Do you ever wonder if where you live impacts your health? Well, you might be onto something. New research has opened a new chapter in the rural-urban health divide saga. 



The studies rolling off their desks portray a rather disconcerting picture: rural men are living shorter lives and spending fewer of their twilight years in good health compared to their urban counterparts. Why is this so? 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-in-rural-and-urban-areas">Health in rural and urban areas</h2>



Rural areas, often romanticized as idyllic havens of tranquility, are in fact battlegrounds where lifestyle habits wage war on human health daily.



Among rural men, the troika of smoking, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions have insidiously woven themselves into the fabric of life. 



This deadly cocktail is fueling the rural-urban divide in illness. As our calendars keep flipping, this gap in health disparity widens. Spoiler alert: when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mens-brains-shrink-in-the-evening-and-reset-overnight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rural men</a> hit sixty, the game is almost over.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rising-demand-dwindling-supply">Rising demand, dwindling supply</h2>



As if the above predicaments weren't enough, rural areas face an increasingly uphill battle when it comes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-diet-may-protect-cognitive-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthcare</a>. 



With a higher demand for care and dwindling provider numbers, the future seems bleak. Rural areas are aging faster, largely because the younger folk are packing their bags and heading to the cities. 



This mass exodus further shrinks the supply of potential caregivers, posing quite a challenge for rural communities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rural-health-crisis">Rural health crisis</h2>



"Rural populations face a higher prevalence of chronic diseases, which has serious implications for healthy aging," said lead author<a href="https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/author/jack-m-chapel/"> Jack Chapel</a>, a postdoctoral scholar at the <a href="https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USC Schaeffer Center</a> for Health Policy &amp; Economics.



"With an aging population and fewer physicians available, the burden on rural communities is set to grow, leading to significant challenges in providing care for those who will face more health issues in the future."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-quality-for-rural-men">Health quality for rural men</h2>



The researchers used data from the Health and Retirement Survey and a prediction tool known as the Future Elderly Model. 



The goal? To anticipate future life expectancy and health quality for rural and urban Americans after age 60. 



They compared health trajectories for Americans who turned 60 between 2014-2020 and those who hit the mark between 1994-2000.



Their results? Quite startling. The disparity between rural and urban men has tripled in the last two decades. Presently, rural men can expect to live about two years less than their urban peers. 



What's more, they suffer from quality health for 1.8 fewer years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-rural-health-gap">Urban-rural health gap</h2>



About ten years ago, a game-changing study revealed that people with lower education levels are more prone to "deaths of despair" -- think drug overdoses or suicide.



This new study shows that although education is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fathers-diets-impact-the-heart-health-of-their-daughters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">critical factor in health quality</a>, it doesn't fully explain the urban-rural gap. 



When the researchers adjusted rural education levels to match their urban counterparts, they did see a reduction in the healthy life expectancy gap. But it was far from a perfect solution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interventions-to-bridge-the-gap">Interventions to bridge the gap</h2>



So, what can be done? Researchers suggest interventions focusing on smoking reduction, obesity management, and cardiovascular disease treatment and control. 



But it's easier said than done. Even the most effective interventions couldn't completely bridge the rural-urban divide in healthy life expectancy.



Co-author<a href="https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/author/elizabeth-currid-halkett-phd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Elizabeth Currid-Halkett</a> is the James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning and a senior scholar at the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy &amp; Government Service.



“While education matters, so does smoking, prevalent obesity, cardiovascular conditions – and simply living in a rural area -- which leads not only to more deaths but more illness among rural American men,” Currid-Halkett explained.



“Closing the gap in healthy life expectancy between urban and rural areas for older adults would require encouraging health behavior changes earlier in life and making broader social and economic improvements in rural areas,” said co-author<a href="https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/author/bryan-tysinger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Bryan Tysinger</a>, director of health policy simulation at the Schaeffer Center.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-big-picture">The big picture</h2>



There's no easy way to put this: the health of rural men is in crisis. This glaring reality underscores the need for urgent, comprehensive, and multi-faceted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/men-could-face-an-84-increase-in-cancer-cases-by-2050/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interventions</a>. 



While progress might be slow and the challenge seems daunting, remember that every life improved is worth the effort. After all, health shouldn't be a luxury determined by your zip code.



The study is published in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jrh.12875" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Journal of Rural Health</a>.



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Growing health gap between rural and urban men around the world

Do you ever wonder if where you live impacts your health? Well, you might be onto something. New research has opened a new chapter in the rural-urban health divide saga. The studies rolling off their desks portray a rather disconcerting picture: rural men are living shorter lives and spending fewer of their twilight years in good health compared to their urban counterparts. Why is this so? Health in rural and urban areas Rural areas, often romanticized as idyllic havens of tranquility, are in fact battlegrounds where lifestyle...

In a new study published by <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">BMJ</a>, experts report that the risk of serious injury associated with horseback riding is higher than that of other potentially risky <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/boys-who-play-sports-as-young-children-have-better-mental-health/">sporting</a> activities. According to the analysis, the risk of an injury that requires hospital admission is greater for horseback riding than football, motor racing, or skiing.



“Equestrian-related injuries are a frequently ignored public health issue," said the researchers. “When taken together, these data suggest that the dangers of equestrian activities have been severely underappreciated. When controlled for hours of activity, horseback riding resulted in a higher proportion of hospital admission than other higher risk activities like skiing.”



More than 30 million people participate in equestrian leisure each year in the United States alone, yet little is known about the prevalence of injuries related to the sport.&nbsp;



The study authors analyzed data from 24,791 patients with equestrian injuries supplied by level I and II trauma centers to the US National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB). The injuries were sustained between 2007 and 2016 by adults with an average age of 47.



The chest was the most common site of injury, but head and neck injuries were the most fatal. Injuries to the arms and legs were also very common, while abdominal injuries were the least common.



During the study period, 320 patients died from their horseback riding injuries. Three out of four of these individuals had head and neck injuries.



The researchers determined that riders with head and neck injuries were 44 times as likely to die as those with arm or leg injuries, while patients with chest and abdominal injuries were around 6 times as likely to die.&nbsp;



“Studies have shown that a large fraction of riders involved in equestrian injuries were not wearing helmets at the time of their accident," noted the study authors. "It stands to reason that raising awareness of the possible injuries and increasing preventive measures to protect against head injuries would significantly reduce mortality.”



“Interestingly, hospital admission risk from horseback riding is higher than football, auto and motorcycle racing, and skiing."



"Recently, some attention has been paid by equestrian sporting agencies to the use of protective equipment to prevent injuries, especially as it relates to concussion and brain injuries; however, very few public health campaigns have focused on preventing injuries in riders using horses for leisure and work.”&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://tsaco.bmj.com/">Trauma Surgery &amp; Acute Care Open</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

Horseback riding has a higher risk of serious injury than football

In a new study published by BMJ, experts report that...

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 219 million confirmed cases and 4.55 million deaths to date. The impact the pandemic had on health care workers, and the exhaustion of workers taking on extra shifts and covering for inadequate staffing has been extensively documented. Until recently, the ways in which pandemic response crippled other public health services has received less attention.



A new study published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0255844">PLOS One</a> has found that the COVID-19 pandemic had an enormous impact on the provision of other public health services in the United States. During the past 18 months, a large number of public health workers have been redeployed to COVID-related duties, reducing or suspending the deployment of other critical public health services.&nbsp;



According to researchers from the <a href="https://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a>, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. public health system has been understaffed and underfunded. During the peaks of the pandemic, staff redeployments produced significant reductions in several areas, such as programs focused on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (47 percent reduction), maternal and child health (42 percent), chronic disease (37 percent), injury (37 percent), substance abuse (28 percent), and environmental health (26 percent).&nbsp;



“That impacts the overall health of the population,” said study lead author Jennifer Horney, professor and founding director of the University of Delaware’s <a href="https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/departments/epidemiology/">Epidemiology Program</a>. “Those things didn’t just go away. People still had high blood pressure, they were dying of substance abuse in increasing numbers, but those programs were put on hold.”



Moreover, an increasing number of health workers were on the job for more hours than before the pandemic, often resulting in burnouts, resignations, and early retirements. According to a large-scale <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7026e1.htm">survey</a> conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">CDC</a>), among 26,174 surveyed public health workers, 53 percent reported mental health problems. The symptoms were more prevalent among those who worked more than 40 hours per week or couldn’t take time off.&nbsp;



Further research is needed to explore these issues in greater depth, and understand how these experiences have changed during 2021. In order to mitigate the complex effects on public health this pandemic had and future health crises might engender, increased funding and enhanced educational opportunities must be urgently provided to train the next generation of frontline health workers.



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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

The pandemic has had an enormous impact on public health

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 219 million confirmed...

A research team from the <a href="https://nutrition.tufts.edu/">Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy</a> at Tufts University has recently developed a new nutrient profiling system that can rank the healthfulness of foods. The tool will provide invaluable assistance to consumers, restaurants, cafeterias, and policy makers to produce, choose, and endorse healthy foods.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Low-Res_Friedman-Graphic_V4_Oct.52021.jpg.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1897107"/></figure>



Food Compass has been developed over three years and promises to be the most comprehensive and science-based nutrient profiling system to date. While many existing systems focus on the harmful factors of various foods and examine just a few nutrients, Food Compass is equally considering harmful and healthful factors, and takes into account a large variety of nutrients, ingredients (including phytochemicals and additives), and processing characteristics. Furthermore, while previous systems subjectively group and score foods differently, Food Compass is objectively scoring all foods, drinks, or even mixed dishes and meals by using a single consistent score.&nbsp;



“Once you get beyond ‘eat your veggies, avoid soda,’ the public is pretty confused about how to identify healthier choices in the grocery store, cafeteria, and restaurant,” said study lead author&nbsp;Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of the Friedman School. “Consumers, policy makers, and even industry are looking for simple tools to guide everyone toward healthier choices.”



Food Compass is the most comprehensive nutrient profiling system in the world, scoring 54 different characteristics across nine domains representing various aspects of food that are related to health. These features and domains have been selected based on nutritional attributes linked to diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular issues, or cancer, as well as to risks of malnutrition.



Among the major food and drinks categories, the lowest scoring were snacks, sweet desserts, sugar-sweetened sodas, and energy drinks. Among the highest ranked foods were fruits, vegetables, fruits and vegetable juices, nuts, seeds, and seafood.



This system promises to be extremely useful in encouraging the food industry to develop healthier foods; enabling restaurants and cafeterias to offer healthier food options; informing agricultural trade policies; and guiding individual and institutional investors on environmental, social, and corporate governance investment decisions.&nbsp;



“With its publicly available scoring algorithm, Food Compass can provide a nuanced approach to promoting healthy food choices–helping guide consumer behavior, nutrition policy, scientific research, food industry practices, and socially based investment decisions,” concluded co-author Renata Micha, a former faculty member at the Friedman School.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00381-y">Nature Foods</a>.&nbsp;



Image Credit: Tufts University 



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

Nutrient profiling system ranks healthy foods

A research team from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science...

Little,Girl,Running,On,Meadow,With,Sunset

A recent study from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> has revealed that children with a connection to nature during the first <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/over-one-third-of-americans-had-covid-19-by-the-end-of-2020/">COVID-19</a> lockdown showed less behavioral and emotional problems than children without that connection. The study also found that children from wealthy economic backgrounds tended to increase their connection to nature during the pandemic.&nbsp;



The results of the study suggest that kids from less affluent backgrounds likely experienced more mental health challenges during COVID-19 because they had a lower connection with nature compared to their wealthier peers.



“We know that access to and engagement with nature is associated with wide-ranging benefits in children and adults, including lowering levels of anxiety and depression, and reducing stress," said study first author Dr. Samantha Friedman.



"The COVID-19 lockdowns meant that children no longer had their normal school activities, routines and social interactions. The removal of these barriers gave us a novel context to look at how changes in connection with nature affected mental health."



"Connecting with nature may have helped buffer some UK children against the effects of the lockdown, but we found that children from less affluent families were less likely to have increased their connection to nature during that time.”



The study used an online survey to collect data on 376 families with children from three to seven years old. Over half of these families reported that children increased their connection to nature during the pandemic. Not only does the research point to the benefits of a connection to nature for children, it also gives actionable data.&nbsp;



“Our study revealed the wide range of ways that parents can help children get more connected to nature. This might be a bit daunting to some, but it doesn’t have to be camping in the woods and foraging for food – it really can be as simple as going for a walk near your house or sitting outside for ten minutes a day," said Dr. Friedman.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/25758314">People and Nature</a>.



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

Nature improved mental health of children during lockdown

A recent study from the University of Cambridge has revealed...

A recent review of over 25 studies into the effects of intermittent fasting shows that this is a safe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-mind-diet-slows-cognitive-decline/">diet</a> strategy that can result in clinically significant weight loss ( greater than 5%) and improve several markers of metabolic health, including blood pressure and insulin resistance.&nbsp;



The review considered the effects of three types of intermittent fasting:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Alternate day fasting, which involves a day where normal calorie intake occurs, alternating with a fast day where only a single meal of 500 calories is consumed.&nbsp;</li><li>5:2 diet, which is a modified version of alternate day fasting that involves five days of normal calorie intake and two fast days per week.&nbsp;</li><li>Time-restricted eating, which confines eating to a specified number of hours per day, usually four to ten hours, with no calorie restrictions during the eating period.&nbsp;</li></ul>



All forms of fasting reviewed in this study produced mild to moderate weight loss (1–8% from baseline) and consistent reductions in energy intake (10–30% from baseline).&nbsp;



“We noted that intermittent fasting is not better than regular dieting; both produce the same amount of&nbsp;weight loss and similar&nbsp;changes in blood pressure, cholesterol&nbsp;and inflammation,” said&nbsp;Krista Varady, professor of nutrition at the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences and author of the review article.



Various studies of time-restricted&nbsp;eating&nbsp;showed participants with&nbsp;obesity&nbsp;losing an average of 3% of their body weight, while alternate day fasting resulted in weight loss of 3–8% of body weight over three to eight weeks.&nbsp;Studies for the 5:2 diet showed similar results, which surprised the study’s reviewers. The participants in the 5:2 diet fast much less frequently than alternate-day fasters do, but the weight loss results are similar.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The weight loss of participants in both the alternate day and 5:2 fasting regimes is comparable to more traditional diets involving daily calorie restriction. Participants in studies of both fasting diets were able to maintain an average of 7 percent weight loss for a year.&nbsp;



Professor Varady explained that the&nbsp;review set out to debunk some myths regarding intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting does not negatively affect metabolism, nor does it cause an increased incidence of eating disorders, according to the studies reviewed.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Fasting people are worried about feeling lethargic and not being able to concentrate. Even though you are not eating, it won’t affect your energy. A lot of people&nbsp;experience a boost of energy on fasting days," explained Professor Varady.



Beyond promoting weight loss, intermittent fasting may lead to other health benefits such as decreased blood pressure and insulin resistance. In some cases, cholesterol and triglyceride levels are lowered. Some studies examined for the review also demonstrated improved appetite regulation and positive changes in the gut microbiome as consequences of intermittent fasting.



The study review includes a summary of practical considerations for those who may want to try intermittent fasting. Among the considerations are:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Adjustment time&nbsp;– Side effects such as headaches, dizziness and constipation subside after one to two weeks of fasting. Increased water intake can help alleviate headaches caused by dehydration during this time.&nbsp;</li><li>Exercise&nbsp;– Moderate to high-intensity endurance or resistance training during food abstention can be done, and some study participants reported having more energy on fast days. However, studies recommend those following alternate day fasting eat their fasting day meal after exercise.&nbsp;</li><li>Diet during fasting&nbsp;– There are no specific recommendations for food consumption during intermittent fasting, but eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help boost fiber intake and help relieve constipation that sometimes accompanies fasting.&nbsp;</li><li>Alcohol and caffeine&nbsp;– For those using an alternate day or 5:2 fasting plan, alcohol is not recommended on fast days as the limited calories should be used on healthy foods that provide nutrition.&nbsp;</li></ul>



There are several groups who should not undertake intermittent fasting, according to the studies. Those individuals include:&nbsp;



<ul><li>those who are pregnant or lactating;&nbsp;</li><li>children under 12;&nbsp;</li><li>those with a history of disordered eating; &nbsp;</li><li>those with a body mass index, or BMI, of less than 18.5;</li><li>shift workers (studies have shown they may struggle with fasting regimens because of shifting work schedules);&nbsp;</li><li>those who need to take medication with food at regimented times.&nbsp;</li></ul>



“People love intermittent fasting&nbsp;because it’s easy.&nbsp;People need to find diets that&nbsp;they&nbsp;can stick to long term.&nbsp;It’s definitely effective for weight loss and it’s gained popularity because there are no special foods&nbsp;or apps necessary. You can also combine it with other diets, like Keto,” said Professor Varady.&nbsp;



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/journal/nutr">Annual Review of Nutrition</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

Intermittent fasting has extraordinary health benefits

A recent review of over 25 studies into the effects...

Close,Up,Of,African,American,Woman,Lighting,Marijuana,Joint,At

New research conducted by <a href="https://case.edu/">Western Case Reserve University</a> has found that persons with substance use disorders (SUDs) are at increased risk for COVID-19 infections, even after getting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vaccination-offers-more-protection-than-prior-covid-19-infection/">vaccinated</a> (“breakthrough infections”). The highest rate of breakthrough infections occurred in individuals with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-cannabis-use-affect-embryonic-development/">cannabis</a> use disorders.



In a population-based cohort study with 579,372 participants, the researchers assessed the risk, time trends, outcomes, and disparities of COVID-19 breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated SUD patients. They found that people addicted to substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, or opioids had an almost double risk of contracting the coronavirus after getting both of their vaccine shots. Thus, while people without SUDs had a 3.6 percent rate of breakthrough infections, those with substance addictions had a seven percent rate.



In the case of cannabis use disorder, this rate increased to 7.8 percent. “Patients with cannabis use disorder, who were younger and had less comorbidities than the other SUD subtypes, had higher risk for breakthrough infection even after they were matched for adverse socioeconomic determinants of health and comorbid medical conditions with non-SUD patients,” the authors said.



However, as the scientists admit, additional variables, including behavioral factors or negative effects of cannabis use on pulmonary and immune functions could also contribute to the increased risk for breakthrough infections in this group.



Furthermore, cannabis advocates had already criticized this study, arguing that most cannabis users are not addicted and that there is no clear causal relation between cannabis use and increased risk of breakthrough infections.



“This study is limited to people with ‘substance use disorder’ which is a very small subset of cannabis consumers,” said Morgan Fox, the media relations director for the <a href="https://thecannabisindustry.org/%C3%B9">National Cannabis Industry&nbsp;Association</a>.&nbsp;



“This is merely correlation and does not show a causal relationship … individual behavior patterns and social conditions may be a major contributing factor above and beyond simply exhibiting problematic substance use patterns, such as lack of access to reliable information, sharing joints, etc.”



“Clearly more study is welcome and necessary, but it is important not to overstate or misrepresent the very inconclusive results presented in this particular research and ensure that cannabis consumers are accurately informed about what the newest research actually indicates,”&nbsp;Fox concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wps.20921">World Psychiatry</a>.



&nbsp;---



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

Cannabis use increases the risk of COVID breakthrough infections

New research conducted by Western Case Reserve University has found...

An investigation into the dark side of social media use has revealed dozens of threats to mental and physical well-being. Researchers at the <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/">University of Technology Sydney</a> (UTS) identified a total of 46 harmful effects, ranging from mental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seabirds-are-damaging-their-health-by-eating-plastic/">health</a> problems to negative impacts on school and work performance.



More than 3.6 billion people use social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. By gaining a better understanding of the potential dangers involved with social media use,&nbsp; experts can develop strategies to mitigate these harmful effects.



“Social media harms have mostly been studied from a psychopathological perspective. They have received less attention from information systems researchers,” said Dr Eila Erfani, Deputy Head of the UTS School of Information, Systems and Modeling.



“Information systems looks at the impact of technology on people and organisations in order to better meet their needs. Identifying and understanding how to reduce adverse outcomes from social media use is part of that challenge."



“The World Health Organization has recognised the need for further research on information technology addiction and the need to develop strategies for preventing and treating this problem."



In collaboration with PhD candidate Layla Boroon and Professor Babak Abedin from Macquarie University, Dr. Erfani conducted a systematic review to determine what is already known about the negative effects of online social networks.&nbsp;



“Much of the research on social network use has focused on its benefits and potential, but we were interested in comprehensively identifying the negative impacts that have been associated with social media use,” said Boroon.



“We reviewed more than 50 research articles published between 2003 and 2018. Some of the most common negative impacts included psychological harms such as jealousy, loneliness, anxiety and reduced self-esteem, as well as things like exposure to malicious software and phishing risks.”



Ultimately, the researchers grouped the negative effects into six themes, including annoying content. This includes a wide range of content that annoys, upsets or irritates, such as disturbing or violent content or sexual or obscene content.



Another theme that was identified is the cost of social exchange. This encompasses psychological harms, such as depression, anxiety or jealousy, and well as other costs such as wasted time, energy, and money.



Currently, Boroon is investigating the factors that influence social media addiction and the strategies people use to regulate their behavior. The next step will be to develop applications and other solutions to help reduce the negative effects of social media.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.igi-global.com/journal/journal-global-information-management/1070">Journal of Global Information Management</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

The dark side of social media: experts find dozens of dangers

An investigation into the dark side of social media use...

In the largest study of its kind, researchers have found that poor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-moon-disrupts-sleep-among-men-more-than-women/">sleep</a> quality is associated with mental illness. The investigation, conducted by experts at the <a href="https://www.camh.ca/">Centre for Addiction and Mental Health</a>,&nbsp;is the first to objectively measure sleep patterns among people with mental illness compared to the general population on a large scale.&nbsp;



The results suggest that individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness are more likely to suffer from poor sleep quality.



“The differences in sleep patterns indicated worse sleep quality for participants with a previous diagnosis of mental illness, including waking up more often and for longer periods of time,” said study senior author Dr. Shreejoy Tripathy. He emphasized that measuring the quality of sleep was just as important as sleep duration with regard to its impact on mental health.



“The relationship between sleep and mental health is bi-directional,” explained study lead author Dr. Michael Wainberg, a postdoctoral researcher at the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics. “Poor sleep contributes to poor mental health and poor mental health contributes to poor sleep. Sleep pattern differences were a feature of all mental illnesses we studied regardless of diagnosis.”



The analysis was focused on data collected from 89,205 participants who wore activity trackers 24 hours a day for seven days. The researchers used machine learning to break this vast amount of data down into ten metrics, including bedtime, wake time, and the longest duration of uninterrupted sleep. These metrics were&nbsp; compared between individuals who had been diagnosed with mental illness and those who had not.



“We know that up to 80 percent of people with mental health disorders can have problems with falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up earlier than they intended,” said sleep disorder specialist Dr. Michael Mak.&nbsp;



“We know that sleep disturbances cause a great burden to society, including an economic one. And we know that treatments that improve sleep quality, whether it is therapy or some types of medication, can improve mental health outcomes.”



The activity trackers made it possible for sleep monitoring to be conducted in each individual’s natural home environment rather than in a lab setting.



“Until now nobody has looked at objectively measured sleep in the context of mental illness at quite this scale before,” said Dr. Tripathy. “Part of why we wanted to do this study is that with the emergence of smartphones and wearables, we have access to data streams that we never had before.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/">PLoS Medicine</a>.



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

Poor sleep quality is associated with mental illness

In the largest study of its kind, researchers have found...

Many Scandinavians undertake regular swimming during the cold winter months. Winter swimming, as it is known, is part of Scandinavian culture and has been enjoyed for generations. There is a feeling that immersing oneself in icy <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/clear-blue-waters-highlight-the-caribbean-sea/">waters</a> after enjoying a hot sauna brings benefits in terms of health and happiness.&nbsp;



In a new study, published today in the&nbsp;journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/home">Cell Reports Medicine</a>, scientists suggest that routinely swimming in cold water and alternating this with hot sauna sessions might benefit people in several different ways. The practice appears to affect the metabolism of brown adipose (fat) cells and the generation of body heat, two processes that help people adapt to conditions of extreme heat and cold.&nbsp;



“Our data underscore that BAT [brown adipose tissue] in adult humans is part of the collective body temperature regulation system, in collaboration with skeletal muscle and blood flow,” said senior study author Camilla Scheele of the University of Copenhagen. “Regular winter swimming combining cold dips with hot sauna might be a strategy to increase energy expenditure, which could result in weight loss if compensatory increase in food intake can be avoided.”



Brown adipose tissue is a special type of body fat that functions to generate heat when we need to maintain our body temperature at a constant level. It is activated when we get cold and contains many more cellular structures for generating energy and heat than are found in normal fat cells.



In order to test whether winter swimming had any effects on the body’s ability to acclimate in conditions of extreme cold and heat, the researchers used a sample of eight male winter swimmers who had all swum in cold water and combined this with a hot sauna session, several times a week for at least two years. The sample was matched for age and fitness levels. The control sample also consisted of eight men, matched for age and fitness, but they were not winter swimmers and did not use any form of cold or heat therapy during the study.



Initial tests of participants’ thermoregulatory responses to cold involved submerging one arm in icy water for three minutes and also lying between water-perfused blankets to lower body temperature. In both instances, the winter swimmers showed signs of cold tolerance and had lower increases in pulse rates and blood pressure. They also showed a higher increase in skin temperature in response to cooling, which may indicate that they were capable of greater heat loss as a potential adaptation to frequent sauna exposure.



“We expected winter swimmers to have more brown fat than the control subjects, but it turned out that they instead had better thermoregulation,” said study first author Susanna Søberg of the University of Copenhagen.



Next, the researchers used positron emission tomography, to measure the activity of brown fat tissue in the participants as they were exposed to a comfortable temperature. At this temperature, the control subjects showed signs of activated brown fat tissue, as indicated by an uptake of glucose, whereas the winter swimmers showed absolutely no activity in their brown fat tissue. These results indicate that brown fat cells were actively generating heat even at mesic temperatures in non-swimmers. The winter swimmers had lower core temperatures than the controls during these periods in thermally comfortable conditions.&nbsp;



“The findings support the notion that brown fat tissue fine tunes body temperature to a comfortable state in young adults,” said Scheele. “It was, however, a surprising finding that the winter swimmers had no activity at all when exposed to comfortable temperatures.”&nbsp;



When participants were exposed to cold, however, the activity of brown fat tissue increased in both groups. The winter swimmers showed much higher heat production, or energy expenditure, in response to cool temperatures. They were able to generate more heat than controls when faced with cold conditions. “Winter swimmers burned more calories than control subjects during cooling, possibly in part due to higher heat production,” Scheele says.



The researchers also tracked the daily pattern of changes in temperature for both groups over a full day at comfortable thermal conditions. They found that winter swimmers reached a lower core body temperature, possibly due to being acclimated to the high heat conditions in saunas. Their skin temperature in areas close to BAT showed a distinct peak between 4:30 am and 5:30 am and revealed signs of a 24-hour rhythm in brown fat tissue activity and heat production. “The difference between groups is possibly explained by increased maturation and cold adaptation of BAT in the winter-swimmer group,” Scheele says.



There are some limitations to the study, including the small sample size and the absence of female participants. In addition, the fact that it was a correlational study means that a causal relationship between winter swimming and brown fat tissue activation, or acclimation to extreme temperatures, cannot be assumed.&nbsp;



“We compared experienced winter swimmers with control subjects, which allows for the possibility that other lifestyle factors or genetic factors not measured in the current study also could impact the differences between the groups,” noted Søberg.



However, the link between winter swimming and the ability to generate more heat and burn more calories during exposure to cold may have important implications for overweight people or for those trying to control or maintain their body weight.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Our results point to winter swimming as an activity that could increase energy expenditure, thus proposing a new lifestyle activity that might contribute to weight loss or weight control,” said Scheele.



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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

Winter swimming helps increase the body’s metabolism

Many Scandinavians undertake regular swimming during the cold winter months....

According to a new survey led by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.onepoll.us/">OnePoll</a>&nbsp;on behalf of&nbsp;<a href="https://figopetinsurance.com/">Figo Pet Insurance</a>, humans establish very deep emotional attachments and close relationships with their pets. The poll of 2,000 cat and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-dogs-have-exceptional-learning-capacities/">dog</a> owners showed that three in five Americans consider their pet a “soulmate” and would even run into a burning building to save their beloved companion.&nbsp;



“The connection we have with our pets goes much further than just owner and companion. Our pets comfort us when we’re sad, stick by us through ups and downs and provide unconditional love like no other relationship can. Our pets are family, and while they may not be able to verbalize their affection for us, any pet parent can attest to the strength and depth of their devotion,” said Lizbeth Bastidas, a certified veterinary technician.



Four in five owners strongly believe that their pets have a positive effect on their mental health, helping them surpass difficult moments, and giving them daily boosts of serotonin. Sixty-seven percent of the survey participants even claimed that because they are so connected to their pets, they can read each other’s minds.



Such close relationships appear to characterize more strongly the so-called “Generation Z,” comprising people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Over 84 percent of them would include their pets in milestone events such as their weddings, and more than three-fourths are likely to get a tattoo inspired by their cat or dog.



The survey also showed that people would not hesitate to bring their animal companions to the veterinary when sick, regardless of the costs. Almost one in five of the participants claim they would pay over $7,000 to save their dog or cat's life and 53 percent would go into debt or spend any amount necessary to save their pet from immediate danger.



“With the growing cost of vet care in the U.S., the sad reality is that many pet parents will at some point face an expensive vet bill that could put them in a terrible position – having to choose between their beloved companion and their financial health. Our pets are there for us through thick and thin, and many pet parents would do anything to return the favor,” concluded Bastidas.



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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

Many people have found their soulmate in a pet

According to a new survey led by&nbsp;OnePoll&nbsp;on behalf of&nbsp;Figo Pet...

A new study suggests that peanuts aren’t just a tasty element of a balanced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-mind-diet-slows-cognitive-decline/">diet</a>, but are also excellent for promoting cognitive function and healthy stress responses in young adults. 



The study, led by the <a href="https://www.ub.edu/web/portal/en/">University of Barcelona</a>, was focused on 63 healthy adults between the ages of 19 and 33 who regularly ate peanuts. The team conducted a range of cognitive analysis tests related to the biochemical indicators of stress responses such as cortisol.&nbsp;



Ultimately, the researchers found that the levels of bioactive compounds related to many health benefits were higher in those who regularly ate peanuts.



“There is evidence suggesting a bidirectional relationship between phenolic compounds and gut microbiota, and some authors have observed an improvement of brain and general health after a polyphenol-rich intervention," explained study co-author Sara Hurtado.



"The prebiotic substances present in peanuts - such as polyphenols - can affect cognition and the mood indirectly through interactions with the gut microbiota and enhance microbiota gut-brain axis."



The study revealed that the compounds that led to health benefits included resveratrol and p-coumaric acid, in addition to short-chain fatty acids and peanut-specific long-chain saturated fatty acids. These results were confirmed in a control group of participants who were given peanut butter that was free of prebiotic substances. Among this group, the cognitive benefits were not evident.



Interestingly, the researchers found that the effects were no different among participants who ate peanut butter instead of whole peanuts, and no age-related differences were found either.&nbsp;



“This is another element of interest in the study, since many nutritional studies show significant differences in patients or subjects with a high risk of suffering diseases, especially the elderly." noted the researchers.



“The high content of prebiotic fiber and polyphenols in peanuts could explain its beneficial effects on the gut microbiota. Due to its poor absorption, fiber and most polyphenols directly reach the colon, where they are metabolized by the microbiota and can modulate the brain biochemistry by acting as neurotransmitters in the central nervous system,” said Hurtado.&nbsp;



“Short-chain fatty acids - such as acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, are the main metabolites produced by gut microbiota, and they seem to have effects against various diseases, including depression and neurodegenerative diseases.”



While the study shows promising results, further research is needed to confirm the conclusions. Using larger studies, the researchers aim to expand the range of studies into the mechanisms involved in the microbiota-gut-brain axis when peanut products are consumed regularly.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The research has been published in <a href="https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/">Clinical Nutrition</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Peanuts improve cognitive function in young adults

A new study suggests that peanuts aren’t just a tasty...

A new meta-analysis led by <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/">Queen Mary University of London</a> has integrated the findings of 134 studies about the impact on consumer choice of color-coded nutrition labels and warnings from the front of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-seafood-has-one-sixth-the-carbon-footprint-of-red-meat/">food</a> packaging. 



The results of the analysis suggest that color-coded nutrition labels encourage people to make healthful purchases, while warning labels discourage customers to buy less healthy products. Thus, both labeling strategies appear to be highly beneficial for public health.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Some countries have introduced mandatory labels on the front of food products that show their nutritional values, or warn consumers about some unhealthy features that the products might have. Officials hope that such labeling strategies might help reduce the burden of disease associated to poor diets, and thus have an important impact on public health.



In order to clarify how four different types of front-of-package nutrition and warning labels influence consumer choice, Jing Song, a doctoral student at Queen Mary University, and his research team, conducted a network meta-analysis of data collected from 134 peer-reviewed studies published between January 1990 and May 2021. Their analysis showed that all four labeling systems seemed to have significant advantages in encouraging consumers to buy healthier products.



“This study found that color-coded labels and warning labels are all able to direct consumers towards more healthful purchase behavior,” explained the study authors. “Color-coded labels can promote the purchase of more healthful products, while warning labels discourage the purchase of less healthful products.”



A better understanding of the nutritional qualities of each product appeared to influence consumers to select foods and drinks with lower levels of energy, sodium, fats, and saturated fats. The findings can help refine policies of food labeling in order to improve public health, and perhaps also provide guidance to the food industry to reformulate some of their less healthy products.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003765">PLOS Medicine</a>.



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

Nutrition labels help people buy healthier products

A new meta-analysis led by Queen Mary University of London...

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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"

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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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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...