved male subjects, which is an obvious limitation as it excludes about 50 percent of the human population.&nbsp;



Moreover, the average age of the males in the study was 73. However, the most apparent effects of aging on the muscles occur at 80+ years. Therefore, we don't yet know if individuals would continue to see the benefits of lifelong exercise as they get older.&nbsp;



The study is published in <a href="https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14697793">The Journal of Physiology</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lifelong exercise may be the secret to staying young

According to a recent study from The Physiological Society, one...

The green industry experienced a spike in sales during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-doubles-the-risk-of-severe-pregnancy-complications/">COVID-19</a> pandemic, as people turned to gardening and landscaping during quarantine. A new study from the <a href="https://www.uga.edu/">University of Georgia</a> shows that while plant nurseries and greenhouses may not continue to boom as they did in 2020, some people who took up gardening will continue to raise plants as a lifelong hobby.&nbsp;



"The COVID-19 pandemic altered the way many consumers and businesses transacted business. Concerning the green industry, many households began gardening and/or purchased more green industry products. As the pandemic ends and households begin to return to normal, green industry firms need to understand this new normal," explained the study authors.&nbsp;



"Using an online national survey of households, we assessed which households were more likely to remain in the market after entering during the height of the pandemic."



Among more than 4,200 survey respondents, about one out of every three people began gardening in 2020 because they were home more. Many of these individuals also put in new grass lawns or tackled other outdoor renovations and landscaping projects.



“You had low interest rates, so you had a lot of people refinancing, which gave them money to invest in their homes,” said study lead author Professor Benjamin Campbell. “You had people at home looking for something to do, whether by themselves or with their kids. That led to a huge demand for plants.”



Nearly half of the respondents said they did not plan to garden in the future, even if they had in 2020. On the other hand, one in ten participants who had gardened in 2020 said they planned to keep it up going forward.



The survey results suggest that millennials and younger individuals were more likely to have started gardening during the pandemic, yet also more likely to report that they would not continue to garden as states returned to normal.



“We saw a lot of younger consumers come into the market because of the pandemic and because they were having to stay home,” said Professor Campbell. “Plants have been shown to help with a lot of different things related to people’s psyche. Gardening not only gave people something to do, but it also gave them a little bit more happiness.”



The results of the analysis show that food insecurity motivated some people to pick up gardening so they could grow their own food. Many of the study participants said they planned to garden in the future because they were concerned about food shortages.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/horttech-overview.xml">HortTechnology</a>.&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

Gardening got a major boost from the COVID-19 pandemic

The green industry experienced a spike in sales during the...

New research from <a href="https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/">Kaiser Permanente</a> has found that coronavirus substantially increases the risk of severe complications in pregnancy. The experts analyzed records for more than 40,000 pregnant women during the first year of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-related-deaths-are-much-higher-than-the-official-count/">COVID-19</a> pandemic.&nbsp;



The study revealed that the 1,332 patients who tested positive for coronavirus during pregnancy had more than double the risk of negative outcomes, such as preterm birth or blood clot.&nbsp;



Pregnant women who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 were also much more susceptible to severe maternal morbidity, which includes conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis.



Study lead author Dr. Assiamira Ferrara is a senior research scientist and associate director of the women’s and children health section in the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research.



“These findings add to the growing evidence that having COVID-19 during pregnancy raises risks of serious complications,” explained Dr. Ferrara.



“Coupled with the evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy, these findings should aid patients in understanding the risks of perinatal complications and the need for vaccination. This study supports the recommendation for vaccination of pregnant individuals and those planning conception.”



According to Dr. Ferrara, a strength of the study is that it followed a large group of diverse patients from preconception through their pregnancies to assess possible associations between perinatal complications and COVID-19 infection.



The research was focused on pregnant patients of Kaiser Permanente in Northern California who delivered babies between March 2020 and March 2021. The results showed that pregnant women who tested positive for coronavirus were more likely to be younger, Hispanic, have had multiple babies, had obesity, or lived in a neighborhood with high economic deprivation.



Coronavirus patients had twice the risk of preterm birth. This risk was elevated during early, middle, and late terms of the pregnancy. Covid infection was also associated with three times the risk of&nbsp; thromboembolism, or blood clot, and 2.5 times the risk of developing a severe maternal morbidity.



“Our study was large, diverse, and supports the need for vaccination by pregnant individuals and those who plan to get pregnant,” said co-author Dr. Mara Greenberg. “The most important thing people can do to protect themselves and their baby is to get vaccinated.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine">JAMA Internal Medicine</a>.



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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

COVID doubles the risk of severe pregnancy complications

New research from Kaiser Permanente has found that coronavirus substantially...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.ecu.edu.au/">Edith Cowan University</a> (ECU), researchers have found that people who are confident in the kitchen don't just eat healthier - they also enjoy better <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pet-ownership-has-mental-health-benefits/">mental health</a>. The research was focused on 657 individuals who took a healthy cooking course for seven weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;



In a partnership between ECU, The Good Foundation, and Jamie’s Ministry of Food initiative, a mobile food kitchen provided cooking classes in the community and on college campuses from 2016 to 2018.



During this same time period, experts at the ECU Institute for Nutrition Research measured the program's effect on participants' cooking confidence and self-perceived mental health.



The study results revealed that individuals who took part in the healthy cooking course experienced significant improvements in general health, mental health and subjective vitality. These benefits were perceivable immediately after the program, and persisted for six months after the course.



Furthermore, the participants exhibited substantial improvements in cooking confidence. These individuals also gained the ability to easily change eating habits and overcome lifestyle barriers to healthy eating, according to the study authors. Lead researcher Dr. Joanna Rees said the study showed the importance of diet for mental health.&nbsp;



“Improving people’s diet quality can be a preventive strategy to halt or slow the rise in poor mental health, obesity and other metabolic health disorders,” said Dr. Rees.&nbsp;



“Future health programs should continue to prioritize the barriers to healthy eating such as poor food environments and time restrictions, whilst placing greater emphasis on the value of healthy eating via quick and easy home cooked meals, rich in fruit and vegetables and avoiding ultra-processed convenience foods.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Prior to this study, experts at the ECU Institute for Nutrition Research had identified a link between eating more fruits and vegetables and improved mental health in the long term. This indicates that the healthy cooking students were not just feeling better because they became more confident in the kitchen, but also because they were eating so much healthier.&nbsp;



On the other hand, individuals who had not changed their diet after completing the program had still reported improved mental health. “This suggests a link between cooking confidence and satisfaction around cooking, and mental health benefits,” said Dr. Rees.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition">Frontiers in Nutrition</a>.



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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

Healthy cooking linked to improved mental health

In a new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU), researchers...

This Sunday, March 20, 2022 marks the official arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The so-called “vernal equinox” is one of two moments in the year when the sun is directly above the equator and day and night are almost equal in length. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night). After this equinox, days will start to be increasingly longer than nights until the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/summers-in-the-arctic-could-be-ice-free-by-mid-century/">summer</a> solstice from June 21.



The seasons occur because the Earth is tilted over slightly on its axis. While for half of the year, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun (spring and summer), for the other half, it is tilted further away from the sun (autumn and winter). However, twice a year (in March and September, during the vernal and the autumnal equinoxes), the sun is directly over the equator, so neither hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are flipped, with the March equinox marking the beginning of autumn, and the September one the beginning of spring.



The vernal equinox signals new beginnings and nature’s renewal. Worms and grubs start reappearing, birds begin their migration to the north, along the path of the sun, and trees, plants, and shrubs are starting to bloom.&nbsp;



Since prehistoric times, people worldwide have celebrated the arrival of spring through various festivities. Famous examples include the ancient spring equinox celebrations that took place at Chichen Itza in Mexico, where the Mayans built a huge pyramid around the year 1,000 CE. Even today, the way the sun falls on this pyramid signals the passage of seasons. On the vernal equinox, it creates a mixture of light and shade resembling a huge snake slithering down the steps of the pyramid. Mayans called this day “the return of the Sun serpent.”



Other famous <a href="https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/spring-celebrations">celebrations</a> of the arrival of spring include the Christian festivity of Easter, the Jewish Passover, the Hindi Holi, the Persian Nohruz, and the Thai Songkran. All these events are centered around myths of renewal and rebirth, offering hope to people worldwide that, similarly to nature, they will rise again and start life anew.&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

Spring finally arrives this weekend

This Sunday, March 20, 2022 marks the official arrival of...

A new longitudinal study led by <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> has found that middle-aged obese people die on average up to five years earlier than people with normal weight. In addition, obese or overweight people usually have more comorbidities and spend more years in poor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exposure-to-light-during-sleep-can-damage-your-health/">health</a> than thinner individuals, while having to deal with much higher health care costs across older adulthood.



In 2015, the researchers collected medical insurance data from 29,621 people over the age of 65. These individuals were recruited in the 1960s and 1970s for a long-term health study. By December 15 of 2015, approximately 13,000 of the participants had died.&nbsp;



In order to analyze death rates by weight status, participants were split into groups based on their body mass index (BMI), which is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. The scientists found that the larger the BMI someone had, the shorter their life expectancy was. For instance, severely obese people – those with BMIs over 30 - lived on average to 77.7, while moderately obese ones lived to 80.8.&nbsp;



Although there was no significant difference in the mean age at death between individuals who were slightly overweight and those who had normal BMI (82.1 and 82.3 years), overweight people generally spent more of their adult years in poor health (7.22 years on average) compared to those with normal weight (6.10), and spent about $12,390 more money on health care than the thinner participants. Severely obese people were found to live more than a decade in ill health (10.2 years) and spend $23,396 in excess health care costs than persons with normal weight.



These findings provide evidence for the impact of obesity on the health and life of individuals, as well as on the cumulative costs to society of “the obesity epidemic.”&nbsp;



“Resources and strategies are urgently needed at the individual and population level to address the growing public health challenge of excess weight in the context of an aging population,” concluded the authors.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2790100">JAMA Network Open</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

Excess weight in middle-age shortens life expectancy by years

A new longitudinal study led by Northwestern University has found...

A recent study showed that green spaces within 300 meters of one’s home can reduce the risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-and-tea-may-reduce-the-risk-of-stroke-and-dementia/">stroke</a> by up to 16 percent. The research was a joint study carried out by scientists at the <a href="https://www.imim.cat/en_index.html">Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute</a>, the Catalan Health Quality and Assessment Agency (AQuAS) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).&nbsp;



The scientists analyzed air pollution exposure among 3.5 million adults over the age of 18 who had not had a stroke at the beginning of the study. The researchers focused specifically on particulate matter, nitrous oxide and soot near the study participants homes. This data was compared to the proximity of green spaces.



"It should be borne in mind that, unlike other air pollutants, which have various sources, NO2 is mainly caused by road traffic. Therefore, if we really want to reduce the multiple risks that this pollutant poses to people's health, we need to implement bold measures to reduce car use," said study co-author Cathryn Tonne.



The study found that the risk of stroke rises with exposure to each of the air pollutants considered in the research. In fact, the risk of stroke was increased even when the air pollutants were present in levels that are considered safe by governmental standards.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"Despite compliance with the levels set by the European Union, we are faced with the paradox that there is still a health risk, such as the one we identified in this study, where there is a direct relationship between exposure to pollutants in our environment and the risk of suffering a stroke", explained study lead author Dr. Rosa Maria Vivanco, "The danger is still present and many more measures need to be taken"



Thankfully, the research had some good news as well. The study showed that the risk of stroke could also be reduced, by living near a green space. This research may be useful for the future of urban planning and to assist those who may be at risk for stroke and other health related issues.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international">Environment International</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Living near green space reduces the risk of stroke

A recent study showed that green spaces within 300 meters...

For years, we have been told that walking 10,000 daily steps is necessary for optimal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exposure-to-light-during-sleep-can-damage-your-health/">health</a> outcomes. However, that number is not based on science; it's based on an old marketing campaign for a Japanese pedometer.&nbsp;



Amanda Paluch is a physical activity epidemiologist at the <a href="https://www.umass.edu/">University of Massachusetts</a>, who set out to create evidence-based recommendations for daily steps. In collaboration with an international team of scientists, Paluch has formed the Steps for Health Collaborative.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed 15 studies to help determine how many steps a person should take to increase their chances of living a long, healthy life. Ultimately, the experts reviewed studies on 50,000 people across four continents.&nbsp;



The team divided the participants into four groups to complete a meta-analysis based on their average daily steps. The lowest step group averaged 3,500 steps per day; the second averaged 5,800; the third averaged 7,800, and the fourth averaged 10,900 steps.



The experts found that the group with the three highest average step groups had a 40 to 53 percent lower risk of death than the group with the lowest average steps.



Overall, the analysis showed that taking more steps helped lower one's risk of dying prematurely. However, one does not necessarily have to walk 10,000 steps to live longer.&nbsp;



For adults 60 years and older, 6,000 to 8,000 steps per day were sufficient. After that, the benefits of walking leveled off, which means that more steps did not provide additional health benefits in terms of mortality. Adults under 60 saw stabilization at about 8,000 to 10,000 daily steps.&nbsp;



"So, what we saw was this incremental reduction in risk as steps increase, until it levels off," said Paluch. "And the leveling occurred at different step values for older versus younger adults."



The researchers also discovered that walking speed was not a determining factor in longevity. As long as a person walked a certain amount of steps, they were less likely to suffer premature death. This discovery is good news for public health advocates because it allows them to send a clear message, making recommendations easier for the public to implement.&nbsp;



"Steps are very simple to track, and there is a rapid growth of fitness tracking devices," said Paluch. "It's such a clear communication tool for public health messaging."



According to the researchers, the path to a healthier lifestyle is more accessible than we may think. Even if it's not fast or excessive, moving is beneficial, especially for those who already do very little.&nbsp;



This study was published in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/home">The Lancet Public Health</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Optimal number of daily steps is not necessarily 10,000

For years, we have been told that walking 10,000 daily...

Although many scientists claim that people need at least eight hours of rest to support a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-immune-system-supports-healthy-bodies-too/">healthy</a> life, a new study led by the <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/">University of California, San Francisco</a> (UCSF) has found that sleep quality appears to be more important than quantity.



According to the scientists, some “elite sleepers” are gifted with genes that allow them to get sufficient rest with only four or six hours of sleep per night. Moreover, these people often show psychological resilience and resistance to various neurodegenerative conditions.



“There’s a dogma in the field that everyone needs eight hours of sleep, but our work to date confirms that the amount of sleep people need differs based on genetics,” said study senior author Louis Ptacek, a neurologist at UCSF. “Think of it as analogous to height; there’s no perfect amount of height, each person is different. We’ve shown that the case is similar for sleep.”



For more than a decade, Dr. Ptacek and his colleagues have studied people with “Familial Natural Short Sleep” (FNSS) - the ability to function fully on only four to six hours of sleep a night. They discovered that this capacity usually runs in families and, until now, they have identified five genes that play a fundamental role in enabling this highly efficient form of sleep.



In order to assess the potential resilience of people with FNSS against neurodegenerative disease, the researchers bred mice that had both the short-sleep genes and genes that predisposed them to Alzheimer’s disease, and found that their brains developed much less of the hallmark aggregates typically associated with dementia. The scientists believe that these efficient-sleep genes may also offer protection against other neurodegenerative conditions.



A better understanding of the biological underpinnings of sleep regulation could help scientists identify drugs that could help ward off sleeping disorders, and thus improve health and well-being.



“Every mutation we find is another piece,” said Dr. Ptacek. “Right now we’re working on the edges and the corners, to get to that place where it’s easier to put the pieces together and where the picture really starts to emerge.”



“This work opens the door to a new understanding of how to delay and possibly prevent a lot of diseases,” added study co-senior author Ying-Hui Fu, a neuroscientist at UCSF. “Our goal really is to help everyone live healthier and longer through getting optimum sleep.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/home">iScience</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

When it comes to sleep, it's quality over quantity that counts

Although many scientists claim that people need at least eight...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

[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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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

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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...