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,...

We love seeing good prevail over evil in our favorite superhero flicks. But the good vs. evil plot may be distracting us from the violent behavior displayed by the “good guys”. New research being presented at the <a href="https://aapexperience.org/">American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2018 National Conference &amp; Exhibition</a> has proven that the heroes in superhero films often engage in more violent acts, on average, than their villainous counterpart.

The study, entitled "Violence Depicted in Superhero-Based Films Stratified by Protagonist/Antagonist and Gender," looked at 10 superhero films released between 2015 and 2016. Researchers classified characters as either “good guys” or “bad guys” and used a standardized system to track acts of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/school-violence-detrimental-bullied/">violence</a> from each group of characters throughout the 10 films.

On average, protagonists (the “good guys”) racked up 23 acts of violence per hour, whereas antagonists (the “bad guys”) only displayed 18 acts of violence per hour. Furthermore, researchers saw male characters engage in about fives times as many violent acts as female characters, 34 to 7 acts per hour.

The abstract’s lead author, Robert Olympia, MD, a Professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine &amp; Pediatrics at <a href="https://med.psu.edu/">Penn State College of Medicine</a> and an Attending Physician at the <a href="https://hmc.pennstatehealth.org/">Milton S. Hershey Medical Center</a>/ <a href="https://childrens.pennstatehealth.org/">Penn State Children's Hospital</a>, stated that these numbers may influence young audiences and lead them to believe acts of violence and “risk-taking behaviors” are okay if they’re done by their heroes.

“Pediatric health care providers should educate families about the violence depicted in this genre of film and the potential dangers that may occur when children attempt to emulate these perceived heroes,” Olympia said.

The team found that fighting was the top violent act protagonists engaged in throughout all 10 films, having occurred over 1,000 times. Use of lethal weapons, destruction of property, murder, and torture/bullying were also prevalent protagonist acts. Antagonists displayed similar behaviors, however, they did so less frequently.

The study's principal investigator, John N. Muller, MS, a medical student at the Penn State University College of Medicine, suggested parents and children watch these movies together and constructively talk about the violence they see on screen.

“Co-viewing these movies as a family can be an effective antidote to increased violence in superhero-based films,” Muller said. He added that discussion is necessary in co-viewing, otherwise children may take parents’ passivity as acceptance of the protagonist’s behavior. “By taking an active role in their children's media consumption by co-viewing and actively mediating,” he continued, “parents help their children develop critical thinking and internally regulated values.”

After being presented at the Conference on November 5th, this study may be made ready for publication.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study: The “good guys” in movies are just as violent as the villains

We love seeing good prevail over evil in our favorite...

New evidence from researchers at <a href="https://childrenshospital.northwell.edu/">Cohen Children’s Medical</a> in Lake Success, New York suggests children’s programming has a huge impact on the way kids think about school. Because <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/limited-screen-cognitive-ability-kids/">kids</a> spend almost twice the amount of time watching television as they do at school, it’s important for parents and educators to know how school is being portrayed within children’s media.

Researchers used television ratings to identify the 30 most-popular children’s programs. They then picked two 30-minute episodes from each program at random and watched each episode, paying special attention to how school was referenced and portrayed — were teachers portrayed as mean or kind? Did the characters in the show have a positive attitude toward school? And did the program employ student stereotypes (bullies, nerds, rebels, etc.)?

Only 46% of the programs studied depicted school in a positive light, and 33% of on-screen teachers were negatively portrayed. 59% of on-screen students could easily be characterized by classic stereotypes. 

Furthermore, researchers found that shows for younger viewers generally had a positive attitude about schooling and learning, whereas shows targeted at older viewers painted school in a negative light.

Prithwijit Das, lead researcher at Cohen Children's Medical, said, “Television content can have a profound impact on the psychosocial well-being and development of students. We do not want our kids to approach school with fear or be less enthusiastic about their future academic experiences.”

“Our hope is that parents, educators, and clinicians can get the conversation going about media awareness and support high-quality television programs that get children excited about learning,” he concluded.

Television has a large impact on how kids view the world around them, and therefore negative portrayals of school can taint their opinions of the academic world. Das’ team notes that their study, which will be presented at the <a href="https://aapexperience.org/">American Academy of Pediatrics 2018 National Conference and Exhibition</a> in Orlando, Florida on November 3rd, points out the necessity for positive depiction of school in children’s media, especially as they grow older.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

TV shows for kids greatly impact how they think about school

New evidence from researchers at Cohen Children’s Medical in Lake...

As <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/men-fathers-older-ages/">we reported</a> last year, a study was published reporting that the number of older men fathering children was rising. Just four decades ago, only 4 percent of infants were born to fathers over the age of 40. Nowadays, that number has crept up to 10 percent. This shift was seen across the United States amongst different races, education levels, and locations. And while it may be an indication of shifting cultural dynamics resulting in men waiting to begin having children, it does carry some more concerning implications.

The same researcher was part of that 2017 study – Dr. Michael Eisenberg, an associate professor of urology at <a href="http://med.stanford.edu/">Stanford University School of Medicine</a> – has now published a new study detailing the health consequences for infants who have older fathers.

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">British Medical Journal</a>, and reports that babies with older fathers have average lower birth weights and increased risk of seizures. Furthermore, over a decade of data from more than 40 million births also suggests that the age of the father can influence the health of the mother during pregnancy – specifically her risk of developing diabetes. 

“We tend to look at maternal factors in evaluating associated birth risks, but this study shows that having a healthy baby is a team sport, and the father’s age contributes to the baby's health, too,” explains Eisenberg.

Analysis showed that men who were 45 or older were 14 percent more likely to have a child born prematurely, and men 50 or older were 28 percent more likely to have a child that required admission to a neonatal intensive care unit. Further assessment showed that once a dad hits age 35, there’s a slight increase in birth risks overall. With every year a man ages, he accumulates two new mutations in the DNA of his sperm on average. 

“What was really surprising was that there seemed to be an association between advanced paternal age and the chance that the mother would develop diabetes during pregnancy,” says Eisenberg. Women who had a partner age 45 and older were 28 percent more likely to develop gestational diabetes, compared to women with partners between 25 and 34. The exact causes behind this phenomenon are unknown.

Still, these findings aren’t a significant enough reason to change any life plans you may have as you age. Eisenberg compares the increased risks to buying lottery tickets. 

“If you buy two lottery tickets instead of one, your chances of winning double, so it’s increased by 100 percent,” he explains. “But that’s a relative increase. Because your chance of winning the lottery started very small, it’s still unlikely that you’re going to win the lottery. This is a very extreme example, but the same concept can be applied to how you think about these birth risks.”

In the future, Eisenberg hopes these findings are used as information to help educate people who are in the process of planning a family, as well as educate public and health officials.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Having an older dad linked to higher health risks for infants

As we reported last year, a study was published reporting...

Earlier this week, China announced its decision to weaken a ban on the trade of rhino and tiger parts. Parts from the captive animals will now be legalized for specific scientific or medical uses. 

According to the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/">BBC</a>, tiger bones and rhino horns are used in China to treat a variety of medical conditions - such as fever, gout, insomnia, and meningitis - despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence to prove that they are effective for these ailments. 

Critics say that China's new legislation will not be easy to enforce and that it will lead to an increase in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/asian-lion-bone-market-poaching/">illegal poaching.</a>

Also this week, a major study by the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/">World Wildlife Fund</a> (WWF) has revealed that 60 percent of the world’s mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles have been wiped out since the 1970s as a result of human activities.

The WWF said in a statement that the move by China is an “enormous setback” to efforts to protect the animals. 

“Even if restricted to antiques and use in hospitals, this trade would increase confusion by consumers and law enforcers as to which products are and are not legal, and would likely expand the markets for other tiger and rhino products,” the WWF said.

Kate Brooks is the director of a new documentary film, The Last Animals, which will be released in the United States next spring. The film is focused on the efforts of activists who are fighting to end poaching and protect the world's remaining rhinos and elephants.

“Governments are increasingly acknowledging that there is a convergence between the criminal networks involved in wildlife trafficking, human trafficking, and drugs and weapons smuggling,” Brooks told <a href="http://time.com/5438770/illegal-wildlife-trade-last-animals/?utm_source=emailshare&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=email-share-article&amp;utm_content=20181031">Time</a>.

“The poachers themselves are disposable foot soldiers. It’s hard not to feel compassion for them too, knowing they are being exploited. But they are going armed into protected spaces and killing people, as well as animals.”

Brooks said that poaching is primarily an issue of organized crime. According to Time, the illegal wildlife trade is worth $23 billion a year, and is responsible for the deaths of 7,000 rhinos and 200,000 elephants in the last decade.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

China to weaken its ban on the trade of rhino and tiger parts

Earlier this week, China announced its decision to weaken a...

With the environmental threat of global warming more apparent than ever, turning to greener energy production is necessary to thwart rising temperatures. However, many are concerned about the loss of jobs at coal-fired power plants if and when governments decide to go green. 

A new study proves that turning to bioenergy coupled with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) while phasing out <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-coal-rules-poorer-air-quality/">coal plants</a> would not only retain the 40,000 jobs within the coal industry, but this shift would add 22,000 jobs within the forestry and transportation sectors within the next thirty years.

The research was published in the journal Joule.

BECCS is a technology with an aim to reduce the release of greenhouse gasses. The system combines carbon capture and storage — the process of collecting carbon dioxide (CO2) from emission sources like power plants and injecting it into “underground geologic formations” — and the increased use of biomass, such as plant-based matter, as fuel. BECCS solves the problem of the massive volume of CO2 currently in the atmosphere, too much to be absorbed by trees, soil, and other natural “sinks.” And it’s a long-term solution. Experts predict that 99% of the CO2 stored underground will likely stay there for over 1,000 years.

The study’s first author Piera Patrizio, a research scholar in Ecosystems Services and Management at Laxenburg’s <a href="http://www.iiasa.ac.at/">International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis</a>, notes that BECCS is the “dominant technology” that could limit future global warming effects. But many are on the fence about transitioning over to BECCS due to the unknown consequences it may have on the environment and society.

However, Patrizio claims, "Our analysis shows that acting now and investing in this emission-mitigating strategy can be beneficial for employment in the U.S. coal sector."

Their evidence comes from an investigation into the steps necessary to put the BECCS system into place, taking into consideration the cost of transporting and injecting the carbon dioxide underground and the process needed for the sustainable production of biomass. Researchers used several different methods to analyze existing data, although they note that each method can only produce a limited view on the future economy and societal impacts due to the unknowns of swapping out coal energy with renewables.

Researchers agree that mitigating global warming effects by employing BECCS technology is necessary and can be made more appealing to those on the fence if policy makers make citizens aware of the tens of thousands of job opportunities the BECCS system can provide.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Studies show green energy would create more jobs than coal

With the environmental threat of global warming more apparent than...

New evidence suggests that after a person’s arrival to the United States, their gut microbiota, that is, the population of good bacteria residing in the gut, rapidly Westernizes. Having studied the microbiome shift in Southeast Asian migrants after <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/immigration-america-climate-change/">immigrating</a> to the U.S., researchers from the <a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/">University of Minnesota</a> and the <a href="https://www.westsidechs.org/solahmo/">Somali, Latino, and Hmong Partnership for Health and Wellness</a> hope their breakthrough findings will lead to curbing metabolic health issues in immigrant societies such as obesity and diabetes.

Published in the journal Cell on November 1st, the study depicts an overall dip in diversity in regards to immigrants’ and refugees’ microbes once living within the U.S. Computer scientist.

Quantitative biologist at the University of Minnesota, and the study’s senior author, Dan Knights, explains, “We found that immigrants begin losing their native microbes almost immediately after arriving in the U.S. and then acquire alien microbes that are more common in European-American people. But the new microbes aren't enough to compensate for the loss of the native microbes, so we see a big overall loss of diversity."

Previous studies have found that people from developing nations have much more diverse bacteria in their gut microbiome. However, during their comparison of Hmong and Karen people still living in Thailand and Hmong and Karen people that had just migrated to the U.S., researchers noticed that within six to nine months of immigrating, the Western strain Bacteroides began to replace the non-Western bacteria strain Prevotella. The bacteria Westernization continued to happen throughout the first decade of immigrants living within the U.S.

Researchers aren’t exactly sure why this Westernization takes place other than the fact that the consumption Western food is obviously at play. Nor can they find a cause and effect link between microbiome Westernization and obesity — although a direct correlation was present: the greater the Westernization of the microbiome, the more likely an immigrant is to be obese.

“When you move to a new country, you pick up a new microbiome,” Knights added. “And that's changing not just what species of microbes you have, but also what enzymes they carry, which may affect what kinds of food you can digest and how your diet interacts with your health.” 

He noted that although this isn’t always a bad thing, the link in this case between Westernization and obesity is not ideal. However, now that the link has been discovered, the hope is that these findings can lead to treatments of obesity that will not only help the immigrant population, but Western society as a whole.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Immigrating to the U.S. quickly alters a person’s microbiome

New evidence suggests that after a person’s arrival to the...

An innovative five-year study by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a> researchers has revealed that many vendors at farmers markets are not taking adequate precautions to prevent the spread of food-borne illness. The findings suggest that the state of Pennsylvania would greatly benefit from a customized training program for farmers market vendors to reduce food-safety risks.


For the investigation, the researchers evaluated food safety behaviors at Pennsylvania farmers markets using three approaches, including direct concealed observations, state sanitarian observations, and self-reported vendor surveys. 

The study revealed major discrepancies between vendor self-reported food handling practices and the observations made by the researchers and state sanitarians.


“We found that our direct field observations and inspector findings were very similar, yet very different from what most vendors said they were doing - their self-reported behaviors,” said Professor Cathy Cutter, who is the assistant director of food safety and quality programs for Penn State Extension. 

“There was a chasm, if you will, between what we and the inspectors saw, and what vendors reported they were doing. The vendors think they are doing a good job, when in reality they are not. We are not sure why there were such discrepancies. Nevertheless, they need to do better.”

Vendors were found to demonstrate high-risk behaviors in the areas of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/washing-hands-flu-season/">hand washing</a>, personal hygiene, and cross-contamination.


Despite the fact that a majority of the vendors sold raw foods such as meat and seafood alongside ready-to-eat foods, less than 24 percent of the vendors had disposable gloves present at vending stands. Furthermore, among the vendors who were using disposable gloves, slightly less than half used them improperly.

The most common example of improper glove use was handling money and unpackaged foods without changing gloves in between.

“These results suggest that there is a general lack of understanding among vendors about when to use disposable gloves, when to change gloves, and what kinds of behaviors are unacceptable while wearing gloves," said lead researcher Joshua Scheinberg.

As farmers markets have increased in size, scope, and complexity over the years, so have the potential food-safety risks. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 66 percent of farmers markets are selling meat or poultry, 16 percent are selling fish or seafood, and 40 percent are selling prepared foods.

“These significant changes in the kinds of foods sold at farmers markets present new food-safety challenges and implications,” said Scheinberg. “As a result, several studies have revealed high-risk food-safety factors unique to farmers markets and farmers market vendors. We also saw problems.”


The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.foodprotection.org/publications/food-protection-trends/">Food Protection Trends</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: Joshua Scheinberg

Food safety training is needed for farmers market vendors

An innovative five-year study by Penn State researchers has revealed...

A new poll, commissioned by <a href="https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/">World Animal Protection</a>, shows a meaningful shift in the way travelers view inhumane animal activities such as elephant rides, swimming with the dolphins excursions, and animal selfies.

For all ages, the poll found a 9 percent drop in the number of people who believe elephant riding is acceptable compared to three years ago. Over 80 percent of tourists stated they would prefer to view animals in their natural environment.

The poll also found that millennial travelers were the most compassionate age group. Jennifer Yellin, Senior Vice President at Northstar, a research firm that conducted focus groups for World Animal Protection said in a <a href="https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/next-generation-of-travellers-are-opting-out-of-harmful-animal-activities-694471931.html">press release</a>, "There is a relationship between age and travel activity choice when it comes to animal welfare. For example, people under 35 are more aware of animal cruelty issues. This age segment, more so than older travelers, voice greater interest in seeing animals in their natural habitats rather than forced interactions like swimming with dolphins."

Young people are known for their interest in traveling and enjoying experiences over material possessions. The desire to have exciting experiences can draw people towards inhumane animal attractions, which often promise hands-on opportunities to play with and take photos of wild animals. Despite this, young people seem to be conscientious of animal welfare when making traveling decisions.

Animal attractions are a common site throughout the world. To unsuspecting travelers, these attractions may seem like a safe haven for wild animals. After all, inhumane animal attractions often try to market themselves this way by using words such as “sanctuary” and by claiming they rescued the animals.

A<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0138939"> comprehensive study</a> that examined the welfare of animals in 24 different types of wildlife attractions found that 14 attraction types had negative animal welfare and conservation impacts including captive dolphin interactions, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/captive-elephants-shorter-lives/">elephant</a> parks, and tiger encounters.

The elephant parks in Asia are a particularly prominent animal attraction. There has been a<a href="https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.au/sites/default/files/au_files/taken_for_a_ride_report.pdf"> 30 percent rise</a> in the number of elephant attractions in Thailand since 2010. These attractions offer opportunities to ride, touch and bathe elephants. 

According to<a href="https://www.worldanimalprotection.dk/sites/default/files/se_files/elephant_ride_report_a4.pdf"> World Animal Protection</a>, elephants used for rides undergo a cruel breaking-in process where they are isolated, restrained and struck at a young age to make them accept human riders. A<a href="https://animalnepal.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/report-an-elephant-is-not-a-machine.pdf"> survey</a> by Animal Nepal of 42 elephant safaris found that over 80 percent of the elephants lived in unsuitable conditions.

The new poll shows a promising change in consumer attitude towards animal attractions, especially among the new wave of travelers.

"It's very encouraging to know that young travelers are increasingly considering the wellbeing of animals in their plans.  We know that vacationers don't want to harm wildlife, in fact polling shows that most people participate in harmful wildlife attractions because they like animals.  This movement away from captive wildlife attractions is about education and working with travel companies to improve policies," says Josey Kitson, Executive Director of World Animal Protection Canada in the press release.

The poll comes a few years after TripAdvisor <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/blog/our-ongoing-commitment-to-animal-welfare/">announced</a> that they are no longer selling tickets to attractions where travelers can touch wild animals and Instagram <a href="https://help.instagram.com/859615207549041">announced</a> that wildlife hashtags will come with a notification warning about potential animal abuse.

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Young people are increasingly rejecting inhumane animal activities

A new poll, commissioned by World Animal Protection, shows a...

A new study has revealed that when <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/women-less-regret-sex/">single women</a> freeze their eggs for non-medical purposes, they are doing so to avoid “panic parenting,” or settling for a relationship just for the sake of having a child. The findings of the research also indicate that clinics need to be more straightforward with women about the likelihood of having a baby with these eggs in the future.

Dr. Kylie Baldwin and Professor Lorraine Culley of the <a href="http://www.dmu.ac.uk/research/research-faculties-and-institutes/health-and-life-sciences/reproduction-research-group/centre-for-reproduction-research.aspx">Centre for Reproduction Research</a> interviewed 31 women who had frozen their eggs for “social” reasons. Among the participants, the average age was 37 and 84 percent were single. 

The women reported on what the experience was like for them, why they had chosen this process, and shared any information they were provided about the probability of achieving a live birth with their frozen eggs.

For the majority of the women, the most common reason for egg freezing was not having a partner, or at least not one that was ready and willing to have children. Some of the participants described the process as a way to relieve the pressure of finding the right person, giving them more “breathing time.”

Many of the women expressed the desire to conceive naturally in the future, and hoped that they never needed to use their frozen eggs. For some, the process was emotionally difficult because they wished that they were pursuing motherhood with a committed partner instead of freezing their eggs.

Shockingly, nearly all of the women said that the clinics were unable to provide an estimate of the likelihood of a future live birth with their frozen eggs. The women were not given age-specific information, and there was a lack of detailed discussion with doctors about post-freezing processes and outcomes.

The study authors are calling for more to be done to support women who are going through this process.


“Whilst the number of women freezing their eggs remains small, many more are now considering this option as a way of extending the window of time they have to pursue genetic motherhood,” said Dr. Baldwin. “Clinics providing this technology have a responsibility to support informed decision-making by providing women who enquire about egg freezing with detailed information about the likelihood of achieving a live birth specific to their age at freezing.”

“Furthermore, women should be informed of the costs and risks, as well as the physical and emotional demands of egg freezing and any future IVF treatment. Clinics should also be aware of the specific emotional needs of women undergoing egg freezing who are more likely than IVF patients to be undertaking this uncertain and ambiguous process without the support of a partner.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ihuf20/current">Human Fertility</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:chrissydsexton@gmail.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Women are freezing their eggs to avoid panic parenting

A new study has revealed that when single women freeze...

For many adults, having a full bowl of Halloween candy left over at the end of the night is simply too much temptation to resist. A report from <a href="http://time.com/">Time</a> has now revealed the scientific reason for what makes Halloween candy irresistible, and why it is so hard to stop eating it. 

Sugar is enough to fire up the brain's reward circuitry on its own. Like a drug addiction, people can actually build up a tolerance to sugar and become dependent on it. However, according to experts, sugar is not working alone.

Rachele Pojednic is an assistant professor of Nutrition at <a href="http://www.simmons.edu/">Simmons University</a>. 

“You can just keep unwrapping and popping those little suckers,” Professor Pojednic told Time. “But that wouldn’t happen if you walked into an office and there was a bowl of white sugar on the table.”

Professor Pojednic explained that it is the combination of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/yogurt-products-sugar/">sugar</a>, fat, and salt that “really revs up the hedonic eating system.” Hedonic hunger refers to the drive to eat strictly for pleasure and not out of a physical need for food.

Research has shown that fatty and sugary foods activate the brain's reward system, which interferes with communication between the brain and the digestive system. This disrupts our normal sense of hunger or satisfaction, and promotes hedonic eating and overindulgence.

As documented in the book Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us, food experts know that the combo of sugar, fat, and salt can be addictive. The hedonic effect is even more powerful when it comes to nostalgic foods like Halloween candy.


“We’ve all had experiences with food where there’s this really wonderful memory around it, and we have this pleasure memory that goes along with it,” Professor Pojednic told Time. “It’s not just pleasure from the taste or the smell of it, but also the situation that goes along with it.”

Professor Pojednic said that it is okay to treat yourself to junk food sometimes, but that it is important to practice mindful eating most of the time.

“There are moments and times when giving yourself a treat is a really fun and awesome idea, and there are other times when you have to have a little more mindfulness around why you’re feeling the way you’re feeling,” said Professor Pojednic. “You’re not going to be able to suppress those feelings. There’s absolutely room for it in day-to-day life.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why is Halloween candy so irresistible? It’s not just the sugar

For many adults, having a full bowl of Halloween candy...

It should come as no surprise that people are spending more and more time in front of screens these days.

Advancements in smartphone technology have made it possible for people to check email, browse the internet, update social media and stream movies and TV whenever you want, and recent reports have found that people are spending <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/30/health/americans-screen-time-nielsen/index.html">10 to 11 hours a day</a> looking at screens. 

Screen time has been linked to depression, anxiety, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-phones-less-happy/">a decrease in happiness</a> and well-being, and difficulty falling asleep. But what’s even more worrying is that many of these studies emphasize the risk that children and teens face for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/screen-time-suicide-teens/">screen-time related health problems</a>. 

The question is how much is too much screen time for young people and what limits should parents try and impose to decrease these risks? A new study may have the answer. 

Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at <a href="https://www.sdsu.edu/">San Diego State University</a>, has conducted several studies examining the impacts of screen time on mental health, cognitive ability, and well being. 

Twenge’s most recent work shows that adolescents and teens who spend seven or more hours a day on their screens are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety. 

The study was published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports. 

Twenge and her colleagues reviewed data from the <a href="https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/nsch.html">Census Bureau's 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health</a> and measured the screen time use and psychological well-being of 40,337 young people ages two to 17. 

The researchers found that after one hour of screen time, whether it was on phones, computers or tablets, additional hours of screen time were linked to decreases in psychological well-being. 

This included being easily distracted, harder to care for, and having less emotional stability. 

20 percent of the children ages 14 to 17 in the study spent at least seven hours a day on screen time. 

“At first, I was surprised that the associations were larger for adolescents than for younger children,” Twenge told <a href="http://time.com/">Time</a>. “However, teens spend more time on their phones and on social media, and we know from other research that these activities are more strongly linked to low wellbeing than watching TV and videos, which is most of younger children’s screen time.”

Twenge suggests that there should be recommended time limits for screen time for teens and adolescents as currently the <a href="https://www.aap.org/">American Academy of Pediatrics</a> only has guidelines for screen time for children five years or younger. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Unlimited screen time linked with depression in adolescents

It should come as no surprise that people are spending...

A new study has revealed that insect repellents containing picaridin are potentially lethal to salamanders. For the first time, the researchers have found that the presence of these repellents in surface waters are actually increasing the numbers of adult <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/florida-drone-combat-mosquitoes/">mosquitoes</a> by killing off salamanders, which provide mosquito control by feeding on the larvae.

Insect repellents are developed to defend against mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, and West Nile virus. The researchers set out to investigate the impact of two common insect repellents on salamander and mosquito larvae.

Study co-author Emma Rosi is a freshwater ecologist at <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/">Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies</a>.

“Use of insect repellent is on the rise globally,” said Rosi. “Chemicals in repellents enter aquatic ecosystems through sewage effluent and are now common in surface waters. We set out to understand the impact of repellent pollution on both larval mosquitoes and the larval salamanders that prey on them.”


The study was focused on Repel 100 Insect Repellent, which contains DEET, and Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent, which contains picaridin. In a lab, mosquito larvae and spotted salamander larvae that had just hatched were exposed to three varying concentrations of the chemicals, as well as a control treatment.


“The concentrations in our experiments are conservative; we prepared them based on unadulterated commercial formulations, not concentrations of pure active compounds,” said Rosi.

The mosquito larvae were not affected by the treatments and matured without any limitations. However, after four days of exposure to the repellent with picaridin, salamanders began to display signs of impaired development such as tail deformities. By day 25, between 45 and 65 percent of salamander larvae exposed to picaridin died.

“Our findings demonstrate that larval salamanders suffer severe mortality and developmental deformities when exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of commercially available repellent containing the active ingredient picaridin,” said study co-author Barbara Han.

“The expediency of salamander mortality was disconcerting. When studying the effects of a chemical on an amphibian, we usually look for a suite of abnormalities. We couldn't collect these data because the salamanders died so quickly.”

Standard tests known as LC50 tests are used to define a chemical's environmental toxicity. Based on one life stage of a single species, these tests measure how long it takes for half of a test population to die with increasing exposure to a chemical over four days.

Study co-author Alexander Reisinger is an assistant professor at <a href="http://www.ufl.edu/">University of Florida, Gainesville</a>.

“We observed heavy salamander mortality with picaridin, but not until after the fourth day of exposure. By the LC50 measure, picaridin would be deemed ‘safe,’ but clearly, this is not the case. If a substance doesn't kill organisms within the first few days of exposure, it can still be toxic and have ecological impacts,” explained Professor Reisinger.


Study lead author Rafael Almeida is a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University who conducted the research as a visiting PhD student at the Cary Institute. 

“The amount of repellents entering waterways peaks seasonally. If amphibians are exposed during a sensitive life stage, entire cohorts could perish. The population would not have a chance to recover until the following year. Meanwhile, mosquitoes would continue to reproduce. It suggests a negative feedback loop,” said Almeida.

“The effects of repellents containing DEET and picaridin need to be studied further to determine the extent to which these chemicals disrupt aquatic ecosystems and potentially increase mosquito-borne disease risk worldwide.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/">Biology Letters</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: John P. Clare

Insect repellent is killing salamanders that control mosquito numbers

A new study has revealed that insect repellents containing picaridin...

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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?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" 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 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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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...