Egyptian rituals have long captivated the imaginations of scholars and enthusiasts alike, and a recent breakthrough has demystified some of their most mysterious aspects.



In an incredible leap forward for archaeology and anthropology, a new study has provided tangible proof that the use of hallucinogenic mixtures was an integral part of this ancient civilization's sacred practices.



The physical evidence of hallucinogens was found in an Egyptian Bes mug, a rare relic stored in a collection at the Tampa Museum of Art.



These curious objects are distinctively adorned with the ferocious face of Bes, a protective deity linked to everything from fertility to magical healing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-the-roots-of-ritualistic-practices">Tracing the roots of ritualistic practices</h2>



This research didn't materialized overnight. The role of the Bes mugs in ancient Egyptian society has been a topic of debate for a long stretch of time.



“For a very long time now, Egyptologists have been speculating what mugs with the head of Bes could have been used for, and for what kind of beverage, like sacred water, milk, wine or beer,” noted Branko van Oppen, a museum curator at the Tampa Museum of Art.



The ubiquity of the mugs throughout different epochs made it tough to pinpoint their exact use and significance.



The cryptic puzzle finally began to fall into place when researchers from the <a href="https://www.usf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of South Florida</a> embarked on an ambitious project to explore the unknown.



“There’s no research out there that has ever found what we found in this study,” said Davide Tanasi, lead author of the research paper that presents the findings.



The team managed to dissect the chemical signatures of a long-dried liquid inside one of the Tampa Museum's Bes mugs, providing a concrete clue to its past use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-secret-concoction-used-in-egyptian-rituals">The secret concoction used in Egyptian rituals</h2>



The result was nothing short of astounding. The researchers discovered a blend of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychedelic-drugs-secreted-from-toad-skin-greatly-improve-cognitive-functioning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychedelic drugs</a>, bodily fluids, and alcohol inside the mug - a 'cocktail' likely used in a ritual re-enacting an Egyptian myth.



The mysterious brew was sweetened with popular ingredients of the time like honey, sesame seeds, pine nuts, licorice, and grapes, quite possibly to mimic the appearance of blood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-glimpse-into-ancient-life">A glimpse into ancient life</h2>



This astounding find has brought to life vivid images of the Greco-Roman period in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/egypts-pyramids-were-built-along-a-buried-branch-of-the-nile-river/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Egypt</a>. 



The historical significance of the discovery underlines the importance of the Bes Chambers at Saqqara, a site apparently frequented by individuals hoping to confirm a successful pregnancy - a perilous phase in the ancient world.



“Egyptologists believe that people visited the so-called Bes Chambers at Saqqara when they wished to confirm a successful pregnancy because pregnancies in the ancient world were fraught with dangers," explained Van Oppen. 



He believes the special brew was likely used in a dream-vision inducing ritual during this fraught period.



This unusual study has helped us connect the dots between myths and reality.



“With this study, we’ve found scientific proof that the Egyptian myths have some kind of truth and it helps us shed light on the poorly understood rituals that were likely carried out in the Bes Chambers in Saqqara, near the Great Pyramids at Giza,” explained Tanasi.



Thus, the shroud of mystery surrounding ancient Egyptian rituals is gradually lifting, one artifact at a time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-symbolism-of-bes-in-egyptian-rituals">Symbolism of Bes in Egyptian rituals</h2>



The discovery of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/peruvian-empire-kept-control-with-beer-and-hallucinogens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hallucinogenic substances</a> within the Bes mug not only sheds light on the practices of ancient Egyptian rituals but also emphasizes the cultural weight carried by Bes, the deity represented on the artifact. 



Known for his lion-like visage and protective nature, Bes held an essential place in daily life and spiritual practices. He was not just a guardian deity; he was seen as a figure that could ward off evil spirits, promote <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-diet-improves-sperm-quality-and-fertility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fertility</a>, and bring joy through music and dance.



In ancient Egypt, rituals involving Bes were believed to harness his powerful essence, particularly in times of vulnerability, such as childbirth and healing. 



The presence of hallucinogenic elements in the brew suggests that these ceremonies aimed to elevate participants' consciousness and induce a trance-like state for divine communication or visionary experiences.



Such practices aligned with the belief that connecting with deities like Bes could provide spiritual protection and guidance.



This new understanding of Bes' involvement in these rituals deepens our appreciation for how ancient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mystery-how-ancient-egyptians-built-pyramids-djoser-may-be-solved/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Egyptians</a> intertwined the mystical with the tangible, creating sacred ceremonies that reflected their belief in the interconnectedness of the human and divine realms.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://search.app?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41598-024-78721-8&amp;utm_campaign=aga&amp;utm_source=agsadl2%2Csh%2Fx%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



Image Credit:&nbsp;Scientific Reports&nbsp;(2024).



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Hallucinogens were used in ancient Egyptian rituals

Egyptian rituals have long captivated the imaginations of scholars and enthusiasts alike, and a recent breakthrough has demystified some of their most mysterious aspects. In an incredible leap forward for archaeology and anthropology, a new study has provided tangible proof that the use of hallucinogenic mixtures was an integral part of this ancient civilization's sacred practices. The physical evidence of hallucinogens was found in an Egyptian Bes mug, a rare relic stored in a collection at the Tampa Museum of Art. These curious objects are distinctively adorned...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.mailman.columbia.edu/">Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health</a> suggests that all infectious diseases are seasonal, just like wintertime influenza outbreaks. Dr. Micaela Martinez noted that chickenpox becomes most widespread in the spring, while gonorrhea and polio are most prevalent in the summer. 

For the investigation, Dr. Martinez collected information from the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and peer-reviewed publications. Next, she constructed a calendar of epidemics for 69 infectious diseases, from rare tropical diseases to common infections. 


The study revealed that acute infectious diseases like the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/washing-hands-flu-season/">flu</a> are not the only conditions that can be seasonal. Chronic infectious diseases like Hepatitis B can also be expected at certain times of the year. 

The results of preliminary studies have shown that even HIV-AIDS has a seasonal element, which is believed to be driven by seasonal changes in malnutrition and agriculture. 

The researchers have identified four main drivers of seasonality in infectious diseases, including temperatures and other environmental factors, host behaviors such as children going to school, and seasonal biological rhythms. Finally, ecological factors such as algae play a role the outbreak of cholera.

[caption id="attachment_1861724" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/flu.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1861724" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/flu-1024x431.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="295" /></a> Image Credit: Columbia Mailman School of Public Health[/caption]

“Seasonality is a powerful and universal feature of infectious diseases, although the scientific community has largely ignored it for the majority of infections,” said Dr. Martinez. “Much work is needed to understand the forces driving disease seasonality and understand how we can leverage seasonality to design interventions to prevent outbreaks and treat chronic infections.”

Identifying the drivers of seasonal outbreaks is not always straightforward, but can really pay off. For example, the bacteria that cause cholera, which spread to humans by fecal-oral transmission, can be maintained in water supported by algae. 

Public health officials may develop an intervention to prevent the transmission of cholera from infected individuals, or to target the bacteria surviving in algal-filled waterbodies. However, the key season to employ each of these interventions would likely be different. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/">PLOS Pathogens</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The timing of all infectious diseases may be seasonal

A new study from the Columbia University Mailman School of...

Eating <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nuts-improve-male-fertility/">nuts</a> on a daily basis may prevent weight gain and provide cardiovascular health benefits, according to the results of two separate studies. In one investigation, the researchers analyzed how eating nuts may influence the long-term body weight of men and women in the United States. The second study examined whether eating Brazil nuts could increase a sense of fullness and improve glucose and insulin responses. 

For the first study, participants reported on their nut consumption every four years in three different groups involving 25,394 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, 53,541 women in the Nurse’s Health Study, and 47,255 women in the Nurse's Health Study II.

Over the four-year intervals, replacing foods  that were lacking in nutritional value with a single one-ounce serving of nuts was associated with a lower risk of obesity.


Study first author Dr. Xiaoran Liu is a research associate in the nutrition department of the <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/">Harvard School of Public Health</a>.

“People often see nuts as food items high in fat and calories, so they hesitate to consider them as healthy snacks, but they are in fact associated with less weight gain and wellness,” said Dr. Liu. “Once people reach adulthood, they start to gradually gain about one pound a year of weight, which seems small. But if you consider gaining one pound over 20 years, it accumulates to a lot of weight gain.” 

“Adding one ounce of nuts to your diet in place of less healthy foods - such as red or processed meat, French fries or sugary snacks - may help prevent that slow, gradual weight gain after you enter adulthood and reduce the risk of obesity-related cardiovascular diseases.”

In the Brazil nut study, 22 healthy adults with an average body mass index of 22.3 consumed either 36 grams of pretzels or 20 grams of Brazil nuts in addition to their usual diet. The Brazil nuts and pretzels had approximately the same amount of calories and sodium.

The study revealed that Brazil nuts and pretzels substantially reduced feelings of hunger, with the greatest sense of fullness experienced by the group eating Brazil nuts.

Pretzels led to a notable rise in blood glucose and insulin 40 minutes after they were eaten. Brazil nuts, however, did not significantly increase blood glucose or insulin.


Study senior author Dr. Mee Young Hong is a professor in the School of Exercise &amp; Nutritional Sciences at <a href="https://www.sdsu.edu/">San Diego State University</a>.

“While both Brazil nuts and pretzels increased a sense of fullness after they were eaten, eating Brazil nuts stabilized postprandial (after eating) blood glucose and insulin levels, which may be beneficial in preventing diabetes and weight gain,” said Dr. Hong.

“Our study allows researchers and clinicians to consider the possible beneficial role of Brazil nuts to help people feel full and maintain a healthy level of glucose, reducing the risk of obesity and diabetes.”

The research will be presented in Chicago at the <a href="https://professional.heart.org/professional/EducationMeetings/MeetingsLiveCME/ScientificSessions/UCM_316900_Scientific-Sessions.jsp">American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2018</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A daily dose of nuts lowers risk of obesity, related health issues

Eating nuts on a daily basis may prevent weight gain...

two hands of lovers on the background of sunset on the sea

Falling in love can be exciting and euphoric, but new research has revealed that it also comes with a surprising number of health benefits.

While the thrill of romance can put a spring in your step and make you feel like you’re on top of the world, sharing romantic moments with a partner has been linked to lower blood pressure, decreased sensitivity to allergens, and even an improved ability to fight infections. 

According to a report by the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6381807/Why-falling-love-good-blood-pressure-pain-relief-allergic-reactions.html">Daily Mail</a>, the root of these health benefits has to do with the chemicals released in our brain that influence our emotions. 

When you fall in love, your brain releases more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/love-hormone-socializing-satisfying/">feel-good chemicals</a> like dopamine and oxytocin, also called the cuddle hormone. This release in turn helps reduce anxiety and induces feelings of trust between you and your partner. 

As these warm and fuzzy feelings flood the brain and lower defenses, it can actually lower blood pressure, according to the research published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine found. 

Just hugging a loved one is enough to release oxytocin and lower blood pressure, and researchers from the <a href="https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/">University of California</a> found that people who are regularly hugged are less anxious and depressed. 

Several studies found that kissing lowered cholesterol and so falling in love has many benefits for cardiovascular health. 

The same chemicals that regulate the reward and pleasure centers in the brain may also help increase your tolerance to pain, according to researchers from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a>. 

In a 2010 study, participants were asked to look at a picture of their loved one or a picture of an acquaintance. 

While looking at the pictures, the researchers touched the participants with a hot probe, and there was a 40 percent decrease in pain levels when the participants were looking at a picture of a loved one. 

This is because dopamine also releases natural painkillers and the study shows that looking at a photo is enough to increase the production of dopamine. 

Dopamine is also connected to the body's immune and nervous systems, and another study published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology found that being in love can be useful in fighting off infections. 

50 women were asked to participate in the two-year study, and the research shows that the women in love had higher concentrations of anti-virals in their DNA. 

The chemicals in our brain that regulate emotions, pleasure, and reward have been the subject of many studies. These chemicals and hormones are major driving factors in addiction, and many mental health disorders can be traced back to chemical imbalances in the brain. 

Dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins, and serotonin all help influence our emotions and happiness and being in love can increase production of these chemicals, which not only makes us feel good but also helps improve our health and wellbeing. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Falling in love has actual cardiovascular health benefits

Falling in love can be exciting and euphoric, but new...

As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/songbirds-declining-numbers/">species declines</a> are reported more and more frequently around the world, with climate change and human activities being the biggest drivers of species loss, researchers and conservationists are racing to protect and restore the world’s biodiversity. 

Take forest birds, for example. Some studies have shown that forest trails have a negative effect on bird populations, but it was not well understood if it was the trails themselves or the human activity on the trails that was causing this effect. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html">University of Zurich in Switzerland</a> conducted a study examining forest trails to see how bird populations have responded over the years. 

The results, published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2018.00175/full">Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution</a>, show that birds avoid trails that are frequently used by humans even if the trails have been in place for many years. 

“We show that forest birds are quite distinctly affected by people and that this avoidance behavior did not disappear even after years of use by humans. This suggests not all birds habituate to humans and that a long-lasting effect remains,” said Yves Bötsch, the lead author the study. “This is important to show because pressure on natural habitats and nature protection areas is getting stronger and access bans are often ignored.”

Hiking, biking, skiing, and walking trails in local, state, and national forest parks are popular for outdoor enthusiasts, but trails and roads break up habitats and separate wildlife populations. 

The question remains, is it the initial development of trails and roads in natural habitats or human activity after the fact that impacts wildlife? 

The researchers surveyed four forests with different levels of recreation and recorded all the birds that were seen and heard near the trails and further away from designated walking areas. 

There were fewer birds near the trails and in the forests that attracted more human visitors. 

Birds that were more sensitive to humans, meaning more likely to fly away if a human comes near, were less abundant near the trails as well. 

“Species with a high sensitivity, measured by flight initiation distance (the distance at which a bird exposed to an approaching human flies away), showed stronger trail avoidance, even in rarely frequented forests,” said Bötsch. “These sensitive species were raptors, such as the common buzzard and Eurasian sparrowhawk, as well as pigeons and woodpeckers.” 

The study shows that human activity along forest trails impacts bird populations, and that it’s not the development of recreational trails that is as much of a problem as previously thought. 

“Generally it is assumed that hiking in nature does not harm wildlife,” said Bötsch. “But our study shows even in forests that have been used recreationally for decades, birds have not habituated to people enough to outweigh the negative impact of human disturbance.”

The researchers recommend expanding protected areas in forests and making sure that these areas are off-limits to people. The team also says that people who enjoy hiking or biking along forest trails should stay on designated trails and not roam from the path. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

How human activity on forest trails impacts bird populations

As species declines are reported more and more frequently around...

A new study has revealed significant declines in four major commercially important species of shellfish along the U.S. east coast in recent years.

Harvests of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oyster-recovery-programs-in-the-us-are-making-progress/">eastern oysters,</a> northern quahogs, softshell clams, and northern bay scallops have been less and less abundant with every year. But now, new research shows that increases in temperature due to climate change is the biggest driving factor behind these declines. 

The study was conducted by Clyde MacKenzie, a shellfish researcher at the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>, and Mitchell Tarnowski, a shellfish biologist from the <a href="http://dnr.maryland.gov/">Maryland Department of Natural Resources</a>. 

The researchers reviewed harvest data from four important shellfish species along the East Coast from main to North Carolina. MacKenzie and Tarnowski set out to see if the declines were to due to overfishing or the impacts of climate and environmental changes. 

The two researchers published their findings in the Marine Fisheries Review journal. 

The study found that eastern oyster harvests dropped from 600,00 bushels in 1960 to less than 100,000 in 2005. Between 1980 and 2010, all four of the commercially important bivalves included in the study declined and with them the fishermen who harvested them. 

In Maine, softshell clam harvests are at an all-time low and fishery managers, as well as clammers, are looking to find new ways to adapt to the changing landscape and protect important resources. 

Conservation efforts and fisheries management have successfully yielded better scallop harvests in Maine in contrast to the declines along other parts of the east coast.

Still, this is the exception and not the norm, and the researchers have several explanations as to why warmer temperatures and climate change would cause shellfish harvests to decline. 

One reason is that warmer temperatures are increasing the risk of predation for many bivalves. 

“Their predation rate is faster in the warmer waters,” MacKenzie told the Daily Mail. “They begin to prey earlier, and they prey longer into the fall.” 

Habitat degradation is also a factor, and the researchers found that a shift in the North Atlantic Oscillation has degraded many shellfish habitats. 

Shellfish are a popular seafood, especially along the east coast, and if declines in harvests continue, the United States may soon become reliant on imported shellfish from other parts of the world, which could negatively impact local fisheries and clamming industries. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

East coast shellfish harvests are declining due to warming waters

A new study has revealed significant declines in four major...

<div id="titlewrap"></div>
Climate change could cause worldwide beer shortages. According to a new study from the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a> (UEA), intense climate change could cause beer supply shortages. Severe drought and heat will increasingly impact barley yields around the world, potentially causing a “dramatic” rise in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/beer-sustainably-brewed/">beer</a> prices and major declines in beer consumption.

While beer production has consumed an average of 17 percent of the world’s barley in recent years, this consumption varies drastically across major beer-producing countries. For example, 83 percent of barley in Brazil is used for manufacturing beer compared to just 9 percent in Australia. 

The study has found that potential barley yield losses range from 3 to 17 percent, depending on the severity of future conditions. 

The researchers determined that global beer consumption would decline by 16 percent, or 29 billion liters, during the most severe climate events. This is equivalent to the annual beer consumption in the United States and would cause beer prices to double on average. Even during less severe climate events, beer consumption prices could rise by 15 percent.

Study co-author Dabo Guan is a professor of Climate Change Economics at UEA's School of International Development.

“Increasingly research has begun to project the impacts of climate change on world food production, focusing on staple crops such as wheat, maize, soybean, and rice.”

“However, if adaptation efforts prioritize necessities, climate change may undermine the availability, stability and access to ‘luxury’ goods to a greater extent than staple foods. People's diet security is equally important to food security in many aspects of society.”


Professor Guan said that this is the first research to carefully examine the potential impacts of climate change on beer. He also said that a sufficient beer supply may be helping with the stability of communication in society.

“While the effects on beer may seem modest in comparison to many of the other - some life-threatening - impacts of climate change, there is nonetheless something fundamental in the cross-cultural appreciation of beer,” said Professor Guan.

“It may be argued that consuming less beer isn't itself disastrous, and may even have health benefits. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that for millions of people around the world, the climate impacts on beer availability and price will add insult to injury.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nplants/">Nature Plants</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Climate change could cause worldwide beer shortages

Climate change could cause worldwide beer shortages. According to a...

Reduced meat consumption will be required to feed the world by 2050. A team of researchers led by Dr. Marco Springmann of the <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a> has investigated the planet's potential to feed 10 billion people by the year 2050. The analysis, which is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, details how the world's growing population can be sustainably fed without exceeding the Earth’s limitations.

The study revealed that a major shift away from meat toward plant-based diets will be one of the most important steps for achieving food sustainability and also for mitigating dangerous climate change. According to the research, beef consumption in western countries must be reduced by around 90 percent.Reduced meat consumption will be required to feed the world by 2050

“When it comes to diets, comprehensive policy and business approaches are essential to make dietary changes towards healthy and more plant-based diets possible and attractive for a large number of people,” explained Dr. Springmann. “Important aspects include school and workplace programs, economic incentives and labelling, and aligning national dietary guidelines with the current scientific evidence on healthy eating and the environmental impacts of our diet.”

The researchers also found that big changes in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-cattle-feed-methane-emissions/">agricultural practices</a> are needed to avoid overstepping planetary boundaries. 

Food production is already extremely damaging to the environment due to greenhouse gases from livestock, fertilizer runoff, deforestation, and water shortages. However, this impact will become much more intense as the global population rises by an estimated 2.3 billion people over the next three decades.

At the current rate, environmental limits will be exceeded beyond the point of safely sustaining the population.

“It is pretty shocking,” said Dr. Springmann. “We are really risking the sustainability of the whole system. If we are interested in people being able to farm and eat, then we better not do that.”

“Feeding a world population of 10 billion is possible, but only if we change the way we eat and the way we produce food,” added study co-author Professor Johan Rockström at the <a href="https://www.pik-potsdam.de/pik-frontpage">Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research</a>. “Greening the food sector or eating up our planet: this is what is on the menu today.”


Ultimately, the research team found that a global shift to a “flexitarian diet” is needed to limit global warming to a maximum of two degrees Celsius. This diet requires the average world citizen to eat 75 percent less beef, 90 percent less pork, and half as many eggs. 

At the same time, the dietary levels of beans, vegetables, nuts, and seeds would need to be tripled or quadrupled. A widespread adoption of the flexitarian diet could cut emissions from livestock in half.

Dr. Springmann explained: “No single solution is enough to avoid crossing planetary boundaries. But when the solutions are implemented together, our research indicates that it may be possible to feed the growing population sustainably.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Reduced meat consumption will be required to feed the world by 2050

Reduced meat consumption will be required to feed the world...

The surprising reason why many people stay in unhappy relationships. A new study from the <a href="https://www.utah.edu/">University of Utah</a> has investigated why people stay in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/relationships-harm-mental-health/">romantic relationships</a> when they are not satisfied. The researchers found that many individuals consider their partner's desires as much as their own when deciding if they should end an unhappy relationship.

“The more dependent people believed their partner was on the relationship, the less likely they were to initiate a breakup,” explained study lead author Professor Samantha Joel. The surprising reason why many people stay in unhappy relationships

Previous studies have found that some of the factors involved in the decision to end a relationship include the amount of time, resources, and emotion invested. Research has also shown that individuals may remain in unfulfilling relationships if the alternatives, such as being alone or the availability of prospective partners, seem less appealing.


Professor Joel explained that, in these cases, deciding to stay or go is based on self-interest. The new study, however, provides the first evidence that this decision is often based on how difficult the split would be for the other person.

“When people perceived that the partner was highly committed to the relationship they were less likely to initiate a break up,” said Professor Joel. “This is true even for people who weren't really committed to the relationship themselves or who were personally unsatisfied with the relationship. Generally, we don't want to hurt our partners and we care about what they want.”


According to Professor Joel, the partner who is making the choice to stay for the other person may be hoping that the relationship will improve.

“One thing we don't know is how accurate people's perceptions are. It could be the person is overestimating how committed the other partner is and how painful the break up would be.”

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/professor-stephen-hawking-warns-destroy-earth/">Professor</a> Joel said that deciding to stay based on a partner's perceived dependence on the relationship could be a double-edge sword. It could be a good decision if the relationship improves. Otherwise, a bad relationship has been prolonged.

Furthermore, it is questionable if sticking it out for a partner's sake is really the respectful thing to do. Professor Joel added, “Who wants a partner who doesn't really want to be in the relationship?”

The study is published in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_of_Personality_and_Social_Psychology">Journal of Personality and Social Psychology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The surprising reason why many people stay in unhappy relationships

The surprising reason why many people stay in unhappy relationships....

The calming effect of lavender could help treat anxiety, study finds. A new study has demonstrated for the first time that the calming effect of lavender is produced by smelling, and not by inhaling, the fragrant compound linalool. The research suggests that linalool could be a safer alternative to current anxiolytic drugs such as benzodiazepines, which are used to treat <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/depression-anxiety-heart-attack/">anxiety</a>.

Study co-author Dr. Hideki Kashiwadani is an expert in Neurobiology and Brain Physiology at <a href="https://www.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/en/">Kagoshima University</a> in Japan.

“In folk medicine, it has long been believed that odorous compounds derived from plant extracts can relieve anxiety,” said Dr. Kashiwadani. 

The findings of the research add to a growing collection of evidence that linalool, a scented alcohol found in lavender extracts, produces strong relaxing effects. However, according to Dr. Kashiwadani, previous investigations have failed to address the specific site where this biochemical reaction may take place. 

Many experts have speculated that linalool is absorbed through inhalation into the bloodstream, where it directly influences brain cell receptors called GABAA receptors (GABAARs). These receptors are also the target of benzodiazepines. 

Pinpointing the true mechanism that underlies the calming effects of linalool is a critical step in developing clinical treatments for humans. The research team designed a trial involving mice to investigate whether the smell of linalool, and the subsequent stimulation of olfactory neurons, may be responsible for the relaxation associated with the compound.

“We observed the behavior of mice exposed to linalool vapor, to determine its anxiolytic effects,” said Dr. Kashiwada. “As in previous studies, we found that linalool odor has an anxiolytic effect in normal mice. Notably, this did not impair their movement.” The calming effect of lavender could help treat anxiety, study finds

On the other hand, there was no anxiolytic effect found in mice who had lost their sense of smell after their olfactory neurons were destroyed. This discovery implies that the scent of linalool triggers olfactory signals that promote relaxation.

The study also revealed that the anxiolytic effect in normal mice disappeared when they had been treated with flumazenil, which blocks GABAA receptors.

“When combined, these results suggest that linalool does not act directly on GABAA receptors like benzodiazepines do - but must activate them via olfactory neurons in the nose in order to produce its relaxing effects,” explained Dr. Kashiwadani.


Further research is needed to establish how and where linalool could be safely and effectively administered before human trials can be developed.

“These findings nonetheless bring us closer to clinical use of linalool to relieve anxiety - in surgery for example, where pretreatment with anxiolytics can alleviate preoperative stress and thus help to place patients under general anesthesia more smoothly,” said Dr. Kashiwadani. “Vaporized linalool could also provide a safe alternative for patients who have difficulties with oral or suppository administration of anxiolytics, such as infants or confused elders.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience">Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The calming effect of lavender could help treat anxiety, study finds

The calming effect of lavender could help treat anxiety, study...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.uoregon.edu/">University of Oregon</a> has demonstrated the remarkable effect of sunlight as a disinfectant in the home. According to the researchers, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cavefish-evolved-without-sunlight/">sunlight</a> can destroy around half of the bacteria living in household dust.


The experts want families and medical workers to become aware that sunshine could eliminate potentially harmful bugs linked to respiratory disease.

“Humans spend most of their time indoors, where exposure to dust particles that carry a variety of bacteria, including pathogens that can make us sick, is unavoidable,” said study lead author Dr. Ashkaan Fahimipour. 

“Therefore, it is important to understand how features of the buildings we occupy influence dust ecosystems and how this could affect our health.”

For the investigation, the researchers created eleven identical rooms and filled them with dust obtained from residential homes. The team applied treatments to the windows, which were developed to transmit either visible, ultraviolet, or no light. 

After 90 days, dust was collected from each environment and was tested for the composition, abundance, and viability of any bacteria present.

The study revealed that dust from dark rooms contained organisms related to species associated with respiratory diseases. These organisms were mostly absent in dust collected from rooms that were exposed to daylight.

In addition, dust from the sunlit rooms contained a smaller proportion of human skin-derived bacteria and a larger proportion of outdoor air-derived bacteria, which indicates that daylight can transform the microbiome of indoor dust to that of dust found outdoors.


“Our study supports a century-old folk wisdom, that daylight has the potential to kill microbes on dust particles, but we need more research to understand the underlying causes of shifts in the dust microbiome following light exposure,” said Dr. Fahimipour. 

“We hope that with further understanding, we could design access to daylight in buildings such as schools, offices, hospitals and homes in ways that reduce the risk of dust-borne infections.”

Dr. Fahimipour pointed out that while more research is needed to apply the findings to the real world, there is no harm in letting more sunlight into our homes.

“There are a lot of procedures to prevent infections in hospitals already and in future we might also suggest sunlight as a cheap and easy measure to take.”


The study is published in the journal <a href="https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/">Microbiome</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Letting in sunlight can kill off harmful bacteria in your home

A new study from the University of Oregon has demonstrated...

A new study <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(18)31324-2">published in the journal Cell</a> on November 15th shows that “brown fat,” or brown adipose tissue (BAT), a type of body fat that generates heat when the body is cold, interacts with the gut hormone secretin to signal the brain to stop eating when full.

For their study, researchers from Germany and Finland injected mice with secretin, which resulted in the mice having suppressed appetites and caused an increase of heat production via brown fat. Mice who had inactivated brown fat tissue did not experience suppressed <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/appetite-human-obesity-drug/">appetite</a> when injected with secretin, thus showing that it’s the secretin’s effect on the brown fat that triggers fullness.

Lead author Martin Klingenspor, chair of molecular nutritional medicine at the <a href="https://www.tum.de/en/homepage/">Technical University of Munich</a>, said, "We demonstrate a connection between the gut, the brain, and brown tissue, uncovering a previously unknown facet of the complex regulatory system controlling energy balance. The view of brown fat as a mere heater organ must be revised, and more attention needs to be directed towards its function in the control of hunger and satiation."

After studying the effects of secretin and brown fat in mice, researchers measured secretin levels in 17 human volunteers. They found that higher levels of secretin correlated with more active brown fat.

Klingenspor hopes that this correlation between secretin and brown fat will lead to the discovery of certain foods that stimulate secretin production, which could potentially help people lose weight by promoting satiation. “Secretin secretion is sensitive to nutrients, so eating the right starter could be helpful in promoting satiation and result in reduced meal size and caloric intake,” he said.

Furthermore, targeting brown fat in the fight against obesity could prove to be efficient. By using secretin to do so, researchers believe future treatments for obesity and metabolic disease could be on the horizon.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How does your brain know when to stop eating?

A new study published in the journal Cell on November...

The United States has a huge problem with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/americans-waste-pound-food/">food waste</a>. 

According to the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/faqs.htm">United States Department of Agriculture</a> (USDA), unused food makes up 30 to 40 percent of the food supply in the US. It’s a problem that costs money, fills up landfills, and negatively impacts food security. 

Nutrient-rich food that could otherwise help feed families in need is thrown out, households are buying more than they need, grocery stores throw out perfectly decent produce based on appearance, and arbitrary sell-by/use-by dates often confuse consumers. 

Now, a new report from the <a href="https://www.glopan.org/">Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition</a> has found that the food waste trend is not slowing down and around one trillion dollars worth of food is wasted every year.

This equates to around one-third of all food produced worldwide, which means one-third of food never even reaches the consumer’s plate. 

Coupled with the massive amounts of food wasted every year are the rising problems with food insecurity and the countries around the world where billions of people don’t have enough food or have nutrient-poor diets. 

Food can spoil during storage and transportation, even before making it to the consumer, but the report found that retailers and consumers in high-income areas simply buy too much. 

“Consumer waste in high-income countries is typically linked to purchasing and storage of large quantities of food at the household level, inefficient meal planning and preparation, and post-meal disposal of non-consumed portions,” the report states. 

If you go into your local supermarket, you’ll see rows and rows of beautiful produce including perfectly shaped fruits and vegetables with vibrant colored skins with only the smallest of imperfections. 

That’s because grocery stores and supermarkets have high aesthetic standards because they know that imperfect produce likely won’t sell. 

This is also why grocery stores overstock, it creates the illusion of abundance and encourages consumers to buy more. The recent report found that more than half of all fruit and vegetables produced every year are thrown out and a quarter of the world’s meat never reaches consumers either. 

Besides meat and produce, food waste also includes nutrient-rich items like dairy and nuts. 

One of the biggest issues with dairy food waste is expiration dates that can be confusing. Have you ever thrown out milk that was just at its expiration date without testing first to see if the milk had actually spoiled? 

One report in 2013 found that over 90 percent of Americans are prematurely throwing out food based on expiration dates alone.

“Expiration dates are in need of some serious myth-busting because they’re leading us to waste money and throw out perfectly good food, along with all of the resources that went into growing it,” Dana Gunders, a staff scientist with the food and agriculture program at the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/">NRDC</a> said in a <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/press-release-template-ht">press release</a>. “Phrases like ‘sell by’, ’use by’, and ‘best before’ are poorly regulated, misinterpreted and leading to a false confidence in food safety. It is time for a well-intended but wildly ineffective food date labeling system to get a makeover.”

Food waste isn’t just a costly problem that’s taking food away from people that potentially need it. It’s also contributing to climate change by increasing our carbon footprint and putting more stress on landfills and waste processing facilities.

The report emphasizes that by tackling food waste, we can reduce the loss of nutrient-rich food and shift how people think about the food they eat and what they need. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Roughly one-third of food produced worldwide goes to waste

The United States has a huge problem with food waste....

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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

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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