Apples are often seen as a go-to choice for boosting overall health. They are affordable, easy to find, and praised for their nutritional content.&nbsp;



Yet many folks never realize how these crisp favorites might be doing more than just satisfying a sweet tooth. They contain special plant compounds that appear to lend a helping hand to a part of the body that usually goes unnoticed until problems arise: the liver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-flavonoids">A closer look at flavonoids</h2>



A recent publication in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition pointed to a promising link between certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-thrived-on-plant-based-diets-not-meat-alone-780000-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant-based diets</a> and lower chances of developing liver trouble.



<a href="https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=58875399600" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">William Bell</a>, who co-authored the study at the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of East Anglia</a>, found that people who regularly ate foods packed with flavonoids saw benefits that went beyond typical cholesterol or blood pressure improvements.



<a href="https://www.heart.org/en/news/2022/03/22/flavonoids-are-a-flavorful-way-to-boost-heart-and-brain-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flavonoids</a> are plant components that help protect living cells from stress. These compounds can be found in all sorts of foods, but apples are one of the standouts.&nbsp;



Apples also carry fiber, vitamins, and other antioxidants, so it is no surprise that they keep showing up in discussions about wellness. That extra dose of fiber, especially from the peel, tends to be associated with healthy digestion.&nbsp;



Experts point out that any improvement in digestion often has an indirect benefit on other organs, including the liver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-apples-fit-into-the-picture">How apples fit into the picture</h2>



<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/5112" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Researchers</a> across different institutions have studied how apples might support better liver function. The fruit seems to help maintain balance in the body by reducing oxidative stress.&nbsp;



This simply means that apples offer a natural approach to curbing some of the harmful chemical reactions that occur in cells during ordinary life. Left unchecked, these reactions can lead to inflammation or a buildup of fats in the liver.



“Mechanistic studies and short-term randomized trials suggest higher intakes of dietary flavonoids may protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,” wrote William Bell at the end of that research summary.



This line hints at a bigger story: the beneficial ingredients in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/apple-orchards-face-compounding-threats-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apples</a> appear to support a healthier liver, which could mean a simpler way to look after the body’s wellness without specialized supplements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-apples-and-their-protective-qualities">Apples and their protective qualities</h2>



Apples stand out partly because they supply two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Both forms can help with digestive rhythm. In addition, many of the vitamins and antioxidants in apples may assist the liver in cleaning out unwanted particles.&nbsp;



Researchers concur that the fiber and polyphenols present in apples <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4488768/#:~:text=Other%20studies%20indicated%20that%20apple,in%20the%20peel%20%5B150%5D.">help</a> lower cholesterol levels in the liver, as noted in their findings. Over time, that kind of health support might be very important for those facing potential liver issues.



Some <a href="https://exclusives.ca.uky.edu/2021/fcs/fruit-and-vegetable-peels-contain-many-nutrients#:~:text=Studies%20have%20found%20that%20a,an%20apple%20without%20its%20peel." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nutritionists</a> highlight the fact that apples offer more nutrients with their peels on than with their peels removed, although slicing them or cooking them in different ways can still provide a decent nutrient load.&nbsp;



Whether it is a crisp snack on its own or baked with cinnamon, the apple holds plenty of vitamins that help round out any diet plan. 



Little choices, like adding this fruit to daily meals, can add up and contribute to a stronger defense against liver stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simplicity-that-fits-everyday-life">Simplicity that fits everyday life</h2>



There is also something comforting about apples. They are easy to pack in a bag, affordable, and versatile. Some people even blend them into smoothies or add small chunks to salads.&nbsp;



The fiber helps <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36193993/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">curb hunger</a>, so it can keep energy levels steady between meals. This is especially handy for individuals aiming to maintain a healthy weight which, in turn, supports a more balanced metabolic state.



Apples also tend to pair well with other flavonoid-rich foods like berries, onions, and tea. Many of these items are part of standard grocery lists for people hoping to eat more wholesome and natural foods. By including more of them in one’s diet, it may be possible to encourage a more resilient body overall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-keeping-things-real">Keeping things real</h2>



Everything we do, from our breakfast options to our afternoon snacks, has a ripple effect inside the body. The liver, though rarely discussed, is a vital player in keeping us energized. But it can take a beating when we pile on the sugars, fats, or unbalanced meals.&nbsp;



Looking after it does not always require drastic changes or expensive supplements. A trip to the produce aisle, and the choice to snack on an apple or two, might give the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/startling-connection-between-soda-and-liver-disease-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">liver</a> the steady support it needs.



Many folks wonder if it makes sense to peel apples or avoid them altogether in certain health conditions. Most diet experts say that unless there is a specific medical reason, the peel should be eaten as it is filled with beneficial substances.&nbsp;



The only caveat is to wash apples well before eating them, especially if they are not organic, to remove any lingering residues. In the grand scheme, though, apples remain a humble champion for the liver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-new-findings-to-good-use">Putting new findings to good use</h2>



Some people see the <a href="https://columbiasurgery.org/liver/liver-and-its-functions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">liver</a> as a silent workhorse. It stores nutrients, cleans toxins, and supports daily vitality. But silence does not mean it needs less care. In fact, giving it the right nutrition might be the best path to feeling spry as the years roll on. 



While the research keeps evolving, many experts maintain that wholesome eating has yet to fall out of style, and apples fit beautifully into that philosophy.



Not everyone loves a raw piece of fruit, so sliced apples on top of oatmeal or applesauce with a dash of cinnamon can be just as helpful.&nbsp;



This everyday <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-kiwifruit-immediately-significantly-improves-brain-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruit delivers vitamins</a>, fiber, and special plant chemicals that support liver function over time. Once we take a moment to appreciate how these small steps add up, it is easier to say yes to a routine that includes more nutritious foods.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916524007913" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition</a>.



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Experts say this is the best fruit to eat for a healthier liver

Apples are often seen as a go-to choice for boosting overall health. They are affordable, easy to find, and praised for their nutritional content.&nbsp; Yet many folks never realize how these crisp favorites might be doing more than just satisfying a sweet tooth. They contain special plant compounds that appear to lend a helping hand to a part of the body that usually goes unnoticed until problems arise: the liver. A closer look at flavonoids A recent publication in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition pointed to...

Within the sediment deposits that make up the Rock of Gibraltar and the dunes above Catalan Bay, researchers have uncovered an ancient footprint that may have belonged to a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-neanderthals-disappear/">Neanderthal</a>. 

If confirmed to belong to our early human relative, it would make the Catalan Bay Sand Dune in Gibraltar one of only two sites in the world where Neanderthal footprints have been found. 

The first Neanderthal footprint ever discovered was located in the Vartop Cave in Romania. 

The findings are part of a ten-year study conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://www.gibmuseum.gi/">Gibraltar National Museum</a> in collaboration with a team from Spain, Japan, and Portugal.

[caption id="attachment_1867849" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/footprint.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1867849" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/footprint.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="394" /></a> Image Credit: Universdad de Sevilla[/caption]

The study was published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews. 

The researchers used OSL or <a href="https://www.usu.edu/geo/luminlab/whatis.html">Optically-Stimulated Luminescence </a>to date deposits of sediment that make up the lower cliff foot dunes above Catalan Bay. OSL works by dating quartz sediment deposits based on the last time the sediments were exposed to sunlight. 

The sands in the area were deposited by winds and are leftover from the last glaciation.

The researchers found the first traces of vertebrate footprints at the site and further research revealed footprints of Red Deer, an elephant and an early human, possibly even a Neanderthal that inhabited the area 29 thousand years ago. 

“This is extraordinary research and gives us an incredible insight into the wildlife community of Gibraltar's past,” said John Cortes MP, Gibraltar’s Minister for Education, Heritage, the Environment and Climate Change. “We should all take a moment to imagine the scene when these animals walked across our landscape. It helps us understand the importance of looking after our heritage. I congratulate the research team on uncovering this fascinating, hidden evidence of our Rock's past.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Possible Neanderthal footprint found in the dunes of Gibraltar

Within the sediment deposits that make up the Rock of...

A team of experts led by Meng Wang at the <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a> has discovered a ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clock that can be used to precisely measure an individual's chronological and biological age. The ribosomal clock will provide unprecedented insight into how the aging process is influenced by factors such as diet and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/exercise-improve-thinking-skills/">exercise</a>.

With age, individuals have a higher risk of developing serious illnesses, such as neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Chronological age represents the number of years a person has lived, while biological age accounts for different lifestyle factors that can shorten or extend a person's lifespan, including diet, exercise, and environmental exposure. Compared to chronological age, biological age is a better predictor of disease and all-cause mortality.

The ribosomal clock measures aging based on rDNA, which is the most active segment of the genome. Because it has been mechanistically linked to aging in a number of previous studies, the researchers theorized that rDNA is the “smoking gun” in the genomic control of aging. They also speculated that rDNA may harbor its own clock.

To investigate, the team examined epigenetic chemical alterations in CpG sites, where a cytosine nucleotide is followed by a guanine nucleotide. The study pinpointed the rDNA as a novel marker of age.

After analyzing genome-wide data from humans, mice, and dogs, the researchers found further evidence to confirm their theory. They identified numerous CpGs in the rDNA that exhibited signs of increased epigenetic chemical alterations, also known as DNA methylation, which result from aging. 

To further test the ribosomal clock, the experts analyzed data which showed how 14-week-old mice responded to calorie restriction, which is known to slow the aging process on a cellular level. The mice that had been given a calorie-restricted diet showed significant reductions in rDNA methylation at CpG sites compared with mice that consumed more calories. The calorie-restricted mice also showed rDNA age that was younger than their chronological age.

The researchers were surprised to find that their assessment of methylation in this small segment of the mammalian genome produced clocks as accurate as those that are built from hundreds of thousands of sites along the genome. The new approach will likely prove to be a faster and more cost effective method for determining biological and chronological age.

The researchers noted that, since the clocks respond to interventions, they could reveal how biological age responds to specific lifestyle choices and environmental exposures. An accurate measurement of biological age could help to determine whether someone has a heightened risk of developing a certain disease.

Study senior author Bernardo Lemos is an associate professor of Environmental Epigenetics.

“We have hopes that the ribosomal clock will provide new insights into the impact of the environment and personal choices on long-term health,” said Professor Lemos. “Determining biological age is a central step to understanding fundamental aspects of aging as well as developing tools to inform personal and public health choices.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://genome.cshlp.org/">Genome Research</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Newly discovered rDNA clock measures chronological and biological age

A team of experts led by Meng Wang at the...

There has been a long-standing debate around the decriminalization of marijuana and increasing the accessibility of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-less-damaging-alcohol/">medical marijuana</a> and cannabinoids. While more and more states are legalizing the drug for medicinal use, there are concerns that decriminalization will only lead to more widespread abuse, particularly among teenagers. 

But researchers from <a href="https://www.bc.edu/">Boston College</a> found the exact opposite to be true in a new study which showed that cannabis use among teenagers actually dropped in states where medicinal marijuana is legal. 

The study was published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse and adds to the important body of work being done on cannabis and the impacts of legalization. 

The large-scale study analyzed survey results from 800,000 high school students across 45 states. 

Surveys were conducted over a 16-year period, and the researchers were able to track marijuana use among teenagers through the years and see how legislation in a particular state impacted cannabis use. 

The researchers also compared cannabis use among teens in states where the drug was still illegal to use among teens in states with legal medicinal marijuana. 

Not only did the researchers observe a decline in cannabis use where medical marijuana was decriminalized, but the longer the drug had been legalized, the fewer teens who reported using it. 

In states where medical marijuana laws (MML) were in place, there were 1.1 fewer teen cannabis users. 

“We found that for every group of 100 adolescents, one fewer will be a current user of marijuana following the enactment of medical marijuana laws,” said Rebekah Levine Coley, the leader of the study. “When we looked at particular subgroups of adolescents, this reduction became even more pronounced. For example, 3.9% less Black and 2.7% less Hispanic youths now use marijuana in states with MML.” 

The study shows that legalization does not correlate with a spike in cannabis use among teenagers, although the researchers were not sure what was driving the drop in teen cannabis use. 

“We were not able to determine why this is, but other research has suggested that after the enactment of medical marijuana laws, youths' perceptions of the potential harm of marijuana use actually increased,” said Coley. “Alternatively, another theory is that as marijuana laws are becoming more lenient, parents may be increasing their supervision of their children, or changing how they talk to them about drug use.”

The team also found that decriminalizing recreational marijuana had no effect on adolescent use besides a small decline among 14-year olds and a slight increase among white adolescents, but the policies were not enough to majorly sway teens in one direction or the other. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Study: Decriminalizing medicinal marijuana does not increase teen use

There has been a long-standing debate around the decriminalization of...

The latest <a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/msu-food-literacy-and-engagement-poll-wave-iv">Food Literacy and Engagement Poll from Michigan State University</a> shows that although the majority of Americans are paying more attention to the amount of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-packaging-food-waste/">food waste</a> they produce, older Americans are the most aware and more likely to try to reduce.

The results of this survey, which asked 2,090 Americans about their attitudes and knowledge about food-related issues, were released February 14th at the <a href="https://meetings.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting</a>.

The survey found that 88% of all Americans say they take steps to reduce food waste in their homes. 94% of those Americans are over the age of 55 whereas 81% are under 30. 71% of those who reduce food waste say they do not purchase excess food and often consume their food before it spoils. And 34% share their food before it expires.

However, 12% of Americans reported they do not take extra steps to reduce food waste at home. 31% of this group say they don’t waste food and 20% are not concerned about food waste.

"Older Americans pay the closest attention to limiting food waste compared to their peers," said co-director of the MSU Food Literacy and Engagement Poll <a href="http://www.sherilkirshenbaum.com/">Sheril Kirshenbaum</a>. "Previous waves of the survey have revealed this group also performs best on general food literacy questions."

Furthermore, the study found that 49% of Americans stated they never, rarely, or aren’t sure how often they consume genetically modified organisms (GMOs), nor do they often seek information about where their food is grown or how it is produced.

"These findings continue to expand our insights into the attitudes and behaviors of consumers," said poll co-director <a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/doug_buhler">Doug Buhler</a>, director of <a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/research/">MSU AgBioResearch</a>. "Given the challenges ahead in feeding more people while preserving our natural resources and protecting our climate, getting a handle on the causes and remedies of food waste is key to meeting global food demand. It takes months to produce food, but we can waste it in an instant." 

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Older Americans are the most serious about cutting down on food waste

The latest Food Literacy and Engagement Poll from Michigan State...

A new study published by the <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a> has revealed that a child with more than one brother or sister is more likely to be the victim of sibling bullying. According to the research, firstborn children and older brothers tend to be the perpetrators.

Study lead author Dieter Wolke is a professor of Psychology at the <a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/">University of Warwick</a>.

“Sibling bullying is the most frequent form of family violence and it is often seen as a normal part of growing up by parents and health professionals, but there is increasing evidence that it can have long-term consequences, like increased loneliness, delinquency and mental health problems,” said Professor Wolke.

The investigation was focused on data from a study of 6,838 British children born in 1991 to 1992. For the study, sibling bullying was defined as psychological abuse, physical abuse, or emotional abuse. The kids were placed into four categories: bullies, victims, bully victims, or uninvolved.

When the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/kids-blocking-background-noise-focus/">children</a> were 5 years old, their mothers reported how often the children were victims or perpetrators of bullying in the household. The mothers also reported on sibling relations two years later. At age 12, the children were asked if they had been bullied by a sibling or if they had bullied a sibling within the previous six months.

The study revealed that around 28 percent of the children were involved in sibling bullying, and psychological abuse was found to be the most common issue. The majority of the children were found to be bully victims, meaning they were victims of bullying and were also bullies themselves.

“Bullying occurs in situations where we cannot choose our peers, like in families,” said Professor Wolke. “Siblings live in close quarters and the familiarity allows them to know what buttons to press to upset their brothers or sisters. This can go both ways and allows a child to be both a victim and a perpetrator of bullying.”

According to the researchers, family structure and gender were the strongest predictors of sibling bullying.

“Bullying was more likely to occur in families with three or more children and the eldest child or older brothers were more often the bullies,” said study co-author Slava Dantchev. “Female children and younger children were more often targeted.”

The experts believe that bullying often occurs in larger families because resources such as parental attention and material goods are more limited.

“Despite our cultural differences, humans are still very biologically driven. A firstborn child will have their resources halved with the birth of a sibling, and even more so as more siblings are added to the family,” said Professor Wolke. "This causes siblings to fight for those limited resources through dominance."

“Sibling bullying does not discriminate. It occurs in wealthy families just as much as lower-income families and it occurs in single-parent households just as much as two-parent households.”

Professor Wolke said the findings may be helpful to parents as they add to their families. 

“It will be important for parents to realize and understand that resource loss can affect an older child. It is a good idea for parents to manage this from the beginning by spending quality time with their firstborn or older children and by involving them in caring for younger siblings.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developmental_psychology">Developmental Psychology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sibling bullying is more prevalent in large families

A new study published by the American Psychological Association has...

A study led by the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a> has revealed that “older” sperm produce healthier offspring. According to the researchers, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/men-marijuana-higher-sperm-counts/">sperm</a> that have lived longer before fertilizing an egg not only have a positive impact on the health and lifespan of their own offspring, but also on the generation that follows.

The analysis, which also involved experts from <a href="https://www.uu.se/en">Uppsala University</a>, was focused on the shorter- and longer-lived sperm in the same ejaculate of a male zebrafish. The findings may have important implications for human reproduction and fertility, particularly for informing assisted fertilization techniques. 

“One male produces thousands to millions of sperm in a single ejaculate but only very few end up fertilizing an egg,” said lead author  Dr. Simone Immler. “The sperm within an ejaculate vary not only in their shape and performance, but also in the genetic material that each of them carries.”

“Until now, there was a general assumption that it doesn't really matter which sperm fertilises an egg as long as it can fertilize it. But we have shown that there are massive differences between sperm and how they affect the offspring.”

The research team collected both male and female gametes, and then split the ejaculate of a male into two halves. In one half, they selected for shorter-lived sperm and in the other for longer-lived sperm. The sperm were then added to two half clutches from a female to fertilize the eggs. The resulting offspring were reared into adulthood and monitored throughout their lifespans. 

“We found that when we select for the longer-lived sperm within the ejaculate of male zebrafish, the resulting offspring is much fitter than their full siblings sired by the shorter-lived sperm of the same male,” said Dr. Immler.

“More specifically, offspring sired by longer-lived sperm produce more and healthier offspring throughout their life that age at a slower rate. This is a surprising result, which suggests that it is important to understand how sperm selection may contribute to the fitness of the next generations.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20563744">Evolution Letters</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New research shows that older sperm created healthier offspring

A study led by the University of East Anglia has...

While diet sodas and beverages with artificial sweeteners are touted as healthier, low-calorie alternatives to sugary drinks, simply swapping one for the other could have just as negative an impact on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweeteners-obesity-diabetes/">health as a high-calorie drink</a>. 

A new study, the first of its kind, examined the link between drinking diet beverages daily and cardiovascular disease. 

The results, published in the journal Stroke, show that post-menopausal women who consume multiple diet drinks a day have an increased risk of stroke due to a blocked artery. 

Researchers from the <a href="http://einstein.yu.edu/">Albert Einstein College of Medicine</a> in New York analyzed data from the <a href="https://www.whi.org/">Women’s Health Initiative Study</a> that took place between 1993 and 1998. 

Data on 81,714 women ages 50 to 79 who were part of the Health Initiative Study were reviewed by the researchers including how often in a three-month period each participant consumed a diet beverage. 

It’s important to note that the data did not reveal which artificial sweeteners or specific drinks were consumed so the researchers could not prove cause or effect. 

After accounting for different risk factors like age, past smoking history, and high blood pressure, the researchers identified a link between stroke risk and daily diet soda consumption. 

Overall, women who drank two or more diet beverages per day were 23 percent more likely to have a stroke. 29 percent were more likely to develop heart disease including heart attack, and 16 percent were more likely to die from stroke or heart disease. 

The risks were higher for some women compared to others as the researchers found that women without a history of heart disease or diabetes were 2.4 times more likely to have a stroke if they reported high consumption of diet drinks. 

Weight was an influencing factor, and African American women without a history of heart disease were nearly four times more likely to have a stroke due to a blood clot. 

“Many well-meaning people, especially those who are overweight or obese, drink low-calorie sweetened drinks to cut calories in their diet,” said Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, the lead author of the study. “Our research and other observational studies have shown that artificially sweetened beverages may not be harmless and high consumption is associated with a higher risk of stroke and heart disease.” 

There are several limitations to the research and the <a href="https://www.heart.org/">American Heart Association</a> which published the findings recently released an advisory stating that there was no conclusive scientific research proving that low-calorie drinks and artificial sweeteners increased heart disease risk. 

In addition, the women in the Health Initiative Study self-reported on their drinking habits and the data doesn’t include information on the type of sweetener shows that further research is needed to test these risk associations. 

“Unfortunately, current research simply does not provide enough evidence to distinguish between the effects of different low-calorie sweeteners on heart and brain health” said Rachel K. Johnson, the chair of the writing group for the American Heart Association’s science advisory, “This study adds to the evidence that limiting use of diet beverages is the most prudent thing to do for your health,” 

When it comes to the best alternative for sugary sodas, the American Heart Association recommends water, plain and simple, as the best no-calorie drink option.  

--

By <a href="mailto:kauvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Diet drinks could raise the risk of stroke for post-menopausal women

While diet sodas and beverages with artificial sweeteners are touted...

Researchers from <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/">Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)</a> have found that getting enough <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sleep-helps-kill-infection/">sleep</a> protects against atherosclerosis, the buildup of arterial plaques. As the study’s authors describe in <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>, not getting adequate sleep can increase the production of inflammatory white blood cells that play into atherosclerosis.

"We have discovered that sleep helps to regulate the production in the bone marrow of inflammatory cells and the health of blood vessels and that, conversely, sleep disruption breaks down control of inflammatory cell production, leading to more inflammation and more heart disease," said senior author <a href="https://csb.mgh.harvard.edu/filip_swirski">Filip Swirski, PhD,</a> of the <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/csb/">MGH Center for Systems Biology</a>. "We also have identified how a hormone in the brain known to control wakefulness controls processes in the bone marrow and protects against cardiovascular disease."

To test their theory, researchers subjected atherosclerosis-prone mice to multiple interruptions during sleep. These mice ultimately developed larger arterial plaques and had higher levels of monocytes and neutrophils — the inflammatory cells that contribute to atherosclerosis — within their blood vessels. Furthermore, the sleep-deprived mice had double the amount of stem cells that contribute to the production of white blood cells in their bone marrow. 

Researchers also found that hypocretin, a sleep regulation-contributing hormone produced in the brain’s hypothalamus, also plays a role in the controlling the production of white blood cells. Compared to healthy mice and humans who produce high levels of hypocretin when awake, the sleep-deprived mice showed an overall reduced level of hypocretin.

Hypocretin interacts with neutrophil progenitors in the bone marrow, which induces monocyte production via release of a factor called CSF-1. Investigators found through experiments on mice lacking hypocretin that CSF-1 expression, monocyte production and the development of arterial plaques. And in sleep-deprived mice, the drop in hypocretin led to increased CSF-1 production by neutrophils, elevated monocyte production and accelerated atherosclerosis.

"This is a direct demonstration that hypocretin is also an important inflammatory mediator," Swirski said. "We now need to study this pathway in humans, explore additional mechanisms by which proper sleep maintains vascular health and further explore this newly identified neuro-immune axis."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Getting enough sleep reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have found that getting...

Even though there are thousands of old rock monuments across Europe, perhaps most famously <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/stonehenge-built-remains/">Stonehenge</a>, their origin is still the topic of much debate. A new study by Dr. Bettina Schulz Paulsson, an archaeologist at the <a href="https://www.gu.se/english">University of Gothenburg</a>, may finally reveal the location where these ancient stone structures, or megaliths, were first built. 

Two main ideas about the origin of megaliths have persisted over the last century, according to a report in <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a>. One theory is that the structures emerged from a single source and were spread out across sea routes. The other theory is that megalith construction evolved independently in more than one region.

To investigate these theories, Dr. Schulz Paulsson analyzed the dates from more than 2,000 megaliths throughout Europe. Statistical methods were then used to narrow down previous estimates and to assemble a timeline that included when and where they were built.

The investigation revealed that megalith construction began in a single location in northwestern France around 4500 BC. The structures then spread along sea routes through Europe over the next 2,000 years, appearing primarily in coastal regions.


The locations in which the megaliths spread out over time suggest that people had access to sophisticated seafaring technology much earlier than what has been assumed.

“They were moving over the seaway, taking long distance journeys along the coasts,” Dr. Schulz Paulsson told New Scientist. This confirms previous research in which she linked megalithic engravings to boats large enough for 12 people. Boats of this size were not thought to have existed until about 2,000 years later. 


Across Europe, more than 35,000 megaliths still exist, including those found at Stonehenge. “There were probably a lot more. This is just a small proportion of what was originally there in the landscape,” said Dr. Schulz Paulsson.

The research is published in the journal  <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Science</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, Earth.com Staff Writer

Ancient stone monuments traced back to one single birthplace

Even though there are thousands of old rock monuments across...

Does social trouble at a young age have any lasting affect? According to a new study, being antisocial in kindergarten could lead to having a lower income as an adult.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.umontreal.ca/en/">University of Montreal</a> conducted a 30-year follow-up study of boys in kindergarten and assessed the impacts of any behavior problems during early education on income later in life. 

The study was published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2724382?guestAccessKey=6c5b881d-e164-40ef-9784-7419ff54d8ba">JAMA Pediatrics</a>, and the results show that boys who were antisocial in kindergarten made less than their peers who had healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fathers-age-social-development/">social skills</a> in school. 

Behavior problems are common amongst young children in schools today, and studies have found many links between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-childhood-education-behavior/">early development and education problems</a> and long-term negative impacts including poor academic achievement and job performance. 

This new study is unique in that it shows a direct correlation between income and kindergarten social skills because the data spans such a long period. 

The researchers say that kindergarten teacher assessments are an important place to start when identifying struggling students that may need targeted interventions. 

“Kindergarten teacher assessments are good predictors of problems which accumulate over time - behavior problems with peers and adults, school failure, delinquent behavior, substance abuse, etc. - and lead to poor job market integration,” Sylvana Cote, the senior author of the study, told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-school-behavior/kindergarten-teachers-assessments-may-be-linked-with-pupils-earnings-as-adults-idUSKCN1Q023K">Reuters</a>.

For the study, the researchers reviewed data for 920 male participants starting with kindergarten teacher assessments and linked these with salaries earned as an adult. 

All the participants came from low-income neighborhoods, and the researchers made sure to control for any influencing factors like education or parent’s income. 

During the follow-up period, the average age of the participants was 36, and the average salary was about $28,866. 

Teacher assessments that made a note of problems with focus and socializing correlated with an annual income decrease of $1,295.

The more significant the behavior problems were in kindergartens, the lower the annual income was for the participant. 

On the other hand, pro-social behaviors correlated with an increase of $406 in annual income for certain participants. 

The researchers say the results are worrying because low incomes negatively impact health and wellbeing and increase the risk of financial dependence, stress, and even early mortality.

It is then crucial for teachers and schools to identify struggling students and ensure those individuals have access to the right tools such as school programs to help with behavior issues. 

It’s also essential that teachers are fair and non-biased in their assessments and that all students, regardless of sociodemographic or ethnic background, be given equal opportunities to succeed. 

“Monitoring of inattention and low prosocial behavior should begin in kindergarten so that at-risk boys can be identified and targeted with early intervention and support,” the researchers conclude in their study. 

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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

Social problems in kindergarten linked to lower incomes as an adult

Does social trouble at a young age have any lasting...

They say letter writing is a lost art. But a few mentally unstable individuals keep it alive and... interesting. It’s not their scintillating prose or florid penmanship, though, that sustains the epistolary tradition. With a simple dash of white powder, once a year or so, these troubled correspondents bring the quaintest form of communication back into the news for all the wrong reasons. 

Sometimes they get really ambitious and season their greetings with anthrax, but easier to come by is ricin, a poison made from the castor bean (Ricinus communis). It’s Latin name, bestowed by Carl Linnaeus, means “tick,” a reference to its prickly fruiting bodies. Though called a “bean” it is not actually a legume; it is in the family Euphorbiaceae. The plant that produces the seed, a common ornamental native to Africa and Asia, can be grown in any old backyard and the process of refining the deadly lectin for which it is known only requires a <a href="https://archive.org/stream/Cyanide_and_Ricin_Homemade/Cyanide_and_Ricin_Homemade_djvu.txt">few easily available ingredients</a>. Patented by the U.S. Army in 1962, the recipe is still easily found online. Farm to table, indeed.

These attempts at murder by mail would be more troubling if these poison pen pals were more competent. But oftentimes their attempts to distill the poison meet with limited success. In 2018, one would-be assassin even tried <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/suspected-ricin-laced-letters-did-not-contain-finished-form-poison-n916271">sending crushed castor beans</a> to President Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz without even having tried to isolate the poison they contained. The seeds are only toxic if ingested and it would take more than a few to have any serious effect on most people. 

Though ricin is certainly toxic when inhaled, it must be in a very finely ground powder to have significant effect. Ten to twenty micrograms per kilogram of body weight are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441948/">potentially lethal</a> when inhaled or injected. The purified poison is also effective if ingested; one to twenty milligrams per kilogram can kill a person. If administered in adequate doses, it is among the most potent known poisons. However, while it can irritate the skin, it doesn’t absorb through the epidermis particularly well. In 1991, a homegrown terrorist cell in Minnesota planned to use dimethyl sulfoxide, a solvent, to facilitate the absorption of ricin through the skin of its victims when they touched contaminated door handles. It wouldn’t have worked. The molecules of ricin are too large.

The symptoms of ricin poisoning—ricinosis—vary according to the method of administration. If untreated, all can be fatal if sufficient amounts of the toxin are absorbed. When inhaled, ricin causes coughing, difficulty breathing, and fluid accumulation in the lungs, and can culminate in respiratory failure. When ingested, nausea and vomiting are common, as is diarrhea. This can result in dehydration. The heart rate may be elevated and seizures may be experienced. Further, the liver, kidney, and spleen may shut down, leading to death. Symptoms of the injected poison are similar. Victims usually begin feeling the effects within a few hours, though it make take up to 12 in some cases. Death usually occurs within three days. 

Discovered in 1888 by German researcher Peter Hermann Stillmark, ricin is a glycoprotein lectin composed of two parts, an A chain and a B chain, connected by a disulphide bond. The B chain attaches to carbohydrate receptors expressed on the surface of a cell, accounting for the poison’s unique mechanism of action. In addition to causing the agglutination, or clumping, of red blood cells, liver cells, and skin cells, killing them, it also facilitates the entry of the A chain into the cell to which it attaches. 

Once inside, the A chain wreaks havoc. It shears off an adenine base from a ribosome, inactivating it and making it incapable of protein synthesis. It then moves on to the next ribosome and can do the same to some <a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P02879">1,500 of them</a> in a single minute. A single molecule of ricin is capable of killing a cell. This mechanism is shared by other ribosome-inactivating toxins such as Shiga toxin, from the Shigella dysenteriae bacteria. While Stillmark was the first to have noted the agglutinating properties, a toxic mechanism observed as early as 1860 when rattlesnake venom was introduced to pigeon blood, it wasn’t until 1987 that the ribosome-inactivating function was pinpointed.

While there is no generally effective antitoxin, supportive measures often save victims’ lives if initiated early enough. Those who have ingested the poison are typically subjected to gastric lavage, especially if they have not already vomited. Steroids may be administered to reduce inflammation and supplementary fluids can mitigate the effects of dehydration. Breathing support may also be provided. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232219480_The_Production_and_Evaluation_of_Ricin_Antitoxins">Antibody therapies</a> are moving closer to production, though they would need to be administered soon after exposure to be effective. <a href="https://www.biospace.com/article/soligenix-discusses-ricin-toxin-vaccine-/">At least one vaccine</a> is awaiting approval for use in humans. 

Interestingly, ricin was among the first substances to be tested in the pioneering field of immunology. In 1891, Paul Ehrlich began administering small doses of ricin to mice, increasing them over time until the animals had built up a tolerance to the substance. He measured the quantities of what he termed antibodies (Antikörper) in the animals’ blood and determined that their bodies were responding to and neutralizing the poison. His work was highly influential on the fledgling field of immunology.

Ricin is, of course, far more well-known for its malign uses. Beginning in 1918, the U.S. War Department began investigating the possibility of employing ricin in warfare, either as a coating for bullets or as a dust cloud. Ricin, however, deteriorates when heated and the bullet idea was scrapped. The dust was never deployed, as it was feared that it might affect U.S. troops and there was no antidote. Nonetheless, research continued into World War II and bombs containing ricin were tested at the Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah in 1944. They were never used in battle. By 1972, the poison had been designated a schedule 1 toxic chemical by the Biological Weapons Conference and was thus deemed illegal to use in warfare. It was, nonetheless, possibly used by Iraq in the 1980s and was discovered in Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban in 2001. 

Though it never gained much traction as a large-scale weapon, the use of ricin to assassinate individuals has persisted—with varying success. Perhaps the most famous of these incidents occurred in 1978. Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov was walking to a bus stop in London when a man jabbed him in the leg with an umbrella. The next day, he fell ill and was transported to a hospital. Despite his claim that he had been shot by a poison bullet, no diagnosis was made and three days later, he died. A post-mortem examination discovered a small platinum-iridium sphere, formerly a watch bearing, that had been filled with an unknown substance. Comparison of Markov’s symptoms with those experienced by a pig injected with ricin corroborated his claims of having been poisoned. 

Two Soviet defectors later confirmed the involvement of the KGB and a stockpile of weaponized umbrellas was later discovered in the offices of the Bulgarian interior ministry. Two weeks prior, another Bulgarian dissident, Vladimir Kostov, had been shot in the back in Paris with a similar pellet fired by a contraption hidden inside a briefcase. After hearing about Markov’s death, he went to the hospital and the pellet was extracted. It was found to contain ricin. A wax coating that was supposed to dissolve upon entry to his body had remained mostly intact, keeping the poison from entering his body and thus saving his life. Three years later, an attempt was made on the life of Polish double agent Boris Korczak using the same method.

Poisoned epistles, with their lower overhead and ease of delivery, have proven even more popular than the James Bond-style gadgets of the Cold War. In October and November 2003, two threatening letters were detected by law enforcement; one was headed for the White House. Written by a person using the pseudonym Fallen Angel, they claimed that if trucking regulations that reduced the time a driver could spend behind the wheel were not repealed, ricin would be used to turn Washington, D.C. into a “ghost town.” Both letters contained vials of ricin. The culprit was never discovered. 

In <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/paul-kevin-curtis-elvis-impersonator-ricin-assassinations">April 2013</a>, a Mississippi tae kwon do instructor attempted to frame his enemy, an Elvis impersonator, by sending envelopes of ricin to a local judge, Senator Roger Wicker, and President Barack Obama. His version of ricin, however, contained less than 1 percent of the toxin. Amusingly, he was a member of Mensa. A scant month later, actress Shannon Richardson <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2014/07/16/justice/texas-ricin-actress-sentenced/index.html">was arrested for having mailed ricin</a> to Obama, then-New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Mark Glaze, an anti-gun activist. She had been attempting to frame her estranged husband. And <a href="http://time.com/5046324/ricin-wake-robin-betty-miller-vermont/">in 2017</a>, a Vermont retiree, taking a more direct route, was arrested after confessing that she had tested ricin on her fellow residents at an assisted living facility, ultimately hoping to use it on herself.

For all of its use in spycraft and murder plots, ricin has actually shown promise as a cancer treatment. By modifying the type of receptors to which it binds, researchers have successfully induced it to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26349746">selectively kill cancer cells</a>. But for now, ricin remains the ultimate sign-off for homicidal scribes.

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By <a href="mailto:rtpallardy@gmail.com">Richard Pallardy</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

What makes ricin toxic: A complicated history

They say letter writing is a lost art. But a...

A recent <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/romaine-lettuce-not-safe/">E. coli</a> outbreak caused by contaminated romaine lettuce was declared by federal investigators to be over, as there had been no cases of illness caused by the bacteria known as O157:H7 for over a month. 

However, the investigators who announced the end to this outbreak have let on that the investigation did not go as they had hoped. They were unable to confirm the source of the bacteria that led to over 90 people becoming ill. This is now the third failed investigation into romaine lettuce E. coli outbreaks in the last year.

Due to this inability to pinpoint the causes of these outbreaks, there hasn’t been a concentrated effort to make any changes that can prevent future issues – and there may be a reason behind the inability to solve contamination issues with lettuce. According to a report from <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/can-lettuce-survive-climate-change/">WIRED</a>, there is a growing concern within the industry that extreme weather events are making crops more vulnerable to contamination. If this is true, the effects of climate change are likely only to make things worse in the future.

After a major E. coli outbreak occurred in bagged raw spinach back in 2006 (resulting in 199 illnesses and three deaths), the industry passed major reforms in California and Arizona – the two main lettuce-growing states. Ensuing outbreaks have been smaller, but in the past year there has been a resurgence of outbreaks.

The proximate cause of the 2018 outbreaks was E. coli found in water used on farms, potentially due to the proximity of the water sources to livestock (although this was not supported by tests done on the suspected cows). As a solution, buffer zones where lettuce cannot be grown on farms near livestock operations were tripled in size, and open water sources have begun to be disinfected. But the extreme weather hypothesis held amongst some growers and investigators would not be addressed by those changes.

The outbreak in the spring of 2018 (210 illnesses and five deaths) was traced back to farms in Yuma, Arizona. While the suspected contaminated lettuce was still on the field, there was an extreme weather occurrence involving unusual frost followed by strong winds. It’s hypothesized that the freeze blistered the leaves, then the winds blasted bacteria into these blisters and allowed the pathogens to work their way into the vascular channels of the leaves where they could not be washed away.

According to <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/can-lettuce-survive-climate-change/">WIRED</a>, weather is not solely responsible for contamination. Rather, it can be thought of as “an amplifier,” according to Trevor Suslow, a plant pathologist and president of food safety for the Produce Marketing Association. He told <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/can-lettuce-survive-climate-change/">WIRED</a> that weather is ““something that shifts either the plant’s level of exposure or the conditions under which the E. coli can multiply.” According to Suslow, grows may have to monitor the air and water on their farms more closely, keeping an eye out for pathogens that could be transported onto their farms. They should also be watching the weather to be able to protect plants from damage. 

Given these recent outbreaks, the focus needs to be on protecting the consumer from deadly bacteria, rather than attempting to salvage the produce that’s left behind.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Is extreme weather behind the recent E. coli outbreaks?

A recent E. coli outbreak caused by contaminated romaine lettuce...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[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



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 



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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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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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



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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...