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...

Men who use their smartphone in the evening or at bedtime may have lower sex drive and reduced <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-fertility/">fertility</a>, according to a new study from the <a href="https://aasm.org/">American Academy of Sleep Medicine</a>. The researchers have identified a link between nighttime electronic media use and lower sperm quality.

"The last several decades have been characterized by the widespread usage of digital devices, especially smartphones. At the same time, there have been reports of male fertility decline. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between evening exposure to the light-emitting screens of digital media devices and sperm quality," wrote the researchers.

The preliminary results of the study show that greater exposure to light-emitting media devices at night is associated with a decline in sperm quality, including sperm concentration, motility, and the ability of sperm to "swim" properly. 

Among men who reported more screen time in the evening or at bedtime, the sperm quality measures were all lower and the percentage of immobile sperm was higher. 

Study lead author Dr. Amit Green is an expert in the Sleep and Fatigue Institute at the Assuta Medical Center in Tel-Aviv. 

"Smartphone and tablet use in the evening and after bedtime was correlated with decline in sperm quality. Furthermore, smartphone use in the evening, tablet use after bedtime, and television use in the evening were all correlated with the decline of sperm concentration," said Dr. Green.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report these types of correlations between sperm quality and exposure time to short-wavelength light emitted from digital media, especially smartphones and tablets, in the evening and after bedtime."

The investigation was focused on semen samples from 116 men between the ages of 21 and 59 years who were undergoing fertility evaluation. The participants completed questionnaires about their electronic media use and sleep habits.

The researchers also discovered a positive association between longer sleep duration and sperm quality, as well as a link between poorer sperm quality and sleep deprivation.

The research is published in an online supplement of the journal SLEEP and will be presented at <a href="https://www.sleepmeeting.org/">Virtual SLEEP 2020</a>, the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Smartphone use at night lowers sperm quality

Men who use their smartphone in the evening or at...

The results of a new study from the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/">European Society of Cardiology</a> indicate that napping can be extremely bad for your health. The researchers discovered that people who get six or more hours of sleep, but still take long naps, have a much greater risk of premature death and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/getting-a-flu-shot-may-protect-you-from-dangerous-heart-complications/">heart</a> disease. 

"Daytime napping is common all over the world and is generally considered a healthy habit," said study co-author Dr. Zhe Pan of Guangzhou Medical University. "A common view is that napping improves performance and counteracts the negative consequences of 'sleep debt.' Our study challenges these widely held opinions."

Previous research on the health risks of napping produced contradictory results, and these studies failed to account for the duration of nighttime sleep. The current investigation was focused on more than 300,000 participants from 20 studies. Among these individuals, 40 percent took naps. 

The analysis revealed that napping for more than one hour was associated with a 30-percent greater risk of death from any cause and a 34-percent greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease. When the researchers factored in nighttime sleep habits, long naps were linked with an elevated risk of death among those who slept more than six hours per night.

Individuals who napped for any amount of time had a 19-percent higher chance of death, and the connection was more pronounced in women and older adults. 

Short naps with a duration of less than one hour did not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In fact, the results suggest that shorter naps less than 45 minutes may improve heart health in people who do not get sufficient sleep at night. 

Dr. Pan said the reasons why napping affects the body are still uncertain, but some studies have suggested that extra sleep in the daytime is associated with higher levels of inflammation, which is risky for heart health and longevity. 

"If you want to take a siesta, our study indicates it's safest to keep it under an hour. For those of us not in the habit of a daytime slumber, there is no convincing evidence to start," said Dr. Pan.

The research was presented at the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/ESC-Congress-2020-The-Digital-Experience">ESC Congress 2020 The Digital Experience</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Long naps increase the risk of premature death and heart disease

The results of a new study from the European Society...

Sleep quality may have a powerful influence on our eating habits, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.unibe.ch/index_eng.html">University of Bern</a>. The researchers found that the activation of neurons in the hypothalamus during REM sleep plays a key role in how much <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/seafood-will-help-feed-earths-future-population-of-10-billion/">food</a> we eat during waking hours.

Rapid eye movement sleep is the deepest phase of sleep, characterized by vivid dreams and increased breathing and heart rate. REM sleep is also accompanied by very high electrical signaling in the brain, but the function of this activity is a mystery. 

Brain regions that show strong activation during REM sleep are areas involved in the regulation of memory and emotion. Another region that shows high activity is the lateral hypothalamus, which controls appetite, food consumption, and addiction.

A research team led by Dr. Antoine Adamantidis set out to investigate how neural activation associated with REM sleep influences our daily behavior. The experts focused their study on neurons in the hypothalamus using a mouse model.

The researchers discovered that when they suppressed neural activity in the hypothalamus during REM sleep, the mice ate substantially lower amounts of food. "This suggests that REM sleep is necessary to stabilize food intake," explained Dr. Adamantidis. 

The experts recognized that a specific pattern of neural behavior in the hypothalamus which signals eating during the day was also present when the animals were engaged in REM sleep. The team used an advanced technique to shut down this brain activity, and found that eating behavior was modified to where the animals consumed less food.

"We were surprised how strongly and persistently our intervention affected the neural activity in the lateral hypothalamus and the behavior of the mice," said study first author Lukas Oesch. "The modification in the activity patterns was still measurable after four days of regular sleep." 

The findings show that quality of sleep is just as important as quantity of sleep for our well-being. The study highlights the fact that sleep quality plays a major role in maintaining healthy eating behavior. 

"This is of particular relevance in our society where not only sleep quantity decreases but where sleep quality is dramatically affected by shift work, late night screen exposure or social jet-lag in adolescents", explained Dr. Adamantidis.

The newly identified link between neural activity during REM sleep and waking behavior may ultimately lead to the development of new ways to treat eating disorders and addiction. 

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

&nbsp;

REM sleep affects our eating habits

Sleep quality may have a powerful influence on our eating...

Social distancing is a natural instinct in both humans and animals, yet the need to socialize often wins over safety, according to a study from the <a href="https://www.pitt.edu/">University of Pittsburgh</a>. The researchers say that we are evolutionarily inclined to avoid people with a contagious <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mild-obesity-linked-to-greater-risk-of-severe-covid-19-infection/">infection</a>, but we do not always use our good common sense.  

"Recent decades have been characterized by an increase in the emergence of novel pathogens and the spread of existing ones, driven by factors such as human population growth, global commerce and travel, anthropogenic environmental change and interactions between humans, wildlife and domestic animals," wrote the study authors.

"Because the reproductive rate of directly transmitted pathogens increases with the availability of hosts and their rate of contact, social animals that live at high local densities of closely interacting conspecifics may be particular vulnerable to the threats posed by some of these emerging infectious diseases (EIDs)." 

"Reducing the degree of sociality (i.e. the tendency to congregate in groups with conspecifics) might therefore be an important strategy by which social animals can ameliorate the impacts of directly transmitted EIDs."

The researchers set out to investigate how social behaviors change in response to infectious diseases. Led by Jessica Stephenson, the team observed guppies as they were placed in a tank next to members of their species with infectious diseases. 

Many of the guppies made their way to the side of the tank near the other guppies, regardless of the contagion risk, which is expected behavior among a social species. 

However, certain male guppies strongly avoided the side of the tank close to infectious fish. It turned out that these guppies were the most susceptible to parasitic worms.

Stephenson said that overall, human beings are normal social animals in many of our behavioral responses to infectious disease. But choosing our social inclinations over the evolutionary instinct to keep our distance counteracts the efforts of public health measures to control disease transmission. Without social distancing, benefits such as "global disease surveillance" are wasted, explained Stephenson.

"That the vast majority of our species has largely squandered the potential payoffs of these benefits is again consistent with other social animals: the cost of social distancing itself can outweigh the cost of contracting the disease," said Stephenson. 

"For some, no amount of Zoom and FaceTime can make up for the lost benefits of social interactions. These frustrating, if wholly natural, behavioral decisions will result in the persistence of COVID-19 until the advent of perhaps our greatest advantage over other species facing emerging infectious diseases: vaccination."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rspb">Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Social distancing is a natural instinct that does not come naturally

Social distancing is a natural instinct in both humans and...

Sleep deprivation intensifies anger and frustration, according to new research from the <a href="https://aasm.org/">American Academy of Sleep Medicine</a>. The study has confirmed a direct causal link between sleep restriction and feeling <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/angry-people-overestimate-intelligence/">angry</a> the following day.

"Sleeping is understood as essential to affective function, yet little is known about how sleep shapes more specific and contextualized emotional responses besides anxiety and depression, such as anger," wrote the study authors.

"Anger itself involves arousal and can disrupt sleep. To examine the causal role of sleep in anger, a daily-diary study and an experimental study tested whether shortened sleep amplifies angry feelings, while exploring mediating mechanisms of this influence."

More than 200 college students kept daily diaries to track their sleep, daily stressors, and anger over one month. The researchers analyzed the diaries and found that the students often reported experiencing anger the day after they slept less than usual.

The experts also conducted a lab experiment involving 147 adults who were randomly assigned to either maintain their regular sleep schedule or to restrict their sleep by about five hours across two nights. Next, the researchers assessed feelings of anger while the participants were exposed to irritating noise.

The trial showed that individuals who were well-rested could adapt to the noise more easily, and reported less anger after two days. By contrast, participants in the sleep-restricted group exhibited higher levels of anger and agitation in response to aversive noise. This suggests that sleep deprivation compromises the ability to emotionally adapt to frustrating circumstances. 

"The results are important because they provide strong causal evidence that sleep restriction increases anger and increases frustration over time," said Professor Zlatan Krizan of Iowa State University. "Moreover, the results from the daily diary study suggest such effects translate to everyday life, as young adults reported more anger in the afternoon on days they slept less."

According to the researchers, the findings highlight the importance of considering specific emotional reactions such as anger in the context of sleep disruption.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep">SLEEP</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Sleep deprivation makes you angry

Sleep deprivation intensifies anger and frustration, according to new research...

A new study has confirmed a link between the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/early-exposure-to-seasonal-flu-lowers-susceptibility-later-in-life/">flu</a> and serious heart conditions. Among 80,000 patients hospitalized for the flu, sudden heart complications were found to be common - affecting one out of every eight individuals.

Study lead author Eric Chow is an infectious diseases researcher at the <a href="https://www.uwmedicine.org/school-of-medicine">University of Washington School of Medicine</a>, and was formerly an epidemic intelligence service officer for influenza at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While there has been previous evidence to suggest that the flu can be accompanied by sudden heart problems, the current study is the first to show just how frequently this occurs. 

"There are few respiratory viruses we have a vaccine for," said Chow. "Our team motto is 'Get a flu shot.'" 

According to the study, 12 percent of adults hospitalized with the flu had acute heart complications. Among these, 30 percent were admitted to the ICU and seven percent died while in the hospital.

The analysis showed that five percent of the flu patients had a cardiac complication despite having no documented underlying conditions. 

In the last few weeks, there have been cases of healthy individuals showing signs of heart complications after recovering from COVID-19, including athletes. For example, 27-year-old Florida State basketball player Michael Ojo, who had recently recovered from COVID-19, died of a heart attack during practice.

Chow said he is not surprised this is happening to healthy people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. The virus can cause damage to the heart and other organs, and inflammation greatly increases the risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias during vigorous exercise.

The CDC recommends for everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot every year, and emphasizes that flu vaccination is particularly important for people at high risk of developing serious complications, including people with heart disease. However, people with heart disease should not receive the live attenuated influenza vaccine, also known as the nasal spray flu vaccine.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.acpjournals.org/journal/aim">Annals of Internal Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Getting a flu shot may protect you from dangerous heart complications

A new study has confirmed a link between the flu...

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/">European Society of Cardiology</a>, scientists are describing how gut bacteria may hold the key to healthier aging. The research links <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plants-produce-medically-valuable-chemicals/">microbes</a> in the digestive tract with dozens of health conditions including body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure.

"Our study indicates that microbiota might have an important role in maintaining health and could help us develop novel treatments," said study co-author Dr. Hilde Groot.

Trillions of cells, bacteria, viruses, and other material present in the digestive tract make up the human gut microbiome. Previous studies have produced evidence that the contents of the gut microbiome are correlated with individual diseases.

The current study is the first to investigate the role of gut microbiota in multiple health conditions and diseases at the same time. Using genetic data as a proxy for microbiome composition, the investigation has revealed the staggering extent to which this content influences health and disease.

"Previous research has shown that the human gut microbiome composition could be partially explained by genetic variants. So, instead of directly measuring the make-up of the microbiome, we used genetic alterations to estimate its composition," said Dr. Groot.

The study was focused on more than 400,000 individuals in the UK Biobank with an average age of 57. The participants had undergone genotyping to identify their genetic make-up, and had been evaluated for specific characteristics such as BMI and blood pressure. 

The researchers identified eleven bacteria that were associated with a total of 28 health and disease outcomes. Higher levels of these bacteria could predict certain conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high blood pressure, allergic diseases like asthma and eczema, high blood lipids, and BMI.

For example, higher levels of the genus Ruminococcus were linked with increased risk of high blood pressure. The researchers also identified bacteria associated with food and alcohol consumption.

"What we eat and drink is connected to microbiome content, so we studied the links with meat, caffeine, and alcohol. We observed a relationship between raised levels of Methanobacterium and drinking alcohol more often. It is important to stress that this is an association, not a causal relation, and more research is needed," said Dr. Groot.

One of the major strengths of the study was conducting a broad analysis among the same group of people. 

"Considering that the results were observed in one cohort, this cautiously supports the notion that microbiota and the substances they produce (called metabolites) provide links between numerous diseases and conditions."  

Dr. Groot said the findings may ultimately help to identify common pathways, but more research is needed to confirm the results.

"Follow-up studies are required to study causality before giving concrete advice to the public and health professionals. This study provides clues where to go."

The research was presented at <a href="https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/ESC-Congress-2020-The-Digital-Experience">ESC Congress 2020 The Digital Experience</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Bacteria in the human gut may be key to healthy aging

In a new study from the European Society of Cardiology,...

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.aip.org/">American Institute of Physics</a>, experts have tested the effectiveness of various masks that are worn as face coverings to help stop the community spread of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-has-exposed-an-urgent-need-for-global-action-on-water-security/">COVID-19</a>.

"Fine droplets can pass through layers of masks and are carried away by the exhaled airflow unlike larger droplets that settle down due to gravity," wrote the researchers.

"Hence, it is important to quantitatively assess the maximum distance of travel of typical human coughs with and without different types of masks."

Study lead author Padmanabha Prasanna Simha is an expert at the Indian Space Research Organization.

"If a person can reduce the extent of how much they contaminate the environment by mitigating the spread, it's a far better situation for other healthy individuals who may enter places that have such contaminated areas," said Simha.

Density and temperature are closely related, and coughs tend to be warmer than their surrounding area. Based on this  knowledge, the researchers used a technique called schlieren imaging to visualize changes in density as various study participants coughed.

By analyzing the motion of the coughs over consecutive images, the team was able to estimate the velocity and spread of the projected droplets.

As expected, the study showed that N95 masks were the most effective at reducing the horizontal spread of a cough. This mask is known to filter at least 95 percent of airborne particles. 

The N95 mask reduced a cough's initial velocity by up to a factor of 10 and limited its spread to between 0.1 and 0.25 meters. 

While an uncovered cough can travel up to 3 meters, the researchers found that a simple disposable mask can bring this velocity down to 0.5 meters.

"Even if a mask does not filter out all the particles, if we can prevent clouds of such particles from traveling very far, it's better than not doing anything," said Simha. "In situations where sophisticated masks are not available, any mask is better than no mask at all for the general public in slowing the spread of infection."

On the other hand, some of the findings were concerning. For example, it is often advised to use an inner elbow to cover up a cough, but the testing showed that a bare arm cannot form the necessary seal against the nose without a long sleeve. As a result, droplets could leak through any openings and spread in many directions.

The researchers hope the findings will disprove the argument that regular cloth masks are ineffective, but they emphasize that masks must continue to be used cooperatively with social distancing.

"Adequate distancing is something that must not be ignored, since masks are not foolproof," said Simha.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://aip.scitation.org/journal/phf">Physics of Fluids</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

"Any mask is better than no mask" to slow spread of COVID-19

In a new study from the American Institute of Physics,...

In a groundbreaking new study, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a> have developed a new <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/newly-engineered-catalyst-will-drastically-improve-ethylene-production/">catalyst</a> that can be used to produce more sustainable hydrogen vehicles that are also less expensive.

Approximately one billion vehicles are on the road across the globe today, but only a very few are powered by hydrogen. The biggest challenge in producing more hydrogen  vehicles has been that they rely on a large amount of platinum to serve as a catalyst in their fuel cells. 

While typical vehicles need only about five grams of platinum, hydrogen cars and trucks need about 50 grams of the rare metal. Platinum is now so precious that only 100 tons of the material is mined each year in South Africa.

However, researchers in Copenhagen's Department of Chemistry have developed a catalyst that does not require such an unrealistic amount of platinum.

"We have developed a catalyst which, in the laboratory, only needs a fraction of the amount of platinum that current hydrogen fuel cells for cars do," explained study co-author Professor Matthias Arenz. 

"We are approaching the same amount of platinum as needed for a conventional vehicle. At the same time, the new catalyst is much more stable than the catalysts deployed in today's hydrogen powered vehicles."

The current platinum limitations would make it impossible to replace traditional cars and trucks with hydrogen vehicles, but the new technology offers a major breakthrough. 

"The new catalyst can make it possible to roll out hydrogen vehicles on a vastly greater scale than could have ever been achieved in the past," said study co-author Professor Jan Rossmeisl.

By generating more horsepower per gram of platinum, the catalyst significantly improves fuel cells and subsequently makes the production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles more sustainable.

Existing catalysts are based on platinum-nano-particles that are coated over carbon, which makes catalysts unstable. Instead of carbon, the new catalyst is based on a network of nanowires with an abundance of surface area and high durability.

"With this breakthrough, the notion of hydrogen vehicles becoming commonplace has become more realistic. It allows them to become cheaper, more sustainable and more durable," said Professor Rossmeisl.

The study is published in the journal  <a href="https://www.nature.com/nmat">Nature Materials</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Hydrogen vehicles will soon be less expensive and much more realistic

In a groundbreaking new study, researchers at the University of...

Yoga can improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from atrial fibrillation, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/">European Society of Cardiology</a>. Patients who engaged in yoga training reported fewer mental and physical symptoms that are associated with AFib, such as spikes in blood pressure and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/yoga-relieves-anxiety-and-obsessive-worrying/">anxiety</a>. 

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that can lead to serious complications like heart failure. Around 25 percent of middle-aged adults in Europe and the United States develop the condition, which causes up to 30 percent of all strokes. 

Atrial fibrillation is characterized by a range of debilitating symptoms: heart palpitations, racing pulse, fatigue, chest pain, and dizziness.

"The symptoms of atrial fibrillation can be distressing. They come and go, causing many patients to feel anxious and limiting their ability to live a normal life," said study co-author Dr. Naresh Sen. 

The researchers investigated whether yoga could ease symptoms among AFib  patients. The study was focused on 538 individuals, who were monitored for 12 weeks before engaging in 16 weeks of yoga training.

During both study periods, symptoms and episodes of atrial fibrillation were recorded in a diary. Some patients also wore a heart monitor to record AFib episodes. 

Participants reported on anxiety, depression, ability to perform daily activities, energy levels, and mood. In addition, the experts measured heart rate and blood pressure. These outcomes were analyzed and compared between the yoga and non-yoga phases of the trial.

Compared to the 12 weeks without yoga, the patients experienced significant improvements in all areas during the 16-week yoga period. 

For example, over the course of the weeks without yoga, participants experienced an average of 15 symptomatic episodes of atrial fibrillation. This average dropped to eight episodes during the yoga period. Furthermore,  yoga training was linked to substantially lower blood pressure levels.

"Our study suggests that yoga has wide-ranging physical and mental health benefits for patients with atrial fibrillation and could be added on top of usual therapies," said Dr. Sen.

The research adds to a growing collection of evidence of the remarkable health benefits of yoga. According to previous studies, yoga increases muscle strength, reduces stress, boosts immunity and energy, improves blood circulation, and promotes mental clarity. 

The research was presented at <a href="https://www.escardio.org/Congresses-&amp;-Events/ESC-Congress">ESC Congress 2020</a> The Digital Experience.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Yoga improves mental and physical health among patients with atrial fibrillation

Yoga can improve the quality of life for individuals suffering...

Variety,Of,Vegetables,Cabbages,,Broccoli,,Peppers,,Cauliflower,,Avocado,,Zucchini,,Cucumber.

In a new study from <a href="http://www.ecu.edu.au/">Edith Cowan University</a>, researchers have discovered why certain vegetables like broccoli and cabbage are beneficial to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-meats-are-better-for-heart-health/">heart health</a>. The research suggests that some of the least popular vegetables, known as cruciferous vegetables, help to prevent the progression of blood vessel disease.

Study lead author Dr. Lauren Blekkenhorst said there was something intriguing about cruciferous vegetables, and the current study is shedding new light on this idea.

"In our previous studies, we identified those with a higher intake of these vegetables had a reduced risk of having a clinical cardiovascular disease event, such as a heart attack or stroke, but we weren't sure why," said Dr. Blekkenhorst. "Our findings from this new study provides insight into the potential mechanisms involved."

"We have now found that older women consuming higher amounts of cruciferous vegetables every day have lower odds of having extensive calcification on their aorta."

"One particular constituent found abundantly in cruciferous vegetables is vitamin K which may be involved in inhibiting the calcification process that occurs in our blood vessels."

The study showed that higher consumption of broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and other cruciferous vegetables is associated with less extensive blood vessel disease in older women.

The investigation was focused on nearly 700 older women in Western Australia who were recruited for a cohort study in 1998.

The researchers found that women with more cruciferous vegetables in their diet had a lowered risk of accumulating a dangerous amount of calcium on their aorta - a key marker for structural blood vessel disease. 

This build-up of fatty calcium deposits can reduce the flow of blood circulating around the body, which is a leading cause of heart attack or stroke.

Dr. Blekkenhorst said women in this study who consumed more than 45 grams of cruciferous vegetables every day, such as one-fourth cup of steamed broccoli or one-half cup of raw cabbage, were 46 percent less likely to have extensive build-up of calcium on their aorta.

"That's not to say the only vegetables we should be eating are broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. We should be eating a wide variety of vegetables every day for overall good health and well-being."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition">British Journal of Nutrition</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Broccoli and cabbage reduce the risk of heart attack

In a new study from Edith Cowan University, researchers have...

Your smartphone can tell when you're drunk by detecting changes in the way you <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ancient-crocodiles-weighed-1000-pounds-and-walked-on-two-legs/">walk</a>. The research, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, could ultimately lead to the development of strategies to save many lives.

Study lead author Dr. Brian Suffoletto of the <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> School of Medicine conducted the research while at the University of Pittsburgh.

According to Dr. Suffoletto, real-time information about alcohol intoxication could be important for helping people reduce alcohol consumption, preventing drinking and driving, or for alerting a sponsor for someone in treatment.

"We have powerful sensors we carry around with us wherever we go. We need to learn how to use them to best serve public health."

The research hits very close to home for Dr. Suffoletto.

"I lost a close friend to a drinking and driving crash in college. And as an emergency physician, I have taken care of scores of adults with injuries related to acute alcohol intoxication. Because of this, I have dedicated the past 10 years to testing digital interventions to prevent deaths and injury related to excessive alcohol consumption."

The investigation was focused on adults between the ages of 21 and 43. The participants were given a mixed drink that had enough vodka to produce a breath alcohol concentration of .20 percent, and were asked to finish the drink within one hour.

Over the next seven hours, the individuals had their breath alcohol concentration analyzed and performed a walking task each hour. 

For the walking task, the researchers placed a smartphone on each participant's lower back and secured it with an elastic belt. The participants walked a straight line for ten steps, turned around, and walked back ten steps.

The smartphones measured every aspect of movement as the participants walked, including acceleration, side to side, up-down, and forward-backward activity.

The researchers were able to use such changes in gait to identify a breath alcohol concentration that exceeded the legal limit for driving in the United States about 90 percent of the time.

"This controlled lab study shows that our phones can be useful to identify 'signatures' of functional impairments related to alcohol," said Dr. Suffoletto.

While holding a smartphone on the lower back is not typical, the experts will conduct additional research while participants carry phones in their hands and in their pockets.

"In five years, I would like to imagine a world in which if people go out with friends and drink at risky levels, they get an alert at the first sign of impairment and are sent strategies to help them stop drinking and protect them from high-risk events like driving, interpersonal violence and unprotected sexual encounters," said Dr. Suffoletto.

Going forward, the research team plans to expand their study to identify the best communication and behavioral strategies to influence and support individuals during intoxication.

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jsad.com/">Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Your smartphone can tell when you're drunk

Your smartphone can tell when you're drunk by detecting changes...

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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;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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