When we think of oxytocin, the image of a warm embrace or the deep connection between a mother and her child often comes to mind. 



This hormone, often dubbed the "love hormone" or "cuddle hormone," is famous for its role in fostering emotional bonds and promoting feelings of trust and empathy. 



But recent studies suggest that oxytocin might be doing much more behind the scenes, especially when it comes to how we learn and remember. And more surprisingly, it may also help cure addiction.



Leading this exciting exploration are Professor Akiyoshi Saitoh and researcher Junpei Takahashi from the <a href="https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tokyo University of Science</a>, and Meredith Berry, Ph.D. from the <a href="http://www.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Florida</a>. 



They have been delving into the intricate ways oxytocin influences our brains, potentially paving the way for new treatments for conditions like dementia and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-discovery-offers-hope-for-tackling-opioid-addiction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">opioid addiction</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxytocin-s-role-in-memory">Oxytocin's role in memory</h2>



While oxytocin is well-known for its impact on social behaviors, its role in cognitive functions is less understood. 



Professor Saitoh's team wanted to uncover whether oxytocin could be a key player in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-our-brain-form-long-term-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how memories are formed</a> and retained. 



“Previously we had suggested that oxytocin may be a new therapeutic candidate for dementia based on studies using a mouse model of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-disease-attacks-the-brain-in-two-separate-phases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s disease</a>,” he shared. 



“To investigate this further, in this study, we examined the role of endogenous oxytocin in mouse cognitive function.”



Using advanced techniques, the researchers specifically activated oxytocin neurons in certain brain regions of mice. 



They then evaluated the mice's memory using tasks designed to test recognition and recall, like the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/novel-object-recognition-test" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Novel Object Recognition Task</a>. 



This method helps scientists determine how well an animal can recognize a new object compared to one they've seen before.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peering-into-the-brain-s-memory-centers">Peering into the brain's memory centers</h2>



The brain is a complex network, and understanding how different areas interact is crucial. 



The team noticed that when they stimulated oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN), there was increased activity not only there but also in the supramammillary nucleus (SuM). 



These regions are connected and play roles in memory and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-causes-similar-emotional-experiences-and-sensations-in-all-cultures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotional responses</a>.



By observing markers that indicate neuron activation, they confirmed that these areas were more active following their interventions. 



Interestingly, while the mice didn't show significant changes in short-term memory tasks, there was a noticeable improvement in long-term memory, particularly in recognizing new objects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxytocin-connection-to-dementia">Oxytocin connection to dementia</h2>



These findings have significant implications. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/herbal-medicine-shows-potential-to-treat-and-prevent-dementia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dementia</a>, including Alzheimer's disease, affects millions worldwide, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline. 



Understanding how oxytocin influences memory could lead to new therapies that slow down or mitigate these effects.



There's also a broader social context. Many believe that loneliness and lack of social interaction can worsen <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dementia-was-extremely-rare-in-ancient-times-so-why-is-it-now-so-prevalent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dementia symptoms</a>. 



“There is a widely acknowledged belief that dementia tends to advance more rapidly in settings where individuals experience loneliness or limited social engagement. However, the scientific underpinnings of this phenomenon have remained largely elusive," Professor Saitoh pointed out.



By highlighting oxytocin's role, the research suggests that stimulating social interactions -- or even directly targeting oxytocin pathways -- might help in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diabetes-drugs-may-protect-against-dementia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">managing dementia</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxytocin-and-opioid-addiction">Oxytocin and opioid addiction</h2>



Across the globe, another team is exploring oxytocin's potential in a different arena. 



At the University of Florida, researchers are investigating whether a synthetic version of oxytocin can help curb opioid addictions, a pressing issue affecting many communities.



“The idea is that physicians could potentially prescribe, in combination, an opioid and oxytocin as an acute <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-is-a-powerful-weapon-against-chronic-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pain management</a> option, while at the same time lessening the likelihood of developing an addiction to opioids,” explained Dr. Meredith Berry.



Working alongside Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida and Dr. Natalie Ebner, Dr. Berry is examining whether oxytocin can reduce pain effectively while also decreasing the desire for prolonged opioid use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-opioids-are-still-a-huge-problem">Opioids are still a huge problem</h2>



Opioid addiction has become a significant public health concern, particularly in the United States. 



Prescription opioids, while effective for managing pain, carry a high risk of addiction. Older adults, who often require pain management, can be particularly vulnerable.



By exploring alternatives that reduce pain without the same addictive potential, researchers hope to offer safer options for patients. 



Oxytocin's natural role in promoting well-being might counteract some of the addictive properties of opioids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healing-addiction-with-oxytocin">Healing addiction with oxytocin</h2>



In their carefully designed study, the University of Florida team is working with participants aged 55 to 85 who have some history of opioid use. 



In a controlled setting, these participants will receive synthetic oxytocin via a nasal spray or a placebo after taking oral <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-a-route-to-safer-painkillers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxycodone</a>.



The researchers will collect data on how much the participants enjoy the drugs, as well as monitor physical responses like heart rate and breathing. 



They'll also assess cognitive and emotional reactions. To measure pain responses, they will apply mild mechanical pressure to the thighs and expose the hands to varying temperatures.



Dr. Ebner will analyze mood changes and cognitive effects, while Dr. Cruz-Almeida will examine how the drugs affect pain responses. 



Dr. Berry will evaluate the potential for reduced opioid addiction based on these findings. Physicians from the university's College of Medicine are involved to ensure participant safety.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-oxytocin-the-wonder-drug-of-the-future">Is oxytocin the "wonder drug" of the future?</h2>



The combined efforts of these research teams highlight the versatility of oxytocin, putting the "love hormone" on the radar of scientists of all disciplines around the world.



From potentially enhancing memory and combating dementia to offering new strategies for pain management without the high risk of addiction, oxytocin's benefits could be far-reaching.



These studies underscore the importance of looking beyond traditional uses of well-known substances. Sometimes, the key to solving complex health issues lies in re-examining what we thought we knew.



The journey of oxytocin from a simple "love hormone" to a potential powerhouse in medical treatment is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of science. 



As researchers like Professor Saitoh and Dr. Berry continue their work, we can look forward to new discoveries that might improve the quality of life for many.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0294113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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'Cuddle hormone' fosters love, boosts memory, and now also cures addiction

When we think of oxytocin, the image of a warm embrace or the deep connection between a mother and her child often comes to mind. This hormone, often dubbed the "love hormone" or "cuddle hormone," is famous for its role in fostering emotional bonds and promoting feelings of trust and empathy. But recent studies suggest that oxytocin might be doing much more behind the scenes, especially when it comes to how we learn and remember. And more surprisingly, it may also help cure addiction. Leading this exciting...

In a new paper from <a href="https://www.ecu.edu.au/">Edith Cowan University</a> (ECU), experts propose that we should rethink the way we view the tourism industry. The researchers say that traveling is not just a recreational experience, but also a potential therapy that can provide real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-failure-is-influenced-by-gut-health/">health</a> benefits.&nbsp;



The study was a collaboration between experts in ECU’s Centre for Precision Health and School of Business and Law. The researchers identified many aspects of vacationing that could have a positive impact on people with mental health issues or cognitive disorders. In particular, the researchers investigated how tourism could benefit people with dementia. 



“Medical experts can recommend dementia treatments such as music therapy, exercise, cognitive stimulation, reminiscence therapy, sensory stimulation and adaptations to a patient's mealtimes and environment,” said Dr. Wen. “These are all also often found when on holidays."&nbsp;



“This research is among the first to conceptually discuss how these tourism experiences could potentially work as dementia interventions.”&nbsp;



Dr. Wen noted that the varied nature of tourism means there are many opportunities to incorporate treatments for conditions like dementia. For example, new experiences and environments provide cognitive and sensory stimulation.&nbsp;



“Exercise has been linked to mental well-being and traveling often involves enhanced physical activity, such as more walking,” explained Dr. Wen. “Mealtimes are often different on holiday: they’re usually more social affairs with multiple people and family-style meals have been found to positively influence dementia patients’ eating behavior."



“And then there’s the basics like fresh air and sunshine increasing vitamin D and serotonin levels. Everything that comes together to represent a holistic tourism experience, makes it easy to see how patients with dementia may benefit from tourism as an intervention.”&nbsp;



In recent years, the impact of Covid-19 on travel had raised questions about tourism’s value beyond lifestyle and economic factors, said Dr. Wen.



“Tourism has been found to boost physical and psychological well-being. So, after COVID, it’s a good time to identify tourism’s place in public health - and not just for healthy tourists, but vulnerable groups.”&nbsp;



Dr. Wen said he hopes a new line of collaborative research could begin to examine how vacationing can enhance the lives of people with various conditions.&nbsp;



“We’re trying to do something new in bridging tourism and health science. There will have to be more empirical research and evidence to see if tourism can become one of the medical interventions for different diseases like dementia or depression."&nbsp;&nbsp;



“So, tourism is not just about traveling and having fun; we need to rethink the role tourism plays in modern society.”&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/tourism-management">Tourism Management</a>.



---



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

Tourism boosts physical and mental well-being

In a new paper from Edith Cowan University (ECU), experts...

Acupuncture,Needles,With,Stones,On,Bamboo,Mat

Millions of people, the world over, suffer each day from headaches. In the U.S. alone, around 16 percent of the population report having headaches within the past year, and more than 8 million Americans visit the doctor annually complaining of headaches. There are different types of headaches, and different types of treatments for this painful and debilitating ailment that affects so many people.&nbsp;



A recent study published in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.neurology.org/">Neurology</a>, the medical journal of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aan.com/">American Academy of Neurology</a>, has tested whether acupuncture can be used to reduce the frequency of tension-type headaches in particular. These headaches are characterized by dull pain around the sides and back of the head. Sufferers say that the sensation is reminiscent of having a band of pressure squeezing around one’s head with mild to moderate intensity. Tension headaches do not get worse with physical activity and are not associated with nausea. The condition is considered chronic when headaches occur on at least 15 days per month.



“Tension-type headaches are one of the most common types of headaches and people who have a lot of these headaches may be looking for alternatives to medication,” said study author Dr. Ying Li of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. “Our study found that acupuncture reduces the average number of headache days per month for those struggling with these painful and disruptive headache attacks.”



In order to test whether acupuncture reduced the frequency of headache attacks, the researchers identified 218 people who suffered from chronic tension-type headaches, to take part in research. On average, the participants had suffered from these headaches for a total of 11 years and currently experienced headaches on 22 days of each month.&nbsp;



The participants were randomly assigned to two groups, one that received treatment using true acupuncture and one that received only superficial acupuncture. True acupuncture treatments involved achieving a deqi&nbsp;sensation, which requires the practitioner to place and move a needle in the body to reach a tingling, numb, or heavy feeling. The superficial treatments did not penetrate as deeply and thus did not achieve the deqi sensation.



Both groups received two or three sessions per week over a period of two months; this gave a total of 20 sessions. Participants were then monitored for an additional six months. Apart from receiving acupuncture, the participants had to record their symptoms and use of medication in a diary. They also visited the clinic once a month.



The results of the study showed that all participants benefitted from acupuncture treatment. Overall, participants recorded a reduction of 50 percent in the number of days they experienced headaches. At the end of the study, 68 percent of the people receiving true acupuncture reported at least a 50 percent reduction in the monthly number of headache days. In comparison, only 50 percent of the people who received superficial acupuncture reported a similar improvement. The number of headache days experienced decreased gradually after the completion of treatment.



For those who received true acupuncture, headache days decreased from an average of 20 days per month at the beginning of the study to seven days per month by the end of the study. For those who received superficial acupuncture, headache days decreased from an average of 23 days per month at the beginning of the study to 12 days per month at the end of the study.



There were no serious side effects of the treatments during the study, although the study authors say the participants for the research all came from the same hospital and thus the results may not be generalizable to all populations.&nbsp;



“While this study showed that acupuncture can reduce headaches, more research is needed to determine the longer-term effectiveness of acupuncture and how it compares to other treatment options,” said Dr. Li. “In comparing treatment options, cost-effectiveness is another important factor to evaluate.”



---



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

Acupuncture is a potential treatment for debilitating headaches

Millions of people, the world over, suffer each day from...

The health benefits of eating a balanced, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-diets-reduce-the-risk-of-severe-covid-19/">plant-based diet</a> are being discussed more and more frequently in scientific literature, as the number of people embracing meat-free diets increases. In addition, plant protein is now used to create alternatives to meat that resemble anything from fried chicken strips to burger patties. The production of these substitutes does not harm any animals and gives rise to less greenhouse gases, which makes it more environmentally friendly. However, it is not known whether human cells absorb plant- and animal-derived proteins equally well.



In a study published by the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a>, a team led by Osvaldo Campanella from The Ohio State University and Da Chen from the University of Idaho tested whether human cells can absorb similar amounts of digested proteins from a model meat alternative as they can from a piece of chicken. Previous research has shown that plant-based substitutes do not break down into their constituent molecules as easily as animal meats do during digestion, but the researchers aimed to test the extent of protein absorption as well.



Plant-based meat substitutes are manufactured to look and feel like animal meat. To achieve this, the plants are dehydrated and ground into powder form. They are mixed with spices, heated and moistened, before being pressed through an extruder to achieve the desired texture and appearance. They are usually considered to be healthier than animal meats because they contain less saturated fats but have a comparable level of protein.



The researchers made a model meat alternative out of soy and wheat gluten, using this extrusion process. Both these plant seeds are considered to be sources of quality proteins and when they are pressed out of an extruder they take on a texture that is very similar to that of chicken. When cut open, the material has long fibrous pieces inside, just like chicken.&nbsp;



Cooked pieces of chicken meat, and of the substitute plant-based product were then ground up in the lab and mixed with an enzyme that humans use to digest proteins. Proteins are very long molecules and enzyme action during digestion breaks them down into smaller fragments known as peptides.&nbsp;



The tests showed that meat-substitute peptides were less water-soluble than those from chicken, and they were also not absorbed as well by the human cells. This means that, despite the fact that plant foods may contain sufficient protein to start with, the proteins may not be broken down and absorbed adequately in the human digestive system.&nbsp;



The researchers say the next step is to identify other ingredients that could help facilitate the peptide uptake from plant-based meat substitutes, in the same way that vitamin C has been shown to boost iron uptake.&nbsp;



The research was funded by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. The study is published in the <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/jafcau">Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry</a>.



---



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

Human cells absorb less protein from plant-based "meat"

The health benefits of eating a balanced, plant-based diet are...

Male,High,School,Basketball,Team,Playing,Game

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.uga.edu/">University of Georgia</a> (UGA) has found that 75 percent of high-school students are not getting enough <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/physical-exercise-reduces-chronic-anxiety-better-than-drugs/">physical exercise</a>, this lack being more pronounced among girls. However, the experts argue that improving the school’s climate – measured in terms of school connectedness, peer social support, adult social support, cultural acceptance, physical environment, school safety, peer victimization (bullying), and school support environment – could significantly increase physical activity among adolescents.&nbsp;



School environments play a crucial role in helping children develop healthy behaviors, such as creating healthy eating habits or engaging in more physical activity. 



“The length of recess, physical facilities, and social environments at schools have been found to affect physical activity among students,” reported study lead author Janani R. Thapa, an associate professor of Health Policy and Management at UGA.



According to Professor Thapa, school climate plays an important role in determining how comfortable adolescents feel participating in sports and other types of physical activity.&nbsp;



“We do not know much about the role of school climate on physical activity,” said Thapa. “There must have been barriers that were faced by certain groups of students. Hence, we wanted to investigate the difference by gender.”&nbsp;



The researchers investigating this issue by using data from a statewide survey of more than 360,000 Georgia high school students, which included questions about levels of physical activity and school climate. The results revealed that female students reported less physical activity than male ones, with only 35 percent being physically active, compared to 57 percent of males.&nbsp;



Moreover, from the ninth to the 12th grade, physical activity declined steadily for both genders. However, when the school climate was perceived to be positive across most measures, levels of physical activity increased for both genders.&nbsp;



While most measures of school climate impacted in the same way both males and females, the role of peer victimization, or bullying, was found to be different between the two genders. While female students who reported being bullied were more likely to engage in physical activities, bullied male students were less likely to be physically active. This disparity could be explained by the different norms about exercise in the case of teenage girls versus boys.&nbsp;



“For example, female students who are active in sports and physically active may not fit the gender norm and hence may face bullying,” said Professor Thapa.&nbsp;



These findings suggest that schools could promote participation in physical exercise by considering how to improve students’ sense of safety at school and improve peer and adult support of physical activities.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jad.12052">Journal of Adolescence</a>.



---



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

School climate determines how much students exercise

A new study led by the University of Georgia (UGA)...

A recent study published in <a href="https://academic.oup.com/cercor/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cercor/bhac227/6601447?login=true#.Yp4UHmksX8o.twitter">Cerebral Cortex</a> refutes earlier studies showing that performing tasks while walking decreased <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-with-more-children-risk-faster-cognitive-decline/">cognitive</a> function. The new research shows that some young, healthy individuals performed better on cognitive tasks while walking.



Researchers at the <a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/del-monte-neuroscience.aspx">Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester</a> focused their experiment on 26 healthy participants between 18 and 30 years old.



The participants were asked to perform cognitive tasks while being monitored by a Mobile Brain/Body Imaging system (MoBI). They were instructed to click a button when images on a screen changed, and if the same image appeared consecutively, they were asked not to click the button.&nbsp;



First, they were asked to perform the task while sitting; this part of the experiment established the baseline. Then, participants were asked to complete the task while walking. The results surprised researchers.



The experts found that 14 of the participants demonstrated improved performance while walking. The MoBI also detected increased activity in the front of these individuals’ brains. The other 12 participants did not improve, and the authors noticed no change in their frontal brain function.&nbsp;



“There was no predictor of who would fall into which category before we tested them, we initially thought that everyone would respond similarly," study first author Eleni Patelaki, a biomedical engineering PhD student.



“It was surprising that for some of the subjects it was easier for them to do dual-tasking – do more than one task – compared to single-tasking – doing each task separately. This was interesting and unexpected because most studies in the field show that the more tasks that we have to do concurrently the lower our performance gets.”



The researchers believe these results suggest increased brain flexibility and efficiency in those individuals who improved. The experts are very excited about what additional knowledge the health and science community can gain from this study.



“These findings have the potential to be expanded and translated to populations where we know that flexibility of neural resources gets compromised," said Patelaki.



“This gives us a place to start looking in the brains of older adults, especially healthy ones," said Dr. Edward Freedman, who led the study.&nbsp;



Furthermore, the findings will assist in studying "super agers," older adults who experience a minimal decline in cognitive function as they age. The researchers hope to discover the marker for super-aging, which could aid in our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/cercor">Cerebral Cortex</a>.



---



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

For some, walking boosts cognitive function

A recent study published in Cerebral Cortex refutes earlier studies...

Beautiful,Girl,With,Electronic,=,Device,In,The,Park

A new study led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/">University of South Australia</a>&nbsp;(UniSA) has found that children’s well-being and health are heightened when they participate in extra-curricular activities, such as playing sports and music or meeting friends. On the other hand, children's well-being is reduced when they spend their free time on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-causes-depression-in-adults-too/">social media</a> or playing video games.



The researchers analyzed data from 61,759 school students aged four to nine, assessing the average number of days per week that they participated in after-school activities, and measuring these against factors related to well-being, such as happiness, engagement, optimism, emotional regulation, perseverance, or life satisfaction.&nbsp;



The analysis revealed that most students watched TV about four days of the school week and spent time on social media approximately three days. According to the researchers, such activities have a negative impact on children’s health and well-being.



“Screens are a massive distraction for children of all ages. Most parents will attest to this. And whether children are gaming, watching TV or on social media, there’s something about all screens that’s damaging to their well-being,” said study lead author Rosa Virgara, an expert in Health and Human Performance at UniSA.



According to Dr. Virgara, it is not lack of physical movement that is causing the damage, since other sedentary activities such as reading or doing homework contribute positively to well-being. Instead, screen time appears to be the main culprit behind children’s mental health problems. The study results show that children who used social media or played video games were up to nine percent less likely to be happy, up to eight percent less likely to be optimist, and 11 percent more likely to give up on things.



Although children who were at higher risk of developing mental health issues came from lower socio-economic backgrounds, the scientists found that, if they frequently played sports, they were 15 percent more likely to be optimistic, 14 percent more likely to be happy and satisfied with their lives, and 10 percent more likely to manage to regulate their emotions.



“All in all, the message is clear – gaming, watching TV, playing on computers, and scrolling through social media are not helping build or sustain positive wellbeing in children,” said Dr. Virgara.



&nbsp;“It’s certainly a challenge, especially as most children have been brought up on devices. But if families can be more aware of the issues associated with screens, then perhaps we can find a better balance of screen time and other out-of-school activities.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-022-03322-1">BMC Pediatrics</a>.



---



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

Screen time damages children’s health, reduces well-being

A new study led by the&nbsp;University of South Australia&nbsp;(UniSA) has...

Healthy,Food,In,Heart,Diet,Cooking,Concept,With,Fresh,Fruits

In a new study led by <a href="https://gumc.georgetown.edu/">Georgetown University Medical Center</a>, researchers have drawn a connection between gut health and cardiovascular health. The study looked specifically at heart failure, the end-stage heart disease that impacts over six million people annually. Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in the United States.



For the investigation, the researchers analyzed the results of 511 past studies. They focused on a harmful metabolite known as trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). This metabolite is produced in the presence of red meat, full-fat dairy products, and egg yolks.&nbsp;



The experts found that those who experience heart failure tend to have an increased presence of gut metabolites, which are associated with increased hospitalization and increased mortality.&nbsp;



Bacterium viruses, fungi, and protozoa make up an intricate and delicate gut microbiome. The researchers also found that heart failure patients often have a less biodiverse gut.



However, due to a deficiency of data, scientists could not identify the interaction between the microbiome and the cardiovascular system. They noted that good nutrition is associated with a healthy cardiovascular system and that researchers should explore this question further.



The experts hope this study will encourage others to learn more about how the gut and vascular systems affect each other.&nbsp;



“To diagnose and manage heart failure we rely on certain findings and test results, but we do not know how poor heart function influences the activities of the gut, including the absorption of food and medications," said study co-author Kelley Anderson.



"There is now an appreciation of a back-and-forth relationship between the heart and elements in the gut, as clearly the heart and vascular system do not work in isolation -- the health of one system can directly influence the other, but clear connections are still being worked out scientifically.”



“We are currently developing a forward-looking study to evaluate the microbiome in patients with heart failure. We are particularly interested in the symptomatic experience of patients with end-stage heart failure as well as disease-related weight loss and wasting during this stage of cardiovascular disease.”



The study is published in the journal<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10741-022-10254-6"> Heart Failure Reviews</a>.



---



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

Heart failure is influenced by gut health

In a new study led by Georgetown University Medical Center,...

Vitamin,C.

Americans spent almost 50 billion dollars on vitamins and dietary supplements in 2021. However, a new study published in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/">JAMA</a> shows that most have that money may be for naught.&nbsp;After reviewing 84 studies, the researchers concluded that taking multivitamins does not reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-increases-the-risk-of-autoimmune-disease/">disease</a> for most Americans.



“Patients ask all the time, ‘What supplements should I be taking?’ They’re wasting money and focus thinking there has to be a magic set of pills that will keep them healthy when we should all be following the evidence-based practices of eating healthy and exercising," explained study lead author Dr. Jeffrey Linder of the <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> Feinberg School of Medicine.



The researchers specifically warn against beta carotene supplements, as they can increase the risk of lung cancer. Instead, Linder says that doctors should stress other ways to help their patients lead a healthy lifestyle.&nbsp;



“The harm is that talking with patients about supplements during the very limited time we get to see them, we’re missing out on counseling about how to really reduce cardiovascular risks, like through exercise or smoking cessation.”



The authors believe eating lots of fruits and vegetables is the best way to combat cardiovascular disease. Eating whole foods provides the body with vitamins, phytochemicals, fiber, and other nutrients that work together for a healthy body.



However, vitamins are necessary for some segments of society. “Pregnant individuals should keep in mind that these guidelines don’t apply to them," said study co-author Dr. Natalie Cameron. "Certain vitamins, such as folic acid, are essential for pregnant women to support healthy fetal development.”



Dr. Jenny Jia noted that the reality of living a healthy lifestyle can be challenging, especially for lower-income individuals. “Healthy food is expensive, and people don’t always have the means to find environments to exercise - maybe it’s unsafe outdoors or they can’t afford a facility. So, what can we do to try to make it easier and help support healthier decisions?”



She believes the answer may lie in encouraging food pantries to encourage their patrons to pick healthier choices and donors to provide more nutritious food choices.&nbsp;



So, for those who aim to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer, perhaps it’s better to pick up a bag of apples than buy a bottle of multivitamins.&nbsp;



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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

Supplements do not reduce disease risk for most Americans

Americans spent almost 50 billion dollars on vitamins and dietary...

Our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/remote-learning-causes-sleep-and-behavior-issues/">sleep</a> efficiency tends to decrease across our lifetime. In a recent study, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia were surprised to find sleep efficiency stabilized from ages 30 to 60. 



True sleep time is difficult to measure, as most assessments are self-reports of sleep, explained study first author Dr. Shaoyong Su.



For the investigation, participants wore accelerometers on their wrist 24 hours a day for seven consecutive days. While the device does not measure sleep time, measuring movement can give some indication of whether you are asleep or not, noted study co-author Dr. Vaughn McCall.



“We confirmed previous findings based on subjective measurement,” said Dr. Su. “People think children and adolescents sleep later and we found this. And, during middle age people sleep less and our findings support that objectively." He said that in addition, sleep duration is increased for those age 60 and older.



The researchers found that generally, nighttime sleep decreases as our age increases.&nbsp; However, the ‘U’ shape emerged as sleep duration dropped significantly from age 10 into the 50s, getting longer after that.&nbsp;



A graph of how long Americans sleep forms a U-shaped pattern across our lives, with age 40 being the low point and hours of sleep starting to creep back up about age 50. Increased sleep later in life may reflect that most Americans retire in their 60s and don’t get up as early.&nbsp;



Sleep efficiency - the time you actually sleep versus the time you have dedicated to sleep - also tends to decrease with age. The study found, however, that this was stabilized from ages 30 to 60. This indicates that adults maintain sleep efficiency for a long period, but may get the least sleep in their busy middle age.



Females were found to sleep longer than males but go to sleep later, particularly as they get older, and are interrupted by childcare duties.&nbsp;



The study showed that males and females were equally sleep efficient since females are more likely to report worse quality and more disturbances. While more study is needed to understand gender differences in sleep, these differences should be considered in treatment of sleep health. 



Young American adults aged 20 had the latest clock time for sleep onset (CTSO), the time participants actually went to sleep. High school students had the biggest weekday/weekend differences between the time they went to sleep and awakened, which aligned with the school year.



For school-age children, the CTSO was 9:30 pm, while 25 percent of children ages 6 to 13 had a CTSO close to 11 pm. These patterns could reflect changes during adolescence, but could also be influenced by fatigue, behavioral problems and less academic success.



Moving into their 20s, a lot of people transition to work life and the CTSO begins to reverse. ‘’You hit the years where you are raising children and you are working and then what happens around the time of retirement? Your whole schedule begins to change,” said Dr. McCall, and the CTSO gets later again.



Black Americans tended to have some of the most troublesome sleep parameters, going to sleep later, sleeping less hours and less efficiently. Mexican Americans had the earliest sleep onset and longest sleep time but were not necessarily efficient sleepers. The findings point to the need for more research on racial disparities in sleep that take into account social and cultural factors.



“One thing we cannot overestimate is the impact of sleep,” noted Dr. Wang. Without sufficient sleep, you overuse your body, she said, and your ability to adjust to less sleep decreases with age.



While insufficient sleep itself is a risk factor of health problems from obesity to cardiovascular disease, it may also be an indicator of disease. How we sleep is like a “canary in a coal mine," as sleep complaints may be an indication of mental or physical health problems.



“I don’t look at our findings necessarily as a benchmark of perfect health,” said Dr. McCall. “I look at this as a benchmark of what is happening in America.”



Our natural instincts are to go to sleep when it gets dark and wake up with the light, but life obligations interfere with our internal circadian clocks, the investigators explained. .



Babies’ sleep patterns tend to follow these more natural circadian rhythms, Su notes. The days before television, the internet and mobile phones, likely had more of us sleeping like babies, McCall says.



“Is it in the biology of a 20-year-old to always go to bed late or is it due to the fact that they have friends that they are engaged with and they have parties and college keg night? I think there is a lot of societal influence here,” said Dr. McCall. “Life gets in the way.”



The <a href="https://www.thensf.org/how-many-hours-of-sleep-do-you-really-need/">National Sleep Foundation</a> says healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep, those over 65 need seven to eight hours and babies, young children and teens need more sleep than healthy adults to enable growth and development. Newborns, who rarely sleep through the night, need 14 to 17 hours including naps.



The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association and is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Americans get the least sleep in their 40s

Our sleep efficiency tends to decrease across our lifetime. In...

The 2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDGs) recommend that adults increase their consumption of seafood in order to obtain adequate quantities of two specific omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Ideally, adults should eat fish twice a week as this is a rich source of these fatty acids, as well as being a good source of protein and of important <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-threatens-vital-micronutrients-from-fisheries/">micronutrients</a>. However, a new study shows that nearly 90 percent of American adults do not eat seafood twice a week.&nbsp;



The study, published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ajcn">American Journal of Clinical Nutrition</a>, explores how socioeconomic and racial/ethnic factors, along with seafood affordability, influence seafood consumption overall, as well as affecting the choices people make concerning which specific seafood items they eat. The researchers considered the diets of adults in three income categories, namely low, middle and high, as well as in four racial/ethnic groupings, namely Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Asian.&nbsp;



Dietary data was collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES), which relied on self-reported dietary records from participants during the years 2011 through to 2018. In total, dietary information from 17,559 individuals was collected, but only 3,285 of these reported consuming seafood. The NHANES dataset was also used to analyze seafood intake by species, including those species high in omega-3 fatty acids.



The two omega-3 fatty acids involved in human physiology, EPA and DHA, can be obtained from eating fish and algae. Marine algae and phytoplankton are primary sources of the fatty acids, which accumulate in the fish that eat these marine producers. Also known as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA and DHA are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in humans, although many of the previous research studies have produced conflicting results. It remains true, however, that seafood is rich in micronutrients and that protein from seafood has a more balanced amino acid profile than protein from most plant sources.&nbsp;



Data on the costs of different types of seafood were accessed from NielsenIQ (using an average from 2017-19 prices) by seafood type, as well as data from the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies. This enabled the researchers to assess nutrient values for seafood in relation to price. They also investigated the different methods of seafood production (e.g., wild caught or farmed) as well as the habitat from which the seafood came, in relation to people’s dietary choices.



Analysis of the data showed that, on average, consumption of seafood is lower than that recommended in U.S. dietary guidelines. These guidelines suggest a consumption of 227–283&nbsp;g per week of a variety of seafood, whereas the current study found people in the low-income group consumed an average of 120.2 g per week and those in the high-income group consumed an average of 141.8 g per week. People with low incomes ate 18 percent less seafood every week than those with high incomes, but even those in the high-income group ate less seafood than recommended.&nbsp;



Furthermore, the researchers found a strong association between income and the price of seafood that people chose to include in their diets. The seafood most commonly consumed by people with low incomes was shrimp and fish, but not the fish species high in omega-3 fatty acids. People in the middle-income category favored salmon and canned tuna (which do have high levels of omega-3s), while those with higher incomes selected salmon in particular. Fresh, wild-caught salmon was the most expensive seafood, while canned tuna was less expensive and freshwater fish, shrimps and mussels were the least expensive.



Fish species with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids only made up 18 percent of all seafood in the diets of people with low incomes, 28 percent for those with middle incomes, and 33 percent for those with high incomes. Seafood high in omega-3s, such as salmon, also costs more at retail outlets than species low in omega-3s, such as cod, tilapia and catfish.



Analysis of seafood consumption by race/ethnic grouping showed that seafood consumption by Hispanics, non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks increased sharply as income increased. However, low- and middle-income Asians were the only groups on average to eat the recommended amounts of seafood; among higher income Asians, consumption decreased. Among the other groups, only the diets of non-Hispanic blacks with higher incomes approached the recommended amounts.



“Although seafood is nutritious, the higher cost of seafood poses a barrier to Americans with lower incomes,” said study lead author Dr. David Love, a senior scientist with the John Hopkins <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/johns-hopkins-center-for-a-livable-future">Center for a Livable Future</a>. “Eating seafood twice a week can be challenging on a tight budget, but it can be done – for example, by buying seafood that is frozen or canned instead of fresh.”



Nearly 3,000 species are categorized as seafood. Lower-priced species with favorable nutrient profiles – those with omega-3s, vitamins, and minerals – include mackerel, herring, mussels, octopus, and eel. Of these five species, only mussels are eaten with any degree of frequency, comprising 2 percent of the seafood consumed by adults with low incomes and 1 percent by adults with high incomes. The researchers note that many Americans consume only a limited range of species that includes mostly shrimp, salmon, canned tuna, tilapia, and cod.



The researchers found that Americans consume a mix of farmed and wild-caught seafood, and that the majority comes from the ocean, rather than from fresh water localities. Farmed fish can have different nutritional value from wild-caught fish because their feed includes soybean meal and oil and other crops, instead of or in addition to the species’ natural diets.&nbsp;



“More research is needed to explore the cultural differences that exist within the race and ethnicity groups as defined by the NHANES dataset,” said study senior author Martin Bloem. “Culture plays a vital role in shaping our individual dietary choices, so future recommendations should account for and reflect these differences.”



Because culture plays such an important role in people’s dietary choices, specific policies and interventions may be needed to enhance the consumption of seafood by different groups of American adults.



The authors conclude that their study helps fill an important gap by describing the seafood consumption patterns of groups of different incomes and ethnicities in the United States. This information is needed to design and implement policy and interventions that aim to enhance seafood consumption among specific income and race/ethnic groups and&nbsp;to identify and promote sustainable and affordable diets crucial for planetary health.



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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

Nutritious seafood is too expensive for most Americans

The 2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDGs) recommend that...

Prolonged exposures to stressors can have a negative impact on children’s health, well-being, learning, and behavior. Experts have explored several approaches to alleviating stress in school, including yoga, mindfulness, meditation, physical exercise, teaching style interventions, and animal-assisted interventions (AAI). A new study led by the <a href="https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/">University of Lincoln</a> in the United Kingdom has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeding-your-dog-once-a-day-may-improve-its-health/">dog</a>-assisted interventions can significantly lower stress levels in children both with and without special needs.



The scientists tracked levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the saliva of 105 eight- to nine-year-old children in four UK mainstream schools, as well as 44 similarly aged children from seven special education needs schools. The participants were randomly assigned in one of three groups: a dog group, a relaxation group, and a control group. While in the relaxation group, children had to meditate for 20 minutes, in the dog group, they had to interact for 20 minutes with a trained dog and its handler. These sessions were carried out bi-weekly for a month.



The findings reveal that dog interventions led to significantly lower cortisol levels in children in both the mainstream and special needs schools, compared to their peers in the relaxation and control groups. While mainstream school children from these two groups had increases in the mean salivary cortisol during the school term, those who interacted with dogs had no statistically significant increases in cortisol. Moreover, their cortisol levels were lower immediately after each dog session. Similar results were found in the case of children with special needs. Thus, dog-assisted interventions appear to be very effective in attenuating stress levels in school children.



“Future work will need to investigate further questions of group dynamics, social pressure, individual differences and dosage, as well as differences in children’s ability and the role of physical touch among other questions to refine advice and guidance on best practice for AAI. As this work investigated AAI effects in everyday school settings, it is innovative in integrating typical and hard to reach populations and in finding best ways to administer AAI,” the authors concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269333">PLoS ONE</a>.&nbsp;&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

Dog-assisted interventions reduce stress in children

Prolonged exposures to stressors can have a negative impact on...

New research has found further evidence of the relationship between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-should-use-entertainment-related-technology-in-moderation/">teenage</a> well-being and online engagement. The study, from <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/">Trinity College in Dublin</a>, contributes to mounting international evidence on the dangers of high levels of social media use.&nbsp;



However, the opposite end of the spectrum isn’t all that better. In today's connected world, a low social media presence is also associated with poor mental health among adolescents.



These findings support the goldilocks hypothesis - there is a point between low and high social media use that is "just right" for young people. This is the first time the goldilocks theory has been examined in Irish teenagers and young adults.



“Evidence is mounting internationally that online engagement among adolescents may be damaging for mental well-being but the evidence is mixed," said study co-author Professor Richard Layte. "Our work provides fresh insights on the impact of digital engagement at the age of 17/18 and the results provide worrying evidence of real harms that require urgent action."



“There is a simple narrative out there that more is worse. It is important to emphasise that online engagement is now a normal channel of social participation and non-use has consequences."&nbsp;



"Our findings also raise the possibility that moderate use is important in today’s digital world and that low levels of online engagement carries its own risks. Now the questions for researchers are how much is too much and how little is too little?”



The researchers analyzed the association between adolescent use of online engagement and mental well-being in over 6,000 young people between the age of 13 and again at the age of 17-18.&nbsp;



Participants reported their time spent online, and what they engaged in, such as online messaging, school or college work, watching movies and listening to music. A young person’s online behavior was characterized by the length of time spent online and online behaviors they engaged in.&nbsp;



The results showed that high engagement in digital media strongly predicted worse mental health outcomes for both boys and girls. While low use of digital media was associated with worse mental health for both boys and girls and was also predictive of peer problems for girls.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“This study is novel in that it considers the importance of both time and online behaviors when examining associations between digital media and mental wellbeing," said Dr Ross Brannigan, lead author of the study and a former postdoctoral researcher in Trinity’s Department of Sociology.



"We found clear distinctions between groups spending similar time online, but differing in their behaviours online. This indicates the importance of considering both time and behaviours online as well as the quality of these behaviours, for example passive compared to active behaviours, or the types of behaviours such as social, educational, entertainment.”



The research team hopes that their work will be further expanded upon to investigate why exactly online activity is related to mental well-being.&nbsp;



The study is part of the TeenPath Project, a collaborative project between the Department of Sociology in Trinity College Dublin and the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology in The School of Population Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.&nbsp;



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563222001121">Computers in Human Behavior</a>



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

"Goldilocks amount" of social media time may protect teens

New research has found further evidence of the relationship between...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

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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"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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