Who knew that a simple catch-up with your pals could hold the secret to a longer, healthier life? A recent study has suggested an intriguing link between our levels of social interaction and loneliness, and our physical health.



Leading the study was Dr. Chun Shen, along with his dedicated team from the University of Cambridge. The researchers found that a lack of social contact might be more harmful than previously suspected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-problem-of-loneliness">Growing problem of loneliness</h2>



Loneliness has become a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-isolation-and-loneliness-trigger-changes-in-blood-proteins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global public health issue</a> that affects people of all ages. While often associated with the elderly, loneliness has surged among younger generations as well, with 61% of 18–25-year-olds reporting frequent feelings of isolation.



Technology, despite promoting virtual connections, has deepened the problem by replacing meaningful, face-to-face interactions with superficial, online relationships.



Workplace changes, like remote work, have also reduced casual interactions and increased isolation among employees. Urban environments, with their fast-paced, individualistic cultures, paradoxically leave many feeling disconnected despite being surrounded by people.



Governments worldwide are recognizing loneliness as a crisis. The U.K. appointed a Minister for Loneliness, and Japan has initiatives to address extreme social withdrawal. The World Health Organization has also flagged loneliness as a growing concern.



Addressing loneliness requires promoting inclusive communities, encouraging social connections, and raising awareness to counter its significant emotional, physical, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-disrupts-college-students-sleep-more-than-screen-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">societal impacts</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proteins-loneliness-and-health">Proteins, loneliness, and health</h2>



Researchers from the University of Cambridge analyzed blood samples from 42,000 adults aged 40-69, collected through the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.K. Biobank</a>. Their study revealed a critical insight: loneliness increases the production of five specific proteins.



These proteins are directly linked to serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and even early death. This finding sheds light on the biological mechanisms through which loneliness can harm physical health.



“We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why. Our work has highlighted a number of proteins that appear to play a key role in this relationship,” explained Dr. Shen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-social-contact">Role of social contact</h2>



The study emphasizes how social bonds act as a protective shield against many health issues. Loneliness and social isolation have long been associated with reduced well-being and early mortality. 



However, this research offers new insights into the biological mechanisms at play.



“These findings drive home the importance of social contact in keeping us well," noted Professor Barbara Sahakian from the Department of Psychiatry at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>.



"More and more people of all ages are reporting feeling lonely. That’s why the World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO</a>) has described social isolation and loneliness as a ‘global public health concern.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-of-loneliness-and-health">The science of loneliness and health</h2>



The research indicated that loneliness was linked to the increased production of five distinct proteins in the body.



One of the primary ways loneliness affects health is through chronic stress. When people feel socially isolated, their bodies may register stress and prepare them for a state of “fight or flight.”



This stress response can elevate inflammation, disrupt hormone regulation, and impair immune system function. Over time, these physiological changes contribute to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-harms-health-more-than-alcohol-obesity-or-smoking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development of diseases</a>.



Additionally, loneliness impacts heart health by influencing blood pressure and increasing the likelihood of conditions such as hypertension. It also contributes to metabolic changes, which can lead to insulin resistance - a precursor to type 2 diabetes.



These findings reveal that loneliness is not just a social or emotional issue but a biological one with far-reaching implications for overall health. Understanding the science behind these processes emphasizes the importance of addressing loneliness to prevent its harmful effects on the body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-tips-for-staying-connected">Practical tips for staying connected</h2>



Promoting relationships and staying socially connected can significantly improve your well-being. Below are some practical ways to build and maintain connections while reducing feelings of loneliness.



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Reconnect with friends and family
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Send a message, make a call, or schedule regular meetups.</li>



<li>Plan activities like meals, walks, or shared hobbies.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Engage in community activities
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Join local groups or clubs, such as book clubs or fitness classes.</li>



<li>Volunteer in your community to meet people and make a difference.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Build new social networks
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Attend events like workshops, networking meetups, or local festivals.</li>



<li>Use platforms like Meetup or Facebook Groups to find people with similar interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Strengthen everyday interactions
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Greet your neighbors, chat with coworkers, or start conversations in daily settings.</li>



<li>Smile, make eye contact, and show interest to encourage connections.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Focus on quality over quantity
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Spend time nurturing relationships that bring joy and support.</li>



<li>Prioritize meaningful connections over having a large social circle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-combating-loneliness-for-better-health">Combating loneliness for better health</h2>



The findings, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, stress the need for society to prioritize social contact. Whether through community programs, mental health support, or simply reaching out to loved ones, staying socially connected can significantly improve overall health.



In a world that often feels more digitally connected but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeling-lonely-and-unhappy-can-age-you-faster-than-smoking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">socially distant</a>, these insights remind us of the importance of nurturing real-life relationships - for both our hearts and our health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02078-1">Nature Human Behaviour.</a>



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Social contact is a protective shield against health issues

Who knew that a simple catch-up with your pals could hold the secret to a longer, healthier life? A recent study has suggested an intriguing link between our levels of social interaction and loneliness, and our physical health. Leading the study was Dr. Chun Shen, along with his dedicated team from the University of Cambridge. The researchers found that a lack of social contact might be more harmful than previously suspected. Growing problem of loneliness Loneliness has become a global public health issue that affects people of...

Tensions between liberals and conservatives in the United States are higher than they’ve been in years. And with these tensions comes name-calling, online trolling, and disagreements over seemingly insignificant issues. 

Enter; a new study from the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a>, which has used its wealth of resources to determine that liberals drink lattes – a coffee beverage of European origin – more than conservatives. Beyond this finding, the researchers postulate that this is because liberals are more open to globalization, whereas conservatives tend to have a more nationalistic attitude and avoid foreign products.

The study involved a survey of 1,500 Americans, 1,000 of whom were coffee drinkers. Researchers collected data about participants’ coffee preferences, household income, gender, zip code, political ideology, and attitudes towards globalization.

Results showed that members of both political ideologies were equally as likely to drink coffee, however, almost twice as many liberals preferred lattes to regular brewed coffee. Only 9 percent of conservatives would pick a latte over normal coffee, while 16 percent of liberals were more likely to reach for a latte. Additionally, these numbers show that the vast majority of both liberals and conservatives still prefer regular brewed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-protect-heart/">coffee</a> to lattes (thank goodness).

Researchers took this much-needed analysis a step further, and suggested that the latte drinkers’ attitudes toward globalization may be behind the fact that more liberals drank lattes. Because economic nationalism is linked to rejecting products that are “un-American” or foreign – and lattes carry an Italian heritage – an aversion to globalization can be linked to an aversion to lattes. 

Ironically, almost all coffee is produced outside the U.S., so if you’re drinking coffee, you’re taking part in globalization. And because of the high milk content of lattes – many of which contain American-made milk – buying a latte contributes more to the American economy than purchasing a brewed coffee.

So next time you’re in line at your favorite local coffee spot, feel free to let your political ideology influence your morning cup of joe. It seems only right that divided as we are as a nation, we should make our caffeine fix as political as possible.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Your coffee order may tell whether you’re liberal or conservative

Tensions between liberals and conservatives in the United States are...

At one point or another, you may have been kept lying awake at night by the maddening sound of a leaky faucet dripping water. As the hours roll on, it almost seems as if the dripping sound is getting louder – or coming from inside your head. Why is this sound so frustratingly loud, and how do we stop it? These are the questions scientists from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> have now answered in a study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

By using ultra-high-speed cameras, a microphone, and a hydrophone, the researchers determined that the sound produced by a water droplet hitting liquid surface is not caused by the droplet itself, but by the oscillation of a small air bubble trapped just beneath the water’s surface. This bubble forces the water surface to vibrate, acting like a piston to drive the airborne sound.

“A lot of work has been done on the physical mechanics of a dripping tap, but not very much has been done on the sound,” says Dr. Anurag Agarwal of Cambridge's Department of Engineering, the lead researcher on the study. “But thanks to modern video and audio technology, we can finally find out exactly where the sound is coming from, which may help us to stop it.”

Agarwal decided to study this issue when he was visiting a friend who had a leak in the roof of his house. 

“While I was being kept awake by the sound of water falling into a bucket placed underneath the leak, I started thinking about this problem,” he says. “The next day I discussed it with my friend and another visiting academic, and we were all surprised that no one had actually answered the question of what causes the sound.”

The fluid mechanics of a water droplet landing in a liquid surface have been known for years. When the droplet touches the surface, it forms a cavity that quickly recoils due to the surface tension of the liquid, resulting in a rising column of liquid. Because the cavity recoils so quickly after the droplet hits, it causes a small air bubble to be trapped underwater. Past studies have suggested that the “plink” sound that happens on impact is caused by the impact itself, the resonance of the cavity, or the underwater sound field propagating through the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-find-a-way-to-extract-drinkable-water-from-desert-air/">water</a> surface. However, these studies never confirmed the theories experimentally.

In this study, the researchers determined that the initial impact, formation of the cavity, and column of water are all essentially silent. Somewhat counter-intuitively, the source of the sound is the trapped air bubble.

“Using high-speed cameras and high-sensitivity microphones, we were able to directly observe the oscillation of the air bubble for the first time, showing that the air bubble is the key driver for both the underwater sound, and the distinctive airborne ‘plink’ sound,” says Sam Phillips, now a PhD student in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge. “However, the airborne sound is not simply the underwater sound field spreading to the surface, as had been previously thought.”

For this “plink” sound to be heard, the trapped air bubble needs to be close to the bottom of the cavity caused by the drop’s impact. The bubble then initiates oscillations of the water surface at the bottom of the cavity, acting like a piston driving sound waves into the air. 

While the study was essentially initiated due to curiosity, these results could actually be used to develop more efficient ways to measure rainfall, or to create an accurate synthesized sound for water droplets in gaming or movies – which has yet to be achieved. But more importantly, the researchers suggest that you can stop this “plink” sound from haunting your dreams by changing the surface tension of the surface. For example, adding a soap dish under the offending leak – which may be the most important discovery of all.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The real cause of - and solution to - the drip of a leaky faucet

At one point or another, you may have been kept...

A new study has found that exposure to the chemicals used in fracking can cause an increase in fat cells. 

Fracking is the process of injecting water and chemicals deep into the earth to extract natural gas, and over a thousand chemicals are used for hydraulic fracking in the United States. 

There have been concerns about the environmental and health impacts of fracking, and lab tests have found that many of the chemicals act as endocrine disruptors which can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fracking-harmful-human-health/">increase the risk of cancer and birth defects.</a>

Now, researchers from <a href="https://www.duke.edu/">Duke University</a> discovered that exposure to 23 common fracking chemicals in wastewater and contaminated groundwater from fracking sites caused an increase in fat cells, also known as adipogenesis, in mice. 

Adipogenesis can increase the risk of metabolic disorders that contribute to weight gain and so understanding what risk factors influence adipogenesis is important in combating it. 

The results were published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

“We saw significant fat cell proliferation and lipid accumulation, even when wastewater samples were diluted 1,000-fold from their raw state and when wastewater-affected surface water samples were diluted 25-fold,” said Chris Kassotis, the leader of the research. “Rather than needing to concentrate the samples to detect effects, we diluted them and still detected the effects.” 

In previous research, Kassotis discovered that mice exposed to fracking chemicals suffer from weight gain and issues with metabolic and reproductive health. 

For this study, the researchers focused on fat cell development and collected samples of wastewater and contaminated groundwater near fracking sites in Colorado and West Virginia. 

Cultures of mice cells were exposed to the samples, some of which were diluted, over a period of two weeks. During this time the researchers measured fat cell development. 

The researchers also exposed another group of mice cells to rosiglitazone, a pharmaceutical that’s been proven to cause weight gain and increase fat cells. 

No matter how diluted the wastewater and chemical mixes were, the mice cells developed more fat cells than those exposed to rosiglitazone

Diluted wastewater caused 80 percent more of an increase in fat cells and the mix of chemicals induced 60 percent as much fat as the drug. 

More work is needed to determine if fracking chemicals could increase fat cell development in humans or animals, but the results are a cause for concern given how widely used fracking is in the United States today. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Could exposure to fracking wastewater cause weight gain?

A new study has found that exposure to the chemicals...

Caffeine is a morning staple in the diets of people all over the world, whether it comes from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-improve-group-performance/">coffee</a>, tea or – primarily in the southern United States – Coca Cola. For many people, caffeine consumption often extends into the afternoon and evening. But is that much caffeine good for you? Are their health risks? Are their any benefits?

Some studies have shown caffeine consumption to be associated with a lower risk for multiple diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and type II diabetes. But exactly how caffeine provides these benefits has been a mystery.

Now, a new study published in <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/">PLOS Biology</a> has found that caffeine promotes the movement of a regulatory protein into mitochondria, which enhances their function and protects cardiovascular cells from damage. This protective effect was reached at a concentration equivalent to consuming four cups of coffee – which suggests that the effect could be physiologically relevant.

In a previous study, the authors found that at physiologically relevant concentrations – which is to say levels reached after four or more cups of coffee – caffeine improved the functional capacity of endothelial cells. These cells line the interior of blood vessels, and this effect involved mitochondria, which provides energy to the cell.

In this most recent study, a protein called p27 – known as an inhibitor of the cell cycle – was found in mitochondria in the major cell types of the heart. Mitochondrial p27 promoted migration of endothelial cells in these major cell types, as well as protected heart muscle cells from cell death and triggered the conversion of fibroblasts into cells containing contractile fibers. All of these actions are integral to repairing heart muscle after a heart attack.

Their study showed that caffeine induced the movement of p27 into mitochondria, which set off this chain of events. This induction occurred at a concentration that is reached in humans by drinking four cups of coffee. 

This new knowledge could be beneficial as a way to combat heart disease, especially as we age. “These results should lead to better strategies for protecting heart muscle from damage, including consideration of coffee consumption or caffeine as an additional dietary factor in the elderly population,” says Judith Haendeler of <a href="https://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/home/en/home.html">Heinrich-Heine-University</a>. “Furthermore, enhancing mitochondrial p27 could serve as a potential therapeutic strategy not only in cardiovascular diseases but also in improving healthspan.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Four cups of coffee might be enough to help protect your heart

Caffeine is a morning staple in the diets of people...

Researchers at the <a href="https://medicine.missouri.edu/">University of Missouri School of Medicine</a> have found that one single episode of binge drinking has a lasting impact on the gene that regulates sleep. The study may provide new insight into the connection between alcoholism and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-tech-life-sleep/">sleep</a> issues.

According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC), one in six U.S. adults binge drinks at least four times a month. Experts have previously linked binge drinking to sleep disruption and sleep disorders.

Study lead author Dr. Mahesh Thakkar is a professor and director of research in the Department of Neurology at MU and the lead author of the current study. 

“Sleep is a serious problem for alcoholics,” said Dr. Thakkar. “If you binge drink, the second day you will feel sleep deprived and will need to drink even more alcohol to go to sleep. It is a dangerous cycle. How can we stop this cycle or prevent it before it begins? To answer that question, we need to understand the mechanisms involved.”


The investigation was focused on how excessive alcohol consumption may affect sleep patterns in mice. 

The researchers found that mice experienced a significant increase in non-rapid eye movement sleep four hours after being exposed to binge-drinking levels of alcohol. The mice also woke up more frequently and slept less between periods of wakefulness.

In addition, Dr. Thakkar discovered post-binge mice did not experience an increase in adenosine, a chemical released by the brain to promote sleep. Furthermore, the gene that regulates sleep was notably impacted by the excessive consumption of alcohol among the mice, leading to frequent sleep disturbances.

“What we have shown in this research is that a particular gene - which is very important for sleep homeostasis - is altered by just one session of binge drinking,” said Dr. Thakkar. “We were not expecting this. We thought it would be affected after multiple sessions of binge drinking, not one. That tells you that as soon as you consume four drinks, it can alter your genes.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14714159">Journal of Neurochemistry</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Binge drinking alcohol can disrupt the gene that controls sleep

Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have...

A new study has found that people who refuse to believe in climate change are more likely to be prejudiced against individuals of other races. The research also revealed that climate change deniers are more likely to be older, white, and Republican.

The findings of the study suggest that the link between racial resentment and belief in climate change can be traced back to when Barack Obama became president in 2008. 

After the former president mentioned that addressing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-biodiversity/">climate change</a> was one of his top priorities, many white Americans had an adverse reaction and began to express doubt about the issue, according to the research.

Study author Benegal is a professor of Environmental Politics, Political Psychology, and Human Rights at <a href="https://www.depauw.edu/">DePauw University</a>.

Benegal told <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/">Nexus Media</a>: “There has been increasing polarization on this issue - and this is one thing my own research has been examining for a while - trying to figure out what are some of the root causes of this polarization.”

Benegal set out to determine whether racial resentment has fueled climate change denial. He compared the results of Pew surveys to analyze the views of black and white Americans on climate change before and during the time when Barack Obama was in office.

There was no notable difference between the opinions of black and white Americans on climate change before 2008. After Obama became president, however, white Americans were 18 percent less likely to report that climate change was a serious problem, while the views of black Americans did not significantly change.

Based on data from the 2012 and 2016 American National Election Studies, Benegal confirmed a strong correlation between racial resentment and climate change denial.

“It is not so much that elites would highlight Obama’s race specifically and then bring up climate or other health policies,” Benegal told Nexus Media. 

“It’s more that when certain voters associated Obama with an issue, they inherently saw Obama through this racial lens and immediately viewed almost anything he was associated with as some kind of racial issue.”

Benegal explained that he is not trying to overstate the magnitude of his study.

“I'm not trying to make a claim in the study that race is the single most important or necessarily a massive component of all environmental attitudes,” Benegal told the <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/climate-deniers-are-more-likely-be-racist-obama-trump-climate-change">Sierra Club</a>. “But it's a significant thing that we should be looking out for.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/fenp20/current">Environmental Politics</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Racist people are more likely to deny climate change, study finds

A new study has found that people who refuse to...

An ulterior devolution of power has continued in our political system as of late, and has now reared its ugly head in the production of our food supply. Last December, President Trump’s influence on the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/">USDA</a> swayed them to renege against the regulations on animal welfare and organic food production. To that end, the age-old phrase “You are what you eat” has never been more apropos in terms of what’s being delivered to supermarket shelves nationwide.

The <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic-livestock-and-poultry-practices">Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP</a>) guidelines were enacted at the tail end of the Obama Administration – and was a part of a two decade bipartisan-backed process working to clarify the difference between conventional and organic food practices, in relation to the general treatment and slaughter of animals that produce our organic meat, dairy and eggs.

The organic food scene has grown exponentially since the turn of the millennium and it doesn’t look to be dragging its heels any time soon. According to <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/natural-resources-environment/organic-agriculture/organic-market-overview.aspx">USDA ERS</a>, Consumers prefer organically produced food because of their concerns regarding health, the environment and animal welfare, and they show a willingness to pay the price premiums established in the marketplace. While this health-conscious ethos may have started as a small farming movement in the 1970’s, consumer demand has since launched organic offerings into overdrive.

What we know is: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-diet-beneficial-environment/">organic food</a> is reflected in its higher price point; this is due to organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products coming from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones of any kind. Organic food is also produced without using most conventional pesticides or fertilizers. It goes without saying, conventional factory farming has taken a pretty drastic toll on climate change – so, choosing this not only provides a cleaner product for our plates, but also for the planet.

The certification process of becoming an organic provider is thorough. There are stipulated financial requirements, which, for previous decades, weeded out many false suppliers and left only the most honest, die-hard environmentalists to uphold these standards. Shockingly, organic farmers do not receive the federal subsidies that conventional farmers do, and the entire USDA certification process can cost anywhere between $200-$1400, depending on many factors including size and yield. Before the big organic boom, this deterred conventional farmers and ranchers from following these procedures.

It suffices to say that, for many, this type of farming was a no-brainer – a true labor of love to tend to their land, livestock and product. These farmers believe in the power of offering sustainable, clean, vibrant food and refuse to stand in the shadow of mass production factory farming. They propagate the idea that happy livestock – free of stress and abusive containment – creates the most delicious product, even if it meant sacrificing financial growth. 

It is also important to remind ourselves that the organic industry is a $43 billion enterprise and for every small rancher who loves their livestock, there’s a big name company who is looking to fill their pockets a little deeper and capitalize on an ever-growing trend. They will follow the regulations to provide organic meat, dairy and eggs on a larger, higher-yielding scale, passing certifications, yet, duplicitously negate clear guidelines established within the OLPP. More to the point, with OLPP standards no longer in place, corporations stand to harvest the biggest profit.

A prime example of this type of divisive pretense is exhibited within the agrochemical corporation, <a href="https://monsanto.com/">Monsanto</a>, and their massive overtaking of our local family farmers’ lands – to which they are known to spread toxic contamination throughout. Furthermore, nearly a decade ago, <a href="https://www.cornucopia.org/">The Cornucopia Institute</a> exposed confinement-style dairies that contained 4,000-10,000 cows producing organic milk for the well-trusted <a href="https://www.horizon.com/">Horizon</a> label – the nation’s largest organic milk brand, who were known to be at the forefront of ethical practices. Within that time, we’ve seen other producers of ostensibly “trusted brands” like <a href="https://www.krehereggs.com/">Kreher</a>’s, <a href="http://www.bushmanorganics.com/">Bushman Farms</a>, <a href="http://www.agrilicious.org/Redland-Dairy-LLC">Redland Dairy</a> and many others be scrutinized for their poor facility standards and quality of life for their livestock. Subsequently, this disturbing narrative has only made consumers question the motives of organic farming and what their dollar is funding.

If we continue to put our trust, and our hard-earned money, into an organic industry only to find out that the products in our pantries are mere mirages of humane and sustainable quality, it becomes a personal gamble on our health and consciences. Not to mention, it can hurt the reputations and the business of our neighborhood family farms – the kinds you see consistently at farmers market every weekend. When all trust is broken, and the demand falls, we lose a large majority of our local organic farmers, but also open up more space for large-scale production. This will, in turn, take a steep decline on our air supply, food quality, bee sustainability, water conservation, climate change, and animal rights, all together.

The USDA’s grave decision to not continue with OLPP regulations makes it nebulous to see where we’re being directed for the future of food distribution. So, now it’s time to begin exploring how our vote counts every time we spend a dollar from our weekly food budget. The relationship with our local organic farmers, ranchers and artisans couldn’t be more dire. Farmers Markets around the country have begun opening up for the year, and it’s a great way to begin building these connections and sourcing our products directly. <a href="https://www.localharvest.org">LocalHarvest.org</a> is an incredible resource to also find these suppliers within your county, and, many of them will welcome you for a tour of their facility, animals and product. 

With 270.7 pounds of meat per person being consumed in America every year, and livestock industries influencing energy use, emissions and other environmental effects, our planet deeply depends on these hard-working families to cultivate and preserve our farmland and the animals who graze upon it. More than ever before, your dollar is your vote; your voice can be heard. 

--

By <a href="mailto:drkcopy@gmail.com">Derek Kaplan</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

A lawless organic industry: USDA shuts down livestock regulations

An ulterior devolution of power has continued in our political...

According to experts, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/medical-marijuana-stress-depression/">marijuana</a> can increase a person's sex drive and arousal levels. Historical data shows that the drug has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries, and patient reports indicate that marijuana can even increase sexual pleasure.

Researchers believe that the association between marijuana and sex drive is likely due to the drug’s calming nature, which may ease performance anxiety. However, some individuals have the opposite reaction to marijuana and experience increased anxiety, which leads to a lower sex drive.

Marijuana is also used to help patients manage underlying issues like chronic pain and insomnia that can have a negative impact on sex drive.

A study in 2016 published in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17436109">The Journal of Sexual Medicine</a> found a positive association between marijuana use and sexual frequency in both men and women across all demographics. Another study from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> in 2017 also found that marijuana users have more sex on average. 

Further research suggests that small doses of marijuana can increase sexual arousal, while large doses can decrease arousal.

Certified sex therapist Amanda Pasciucco told <a href="http://dailymail.co.uk/">Daily Mail Online</a>: “Marijuana helps with relieving pressure, decreasing pain and bringing about a feeling of relaxation.”

The news outlet explained that the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in cannabis acts as a neurotransmitter which affects regions of the brain associated with pleasure, concentration, and sensory perception.

Various strains of marijuana produce different effects, and individual reactions to various types of cannabis differ as well. In 2014, a sexual lubricant was developed that contains marijuana extract called Foria, which was designed to help improve sexual satisfaction among women.

According to Pascuicco, this and other marijuana products may eventually be recommended to patients by sex therapists. She told the Daily Mail: “It's not something that's able to be prescribed now but it's totally possible that it could be prescribed in the future for sex.”

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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

Marijuana users found to have more sex on average

According to experts, marijuana can increase a person's sex drive...

Researchers at the <a href="http://www5.usp.br/english/?lang=en">University of Sao Paulo</a> are reporting that alcohol may protect the heart by training it to respond to stress. The experts say that this discovery could lead to the development of a drug that would have heart benefits without the risks that come along with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tobacco-alcohol-biggest-threat/">drinking alcohol</a>.

The enzymes that are produced by the body to eliminate toxic chemicals from alcohol are also released to protect the heart when it is damaged. This means that exposure to low levels of alcohol may actually function as practice for the heart. 

On the other hand, excessive exposure to alcohol has the complete opposite effect, leaving the heart more susceptible instead of less. In people who drink too much alcohol, the body can become unable to produce enough enzymes to clear out the toxins, which leaves the heart more vulnerable to damage.

While it has been well-documented that moderate levels of alcohol are beneficial to heart health, the reason for this has not been clearly identified.

The researchers say that the link may be explained by the findings of this study, which suggest that the heart’s exposure to the toxins in alcohol strengthens its defense against damage during a heart attack.

The experts developed a trial that was designed to mimic a heart attack in mice by interrupting the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart for 30 minutes. The team found that this process caused less damage in the hearts of mice that had been exposed to moderate levels of alcohol. 

Among the mice that had not been exposed to alcohol, around 50 percent of cells in the heart were lost during the heart attack. The mice that had been exposed to the equivalent of two alcoholic beverages, however, lost only 30 percent of their heart cells.

“Our data suggest moderate exposure to ethanol causes minor stress in heart cells but not enough to kill them,” explained Professor Julio Cesar Batista Ferreira.

“Heart cells eventually create a biochemical memory to protect against stress, also known as preconditioning. When the cells are submitted to a higher level of stress, they know how to deal with it.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres">Cardiovascular Research</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Moderate alcohol intake can help protect from heart attack damage

Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo are reporting that...

Since the Syrian Refugee Crisis began, there were those who voiced concerns about national security, financial burdens, and the economic ramifications of accepting refugees and asylum seekers. 

Even countries that previously had very open and welcoming policies soon worried faced criticism of becoming “<a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2016/01/23/for-good-or-ill">overwhelmed</a>.” In 2015, over one million people claimed asylum in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migration-europe-drastically-increase/">Europe</a>. 

Many studies assessing the economic impact of refugees use a traditional approach of comparing the taxes paid by immigrants to public support given, hower the issue is much more complex than these calculations account for. 

But a new study has delved deeper into the economic impacts of asylum seekers in Europe and the results show that refugees do not have a negative effect on a country's economy. Instead, asylum seekers granted residency could help boost a country’s economic welfare. 

The study was conducted by economists from the <a href="http://www.cnrs.fr/index.html">French National Center for Scientific Research </a>(CRNS), <a href="http://en.uca.fr/">Clermont-Auvergne University</a>, and <a href="https://university.parisnanterre.fr/">Paris-Nanterre University</a> who used a new statistical approach to the economic impacts and interactions of asylum seekers. 

For the study, the researchers collected 30 years of data on migration flows from 15 countries in Western Europe. During this 30 years, Western European countries experienced an influx of asylum seekers from the wars in the Balkans in the 1990s and after the conflict in Syria in 2011. 

The data was then applied to a statistical model often used to evaluate the effectiveness of different economic policies without any bias or assumptions. 

The researchers found that the increase in migrants has a positive effect on a country’s economy and unemployment rates even drop. 

For asylum seekers, the researchers did not see any negative economic impacts and instead noticed a similar positive effect to permanent migrants when asylum seekers were granted residency. 

The results could help combat xenophobic fears about asylum seekers and migrants, as the increase in new residents could provide new economic opportunities and boost GDP. 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Asylum seekers do not burden European economies, study finds

Since the Syrian Refugee Crisis began, there were those who...

Twitter has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms on the internet, giving users a platform to express their thoughts and ideas – as well as share articles and media – at any time of the day or night. That is why researchers from the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> decided to analyze 800 million <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-trump-tweets/">tweets</a> in order to determine how our mode of thinking changes at different times of the day. 

In a study published in <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>, these artificial intelligence (AI) and medical researchers used AImethods to analyze aggregated and anonymized twitter content from users in the United Kingdom. This content was assessed every hour over a period of four years across 54 of the UK’s largest cities. Their system determined different emotional and cognitive modalities in our thoughts through identifying variations in language by tracking the use of specific words in this content. The words are associated with 73 psychometric indicators, and are utilized to help interpret information about one’s thinking style.

The results showed that analytical thinking peaked at 6am, as language used at this time correlated with more logical thinking. But come evenings and nights, thinking styles became more emotional and existential. 

Out of the 73 psychometric quantities the researchers tracked, they determined that two independent underlying factors were most responsible for these temporal variations across the data. The first factor linked with measures of analytical thinking through increased use of nouns, articles, and prepositions – which are related to intelligence, improved class performance, and education in other studies. Peak expression time was around 5am to 6am, with people showing increased focus on achievement and power. The second factor had a peak expression time beginning around 3am to 4am. Aggregated Twitter content determined this time is correlated with language about existential concerns and anticorrelated with expression of positive emotions.

This study ultimately shows strong evidence that our language changes significantly throughout the day. The times of major change are also associated with changes in neural activity and hormonal levels, which suggests a possible connection with our circadian clock.

“Circadian rhythms are a major feature of most systems in the human body, and when these are disrupted they can result in psychiatric, cardiovascular and metabolic disease,” says Stafford Lightman, a professor at <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/medical-school/">Bristol Medical School</a>. “The use of media data allows us to analyze neuropsychological parameters in a large unbiased population and gain insights into how mood-related use of language changes as a function of time of day. This will help us understand the basis of disorders in which this process is disrupted.”

The study also shows that media content such as Twitter can be used in studies to connect with social and biological sciences. It turns out that Twitter can be a much more useful tool than simply a place where you can argue with online trolls and post the latest meme. 

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Twitter study: We’re analytical in the AM, emotional in the PM

Twitter has quickly become one of the most popular social...

Sure, it can be difficult to feel like smiling while getting your photo taken on a trip to renew your passport or license. 

Although natural smiles that don’t exaggerate or hide facial features <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/photos.html">are allowed</a>, the preferred passport photo is one with a completely neutral expression and both eyes open. 

However, a new study has found that showcasing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wrinkles-genuine-smile/">a big smile</a> in an ID photo could make it easier to correctly identify you and even prevent identity fraud.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/">University of York</a> conducted the study to examine how smiles in photos affect accurate identification. Previous research has shown a wide gap of human error in correctly matching a human face to a photo. 

Even smartphones that have face unlocking capabilities can be tricked by face-morphing technology. 

The researchers decided to test if smiles could make photo recognition easier with three different studies. 

“Photo ID is a significant part of our lives and yet we know that the human brain has a hard time matching photos of people to other photos and matching photos with the real-life person,” said Mila Mileva. “Identity fraud is a real problem on many levels, so it is important that we do more research in this area to see how we can improve methods of identification.”

For two of the studies, 40 participants were given 60 images of neutral facial expressions and were asked to match the images to an open-mouth smiling face or a closed smiling face. 

In the third study, 34 participants had to match photos of people with just the lower part of the face visible. 

The researchers found that open-mouthed or wide smiles made matching photos easier in all three studies.

“Our research suggests that replacing the neutral expression we usually use when taking identification photographs with an open mouth smile, can make face matching an easier decision,” said Mileva. “As soon as there's a mismatch in emotional expression - comparing a smiling and a neutral image for example - the matching accuracy drops substantially.”

Smiling in photos also made it easier for participants to identify people who looked alike but weren’t the same, which could be helpful in preventing future identity fraud.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Smiling in ID photos could help prevent identity theft or fraud

Sure, it can be difficult to feel like smiling while...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[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

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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