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...

Regular exercise is known to have many health benefits, including increased metabolic rate, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/getting-more-sleep-can-boost-weight-loss/">weight loss</a> and regulation of appetite. These are important effects, particularly for people who are overweight or obese. But we all know that exercise is hard work and that it can have negative effects on joint health. Some elderly people, as well as those with injuries, may not be able to exercise, despite the desirable effects.&nbsp;



Wouldn’t it be nice if we could simply take a pill and experience these benefits of exercise? Scientists say that they are actually getting closer to this goal.



A team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.bcm.edu/">Baylor College of Medicine</a> has identified a molecule in the blood of mice that is produced during exercise and can effectively reduce food intake and obesity in these animals. This molecule was also identified in the blood of race horses and humans, and could help clarify the relationship between exercise and its effects on the regulation of appetite and weight..



“Regular exercise has been proven to help weight loss, regulate appetite and improve the metabolic profile, especially for people who are overweight and obese,” said Dr. Yong Xu. “If we can understand the mechanism by which exercise triggers these benefits, then we are closer to helping many people improve their health.”



“We wanted to understand how exercise works at the molecular level to be able to capture some of its benefits,” said Dr. Jonathon Long. “For example, older or frail people who cannot exercise enough, may one day benefit from taking a medication that can help slow down osteoporosis, heart disease or other conditions.”



Xu, Long and their colleagues analyzed blood plasma compounds from mice that had exercised intensively by running on a treadmill, and compared these to plasma compounds in mice that had not exercised. The most notable molecular difference was the levels of a modified amino acid called Lac-Phe in the blood of mice that had exercised. Lac-Phe is synthesized from lactate (a byproduct of strenuous exercise that is responsible for the burning sensation in stiff muscles) and phenylalanine (an amino acid that is one of the building blocks of proteins).



When obese mice received a high dose of Lac-Phe over a period of 12 hours, their food intake was suppressed by about 50 percent in comparison to control mice. When this high dose was administered to the obese mice over 10 days, their cumulative food intake decreased, they lost weight and showed improved glucose tolerance.&nbsp;



The researchers also identified an enzyme called CNDP2 that is involved in the production of Lac-Phe, and showed that mice that lacked this enzyme did not lose as much weight on an exercise regime as a control group on the same exercise plan.



Furthermore, the experts found increased levels of Lac-Phe in the blood plasma of race horses and humans, after strenuous exercise. In a human cohort, sprint exercise induced the most dramatic increase in plasma Lac-Phe, followed by resistance training and then endurance training.&nbsp;



“This suggests that Lac-Phe is an ancient and conserved system that regulates feeding and is associated with physical activity in many animal species,” said Long.



“Our next steps include finding more details about how Lac-Phe mediates its effects in the body, including the brain,” Xu said. “Our goal is to learn to modulate this exercise pathway for therapeutic interventions.”



The study is published today in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.



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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

Could the benefits of exercise be packaged in a pill?

Regular exercise is known to have many health benefits, including...

A new study published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c00587">Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry</a> has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evidence-of-beer-drinking-from-9000-years-ago/">beer</a> can have health benefits when consumed in moderation. According to experts from the <a href="https://www.unl.pt/en">Nova University Lisbon</a> in Portugal, men who drink either one alcoholic or one non-alcoholic lager beer daily have a more diverse set of gut microbes, which can reduce the risk of several diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.



Trillions of microorganisms line human gastrointestinal tracts, significantly impacting their hosts’ health and well-being. Prior research has shown that, when more types of bacteria are present, people have lower chance of developing chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular issues or diabetes. And beer contains compounds like polyphenols, as well as microorganisms from its fermentation that could increase the variety of microbes in the human gut.



Previously, researchers found evidence that when both men and women consumed non-alcoholic lager beer for 30 days, their gut microbiome diversity increased. Many of the participants were also in a second group that drank an alcoholic version of the beer, which didn’t have the same effect.&nbsp;



Since few other clinical studies have tested this issue, scientists from Portugal designed a parallel, randomized trial study in which 19 healthy men were randomly divided into two groups who drank 11 fluid ounces of either alcoholic or non-alcoholic lager beer with dinner for one month. During this period, although participants’ weight, body mass index, and serum markers for hearth health and metabolism didn’t change, their gut microbiome diversity significantly increased, indicating an improvement in intestinal health. According to the researchers, these results could differ from those of the previous study because of the different designs of the trials, and due to the fact that participants were living in different communities.



The results suggest that drinking one bottle of beer per day – regardless of its alcohol content – may be beneficial to the gut microbiome and intestinal health of men. However, since alcohol is known to have a negative impact on various health-related issues, non-alcoholic beer may be a better, healthier choice.



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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

Lager beer is beneficial for men’s gut microbiome

A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and...

Life as we knew it immediately changed during the pandemic. Millions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-news-for-active-children-moving-helps-them-learn/">children</a> spent more than a year attending virtual school from kitchen tables, bedrooms and laptops. A new study suggests that the shift to remote learning may have led to negative consequences for younger kids. Elementary school-aged children enrolled in remote learning experienced greater behavioral, learning, and sleep-related difficulties.



The researchers surveyed roughly 300 parents with children ranging from kindergarteners to fifth graders between February and March 2021. Study lead author Dr. Kimberley Levitt is a developmental behavioral pediatrician at <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/">University of Michigan Health</a> C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and a researcher at Michigan Medicine.



“In the early days of learning about how the virus spread and who was at risk, everyone made the best decisions they could with the information they had,” said Dr. Levitt. “We wanted to explore differences in parent and child well-being at a time when some school districts had returned to in-person school, while others remained remote or hybrid.”



In the United States, more than 55 million students were impacted by a change in school formats during the spring of 2020, many of which were fully remote that year.&nbsp;



The study is one of few that have examined family well being, compared several areas of health, including behavior problems, school experiences, sleep challenges, potential disparities, and parent stress.



Children in remote schools showed more signs of hyperactivity and problems amongst peers. This is likely a result of fast-changing demands and expectations, adjusting to interactions through screens, and being home with fewer outlets.



“There’s a certain amount of comfort and safety in knowing what to expect and having routines to fall back on. In general, any sudden changes to routines can trigger stress and emotional dysregulation in kids.” said Dr. Levitt.



Virtual school attendees were less likely to be academically motivated or socially engaged and more likely to show defiance and resistance in doing schoolwork.



“Remote learners appeared to be less excited about learning,” said Dr. Levitt. “We know that children’s enthusiasm and engagement in school helps predict how they cope with academic challenges throughout the year.”



Parents of remote learners were less likely to report that the teacher knew their child well, the child knew their classmates well, was motivated to get ready for school in the morning, has enough opportunities to socialize, or has a best friend.&nbsp;&nbsp;



During this time, loss went beyond academics, such as a sense of community, identity and independence, as well as the development of key friendships.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Children were falling asleep later and were more likely to co-sleep with parents. A third of parents said their child took longer to fall asleep, about a seventh reported more overnight awakenings, and more than a fifth said their child had more nightmares.



This is likely due to greater anxiety and stress, increased screen time and exposure to increased family conflict<s>s</s>.



“Providers should consider tailoring interventions for families who would benefit from a sleep hygiene reset. We know disrupted and poor sleep can affect all areas of health, including mood, behavior and both physical and developmental growth as well as academic performance.”



Researchers considered how families with hardships and stressors, such as food or housing insecurity, may have experienced a greater burden of stress.



Nearly a third of families surveyed were from underrepresented racial or ethnic minorities. Underrepresented minority children were more likely to attend a virtual school than non-Hispanic white children.



Surprisingly, the study found that associations between remote learning and behavior difficulties were more challenging for children without material hardships.



“Children with material hardships showed more behavior challenges overall, but less associated with school format. Parents may not have detected a noticeable difference in the home setting during remote learning, but we need further studies to understand how to better support these families,” said Dr. Levitt.



More than two fifths of parents overall reported elevated depressive symptoms. The researchers suggest that providers may consider screening parents for mental health concerns and material hardships to identify those who could benefit from mental health resources and social work assistance.



“Many parents in our sample reported material hardships, such as poverty, job loss, and food insecurity and reported more parent-child conflict. We heard this from families we treat at Michigan Medicine, but our survey showed that the experience was widespread throughout Michigan," said study senior author Dr. Jenny Radesky. “This school year, we hoped that things would improve with consistent in-person learning and increased educational funding."



Sadly, some children are still struggling with behavioral challenges. Some schools are also struggling to hire social support staff. However, the researchers are hopeful that their findings demonstrate the importance of schools to receive the resources they need to help children heal from these pandemic impacts.&nbsp;



---



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

Remote learning causes sleep and behavior issues

Life as we knew it immediately changed during the pandemic....

The preliminary results of a new study suggest that genetics determine how we perceive different tastes. Our diets are partially determined by our sense of taste, which in turn influences our health.&nbsp;



Study lead author Julie E. Gervis is a doctoral candidate in the Cardiovascular Nutrition Lab at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.&nbsp;



“We know that taste is one of the fundamental drivers of what we choose to eat and, by extension, our diet quality,” said Gervis. “Considering taste perception could help make personalized nutrition guidance more effective by identifying drivers of poor food choices and helping people learn how to minimize their influence.”



For example, if someone finds certain vegetables like cauliflower bitter, a recommendation could be made for different seasonings that would make it more palatable. The researchers claim that most people do not know what drives their food choices, and that this could give them more control.&nbsp;



The analysis is unique in that it investigated all five taste groups across a broad range of adults. This is also the first study to look at whether genetics for taste variations could influence health risk from diets.&nbsp;&nbsp;



To carry out the research, the scientists looked at genetic data associated with the five basic tastes and created a "polygenic taste score." The score takes into account different genes and gives a single number to each taste. For example, the higher the score for "bitter," the more sensitive you are to bitter tastes.&nbsp;



Using data from the Framingham Heart Study, the researchers analyzed the polygenic taste scores, as well as diet quality and cardiovascular risk factors, for 6,230 adults.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The experts found that indeed, some diet choices seem to be correlated to genetics and adults with sensitivity to certain food groups are less likely to eat them. The scientists emphasize that these results may not apply to everyone, and that further research is needed.&nbsp;



Gervis will present the study findings online at <a href="https://nutrition.org/nutrition-2022/">Nutrition 2022 Live Online</a>, the annual meeting of the <a href="https://nutrition.org/">American Society for Nutrition</a> on June 14-16.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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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

Your genes may be driving your food choices

The preliminary results of a new study suggest that genetics...

Foods that are available for us to purchase in supermarkets and stores are not all equally healthy. And, although many people keep track of the amounts of fat and sugar in the food they buy, this is not the whole story when it comes to eating healthily. Despite all the information and guidance available, it seems that Americans still struggle to eat a healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fishy-diet-may-be-linked-to-increased-melanoma-risk/">diet</a>.



A new study on just how American perceptions of a healthy diet differ from reality is to be presented by Jessica Thomson at <a href="https://nutrition.org/nutrition-2022-live-online/">Nutrition 2022 Live Online</a>, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.



In this study, the researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults conducted every two years. Over 9,700 participants were asked to complete detailed 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires and rate their diet as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. The researchers then used the questionnaires to assess the quality of each participant’s diet.&nbsp;



In this respect, healthier diets were considered to be those that included fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, lower-fat dairy products, less sugar, and proteins from seafood and plants. Foods considered less healthy included refined grains and foods high in sodium, added sugars or saturated fats.



Apart from assessing diet quality, the researchers wished to find out whether a single, simple question (How healthy is your diet?) could be used as a screening tool to replace the detailed dietary questionnaires currently used in nutritional studies. Previous studies have found that people are accurate at assessing the state of their health overall, and that self-rated health is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality. Currently, however, there is little research on whether self-rated diet quality is predictive of the actual quality of one’s diet.



The results of the study showed that people’s assessment of the healthiness of their diet did not agree with the researcher-calculated scores obtained from analysis of the detailed diet questionnaires. Participants tended to overrate the healthiness of their diets. Of the over 9,700 participants, about 8,000 (roughly 85 percent) inaccurately assessed the quality of their diet. Of those, almost all (99 percent) overrated the healthiness of their diet.



“We found that only a small percentage of U.S. adults can accurately assess the healthfulness of their diet and, interestingly, it’s mostly those who perceive their diet as poor who are able to accurately assess their diet,” said Thomson, lead author of the study. “Additionally, most adults overrate the quality of their diet, sometimes to a substantial degree.”



Among those who rated their diet as poor, their assessment matched that of the researchers in 97 percent of instances. However, in the other dietary categories the assessment by the participants only matched that of the researchers in 1–18 percent of cases. This represents a significant and concerning disconnect between the researcher-calculated scores and how participants actually perceived their own diets.



“It’s difficult for us to say whether U.S. adults lack an accurate understanding of the components of a healthful versus unhealthful diet, or whether adults perceive the healthfulness of their diet as they wish it to be – that is, higher in quality than it actually is,” said Thomson. “Until we have a better understanding of what individuals consider when assessing the healthfulness of their diet, it will be difficult to determine what knowledge and skills are necessary to improve self-assessment or perception of one’s diet quality.”



Clearly, using a person’s answer to the question ‘How healthy is your diet?’ is not going to provide an accurate assessment, or replace the detailed diet questionnaires currently used in nutritional studies. Thomson said further research could help to elucidate what factors people consider when asked to assess their diet quality. For instance, it would be helpful to know whether people are aware of particular dietary recommendations and whether they take into consideration where their food is purchased or how it is prepared.&nbsp;



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

Most people overestimate the healthiness of their diet

Foods that are available for us to purchase in supermarkets...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a> (USC) has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pandemic-stress-is-compounded-by-climate-anxiety/">stress</a> – caused by a variety of factors, including traumatic events, job strain, discrimination, or everyday stressors – may accelerate the aging of the immune system, increasing people’s risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or severe illness from infections such as Covid-19. These findings could explain disparities in age-related health, including the unequal toll of the coronavirus pandemic, and identify possible therapeutic pathways.



“As the world’s population of older adults increases, understanding disparities in age-related health is essential. Age-related changes in the immune system play a critical role in declining health,” said study lead author Eric Klopack, a postdoctoral researcher in Gerontology at USC. “This study helps clarify mechanisms involved in accelerated immune aging.”



As people age, their immune systems weaken – a condition known as “immunosenescence” – and are characterized by an excess of worn-out white blood cells circulating, and not enough fresh white blood cells ready to combat new invaders. This condition is linked to increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia, as well as to reduced vaccine efficiency and organ system aging. But what could explain drastic differences in the immune profiles of same-age individuals?



By analyzing massive amounts of data from University of Michigan’s&nbsp;<a href="https://hrs.isr.umich.edu/">Health and Retirement Study</a> - a public resource for data on aging in the United States since 1990 – the scientists identified a significant connection between lifetime exposure to stress and declining vigor of the immune system.



Blood samples of participants with higher stress scores revealed a higher percentage of worn-out white blood cells, suggesting that stress accelerates immune aging. However, poor diet and low exercise – which are both associated with social stress – appeared to also contribute to these problems.



“In this study, after statistically controlling for poor diet and low exercise, the connection between stress and accelerated immune aging wasn’t as strong,” said Dr. Klopack. “What this means is people who experience more stress tend to have poorer diet and exercise habits, partly explaining why they have more accelerated immune aging.”&nbsp;



In addition, cytomegalovirus (CMV) – a common, usually asymptomatic human virus – is also known to have a strong effect in accelerating immune aging. Like cold sores or shingles, CMV is dormant most of the time but can occasionally flare up, particularly when an individual is experiencing high stress. In this study, statistically controlling for CMV positivity also reduced the correlation between stress and accelerated immune aging. Thus, widespread CMV vaccination could turn out to be a simple and powerful intervention which could reduce the immune aging effects of stress, the scientists concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2202780119">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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

Stress can accelerate the aging of the immune system

A new study led by the University of Southern California...

A new survey by The Harris Poll on behalf of <a href="https://www.orlandohealth.com/">Orlando Health</a> finds that men are likely to be skipping a simple yet critical step in a healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hummingbirds-cannot-maintain-an-energetic-lifestyle-at-high-altitudes/">lifestyle</a>: an annual checkup with their doctor.&nbsp;



The survey found a third of men (33%) don’t think they need annual health screenings and almost two-thirds (65%) believe they are naturally healthier than others in general. This is statistically impossible, argues Dr. Thomas Kelley, a family medicine specialist at Orlando Health Physician Associates.&nbsp;



“Even if you think you’re healthy and you’re not experiencing any symptoms, there can be developing issues that often go unnoticed and can also be life-threatening if left unchecked. Some of those include rising blood pressure that can be a ticking time bomb for a heart attack or stroke, as well as colon cancer, which is one of the most deadly yet preventable cancers that exist.”



As a primary care physician, Dr. Kelley has heard many excuses from his male patients as to why they skip appointments. He believes the underlying reason is often fear.



“If you're a man and you haven't been to the doctor in a while, you don't really know what to expect.” said Dr. Kelley. “One of the big things that makes it less scary is having that great relationship with a primary care physician, and most men find the process to be easier than they thought. It takes about half an hour and by the end of the appointment you have the big picture about where you stand, what you’re at risk for and what you need to do for your health in the future.”



Kelley says building trust with your doctor can reduce nerves and help make conversations comfortable, which often creates confidence in returning.&nbsp;



But first, doctors need to get patients in the door. The survey found that 38 percent of men often get medical advice from social media, which can be extremely problematic without reputable medical sources.&nbsp;



Nearly two in five men admit that they focus on their pet’s health more than their own. This wasn’t surprising to Kelley, who argues that taking care of yourself first and foremost is how you can provide care to the others in your life.&nbsp;



It’s never too late to get caught up on routine appointments and screenings. However, starting as soon as possible is key to taking control of your health.&nbsp;



Combining annual exams with regular exercise, a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and finding ways to reduce stress can make a big difference in your overall health.&nbsp;



“It’s much easier to go to the doctor once a year for a wellness checkup and make certain that you’re not developing diabetes, high blood pressure or a heart problem, than to find yourself in an intensive care unit needing heart bypass surgery because you didn't look into those things,” said Dr. Kelley.



This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Orlando Health from May 9 - 11, 2022 among 893 U.S. adult men ages 18 and older.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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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

Most men think they are naturally healthier than others

A new survey by The Harris Poll on behalf of...

According to a new study presented at <a href="https://endo2022.endocrine.org/">ENDO 2022</a> (the <a href="https://www.endocrine.org/">Endocrine Society</a>’s annual meeting), encouraging moderation, balance, and real-life engagement may help combat the overuse of wireless mobile devices, such as cell phones or tablets, and the subsequent adverse health effects such behaviors cause.



By reviewing existing data on the neuroscience underlying addiction to mobile devices, Dr. Nidhi Gupta – the founder of <a href="https://kapendocrine.com/">KAP Pediatric Endocrinology</a> in Franklin, Tennessee – has discovered that extensive screen time increases the prevalence of obesity, dyslipidemia, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. This study is an extension of Dr. Gupta’s previous research, in which she examined the role of mobile devices overuse in health care settings, and found that devices such as smartphones or tablets are often a source of distraction, errors, procrastination, and inefficiency for clinicians, often leading to an increased risk of burnout.



In the new study investigating the impact of mobile devices overuse on the general population, Dr. Gupta has found that each hour per day increase in screen time was correlated with a 0.05 to 0.07 increase in body mass index (BMI), most likely caused by online food marketing, distracted eating, and procrastination of physical activities. Moreover, sleep disturbances, daytime tiredness, depression, the odds of using illegal substances, and various cognitive and behavioral issues were also linked to the overuse of mobile devices.



“As a pediatric endocrinologist, the trend in smartphone-associated health disorders (obesity, sleep, and behavior issues) worries me. I often get asked by my patients, ‘What can we do about the screen time?’ A simple but loaded question. It opens multiple avenues to educate and inspire my patients and their families,” Dr. Gupta explained.&nbsp;&nbsp;



In order to reduce screen time, Dr. Gupta recommended turning off excessive notifications, deleting social media apps, using traditional alarm clocks, promoting “green time” instead of screen time, and closely supervising children’s use of wireless mobile devices.&nbsp;



In the case of clinicians, wearing a wristwatch instead of relying on mobile devices as timekeepers, setting boundaries for checking emails, decreasing reliance on text messages, and placing devices in a drawer for 30-minute intervals to work without distractions could significantly boost productivity and safeguard against a wide range of health issues linked to mobile devices overuse.



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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

Moderation is key to avoiding addiction to mobile devices

According to a new study presented at ENDO 2022 (the...

A new study has found that women can have a longer lifespan - beyond the age of 90 - with higher levels of optimism. This association was made across racial and ethnic groups in a study led by researchers at <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a>.



“Although optimism itself may be affected by social structural factors, such as race and ethnicity, our research suggests that the benefits of optimism may hold across diverse groups,” said study lead author Hayami Koga, a PhD candidate in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.



“A lot of previous work has focused on deficits or risk factors that increase the risks for diseases and premature death. Our findings suggest that there’s value to focusing on positive psychological factors, like optimism, as possible new ways of promoting longevity and healthy aging across diverse groups.”



Previously, the research group found that optimism was linked to a longer lifespan and longevity. However, this study only looked at white populations.&nbsp;



This time around, the participant pool was broadened to include women from various racial and ethnic groups. Including diverse participants in public health research helps to inform policy decisions.&nbsp;



For the investigation, the researchers analyzed data and survey responses from 159,255 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative, which included women aged 50–79 from 1993 to 1998. These individuals were followed for up to 26 years.&nbsp;



The results of the analysis showed that the 25 percent of women who were the most optimistic were likely to have a 5.4 percent longer lifespan and a 10 percent greater likelihood of living beyond 90 years.



No interactions were found between optimism and race or ethnicity, even after taking into account demographics, chronic conditions, and depression. The results may encourage people to reconsider decisions that affect their health.&nbsp;



“We tend to focus on the negative risk factors that affect our health,” said Koga. “It is also important to think about the positive resources such as optimism that may be beneficial to our health, especially if we see that these benefits are seen across racial and ethnic groups.”



The Women’s Health Initiative is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Health and Human Services.



The research is published in the <a href="https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15325415">Journal of the American Geriatrics Society</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

Optimism appears to help women live longer

A new study has found that women can have a...

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. The causes of this type of cancer are not well understood, although exposure to UV radiation appears to increase a person’s risk of developing it. And now a new study, involving almost 500,000 adults across America, has linked an increased risk of melanoma with the consumption of certain forms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-the-organs-of-electric-fish-evolve/">fish</a>.&nbsp;



“Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the USA and the risk of developing melanoma over a lifetime is one in 38 for white people, one in 1,000 for black people and one in 167 for Hispanic people. Although fish intake has increased in the USA and Europe in recent decades, the results of previous studies investigating associations between fish intake and melanoma risk have been inconsistent," said study co-author Eunyoung Cho.



The study, conducted by researchers from Brown University, made use of the data from 491,367 adults who were recruited from across the USA to the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study between 1995 and 1996. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between daily median fish intake and melanoma risk. The participants, who were aged 62 years on average when the baseline data was collected, reported at the time how frequently they had eaten fried fish, non-fried fish and tuna during the previous year, as well as giving details of their portion sizes.



The researchers then obtained data on the incidence of melanoma amongst the participants over the following 15 years from cancer registries. They found that 5,034 participants (1.0%) developed malignant melanoma during the study period and 3,284 (0.7%) developed stage 0 melanoma, or melanoma in situ, which is characterized by the development of&nbsp;abnormal cells in the outer layer of the skin only.&nbsp;



Once the scientists had accounted for sociodemographic factors, participants’ BMI, physical activity levels, smoking history, daily intake of alcohol, caffeine and calories, family history of cancer, and the average UV radiation levels in their local areas, they found that higher intake of fish in general, and of non-fried fish and tuna in particular, was associated with increased risks of malignant melanoma and stage 0 melanoma.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The findings, published today in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10552-022-01588-5">Cancer Causes &amp; Control</a>, showed that participants whose median daily fish intake was 42.8 grams (approximately one 140 gram portion every three days) had a 22 percent higher risk of developing malignant melanoma than those whose median daily fish intake was 3.2 grams. The researchers also found that participants whose median daily intake was 42.8 grams of fish had a 28 percent increased risk of developing stage 0 melanoma when compared to those whose median daily intake was 3.2 grams of fish.&nbsp;



When considering the influence of the form of fish eaten, the researchers found that participants whose median daily tuna intake was 14.2 grams (a portion every 10 days) had a 20 percent higher risk of malignant melanoma and a 17 percent higher risk of stage 0 melanoma, when compared to those whose median daily tuna intake was only 0.3 grams.&nbsp;



In addition, a median intake of 17.8 grams of non-fried fish per day was associated with an 18 percent higher risk of malignant melanoma and a 25 percent higher risk of stage 0 melanoma, compared to a median intake of 0.3 grams of non-fried fish per day.&nbsp;



The researchers did not identify any significant associations between consumption of fried fish and the risk of malignant melanoma or stage 0 melanoma.



“We speculate that our findings could possibly be attributed to contaminants in fish, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, arsenic and mercury," said Cho. "Previous research has found that higher fish intake is associated with higher levels of these contaminants within the body and has identified associations between these contaminants and a higher risk of skin cancer. However, we note that our study did not investigate the concentrations of these contaminants in participants’ bodies and so further research is needed to confirm this relationship.”



The study uses an observational method along with statistical analysis, which does not allow for conclusions about whether fish intake actually causes an increased risk of melanoma. In addition, the method did not take into consideration certain other risk factors for melanoma development, including initial mole count, hair color, history of severe sunburn and sun-related behaviors. The researchers also note that, since average daily fish intake was reported by participants for the period of a year before the start of the study, it may have changed over time.&nbsp;



However, the study authors suggest that their findings do warrant further investigation, particularly of the components of fish that could contribute to the observed association between fish intake and melanoma risk and any biological mechanisms underlying this.&nbsp;



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

Fishy diet may be linked to increased melanoma risk

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that develops...

The development of reading skills is a crucial step in a child's education. A new study from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a> has revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/community-sleep-health-predicts-success-among-children/">children</a> can significantly improve their ability to recognize the sounds of individual letters by moving while they learn.&nbsp;



"Reading is a complex unique human skill, which serves an essential role in modern society. Poor spelling and reading skills in children and adolescents have been associated with poor academic achievement, school dropout, and lower occupational status in adulthood," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"The acquisition and development of competent reading skills in childhood are therefore critical to functioning and well-being later in life."



The researchers set out to investigate whether whole-body learning, known as embodied learning, may help children learn letter sounds.



"Our research demonstrated that children who used their whole body to shape the sounds of letters became twice as proficient at letter sounds that are more difficult to learn compared to those who received traditional instruction," said study lead author Linn Damsgaard, a PhD student in UCPH’s Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports.



"There are many difficult letter sounds in Danish and these sounds are particularly important, because once children become proficient at them, it has already been shown that they will be better readers."



The research was focused on 149 children between the ages of five and six years old who had just started school.&nbsp;



The children were divided into three groups that either stood up and used their whole body to shape letter sounds, remained seated and shaped letter sounds with their hands and arms, or learned traditionally and wrote letters out by hand.



The results showed that even those children who were seated and shaped difficult letter sounds with hand movements had a greater increase in proficiency than the children in the control group.&nbsp;



"The overarching goal is to learn more about which methods can be used to give beginner readers a good start. The idea is that if, through play and movement, we can reach children where they are and where their strengths truly lie – and we can create a form of learning that combines reading with play – then that's truly positive," said Professor Jacob Wienecke.



Prior to this study, the researchers demonstrated that children felt more motivated to learn when lessons incorporated physical movement.



The current research is the first of its kind to explore the effects of linking whole-body movement to the learning of letters and sounds. Professor Wienecke hopes this will provide an opportunity to inspire teachers and school managers to prioritize movement across subjects.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.springer.com/journal/10648">Educational Psychology Review</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

Good news for active children - moving helps them learn

The development of reading skills is a crucial step in...

It is well known that a mother can soothe her distressed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/maternal-chemical-signals-help-infants-bond-with-strangers/">baby</a> better than anyone else can. With little more than a calm embrace and some soothing words, she can usually stop her baby from crying when nobody else succeeds. What is the source of this magic?&nbsp;



The calming effect of a mother has been researched in the fields of pediatrics and behavioral neuroscience, but is not yet well understood. What is known, however, is that mothers who experience post-partum depression (PPD), which affects up to 20 percent of new mothers, don’t seem to have this magic touch.



“Myriad studies have shown that mothers with post-partum depression struggle calming their distressed babies,” said John Krzeczkowski, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology and with the <a href="https://www.yorku.ca/lamarsh/">LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research</a>. “However, it is not known how mothers’ soothing signals are transmitted to their baby, how postpartum depression disrupts this process, or if treating depressed mothers can alter these signals.”



In order to investigate the links between mother and infant physiology when infants were distressed, Krzeczkowski and his team worked with two sets of mother-infant pairs. In the control group, the 32 pairs of mothers and babies were healthy, but in the other group of 26 pairs, the mothers had received a PPD diagnosis within a year of giving birth.



The mother-infant pairs all went through three stages of interaction at the start of the investigation. In the play stage, mothers interacted with their infants in a normal way, for example by playing, singing, talking and touching. In the still-face stage, mothers had to maintain eye contact with their infants but show no expression and refrain from talking to or touching them. This “poker” face behavior was expected to make the infant distressed and agitated. The final reunion stage involved the mother re-engaging with her now-distressed infant and initiating normal interaction and play again. This last stage was the focus of the study.&nbsp;



During each of the stages, the mothers and infants were monitored for heart rate variability. In healthy people, the heart does not beat at a perfectly regular rate but exhibits slight beat-to-beat variations. This is especially noticeable when comparing the heart rate while a person is breathing in with the heart rate as the person exhales. Usually, the heart rate speeds up during inspiration and slows down during expiration. The phenomenon is termed respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and it is an important component of overall heart rate variability. It is also a known indicator of a person’s emotional state.



In the reunion phase in particular, the researchers were watching the RSA readings for evidence of a “feedback loop” of reciprocal heart-rate signals passing between mother and baby. They also examined whether the influence of maternal RSA on subsequent infant RSA (measured at the next second) strengthened during the time of the reunion phase.&nbsp;



The groups were tested in this way twice: once to establish a baseline and then a second time, nine weeks later. In the intervening time, the mothers with PPD received, and were observed to benefit from, a course of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that was aimed at improving their affective state. &nbsp;&nbsp;



The findings of the study show that heart rate changes in healthy mothers preceded those of their infants. According to Krzeczkowski, this suggests that the mothers were leading a “soothing dance” that calmed their infants.&nbsp; In the case of the PPD-afflicted mothers, however, it was the infants whose physiological signals led the dance, initially at least. After these mothers had received CBT treatment, their physiological signaling improved such that they then led the back-and-forth, just as the healthy mothers did.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Krzeczkowski said the results represent a breakthrough in what has long been a blind spot in behavioral neuroscience.



“This study demonstrates empirically, for the first time, that synchronized physiology between mothers and babies plays a role in soothing distressed infants, and that treating PPD with CBT can improve the synchronicity patterns and thereby augment mothers’ ability to soothe their distressed babies," explained Krzeczkowski.&nbsp;



“So we now know a bit more than we ever did before about how soothing signals are transmitted in real time on a moment-to-moment scale between mothers and infants."



The authors call for further studies to test whether an improvement in the RSA feedback loop’s soothing effects is directly attributable to the CBT treatment received by the mothers with post-partum depression.&nbsp;



“Because of our study’s observational design, we can't say categorically that positive changes were specifically due to CBT treatment," said Krzeczkowski. "The two are correlated but there could be confounding factors – for example, the specific methods that individual mothers use to calm their babies, like singing, talking and touch. But we want more people to get treatment for PPD. We hope that by showing causality and efficacy, it can increase the idea that these programs can benefit them.”



The research is published in the <a href="https://doi.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fabn0000760">Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science</a>.



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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

Mothers soothe their infants with physiological signals

It is well known that a mother can soothe her...

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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

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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?

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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

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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"

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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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" 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 the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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