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...

A new study from <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/">King's College London</a> suggests that drinking <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/red-wine-lung-cancer-prevention/">red wine</a> can increase the bacterial diversity of the gut microbiome, which is a sign of improved gut health. The researchers also found that red wine consumers have lower rates of obesity and "bad" cholesterol.

The study was focused on the gut microbiome (GM) effects of beer, cider, red wine, white wine, and spirits among 916 female twins in the UK. 

"While we have long known of the unexplained benefits of red wine on heart health, this study shows that moderate red wine consumption is associated with greater diversity and a healthier gut microbiota that partly explain its long debated beneficial effects on health," explained study first author Dr. Caroline Le Roy.

The gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria and fungi that have a major influence on the body's metabolism, weight, immune system, appetite, and mood. A growing collection of scientific evidence has shown that a larger variety of microorganisms in the gut community helps to protect against illness and disease. 

The current study revealed that the gut microbiota of red wine consumers contained a greater number of bacterial species compared to non-consumers. Furthermore, this outcome was observed across two additional populations in the United States and the Netherlands, and was found to be consistent regardless of age, weight, regular diet, or socioeconomic status.

According to the researchers, the gut health benefits of red wine may be attributed to polyphenols, which have many beneficial properties like antioxidants. Polyphenols serve as a type of fuel for the microbes present in our system.

"This is one of the largest ever studies to explore the effects of red wine in the guts of nearly three thousand people in three different countries and provides insights that the high levels of polyphenols in the grape skin could be responsible for much of the controversial health benefits when used in moderation," said study lead author Professor Tim Spector.

The study also demonstrated a link between red wine and lower levels of obesity and "bad" cholesterol.

"Although we observed an association between red wine consumption and the gut microbiota diversity, drinking red wine rarely, such as once every two weeks, seems to be enough to observe an effect," said Dr. Le Roy. "If you must choose one alcoholic drink today, red wine is the one to pick as it seems to potentially exert a beneficial effect on you and your gut microbes, which in turn may also help weight and risk of heart disease. However, it is still advised to consume alcohol with moderation."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.gastrojournal.org/">Gastroenterology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Dima Sobko

Red wine found to improve gut health and lower the risk of obesity

A new study from King's College London suggests that drinking...

People who are aged 90 years or older, also known as nonagenarians, belong to the fastest growing age group in the world.

According to the <a href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/cb18-41-population-projections.html">United States Census Bureau</a>, by 2030 one in every five residents will be old enough to retire, and it is not fully known how this shift in demographics will impact the United States. 

“The aging of baby boomers means that within just a couple decades, older people are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history,” Jonathan Vespa, a demographer with the U.S. Census Bureau, said in an <a href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/cb18-41-population-projections.html">interview</a>. “By 2035, there will be 78.0 million people 65 years and older compared to 76.7 million (previously 76.4 million) under the age of 18.”

Research centered around nonagenarians specifically is crucial because this is the age group that is most at risk of dementia and neurological disorders. And now, more people are reaching the 90-year milestone than ever before. 

What are some of the contributing factors that allow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/low-protein-high-carb-diets-aging/">people to live past 90</a>?

This is a question that spurred researchers from the <a href="http://www.mind.uci.edu/">University of California Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND)</a> to conduct an ongoing study on nonagenarians to better understand the factors behind healthy aging. 

The 90+ Study is one of the largest of the oldest-old in the world, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/">Forbes</a> which reported on the research.

Starting in 2003, over 1,600 participants aged 90 or older have been part of the study which started with members of The Leisure World Cohort Study (LWCS).

Researchers visit the participants every six months, recording dietary information, medical history, and what physical or leisure activities the participants take part in.  

The team also conducts neurological, neuropsychological, and cognitive tests to determine cognitive functioning and if there is any dementia or cognitive impairment. 

“Because little is known about people who achieve this milestone, the remarkable increase in the number of oldest-old presents a public health priority to promote the quality as well as the quantity of life,” wrote the UCI Mind researchers on the <a href="http://www.mind.uci.edu/research-studies/90plus-study/">90+ Study website</a>. 

The goals of the study outlined by the researchers are to find out what key factors contribute to longevity, what foods and lifestyles allow people to live longer these days, and to study cognitive decline among people in the oldest-old age group. 

The researchers want to understand how memory loss impacts people aged 90 or older and if there is any evidence of neurological disorders in the brain that has yet to be discovered. 

So far, the researchers have found that people who drink coffee and alcohol in moderation have a longer lifespan than people who don’t drink caffeine or alcohol. 

The team also found that people who were overweight in their later years lived longer than participants who had a normal BMI or who were underweight. 

When it comes to indicators of dementia or Alzheimer's in the brain, the researchers found that around half of the participants with dementia over the age of 90 have little neuropathological evidence to explain the cognitive declines.
--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Drinking coffee, alcohol could help you live past 90, research shows

People who are aged 90 years or older, also known...

A lack of sleep influences our genetic behavior, survey reveals. Too much and too little sleep has been linked to impaired decision making, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-apnea-recalling-memories/">poor memory</a>, and an increased risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders. 

Despite the immense health risks associated with chronic sleep deprivation, more and more people sleep less than what is recommended each night. 

A new survey conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.evelinalondon.nhs.uk/Home.aspx">Evalina London</a> found that of 2,000 British adults, 17 percent slept for eight hours, and while too little sleep can increase the risk or heart disease and weight gain, it also influences our DNA. 

Sleep deprivation doesn’t change or mutate our genes, but it can impact how our genes operate, according to the research which was funded by <a href="https://simbasleep.com/">Simba</a>, a sleep tech company, to help promote the new <a href="https://simbasleep.com/blogs/night-life/why-it-s-time-for-the-uk-to-tryfor8-hours-in-bed">#TryFor8 campaign</a>. 

The survey results also showed that 44 percent of the participants slept for 6 hours each night while health officials generally recommend that people get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. 

“Those people who sleep under six hours have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, their blood pressure is higher, and their cholesterol is worse,” Paul Gringras, a professor at Evalina London said in a statement. “Our lack of sleep as a nation has been compared to ‘the canary in the coalmine,’ in that poor sleep is linked to so many other serious health issues.” A lack of sleep influences our genetic behavior, survey reveals

Past studies have found that too little sleep can increase the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleeping-heart-disease-risk/">risk of heart attack and stroke</a>, and according to Gringras sleep deprivation can lead to a 60 percent increased risk of high blood pressure. 

As far as how sleep influences DNA, Gringras is careful to point out that it doesn’t change DNA but can impact the signals that control the daily operations of our genes.  

“Just one night’s bad sleep changes epigenetic signals to our DNA that cause weight gain and loss of muscle mass, and can affect the way that memories are laid down in the hippocampus – part of our brains,” Gringas clarifies. 

As part of the #TryFor8 campaign, Simba has launched the Simba Sleep App. 

By partnering with top rugby athletes like Maro Itoje and Jamie Roberts, the Simba Sleep App is meant to help coach people to get better sleep and monitor your sleep cycles. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/ruigsantos

A lack of sleep influences our genetic behavior, survey reveals

A lack of sleep influences our genetic behavior, survey reveals....

While experts have believed that the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/gut-health-depression/">gut microbiome</a> may be critical in regulating how the immune system fights tumors in cancer patients, the mechanisms underlying this relationship have remained unclear. For the first time, an international team of 40 scientists led by <a href="https://www.sbpdiscovery.org/">Sanford Burnham Prebys</a> (SBP) has demonstrated a causal link between the gut microbiome and the immune system's ability to fight cancer.

The researchers identified a combination of 11 bacterial strains that activated the immune system and slowed the growth of melanoma in mice. The experts also determined that the unfolded protein response (UPR), a cellular signaling pathway called which maintains protein health, plays an important role in the body's response to cancer treatment known as immune checkpoint therapy. 

“Immunotherapies have extended the lives of many cancer patients. However, the incredible effects we are seeing today are only the tip of the iceberg. By studying mechanisms of treatment response versus resistance, we can eventually expand the number of people who benefit from immunotherapy,” said study co-author Dr. Thomas Gajewski.

“This study provides an important step toward this goal. The investigators have pinpointed the UPR as an important link between the gut microbiota and anti-tumor immunity. Given previous work indicating a causal role for the host microbiota in the efficacy of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, this additional mechanistic insight should help select patients who will respond to treatment and also help to guide new therapeutic development.”

According to the American Cancer Society, metastatic melanoma remains the deadliest form of skin cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which “release the brakes” of the body's immune system to launch an efficient tumor attack, do not work for everyone. Even when used as part of combination therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors only benefit about half of patients. 

A growing collection of research supports the role of the gut microbiome in effective immunotherapy. Studies have shown that antibiotics and select probiotics reduce the effectiveness of treatment, while certain bacterial strains can improve the effectiveness of the treatment. The current study is providing new insight into these observations.

“Our study establishes a formal link between the microbiome and anti-tumor immunity and points to the role of the UPR in this process, answering a long-sought question for the field,” said senior author Dr. Ze'ev Ronai. “These results also identify a collection of bacterial strains that could turn on anti-tumor immunity and biomarkers that could be used to stratify people with melanoma for treatment with select checkpoint inhibitors.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.
--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Direct link found between gut microbiome and ability to fight cancer

While experts have believed that the gut microbiome may be...

Historic volcanic eruption helped convert Iceland to Christianity. Researchers used medieval texts and an epic Icelandic poem to help confirm the chronology and impact of one of the largest lava flood eruptions in history. 

The poem, which describes apocalyptic imagery and the end of pagan gods in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/volcanic-iceland-sells-risky-seismic-activity-tourist-attraction/">Iceland</a>, may have been used as a way to help drive the conversion to Christianity in that region. 

A team of scientists and medieval historians led by the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> studied ice cores and tree ring data to gauge when a major medieval eruption of Eldgjá in Iceland occurred in the 10th century. 

Although texts from all over the world describe events caused by a huge eruption, it had been unclear exactly when it occurred.

The study, published in the journal Climate Change, accurately dates the eruption and shows how the famous medieval poem used imagery of the eruption and help convert people to Christianity.

The eruption of the Eldgjá caused a lava flood totaling around two cubic kilometers.

The researchers were able to determine from ice core records in Greenland that the eruption of the Eldgjá began in the spring of 939 and continued through the autumn of 940. 

“This places the eruption squarely within the experience of the first two or three generations of Iceland's settlers,” said Clive Oppenheimer, the study’s first author. “Some of the first wave of migrants to Iceland, brought over as children, may well have witnessed the eruption.”

The impact of the eruption was felt all over Europe, in parts of Asia, and the Middle East. A haze of sulfurous dust spread across Europe, and the researchers confirmed this with Irish, German, and Italian texts citing a blood-red, weakened sun. 

The eruption and dust layer also caused cooling, droughts, famine, and a high number of fatalities all over the world. 

“Human suffering in the wake of Eldgjá was widespread. From northern Europe to northern China, people experienced long, hard winters and severe spring-summer drought,” said Tim Newfield, a co-author of the research. “Locust infestations and livestock mortalities occurred. Famine did not set in everywhere, but in the early 940s we read of starvation and vast mortality in parts of Germany, Iraq, and China.”

Although there are no surviving texts from Iceland itself that document of the eruption, the researchers used lines from the famous poem Voluspá ('The prophecy of the seeress') to show what the eruption was like for early Icelandic settlers. 

The poem dates back to 961 and describes an apocalyptic event that signaled the end of the of pagan gods in exchange for one god. 

The researchers theorize that the poem purposely invoked memories of the Eldgjá eruption to help drive a mass conversion to Christianity. 

“The poem's interpretation as a prophecy of the end of the pagan gods and their replacement by the one, singular god, suggests that memories of this terrible volcanic eruption were purposefully provoked to stimulate the Christianisation of Iceland,” said Oppenheimer. 

---

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Clive Oppenheimer

Historic volcanic eruption helped convert Iceland to Christianity

Historic volcanic eruption helped convert Iceland to Christianity. Researchers used...

Too much or too little sleep is harmful to heart health. A new study presented at the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/">European Society of Cardiology</a> has found that six to eight hours of sleep is the ideal amount of rest for optimal heart health. According to the experts, any more or less sleep can increase the risk of deadly heart disease and stroke.

Emily McGrath is the senior cardiac nurse at the <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/">British Heart Foundation</a>. 

“Getting a good night's sleep is important for good health. When it comes to our heart and circulatory health, this large study suggests that there may be a sweet spot between getting too much, and getting too little sleep.”

“This research needn't trigger alarm bells for those of us partial to a sleepless night or a weekend lie-in. However, if you regularly struggle with your sleep, it's an important reminder to speak to your GP.”

“As well as having a negative impact on your quality of life, a lack of sleep could also be contributing to heart health problems further down the line.”

The findings of the study suggest that excessive sleep further elevates the detrimental effects that are associated with sleep deprivation.


Dr. Epameinondas Fountas of the <a href="http://www.onassis.org/en/public-benefit-onassis-cardiac-surgery.php">Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre</a> in Athens, Greece, is one of the study's co-authors.

“Our findings suggest that too much or too little sleep may be bad for the heart,” said Dr. Fountas. “More research is needed to clarify exactly why, but we do know that sleep influences biological processes like glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and inflammations - all of which have an impact on cardiovascular disease.”


The massive investigation was focused on data from over a million participants that were involved in 11 studies.

According to the analysis, a sleep schedule consisting of less than six hours or more than eight hours increased the risk of fatal stroke and coronary artery disease, which is the most common form of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/wood-coal-cooking-cardiovascular/">heart disease</a>.

Over nine years, individuals who regularly got less sleep had an increased risk of 11 percent, while those who overslept increased the risk of heart disease by 33 percent.


“Having the odd short night or lie-in is unlikely to be detrimental to health, but evidence is accumulating that prolonged nightly sleep deprivation or excessive sleeping should be avoided, said Dr. Fountas.

The research was presented at ESC Congress 2018.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Too much or too little sleep is harmful to heart health

Too much or too little sleep is harmful to heart...

Depression, anxiety linked to heightened risk of heart attack. A new study from the <a href="https://www.heart.org/">American Heart Association</a> has found that adults over the age of 45 who suffer from psychological distress such as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushroom-fda-depression/">depression</a> and anxiety are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

The study was focused on over 220,000 participants in Australia who had not experienced a heart attack or stroke at the beginning of the trial. In addition, the individuals were part of the New South Wales 45 and Up Study that was conducted between 2006 and 2009.

The survey asked the participants questions such as how often they felt tired out for no good reason, how often they felt so sad that nothing could cheer then up, and how often they felt restless or fidgety.

Among women, high psychological distress was found to be associated with a 44-percent increased risk of stroke, while high distress in men was associated with a 30-percent increased risk of heart attack.

The link between psychological distress and increased cardiovascular disease was found to exist regardless of lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, dietary habits, and disease history.

Study senior author Dr. Caroline Jackson is a Chancellor's Fellow at the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/">University of Edinburgh</a>.

“While these factors might explain some of the observed increased risk, they do not appear to account for all of it, indicating that other mechanisms are likely to be important,” said Dr. Jackson.

The overall risk of developing heart attack or stroke rose with each level of psychological distress. After over four years, 4,573 heart attacks and 2,421 strokes occurred across the study participants.

“We encourage more proactive screening for symptoms of psychological distress,” concluded Dr. Jackson. “Clinicians should actively screen for cardiovascular risk factors in people with these mental health symptoms.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.ovid.com/site/catalog/journals/4567.jsp">Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Depression, anxiety linked to heightened risk of heart attack

Depression, anxiety linked to heightened risk of heart attack. A...

We often don’t think about the history of cooking beyond how putting meat to flame opened up a new world of flavors and possibilities for preserving and preparing food through the ages.

However, when our early human ancestors started cooking food it may have permanently altered the course of evolution for the human microbiome. 

Humans are covered in bacteria. Colonies of microorganisms have set up camp in our gastrointestinal tract, billions of bacteria live on our skin, and all these microbes make up the collective microbiome. 

Studies have shown that gut bacteria can affect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-health-depression/">depression risk</a> or help with weight gain, and researchers are working to understand the important role that the microbiome plays in human health and wellbeing. 

In a new study, researchers from the <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/">University of California, San Francisco</a>, and <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a> found that cooked food alters the microbiome of humans and mice. 

“Our lab and others have studied how different kinds of diet -- such as vegetarian versus meat-based diets -- impact the microbiome,” said Peter Turnbaugh, the senior author of the study. “We were surprised to discover that no one had studied the fundamental question of how cooking itself alters the composition of the microbial ecosystems in our guts.”

For the study, the researchers fed different animals a diet of raw meat, cooked meat, raw sweet potatoes, and cooked sweet potatoes. There was little difference between the microbiomes of the animals given raw or cooked meat, but with the sweet potatoes, it was a different story. 

There were changes in the composition and gene activity of the microbiomes of those fed cooked sweet potatoes. 

To confirm these findings, the researchers fed mice raw and cooked sweet potatoes, white potatoes, corn, peas, carrots, and beets, 

Again, the differences in the microbiome linked to a raw diet versus cooked food were considerable. 

A cooked tuber allows whoever eats it to absorb more calories in the small intestine the researchers said. Raw foods, on the other hand, have antimicrobial compounds that can damage bacteria. 

The researchers analyzed the chemical changes that occurred in cooked plants to see if these were responsible for the changes in the microbiomes. 

A small group of human participants was also fed either a diet of raw or cooked food for three days. The researchers analyzed the participants’ stool samples to see if the diets affected the microbiomes of humans in the same way as the mice. 

“It was exciting to see that the impact of cooking we see in rodents is also relevant to humans, although interestingly, the specifics of how the microbiome was affected differed between the two species,” said Turnbaugh. “We’re very interested in doing larger and longer intervention and observational studies in humans to understand the impact of longer-term dietary changes.”

The study was published in the journal Nature Microbiology. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Alexander Raths

Eating cooked versus raw food affects our gut bacteria

We often don’t think about the history of cooking beyond...

Finnish sauna bathing is an activity characterized by exposure to high environmental temperatures (80°C to 100°C) for a brief period of time, and is done for pleasure, relaxation, and wellness benefits. It’s often said that it can be linked to health benefits as well, but is this true?

A new study published in <a href="https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/">Mayo Clinic Proceedings</a> has found that sauna bathing is linked to a reduced risk of vascular diseases, such as high blood pressure and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakfast-prevent-cardiovascular-disease/">cardiovascular disease</a>. 

It is also associated with reduced risk of neurocognitive diseases, nonvascular conditions – such as pulmonary diseases – mental health disorders, and mortality. Beyond these health benefits, results showed that sauna bathing also helped mitigate conditions such as skin diseases, arthritis, headache, and flu.

This research was led by scientists from the <a href="https://www.jyu.fi/en">University of Jyväskylä</a>, the <a href="https://www.uef.fi/en/etusivu">University of Eastern Finland</a>, and the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a>, and consisted of a comprehensive literature review on the effects of Finnish sauna baths on health outcomes. 

They found that the physiological responses that occur as a result of a sauna bath are similar to those produced by moderate- or high-intensity physical activities. The feelings of relaxation and positive effects on mental health associated with sauna sessions may be due to the increased production of circulating levels of hormones such as endorphins.

Ultimately, this study found that sauna bathing has a good safety profile and is even of benefit to patients with stable cardiovascular disease. So if you haven’t tried a Finnish sauna bath yet, what are you waiting for?

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sauna bathing linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease

Finnish sauna bathing is an activity characterized by exposure to...

Climate change is making droughts hotter and more intense. Even in the face devastating wildfires sweeping through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carr-fire-california/">California</a>, Greece, and even the Arctic Circle, many still refuse to acknowledge the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/31/california-wildfire-climate-change-carr-fire">impacts of climate change over the years</a>. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://uci.edu/">University of California Irvine</a> shows how heat waves and drought are connected, revealing that dry, hot months in the summer are only getting hotter and drier due to climate change. 

The results, published in the journal Science Advances, show that the increased devastation of wildfires, the long stretches of record-breaking heat waves, and an increase in droughts and weather extremes are not random freak occurrences, but a stark forecast for the future. 

During droughts, soil moisture and plant water stores are quickly used up causing vegetation to die off and watersheds to deplete. 

The researchers found that in recent decades, temperatures during droughts are rising faster than in past years because of changes in atmospheric water vapor which only exacerbates drought conditions. 

“Available soil moisture can remove surface heat through evaporation, but if the land is dry, there is no opportunity to transport it away, which increases the local temperature,” said Felicia Chiang, the lead author of the study. “Atmospheric conditions can influence soil, and we argue that they're shaping the temperatures we experience during droughts.”

The researchers analyzed temperature and precipitation data collected through the 20th century and discovered that areas in the United States prone to droughts warmed four times faster than regions in the southern and northeastern parts of the country.

Warmer temperatures mean more droughts and heat-waves which increases the risk of wildfires. This is a well-documented pattern we have seen around the world in recent years. 

“Heat waves and droughts have significant impacts on their own, but when they occur simultaneously, their negative effects are greatly compounded,” said Amir AghaKouchak, a co-author of the study. “Both phenomena, which are intensifying due to climate warming, are expected to have increasingly harmful consequences for agriculture, infrastructure, and human health.”

The study explains exactly how droughts and climate change are interconnected and that unless more is done to mitigate climate change, we will only see an increase in extreme weather events, heat waves, droughts and with it devastating wildfires. 

“The observed escalation in the number and intensity of wildfires is likely caused by the increase in frequency of hot droughts,” said AghaKouchak. “We need to bolster our resiliency against these threats to protect our population health, food supply and critical infrastructure.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Amir AghaKouchak / UCI

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Climate change is making droughts hotter and more intense

Climate change is making droughts hotter and more intense. Even...

The largest FDA-approved clinical trial of MDMA has shown promising results for the future use of the drug as a treatment for chronic PTSD. The results were the most pronounced one year after the experiment, when 76 percent of the participants no longer had the symptoms to qualify for a diagnosis of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/service-dogs-veterans-ptsd/">PTSD</a>.

MDMA is a psychoactive drug that increases the activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline in the brain. Commonly known as ecstasy, MDMA is  primarily used as a recreational drug.

The research, which was sponsored by the non-profit <a href="https://maps.org/">Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies</a> (MAPS), was a Phase 2 pilot study that was focused on 28 participants.

Brad Burge is the Director of Strategic Communications at MAPS.

“The only two medications approved for PTSD treatment are antidepressants (SSRIs),” said Burge. “Most patients need to take these drugs every day for many months, years, or sometimes forever in order to see their symptoms reduced.”

“Like any treatment, SSRIs approved for PTSD can have unwanted side effects, and since they are daily medications, many people struggle with them continuously. Other options for PTSD treatment can include various forms of therapy and yoga, which can be helpful for some patients but not all.”

PTSD is a mental health disorder that is triggered by a traumatic event and is characterized by panic and anxiety. The 28 patients involved in the trial were suffering from chronic PTSD that was related to events in the military, sexual assault, and other causes. 

The participants were randomly assigned to three groups which all received 13.5 hours of normal psychotherapy in addition to three days of drug-assisted therapy. The patients were given either a full active dose of MDMA measuring 100 or 125 milligrams, or a low dose of 40 milligrams as a control.

“MDMA-assisted psychotherapy uses MDMA to improve the effectiveness of psychotherapy,” said Burge. “The treatment involves only two or three administrations of MDMA in conjunction with psychotherapy in a controlled therapeutic setting, as part of a 12-week course of psychotherapy. In this program, MDMA is not the treatment by itself, but must be administered together with psychotherapy.”

The study revealed that, one month after the second experimental drug session, 42.9 percent of participants who had received an active dose of MDMA no longer met the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, compared with 33.3 percent in the control group. One year after the trial, 76 percent of the participants no longer had PTSD.

“Our study demonstrated that different therapy teams were able to get similarly robust results, further strengthening the case for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a promising option for the treatment of PTSD,” said study lead author Marcela Ot’alora.

“Plus, the results of the study indicate that this treatment has the potential to greatly improve the lives of people suffering from PTSD, regardless of the source of their trauma. After treatment, a great majority of our participants have reported feeling more connected to themselves and to others, more joy, more compassion, and with new skills for facing life’s challenges.”

The study is published in <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/loi/jop">The Journal of Psychopharmacology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

MDMA therapy found to eliminate symptoms of chronic PTSD

The largest FDA-approved clinical trial of MDMA has shown promising...

Warming temperatures linked to rise in Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness commonly found in North America, but it may soon become even more common. 

According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/humancases.html">Centers for Disease Control</a>, approximately 30,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, a sharp increase from the 10,000 cases reported in 1991. 

Over the past few years, Lyme disease has been on the rise, and research shows that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a> may be responsible. The increase in temperature and humidity creates perfect conditions for tricks to thrive in some parts of the country, and more ticks equal more carriers of Lyme disease. 

Researchers from <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/">Carnegie Mellon University </a>conducted a study examining the connection between Lyme disease and changes in climate in the 15 states where Lyme disease cases are concentrated in the US. 

The results, published in the Canadian Journal of Infectious Disease and Medical Microbiology, show that rising temperatures could increase the number of Lyme disease cases by more than 20 percent by the mid-century 

“A sizable increase in the incidence of cases of Lyme disease in the United States due to climate change is imminent,” said Edson Severnini, a co-author of the study. “Our findings should alert clinicians, public health professionals, and policymakers, as well as the general public.”

The researchers focused on the states that have the highest incidence of Lyme disease to see how climate changes would impact ticks and their ability to spread disease in those regions. 

Epidemiologic data collected from 568 counties as well as meteorological data from the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> were analyzed for the study. 

The <a href="https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/">US National Climate Assessment</a> predicts that temperatures will rise by two degrees Celsius by 2065 and the researchers discovered that this would increase Lyme disease cases. 

If temperatures rise as projected, there will 8.6 more cases of Lyme disease per 100,000 people each year.  

“Tick-borne diseases are an important public health concern, and the incidence of these infections is increasing in the United States and worldwide,” said Igor Dumic, the leader of the study. “Lyme disease is a classic example of the link between environmental factors and the occurrence and spread of disease.”
--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Warming temperatures linked to rise in Lyme disease

Warming temperatures linked to rise in Lyme disease. Lyme disease...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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...