Pregnancy is a time when many expectant mothers seek ways to manage discomfort and stress. With growing interest in natural remedies, cannabidiol (CBD), a compound derived from cannabis, has gained popularity as a perceived safe option for nausea, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. 



Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, CBD does not produce a high, leading many to assume it poses little to no risk during pregnancy.



Despite this perception, scientific research on the effects of CBD during pregnancy remains limited. Many previous studies have focused on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-use-impacts-working-memory-and-brain-function/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cannabis smoke</a> or THC exposure, leaving CBD largely unexplored. 



A new study from <a href="https://www.mcmaster.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McMaster University</a> challenges these assumptions, revealing concerning links between CBD use and fetal development issues. These findings suggest that CBD, often considered harmless, may have unexpected consequences for both mother and child.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-risks-of-cbd-in-pregnancy">Potential risks of CBD in pregnancy</h2>



A team of researchers at McMaster University investigated the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy, specifically focusing on both CBD and THC. 



The findings, published in eBioMedicine, highlight the potential dangers of oral cannabis consumption from early to mid-pregnancy. 



The study revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-use-during-pregnancy-rewires-the-fetal-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cannabis exposure</a> was associated with impaired fetal growth, changes in the placenta, and behavioral alterations in offspring.



Tyrah Ritchie led the study while completing her master’s degree in the Medical Sciences program at McMaster University.



“The use of cannabis during pregnancy is rising in Canada. Most previous studies focus on exposure to cannabis smoke or just the psychoactive component of cannabis (THC), leaving other cannabis ingredients and methods of consumption understudied," noted Ritchie.



"However, consuming cannabis orally or only using other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-potency-cannabis-use-linked-to-epigenetic-changes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cannabis</a> ingredients like CBD, is often perceived as safer despite this lack of evidence. Our study is shedding light that there's a possibility that CBD might also be harmful in the pregnancy.”



The study challenges the belief that CBD is a safe alternative to THC during pregnancy. While THC has long been linked to developmental concerns, this research suggests that CBD may also have unintended effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fetal-growth-and-placental-development">Fetal growth and placental development</h2>



The researchers examined how THC and CBD affect fetal development by administering cannabis oil to pregnant mice. 



Their observations revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-and-hallucinogen-use-are-at-historically-high-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cannabis exposure</a> resulted in smaller fetuses compared to those in the control group. This suggests that cannabis compounds may interfere with normal growth, leading to intrauterine growth restriction.



In addition to reduced fetal size, the study found that cannabis impacted the development of blood vessels that supply nutrients to the placenta. 



The placenta plays a crucial role in providing oxygen and nutrients to the developing baby, and any disruption in this process could have serious consequences.



“We did see that both THC and CBD can disrupt a special type of immune cell called a Uterine NK Cell that is crucial in normal development of the placenta," said Ali Ashkar, professor in McMaster’s Department of Medicine and co-leader of the study.



"We also saw poor development of the arteries that help supply blood to the placenta. We're thinking this is what is possibly disrupting the nutrient and oxygen delivery to the baby and contributing to the intrauterine grow restriction.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pregnancy-cbd-and-offspring">Pregnancy, CBD, and offspring</h2>



Beyond physical growth, the study also examined how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chemical-found-in-cannabis-plants-can-actually-reduce-cannabis-induced-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cannabis exposure</a> affects offspring behavior. Researchers monitored the behavior of the mice after birth and discovered changes in aggression, activity levels, and learning ability. 



These findings suggest that exposure to cannabis during pregnancy could have lasting neurological effects on the offspring.



“Oral use of THC and CBD during the pregnancy not only disrupts growth of the baby but seems to have long-term consequences as the babies were found to have changes in their behaviour later in life,” said Ritchie.



Behavioral changes in offspring highlight the possibility of cognitive and emotional challenges that may persist into adulthood. 



The exact mechanisms behind these effects remain unclear, but the findings raise concerns about how cannabis interacts with the developing brain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-further-investigation">Need for further investigation</h2>



While this study provides critical insights, researchers emphasize the need for further investigation to fully understand the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recreational-cannabis-use-protects-against-cognitive-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">risks</a> of CBD use during pregnancy. 



The study was conducted on mice, and while animal models offer valuable information, human studies are necessary to confirm these findings.



Ritchie stresses that the growing trend of cannabis use during pregnancy should be met with caution. Many expectant mothers turn to CBD with the belief that it is safe, but without clear scientific evidence, assumptions about its harmlessness may be misleading.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-cbd-use-during-pregnancy">Rethinking CBD use during pregnancy</h2>



The widespread perception of CBD as a natural and safe remedy has led to its increasing use among pregnant individuals. 



However, this study suggests that CBD may not be as risk-free as commonly thought. The findings indicate that both THC and CBD could interfere with crucial developmental processes, affecting both physical growth and long-term behavior.



Pregnant individuals considering cannabis products should consult healthcare professionals before use. While the study does not provide definitive answers on CBD’s safety for human pregnancies, it does highlight the need for greater awareness and caution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-funding-and-future-research">Funding and future research</h2>



This study was supported by The <a href="https://cannabisresearch.mcmaster.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael G. DeGroote</a> Centre for Medicinal Cancer Research, the <a href="https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/193.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canadian Institutes of Health Research</a>, and the <a href="https://www.innovation.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canadian Foundation for Innovation</a>. 



As research in this field continues, scientists aim to explore the specific mechanisms by which cannabis compounds affect pregnancy outcomes.



With increasing cannabis use worldwide, understanding its full impact on pregnancy is more important than ever. Further studies will help clarify the risks, providing expectant mothers with the information they need to make informed choices.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00016-7/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EBioMedicine</a>.



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CBD use during pregnancy has unexpected consequences

Pregnancy is a time when many expectant mothers seek ways to manage discomfort and stress. With growing interest in natural remedies, cannabidiol (CBD), a compound derived from cannabis, has gained popularity as a perceived safe option for nausea, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, CBD does not produce a high, leading many to assume it poses little to no risk during pregnancy. Despite this perception, scientific research on the effects of CBD during pregnancy remains limited. Many previous studies have focused...

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.”

--

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>.

--

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. 

--

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...

Researchers are reporting that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secret-language-dogs-gestures/">dogs</a> may have been man's best friend in America more than 10,000 years ago. Remains that were uncovered in Illinois in the 1960s are now believed to be over a thousand years older than previously realized.

Two skeletons found at the Koster site in Illinois have been analyzed along with a third skeleton from the Stillwell site, which represents the oldest known evidence of dog domestication on the continent. The results of the study indicate that dogs were domesticated in America around 10,500 years ago.

According to the researchers, the three sets of remains were found to be complete and well-preserved, suggesting that they had been buried with care. The ancient skeletons collectively represent “the oldest intentional, individually-buried dogs known in the worldwide archaeological record.”

While the ancient fossils mark a pivotal point in America, they also introduce questions that prompt further research. The experts explained that there is a 6,000-year gap between how far back the remains can be traced and when domesticated dogs were thought to have first been introduced to North America. 

“The 6,000 year discrepancy between the timing of initial human migration into the Americas and the earliest evidence for domesticated dogs suggests either earlier dogs are going unseen or unidentified or dogs arrived later with a subsequent human migration,” said the researchers.

They explained that the first domestication of dogs probably occurred in Eurasia by 16,000 years ago, “with the initial peopling of the Americas likely happening around the same time.”

“The arrival of dogs into the Americas has important cultural and ecological implications,” wrote the study authors.

“Dogs were the first invasive species (along with humans) and domesticate in the Americas, potentially impacting populations of small mammals through predation, other species of Canis through hybridization, and other carnivores through transmission of diseases or competition.”

The study is set to be published soon in a peer-reviewed journal.

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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

Dogs were domesticated in America over 10,000 years ago

Researchers are reporting that dogs may have been man's best...

When you drape a thick fur coat over your shoulders, it’s very apparent you’re wearing the skin of an animal.  But there are other fabrics that are less obvious but commonly understood. If you slip into a silk dressing robe, it isn’t obvious you are wearing a product made by thousands of larvae of a domestic moth.  However, it’s not much of a secret that silkworms have been creating fabric used all over the world for the last 5,000 years. 

Similarly, without a close examination, the wool sweater that’s so nice to wear on cold autumn evenings could be made from cotton or nylon yarn instead of an animal’s hair.  Coats are stuffed with goose down or synthetic insulation depending on the quality of the product. Garments are very often made from cotton and the consumer usually knows very little about the specific growing conditions or agricultural practices that lead to their t-shirt.  

It’s not exactly surprising considering the vast array of materials used for clothing that some may cause deforestation or that consumers are mostly none the wiser.

The silk industry was extremely important to France in the 1860s when a disease struck their silkworms.  Famed scientist Louis Pasteur and Count Hilaire de Chardonnet worked to discover the root of the problem when Chardonnet invented ‘imitation silk’.  Chardonnet, using cellulose from wood pulp created a fabric now known as rayon. Initially rayon was found to be too weak for most clothing and was instead used in other products.  However in 1955, high wet modulus (HWM) rayon was invented, a new rayon strong enough for clothes. 

Today rayon is extremely popular.  According to <a href="http://www.textileworld.com">TextileWorld</a>, 5.2 million tons of rayon and related cellulose based fabrics were produced in 2015.    

Also in 2015, the Federal Trade Commission filed complaints against Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, Nordstrom, J.C. Penney, Backcountry.com, and their subsidiaries for selling rayon that was mislabeled as bamboo.  The companies were ordered to pay $1.3 million in civil penalties. 

It’s true that bamboo can be used to create rayon but that’s only part of the story.  Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world and so it has great potential for being used sustainably.  Of course forests can be cleared for bamboo plantations or natural bamboo stands could be decimated but these are rare instances and not the main problem.  Bamboo is usually relatively clean and sustainable but the same is not true for rayon. Patagonia explains that the chemical processing is a bigger concern than bamboo used in rayon:

“The solvent used for this process is carbon disulfide, a toxic chemical that is a known human reproductive hazard. It can endanger factory workers and pollute the environment via air emissions and wastewater. The recovery of this solvent in most viscose factories is around 50%, which means that the other half goes into the environment.”  

Much rayon doesn’t come from bamboo either.  According to non-profit <a href="https://www.ran.org/">Rainforest Action Network’s</a> Out of Fashion campaign, 120 million trees are cut down annually to make our clothes.  And Nicole Rycroft, founder of Canopy, a sustainable clothing nonprofit, quoted in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us">The Guardian</a> said that 30% of rayon and viscose (created with a similar process) in clothing is sourced from wood pulp coming from ‘endangered and ancient forests’.  

Organizations like Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and Canopy have pressured fashion companies to change their deforestation practices with mixed results.  In 2010, Canada, Indonesia and Brazil supplied about 60% of China’s pulp import, 75% of which was used to create viscose fabrics. According to The Guardian, 5% of the fabric industry is made up of forest based fabrics like rayon and viscose.  It’s projected that demand for these fabrics may grow as fast as 9% annually, which could lead to even more deforestation the world over. 

Canopy and RAN have each had some success.  Canopy has worked with H&amp;M to stop using cellulose from unsustainable sources and RAN reports that Ralph Lauren, Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie &amp; Fitch have adopted RAN’s more sustainable policies.  RAN also notes that some companies have ignored the pressure, continuing to support deforestation in their supply chains, specifically mentioning Forever 21, Under Armour, Foot Locker, Prada Group and Michael Kors; you can sign a petition on their site addressing these companies.  

Unfortunately fashion and deforestation are only half of the viscose rayon problem.  Patagonia notes that it doesn’t use rayon at all, not sourced from bamboo or sustainably harvested forests.  Patagonia doesn’t use rayon because only about 50% of the toxic chemicals used are recovered. Even if the toxic chemicals are kept in factory, the results can be devastating.  According to Paul Blanc, author of Fake Silk: The Lethal History of Viscose Rayon about 30% of factory workers investigated showed serious signs of poisoning.  Blanc said in an interview on <a href="http://www.cbc.ca">CBC</a> in 2017:

"They omit entirely the fact that you can't make the product without this toxic chemical. So it's really a 'greenwashing' of the most diabolical sort."   

Paul Blanc said one of the symptoms of poisoning by carbon disulfide, one of the main chemicals used to process rayon is insanity.  He said one factory had bars on its windows due to the prevalence of workers trying to jump to their deaths. Reproductive harm has also been shown in both men and women exposed to carbon disulfide.  One study even showed increase in spontaneous abortions in female workers at a rayon factory. 

The science isn’t unequivocal though, as only small effects have been shown in factory workers exposed to carbon disulfide and no causal relationship has been discovered, according to Science Direct.  

Studies showing the direct effect of specific chemicals on the human body are hard to carry out, and controlled settings are impossible.  It could be that the production of rayon has much more widespread problems than the scientific consensus shows. 

According to a paper in the journal Tobacco Control, as late as the 1960s only one third of American doctors thought that cigarettes indisputably caused lung cancer.  Part of the problem is money. Cigarette companies spent a lot of money disputing the idea that their product caused cancer. It’s not hard to imagine that clothing companies hide the darker aspects of their trade.  Indeed as I mentioned earlier, clothing companies have even been caught mislabeling rayon as ‘bamboo’. When confronted with the facts that their clothing has caused <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/palm-oil-deforestation-emissions/">deforestation</a>, the fashion industry claimed ignorance, much like they have claimed ignorance of sweatshops.  

When information is hard to come by on manufacturing and sourcing processes and companies even claim ignorance of where their product comes from, it makes it hard to see the bigger picture.              

Unfortunately rayon isn’t used only in clothes but is used to produce tires, cellophane and synthetic sponges as well.

It’s nearly impossible to live a normal modern life and never use any of these products.  What you can do is sign petitions like the one RAN created. You can also purposefully buy from companies like Patagonia that put factory workers and the environment as important from the beginning without being pressured from the outside.  Personally, I try to buy much of my clothes used, if you buy used it doesn’t matter nearly as much how the product was produced, you’re not contributing directly to production anyway. 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Deforestation for fashion: The cost of rayon

When you drape a thick fur coat over your shoulders,...

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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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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