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 collaborative large-scale genomic analysis from researchers at the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> and <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/">Massachusetts General Hospital</a> reveals new information about the human body clock and how it may be linked to mental health and disease.

The study, published January 29th in <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>, found that those genetically programmed to be early risers had a greater well-being and less risk for developing schizophrenia and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lgb-anxiety-depression-substance-abuse/">depression</a>.

250,000 U.S. participants from private genomic analyst company 23andMe, and 450,000 U.K. participants from the U.K. Biobank were gathered for the study. Each participant was asked whether they were a “morning person” or a “evening person.” Based on their answer, researchers then looked at their genes to see if morning people and evening people shared common genes amongst their group that influence their sleep patterns.

Then, using wrist-worn activity trackers worn by 85,000 of the U.K. participants, researchers found that the genetic variants they identified could shift a person’s natural waking time by about 25 minutes. However, these genetic variants did not affect quality or duration of sleep.

"This study highlights a large number of genes which can be studied in more detail to work out how different people can have different body clocks,” said Professor Mike Weedon, from the <a href="http://medicine.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter Medical School</a>. “The large number of people in our study means we have provided the strongest evidence to date that 'night owls' are at higher risk of mental health problems, such as schizophrenia and lower mental well-being, although further studies are needed to fully understand this link."

The genetic areas that affect waking times are those essential to our body clock — our circadian rhythms. They are also genes expressed in the brain and the eye’s retinal tissue, which could explain how the brain detects light and orders the body to “reset,” or go to sleep.

Our body clocks are affected by numerous factors such as genetics, exercise, diet, daily activities, and our exposure to artificial light, and can determine hormone levels, body temperature, and our waking and sleep patterns.

"Our work indicates that part of the reason why some people are up with the lark while others are night owls is because of differences in both the way our brains react to external light signals and the normal functioning of our internal clocks,” lead author Dr. Samuel E. Jones, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said. “These small differences may have potentially significant effects on the ability of our body clocks to keep time effectively, potentially altering risk of both disease and mental health disorders."

Dr. Jacqueline M. Lane, of the <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/anesthesia/">Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Anesthesia</a>, added that knowing how our genetic body clock works can help professionals treat their patients with delayed circadian rhythm disorders. 

 "We know that there are links between how the body clock functions and our health and wellbeing but, to date, we have understood little about the part genetics plays,” said Dr. Rachael Panizzo, Programme Manager for Mental Health and Addiction at the <a href="https://mrc.ukri.org/">Medical Research Council</a>. “Now, with the help of publicly funded datasets like UK Biobank, researchers are able to study on an unprecedented scale, the interplay between the genetics of the body clock and the risk of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. This study provides valuable new insights which we hope will lead to more effective interventions for those most at risk."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Your body clock may affect your risk of mental illness and disease

A new collaborative large-scale genomic analysis from researchers at the...

A new look at the history of oil drilling in Los Angeles has revealed that this activity likely contributed to a spike in moderate <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-earthquake-modelling-method/">earthquakes</a> between 1935 and 1944. According to the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/">Los Angeles Times</a>, oil pumping may have been responsible for as many as half of the mid-sized earthquakes that struck the region in the early 20th century. 

In a report published by the American Geophysical Union, the researchers re-examined historical data on earthquake damage in the LA Basin.

Study lead author Susan Hough is a geophysicist at the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a> in Pasadena. Hough told the Los Angeles Times: “The LA Basin could be a generally safer place for natural earthquakes than what we’ve estimated.”

There was an increase in moderate earthquakes between 1935 and 1944, with an average of one magnitude 4.4 to 5.1 quake every two years. Based on the data from sensors that began monitoring in 1932, the researchers examined the locations of the earthquakes. They found that many of the disturbances occurred near active oil fields.

“All these little earthquakes happened in the 1930s,” said study co-author Roger Bilham, a geologist at the University of Colorado. “It looked like the LA region was very active seismically, and of course it is quite active, but if you throw away those earthquakes induced by oil you come up with a lower rate of seismicity.”

According to the researchers, oil companies were drilling deep into active faults prior to the 1950s. The study revealed that earthquakes often occurred within months of an oil well expansion that extended beyond 1.9 miles underground.

Earthquake activity was reduced after the oil companies started using water-flooding wells to bring up oil in the late 1950s. The study authors pointed out that the earlier method of oil drilling did not actually cause the earthquakes, but simply accelerated quakes that would have happened in the next few hundred years. 

“It turns out it would be almost impossible for the things they were doing in the 1930s not to produce earthquakes,” said Bilham. “In California, they were sucking out the oil so fast they were setting up these giant stresses near the oil fields, forces enough to break rock. And we know that they did break the rock because they produced earthquakes in the oil fields that severed the pipes.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21562202">Journal of Geophysical Research</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image: 1933 Long Beach, California Earthquake Damage

Early 20th century oil drilling increased LA earthquake risk

A new look at the history of oil drilling in...

In the first global study of its kind, researchers at the <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/">University of New South Wales</a> have identified a "clear link" between <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-early-death/">air pollution</a> and an increased risk of dementia. 

The experts found that people were more likely to develop dementia later in life after long-term exposure to two types of air pollutants, particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrous oxide (NO2).

Dementia cases are increasing by more than 20 percent a year, particularly in developed countries where air pollution levels are the highest. The experts are specifically concerned about nitrogen dioxide and smog emitted from old diesel cars.

After microscopic particles in air pollution are inhaled into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, scientists theorize that the toxic particles then reach the brain and trigger inflammation that is associated with a higher risk of stroke and cognitive impairment. 

The team reviewed 40 studies on dementia risk in Canada, Sweden, Taiwan, Britain and the United States, which involved around 1,500 participants.

‘This study finds mounting evidence that air pollution increases the risk of developing dementia later in life," said study lead author Dr. Ruth Peters. "However, unlike the majority of established dementia risk factors, it is very difficult for someone to reduce their exposure to air pollution, especially if they live somewhere where pollution levels are high."

"This is concerning because the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 91 percent of the world's population lives in places where air quality exceeds WHO guideline limits. This research shows that government regulation that reduces our exposure to air pollution has a huge potential health and economic benefit."

In the UK alone, around 850,000 people have dementia, and this number is projected to jump to one million by 2025 and two million by 2050. 

Beyond hereditary factors, dementia has been linked to smoking, obesity, and a lack of exercise. The new research suggests that air pollution is also a major contributor, and supports the findings of previous studies. 

Last year, a study led by King's College London revealed that people living in heavily-trafficked areas with high levels of NO2 and PM2.5 are 40 percent more likely to develop dementia. 

"The causes of dementia are complex and not fully understood, so it’s important that people who live in cities do not worry unduly about the link between air pollution and dementia," said Hilda Hayo, CEO of Dementia UK. "People are living longer which is also contributing to rise in dementia diagnosis rates."

"Nevertheless, everything that is good for your heart is also good for your brain, so we suggest people make healthy choices, including eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly - away from main roads wherever possible."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.j-alz.com/">Journal of Alzheimer's Disease</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/Alex Tihonovs

Air pollution exposure increases the risk of dementia

In the first global study of its kind, researchers at...

Forgetting workplace information can be a good thing, study shows. Due to globalization and digitalization, workplaces and business dealings have grown more complex in recent decades. More information and data is being processed and becoming outdated at a faster pace. Because of this, organizations, companies, and individual workers are using digital information systems to remember facts and figures for them. 

Although one may think that these systems may be dumbing down the people who use them, psychologists and information scientists at the <a href="https://www.uni-muenster.de/en/">University of Münster</a> argue that they actually have the opposite effect. In fact, the ability to forget things makes people and organizations more able to act on things in the present.

The University of Münster’s Guido Hertel, Professor of Organisational and Business Psychology, and Professor Jörg Becker from the Institute of Information Systems, set up a simulation of a typical business process to test their theory. They simulated the process manufacturing companies often use to repeatedly decide how much of a company’s products are going to be sold in different countries.

Hertel and Becker found that the introduction of a supporting information system led to better economic decisions and also released users’ cognitive resources. Those workers who used the information system could better remember details of previous company decisions than people in the control group who did not have access to an information system.

Furthermore, those who used the information system reported feeling less <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/stress-shrink-brain/">stressed out</a> during these decision-making periods and while completing complex tasks.

"The major pre-condition for these positive effects was that the test persons trusted the information system," Hertel said of the study, published in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/terg20">Ergonomics</a>. "Only then could better performances be clearly observed." 

In order for a person to trust an information system, technical reliability and quality of the available information was essential. 

"What we found surprising was that trust in the information systems was determined by a wide variety of influencing factors," Hertel said. "Distrust, on the other hand, already arises with one single problem- for example, a one-off technical problem."

These findings provide further incentive to create a trustworthy information system that allows people to forget bits of unnecessary yet important workplace information. The team will now look at how other workplace-related factors influence forgetfulness such as costs arising from wrong decisions or personal orientation toward safety and security.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Forgetting workplace information can be a good thing, study shows

Forgetting workplace information can be a good thing, study shows....

A new study by researchers at the <a href="https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/university.html">University of Tübingen</a> in Germany has revealed that sleep improves the ability of the immune cells to attach to their targets. The research explains how <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sleep-deprivation-damages-dna-cancer/">sleep</a> can help to fight off an infection, while sleep deprivation makes the body more susceptible to illness.


T cells are critical to the body's immune response. They recognize a specific target, such as a cell infected with a virus, and activate sticky proteins known as integrins that enable them to attach to their target and kill it if necessary. 

The signals that activate integrins are well-documented, but the signals that inhibit the ability of T cells to attach to their targets are not clearly understood. For the current study, the team set out to investigate the effects of a diverse group of signaling molecules known as Gαs-coupled receptor agonists.

The study revealed that certain Gαs-coupled receptor agonists, including the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, prevented T cells from activating their integrins after recognizing their target. 

“The levels of these molecules needed to inhibit integrin activation are observed in many pathological conditions, such as tumor growth, malaria infection, hypoxia, and stress,” said study lead author Stoyan Dimitrov. “This pathway may therefore contribute to the immune suppression associated with these pathologies.”

While the body is asleep, adrenaline levels decline. The researchers compared T cells taken from healthy volunteers after they had either slept or stayed awake all night. The T cells collected from those who slept showed significantly higher levels of integrin activation compared to T cells obtained from participants who did not sleep.

The researchers confirmed that the beneficial effect of sleep on T cell integrin activation was due to the decrease in Gαs-coupled receptor activation.

Study co-author Luciana Besedovsky said, “Our findings show that sleep has the potential to enhance the efficiency of T cell responses, which is especially relevant in light of the high prevalence of sleep disorders and conditions characterized by impaired sleep, such as depression, chronic stress, aging, and shift work.”

The research is published in the <a href="http://jem.rupress.org/">Journal of Experimental Medicine</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sleep helps immune cells fight and kill infection in the body

A new study by researchers at the University of Tübingen...

Ultraprocessed foods loaded with fats, sugar, and sodium may be high in flavor and make for an easy and quick meal or snack option, but a new <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2723626?utm_campaign=articlePDF&amp;utm_medium=articlePDFlink&amp;utm_source=articlePDF&amp;utm_content=jamainternmed.2018.7289">study</a> has found that these foods increase the risk of early death. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.univ-paris13.fr/">University of Paris 13</a> examined the link between high consumption of ultraprocessed foods, like processed meats, snack foods, and ready-to-eat meals, and early death. 

Studies have linked ultraprocessed foods with obesity, an increased risk of cancer, and even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beef-jerky-meats-manic-episodes/">mania</a>. Despite the health risks and the benefits of diets high in fruits and vegetables, processed foods make up a large majority of most diets today. 

In the US in 2012, 61 percent of all energy from food consumption came from ultraprocessed foods. <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-015-0317-y">one study found</a>. In the UK, 63 percent of all energy came from processed foods, and in Canada, that number was 62 percent. 

For this recent study, the researchers evaluated the long-term impacts of high-processed foods on health and early death risk. 

44,551 French adults 45 years of age or older took part in a two-year study. Every six months the participants filled out a health questionnaire and kept a food diary for 24 hours. 

Participants were surveyed about their weight and physical activity and sociodemographics, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/11/health/ultraprocessed-foods-early-death-study/index.html">CNN </a>which reported on the study. 

Ultraprocessed foods accounted for about 14 percent of total food weight consumed by the participants and around 29 percent of total calories. 

High consumption of ultraprocessed foods was linked to a younger demographic, lower incomes and lower education level, high body mass index and low physical activity. 

Over the study period, 602 participants died, which allowed the researchers to analyze the impact of high consumption of ultraprocessed foods on early death. 

The researchers found that a 10 percent increase in ultraprocessed food consumption was linked to a 14 higher risk of mortality. 

Overall, the study results in align with previous research highlighting the adverse health risks of eating highly processed foods. Unfortunately, for many people, these foods are cheap and widely available.

To counter our additive addictions, health experts recommend loading up on fruits and vegetables as much as possible and switching out refined grains for whole grains. 

But as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/toolstemplates/entertainmented/tips/FoodDesert.html">food deserts</a> are a real problem in many parts of the US, and low-income areas often lack access to affordable, high-nutrient, and fresh foods, policy changes, public health campaigns, and the medical community will have to work together to make a healthier diet easily accessible.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Ultraprocessed foods increase the risk of early death, study finds

Ultraprocessed foods loaded with fats, sugar, and sodium may be...

Taking too many pictures makes experiences less fun, study shows. Experts are advising that constantly taking pictures can make an otherwise fun experience seem dull. The researchers also found that posting pictures of events on <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/social-media-addiction-drugs/">social media</a> may take away from the excitement even more. 

The study was focused on five different experiments involving over 700 participants. The individuals were presented with videos and some of them were instructed to take pictures. 

When the participants rated their experience, the scores were lower among the group that had taken pictures. These scores were even lower when the individuals were told the images they captured would be shared on social media. 

Study co-author Robyn LeBoeuf of <a href="https://wustl.edu/">Washington University</a> in St. Louis explained: “We've all had those kind of experiences. We get so focused on picture-taking, we miss the experience itself.”

“We're looking at experiences that are overall highly enjoyable, ones you really get immersed in, things that are a 8-, 9- and 10- on a 10-point scale of enjoyment. When you take pictures, you tend to enjoy them less. Taking pictures hurts.”

In one experiment, 152 college students were shown a video clip of venomous snakes and jellyfish. Some of the students were told to snap pictures of the best scenes as if they were on vacation.  The participants who simply watched the video rated their experience an average of 10 points higher than those who took pictures. 

In another experiment involving a more boring video, the experience was not rated higher by students who watched without taking any pictures. 

When the researchers examined the effect of texting during the videos, they concluded that taking pictures was just “one manifestation of a larger range of behaviors, such as texting, tweeting and posting on social media that surreptitiously distract people from the moment, resulting in diminished enjoyment.”

“When advising people, we can tell them, ‘Hey, you may want to be more mindful when deciding whether to take pictures,’” said LeBoeuf.  

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/loi/15206793">Psychology and Marketing</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Taking too many pictures makes experiences less fun, study shows

Taking too many pictures makes experiences less fun, study shows....

New research suggests that mindfulness meditation and stress reduction techniques based on the ancient practice may help ease chronic pain.

A team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.ottawahospital.on.ca/">Ottawa Hospital</a> reviewed a selection of 21 separate studies on chronic pain management. Thirteen of the studies focused on cognitive behavioral therapy, one of the main stress-reduction treatments used for chronic pain patients. The rest looked at mindfulness meditation and related techniques. 

The researchers wanted to find out if mindfulness – which has deep roots but has gone viral in recent years as a trendy stress-reduction technique – is as effective in treating chronic pain as CBT. 

It seems to be, they concluded. 

“Findings ... for change in physical functioning, pain intensity and depression revealed clinically important advantages relative to control for [mindfulness-based stress reduction] and CBT, but no evidence of an important difference between MBSR and CBT was found,” they wrote in their analysis, published in the journal <a href="https://ebmh.bmj.com/content/22/1/26">Evidence-Based Mental Health</a>.

Mindfulness meditation, long practiced in various forms of Buddhism, first drew the attention of psychologists and psychiatrists in the 1970s. Since then, researchers have developed a collection of mindfulness-based tools to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-treat-anxiety/">treat anxiety</a> and depression. 

Since then, the technique has caught on as a way to relieve stress, battle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-reduce-cravings-food/">addiction</a>, aid in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-training-weight-loss/">weight loss</a>, ease symptoms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/women-mindfulness-menopause/">menopause</a> and more.

With studies showing the potential mental health benefits – like CBT, which is also used in mental health treatment – the researchers wondered whether mindfulness meditation could help chronic pain patients.

One in five adults suffers from chronic pain, and that can have a profound effect beyond just the physical.

“Core components of [mindfulness] include increasing awareness of one’s body, emotions, sensations, thoughts as well as learning self-regulation strategies and more adaptive responses to stress,” the researchers wrote.

Like CBT, which teaches patients how to adapt to their situations and find coping strategies, mindfulness meditation focuses on accepting and working around pain. While more research is needed, the team said, mindfulness-based stress reduction holds some promise for treating pain.

“Although a number of recommendations have been proposed to improve CBT for patients with [chronic pain], an additional solution may be to offer patients MBSR since it shows promise in improving pain severity and reducing pain interference and psychological distress,” they wrote.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Can mindfulness meditation help keep pain under control?

New research suggests that mindfulness meditation and stress reduction techniques...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/">American Cancer Society</a> has revealed that rates for six different obesity-related cancers are increasing in younger adults in the United States. The researchers found the largest growth in rates among progressively younger age groups and successively younger generations.

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/poor-sleep-habits-obesity/">Excess body weight</a> is a known carcinogen and is associated with more than 12 cancers. When young people are exposed to carcinogens during early life development, this could have an even more critical influence on cancer risk.


The researchers involved in the current study had previously identified increases in early onset colorectal cancer across the United States, and the trend has been observed in several other high-income countries as well. This suggests that the increase may coincide with a steep rise in obesity. The team set out to expand on those findings by examining age-specific patterns for 30 types of cancer, including 12 that are known to be associated with obesity.

For the investigation, which was led by Dr. Hyuna Sung, the researchers analyzed two decades of incidence data for 30 cancers in 25 states from the Cancer in North America database provided by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.

The incidence rate was found to increase among young adults for six of the 12 obesity-related cancers, including colorectal, endometrial, gallbladder, kidney, multiple myeloma, and pancreas. The pattern of growth was consistent, with millennials having double the risk of developing these cancers compared to baby boomers. The researchers also analyzed the incidence of 18 cancers unrelated to obesity, and found rates increasing for only two.

“Although the absolute risk of these cancers is small in younger adults, these findings have important public health implications,” said study senior author Dr. Ahmedin Jemal. “Given the large increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among young people and increasing risks of obesity-related cancers in contemporary birth cohorts, the future burden of these cancers could worsen as younger cohorts age, potentially halting or reversing the progress achieved in reducing cancer mortality over the past several decades. Cancer trends in young adults often serve as a sentinel for the future disease burden in older adults, among whom most cancer occurs.”

The study is published in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/onlineFirst">The Lancet Public Health</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>,  <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Obesity-related cancers on the rise among young adults in the US

A new study from the American Cancer Society has revealed...

A new report from the American Psychological Association (APA), <a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2018/10/generation-z-stressed.aspx">Stress in America: Generation Z</a>, has revealed that issues in the headlines such as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/immigration-policies-stress-latino/">immigration</a> are causing major stress among Americans between the ages of 15 and 21. Despite this anxiety, the young adults of Gen Z who are old enough to vote were found to be the least likely to show up at the 2018 midterm elections.

According to the survey, which involved 3,458 young adults and 300 individuals who were between the ages of 15 and 17, mass shootings cause the most stress among members of Generation Z. 

Young people are also very stressed over other issues in the news, such as the separation and deportation of immigrant families. In fact, America's youngest generation was found to be even more worried about this particular issue than adults were overall. In addition, Gen Z members were more likely than other generations to report their mental health as being fair or poor. 

Regardless of their stress levels, only 54 percent of Gen Z adults between ages 18 and 21 said they intend to vote in the U.S. midterm elections.

“Current events are clearly stressful for everyone in the country, but young people are really feeling the impact of issues in the news, particularly those issues that may feel beyond their control,” said Dr. Arthur C. Evans Jr., APA's chief executive officer. “At the same time, the high percentage of Gen Z reporting fair or poor mental health could be an indicator that they are more aware of and accepting of mental health issues. Their openness to mental health topics represents an opportunity to start discussions about managing their stress, no matter the cause.”

Overall, 91 percent of Gen Z survey respondents said they have experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress, such as feeling depressed, sad, or lacking interest or motivation.


Among adults, money and work continued to top the list of significant stressors tracked annually by the survey. Nearly two-thirds of American adults reported money and work as stressors in their lives.

The Stress in America survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of the APA in July and August 2018.

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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

Generation Z: Stressed over current issues, but least likely to vote

A new report from the American Psychological Association (APA), Stress...

An investigation into the relationship between <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/meditation-helps-chronic-pain/">stress</a> and the structural integrity of the brain has revealed that people who are more stressed have lower brain volume. Middle-aged adults with high levels of the stress hormone cortisol also showed a decline in cognitive performance.

The hormone cortisol influences a range of bodily processes, including metabolism, immune response, blood pressure, and memory formation. In addition, extra cortisol is released to help the body respond to stress.

Study co-author Dr. Sudha Seshadri is a professor of Neurology at <a href="http://www.uthscsa.edu/">UT Health San Antonio</a>. While this research did not follow up on the participants to look for the development of dementia, the effects of stress could be a precursor to cognitive decline later in life, according to Dr. Seshadri.

“We have previously shown that changes of this magnitude do predict level of mental dementia, even vascular brain injury, two or three decades later,” explained Dr. Seshadri.

The study was focused on more than 2,200 young and middle-aged adults with no history of dementia who were participating in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framingham_Heart_Study">Framingham Heart Study</a>. 

The memory and thinking skills of the participants were tested at the beginning of the study, and again around eight years later. The majority of the individuals also had MRI scans which were used to examine brain volume. Blood samples were collected so that early morning serum cortisol levels could be measured.

Compared to those with lower cortisol levels, the experts found a connection between elevated cortisol levels and lower scores on memory and cognition tests. Higher levels of cortisol were also linked to lower brain volume.

Among other limitations, the study was observational, which means that cause and effect cannot be defined with certainty. In addition, most of the participants were Caucasian and lived in the same general area. Therefore, the study does accurately not represent the population of the United States.

Regardless, Dr. Seshadri said that the findings suggests that stress may be driving worrisome brain changes.

“The fact that in this range, having a higher cortisol level was associated with the changes in brain function this early in life was both alarming and an opportunity,” said Dr. Seshadri. “There’s one more strand that one can work on to reduce the public health impact of dementia. I cannot tell you for sure that lowering cortisol is going to necessarily result in benefits, but it’s a first step.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://n.neurology.org/">Neurology</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

Stress linked to smaller brain size, cognitive performance decline

An investigation into the relationship between stress and the structural...

A growing collection of studies has demonstrated the impact of rising temperatures and heat stress on the productivity of workers. However, the majority of this research was focused on workers based in developing countries, so the pattern of heat-related work productivity loss (WPL) on a global scale has remained unclear.

An international team of experts from the <a href="http://english.iap.cas.cn/">Institute of Atmospheric Physics</a> and the <a href="http://english.cas.cn/">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a> set out to investigate. The study was focused on a survey that was designed to examine the effect of heat stress on work productivity loss worldwide. The researchers analyzed 4,363 responses to the survey, which was conducted in 2016.

The analysis revealed that the annual heat-related work productivity loss was 6.6 days for developing countries and 3.5 days for developed countries. 

The researchers found evidence that the WPL is inversely proportional to the level of a country's development. They also identified some regions that will be more vulnerable to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/heatwaves-severe-frequent/">heat waves</a> due to relatively low adaptability to heat, including Central Asia and northern Europe.

To estimate work productivity loss in the future, the team used various greenhouse gas concentration scenarios. When global warming reaches 1.5 degrees Celsius, the annual WPL will be 9 days for developed countries and 19 days for developing countries. If global warming is increased by four degrees Celsius, the annual WPL will reach 33 days in developed countries and 94 days in developing countries.

“Heat waves surely impact more seriously the developing countries in general, but our study quantitatively estimated how much heat waves would reduce the productivity and identified the most vulnerable regions over the world,” said study co-author YU Shuang. “Our results call for attention to the need of adaptation to increasing heat waves by improving protective infrastructure especially for the developing regions in the Belt and Road.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-cleaner-production">Journal of Cleaner Production</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

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As global temperatures rise, work productivity will decline

A growing collection of studies has demonstrated the impact of...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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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



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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



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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...