Sunburn is painful skin damage that we've all experienced after spending a bit too much time outdoors without protection from UV rays. 



Whether it's from a lazy beach day or an exhilarating hike, the aftermath tells a singular tale - crimson skin and a nagging sting.



We've long believed that stepping out into the sun requires ample sunscreen slathering, shade-seeking, and hat-wearing, especially between the peak hours of 12 noon and 3 p.m.



However, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a> and <a href="https://www.ntu.edu.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nanyang Technological University</a> (NTU Singapore) have made surprising new strides in our understanding of sunburn.



As it turns out, the DNA damage we've always associated with sunburn might not be the complete story.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-rna-and-sunburn-damage">DNA, RNA, and sunburn damage</h2>



When it comes to sunburn, the prevailing wisdom suggests that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-can-now-collect-human-dna-from-water-air-and-basically-everywhere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA</a> damage triggers inflammation and subsequent cell death.



However, this recent research suggests that the real offender might be <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-world-unraveling-mysteries-life-origin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RNA</a>, not DNA. 



"Sunburn damages the DNA, leading to cell death and inflammation. So the textbooks say," stated assistant professor Anna Constance Vind from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the <a href="https://researchprofiles.ku.dk/en/organisations/institut-for-cellul%C3%A6r-og-molekyl%C3%A6r-medicin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a>. 



"But in this study we were surprised to learn that this is a result of damage to the RNA, not the DNA that causes the acute effects of sunburn." 



But what's the difference between DNA and RNA? While they share similarities, the two aren't interchangeable. 



DNA is a more consistent molecule, whereas RNA is more transitory. 



A particular type of RNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), carries information from DNA to create proteins - the fundamental building blocks of cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-rna">Importance of RNA</h2>



The importance of mRNA in our body's response to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-does-skin-become-leathery-after-too-much-uv-light-from-sun-exposure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UV radiation</a> can't be understated. 



"DNA damage is serious as the mutations will get passed down to progenies of the cells, RNA damage happens all the time and does not cause permanent mutations," Vind explained. 



"Therefore, we used to believe that the RNA is less important, as long as the DNA is intact. But in fact, damages to the RNA are the first to trigger a response to UV radiation."



Investigating more deeply into the matter was no small task.



The researchers embarked on a study involving both mice and human skin cells to better understand the consequences of UV radiation on the skin. They discovered a consistent response in both species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zak-alpha-and-sunburn-damage">ZAK-alpha and sunburn damage</h2>



RNA damage activates a response in ribosomes (protein complexes that interpret the mRNA to assemble proteins).



This process is managed by a protein known as ZAK-alpha, which triggers what is referred to as the "ribotoxic stress response."



Think of it like a vigilant watchman, always on the lookout for RNA damage. When it detects any, it won't hesitate to call for backup.



"We found that the first thing the cells respond to after being exposed to UV radiation is damage to the RNA, and that this is what triggers cell death and inflammation of the skin," explained Professor Simon Bekker-Jensen, who was also from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.



In mice exposed to UV radiation we found responses such as inflammation and cell death, but when we removed the ZAK gene, these responses disappeared, which means that ZAK plays a key role in the skin's response to UV-induced damage.



"So you could say that everything depends on this one response, which monitors all protein translations occurring,” Bekker-Jensen elaborated.



“The cells respond to the RNA damage, realizing that something is wrong, and this is what leads to cell death.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-paradigm-shift">Paradigm shift</h2>



The study's findings question our long-held beliefs about sunburn and how our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/skins-secret-strength-shields-against-puncture-damage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">skin</a> safeguards itself. 



It suggests that RNA damage sparks a quicker, more efficient response, which safeguards the skin from additional harm.



"The fact that the DNA does not control the skin's initial response to UV radiation, but that something else does and that it does so more effectively and more quickly, is quite the paradigm shift," reflected Vind.



Knowing how our skin reacts to UV damage at a cellular level could potentially transform prevention and treatment approaches to sunburn and other inflammatory skin conditions.



"Many inflammatory skin diseases are worsened by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-parents-are-not-using-sunscreen-properly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sun exposure</a>. Thus, understanding how our skin responds at the cellular level to UV damage opens the door to innovative treatments for certain chronic skin conditions," explained Dr. Franklin Zhong, Nanyang assistant professor at NTU's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and a co-author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rewriting-the-textbooks">Rewriting the textbooks</h2>



In closing, it seems now is the time to revise our textbooks and rethink how we perceive the effects of UV radiation on our skin. 



"This new knowledge turns things upside down. I think most people associate sunburn with DNA damage; it is established knowledge," Professor Simon Bekker-Jensen concluded. 



"But now we need to rewrite the textbooks, and it will affect future research on the effects of UV radiation on the skin."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1097276524008840" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molecular Cell</a>.



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Main cause of sunburn is finally identified, and it's time to rewrite the textbooks

Sunburn is painful skin damage that we've all experienced after spending a bit too much time outdoors without protection from UV rays. Whether it's from a lazy beach day or an exhilarating hike, the aftermath tells a singular tale - crimson skin and a nagging sting. We've long believed that stepping out into the sun requires ample sunscreen slathering, shade-seeking, and hat-wearing, especially between the peak hours of 12 noon and 3 p.m. However, researchers at the University of Copenhagen and Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have...

A recent study of global trends in body-mass index (BMI) has revealed that rates of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/obesity-related-cancers-young-adults/">obesity</a> are rising faster in rural areas compared to cities. A team led by <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a> analyzed height and weight data for more than 112 million adults across 200 countries between 1985 and 2017.

The study, which involved a network of more than 1,000 researchers, found that more than half of the average increase in BMI was due to gains in rural areas. In some low- and middle-income countries, rural areas contributed more than 80 percent of the BMI increase.

In 1985, urban men and women in over 75 percent of the countries had a higher BMI than those living in rural regions. Over the next three decades, the gap between urban and rural BMI shrank or even reversed in many of the countries.

“The results of this massive global study overturn commonly held perceptions that more people living in cities is the main cause of the global rise in obesity,” said study senior author Professor Majid Ezzati. “This means that we need to rethink how we tackle this global health problem.”

In high-income countries, BMI has been generally higher in rural areas since 1985, especially for women. The researchers said this may be due to disadvantages associated with living outside of cities, including lower income and education, limited availability and higher price of healthy foods, and fewer leisure and sports facilities.

[caption id="attachment_1872363" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/obesity-rates.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1872363" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/obesity-rates.jpeg" alt="" width="650" height="322" /></a> A positive number shows a higher urban mean BMI, and a negative number a higher rural mean BMI. Image Credit: Ezzati et al. Nature 2019[/caption]

“Discussions around public health tend to focus more on the negative aspects of living in cities,” said Professor Ezzati. “In fact, cities provide a wealth of opportunities for better nutrition, more physical exercise and recreation, and overall improved health. These things are often harder to find in rural areas.”

At the same time, rural areas in low- and middle-income countries have shifted toward higher incomes, improved infrastructure, and increased car use. While all of these factors lead to numerous health benefits, they also lead to lower energy expenditure and to more spending on food.

“As countries increase in wealth, the challenge for rural populations changes from affording enough to eat, to affording good quality food,” said Professor Ezzati.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Obesity rates are rising faster in rural areas

A recent study of global trends in body-mass index (BMI)...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/">European Society of Cardiology</a> has revealed that people who skip breakfast and eat a late dinner have a more difficult time recovering after a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/heart-attacks-less-deadly/">heart attack</a>. 

The researchers found that individuals with both of these detrimental eating habits were up to five times more prone to another heart attack, chest pain, or even death within 30 days of being discharged from the hospital after a heart attack. 

The investigation was focused on 113 patients with an average age of 60 who had experienced a particularly serious form of heart attack called ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Among the study participants, 58 percent skipped breakfast, 51 percent ate late-night dinner, and 41 percent had both habits.


“One in ten patients with STEMI dies within a year, and nutrition is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to improve prognosis,” said study co-author Dr. Marcos Minicucci of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo_State_University">São Paolo State University</a>.

“It is said that the best way to live is to breakfast like a king. A good breakfast is usually composed of dairy products (fat-free or low fat milk, yogurt and cheese), a carbohydrate (whole wheat bread, bagels, cereals), and whole fruits. It should have 15 to 35% of our total daily calorie intake.”

Dr. Minicucci noted that late-night dinner eating was defined by less than two hours between dinner and bedtime. Previous studies have found that people who miss breakfast and have a late dinner are more likely to have other unhealthy habits as well, such as smoking and low levels of physical activity. 

“Our research shows that the two eating behaviors are independently linked with poorer outcomes after a heart attack, but having a cluster of bad habits will only make things worse,” said Dr. Minicucci. “People who work late may be particularly susceptible to having a late supper and then not being hungry in the morning.”

“We also think that the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and endothelial function could be involved in the association between unhealthy eating behaviors and cardiovascular outcomes."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/Journals/ESC-Journal-Family/European-Journal-of-Preventive-Cardiology">European Journal of Preventive Cardiology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Skipping breakfast and eating late can worsen cardiovascular issues

A new study from the European Society of Cardiology has...

Skipping breakfast linked to 87 percent higher risk of heart disease. A new study published by the <a href="https://www.acc.org/">American College of Cardiology</a> is providing new evidence to suggest that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/skipping-breakfast-cardiovascular-issues/">breakfast</a> really is the most important meal of the day. 

The researchers found that individuals who skipped breakfast on a regular basis were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. By contrast, those who ate breakfast every day had a substantially reduced risk of death from heart disease.

The experts analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted from 1988 to 1994, with an average follow-up of 18 years. The researchers had access to relevant information on more than 6,000 participants between the ages of 40 and 75, who had no history of cardiovascular disease or cancer. 

The participants were asked to report how often they ate breakfast, and the possible responses ranged from every day, some days, rarely, or never. Overall, 5.1 percent of the individuals never ate breakfast, 10.9 percent rarely ate breakfast, 25 percent ate breakfast some days, and 59 percent ate breakfast every day.

The study revealed that individuals who never consumed breakfast had an 87 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease-specific mortality compared to those who consumed breakfast every day. 

According to the researchers, skipping breakfast was found to be associated with changes in appetite and decreased satiety, elevated blood pressure, and harmful changes in lipid levels. The experts also noted that neglecting to eat breakfast appeared to be a behavioral marker for unhealthy lifestyle habits.

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.onlinejacc.org/">Journal of the American College of Cardiology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Skipping breakfast linked to 87 percent higher risk of heart disease

Skipping breakfast linked to 87 percent higher risk of heart...

According to a new study by the <a href="https://www.sandiego.va.gov/">VA San Diego Healthcare System</a>, prolonged exposure therapy is more effective at treating PTSD than coping skills therapy for patients who also have an alcohol use disorder. The research will provide clinicians with important guidance for helping veterans cope with both <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/transcendental-meditation-ptsd-symptoms/">PTSD</a> and problem drinking.


When the researchers compared patients who were given prolonged exposure treatment with those given coping skills treatment, they found that both methods effectively reduced PTSD symptoms and heavy drinking. However, patients receiving prolonged exposure therapy had significantly lower scores on a measure of PTSD symptoms. 

The study was led by Dr. Sonya Norman, who is a researcher at the San Diego VA, the director of the PTSD Consultation Program for the National Center for PTSD, and a professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego.

“The research is not showing concerns that PTSD patients with alcohol use disorder can't handle exposure to be true,” said Dr. Norman. “The main takeaway of the study for me is that we may be doing a disservice to veterans if we don't offer them the best treatments we have available for PTSD, such as prolonged exposure.”


People suffering from both PTSD and alcohol use disorder tend to have shorter periods of abstinence from drinking and a greater risk of suicide and homelessness. Compared to individuals with just one disorder, these patients also tend to have more legal and psychological problems.

During prolonged exposure therapy, patients gradually confront memories, feelings, and situations related to their trauma. The goal is for them to be able to face these experiences without triggering anxiety and stress.

While previous studies have shown that prolonged exposure therapy is the most effective treatment for PTSD, many therapists do not offer this particular psychotherapy to problem drinkers out of concern that it will cause them to drink more.

However, the results of the new study show that prolonged exposure therapy is more effective at treating PTSD regardless of whether patients also have alcohol use disorder. The researchers concluded that many patients are not getting the best available treatment because of their issues with alcohol. 

“The next stage of this research, is to learn how to make prolonged exposure even more effective for patients with PTSD and alcohol use disorder,” explained Dr. Norman. “We are now conducting a study where we are combining medication to help reduce drinking with prolonged exposure to see if the combination helps patients complete prolonged exposure and benefit even more from the treatment.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry">JAMA Psychiatry</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Exposure therapy found to effectively treat PTSD, problem drinking

According to a new study by the VA San Diego...

A new study has revealed that the consumption of a Mediterranean diet may help prevent overeating. The research has also produced the first experimental evidence that a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-diet-sex-life/">Mediterranean diet</a> can protect against obesity and prediabetes compared to a Western diet.

When researchers allowed nonhuman primates to eat as much as they desired, the animals who were on a Mediterranean diet did not eat all of the available food and maintained a healthy weight.

“By comparison, the animals on a Western diet ate far more than they needed and gained weight,” explained study lead author Carol A. Shively, who is a professor of Pathology at the <a href="https://school.wakehealth.edu/">Wake Forest School of Medicine</a>.

According to Professor Shively, this is the first preclinical study to measure the long-term health effects of a Western diet versus a Mediterranean diet under controlled experimental conditions.

Previous studies that were focused on how diet type may influence the number of calories consumed were primarily based on self-reported food intake by humans, which is often unreliable. Similar research was focused on rodents who were given nonhuman-type diets.

For the current study, the diets were formulated to closely represent human diets. The 38-month trial, which involved nearly 40 female primates split into two groups, translated to about nine years for humans.

Protein and fat were derived mostly from animal sources in the Western diet and primarily from plant sources in the Mediterranean diet. Overall, however, the two diets contained comparable proportions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

“What we found was that the group on the Mediterranean diet actually ate fewer calories, had lower body weight and had less body fat than those on the Western diet,” said Professor Shively.

The Mediterranean diet not only helped to prevent obesity, but also protected against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Obesity is a major cause of NAFLD, which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. 

One-third of American adults are expected to have NAFLD by 2030, and it is the fastest growing cause of liver transplants among young adults in the United States.

“Diet composition is a critically important contributor to the U.S. public health, and unfortunately those at the greatest risk for obesity and related costly chronic diseases also have the poorest quality diets,” said Professor Shively.

“The Western diet was developed and promoted by companies who want us to eat their food, so they make it hyper-palatable, meaning it hits all our buttons so we overconsume. Eating a Mediterranean diet should allow people to enjoy their food and not overeat, which is such a problem in this country.”

“We hope our findings will encourage people to eat healthier foods that are also enjoyable, and improve human health.”


The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1930739x">Obesity</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Mediterranean diet found to help prevent overeating and obesity

A new study has revealed that the consumption of a...

Living near protected areas may make people more environmentally conscious. People who live near protected environmental areas (Pas) are more likely to adopt pro-environmental behaviors, support conservation and management, and vote for party candidates who run on pro-environment platforms. 

This is the major takeaway from a new study conducted by the<a href="http://www.cnrs.fr/en/cnrs"> French National Center for Scientific Research</a> and published in the journal Biological Conservation. 

To examine the impact that PAs have on nearby residents, scientists reviewed three key indicators for environmental consciousness. 

The researchers wanted to see what, if any, influence living near a protected area has on a person’s attitudes toward environmentalism and conservation. 

Indicators of environmental consciousness included how much support there was for green candidates in different town elections in France, how much people contributed to ecological conservation funds like the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/">World Wildlife Fund</a> and the <a href="https://www.lpo.fr/">Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux</a>, a bird conservation, and lastly how many people participated in a garden birdwatch citizen science initiative coordinated by the <a href="https://www.mnhn.fr/en">Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle</a>. 

These indicators are reliable measures of environmentalism in people, according to the researchers. 

Overall, the researchers found that people were more pro-environment when they lived near PAs. Green candidates performed 31 percent higher near PAs and membership to the bird conservation group was twice as high in towns closer to a PA. Living near protected areas may make people more environmentally conscious 

The researchers also found that the number of retirees in a town was a factor in a population’s environmentalism as retirees showed more interest in the bird watching citizen science program. 

There are several possible reasons for why proximity to PAs correlates with environmental consciousness. 

Living near a wild area may cause people to be more involved in protecting those areas and spur an interest in nature compared to people who live in urban areas. 

PAs directly promote pro-environmentalism through park staff efforts, campaigns, and education outreach opportunities. 

The lack of priority given to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trump-mining-boundary-waters/">conservation and environmental protection</a> in some countries could have adverse ripple effects as this study shows, further instilling a dismissive attitude toward conservation.

However, if parks and protected areas keep their protected status, it could raise awareness and promote a sense of environmental stewardship. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Living near protected areas may make people more environmentally conscious

Living near protected areas may make people more environmentally conscious....

You’ll gain more weight if you eat comfort food while also stressed. A team of researchers led by Professor Herbert Herzog, Head of the Eating Disorders laboratory at the <a href="https://www.garvan.org.au/">Garvan Institute of Medical Research</a>, have found that eating a high-calorie diet during a period of stress can result in a person gaining more weight than if they ate that high-calorie diet in a stress-free environment.

"This study [published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/home">Cell Metabolism</a>] indicates that we have to be much more conscious about what we're eating when we're stressed, to avoid a faster development of obesity," Professor Herzog said.

Many people seek comfort in calorie-dense foods when in a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nature-significantly-reduce-stress-levels/">stressful</a> situation, and the researchers wanted to gain a better understanding of why this happens. To do so, they first studied the emotion-driven part of the brain — the amygdala — within mice. They were then able to target an eating-stimulant molecule called NPY, which the brain produces in response to stress. NPY is also present in human brains.

"Our study showed that when stressed over an extended period and high calorie food was available, mice became obese more quickly than those that consumed the same high fat food in a stress-free environment," said lead author Dr. Kenny Chi Kin Ip. “We discovered that when we switched off the production of NPY in the amygdala, weight gain was reduced. Without NPY, the weight gain on a high-fat diet with stress was the same as weight gain in the stress-free environment.”

“This shows a clear link between stress, obesity and NPY,” Dr. Ip concluded.

To better grasp why NPY is produced under stress, the team looked at the nerve cells in the amygdala that produce the molecule. Each cell has receptors (or, “docking stations”) for insulin, a hormone that controls our food intake.

Normally, insulin is produced after a meal to help cells absorb glucose from the blood and tell hypothalamus in the brain to stop eating. However, under chronic stress, the researchers found that blood insulin levels rise, and when a high-calorie diet is introduced, insulin levels could jump 10 times higher than when the mice were operating in a stress-free environment eating a normal diet.

Prolonged periods of high insulin cause the cell docking stations to become desensitized to insulin, therefore they stop detecting the hormone. The cells then boost their NPY levels, which promotes eating.

"Our findings revealed a vicious cycle, where chronic, high insulin levels driven by stress and a high-calorie diet promoted more and more eating," Professor Herzog explained. "This really reinforced the idea that while it's bad to eat junk food, eating high-calorie foods under stress is a double whammy that drives obesity."

He continued, “We were surprised that insulin had such a significant impact on the amygdala," says Professor Herzog. "It's becoming more and more clear that insulin doesn't only impact peripheral regions of the body, but that it regulates functions in the brain. We're hoping to explore these effects further in future."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

You’ll gain more weight if you eat comfort food

You’ll gain more weight if you eat comfort food while...

One in five say they’ve been harmed by the drinking habits . When enjoyed in moderation and under the appropriate circumstances, alcohol can be a welcome addition to any celebration or moment of relaxation. But it’s no secret that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-consumption-gene-marriage/">alcohol</a> can also be an instigator of more than just a few problems.

A recent study published in the online journal <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/">BMJ Open</a> has found that one in five people in England have been harmed by others’ drinking at some point in the past year. The study surveyed 5,000 adults in England, assessing the extent, type, and frequency of the harms associated with other people’s drinking, who is most likely to be affected, and who or what might be causing it.

The potential harms associated with others’ drinking included actual or threatened physical violence, emotional hurt or neglect, being forced or pressured into sex, having to care for someone whose drinking resulted in illness or disability, and being kept awake at night because of associated noise or disruption. Just over 20% of people said they experienced at least one of these harms. 

Men were more likely to experience violence and aggression that women, while women were about twice as likely to have experienced emotional harm or neglect. Results of the survey showed that the factors associated with experiencing harm were being of younger age (16-24), white British ethnicity, having a disability, and being a hazardous drinker, among others. Hazardous drinkers were more than twice as likely to report harm due to others’ drinking compared to those who didn’t drink as much.

“It is clear that [alcohol-related harm to others] is relatively prevalent and that some individuals experience harm frequently. The most prevalent harms could be considered insignificant, but even apparently minor harms such as sleep disruption can have an impact on health and quality of life, particularly if experienced persistently,” the study’s authors explain. “Policies that focus on alcohol must take into consideration the impact of drinking on those other than the drinker.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

One in five say they’ve been harmed by the drinking habits

One in five say they’ve been harmed by the drinking...

Researchers from <a href="https://www.rpi.edu/">Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute</a> used a new computer model to show how increased rainfall caused by <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-fertility/">climate change</a> could cause global massive disruptions to roadways. 

Combining data on road networks with topography, the researchers were able to see “tipping points” at which even small localized increases in rainfall could affect roadways. 

"To prepare for climate change, we have to know where flooding leads to the biggest disruptions in transportation routes,” said lead author and network scientist Jianxi Gao, an assistant professor of computer science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “Network science typically points to the biggest interactions, or the most heavily traveled routes. That's not what we see here. A little bit of flood-induced damage can cause abrupt widespread failures."

Gao and his team paired traditional network science models, used to predict how specific disruptions will impact road networks, with environmental science models, used to predict how topography influences flooding in an area, thus creating a more accurate method to predict how potential rainfall and flooding could knockout roadways.

For example, Gao found that an increase of 5 mm of rainfall in Florida knocked out 50% of the road network, and that same amount of rainfall increase in the Hunan province of China knocked out 42% of the local network. To check the accuracy of their model, Gao and his team compared their predictions for road outages in southeast Texas and Houston during Hurricane Harvey to the actual outage report.

"We cracked the data,” Gao said. “Hurricane Harvey caused some of the most extensive road outages in U.S. history, and our model predicted that damage. Adding 3D information causes more unusual failure patterns than we expected, but now we have developed the mathematical equations to predict those patterns."

Their findings are published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock

More rainfall due to climate change may cause widespread road outages

Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute used a new computer model...

Dry, fruity, bold, or sweet, are just a few of the different descriptors that wine lovers pair with their libation of choice. If you were given a fruity Pinot and a dry Cabernet Sauvignon, you could probably easily differentiate between the two because a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-wine-lung-cancer-prevention/">dry red wine</a> has such a distinct mouthfeel. 

In a new study, researchers from the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis</a> have identified the characteristics of the chemical compounds that make some wines taste dry, and it all comes down to the tannins. 

While past researchers and wine experts have long attributed dryness to the tannins in a wine, the molecular makeup of tannins and how they interact with proteins in the saliva has not been well understood. 

Dryness or astringency is the rough, puckering sensation you experience when you drink certain wines. The tannins interact proteins in the saliva which makes the mouth drier. 

For this study, the researchers extracted tannins from a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Pinot Noir.  

After analyzing the chemical compounds, the researchers found that the drier Cabernet had larger tannins and when these tannins interacted with saliva, it grouped together more salivary proteins. 

The researchers attempted to make the Pinot drier by adding Cabernet tannins to the fruity wine, but it didn’t impact the dryness sensation when trained panelists tasted the Pinot. 

When the Cabernet tannins were added to model wine consisting of just ethanol and tartaric acid, the panelists did report more dryness, which suggests the aromas and flavors of the Pinot may have overpowered the new tannins. 

The researchers say that the results could help winemakers produce better wines and manage dryness. 

The full results of the study were published in the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society’s</a> Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why certain red wines taste ‘dry’

Dry, fruity, bold, or sweet, are just a few of...

A team of neuroscientists has identified the region of the human brain that is dedicated to perceiving the barriers which define the traversable space around us, such as walls or ceilings, so that we can navigate safely through our environment. 

This <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/brain-region-value-decisions/">brain</a> region processes our spatial constraints at incredibly fast speeds and likely contributes to our instant sense of new surroundings. The research is shedding new light on the complex computations performed by our brains to help us get around. 

Study senior author Dr. Nikolaus Kriegeskorte is a principal investigator at Columbia University's <a href="https://zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu/">Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute</a>.

“Vision gives us an almost instant sense where we are in space, and in particular of the geometry of the surfaces - the ground, the walls - which constrain our movement. It feels effortless, but it requires the coordinated activity of multiple brain regions,” said Dr. Kriegeskorte. “How neurons work together to give us this sense of our surroundings has remained mysterious. With this study, we are a step closer to solving that puzzle.”

Using two cutting-edge brain-imaging technologies, the researchers examined the mental responses of volunteers as they were shown images of various three-dimensional scenes. The image may depict a typical room with three walls, a ceiling, and a floor, but then was abruptly changed by the removal of a wall or a ceiling. 

“By doing this repeatedly for each participant as we methodically altered the images, we could piece together how their brains encoded each scene,” said study first author Dr. Linda Henriksson.

The occipital place area (OPA), an intermediate-level stage of cortical processing, stood out in the brain scans of the participants.

“Previous studies had shown that OPA neurons encode scenes, rather than isolated objects,” said Dr. Kriegeskorte. “But we did not yet understand what aspect of the scenes this region's millions of neurons encoded.”

After analyzing the brain scans, the team discovered that the OPA activity represented the geometry of the scenes. The OPA activity patterns reflected the presence or absence of each component, such as a ceiling or a wall, and projected a detailed picture of the overall configuration.

The brain region seemed to ignore the surface appearance of the various components in order to focus solely on the geometric patterns. The OPA managed to get a sense of a room's layout in just 100 milliseconds.

“The speed with which our brains sense the basic geometry of our surroundings is an indication of the importance of having this information quickly,” said Dr. Henriksson. “It is key to knowing whether you're inside or outside, or what might be your options for navigation.”

In the future, the research team plans to incorporate virtual reality technology to create more realistic 3D environments for participants to experience. 

“We would like to put these things together and build computer vision systems that are more like our own brains, systems that have specialized machinery like what we observe here in the human brain for rapidly sensing the geometry of the environment,” said Dr. Kriegeskorte.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/neuron/home">Neuron</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

Our brains can map the physical barriers of a room in just 100 milliseconds

A team of neuroscientists has identified the region of the...

Snakebites are a major health crisis and a long neglected one. According to the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/snakebite-envenoming">World Health Organization</a>, around 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes each year worldwide, resulting in 81,000 to 138,000 deaths and three times as many amputations. 

While treatable, antivenoms rely on archaic 19th-century methods to create treatments that are not always effective or even accessible to tropical and subtropical communities where the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/risk-death-snake-bites/">burden of snakebite injury and death is highest</a>. 

A new initiative will hopefully create some much-needed progress in snakebite treatment research as well as funding. 

Britain's <a href="https://wellcome.ac.uk/">Wellcome Trust</a>, a global health charity, has announced plans to donate $102 million to snakebite treatments in the hopes of improving antivenoms, making treatments widely and easily accessible, and creating more effective snakebite drugs. 

Snakebites have been declared a “hidden health crisis” prompting the Wellcome Trust to action. 

Rural communities in Africa, Asia and South America are most at risk of amputation or death due to snakebites, but very little progress has been made in treating these very treatable injuries. 

To create an antivenom, horses are injected with a small dose of snake venom. The horse is unaffected by the toxin but blood taken from the horse is used to create antivenoms for humans, a hardly scientific process with few safety standards. 

“Snakebite treatment is essentially reliant on a 100-year-old process,” David Lalloo, a professor and director of Britain’s Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-snakes/hidden-health-crisis-of-snakebites-gets-100-million-funding-injection-idUSKCN1SL2Y9">Reuters</a>. 

While there will always be poisonous snakes that pose a risk to people worldwide, the lack of safe and accessible treatment highlights a lack of progress in antivenoms. 

“Snakebite is – or should be – a treatable condition. With access to the right antivenom there is a high chance of survival,” said Professor Mike Turner, director of science at Wellcome. “It’s an incredibly challenging issue – there has been almost no investment in snakebite research over the last decade – but it’s also one that is solvable with support from WHO, national governments, industry and other funders.”

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Snakebites declared a ‘hidden health crisis’ around the globe

Snakebites are a major health crisis and a long neglected...

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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

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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



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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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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