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...

A new study from the <a href="https://medicine.wustl.edu/">Washington University School of Medicine</a> has revealed that patients over the age of 65 who were recently diagnosed with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/walking-reduce-heart-failure-risk/">heart failure</a> can drink alcohol in moderation without making their condition worse. In fact, the researchers found a survival benefit among moderate drinkers compared to individuals who did not consume alcohol. 

On average, survival for moderate drinkers was just over a year longer than abstainers. The study authors emphasized, however, that the findings do not suggest that non-drinkers should start knocking back drinks after a heart failure diagnosis.

“My patients who are newly diagnosed with heart failure often ask me if they should stop having that glass of wine every night,” said study senior author and cardiologist Dr. David L. Brown. “And until now, I didn't have a good answer for them. We have long known that the toxic effects of excessive drinking can contribute to heart failure.”

“In contrast, we have data showing that healthy people who drink moderately seem to have some protection from heart failure over the long term, compared with people who don't drink at all. But there was very little, if any, data to help us advise people who drink moderately and have just been diagnosed with heart failure.”

The investigation was focused on data from a past study called the Cardiovascular Health Study, which was conducted from 1989 to 1993 and involved nearly 6,000 adults. Among these individuals, 393 patients developed heart failure during the nine-year follow-up period.

The patients, who had an average age of 79, were divided into four categories for the analysis: people who never drank, people who drank in the past and stopped, people who had seven or fewer drinks per week, and people who had eight or more drinks per week.

After controlling for age, smoking, blood pressure, and other variables, the investigators found an association between consuming seven or fewer drinks per week and an extended survival of 383 days. The extended survival, which ranged from 17 to 748 days, seemed to peak among those who drank 10 drinks per week. 

The study does not establish cause and effect, so the researchers cannot conclude that moderate drinking is actively protective. There may be some factors that are common among moderate drinkers which promoted survival. 

“People who develop heart failure at an older age and never drank shouldn't start drinking,” said Brown. “But our study suggests people who have had a daily drink or two before their diagnosis of heart failure can continue to do so without concern that it's causing harm. Even so, that decision should always be made in consultation with their doctors.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen">JAMA Network Open</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Could moderate alcohol consumption benefit heart failure survivors?

A new study from the Washington University School of Medicine...

In their <a href="https://firstorion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/FirstOrion_Scam_Trends_Report_FINAL.pdf">2018 Scam Call Trends and Projections Report</a>, the company First Orion emphasized the need for new technologies to combat the rapidly growing incidence of scam calls. Unless drastic measures are taken, First Orion warns that around 45 percent of all mobile calls made in the year 2019 will come from scammers.

First Orion provides phone call transparency solutions for tens of millions of mobile subscribers across the United States. The team analyzed billions of phone calls received by their clients over the last 18 months and found a shocking jump in the number of calls that were placed by telephone scammers.

The investigation revealed that in 2017, 3.7 percent of the calls analyzed for the study were robocalls. By 2018, this figure jumped to 29.2 percent, and is expected to reach 44.6 percent by early 2019.

There are a number of strategies that are used by scammers to get people to pick up the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/smartphones-sleep-deprivation-kids/">phone</a>, and the most popular technique is known as “neighborhood spoofing.” This happens when a spammer disguises their phone number to make it appear as a local number on the recipient's caller ID. Matching the area code and 3-digit prefix of the person being called can substantially increase the chances of the robocall getting answered.

According to First Orion, third-party call blocking apps are not effective when legitimate numbers are hijacked because they only block known numbers that belong to scams.

Charles D. Morgan is the CEO and Head Data Scientist of First Orion. He said, “Year after year, the scam call epidemic bombards consumers at record-breaking levels, surpassing the previous year and scammers increasingly invade our privacy at new extremes.”

“Recently, the FCC joined forces with several technology companies, including First Orion, to find a way to combat these calls, but we still see rampant increases.”

“After working closely with several carriers, we've found that in-network solutions that leverage sophisticated data analysis and machine learning are by far the most accurate way to pinpoint the origin of a call and identify it before it reaches your phone.”

More information can be found on First Orion's <a href="https://firstorion.com/nearly-50-of-u-s-mobile-traffic-will-be-scam-calls-by-2019/">website</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nearly half of all mobile calls in 2019 will be from scammers

In their 2018 Scam Call Trends and Projections Report, the...

From Tucson, Arizona, the border crossing into Nogales, Mexico is only a little over an hour drive.  As anyone paying attention to the news recently, that imaginary line often reinforced with fences and armed personnel has recently become a point of growing contention.  Especially near California in Tijuana, a recent wave of migrants from Central America has reawakened the controversy over border security and the treatment of migrants.

The <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/border-wall-endangered-species/">border</a> was bound to become controversial when the U.S. elected a president leading chants like, ‘<a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/why-trump-suggested-his-supporters-stop-chanting-build-wall">build that wall</a>’.  Long before the recent use of tear gas on a wave of immigrants seeking entrance in the U.S., the conversation about immigration got ugly.  Often lost in the dialogue is the common tragedy of those crossing the border. 

Americans often complain about a loss of jobs or incomes, yet we’re doing far better north of the border and it’s easy to see for anyone who’s spent time in both nations.  According to <a href="https://www.indexmundi.com/factbook/compare/mexico.united-states/economy">Index Mundi</a>, the gross domestic product in the US for 2017 was $19.36 trillion, compared to $2.406 trillion in Mexico.  Per person the gross domestic product breaks down to $19,500 in Mexico and $59,500 in the US. Central America is even poorer and riddled with problems beyond just the monetary.  

According to an article in <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/latin-america-economic-crisis-middle-class/409675/">The Atlantic</a>, Latin America as a whole region experiences more variability in inflation and monetary policy than anywhere else in the world.  The region experiences reversals on what seems like progress regularly. The <a href="https://www.nrc.no/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-violence-in-central-america/">Norwegian Refugee Council</a> reports that Honduras was dubbed the ‘murder capital of the world’ with homicide rates as high as 86.5 per 100,000 people in 2011.  The violence and economic insecurity fosters organized crime which often recruits young boys and extorts others into cooperation, creating more of the same problems.  

A 2009 coup in Honduras, a country with which the US has a long history of involvement, only exasperated problems in the region.  The group of migrants now at the US border are mainly from Honduras but also includes people from Guatemala and El Salvador, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45951782">BBC</a> reports.  The desperation of many immigrants coming from Mexico or further south is apparent not only from what they’re fleeing from.  What migrants are willing to face for a shot at the lives many of us take for granted speaks volumes.

Recently a group of asylum seekers protested the slow processing of their applications to be let into the US.  In response, border patrol agents fired tear gas at the unarmed group, which included children, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2018/11/27/670807343/fact-check-whats-happening-on-the-u-s-mexico-border">NPR</a> reports.  The group is part of 5,000 asylum seekers coming from Central America now stopped at the San Ysidro border crossing at Tijuana, Baja California.  The border is still open but the process of seeking asylum is a long one, requiring a months long wait to be heard often. The problem of crossing the border into the US isn’t a new one though, and the hardships aren’t limited to tear gas.

The desert in many parts of the border regions is imposing, stretches of desolate land with little water, little shade and daytime temperatures reaching into the hundreds through the summer.  The land is a rough one too with all the easiest places to hide being occupied by mountains and canyons. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/06/us-mexico-border-migrant-deaths-rose-2017">The Guardian</a> reports that last year, 412 migrant deaths were reported along the border up from 398 the year before.  With dangerous crossings already the norm for those fleeing violence and instability, it’s no wonder that new innovative ways of crossing the border are now flourishing.  

<a href="https://www.hcn.org/articles/us-mexican-border-as-trumps-border-wall-grows-smuggling-tunnels-proliferate">High Country News</a> reported earlier this month on the spread of subterranean border crossings.  Since the early 1990’s, 65 tunnels have been found in the Otay Mesa area, near San Diego California.  San Diego is just across the border from Tijuana where the recent confrontations have occurred between protestors and border patrol agents.  

Pre-existing storm drain tunnels are also used to cross the border.  Mainly these tunnels are used to traffic drugs into the US but also sometimes people.  In September, Mexican officials uncovered another tunnel that crossed the border but still lacked an exit into the US.  High Country News reports that as security along the border tightened in the 1990s, more tunnels started to appear on the border at an average of two new tunnels discovered every year.  Almost 200 tunnels have been found across the US-Mexico border, mainly in California and Arizona. The soil near southern California is especially good for digging tunnels, making it a popular place.  Some of the tunnels are tiny and some are enormous, costing up to a million dollars to build. 

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/10/solar-powered-drug-tunnel-discovered-on-mexican-border-with-california">The Guardian</a> reported in October on the discovery of a solar powered drug smuggling tunnel on the border with California.  The tunnel had rail tracks as well as a solar powered ventilation system. The whole tunnel, although incomplete measured 627 feet long.  The tunnel was even equipped with drain pumps and lights. 

The whole process of tunnel building seems to be a tit for tat, often tunnels are shut down by border patrol agents on the US side and left open on the Mexican side.  At least once, this allowed smugglers to simply dig around the closure and continue business as usual. The strategy of digging smuggling tunnels was pioneered by the infamous crime boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who even escaped a maximum security prison by escaping down a mile long tunnel on a motorcycle on rails.           

It seems that tightening security creates a situation where those with the worse intentions of smuggling illegal goods into the US still find a way while asylum seekers are met at the border with violence.  It seems if people are willing to protest long lines at the border, they’ve come for the right reason, while smugglers simply dig under the fence on the border and continue. 

--

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>

The development of tunnels along the US-Mexico border

From Tucson, Arizona, the border crossing into Nogales, Mexico is...

In 1990, the <a href="http://www.un.org/en/">United Nations (UN)</a> introduced a new measurement of human development per country that included a wide range of factors such as health data, quality of life, average life expectancy and quality of education.

Previously, it was assumed that the greatest measure of a country’s progress was its economic growth, but the UN realized that economic growth alone told only a fraction of the whole story regarding a nation’s development. 

In response to this problem, the UN created the <a href="http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/human-development-index-hdi">Human Development Index (HDI)</a> to assess living standards. But the HDI is not a perfect measurement for human development, and there is much room for error in its many components. 

To resolve this, researchers from <a href="https://www.unibocconi.eu/">Bocconi University</a> in Italy recently developed a simpler Human Life Indicator (HLI) that looks at just one set of indicators for measuring development. 

The two indicators considered in the new HLI are life expectancy at birth and life expectancy comparisons with other age groups and<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-expectancy-gap-widening-uk/"> income classes (life expectancy parity)</a>. 

For example, a country that has a lower life expectancy among low-income families compared to high-income families has a lower standard of living compared to countries where life expectancy is equal. 

The researchers discussed their findings in a study published in the journal Population and Development Review.

While life expectancy at birth and life expectancy parity are related, the HLI examines efforts to reduce inequality in human development across different countries. 

“Replacing a set of indicators with a single one makes sense because the components of the HDI are correlated and picking one doesn't imply a major loss of information,” said Simone Ghislandi, a co-author of the study.

According to the researchers, life expectancy is the most reliable component in the HDI, and the HDI is based on the assumption life has different values depending on the country. 

“As the same HDI score can be reached with different combinations of life expectancy and GDP per capita, tinkering with data you can observe different economic values for one year of life in different countries,” said Ghislandi.

The HLI top ten list of countries is much different from the UN’s <a href="http://hdr.undp.org/en/2018-update">HDI 2018 revision</a>. The United States ranked 13th on the HDI, but dropped down to 32nd with the HLI. Germany dropped from 5th to 25th on the HLI. Italy, on the other hand, jumped from 28th to 6th on the HLI. 

The HDI’s top highest ranking countries are Norway, Switzerland, and Australia but the HLI ranks those countries 9th, 7th, and 10th respectively. 

The HLI’s top three countries in terms of human development are now Hong Kong, Japan, and Iceland. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Hong Kong, Japan, Iceland named best for human development

In 1990, the United Nations (UN) introduced a new measurement...

According to the President of the United States, the U.S. is in the midst of an <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2018/11/28/the-illegal-immigration-crisis-is-trump-made/?utm_term=.88267b5f1bd9">illegal immigration crisis</a>. But if you look hard at the numbers this simply isn’t the case, and illegal border crossings have declined significantly over the years, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/25/us-illegal-border-crossings-analysis-trump-migrants">the Guardian</a>. 

Despite this, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trump-effect-immigration/fewer-family-visas-approved-as-trump-toughens-vetting-of-immigrants-reuters-review-idUSKBN1ET15I">the anti-immigration sentiments</a> propagated through the news and by many leading government figures have stirred up a wealth of controversy and shone a spotlight on the (sometimes unconscious) bias that many people have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/immigrants-border-endure-trauma/">against immigrants</a>. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/">University of Toronto</a> found that people migrating to the United States experience less bias if they change their name to a more Anglican name rather than their given name. 

An example of Anglicizing a name might be changing a given first name from Juan to John or Daan to Dan. 

The study, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, shows that the pressure some people feel to change their name in hopes of assimilating or fitting in may decrease bias but also negatively impacts one’s sense of self. 

The researchers are adamant that the results in no way encourage more immigrants to change their name to decrease the risk of bias. Instead, they emphasize that their study shows a larger systemic problem that needs to be addressed by society as a whole to reduce biases and prejudice. 

“We do not suggest immigrants to Anglicize their ethnic names in order to avoid discrimination,” said Xian Zhao, the lead author on the study. “This certainly puts the onus on immigrants to promote equity and our previous studies also suggest that Anglicizing names may have negative implications for one's self-concept.”

To better understand bias against non-Anglicized names, the researchers asked participants what they would do in a trio of hypothetical transportation accident scenarios. 

The scenarios were all different versions of a moral dilemma where participants had the option to save a person or group of people depending on the risk involved. 

To specifically assess bias, the researchers gave the participants the option to save or sacrifice a white man with an Anglicized name, an immigrant with Anglicized name, or an immigrant with a name like “Jiang,” or “Ahmed.” 

In one scenario called the trolley problem, participants had to choose to save a group or one person from a runaway trolley and most participants sacrificed one to save many. 

While this is the common response to the trolley problem, the white participants were much more likely to sacrifice an immigrant with their given name rather than someone with an Anglican name. 

The second scenario asked participants to choose between leaving behind someone with a broken leg after a plane crash or working to save them. Again, white male participants tended to decide to leave behind a person with a foreign sounding name rather than an Anglican one. 

With the final scenario, participants were asked to imagine they were in a lifeboat and had to decide to throw a life preserver to a man named Muhammad, possibly saving the man but also risking the lives of everyone on the boat. The results of this scenario were similar to the other two. 

The results of the scenarios show a problematic trend and deep-seated bias that people automatically have towards people with non-Anglicized names. 

According to the researchers, it’s a problem that must be addressed by society as a whole to decrease prejudice and promote inclusion.

--

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 shows bias against immigrants who don’t change their names

According to the President of the United States, the U.S....

A team of researchers has identified ways that human interactions with nonhuman primates may be putting people at risk of infection with new diseases. Zoonotic diseases, which originate in other animal species before infecting humans, are a major threat to human health.  

Zoonotic diseases account for more than 60 percent of emerging infectious diseases, and 70 percent of them are believed to come from wild animals. The similarity between humans and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/small-babies-laugh-primates/">nonhuman primates</a> makes monkeys and apes ideal carriers for pathogens that threaten human populations.

A team led by Tamara Giles-Vernick of the <a href="https://www.pasteur.fr/en">Institut Pasteur</a> and Victor Narat of the <a href="http://www.cnrs.fr/index.html">French Center for National Scientific Research</a> used surveys, real-time data collection, and oral history interviews to investigate the physical exposure of people in southeastern Cameroon to nonhuman primate species. The researchers collected data in 2016 and 2017 that involved multiple villages and hundreds of people.

The investigation revealed that Cameroonian adults have frequent physical contact with primates, particularly with monkeys. This contact is most often through hunting, butchering, preparing, and consuming meat, but also includes injuries sustained from gorillas. 

Of the survey respondents, 85 percent had eaten primate meat in their lifetimes. Overall, the risk of exposure to disease in any given village was found to be directly linked to the relative density of nonhuman primates and their proximity to human settlements.

“National and international authorities should support improved surveillance of humans and abundant monkey species, as well as popular messages to promote safe meat handling practices,” wrote the researchers. “Multidisciplinary social science and ecological approaches should be used to improve surveillance and communications with forest populations about neglected tropical diseases.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/">PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: S. Rupp, 2018 (CC BY 4.0)

Human contact with primates is promoting the spread of disease

A team of researchers has identified ways that human interactions...

Dr. Christine N. Smith and Dr. Larry R. Squire, both with the <a href="https://www.sandiego.va.gov/">Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System</a> and the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California San Diego</a>, have discovered how specific memory is linked to the hippocampus, and their findings provide new insight on how <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/stress-affecting-memory/">memory</a> works as a whole.

Smith and Squire found that declarative memory, the ability to recall facts and events, relies on conscious knowledge of what has previously been learned, thus involving the hippocampus. When a patient’s hippocampus is damaged, conscious knowledge is compromised.

“Our study shows that awareness is a key feature of declarative memory,” Smith stated within their study, published November 20th in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

Smith and Squire built their study off of previously discovered evidence that showed that damage to the medial temporal lobe (MTL), the region of the brain that contains the hippocampus, can cause problems with declarative memory. However, nondeclarative memory, the ability to remember performance and skills, does not seem to be affected by MTL damage. With this being said, scientists are still not certain how the hippocampus works during memory acquisition.

"A central issue for understanding memory and memory disorders is the matter of classification,” Squire said. “What kinds of memory are there, what are the characteristics of each kind, and what brain systems are important for each kind?"

Smith and Squire tested two theories — one that says declarative memory is connected to conscious knowledge, or awareness of what has been learned, and another that states that memory is dependent on how the brain processes information, rather than on conscious knowledge. They tested said theories on five patients, averagely aged 63, each with MTL damage and amnesia. 

Brain scans showed that each patient had smaller-than-normal hippocampus volume compared to six healthy control patients. So, using a method called the manipulation effect, Smith and Squire asked the MTL-damaged patients to point out alterations and changes in familiar pictures. Those with MTL damage were “markedly impaired” in pointing out changes to the pictures. Not only were these patients less confident in their ability to point out change, but they were only able to correctly identify and describe an alteration for 10.8% of the changed pictures. Controls did so for 60.4% of the images.

Furthermore, both controls and MTL-damaged patients focused their attention on parts of the image that were changed, even if they didn’t realize the alteration right away. This shows that the manipulation effect is a function of conscious memory, Smith and Squire state.

"When memory-impaired patients occasionally succeed at remembering a past event (measured in their eye movements), they also consciously remember the event,” Smith said. “When the patients failed to remember (and eye movements showed no recognition), they were unaware of the past event. Our findings suggest that awareness of the past is a crucial and consistent feature of the kind of memory that depends on the hippocampus.”

“Scientists often say that we want to fix the car but it will help to know how the car works. As we learn more about memory, we move closer to being able to detect, prevent, and treat diseases and disorders that affect memory," Squire concluded.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New information sheds light on how memory works

Dr. Christine N. Smith and Dr. Larry R. Squire, both...

How physical activity reduces belly fat. A study published by <a href="https://www.cell.com/about">Cell Press</a> has revealed new details about how exercise burns belly fat in humans. According to the researchers, a signaling molecule called interleukin-6 plays a critical role in the fat burning process.

The study was focused on a 12-week bicycle exercise intervention, which successfully reduced abdominal fat in obese adults. Surprisingly, however, this positive effect was nonexistent among participants who were treated with tocilizumab, a drug that blocks interleukin-6 signaling. 

In addition, the tocilizumab was found to increase cholesterol levels regardless of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/physical-activity-boosts-mood-bipolar/">physical activity</a>. 

“The take home for the general audience is ‘do exercise,’” said study first author Anne-Sophie Wedell-Neergaard of the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a>. “We all know that exercise promotes better health, and now we also know that regular exercise training reduces abdominal fat mass and thereby potentially also the risk of developing cardio-metabolic diseases.”

Abdominal fat is associated with an increased risk of cardio-metabolic disease,  cancer, dementia, and all-cause mortality. Physical activity reduces the visceral fat tissue that surrounds internal organs in the abdominal cavity, but the underlying mechanisms which facilitate this effect have remained unclear. 

To investigate whether interleukin-6 may play an important role in fat burning, the researchers conducted a trial in which abdominally obese participants were subjected to one of four conditions: intravenous infusions of either tocilizumab or saline every four weeks combined with no exercise or a bicycle routine. 

Using magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers managed to measure visceral fat tissue mass at the beginning and the end of the study. 

Among the individuals in the placebo groups, exercise reduced visceral fat tissue mass by an average of 225 grams, or 8 percent, compared with no exercise. On the other hand,  the tocilizumab treatment eliminated this effect. 

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that interleukin-6 has a physiological role in regulating visceral fat mass in humans,” said Wedell-Neergaard. “The signaling pathways in immune cells versus muscle cells differ substantially, resulting in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory actions, so interleukin-6 may act differently in healthy and diseased people.”

The researchers plan to investigate in future research whether large amounts of interleukin-6, potentially administered as an injection, has the ability to reduce visceral fat mass by itself. 

“We need a more in-depth understanding of this role of interleukin-6 in order to discuss its implications,” said Wedell-Neergaard.

“It is important to stress that when you start exercising, you may increase body weight due to increased muscle mass. So, in addition to measuring your overall body weight, it would be useful, and maybe more important, to measure waist circumference to keep track of the loss of visceral fat mass and to stay motivated.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/home">Cell Metabolism</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How physical activity reduces belly fat

How physical activity reduces belly fat. A study published by...

Cancer associated with excess body weight varies greatly by state. Researchers from the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/">American Cancer Society</a> have discovered that the proportion of cancers related to excess body weight varies greatly from state to state. For example, 8.3% of cancer cases in the District of Columbia can be attributed to excess body weight compared to 5.9% excess weight-related cancer cases in Hawaii. This new information is telling of obesity rates among the 50 states and District of Columbia.

Farhad Islami, M.D., Ph.D., Scientific Director, Surveillance Research, and the research team calculated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/traffic-fumes-breast-cancer/">cancer cases</a> related to excess body weight among 30-year-old adults in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, between 2011 and 2015.

Their findings, published in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.5639">JAMA Oncology,</a> show a 1.5-fold difference in both men and women between states with the highest and lowest number of excess weight-caused cancers.

Excess weight is currently believed to be the cause of 13 different types of cancer. Although obesity rates of the U.S. are well known, the stats of obesity-related cancers have yet to be properly investigated until now. Knowing said information could help set forth effective cancer initiatives.

Islami and colleagues discovered that the population attributable fraction (PAF) for men in the U.S. spanned from 3.9% in Montana to 6.0% in Texas. And for women, the PAF was almost double that of men with 7.1% in Hawaii to 11.4% in the District of Columbia. And of course, this number shifted in severity depending on the weight-related cancer. Endometrial cancer, for example, showed a PAF that ranged from 36.5% in Hawaii to 54.9% in Mississippi. Furthermore, endometrial cancer had a PAF of 50.0% or more in 19 states.  

"The proportion of cancers attributable to [excess body weight] varies among states, but [excess body weight] accounts for at least 1 in 17 of all incident cancers in each state,” Islami and the study’s authors write. "Broad implementation of known community- and individual-level interventions is needed to reduce access to and marketing of unhealthy foods (eg, through a tax on sugary drinks) and to promote and increase access to healthy foods and physical activity, as well as preventive care."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cancer associated with excess body weight varies greatly by state

Cancer associated with excess body weight varies greatly by state....

People eat too much in anticipation of a dopamine release. New research from the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research has revealed new details about how eating delicious food triggers a rewarding boost of in the brain. The experts discovered that dopamine is actually released at two different times - when food is first ingested and again when it reaches the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stomach">stomach</a>.

Study senior author Marc Tittgemeyer is the head of the Institute's Translational Neurocircuitry Group.

“With the help of a new positron emission tomography (PET) technique we developed, we were not only able to find the two peaks of dopamine release, but we could also identify the specific brain regions that were associated with these releases,” said Tittgemeyer.

“While the first release occurred in brain regions associated with reward and sensory perception, the post-ingestive release involved additional regions related to higher cognitive functions.”


The investigation was focused on 12 healthy participants who received either a milkshake or a tasteless solution while their brain activity was recorded. The craving or desire for the milkshake was proportionally linked to the amount of dopamine released in specific brain areas at the first tasting. However, the higher the craving, the lower the level of dopamine released after the food reached the stomach. 

“On one hand, dopamine release mirrors our subjective desire to consume a food item. On the other hand, our desire seems to suppress gut-induced dopamine release,” said study co- first author Heiko Backes.People eat too much in anticipation of a dopamine release

The <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nanosponges-inhibit-covid-19-by-protecting-healthy-cells/">suppression</a> of the gut-induced dopamine release could cause individuals to overeat the foods that they crave the most. While the theory requires further testing, Backes believes it is possible that people continue to eat until sufficient dopamine is released. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/home">Cell Metabolism</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

People eat too much in anticipation of a dopamine release

People eat too much in anticipation of a dopamine release....

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder is a disruptive, and sometimes violent, sleep disorder that can cause a person to kick, yell, and even cause harm to themselves or a partner. A new study from the <a href="https://www.aan.com/">American Academy of Neurology</a> has identified several risk factors that may encourage REM sleep behavior disorder.

For those who are not inflicted with the disorder, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rem-sleep-risk-dementia/">REM sleep</a>, or the dream state, is a time when the brain usually prevents muscles from moving. However, those with the disorder experience a disruption in that brain signal and can act out or react to events occurring in their dreams.

In their study, published December 26th in <a href="http://www.neurology.org/">Neurology,</a> researchers found that antidepressants and/or being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety can increase one’s risk for developing REM sleep behavior disorder.

"While much is still unknown about REM sleep behavior disorder, it can be caused by medications or it may be an early sign of another neurologic condition like Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies or multiple system atrophy," said the study’s author and member of the American Academy of Neurology, Ronald Postuma, MD, MSc, of <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University in Montreal, Canada</a>. "Identifying lifestyle and personal risk factors linked to this sleep disorder may lead to finding ways to reduce the chances of developing it."

Out of an initial 30,097 participants (96% of whom were white), the team found 958 people, or 3.2%, with possible REM sleep behavior disorder, excluding participants with Parkinson's disease, dementia, Alzheimer's disease or sleep apnea, after having the group fill out an initial questionnaire. Researchers discovered that those with the disorder were 2.5 times more likely to be treating depression with antidepressants than those not affected by the disorder.

Furthermore, people with the disorder were 2.5 times more likely to suffer from PTSD, 2 times more likely to have a mental illness, and 1.5 times more likely to have psychological distress. Plus, men were 2 times more likely to experience REM sleep behavior disorder than women. And those affected were 25% more likely to be moderate heavy drinkers, and had slightly less education and a lower income than those without the disorder.

"Our research does not show that these risk factors cause REM sleep behavior disorder, it only shows they are linked," said Postuma. "Our hope is that our findings will help guide future research, especially because REM sleep behavior disorder is such a strong sign of future neurodegenerative disease. The more we understand about REM sleep behavior disorder, the better positioned we will be to eventually prevent neurologic conditions like Parkinson's disease."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New study identified risk factors for violent sleep disorder

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder is a disruptive,...

Personal sovereignty describes the well defined and respected boundaries that we develop throughout our lives. Now, a new study shows that these boundaries are strongly influenced by different demographic factors like age and environment. 

Throughout our busy lives, personal boundaries play an important role in how we interact with those around us and protect our belongings, personal space, values and even our own bodies from others. 

Someone with well-defined boundaries is thought to be a sovereign individual while someone with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixing-work-pleasure/">poor boundaries is deprived</a>.  

Sovereignty is shaped from a young age, and family members who respect a child’s growing personal boundaries help strengthen levels of personal sovereignty. 

Studies have shown that someone with a strong sense of personal sovereignty is more likely to have higher self-esteem and confidence. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.hse.ru/en/">National Research University’s Higher School of Economics</a> in Moscow, the <a href="http://ysu.am/main/en">State University of Yerevan</a> in Armenia, and<a href="https://en.xmu.edu.cn/"> Xiamen University</a> in China set out to better understand how environment, culture, society, and age influence personal sovereignty and how psychological boundaries differ across countries. 

The researchers detailed their findings in a new study published in the journal Psychology in Russia. 

For the study, the researchers surveyed 780 people from Armenia, China, and Russia, chosen specifically because each country has different priorities in terms of values but all of which have a history of socialism.

The study participants belonged to two age groups, adolescents and young adults aged 21. The researchers had the participants answer a questionnaire that determined an individual’s personal sovereignty. 

Surprisingly, the team found that culture and a person’s environment have less influence on personal sovereignty levels than previously thought. But comparatively speaking, definitions of personal sovereignty differed depending on where the participants were raised. 

The participants from China had strong boundaries in regards to their tastes and values, Russians defended their personal boundaries, and people from Armenia were the least concerned of all the participants about protecting or defending their belongings. 

Adolescents had lower levels of personal sovereignty compared to the participants aged 21 and gender didn’t seem to play a major role in sovereignty differences. 

The researchers discovered that while sovereignty increases with age among Russian and Chinese individuals, this was not the case in Armenia. 

Scores were lowest among Female Chinese adolescents and Armenian women but highest among Russian and Chinese women. 

“Contrary to our prediction, the sovereignty level did not differ among the three cultures,” the researchers conclude in their <a href="http://psychologyinrussia.com/volumes/pdf/2018_3/psych_3_2018_4_Nartova-Bochaver.pdf">study</a>. “This impressive result confirms the evolutional and adaptive function of the sovereignty trait in everyday lives. It is no surprise that all cultures need and support its development; however, the sovereignty patterns and dynamics differed widely.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Environment, culture, age, and sex influence personal boundaries

Personal sovereignty describes the well defined and respected boundaries that...

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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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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