Different,Types,Of,Non-dairy,Milk

Vegans who replace cow's milk with soy, almond, or other plant-based alternatives may face a higher chance of mental issues like depression and anxiety than individuals who drink cow’s milk regularly.



This finding emerged from a recent investigation of lifestyle patterns and mental health outcomes among hundreds of thousands of adults in the United Kingdom.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-well-being-of-milk-drinkers">Mental well-being of milk drinkers</h2>



Scientists explored how different milk types might be linked to mental and emotional well-being over more than a decade. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-gmo-plants-make-baby-formula-healthy-as-breast-milk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milk</a> is consumed by <a href="https://www.fao.org/dairy-production-products/products/milk-and-milk-products/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">billions of people</a> worldwide, making it a major part of daily diets.&nbsp;After reviewing participants’ intake habits, researchers noted intriguing contrasts in mental health. 



One group that stood out was semi-skimmed milk drinkers. According to data, they had lower rates of both anxiety and depression when compared to those who either consumed full-fat or plant-based alternatives. 



This observation piqued the interest of <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chunyan-Wu-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Chunying Wu</a> from <a href="https://portal.smu.edu.cn/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Medical University</a>, who authored the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-to-non-dairy-beverages">Shifting to non-dairy beverages</h2>



In recent years, many individuals have turned to non-dairy beverages. They cite environmental, health, or ethical concerns in their decision to avoid traditional cow’s milk. 



Yet <a href="https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-General/Trade-Market-reports/Milk-alternatives-popularity-growing-in-the-US-February-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence</a> suggests some of these milk alternatives may not provide the same mental health benefits. One explanation involves nutritional content.&nbsp;



“Milk is a rich source of nutrients such as lactose, lipids, protein, and minerals, which are essential for maintaining human health,” wrote the scientists from Southern Medical University. 



Plant-based options, on the other hand, often differ in protein levels and might include added ingredients that influence mood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calcium-and-serotonin">Calcium and serotonin</h2>



Researchers found that cow’s milk <a href="https://www.adsa.org/About-ADSA/Media/Serotonin-found-to-be-an-important-factor-in-calcium-homeostasis-in-dairy-cows-November-16-2021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">delivers calcium</a> in a form that supports pathways involved in serotonin production. Serotonin, sometimes called the body’s “feel-good” molecule, helps regulate mood and stress responses.&nbsp;



“Serotonin is a chemical that plays a role in the brain with respect to mood and mental health. The most popular group of antidepressant medications promotes the absorption of serotonin,” the authors explained.&nbsp;



As a result, consistent calcium intake can potentially improve these natural coping mechanisms. Some plant-based milks also offer calcium, but the level and bioavailability may vary.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saturated-versus-unsaturated-fats">Saturated versus unsaturated fats</h2>



Milk is rich in saturated fats. Semi-skimmed milk reduces the proportion of these fats but still retains valuable fatty acids that might help protect the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11211382/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain</a>. 



Compared to the full-fat version, semi-skimmed appears to occupy a middle ground of moderate fat content without the potential drawbacks of excess saturated fat.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, plant-based milk alternatives can sometimes include added sugars or other compounds that may have unexpected effects on mental well-being. 



These additives, while often enhancing taste or texture, may inadvertently interfere with the body's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breast-milk-lowers-asthma-risk-in-babies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural hormone regulation</a>, potentially impacting emotional stability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-impact-on-dopamine">Potential impact on dopamine</h2>



In addition to serotonin, <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dopamine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dopamine</a> plays a key part in focus and reward-related behavior. <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4850606/#:~:text=Recent%20research%20has%20shown%20that,to%20be%20vulnerable%20to%20dysregulation." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Studies</a> have suggested that high levels of certain saturated fats can alter dopamine signaling, which may contribute to mood disorders.&nbsp;



Semi-skimmed milk, with its reduced saturated fat, may avoid some of these mental effects and maintain a healthier balance of essential nutrients. 



Scientists suggest this balance could hold the key to the lower rates of depression and anxiety seen among semi-skimmed milk consumers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-varied-mental-health-benefits-of-milk">Varied mental health benefits of milk</h2>



While findings point to fewer mood challenges for people who choose semi-skimmed over other varieties, each individual’s mental health picture depends on much more than beverage choice. 



Genetics, life stressors, sleep, and socioeconomic circumstances all contribute.&nbsp;



Researchers emphasize that food-related decisions are just one facet of psychological well-being. They recommend that people remain mindful of their overall habits and consult healthcare professionals when making major dietary shifts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-considerations">Practical considerations</h2>



Experts often promote a balanced diet that combines fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and moderate dairy. Semi-skimmed milk could fit neatly into many people’s meal plans.&nbsp;



Individuals who prefer plant-based options may benefit from checking labels for calcium and protein levels, as well as added substances. 



Though no single approach will suit everyone, looking at subtle dietary factors might pay off for those hoping to support a healthy outlook.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-milk-s-mental-benefits">Future research on milk's mental benefits</h2>



Additional research may help clarify whether semi-skimmed milk truly provides extra mental health benefits.



Controlled clinical trials could investigate how this option affects depression or anxiety in different subgroups, such as older adults or those with pre-existing conditions.&nbsp;



Researchers also <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7178197/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">note</a> that genetics can make some people more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/raw-milk-could-carry-deadly-flu-viruses-for-days/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vulnerable</a> to certain dietary impacts. A closer look at these details might inform tailored recommendations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead">Looking ahead</h2>



Many are interested in how small tweaks to daily meals might lift or lower spirits. 



This study urges people to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-raw-milk-health-hazard-pasteurization-important/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pay attention to milk</a> choice, especially if they already feel down or tense. Substituting semi-skimmed for full-fat or plant-based beverages could make a subtle difference for some.&nbsp;



Experts look forward to future work that explores how simple changes in milk type and eating patterns might support better mental well-being. Further investigation of these connections may help people shape diets that support mental balance.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1435435/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Nutrition</a>.



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Some types of plant-based milk are linked to mental disorders like depression

Vegans who replace cow's milk with soy, almond, or other plant-based alternatives may face a higher chance of mental issues like depression and anxiety than individuals who drink cow’s milk regularly. This finding emerged from a recent investigation of lifestyle patterns and mental health outcomes among hundreds of thousands of adults in the United Kingdom.&nbsp; Mental well-being of milk drinkers Scientists explored how different milk types might be linked to mental and emotional well-being over more than a decade. Milk is consumed by billions of people worldwide,...

Arsenic, which is commonly found in well water worldwide, is responsible for one out of every 20 deaths in Bangladesh. Many villagers have now discovered a simple way to overcome this problem. 

“Groundwater is popular as a water source because it is generally free of bacterial pathogens, unlike surface water,” explained Alexander van Geen of <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University</a>'s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

As <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/groundwater-depletion-carbon-dioxide/">groundwater</a> makes its way through rocks and sediments, most harmful bacteria is filtered out. However, the same process adds minerals to the water, including arsenic in some of the shallow wells of Bangladesh.

Sarah Ruth is a director of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18503/nsf18503.htm">Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems</a> program, which funded the research.

“Millions of people rely on water supplies that are contaminated with arsenic,” said Ruth. “Consumption of arsenic-contaminated water, and the rice crops irrigated with it, can have severe health effects, including a variety of cancers and increased child mortality.”

In 2000, van Geen and a team of researchers surveyed 6,000 wells in Bangladesh, and then  conducted a health study of 12,000 people. In 2013, the survey was extended to 50,000 wells that served 350,000 people.

The study revealed that government wells more than 150 meters deep were usually low in arsenic. The researchers also found that wells more than 900 meters deep were not accessible to the wider public, but only to the well-connected or the elite. 


Some villagers have found a way to hack into this clean water. “People in the study area now understand that deeper is better,” said van Geen. They have been drilling deeper wells and finding low-arsenic water above a depth of 150 meters.

A survey of the water in the study area demonstrated a recent jump in the proportion of safe drinking water. While only 25 percent of wells were safe in 2000, a total of 70 percent were deemed safe by World Health Organization standards in 2018.

“That's good news,’ said van Geen. “Arsenic data from urine samples confirm that villagers aren't just telling us what we'd like to hear. Most of the decline is attributed to households reinstalling wells at their own cost.” 

“Some villagers have figured this out, but others still have not. The region's geochemistry causes the problem, but it's also the solution. Arsenic is avoidable without having to resort to water treatment.”

Van Geen will present the research at the 2018 meeting of the <a href="https://www.geosociety.org/">Geological Society of America</a> (GSA). 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Imtiaz Choudhury, University of Dhaka

Villagers in Bangladesh are gaining access to healthier water

Arsenic, which is commonly found in well water worldwide, is...

According to a new study conducted by the <a href="http://www.healthdata.org/">University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation</a> (IHME), 91 nations are not birthing enough children to keep up with their populations, whereas 104 nations are birthing at an increased rate.

Since 1950, total fertility rates (TFR), the average number of children a woman can deliver in her lifetime, have dropped. Even so, current TFR reports show that some nations are having a “baby boom” whereas others are experiencing a “baby bust,” as Dr. Christopher Murray, Director of the IHME, stated.

He continued, “The lower rates of women's fertility clearly reflect not only access to and availability of reproductive health services, but also many women choosing to delay or forgo giving birth, as well as having more opportunities for education and employment."

The study’s findings appear in the annual Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, published on November 8th in the international medical journal The Lancet. This is the first instance where the GBD has produced its own <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/declining-national-populations/">population</a> and fertility estimates, which show that global population has increased 197% since 1950.

“Although total fertility rates are decreasing, the global population continues to grow as death rates decline and because of population 'momentum' in previous decades,” Dr. Murray said.

In 2017, Cyprus was the lowest ranked country in regards to TFR. On average, women in Cyprus only birthed one child in their lifetime. However, in Niger, women would give birth to an average seven children. Other African countries, like Chad, Mali, and South Sudan, also ranked high in TFR, yet low in population. Countries with low birth rates, and higher populations, included Spain, Singapore, Portugal, South Korea, and Norway.

Keeping tabs on TFR throughout the world can aid experts in monitoring their economic and social growth.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Childbirth rates vary greatly from nation to nation

According to a new study conducted by the University of...

In 1949, Danish archeologists excavated the Trail Creek Caves site on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska. The artifacts uncovered during that first dig have been lying in storage in Denmark for the past 70 years until researchers from the <a href="https://www.uaf.edu/">University of Alaska-Fairbanks</a> pulled the collection out of storage for analysis. 

Among the artifacts was a 9,000-year-old tooth that belonged to a child who was one and a half years of age. 

Further investigation of the tooth and the other artifacts led to new discoveries about Alaska’s earliest inhabitants and their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-human-migration-widespread/">trek across the ancient Bering land bridge</a> that once connected Asia and Alaska. 

A study, detailing the tooth and the genetic analysis of 15 bone samples across North and South America, was published in the journal Science. 

The tooth itself is a goldmine for researchers because it is the third known remnant of the ancient Beringians, an early population of migrants that spread throughout Alaska for thousands of years. 

The researchers also analyzed data from an archeological site in Alaska’s Interior where the first traces of Beringian populations were discovered in 2013.  

Not only were the Beringian populations abundant throughout Alaska, but the researchers also found that the group thrived in Alaska for one thousand years. 

The tooth itself has revealed surprising information about what the Beringian baby ate. 

“This one small tooth is a treasure trove of information about Alaska's early populations, not only their genetic affinities but also their movements, interactions with other people and diet," said Jeff Rasic, an author of the study. 

The researchers analyzed chemical signatures in the tooth and discovered that the child ate only plants and animals found on land. 

This is surprising when you consider how abundant fish and marine wildlife would have been along the Seward Peninsula at that time. 

The researchers also discovered that the tooth belonged to a family who had permanently settled in the Trail Creek Caves and did not come from another part of Alaska. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: NPS photo by Jeff Rasic

What one tooth can teach us about Alaska’s first inhabitants

In 1949, Danish archeologists excavated the Trail Creek Caves site...

Engineers at the <a href="http://www.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)</a> have created a see-through film that could change the way buildings are cooled. The film reportedly acts as an “autonomous system” that rejects 70% of the sun’s incoming heat, and if placed on exterior building windows, it could ultimately lower a building’s energy costs by an estimated 10%.

Similar in appearance to plastic wrap, the heat-rejecting film contains microparticles made from a phase-changing material that shrinks when exposed to temperatures of 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. When these microparticles shrink to reflect heat, they create a fogged glass-like effect on the film, thus still allowing light into the building while keeping the interior cool.

Nicholas Fang, a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, said that this new technology may be a less-costly and more-effective alternative to smart windows. 

“Smart windows on the market currently are either not very efficient in rejecting heat from the sun, or, like some electrochromic windows, they may need more power to drive them, so you would be paying to basically turn windows opaque," Fang explained. "We thought there might be room for new optical materials and coatings, to provide better smart window options.”

Fang worked with other engineers and scientists at the <a href="https://www.hku.hk/">University of Hong Kong</a> to create this new material. Their aim was to find a new way to cool buildings in Hong Kong during the stifling summer months while recognizing the city’s goal to reduce <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/green-energy-create-jobs-coal/">energy</a> usage by 40% by 2025.

[caption id="attachment_1861730" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/185130.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1861730" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/185130-769x1024.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="932" /></a> Image Credit: MIT[/caption]

“It turns out that for every square meter, about 500 watts of energy in the form of heat are brought in by sunlight through a window," Fang said. "That's equivalent to about five light bulbs."

Fang, with experience working with phase-changing materials, experimented and settled on a material containing poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-2-Aminoethylmethacrylate hydrochloride microparticles, which expand and shrink in response to light and heat.

Experimentation showed that using the film on windows could keep a room almost 10 degrees cooler. Fang and his colleagues plan on continuing their work to see if they can improve their film to be even more effective in shielding heat.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: MIT

New heat-rejecting film could reduce energy costs

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created...

Stitched Panorama

When researchers work to piece together the origin stories of our ancient human ancestors, they can only go so far with the remains and artifacts that have been excavated from archeological sites. It is nearly impossible to decipher how and when specific regions of the globe were populated without a genome to map. 

This was one of the challenges in piecing together the genetic exchanges and population shifts that occurred in Central and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/endangered-south-american-forests/">South America</a> thousands of years ago because, until recently, the earliest genomes from that region only dated back less than 1,000 years. 

An international team of researchers came across a gold mine of genome data from Central and South America, and their findings have uncovered surprising insights about the Clovis culture and the shifts of human populations. 

The study, published in the journal Cell, sheds light on two unknown genetic exchanges that occurred between ancient humans in North and South America. 

First, the researchers were allowed to excavate and analyze ancient human remains in Central and South America and working with both the government and indigenous communities the researchers were able to map the genomes of 49 individuals. Some of the individuals examined in the study dated back 11,000 years. 

After comparing the ancient genomes to modern genomes from other parts of the Americas and the world, the researchers gained new information about the earlier history of South America. 

First, the researchers discovered that there were links to Clovis culture people in Chile, Brazil and Belize from 11,000 to 9,000 years ago. 

Clovis culture was the first widespread archeological culture of North America, but this study shows that its influence reached further South than previously thought. 

“A key discovery was that a Clovis culture-associated individual from North America dating to around 12,800 years ago shares distinctive ancestry with the oldest Chilean, Brazilian and Belizean individuals,” said Cosimo Posth, a co-lead author of the study. “This supports the hypothesis that the expansion of people who spread the Clovis culture in North America also reached Central and South America.” 

Over time the Clovis culture DNA was phased out because it’s missing in present-day South Americans, which means that there was a significant shift in population replacement that began around 9,000 years ago. 

Modern South Americans share more in common genetically with the individuals who date back less than 9,000 years. 

The researchers also found links between ancient humans from the Channel Islands and the people from the Peruvian Andes. 

“It could be that this ancestry arrived in South America thousands of years before and we simply don't have earlier individuals showing it,” said Nathan Nakatsuka, a co-lead author of the study. “There is archaeological evidence that the population in the Central Andes area greatly expanded after around 5,000 years ago. Spreads of particular subgroups during these events may be why we detect this ancestry afterward.”

The researchers note that there is still much to be learned from the early humans of the Americas and future studies could reveal insights about the earliest migrations of people into Central and South America. 

“We are excited about the potential of research in this area,” said Johannes Krause, a co-senior author of the study. “With future regionally-focused studies with large sample sizes, we could realize the potential of ancient DNA to reveal how the human diversity of this region came to be the way it is today.”

The collaborative team of researchers was led by <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/">Harvard Medical School</a> and included the <a href="https://www.hhmi.org/">Howard Hughes Medical Institute</a>, the <a href="https://www.shh.mpg.de/en">Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History</a>, the <a href="https://www.ucsc.edu/">University of California, Santa Cruz</a>, <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a>, the <a href="http://www.unm.edu/">University of New Mexico</a>, and the <a href="https://www5.usp.br/">University of São Paulo</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: André Strauss

Ancient genomes shed light on early life in Central, South America

When researchers work to piece together the origin stories of...

Diarrheal disease is the second-leading cause of death in children under the age of five and roughly 525,000 children die of the disease every year, according to <a href="http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease">the World Health Organization. </a>

The inability to access <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/filters-remove-heavy-metals-water/">safe drinking water</a> is one of the biggest drivers of diarrheal disease and it’s most common in developing countries.

Researchers from <a href="https://vt.edu/">Virginia Tech</a> and <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University</a> recently conducted a study examining the role of floods in diarrheal outbreaks in populations that depend on the Chobe River floodplain system in Botswana. 

Even though many communities along the Chobe River floodplain system have water treatment facilities, diarrheal disease still spreads through populations in a somewhat regular pattern. 

This led the researchers to wonder if there was any link between flood waters, increases in precipitation and draining water, also known as surface water dynamics, and diarrheal outbreaks. 

“It was a fundamental question for me,” said Kathleen Alexander, a leader of the research. “These places are doing everything right, but local populations are still impacted by diarrheal disease. Why does the infrastructure fail to protect these communities, and what can we do to improve public health now and under future environmental conditions?”

Climate change is projected to increase precipitation and flooding and so understanding how surface water dynamics impact the spread of diarrheal disease is crucial for creating better treatment systems. 

The study was published in the journal PLOS Medicine. 

The Chobe River floodplain system is no stranger to flooding, but its annual floods can vary drastically from year to year and even season to season. 

For the study, the researchers reviewed decades of data from ten government health facilities in Botswana and analyzed outbreak patterns of diarrheal disease across eight communities along the Chobe River.  

Not surprisingly, the researchers found that cases of the disease were more frequent during periods of rainfall. However, the researchers also noticed a link between diarrheal disease cases and flood recession. 

A one-meter drop in the river height during the dry season correlated with a 16.7 increase in cases in children. 

The researchers found that adults and older children were more likely to get sick during the dry season and young children got sick during the wet season. 

“What this tells us is that environmental conditions drive diarrheal disease -- not just the number of diarrhea cases and timing of outbreaks but also who is affected and what type of diarrhea might occur,” said Alexander. 

The researchers theorize that the reason current treatment facilities are failing to prevent outbreaks is that the variability in flood dynamics and surface water conditions along the Chobe River. 

“These highly variable surface water dynamics are difficult to manage in many water treatment plants, potentially increasing waterborne disease risk in dependent populations,” said Alexander. 

“There is an urgent need to evaluate water infrastructure and ensure these systems are able to handle rapid shifts in surface water quality.” 
--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Virginia Tech

Changes in floodplain increase the risk of waterborne disease

Diarrheal disease is the second-leading cause of death in children...

A new study has revealed that the number of calories burned by an individual at rest fluctuates across different times of the day. While at rest, people burn 10 percent more <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/supermarkets-eat-fewer-calories/">calories</a> in the late afternoon and early evening compared to the early morning hours.

The findings help explain why inconsistent eating and sleeping schedules make people more likely to gain weight.

Kirsi-Marja Zitting of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at <a href="https://www.brighamandwomens.org/">Brigham and Women's Hospital</a> and <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/">Harvard Medical School</a> is the study's lead author.

“The fact that doing the same thing at one time of day burned so many more calories than doing the same thing at a different time of day surprised us,” said Zitting.

In an effort to examine changes over the course of the day in metabolism from the effects of activity, diet, and the sleep-wake cycle, the researchers studied seven people in a special lab with no indication of the time of day. 

Study participants had assigned times to go to bed and wake up, and those times were shifted to four hours later each night. This is the equivalent of traveling westward across four time zones each day for three weeks.

“Because they were doing the equivalent of circling the globe every week, their body's internal clock could not keep up, and so it oscillated at its own pace,” said study co-author Jeanne Duffy. “This allowed us to measure metabolic rate at all different biological times of day.”

The data showed that resting energy expenditure is lowest during the drop in core body temperature that occurs during a biological night. In addition, energy expenditure was found to be the highest about 12 hours later - in the biological afternoon. 


“It is not only what we eat, but when we eat - and rest - that impacts how much energy we burn or store as fat,” said Duffy. “Regularity of habits such as eating and sleeping is very important to overall health.”


Next, the team will investigate how appetite and the body's response to food varies with the time of day. The experts are also exploring how the timing, duration, and regularity of sleep influences the responses.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The number of calories we burn fluctuates throughout the day

A new study has revealed that the number of calories...

A new study focused on fruit flies has identified cells that are important for sleep regulation. The researchers have found evidence that glial cells, which were previously thought to simply support neurons in the brain, actually play an important role in managing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/switch-turns-brain-off-sleep/">sleep</a>. 

Experts at <a href="https://www.fau.edu/">Florida Atlantic University</a> (FAU) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGill_University">McGill University</a> in Quebec have found that glia possess the ability to manage taurine, a common ingredient found in many energy drinks such as Red Bull. 

“About 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, and we believe that raising awareness of the importance of understanding fundamental mechanisms of sleep is an important issue globally,” said Dr. Alex C. Keene.

Fruit flies serve as a great model because they share 75 percent of the genes that cause disease in humans, and display all of the same behavioral and physiological characteristics of sleep. 

For the investigation, the researchers set out to identify new genes affecting sleep and wakefulness in fruit flies. This led to the discovery of a gene that encodes the membrane transport protein known as excitatory amino acid transporter 2, or Eaat2.

The team determined that Eaat2 promotes wakefulness in fruit flies by limiting the duration and intensity of sleep, and it does so by controlling the movement of taurine into glial cells of the fruit fly’s brain. 

In sleep-deprived humans, taurine is consistently elevated in blood and urine, but whether taurine levels also change in the brain as a result of sleep deprivation is not yet known.

Fruit flies are also like humans in that they are active during the day and sleep at night. The researchers established that the disruption of Eaat2 in fruit flies caused notable daytime sleepiness.

“Daytime sleep is more fragmented than nighttime sleep, and disrupting Eaat2 function led to daytime sleep that mimics sleep typically observed only during the night,” said study co-lead author Dr. Bethany A. Stahl. 

The researchers also found that Eaat2 works in specific glial cells of the fly brain, rather than in neurons.

“Our research adds wakefulness to the growing list of fruit fly behaviors where glial cells play an important regulatory role, which includes circadian rhythms, movement, courtship, learning and memory,” said co-lead author Dr. Emilie Peco. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists identify cells involved in sleepiness and wakefulness

A new study focused on fruit flies has identified cells...

Human populations are all more alike than they are different.  Of course, this doesn’t mean there are no individual human population adaptations to specific environments.  

Skin color is often an adaptation to differing levels of sun exposure.  If you live in a cold environment where you’re usually bundled in furs, it might be important to have pale skin which collects more vitamin D from the sun.  If you live in a hot environment near the equator where your skin is exposed to sun much more often, darker pigments might help you to cope with sunburn. 

Recent research has shown that some human populations have evolved to better withstand life in the mountains. Findings published in <a href="http://www.ashg.org/">American Society of Human Genetics</a> reveal the adaptation of humans to high elevation in Peru.  Researchers analyzed DNA from pre-Columbian remains in an effort to discover adaptations before indigenous populations were put under new pressures by contact with Europeans and their diseases.  People in the Andes aren’t alone in adapting to high elevation and it’s interesting to consider that adaptations to similar environments may have evolved in different ways. 

Sherpas have long been known as some of the best people to support mountaineering expeditions.  It’s a little trickier to tease out why Sherpas would be good for mountain travel. Sherpas are an ethnic group native to the Himalaya, mainly Nepal but also China, India and Bhutan.  Sherpas were originally a nomadic group of people spreading from the Solukhumbu District of Nepal along salt trade routes.

Trading in salt often meant long journeys on foot leading yaks burdened with bags of salt through rugged mountains.  It isn’t hard to imagine that this type of lifestyle might help prepare someone for assisting in mountaineering trips to peaks like Everest.  The real question is, are Sherpas good mountaineers simply because of experience in the mountains or are they actually adapted to high elevation on the genetic level?          

For anyone endeavoring to climb the world’s high mountains, acclimation is key.  Acclimation is the relatively quick process a human body undergoes to deal with its environment.  With acclimation to high elevation for instance, the body produces more red blood cells than normal.  Adaptation is a different process, it is a process of evolution occurring over generations to create an organism better adapted to a certain environment.  In the case of adaptation to higher elevation, this may mean larger lungs for instance. 

Last year, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/himalayan-sherpas-new-medical-treatments/">we reported</a> on a study looking at whether Sherpas were adapted to higher elevation or not.  Two groups, one of Sherpas and one of people from lower elevations made their way to Mt. Everest Base camp, with differences being noted by researchers.  It was found that Sherpa’s mitochondria were more efficient at production of ATP with lower levels of oxygen. ATP is incredibly important for all cellular activities in organisms.  Sherpas showed better able to deal with lower levels of ATP as well. How the lowlander’s bodies changed showed something interesting as well.

As elevation increased, it appeared that the bodies of people from lower elevation continued to change in response to prolonged exposure to high altitude.  The Sherpa’s measurements stayed roughly the same, suggesting a true adaptation to elevation instead of acclimation. Research published in 2010 in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1001116">Plos Genetics</a> suggests that Sherpas aren’t the only people adapted to high elevation. 

People living in Tibet, not far from the Sherpa homeland, have also been shown to exhibit unique circulatory and respiration adaptations.  This is no surprise. As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tibetan-plateau-earlier-humans/">Earth.com</a> reported last year, the earliest evidence of human occupation on the Tibetan Plateau is between 7,400 and 13,000 years old, much older than archaeologist initially estimated human occupation.  Humans have been living in the Tibetan Plateau for a long time, despite the fact that it averages more than 13,000 feet above sea level with about 60% of the oxygen levels as sea level. Why people moved to such high elevations so long ago, we may not completely understand, but it clearly happened elsewhere in the world.  

<a href="http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab59">Historyworld.net</a> reports that a ceremonial site in Peru shows that people lived in South America as long ago as 3000 BC, making them contemporary with ancient Egypt.  The pyramids and raised platform testifying to the presence of people so long ago are located 10,000 feet above sea level. It’s worth noting that the Inca and other Native Americans of the Andes region didn’t have any real beasts of burden, nothing like a horse that could be ridden.  Instead everyone travelled by foot or were in the case of royalty, carried on liters. Messages were sent through the Andes by people running as fast and far as possible over a system of roads. Clearly from its inception, life in the Andes was a taxing one, only made harder by the elevation.  

<a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181017211657.htm">Science Daily</a> reported in October, 2018 that new research shows that ancient people of the Peruvian Andes adapted to high elevation in a different way than their Himalayan counterparts.  Analysis comparing the two separate genetics show there are some distinct difference. <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1001116">Earlier research</a> shows there are also some similarities but variation in these similarities.  Andeans adapted in other ways to high elevation.

Sophisticated Andean agriculture show stepped fields that can create microhabitats in which a broad variation of crops can be grown.  Housing and clothing differ markedly depending on the elevation certain people live at. Llama and alpaca wool were utilized and are still useful for travelling at high elevations with cold climates.   All of this and the archaeological evidence point towards a long history living in the Andes. The example of other people living in the Himalaya also point to the importance of genetic adaptations to living at high elevation.  It’s therefore interesting that the genes selected in the Tibetans aren’t the same ones selected in the Andean peoples. 

Dr. Lindo, anthropology professor at Emory carried out the genetic research on people in the Peruvian Andes and told <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181017211657.htm">Science Daily</a>:

“Our findings thus far are a great start to an interesting body of research…We would like to see future studies involving larger numbers of genomes in order to achieve a better resolution of genetic adaptations throughout history”

So the nature of the adaptation of people in the Peruvian Andes remains something of a mystery, an ongoing question of how people on the other side of the planet from the Himalaya adapted to similar conditions.  Only further research will answer the question fully. 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

How humans have adapted to extremely high elevations

Human populations are all more alike than they are different....

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx">University of Birmingham</a> found that young people are “critical participants” of the digital health technologies. <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cyberbullying-epidemic-59-percent-of-teens-have-been-targets/">Teens</a> are able to judge which fitness and wellness apps are right for them, as well as weed out content that could potentially harm them. 

The study, published in the journal Learning, Media and Technology on November 7th, looked at 245 teens aged 13 to 18 and their usage of health apps. About one third of the study’s participants were active health app users. Although many participants said school and parents were influential in their choice of apps, most of the teens were capable of choosing the apps that worked best for them on their own through trial and error.

Lead researcher, Dr. Victoria Goodyear, from the University of Birmingham's <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/sport-exercise/index.aspx">School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences</a>, said, “There are currently over 160,000 health apps available on the major app stores focussed on wellness, diet and exercise and they are of particular interest to young people, however most of these apps are designed for adults.” She stated that these apps, if targeted at a younger generation, could help teens and young adults learn more about their bodies and improve their physical activity.

“Our research has shown that young people think through their uses of health apps and devices in impressive and well-informed ways,” Dr. Goodyear added. “For some young people, they use apps to find information related to their bodies, and they can do this without an adult, and in ways that work around the school pressures of homework.”

Within the writeup, Dr. Goodyear notes that some teens have negative experiences with health-related apps. Some only see them as a novelty, like was the case with PokemonGo. Others develop “narrow views” on health, such as believing that the only exercises that work are those that “hurt.”

Dr. Goodyear and her team hope that their findings paint young adults’ usage of technology in a more positive light and that adults realize that tech can be used for good, not just as a distraction. Health education is incredibly important for teens and young adults, and if apps and devices can equip them with more information about their bodies, then parents, educators, and tech developers should be paying attention.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Health and exercise apps are especially effective with teens

Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that young people...

President Donald Trump has promised to revive the fossil fuel industry with little concern for how burning coal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wheeler-environmental-injustice-epa/https://www.earth.com/news/wheeler-environmental-injustice-epa/">impacts the environment</a> and drives climate change.

A major argument touted by the President and those in his corner is that there are considerable economic gains to be made in fossil fuels and by regulating emissions, strengthening environmental protections, and investing in renewables, you risk sacrificing those gains. 

Another claim is that if you reduce our dependence on coal, you take jobs away. 

However, a new study conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://www.iiasa.ac.at/">International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis </a>(IIASA) in Austria shows that it is possible to reduce coal emissions and still increase the number of available jobs. 

The study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(18)30466-5#%20">Joule. </a>

The researchers examined different solutions for maintaining employment rates while still phasing coal-fired power plants. 

Rather than merely retiring coal power plants, the researchers propose transforming the United State’s coal industry by replacing 50 percent of coal plants with natural gas plants by 2050. 

According to the analysis, this would create 22,000 new jobs, prevent the loss of 40,000 coal jobs, and still limit emissions to meet climate mitigation targets. 

“Rather than arguing that climate change mitigation is simply necessary, policymakers could promote climate actions by informing stakeholders about potential employment co-benefits,” the researchers wrote in their study. 

In other parts of the world, the shift towards renewables is already paying off, as Britain's renewable electricity capacity overtook its fossil fuel capacity or the first time, according to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6359477/UKs-renewable-energy-capacity-overtaken-fossil-fuels-like-coal-gas-time.html">the Daily Mail. </a>

Now, the UK has 42 gigawatts of available electricity capacity from wind, solar and biomass energy whereas only 40.6 gigawatts is available from fossil fuel generators. 

It’s a small difference, but it’s a significant step for the UK in reaching its target to cut greenhouse emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

--

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>

A new model to both cut coal emissions and create jobs

President Donald Trump has promised to revive the fossil fuel...

Anyone who has had the pleasure of eating pizza baked in a brick oven knows that nothing can compare to the taste of a perfectly baked crust with just the right balance of sauce of toppings. 

For most people, wood-fire roasted pizza is only an option when dining out or on vacation in Italy because few people own their own brick oven. 

However, thanks to a new study published in the journal arXiv, now you can make the perfect pizza at home and it all has to do with the physics of the optimal temperature and time for <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/difference-cake-donuts-yeast-donuts/">baking dough</a>. 

Researchers and physics professors Andreas Glatz and Andrey Varlamov from the <a href="https://www.anl.gov/">Argonne National Laboratory</a> were on a trip to Italy and while eating at pizzeria started talking about why brick oven pizzas are so superior in taste and quality. 

It didn’t take too long to realize that there were no studies published in English that discussed the physics of baking pizza. The two researchers decided to tackle pizza baking and focused on the Margherita pizza. 

Today, few pizzas share the same notary and popularity as the simple Margherita pizza, and Glatz and Varlamov asked pizza makers in Rome about their cooking process for the dish. 

Specifically, the researchers wanted to know how to bake the perfect crust without burning it in a brick oven. 

The experts said that pizza should be baked for two minutes at 626 degrees Fahrenheit (330 degrees Celsius). 

Thermal conduction plays a significant role in the perfect crust as the even temperatures in a brick oven ensure that the pizza will be cooked at the same temperature on all sides. 

The researchers then tackled the challenge of replicating brick oven pizza in a metal oven. 

Glatz and Varlamov created a thermodynamic equation to calculate the optimal time and temperature to bake a pizza using an electric oven and discovered that a pizza cooked at 450 degrees Fahrenheit would need to bake for 170 seconds. 

The brick oven is still the ideal option for baking pizza, but with this study, we have a better understanding of the physics of thermodynamics in brick ovens and it’s now possible to create more authentic and delicious pizzas right at home. 

“One of the goals in working on this study and writing this article was to help people at home with their pizza-making. We learned that temperature and oven material are very important,” Glatz told <a href="https://www.midweeknews.com/articles/2018/08/27/34b899a307254e9795446bed2cc8b4ec/index.xml">MidWeek</a> in an interview. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Using physics to create the perfect pizza at home

Anyone who has had the pleasure of eating pizza baked...

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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

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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"

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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...