The inclusion of fiber in the diet has been linked to a variety of health perks for decades. The body needs this essential nutrient to keep digestion running smoothly and maintain steady blood sugar levels.&nbsp;



Most experts recommend at least 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams for men, yet many adults in the United States barely reach half that goal. But there is more to this story than a happy belly or balanced glucose.&nbsp;



A recent study in Nature Metabolism shows that fiber may also leave a mark on our genes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-fiber-still-matters">Why fiber still matters</h2>



Fiber comes in many forms, from the crunchy stems of leafy greens to the chewy shells of beans and nuts. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/want-to-lose-weight-try-eating-more-protein-and-fiber/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dietary fiber</a> travels to the large intestine, where friendly bacteria feast on it.&nbsp;



This feast produces short-chain fatty acids, including propionate and butyrate, which have gained attention recently for their effects on gut health.



Researchers have been eager to see whether these acids from fibers impact genes beyond basic energy production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fiber-gut-and-fatty-acids">Fiber, gut, and fatty acids</h2>



The science behind short-chain fatty acids and genes has intrigued experts for years, and now <a href="https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/michael-snyder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Snyder</a>, Stanford B. Ascherman Professor of Genetics at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>, has shed more light on it through this project. 



His team traced the biological footprints of propionate and butyrate in both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fiber-rich-diets-reduce-antimicrobial-resistance-in-the-gut/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">normal cells</a> and cancer cells. 



The aim was to see how these acids might switch genes on or off in ways that influence the growth and survival of cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-fiber-impacts-genes-nbsp">How fiber impacts genes&nbsp;</h2>



Short-chain fatty acids are generated when gut microbes break down fiber. They move into the bloodstream and can reach different tissues.&nbsp;



The study found that propionate and butyrate attach to certain sites on histones - which are proteins that act like spools for DNA - causing direct modifications on genes related to cell division and cell death.



“We found a direct link between eating fiber and modulation of gene function that has anti-cancer effects,” said Snyder.



Instead of simply describing fiber’s link to good health, the researchers pinpointed the exact molecular changes behind those benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventing-uncontrolled-cell-growth">Preventing uncontrolled cell growth</h2>



Cancer often begins when cells lose their usual checks and balances. Normal cells are expected to grow, specialize, and sometimes self-destruct if there’s a problem.&nbsp;



When those processes go haywire, mutated cells can survive too long or multiply too fast. The study uncovered how certain chemical markers on genes for cell regulation might switch in a protective way when these short-chain fatty acids are around.



It is generally the case that people’s diets are very poor in fiber. Adjusting meal plans to include foods like beans, nuts, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/certain-vegetables-protect-us-from-illness-by-strengthening-the-lung-barrier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cruciferous vegetables</a>, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-one-avocado-each-day-can-add-years-to-your-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">avocados</a> may promote the production of more of these acids, potentially offering some defense against abnormal cell growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-gut-and-genes-might-need-more-fiber">Why gut and genes might need more fiber</h2>



A diet that skimps on fiber starves the microbes that produce these beneficial fatty acids. Low levels can reduce the supply of butyrate and propionate.



That could leave you short on important chemical signals that appear to help keep unwanted cellular behavior under control.&nbsp;



According to the <a href="https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/carbohydrates/fiber/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a>, most Americans only consume around 15 grams of fiber daily, which falls short of <a href="https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/carbohydrates/fiber/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recommended amounts</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-risk-and-fiber-s-gene-protective-role">Cancer risk and fiber’s gene-protective role</h2>



Colon cancer is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-cooking-oils-in-your-diet-may-be-linked-to-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">concern for many adults</a>. The <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Cancer Society</a> estimates that about 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with colon cancer at some point in their lifetime. 



This new study provides a window into how the byproducts of fiber breakdown might influence gene behavior in the colon, and possibly other tissues, in a helpful way.



“By identifying the gene targets of these important molecules we can understand how fiber exerts its beneficial effects,” said Snyder.&nbsp;



Although more work is needed to confirm how each type of fiber interacts with the gut and the rest of the body, this adds to growing evidence that diet and cancer risk are tightly woven together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connection-between-diet-gut-and-genes">Connection between diet, gut, and genes</h2>



The research highlights the importance of diet as a modulator of genetic signals. 



It also emphasizes potential opportunities for personalized strategies that combine better eating habits with therapies aimed at correcting harmful gene activity.&nbsp;



Many clinicians see fiber as a key feature of a balanced diet, and these findings may prompt more specific guidelines on how much and which types of fiber are most valuable for long-term health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-foods-can-boost-fiber-intake">What foods can boost fiber intake?</h2>



Whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes remain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ketogenic-diet-may-help-the-body-kill-cancer-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top options</a> for boosting your daily fiber count. Vegetables like Brussels sprouts and broccoli, as well as fruits such as raspberries, also offer generous amounts.&nbsp;



Even small shifts like opting for a whole-wheat tortilla instead of a white-flour tortilla can push your numbers up. 



For individuals who struggle to reach recommended targets, talking with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian can point the way to practical changes that nourish both you and your gut bacteria.



People sometimes balk at the thought of adding more plant-based foods to their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/which-dietary-changes-are-best-for-cancer-prevention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diet</a>. But a gradual introduction may help your gut adjust without uncomfortable bloating or gas.&nbsp;



Your digestive system, along with your genes, could benefit from these simple swaps, especially as ongoing research on fiber clarifies the links between short-chain fatty acids and various cellular pathways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-health-research">Future of health research</h2>



All signs suggest that fiber is more than just a helper for digestion. These insights about short-chain fatty acids may prompt further collaboration between nutrition science and genetics.&nbsp;



By paying attention to what our microbes need, we may discover fresh paths to protect our cells from harm. The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-024-01191-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Metabolism</a>.



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Eating enough fiber prevents cancer in a surprising way

The inclusion of fiber in the diet has been linked to a variety of health perks for decades. The body needs this essential nutrient to keep digestion running smoothly and maintain steady blood sugar levels.&nbsp; Most experts recommend at least 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams for men, yet many adults in the United States barely reach half that goal. But there is more to this story than a happy belly or balanced glucose.&nbsp; A recent study in Nature Metabolism shows that fiber may...

The news has been full of controversial reproduction procedures lately.  Most notably, a doctor in China has claimed to have brought into the world the first <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/gene-edited-dna-twin-babies/">genetically modified human babies</a>. As a result, it may have been easy to miss in the headlines another breakthrough in reproductive technology.  Recently, a woman with a uterus transplanted from a dead donor has given birth. 

<a href="https://www.bswhealth.com/uterus-transplant">Baylor, Scott &amp; White Health</a> reports on a procedure carried out as a second phase medical trial at Baylor University Medical Center.  The procedure starts with a woman who wants a child. The next step is in vitro fertilization, where the woman’s eggs are harvested and fertilized.  The embryos are then frozen, suspending development for the time being. 

Next, the woman’s womb and cervix are removed and replaced by that of a donor.  After recovery and waiting to make sure the womb isn’t rejected by the transplant recipient, the frozen embryos can be implanted into the new womb.  After that, the goal is for the pregnancy to occur as normal and a new infant to be born after nine months.

<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/04/health/uterus-transplant-deceased-donor-study/index.html">CNN</a> reports that this procedure has been carried out successfully at least 12 times with womb transplant recipients in the United States, Sweden and Serbia.  Recently researchers at Brazil’s Hospital das Clínicas at the University of São Paulo School of Medicine carried the medical procedure one step further. 

<a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181204183703.htm">Science Daily</a> reports that for the first time, a baby has been born to the recipient of a uterus from a deceased donor.  The advance in medical technology was published by the Brazilian researchers in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/">The Lancet</a>.  Until this point all of the uterus transplants have been received from living donors willing to give up their own reproductive organ to another.  Using the uterus of a deceased donor opens up even more potential for the reproduction of woman so far unable to conceive conventionally. 

So far, the success of the procedure with a deceased donor has yet to be compared with the same procedure carried out with a live donor but it opens a world of possibilities in the future.  Surgical and immunosuppressant procedures are only expected to advance as we move forward. 

For me the question isn’t, can we, but should we?  The human population has been growing at breakneck pace and barely paused for breath before climbing even higher.  Many scientists fear that the human population has already overshot the carrying capacity of the earth and we’re now just waiting for reality to catch up with us.  

<a href="https://www.livescience.com/16493-people-planet-earth-support.html">Live Science</a> reports that the upper most limit of human population able to be supported on Earth is around 9 to 10 billion people.  That estimate depends on far less consumption per person than most are willing to live with, especially in western society.  Populations at those levels would also mean a significant loss in quality of life due to overcrowding and loss of wild, open spaces to agriculture and urban sprawl.  The population limit is fixed; the amount of fresh water, the ability of the biosphere to produce breathable air, the amount of food that can be grown on the planet, these are things that can only be maximized so much by technology.  

If everyone decided to become a vegetarian, 2 billion tons of grain already grown could support 10 billion people.  However, the same amount of grains would only support about 2.5 billion of US-style omnivores. Becoming vegetarian doesn’t seem likely to be a decision everyone will make unless forced to by necessity.  

Beyond this, the actual carrying capacity is a mystery.  It’s quite hard to estimate when humanity will reach the exact tipping point of how many people Earth can support but we’re already seeing problems created by overconsumption.  Consumption is driven partly by individual people using more than they need: more food, water, fossil fuels and other resources. Consumption is also driven simply by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overpopulation-overconsumption/">more people</a> living on Earth.  Each person requires a minimum amount to stay alive.  The difference between individual consumption and pure overpopulation is highlighted well in Joy Williams's book <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=JMx_CgAAQBAJ&amp;q=children#v=snippet&amp;q=children&amp;f=false">Ill Nature</a>, 

“…in terms of energy consumption, when and American couple stops spawning at two babies, it’s the same as an average East Indian couple stopping at sixty-six, or an Ethiopian couple drawing the line at one thousand.”

Unfortunately, a uterus transplant procedure, like most advanced reproductive techniques is likely to be available mainly to relatively wealthy people.  This means people that already consume so much more will likely be able to reproduce even when nature doesn’t allow them to, as is already the case.

According to a paper published on <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29503211">Pub Med</a>, the access to assisted reproductive technologies is skewed, with only a certain privileged portion of the global population having access to such procedures.  Even so, the paper reports that since the first in vitro fertilization baby born in 1978, the number of babies born from this and other similar procedures has only grown in numbers greater than anticipated.  

We are approaching a 0.1% of the global population that owes their lives to in vitro fertilization (IVF) that is about 400,000 babies born annually as of 2018.  If this number remains constant, this means that by 2100, 1.4% of the global population will be alive due to IVF. The number is only predicted to grow and it’s projected that instead of 1.4%, by 2100 IVF will be responsible for 394 million people, that is, 3.5% of the world’s population.  These are people who will reproduce themselves in many cases, eat food, drink water and take resources from across the globe. 

 It is likely that these people born to the world’s wealthy elite will continue to take more from the earth than those born in traditional ways in places like Africa or Southeast Asia.  Procedures such as uterus transplantation only increase the potential numbers of people born from IVF making the population growth even bigger. 

Why then should we be advancing ways for more people to reproduce and use more of the earth’s finite resources?           

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Baby born to uterus transplant recipient from deceased donor

The news has been full of controversial reproduction procedures lately....

Context and options inform whether people choose a healthy snack. When given a choice between healthy and unhealthy food, people make decisions based on what food they see, rather than what they may personally prefer, according to a new study.

The study could help aid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweeteners-obesity-diabetes/">nutrition and obesity research</a> and the results show that people seem to pick foods based on what other food is available.

“When people choose foods, they don't simply reach into their memory and pick the most-preferred food,” said Scott Huettel, a co-author of the study. “Instead, how much we prefer something actually depends on what other options are available.

For example, if a healthy snack like an apple is surrounded by unhealthy and indulgent food, people are more likely to choose the healthy choice. 

The study was conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.duke.edu/">Duke University</a> and published in the journal Psychological Science. 

Heuttel and the rest of the Duke research team examined dietary preferences to see if the presence of indulgent treats impacts healthy food choices. 

79 people from Durham, Carolina participated in the study and the researchers asked the participants to fast beforehand. 

Next, the participants were given a choice between two foods, one healthy and one indulgent, like a piece of salmon or a pack of Oreos. Not surprisingly in this context, most of the participants chose the sweet and indulgent treat. 

The researchers then asked the participants to choose a food item, but the options were presented in pairs, like a pack of Oreos and a piece of salmon, or a pack of Oreos and a Snickers candy bar. 

The researchers said the participants would have a fifty/fifty chance of getting either of the items in a pair. 

When the choices were paired up, the participants were twice as likely to pick the pair with a healthy choice like the salmon with the pack of Oreos. 

It would make sense, given that the first experiment showed a preference for the indulgent treat, that everyone would choose the pair with two indulgent foods. 

However, the researchers say that the healthy item may have stood out which is why participants were drawn to it. 

Eye tracking showed that the participants focused more on the salmon and other healthy foods when they were paired with unhealthy foods. 

With obesity rates on the rise and access to healthy nutritional food lacking in many parts of the country, studies like this can help researchers understand what drives consumer choices which could help improve “food deserts.” 

Food deserts are regions where fast food is widely and readily available but fresh produce and healthy proteins are scarce, yet previous research has shown that just offering more healthy options isn’t enough to drive healthier consumer choices. 

Instead, the results show that mixing up the status quo and putting healthy foods in full display among unhealthy foods may drive people to buy the healthy option. 

“When people see a wall of cabbage and broccoli, that may not encourage people to choose it,” said Nicolette Sullivan, a co-author of the study. “Right now, food items are very segregated: here’s the produce, here are the candy bars. Yet maybe if we put something healthy in the middle of the snack food section, perhaps that might encourage people to choose it.”

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Context and options inform whether people choose a healthy snack

Context and options inform whether people choose a healthy snack....

Every year in the United States, nearly 800,000 people have a stroke, according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm">Centers for Disease Control. </a>

A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sauna-lower-risk-stroke/">stroke</a> occurs when an artery that supplies blood to the brain is blocked or narrowed, sometimes causing permanent paralysis, and problems with mood and memory. 

Fortunately, not all stroke survivors have permanent problems. A new study from Canada has found that two-thirds of older stroke survivors outside of long-term care facilities are in “complete mental health.” 

Researchers from the <a href="https://socialwork.utoronto.ca/">University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work </a>conducted the study which was published in the Journal of Aging and Health. 

A person was deemed in “complete mental health” by the researchers if they were satisfied or happy with life on a daily basis, free of suicidal thoughts, anxiety or depression and not dependant on substances for an entire year. 

“It is so heartening to learn that the vast majority of stroke survivors are in optimal mental health, indicating amazing resiliency,” said Esme Fuller-Thomson, the lead author of the study. “Many research studies, including my own earlier publications, have focused on post-stroke depression and suicidal thoughts. This is a paradigm shift to examine stroke survivors who are mentally flourishing.” 

The researchers analyzed data from a nationally representative community sample of 11,157 Canadians who were aged 50 years or older. 

300 individuals in the sample were stroke survivors, but the research didn’t factor in stroke survivors living in a long-term care facility, only those older Canadians who were still part of their community. 

After reviewing the sample, the researchers discovered several key factors that helped influence  mental health and recovery after a stroke. 

The researchers found that having a history of mental illness or childhood abuse impeded the ability to achieve mental health for stroke survivors. 

“It appears that childhood adversities cast a very long shadow over many, many decades. In this sample of Canadians aged 50 and older, stroke survivors who had a history of childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse or chronic parental domestic violence were only half as likely to be in complete mental health in comparison to those without these childhood traumas,” said Fuller-Thomson.

Not having chronic pain and having a supportive social network went a long way in helping people achieve mental health after a stroke. 

“One of our most exciting findings was the fact that stroke survivors with at least one confidant were four times more likely to be incomplete mental health in comparison to those who were socially isolated,” said Lisa A. Jenson, a co-author of the study. 

The results offer hope that stroke survivors can achieve long-lasting complete mental health, and knowing what factors influence mental health while recovering from a stroke can help medical professionals find the right kinds of treatment to improve mental health and wellbeing during recovery after a stroke. 

“We hope that these findings of incredible resiliency in stroke survivors are encouraging to stroke patients, their families, and the health profession,” said Fuller-Thomson. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel.” 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

2 out of 3 stroke survivors are in very good mental health

Every year in the United States, nearly 800,000 people have...

A new study has found there is a large amount of bias influencing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sugary-diets-increase-urge-eat/">obesity research</a> and government policy solutions and it’s all tied to the Coca-Cola Company. 

Susan Greenhalgh, a professor at <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a>, conducted a study analyzing Chinese government policies and obesity research funding and discovered that “big soda” has had a large hand in influencing public policies. 

The study, discussed in two articles published in the BMJ and the Journal of Public Health Policy, is the first of its kind to highlight the food industry’s influence and impact on government policy. 

“There have been decades of work on how big pharma and big tobacco have tried to influence science and dictate policy, but the research on big food and big soda is just now emerging,” said Greenhalgh. “I don’t know of any other work that has documented this type of impact, especially on the policy of an entire nation.” 

In the study, Greenhalgh focused primarily on a non-profit research organization founded by Alex Malaspina, former Coca-Cola Vice President, in 1978 called the <a href="http://ilsi.org/">International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI)</a>. 

There are currently 17 branches of the of the ILSI worldwide, and China’s branch, which was founded Chen Chummin, was established in 1993. 

Greenhalgh found that Chumming was deeply connected to the public health sector and China’s Ministry of health, relationships that afforded opportunities to heavily influence obesity policies and campaigns. 

Greenhalgh reviewed ILSI-China newsletters from 1999 through 2015 that discussed what research the organization had conducted, and it’s policy activities such as drafting public policies and organizing conferences. 

“When I reviewed China's policies, I could see them using the very same language Coke did,” said Greenhalgh. “For example, they talk about energy balance and making physical activity part of medical treatment or balancing eating and moving...their policy aligns very well with Coke's interests, and it's out of alignment with some of the policies advocated by the World Health Organization.” 

Coca-Cola and the ILSI’s influence on policy can be seen first hand in the archives of ILSL’s research. From 1999 to 2003, 50 percent of the research conducted at ILSI-China centered around BMI and nutrition. 

But 2004 saw a shift in focus to fitness and staying active, and as Coke started promoting physical activity as a way to prevent obesity, ILSI-China followed suit. 

After 2004, nearly a third of ILSI-China’s activities involved physical activity and nutrition research declined. 

Coke has since stepped down from pushing physical activity, however, in China, the impact of  Coca-Cola campaigns advocating for physical activity can still be felt. 

What’s more, even though Greenhalgh’s work highlights the industry bias present in China’s public policies and obesity research, public health in China experts don’t appear to take any issue with this. 

Greenhalgh’s research shows how influential large companies like Coke can be in impacting public policy to fit certain agendas even if those agendas run counter to current scientific theories on obesity. 

“When you read the literature, there’s not much about how Coke is influencing obesity science and policy in the US, but the literature that does exist shows Coke’s efforts,” said Greenhalgh. “This shows their impact, so I was just stunned.” 

--

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>

Big soda influences obesity research and public policy

A new study has found there is a large amount...

The concept of “manly” behavior is something men and boys are socialized to learn from a young age. But new research shows that the concept of traditional masculinity may be doing more harm than good.

The <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association (APA)</a> recently published a guide to help psychologists work with men and boys. The <a href="https://www.apa.org/about/policy/boys-men-practice-guidelines.pdf">APA Guidelines for the Psychological Practice with Boys and Men</a> provides psychologists with a better framework for working with children and adults who may be struggling with mental and emotional stressors that the world of psychology and society has long ignored. 

As Stephanie Pappas wrote in an <a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/01/ce-corner.aspx">APA news article</a>, “Prior to the second-wave feminist movement in the 1960s, all psychology was the psychology of men. Most major studies were done only on white men and boys, who stood in as proxies for humans as a whole.” 

This limiting viewpoint didn’t just exclude women, Pappas explained, it also failed to account for people of color or any <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/transgender-brains-match-gender/">sexual or gender identity outside of hetero-norms</a>. 

Now, as psychologists and researchers are working to unravel these archaic and harmful gender-role stereotypes, it has become clear that there is a significant gap in the stereotypical expectations of men, still promoted by society, and their mental and emotional needs. 

The APA Guidelines for the Psychological Practice with Boys and Men delves heavily into the ideologies of traditional masculinity and its negative impacts. 

In many cases, this form of masculinity can encourage sexism, homophobia, and bullying.

“For instance, socialization for conforming to traditional masculinity ideology has been shown to limit males’ psychological development, constrain their behavior, result in gender role strain and gender role conflict, and negatively influence mental health and physical health,” the 36-page report reads.

The report also emphasizes how ignoring the complexities of identity and damaging gender norms has failed men and boys. 

Examples of these shortcomings can be seen in the disproportionate number of boys who learning difficulties and behavior problems according to the report. <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-adhd-more-common-in-boys-than-girls-92151">ADHD is more common in boys than girls</a>, and men are more likely to commit a violent crime or face incarceration compared to women. 

The APA also notes that traditional masculinity leaves little room for self-care or feeling “vulnerable,” which can lead to internalizing negative feelings and feeling isolated according to Pappas. 

“Because of the way many men have been brought up—to be self-sufficient and able to take care of themselves—any sense that things aren’t OK needs to be kept secret,” Frederic Rabinowitz, a psychologist at the <a href="https://www.redlands.edu/">University of Redlands in California</a> told Pappas. “Part of what happens is men who keep things to themselves look outward and see that no one else is sharing any of the conflicts that they feel inside.” 

The new guidelines and report got its start in 2005 and was a collaborative effort among many different APA groups and individuals, Rabinowitz included.

By looking at both the negative ramifications of traditional masculinity ideologies and pro-social and positive aspects of masculinity, the APA Guidelines give psychologists a much more inclusive and multi-faceted approach to mental health. 

“Getting that message out to men—that they’re adaptable, emotional and capable of engaging fully outside of rigid norms—is what the new guidelines are designed to do,” Pappas concluded. “And if psychologists can focus on supporting men in breaking free of masculinity rules that don’t help them, the effects could spread beyond just mental health for men.”  

--

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>

Traditional masculinity found to encourage bullying and homophobia

The concept of “manly” behavior is something men and boys...

Peer victimization or bullying can have long-term consequences on children, following them into adolescence and adulthood and increasing the risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bullying-mental-health-overcome/">anxiety and depression.</a>

While studies have shown how bullying impacts kids, researchers from <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/">King's College London</a> recently found that being bullied shrinks two parts of the brain that can affect certain behaviors like emotional processing and focus.  

The study helps shed insight on why bullying can lead to changes in behavior and mental health for adolescents and young adults. 

Over 682 young people, ages 14 to 19, took part in the study which was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. The participants were asked to answer mental health questionnaires and undergo a brain scan. More than 30 of the participants admitted to being chronically bullied as a child. 

After analyzing the brain scans, the researchers found that brain size differed among the participants and those who had been bullied had smaller brains and a higher risk of anxiety. 

The caudate and putamen were the most affected regions in the brain for the participants that had been bullied and both play important roles in learning and influencing actions. 

“Although not classically considered relevant to anxiety, the importance of structural changes in the putamen and caudate to the development of anxiety most likely lies in their contribution to related behaviors such as reward sensitivity, motivation, conditioning, attention, and emotional processing,” Erin Burke Quinlan, the lead author of the study, told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6565619/Being-bullied-school-SHRINKS-brain-leading-higher-risk-mental-health-problems.html">Daily Mail</a>. 

Bullying has become a widespread problem in schools with statistics showing that 1 in 5 children in the US is bullied, according to the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6565619/Being-bullied-school-SHRINKS-brain-leading-higher-risk-mental-health-problems.html">Daily Mail</a>. 

The results explain why bullying increases the risk of anxiety and depression, and further research could help develop better methods for treating anxiety disorders that developed due to bullying. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bullying shrinks part of the brain, increases risk of future anxiety

Peer victimization or bullying can have long-term consequences on children,...

Science is not simply a collection of facts and theories.  Science is instead a philosophical framework used to examine the observable universe.  Science isn’t gravity or evolutionary theory or climate change. Science is what you learned about in high school or college as the ‘scientific method’.

The basics of the scientific method are simple, straightforward and relatively intuitive.  You observe something, come up with a hypothesis to explain what you see and then you test that hypothesis.  In science there are virtually no real laws, just hypotheses that have been tested thoroughly enough to become theory.  

A theory is something that’s been rigorously tested, which is why popular statements on evolution being ‘only’ a theory are ludicrous.  It’s only a theory that microscopic organisms make us sick but that doesn’t mean we don’t use vaccines… except that is a growing trend.  

A paper in the journal <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6122668/">Cureus</a> states that vaccination rates of 96 to 99% in a population are necessary to maintain herd immunity.  This means that even if you get vaccinated, that protection could be overrun by constant exposure to a disease if others aren’t vaccinated around you.  Despite this, there’s a growing trend among parents in western countries of refusal to vaccinate their children. Denial of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/vaccines-helpful/">usefulness of vaccines</a> seems to come from people who’ve never experienced a world or place without vaccines.  It’s hard to imagine people in Africa refusing to vaccinate their children to save their lives. Overall, the rejection of vaccinations is part of a growing denial of science-based facts in the US and other western nations.

<a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2018/11/15/denver-flat-earth-conference/">The Denver Post</a> reported in November on the Flat Earth International Conference held in Denver.  The conference was held in November with tickets ranging from $199 to $349 each. The conference is estimated to have been attended by 4-500 people, slightly surpassing numbers of the <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/29/colorado-flat-earth-conference-denver/">first conference</a> held in North Carolina that was attended by 400 people.  A billboard advertising the conference seemed to capitalize on the frenzy around ‘fake’ news by showing a picture of the earth with a large red ‘fake’ stamped over it.  

Ironically, the <a href="https://www.livescience.com/63470-flat-earth-climate-science.html">Live Science</a> reported that despite not believing the Earth is round, the Flat Earth Society says it believes in climate change, citing the overwhelming scientific evidence.  The society claims that science actually supports a flat earth model with the Sun, Moon and stars moving around a stationary and flat earth. Most people take the ideas handed to them and don’t test them personally but it is actually possible to <a href="https://www.astro.princeton.edu/~dns/teachersguide/MeasECAct.html">measure the curvature</a> of the earth yourself as did the ancient Greeks.  The problem isn’t with a denial of the methods of science but a refusal to trust experts who have used these methods.  

According to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/29/17173166/climate-change-perception-gallup-poll-politics-psychology">The Verge</a>, roughly 45% of Americans feel that climate change will pose a real threat within their lifetime.  A <a href="http://news.gallup.com/poll/231530/global-warming-concern-steady-despite-partisan-shifts.aspx?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosgenerate&amp;stream=top-stories">Gallup Poll</a> found that 64% of Americans believe climate change is caused by humans while 97% of climate scientists believe in human caused climate change.  This is despite the fact that climate change is already well under way. 

<a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/10/darwin-day/">Pew Research Center</a> reported in February of last year that only 66% of Americans have the impression that scientists are in agreement over evolutionary theory despite the fact that about 98% of them support evolution.  Only 33% of Americans polled believe that humans and other organisms evolved solely due to natural processes. What scientific theories or consensuses you agree with may have less to do with the facts, or the actual scientific process and more to do with religion and politics.       

The Pew Research poll found that 57% of evangelical Christians completely denied biological evolution, likewise about half of Mormons and three-quarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses also deny evolution.  <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/29/17173166/climate-change-perception-gallup-poll-politics-psychology">69% of Republicans</a> think the problem of climate change is exaggerated while only 4% of Democrats believe that.  Donald Trump called climate change a hoax and pointed to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/donald-trump-climate-weather/">weather being cold as his proof</a>.  Religious texts such as the bible tend to explicitly say God created humans directly, with no mention of evolution.  The problem is a reliance upon authority rather than personal observation.

The issue made worse because things like climate change and evolution or even the shape of the Earth are fairly hard to observe for the average individual with no scientific background or tools.  <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/01/americans-believe-in-science-just-not-its-findings/384937/">The Atlantic</a> reported back in 2015 that 79% of people surveyed believe that science makes life easier for most people.  It’s easy to believe that your car made by thousands of scientific innovations makes it easier to move quickly from place to place.  It’s easy to believe that medical science allowed your grandfather to live into his nineties or makes the choice on whether to have one child or five much easier.  

Technology is easy to understand because we deal with it daily and more people have probably observed their phones for long periods each day than the animals in their backyard or the climate they live in.  Besides this, we often dismiss out of hand the evidence we have available.

<a href="http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180416-the-myth-of-the-online-echo-chamber">BBC</a> reported that we don’t actually live in so-called echo chambers but actually form our identities around what we believe.  People exposed to differing political opinions sometimes become even more entrenched in their political ‘brand’ or their beliefs stay roughly the same.  The story is an old one and some anthropologists have hypothesized that humans form ‘tribes’ within a bigger society to cope with a new world where we contact strangers all the time.  

We evolved in small tribal groups where we knew everyone, forming a sub-group with its own strange norms helps people feel more part of their own tribe.  Of course, acceptance of that idea is based on how you feel about evolution to begin with. The best way to combat ignorance is to question yourself with honesty and try to form a new identity as a critical thinker, not a Democrat, Republican, Christian or Atheist. 

Remember, science is a method and it’s a method anyone can use to look at the world or examine facts.  We live in a world where it’s easier than ever to access information, even statistics classes can be found <a href="https://www.mooc-list.com/tags/statistics">free online</a>.  If you have any doubts, the truth, is out there.                        

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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Suspicion of science: Why do many Americans deny scientific facts?

Science is not simply a collection of facts and theories....

A national survey has revealed that most <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/americans-cutting-back-meat/">Americans</a> would be willing to sacrifice their privacy in support of facial recognition technology if this would help to improve public safety. The poll found that only 26 percent of Americans feels that use of the technology should be limited by the government.

Daniel Castro is the director of the <a href="https://www.datainnovation.org/">Center for Data Innovation</a> (CDI), the nonprofit research company that conducted the survey.

“People are often suspicious of new technologies, but in this case, they seem to have warmed up to facial recognition technology quite quickly,” said Castro. “Perhaps most importantly, Americans have made it clear they do not want regulations that limit the use of facial recognition if it comes at the cost of public safety.”

The research was focused on the responses of over 3,000 participants in the survey, which was conducted last month. Only 18 percent of the individuals believed that facial recognition applications should be strictly regulated, as opposed to 55 percent who felt the government should not place stiff guidelines on the technology. 

According to the researchers, facial recognition could help reduce shoplifting and speed up airport security lines. 

The results of the poll indicate that Americans are quickly changing their attitudes about facial recognition. A survey conducted just about three months earlier concluded that more than half of Americans wanted to see the use of facial recognition regulated by law enforcement. 

It seems that, as the technology is improved and becomes more accurate, more people are in favor of it. 

“The survey results suggest that one of the most important ways for police to gain public support for using facial recognition technology in their communities is to use the most accurate tools available,”said Castro. 

“People are willing to get behind police use of facial recognition technology as long as it is accurate and makes their communities safer.”
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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

More than half of Americans support facial recognition technology

A national survey has revealed that most Americans would be...

Social media addiction can impact decision-making as much as drugs. While the mental and physical effects of drug addiction are well documented, researchers are now working to explore the extent to which social media addiction impacts health and wellbeing. 

A new study conducted by researchers from <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a> (MSU), the first of its kind, shows that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/attachment-style-social-media-behavior/">heavy social media use</a> impacts decision making in similar ways as drug addiction or gambling. 

The research was published in the Journal of Behavior Addictions and the results help show how damaging excessive social media use can be. 

“Around one-third of humans on the planet are using social media, and some of these people are displaying maladaptive, excessive use of these sites,” said Dar Meshi, lead author of the study and assistant professor at MSU. “Our findings will hopefully motivate the field to take social media overuse seriously.”

For the study, the researchers surveyed 71 participants about their dependence on Facebook, how often they visited the site and how they felt about not being able to use it. The participants also discussed Facebook’s impact on their job or education. 

Next, the researchers asked the participants to complete the Iowa Gambling Task, a psychological experiment that helps measure decision making. 

“Decision making is oftentimes compromised in individuals with substance use disorders,” said Meshi. “But no one previously looked at this behavior as it relates to excessive social media users, so we investigated this possible parallel between excessive social media users and substance abusers."

With the Iowa Gambling Task, participants had to identify patterns in decks of cards and choose the best deck. 

After the task was completed, the researchers found a strong link between poor decision making and excessive social media use. The more a participant admitted to using Facebook in their survey, the worse they performed on the task. 

The impact social media had on decision making for the participants was similar to the impacts of opioids and other drugs.  

“With so many people around the world using social media, it's critical for us to understand its use,” said Meshi. “I believe that social media has tremendous benefits for individuals, but there's also a dark side when people can't pull themselves away. We need to better understand this drive so we can determine if excessive social media use should be considered an addiction.”

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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 media addiction can impact decision-making as much as drugs

Social media addiction can impact decision-making as much as drugs....

A new study from the <a href="https://www.aera.net/">American Educational Research Association</a> has revealed that, in the spring of 2017, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/bullying-race-sexual-orientation/">bullying</a> rates among junior high school students were significantly higher in locations where voters favored Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. In addition, more students reported their peers being teased or put down over their race or ethnicity in predominantly Republican regions.

The investigation was focused on 155,000 seventh- and eighth-grade students across 132 school districts in Virginia. 

The researchers used school climate survey data collected in 2013, 2015, and 2017. Students were asked if they had personally been bullied at school, and were also asked more general questions about bullying and teasing that they had observed at school.

Survey results were then mapped onto presidential election results for the location of each school district.

The study revealed that a 10 percent point increase in Republican voters was associated with a five percent jump in teasing over race or ethnicity and an eight percent increase in middle school bullying.

Study co-author Francis Huang is an associate professor of Statistics, Measurement, and Evaluation in Education at the <a href="https://missouri.edu/">University of Missouri</a>.

“We found consistent differences in teasing and bullying rates that were linked to voting preferences,” said Professor Huang. “While our findings do not indicate that support for Trump caused bullying to increase in Republican districts, they do provide some credence to the widespread perception that some types of teasing and bullying have increased, at least in some localities.”

The researchers pointed out that the findings are consistent with concerns voiced by teachers about bullying following the presidential election.

“While the ways in which the presidential election could have affected students is likely complex, educators and parents should be aware of the potential impact of public events on student behavior,” said study co-author Dewey Cornell. 

“Parents should be mindful of how their reactions to the presidential election, or the reactions of others, could influence their children. And politicians should be mindful of the potential impact of their campaign rhetoric and behavior on their supporters and indirectly on youth.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/edr">Educational Researcher</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

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Higher rate of school bullying found in areas that voted for Trump

A new study from the American Educational Research Association has...

Researchers at <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a> have found that past issues with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/vaccines-helpful/">vaccinations</a> can cause a phenomenon known as hysteresis, which means that a negative event from the past increases the resistance of the public in the present. The study results explain why some people do not take advantage of vaccines even though they have been proven safe and effective. 

“Given all the benefits of vaccination, it's been a struggle to understand why vaccination rates can remain stubbornly low,” said study lead author Professor Feng Fu. “History matters, and we now know that hysteresis is part of the answer.”

The research is the first of its kind to demonstrate that hysteresis can affect public health.

“Once people question the safety or effectiveness of a vaccine, it can be very difficult to get them to move beyond those negative associations,” said Professor Fu. “Hysteresis is a powerful force that is difficult to break at a societal level.”


When a lot of people refuse to comply with vaccinations, the result may be the loss of “herd immunity” and the spread of infectious diseases. For example, childhood diseases like measles, mumps, and pertussis have returned in regions of Europe and North America as a result of insufficient vaccination coverage.

Researchers have struggled in the past to understand the persistence of low vaccine compliance, but they were not accounting for the influence of past issues on present and future decisions. 

“This study shows why it is so hard to reverse low or declining vaccine levels,” said study first author Xingru Chen. “The sheer force of factual, logical arguments around public health issues is just not enough to overcome hysteresis and human behavior.”

According to the study, the hysteresis loop can be initiated when people question the risk and effectiveness of vaccines. Negative experiences and perceptions impact the trend of uptake over time, or the “vaccination trajectory,” which gets stuck in the hysteresis loop.

“When it comes to vaccination levels, the past predicts the future,” explained Professor Fu. “Unfortunately, this means that a lot of people are going to needlessly suffer unless we find a way to break the negative impact of the hysteresis loop.”

Among people in England and Wales, it took 15 years from 1978 through 1992 for uptake of the whooping cough vaccine to recover from 30 to 91 percent. According to the researchers, this recovery should only take about a year under ideal circumstances.

The study authors also noted that in some countries like France, measles has become an endemic disease despite the availability of an effective vaccine.

“The coverage of measles vaccination has only gradually climbed up, but still remains insufficient, for more than a decade following the infamous MMR vaccination and autism controversy,” said Chen. “Vaccination levels in a population can drop quickly, but, because of hysteresis, the recovery in that same population can take many years.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rspb">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Negative views of vaccination can have major impact on public health

Researchers at Dartmouth College have found that past issues with...

Researchers from the <a href="https://wp.nyu.edu/smapp/">New York University Social Media and Political Participation (SMaPP) Lab</a> and <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a> have found that, of the 9% of social media users who shared <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/people-believe-fake-news/">fake news</a> during the 2016 presidential election, the majority of that group were over the age of 65.

"Despite widespread interest in the fake news phenomenon, we know very little about who actually shares fake news," Joshua Tucker, a professor of politics at <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/">NYU</a> and co-director of the SMaPP Lab, said regarding the study, published January 9th in <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>. "This study takes a first step towards answering this question. Perhaps most significantly, we find that sharing this type of content on Facebook was a relatively rare activity during the 2016 presidential campaign."

With the help of YouGov, the team surveyed a group of Facebook users to determine how many shared stories from fake news sites. 8.5% of study participants shared fake news. 3% of these participants were between the ages of 18 and 29, whereas 11% of these participants were over 65.

"If seniors are more likely to share fake news than younger people, then there are important implications for how we might design interventions to reduce the spread of fake news," said Andrew Guess, an assistant professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University.

The team suggests that differences in traits like digital media literacy among age groups may be at play, especially since education, income, and gender were not related to the likelihood of one sharing fake news, as the study found.

Furthermore, the team found that Republicans were four times more likely to share fake news than Democrats, however this is most likely because fake news was mostly aimed at pro-Trump, anti-Clinton voters.

Researchers conclude that, even if digital media literacy is taught in schools, it may not make a difference in thwarting the spread of fake news if older social media users are the ones sharing it. Other methods must be devised and used to stop fake news in its tracks.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

People over the age of 65 are more likely to share fake news

Researchers from the New York University Social Media and Political...

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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

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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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

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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



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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



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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

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