Since 1990, childhood obesity has significantly increased on all continents, nearly doubling in prevalence. Although the United States currently has the highest prevalence, many other nations are not very far behind.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-childhood-obesity-worldwide-nbsp">Childhood obesity worldwide&nbsp;</h2>



For instance, in Southern European countries such as Greece, Italy and Spain, 10 to 15 percent of children are obese, and, although Eastern European countries have for the moment slightly lower rates, they are experiencing a rapid surge which may soon match Southern Europe.&nbsp;



At a global level, Asia has almost half of all overweight children under five, while Africa has one-quarter of such children. Finally, in Latin America, nearly 20% of children under 20 are overweight.&nbsp;



And sadly, a great number of developing countries currently face not only the challenge of&nbsp; overweight/obesity in their children, but also malnutrition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-epidemic-levels-of-childhood-obesity-nbsp">Epidemic levels of childhood obesity&nbsp;</h2>



This obesity epidemic leads to a variety of health issues, including childhood <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-blood-pressure-drug-called-rilmenidine-dramatically-slows-aging-in-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hypertension</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-blood-pressure-drug-called-rilmenidine-dramatically-slows-aging-in-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">type 2 diabetes</a>.&nbsp;



Recently, a team of scientists led by <a href="https://www.fau.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Atlantic University</a> (FAU) has discussed these challenges and provided possible solutions in a commentary published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-024-04001-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Maternal and Child Health Journal</a>.



Study lead author Charles H. Hennekens is a professor of medicine and preventive medicine at FAU.&nbsp;



“Pediatric overweight and obesity have reached epidemic levels in the U.S. and are becoming a pandemic globally. These conditions lead to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and lipid disorders, which contribute to metabolic syndrome,” said Hennekens.



“In adults, these issues significantly increase the risks of heart attacks, stroke, liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis and certain cancers - many of which are now occurring at younger ages.”



Hennekens noted that through coordinated clinical and public health efforts, we can address these troubling trends and work toward a healthier future for children and families globally.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-misconceptions-about-childhood-obesity-nbsp">Misconceptions about childhood obesity&nbsp;</h2>



In the United States, a preschooler is considered overweight if their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weight-and-bmi-do-not-accurately-reflect-a-persons-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">body mass index</a> (BMI) surpasses the 85th percentile.&nbsp;



Previous research has shown that such children are at a significantly higher risk of being overweight in their adolescence than those with a BMI at the 50th percentile. This highlights the current misconception that children can simply “outgrow” overweight problems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-daily-activity-among-children-nbsp">Boosting daily activity among children&nbsp;</h2>



According to the experts, health care providers and public health practitioners face great challenges in their attempts to boost daily <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/any-type-of-physical-activity-can-help-protect-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physical activity</a> among children, which could significantly increase metabolic rates, lower BMI, and reduce risks of coronary heart disease later in life.



“With declining physical education in schools and excessive time spent on electronic devices, many children fail to meet recommended activity guidelines,” said co-author Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, the chair of FAU’s Department of Population Health and Social Medicine.&nbsp;



“This sedentary behavior contributes to overweight and obesity through poor diet, reduced sleep, and decreased physical activity. Encouraging organized, enjoyable activities rather than competitive ones can help children achieve necessary physical activity levels.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contributing-factors-to-childhood-obesity-nbsp">Contributing factors to childhood obesity&nbsp;</h2>



However, the scientists warn that while increasing the amount of physical activity among children is necessary, it is far from sufficient to have a large impact on the rates of childhood overweight and obesity. 



This is due to the fact that other major contributors are the increase of foods containing high quantities of sugars, together with the consumption of ultra-processed foods.



“Nearly 70 percent of the average U.S.-based child’s diet is made up of ultra-processed foods,” Hennekens said. “Moreover, consumption of ultra-processed foods among children under 24 months is rising worldwide, triggering not only the potential of developing obesity but also decreased immunological protection.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-ultra-processed-foods-nbsp">The role of ultra-processed foods&nbsp;</h2>



Although further research is needed to clarify which components of ultra-processed foods lead to weight gain in children, it is already clear that a diet high in such foods is connected to increasing rates of overweight and obesity.



“Evidence suggests that enhancing school lunch nutritional standards could help reduce obesity, particularly among low-income children,” Kitsantas said.&nbsp;



“We recommend adopting school food policies that remove ultra-processed foods from menus and promote healthier alternatives, alongside educational programs on healthy eating, despite the challenges posed by external influences on children.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-measures-nbsp">Public health measures&nbsp;</h2>



Some of these challenges include the use of social media and advertising, which affects children’s food choices and behaviors such as sharing unhealthy food posts.



“Despite recommendations from the World Health Organization and public health authorities to restrict food marketing aimed at children, few countries have implemented such measures,” Hennekens explained.&nbsp;



“The effectiveness of existing regulations in today’s media landscape is uncertain, creating an opportunity for health providers and public health practitioners to educate families about the impact of this advertising.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-the-public-health-crisis">Managing the public health crisis </h2>



The scientists argue that tackling the rising pediatric obesity epidemic requires a multidimensional approach. In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed World Health Organization’s guidelines, while releasing their own recommendations for managing this public health crisis.&nbsp;



The guidelines suggest that healthcare providers and public health professionals address the social determinants of health, utilize motivational interviewing to encourage changes in nutrition and physical activity habits, and consider options like pharmacotherapy or surgery to achieve individualized patient objectives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reversing-the-troubling-trends">Reversing the troubling trends</h2>



Yet, the study authors argue that although there are approved drug therapies available, maternal and child health care providers should employ therapeutic lifestyle changes before prescribing pharmaceutical interventions.



“While the ultimate goal is prevention of pediatric overweight and obesity as well as metabolic syndrome, to paraphrase Voltaire, we should not ‘let the perfect be the enemy of the good,’” Hennekens said.



“Health care and public health professionals must collaborate across disciplines to address these issues with patients, families, communities and policymakers. United efforts can help reverse these troubling trends and ensure a healthier future for children worldwide,” Kitsantas concluded.



-----



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Childhood obesity rates are surging worldwide

Since 1990, childhood obesity has significantly increased on all continents, nearly doubling in prevalence. Although the United States currently has the highest prevalence, many other nations are not very far behind. Childhood obesity worldwide&nbsp; For instance, in Southern European countries such as Greece, Italy and Spain, 10 to 15 percent of children are obese, and, although Eastern European countries have for the moment slightly lower rates, they are experiencing a rapid surge which may soon match Southern Europe.&nbsp; At a global level, Asia has almost half of...

Less screen time and more sleep can protect you from depression An international team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/">Western Sydney University</a> reports that less screen time and more sleep are critical for preventing depression. The study showed that depression is strongly influenced by <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/a-nutritional-diet-maximizes-the-benefits-of-exercise/">diet</a>, sleep habits, screen time, physical activity, and other modifiable lifestyle factors. 

The analysis was focused on data from the UK Biobank that involved almost 85,000 people. The experts say their insight into the link between depression and lifestyle factors may ultimately help to inform public health policy.

The study revealed that physical activity, healthy diet, and seven to nine hours of regular sleep are strongly correlated with a lower risk of depressed mood. By contrast, screen time and tobacco smoking were significantly associated with more frequent depressive symptoms.

The researchers were surprised to find that higher frequency of alcohol consumption was linked with a reduced frequency of depressed mood in people with depression. According to the experts, this may be due to the self-medicating use of alcohol by those with depression to manage their mood.

Over time, individuals with or without clinical depression were most protected from depression by lower screen time and optimal sleep. Those without clinically diagnosed depression were also protected by a better-quality diet.

"The research is the first assessment of such a broad range of lifestyle factors and its effect on depression symptoms using the large UK Biobank lifestyle and mood dataset," said study lead author Professor Jerome Sarris.

"While people usually know that physical activity is important for mood, we now have additional data showing that adequate sleep and less screen time is also critical to reduce depression."

"The findings also suggest that one's dietary pattern is partly implicated in the germination or exacerbation of depressed mood."

"The results may inform public health policy by further highlighting the important relationship between people being encouraged and supported to engage in a range of health-promoting activities. In particular, maintaining optimal sleep and lessening screen time (which is often an issue in youth), while having adequate physical activity and good dietary quality, may reduce the symptoms of depression."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/">BMC Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Less screen time and more sleep can protect you from depression

Less screen time and more sleep can protect you from...

Eating chili peppers may help you live longer, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.heart.org/">American Heart Association</a>. The researchers found that the compound capsaicin, which gives chili peppers their spicy flavor, significantly reduces the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease or <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/meat-and-dairy-consumption-linked-to-higher-risk-of-cancer/">cancer</a>.

In previous studies, experts have found that capsaicin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help to prevent cancer. To investigate the link between chili pepper consumption and fatal cardiovascular disease, the researchers screened 4,729 studies from five leading global health databases. 

The study was ultimately focused on four large studies which revealed the health outcomes associated with eating chili peppers based on the dietary records of more than 570,000 individuals in the United States, Italy, China, and Iran.

The experts compared the outcomes of those who regularly consumed chili peppers to those who rarely or never ate them. The study showed that people who incorporated chili peppers into their diet had a 26 percent lower risk of cardiovascular mortality, a 23 percent lower risk of cancer mortality, and a 25 percent lower chance of all-cause mortality.

Study senior author Dr. Bo Xu is a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic's Heart, Vascular &amp; Thoracic Institute.

"We were surprised to find that in these previously published studies, regular consumption of chili pepper was associated with an overall risk-reduction of all cause, CVD and cancer mortality. It highlights that dietary factors may play an important role in overall health," said Dr. Xu.

"The exact reasons and mechanisms that might explain our findings, though, are currently unknown. Therefore, it is impossible to conclusively say that eating more chili pepper can prolong life and reduce deaths, especially from cardiovascular factors or cancer. More research, especially evidence from randomized controlled studies, is needed to confirm these preliminary findings."

While the study is in the preliminary phase, the experts will continue to analyze the data. 

The research was presented at <a href="https://professional.heart.org/es/meetings/scientific-sessions">AHA Scientific Sessions 2020</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Eating chili peppers could save your life

Eating chili peppers may help you live longer, according to...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> is providing brand new insight into how the brain is protected from bacteria and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/releasing-a-virus-is-not-the-solution-to-australias-invasive-carp-problem/">viruses</a>. The researchers were surprised to find that the brain's first line of defense are antibodies that originate in the gut. 

While it was known that the brain is uniquely shielded from harmful microbes, the underlying defense mechanism had remained a mystery. The skull, along with three watertight membranes that line it, evolved to prevent physical damage to the brain. The membranes, known as meninges, form a powerful barrier that keeps immune cells in the bloodstream from reaching the brain. In the rest of the body, immune cells and antibodies are unleashed to attack invading viruses.

The Cambridge team has discovered that meninges have their own immune cells known as plasma cells, which secrete antibodies. The cells are strategically located next to large blood vessels that run through the meninges, which allows them to release antibodies that protect the perimeter of the brain. 

When the researchers analyzed the specific antibody secreted by the plasma cells in the meninges, they were surprised or was a specific type of antibody that was normally found in the intestine.

Normally, the antibodies found in the blood are a type which are produced in the spleen and bone marrow called Immunoglobulin G (IgG), which protect the inside of the body. However, the antibodies found in the meninges were Immunoglobulin A (IgA). This type of antibody is made in the gut lining and in the lining of the nose or lungs to protect the surfaces that interact with the outside environment.

The experts sequenced the antibody genes in plasma cells in the gut and meninges and showed that they were related. The team concluded that the cells that end up in the meninges are those that have been selectively expanded in the gut, where they have recognized particular pathogens.

"The exact way in which the brain protects itself from infection, beyond the physical barrier of the meninges, has been something of a mystery, but to find that an important line of defence starts in the gut was quite a surprise," said Professor Menna Clatworthy.

"But actually, it makes perfect sense: even a minor breach of the intestinal barrier will allow bugs to enter the bloodstream, with devastating consequences if they're able to spread into the brain. Seeding the meninges with antibody-producing cells that are selected to recognize gut microbes ensures defende against the most likely invaders."

The study was based on a mouse model, but the experts confirmed the presence of IgA cells in the human meninges by analyzing samples that were removed during surgery. The findings suggest that this defense system is critical for protecting humans from infections of the central nervous system.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How the gut protects the brain from infection

A new study from the University of Cambridge is providing...

When spending time in nature is "prescribed," the mental health benefits are diminished, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>. The experts determined that the great outdoors can help with issues such as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/psilocybin-treatment-rapidly-relieves-symptoms-of-major-depression/">depression</a>, but only when individuals choose to experience nature on their town free will. 

Dr. Ann Ojala said the findings should encourage further research in clinical settings. "We need more information on this delicate balance between the intrinsic motivation and sometimes necessary encouragement from outside, as well as how nature visits could be integrated to mental health treatment."

The researchers analyzed the potential for exposure to green space to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. The team collected data from more than 18,000 people in 18 different countries. 

The data was obtained from the EU Horizons BlueHealth project. The goal of this study was to understand why people feel motivated to spend time in nature, how often they visit, and how social pressure influences their emotional experiences during visits.

The analysis showed that while external pressure may promote more time spent outdoors, the internal response is not the same.

A growing collection of research confirms that experiencing nature has a positive impact on well-being, but it has remained unclear how "green prescriptions" may help to manage or alleviate the complex symptoms of mental health disorders.

The researchers were surprised to find that people suffering from depression were already visiting nature as often as people without mental health issues, and that individuals with anxiety were visiting significantly more often.

Overall, the benefits of nature were found to be consistent regardless of medical status. However, the benefits were undermined when people were not getting outside by choice. The more pressure people felt to visit nature, the more anxious they felt. 

"These findings are consistent with wider research that suggests that urban natural environments provide spaces for people to relax and recover from stress," said study lead author Dr. Michelle Tester-Jones.

"However, they also demonstrate that healthcare practitioners and loved ones should be sensitive when recommending time in nature for people who have depression and anxiety. It could be helpful to encourage them to spend more time in places that people already enjoy visiting; so they feel comfortable and can make the most of the experience."

According to the experts, the research provides evidence that integrative techniques should be used to prescribe nature as a treatment for mental health issues.

"We had no idea just how much people with depression and anxiety were already using natural settings to help alleviate symptoms and manage their conditions," said Dr. Matthew White. 

"Our results provide even greater clarity about the value of these places to communities around the world, but also remind us that nature is no silver bullet and needs to be carefully integrated with existing treatment options."

Professor Matilda van den Bosch concluded that with green prescriptions, just like any intervention, it is important to avoid using pressure. "Nature cannot be forced on anyone, but must be provided at the individual's own pace and will."

The study is the published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Mental health benefits of nature cannot be prescribed

When spending time in nature is "prescribed," the mental health...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a>, experts have identified a specific <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/music-can-flood-your-brain-with-feelings-of-pleasure/">brain</a> region that influences what we decide to eat. The researchers discovered that this part of the brain monitors our food preferences as they change across various states. 

"A key function of the nervous system is producing adaptive behavior across changing conditions, like physiological state," explained the study authors. 

"Although states like thirst and hunger are known to impact decision-making, the neurobiology of this phenomenon has been studied minimally. Here, we tracked evolving preference for sucrose and water as rats proceeded from a thirsty to sated state."

In previous work, the research team discovered that neural activity in a brain region called the ventral pallidum is related to the preference for different food options.

Using a mouse model, the researchers have now demonstrated that the same brain region tracks and updates food preferences in correlation with physiological states as they progress from extremely thirsty to satisfied.

Furthermore, when the experts targeted neurons in the ventral pallidum, they were able to manipulate food preferences.

"Your brain has to weigh different possible outcomes or options in order to make good decisions that are necessary for survival," said study senior author Professor Patricia Janak. "We knew the ventral pallidum is involved in that process. Exactly how the neurons there do that was still a bit of a mystery, especially in real time when the best decision for you to make right now can change based on your state."

Study lead author David Ottenheimer said he designed the research to investigate the relationship between the neurons in the ventral pallidum and the food choices made by the animals as their physiological state and preferences shifted. 

The researchers gave thirsty rats two options they could choose from by selecting one of two levers. One lever gave them access to plain water, and the other gave them a more popular type of water with sugar in it.

"At the beginning they picked the water when they were thirsty," said Ottenheimer. "At the end of the test when they were no longer thirsty they picked the sugar water, which tastes sweeter."

Meanwhile, brain scans revealed that neurons in the ventral pallidum reflected the animals' choices for each reward.

"We saw that the neural activity when tasting the sucrose gradually increased over time while the neural activity when tasting the water decreased, which gave us evidence that the brain signal is closely related to the change in preference as the subjects became less thirsty and were less interested in the water," explained Ottenheimer.

In a separate trial, the researchers discovered that the ventral pallidum neurons could be artificially manipulated to shift a rat's preference from the sugar water to the less desirable drink.

"We hypothesize that the ventral pallidum neurons that are tracking our preferences may actually be involved in forming the choices we make when faced with food decisions," said Ottenheimer. "In the future, ventral pallidum may be a good therapeutic target to change our decision-making processes."

According to Professor Janak, these same brain circuits are responsible for choices made in addiction. "So the knowledge we gain here can help in understanding how we prioritize drugs over other rewards."

The study is the published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Brain region that influences our food preferences can be manipulated

In a new study from Johns Hopkins University, experts have...

In a groundbreaking new study, Professor Derrick Wirtz of <a href="https://ok.ubc.ca/">UBC Okanaga</a> has examined the relationship between social media and life satisfaction. He explains that it is not if or when, but how we use social media that can negatively influence our overall sense of happiness and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/spiritual-experiences-linked-to-improved-overall-well-being/">well-being</a>.

"Social network sites are an integral part of everyday life for many people around the world," said Professor Wirtz. "Every day, billions of people interact with social media. Yet the widespread use of social network sites stands in sharp contrast to a comparatively small body of research on how this use impacts a person's happiness."

The study was focused on how people use three major social platforms - Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Professor Wirtz said that even before COVID-19 and self-isolation became standard practice, social media transformed how we interact with others. Online social interaction is quickly replacing conversations that take place in person.

While face-to-face interactions are associated with satisfaction and contentment, Professor Wirtz notes that many people come away from social media with negative feelings. There are a variety of underlying reasons for this, and one of the biggest issues is social comparison. For example, study participants said the more they compared themselves to others while using social networks, the less happy they felt.

"Viewing images and updates that selectively portray others positively may lead social media users to underestimate how much others actually experience negative emotions and lead people to conclude that their own life - with its mix of positive and negative feelings - is, by comparison, not as good."

Professor Wirtz explains that viewing other people's posts and images while not interacting with them lends itself to comparison without the mood-boosting benefits that ordinarily follow social contact, which can undermine well-being and lower self-esteem. 

"Passive use, scrolling through others' posts and updates, involves little person-to-person reciprocal interaction while providing ample opportunity for upward comparison."

For the study, individuals were asked about four specific functions of Facebook: messaging, checking a news feed, reading world news, and posting status updates. The analysis revealed that the most frequently used function is passively checking one's news feed without making contact with other users. The effects on happiness and well-being associated with this form of Facebook use were found to be consistently negative.

"The three social network sites examined - Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - yielded remarkably convergent findings. The more respondents had recently used these sites, either in aggregate or individually, the more negative effect they reported when they responded to our randomly-timed surveys over a 10-day period."

Through his research, which was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Wirtz found that people use social media more when they are lonely, but time spent on social media only increases feelings of loneliness. "Today, the necessity of seeing and hearing friends and family only through social media due to COVID-19 might serve as a reminder of missed opportunities to spend time together."

Despite the discouraging findings, the research showed that social media can also be used in positive ways. Professor Wirtz suggests that users avoid passively scrolling and resist comparing themselves to other people on social media. He says the sites should be used for direct interactions and social connectedness, such as chatting with others.

"If we all remember to do that, the negative impact of social media use could be reduced - and social networks sites could even have the potential to improve our well-being and happiness. In other words, we need to remember how we use social media has the potential to shape the effects on our day-to-day happiness."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.springer.com/journal/10902">Journal of Happiness Studies</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How you use social media affects your sense of happiness

In a groundbreaking new study, Professor Derrick Wirtz of UBC...

Based on three fossilized baby <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plants-from-ancient-rainforests-can-be-identified-in-fossil-teeth/">teeth</a>, researchers at the <a href="https://www.unibo.it/it">Università di Bologna</a> have discovered that Neanderthals raised their children much like we do today. The team found that Neanderthal children were surprisingly similar in how they developed and also in how they were weaned off their mother's milk.

"The beginning of weaning relates to physiology rather than to cultural factors," said study co-first author Alessia Nava. "In modern humans, in fact, the first introduction of solid food occurs at around 6 months of age when the child needs a more energetic food supply, and it is shared by very different cultures and societies. Now, we know that also Neanderthals started to wean their children when modern humans do."

A combination of geochemical and histological analyses of the teeth revealed that they belonged to three different Neanderthal children who lived between 70,000 and 45,000 years ago in a small area of Northeastern Italy.

Just like trees store a record of environmental data in their tree rings, teeth register information in their growth lines. Using various techniques to access this information, the scientists were able to show that the Neanderthal children had been introduced to solid foods at around 5 to 6 months of age.

"In particular, compared to other primates, it is highly conceivable that the high energy demand of the growing human brain triggers the early introduction of solid foods in child diet," said study co-first author Federico Lugli.

Despite the fact that Neanderthals are closely related to Homo Sapiens, there has been a lot of uncertainty regarding their pace of growth and early life metabolic constraints.

"This work's results imply similar energy demands during early infancy and a close pace of growth between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. Taken together, these factors possibly suggest that Neanderthal newborns were of similar weight to modern human neonates, pointing to a likely similar gestational history and early-life ontogeny, and potentially shorter inter-birth interval," explained study co-senior author Stefano Benazzi.

The three baby teeth analyzed for the study were found between the modern-day provinces of Vicenza and Verona in the Broion Cave, Fumane Cave and the De Nadale Cave. Using time-resolved strontium isotope analysis, the scientists collected data on the movement of these particular Neanderthals.

"They were less mobile than previously suggested by other scholars," said study co-senior author Wolfgang Müller. "The strontium isotope signature registered in their teeth indicates in fact that they have spent most of the time close to their home: this reflects a very modern mental template and a likely thoughtful use of local resources."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Neanderthal children were raised like modern humans

Based on three fossilized baby teeth, researchers at the Università...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.umontreal.ca/en/">University of Montreal</a> suggests that when children are prepared for kindergarten, they are also better prepared for life's greater journey, including higher <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/higher-educational-status-linked-to-healthier-diet/">education</a>. 

"We've known for years that getting off to a good start in kindergarten leads to better achievement over the long-term," said lead author Professor Caroline Fitzpatrick. "But now with our study we can really lock in the idea that early childhood skills help you achieve success and adopt a healthier lifestyle in emerging adulthood. And that's promising for society as a whole."

According to study senior author Professor Linda Pagani, many children begin kindergarten inadequately prepared to benefit from classroom instruction. 

"Those who go in unprepared risk struggling throughout their academic journey. They arrive without the necessary tools in terms of cognitive skills, social skills and motor skills from physical activity."

The researchers analyzed the link between kindergarten preparedness and academic, psychological, and health risks that emerged by the end of high school.

"Kindergarten math skills contributed to better end-of high-school achievement and a lower dropout risk, and that was supported by observations from teachers, who also noted a reduced risk of substance abuse later on," said Professor Fitzpatrick.

The team found that classroom engagement in kindergarten also predicted involvement in physical activity, and was associated with a 65-percent lower risk of excess weight by age 17.

The research was focused on data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, which involved 2,000 children born in 1997 or 1998.

Initially, each child's knowledge of math and vocabulary was assessed by trained experts at age 5. Following this assessment, teachers reported kindergarten classroom engagement every year, including how well a child executed tasks, followed directions, and worked with others. 

At age 17, the participants reported on their grades, feelings of connectedness, whether they abused drugs or alcohol, their involvement in physical activity, and their height and weight. 

In addition, the researchers estimated the drop-out risk for each child based on their grades retention and engagement at school.

The team analyzed the data while accounting for relevant factors such as maternal depression, immigration status, family configuration and socioeconomic status. Key indicators like IQ, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and gender were also taken into consideration.

"Early childhood readiness forecasts a later protective edge in emerging adulthood and suggests that youngsters who begin school with the right preparedness gain a lifestyle advantage," said Professor Fitzpatrick. 

"Our findings show a way to eliminate the established link between underachievement and disease by providing children with the conditions that will promote kindergarten readiness."

"Promoting kindergarten readiness seems, over the long-term, to help reduce the lifestyle risks generated by dropping out of high school," concluded Professor Pagani. "Therefore, policies to promote and preserve children's early skills, such as providing stimulating childcare and diminishing family adversity, may thus represent a valuable policy strategy for governments to invest in."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/">Pediatrics</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Kindergarten readiness predicts a child's academic success

A new study from the University of Montreal suggests that...

For the first time, researchers have found a link between access to nature and reduced smoking rates. According to a study led by the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a>, people who live in neighborhoods with green space are more likely to be able to kick the habit.  

The study revealed that lower rates of smoking found in greener neighborhoods were largely tied to former smokers who had successfully quit.

"This study is the first to investigate the association between neighborhood green space and smoking behaviors in England. Its findings support the need to protect and invest in natural resources - in both urban and more rural communities - in order to maximize the public health benefits they may afford," said lead author Leanne Martin. 

"If our findings are substantiated by further work, nature-based interventions could be prescribed to assist individuals attempting to give up smoking."

The Plymouth team used data on more than 8,000 adults from the Health Survey for England (HSE), which is conducted annually. The researchers analyzed responses about health and various lifestyle factors, as well as about where the participants lived.

Among the participants, just under 19 percent were current smokers, while nearly half were former smokers that had smoked regularly at some point in life. 

After accounting for other factors known to influence smoking, people living in areas with a high proportion of green space were 20 percent less likely to be current smokers compared to individuals with less green space.

"While there is now considerable evidence that natural spaces are associated with stress reduction and better well-being, this is the first study to my knowledge to show that more green space is also linked to a reduction in unhealthy behaviors is intriguing and suggests that the benefits of natural green and blue spaces may reach even further than initially thought," said study co-author Professor Sabine Pahl.

The researchers said that improving access to green space may constitute an overlooked public health strategy for reducing smoking prevalence, especially given that smoking uptake and cessation are affected by stress.

In previous studies, the same research team found that being able to see green spaces from home was associated with reduced cravings for alcohol, cigarettes, and unhealthy foods. The experts also discovered that individuals who visit natural spaces on a weekly basis, and feel mentally connected to them, report better overall physical and mental well-being.

"Despite a decline in prevalence within the general population over the last decade, smoking remains a devastating and global public health issue," said study co-author Professor Mathew White. "Governments across the world spend billions each year trying to tackle it, both in an attempt to improve public health and reduce the strain on health services. This study emphasises the need to preserve existing green spaces and expand the development of new ones."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/social-science-and-medicine">Social Science and 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

Neighborhood green space linked to lower rates of smoking

For the first time, researchers have found a link between...

Teenagers who feel supported by their teachers experience benefits that extend far beyond the classroom. A study published by the <a href="https://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a> has found a link between positive student-teacher relationships and long-term health benefits.

While friendships are obviously very important to adolescents, the researchers did not find the same positive health benefits associated with peer relationships.

"This research suggests that improving students' relationships with teachers could have important, positive and long-lasting effects beyond just academic success," explained study co-author Dr. Jinho Kim. "It could also have important health implications in the long run."

Dr. Kim said that previous research has also suggested that social relationships in adolescence may be linked to health outcomes in adulthood. This could be because poor relationships can lead to chronic stress, which increases the risk for developing diseases.

However, it has remained uncertain whether the link between teen relationships and lifetime health is causal. For example, other factors like different family dynamics could contribute to both relationship problems in adolescence and to poor health in adulthood. 

Furthermore, most relevant studies have focused on teens' relationships with their peers, and not their relationships with teachers.

To investigate, Dr. Kim analyzed data from nearly 20,000 participants who were involved in the Add Health study, which followed participants for 13 years from seventh grade into early adulthood. The volunteers included more than 3,400 pairs of siblings, who answered questions including: "How much do you agree that friends care about you?" and "How much do you agree that teachers care about you?" 

When they were adults, the study participants self-reported on their physical and mental health and were tested for various markers of physical health, such as blood pressure. 

As expected, Dr. Kim found that participants who had reported better relationships with both their peers and teachers in middle school and high school also reported better physical and mental health in their mid-20s. 

However, when he controlled for family background by looking at pairs of siblings together, only the link between teacher relationships and good health in adulthood remained significant.

The results suggest that teacher relationships are even more important than previously realized, and that schools should invest in training teachers on how to build warm and supportive relationships with their students, said Dr. Kim. "This is not something that most teachers receive much training in, but it should be."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/school">School Psychology</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

Positive student-teacher relationships improve long-term health

Teenagers who feel supported by their teachers experience benefits that...

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.psychologicalscience.org/">Association for Psychological Science</a>, researchers found that a positive affect is linked to a lower risk of age-related <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/musically-training-children-have-improved-attention-and-memory-skills/">memory</a> decline. 

The extent to which an individual experiences enthusiasm, joy, happiness, and excitement - referred to as positive affectivity - has an influence on how well information is retained throughout life.

The research adds to a growing collection of evidence that positive affectivity contributes to healthier aging. Previous studies have suggested that a positive outlook can lead many desirable life outcomes, such as more marital satisfaction, improved well-being, greater cognitive performance, and the delayed onset of disease.

The study was focused on data from nearly 1,000 middle-aged and older adults who participated in a national study that was conducted over the course of a decade in three phases: between 1995 and 1996, 2004 and 2006, and 2013 and 2014.

For each trial, the participants reported on a range of positive emotions they had experienced over the past 30 days. During the final two assessments, participants were also tested for memory performance. The tests involved recalling words immediately after they were presented and then again 15 minutes later.

The researchers examined the association between positive affect and memory decline, while accounting for additional factors such as age, gender, education, depression, negative affect, and extraversion.

Study senior author Professor Claudia Haase said that the findings confirmed that memory did, in fact, decline with age among the study participants.

"However, individuals with higher levels of positive affect had a less steep memory decline over the course of almost a decade," added study last author Emily Hittner.

According to the researchers, further studies are needed to understand the pathways that may connect positive affect and memory, such as physical health or social interactions.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/pss">Psychological Science</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

Positive affect linked to less memory decline

In a new study from the Association for Psychological Science,...

A new <a href="https://www.mit.edu/">MIT</a> study may explain why people have less motivation to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/writing-by-hand-boosts-learning-and-memory/">learn</a> and experience new things as they get older. Using a mouse model, the scientists have discovered a brain circuit that may be the source of our desire to learn, and this neural network appears to shut down with age. 

According to the experts, the brain circuit identified in the study is especially important for weighing the cost versus the reward of a particular decision. 

The study revealed that reactivating this brain circuit boosted the motivation for learning and evaluating decisions among older mice. When the circuit was suppressed, however, so was the motivation to learn. 

"As we age, it's harder to have a get-up-and-go attitude toward things," said study senior author Professor Ann Graybiel. "This get-up-and-go, or engagement, is important for our social well-being and for learning - it's tough to learn if you aren't attending and engaged."

Professor Graybiel's lab has been studying striosomes, clusters of cells in the striatum, for several decades. The striatum is part of a network of brain regions that are linked to habit formation, voluntary movement, emotion, and addiction.

The experts have found that striosomes play an important role in a type of decision-making known as approach-avoidance conflict. These decisions involve weighing options that have both positive and negative elements. For example, you could be offered a new job with better pay that would require you to move away from family and friends.

In a previous study, the MIT team found that stress plays a major role in this type of emotional decision making. The researchers demonstrated that stressed mice were far more likely to choose high-risk, high-payoff options. However, this behavior could be altered by manipulating the circuit.

"A person, or in this case a mouse, may value a reward so highly that the risk of experiencing a possible cost is overwhelmed, while another may wish to avoid the cost to the exclusion of all rewards. And these may result in reward-driven learning in some and cost-driven learning in others," said study co-lead author Emily Hueske.

For the current study, the researchers set out to investigate what happens in striosomes as mice were presented with these types of choices. The researchers found evidence that striosomes could be critical for assigning subjective value to a particular outcome.

"In order to survive, in order to do whatever you are doing, you constantly need to be able to learn. You need to learn what is good for you, and what is bad for you," said study co-lead author Alexander Friedman.

The researchers found that, among older mice, engagement in learning this type of cost-benefit analysis went down. At the same time, their striosomal activity declined compared to younger mice. 

The team found a similar loss of motivation in a mouse model of Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the striatum and its striosomes.

When the experts used genetically targeted drugs to boost activity in the striosomes, the mice became more engaged in learning the task. 

The researchers are currently working to develop drug treatments with the potential to stimulate this circuit. They also speculate that patients could be trained to boost activity in this circuit.

"If you could pinpoint a mechanism which is underlying the subjective evaluation of reward and cost, and use a modern technique that could manipulate it, either psychiatrically or with biofeedback, patients may be able to activate their circuits correctly," said Friedman.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell</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

Motivation to learn declines as a specific brain circuit ages

A new MIT study may explain why people have less...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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



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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

[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



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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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"

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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

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