Aging is a natural process, but many seek ways to delay its effects. The desire to maintain health and vitality has led researchers to explore different interventions. 



Some studies suggest that reducing calorie intake can slow aging in humans. Others indicate that omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D may influence biological aging in animals.



However, until recently, it was unclear whether these approaches would have the same <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/muscles-defy-aging-with-remarkable-resilience/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">impact on humans</a>.



A team of researchers set out to investigate whether these simple, accessible measures could influence aging at a biological level. The findings suggest that certain lifestyle changes might hold the key to slowing down the body’s natural decline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-omega-3-and-aging-in-older-adults">Omega-3 and aging in older adults</h2>



One of the most extensive studies on aging is the DO-HEALTH trial led by Heike Bischoff-Ferrari at the <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Zurich</a>. The team explored whether vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and regular exercise could impact aging in humans.



Previous research had already demonstrated that these three factors contribute to better health by reducing infections, preventing falls, and lowering cancer risks.



“These results inspired us to measure the direct influence of these three therapies on the biological aging process in the Swiss DO-HEALTH participants,” said Bischoff-Ferrari.



The research team aimed to determine whether these benefits extended beyond general health and actually slowed down the biological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-the-cellular-mortality-timer-that-dictates-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">markers of aging</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-aging-study">Focus of the aging study</h2>



The trial included 2,157 participants who were randomly divided into eight groups. Each group followed a different combination of vitamin D, omega-3s, exercise, or a placebo to assess aging.



Some received all three interventions, while others took only one or two. The experts monitored participants over three years, conducting follow-up phone calls every three months and in-depth health assessments at yearly intervals.



The DO-HEALTH cohort is the largest European study of healthy adults over 70. Funded by the EU’s Seventh Framework Program for Research, it represents a significant effort to understand how simple interventions can improve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-aging-discovered-in-plant-leaves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging outcomes</a>.



The Swiss National Science Foundation provided additional support for epigenetic measurements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biological-vs-chronological-aging">Biological vs. chronological aging</h2>



Aging can be measured in different ways. Chronological age is simply the number of years a person has lived, while biological age reflects the body's actual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-bodies-begin-breaking-down-very-precise-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">condition</a>. 



Some people age faster due to genetic factors, lifestyle choices, or environmental influences. Others remain biologically younger than their chronological years suggest.



To measure biological aging, scientists use a tool called an epigenetic clock. This method tracks DNA modifications, specifically methylation, which can indicate how quickly a body is aging. 



The DO-HEALTH study applied this technique to analyze whether certain interventions influenced biological aging.



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



The research team collaborated with Steve Horvath, a senior researcher at Altos Labs Cambridge. Horvath is a pioneer in the development of epigenetic clocks, which have become an essential tool for measuring aging at the molecular level.



The study examined 777 individuals over the age of 70. Each participant was assigned one of eight treatment plans, which included taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily, consuming 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids, or engaging in 30 minutes of strength training three times per week. 



Some participants followed a combination of these interventions, while others received a placebo. The goal was to observe whether any of these treatments influenced biological aging over three years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-omega-3-slowed-biological-aging">Omega-3 slowed biological aging</h2>



Blood samples from the participants provided valuable insights. Researchers found that taking omega-3 fatty acids slowed down biological aging by up to four months. 



This effect was consistent regardless of gender, age, or body mass index. More significantly, the combination of omega-3s, vitamin D, and strength training yielded even stronger results.



“This result extends our previous findings from the DO-HEALTH study, in which these three factors combined had the greatest impact on reducing the risk of cancer and preventing premature frailty over a three-year period, to slowing down the biological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-25-years-of-research-revealed-about-brain-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging process</a>,” noted Bischoff-Ferrari.



The findings suggest that each factor works through different mechanisms that complement each other, leading to a greater overall effect when combined.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-study">Significance of the study</h2>



The study provides evidence that simple lifestyle changes, including Omega-3 intake, can influence biological aging.



While the difference of a few months may seem small, slowing down aging on a molecular level could have long-term health benefits. A slower aging process might reduce the risk of age-related diseases, improve quality of life, and extend healthy lifespan.



Despite these promising findings, the researchers acknowledge that measuring biological aging remains a challenge. 



“There is no generally accepted gold standard for measuring biological age. However, we analyzed the best currently validated epigenetic clocks, which reflect the state of the art," said Bischoff-Ferrari.



The study contributes to a growing body of research exploring how lifestyle factors influence aging at a biological level.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-to-a-broader-population">Expanding to a broader population</h2>



One of the study’s limitations is its focus on Swiss participants. Biological aging can be influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors, which vary across populations. 



To gain a more comprehensive understanding, the researchers plan to expand the study to include participants from Germany, France, Austria, and Portugal. This broader dataset will help determine whether the findings apply to a more diverse range of individuals.



The DO-HEALTH study is part of a larger effort to refine methods for measuring and slowing aging. Bischoff-Ferrari and her team are working with the <a href="https://healthspanextension.science" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Health Span Extension</a> Consortium to validate biological clocks and improve the accuracy of aging biomarkers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-omega-3-and-aging-research">Future of omega-3 and aging research</h2>



The findings from this study reinforce the idea that aging is not entirely out of our control. While there is no single solution to stop aging, certain lifestyle choices may slow its progression. 



The combination of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and strength training shows measurable benefits, suggesting that simple, accessible interventions can make a real difference.



Future studies will continue refining these approaches and testing new methods to measure biological aging. The hope is that ongoing research will lead to more effective strategies for maintaining health and vitality in later years. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00793-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Aging</a>.



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Defying time: Three ways to slow biological aging

Aging is a natural process, but many seek ways to delay its effects. The desire to maintain health and vitality has led researchers to explore different interventions. Some studies suggest that reducing calorie intake can slow aging in humans. Others indicate that omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D may influence biological aging in animals. However, until recently, it was unclear whether these approaches would have the same impact on humans. A team of researchers set out to investigate whether these simple, accessible measures could influence aging at...

There really is no such thing as a “normal voice,” according to a new study from the <a href="http://www.ucla.edu/">University of California, Los Angeles</a>. The researchers found that a complex combination of factors including speaker, listener, context, and signal must be understood to evaluate whether or not a voice is perceived as being normal.

“When we started looking at the literature, everyone dodges the question of normalness,” said study lead author Jody E. Kreiman. “Clearly, a great deal depends on what we call ‘normal’ and not ‘normal.’”

When a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/politicians-voice-impacts-success/">voice</a> abnormality is recognized, it can reflect negatively on the speaker's personality, health, and intelligence level.

“How you sound affects every aspect of your existence as a biological being,” said Kreiman. “Voice quality is your auditory face.”

In an effort to understand how people determine when the quality of a voice is good or bad, the team set out to examine what it means for a voice to sound normal. The researchers took a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate voice quality, combining physiology, aerodynamics, acoustics, and perception.

The study participants were presented with recordings of 100 female speakers pronouncing a vowel sound for one second. Half of the speakers had been diagnosed with voice abnormalities, while the other half of speakers had no known vocal disorder.

The participants were asked to rate the recordings and arrange them in order according to the most severe abnormalities.

“We are not interested in cases where people have a very large abnormality,” said Kreiman. “We are more interested in borderline cases so we can begin defining a boundary between 'normal' and not 'normal.'"
The researchers found that listeners were individually consistent in their ratings, and many participants often agreed on voices that sounded abnormal. Across the study group, however, respondents did not agree on which voices sounded normal. These findings suggest that there is no single vocal state that is considered to be normal.

“What these results are really saying is that the current view that voice perception is just the voice signal, or the person speaking, or the person listening, is wrong,” said Kreiman. “We are dealing with a dynamic interaction between the speaker, the signal, the context and the listener, and we have to understand how all these different parts go together to really understand voice."

According to Kreiman, follow-up research is needed due to several study limitations, including the use of only female speakers,voice recordings which contained only sustained vowels, and a limited acoustic model.

The research will be presented during the <a href="https://acousticalsociety.org/asa-meetings/">175th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America</a> 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

There no is standard “normal” voice, scientists say

There really is no such thing as a “normal voice,”...

Wind farms create clean energy but can disrupt marine animals. The findings of a new study could help reduce the environmental impact of offshore wind farm construction and conserve and manage marine ecosystems. 

More and more countries are shifting their attention towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. In the race to mitigate climate change and reduce emissions, finding alternative yet sustainable energy is critical.Wind farms create clean energy but can disrupt marine animals 

A team of researchers from Germany, Denmark, and the UK created a new model that measures the future impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-largest-wind-farm/">wind farm</a> operations on marine animals which could play an important role in future wind farm construction. 

The researchers published their findings in the journal Conservation Letters. 

Whether planning an offshore wind farm or adding solar panels to your home, it’s important to consider the environmental impacts of “clean energy.” In the case of wind farms, the noise of the construction and day-to-operations could be harmful to marine animals. 

For the study, a model was created that examines the potential impacts of exposure to noise pollution from wind farm operations. The researchers tested the model on the Northern Sea harbor porpoise population to show just how disrupting wind farm noise could be.

The model, named <a href="http://depons.au.dk/">DEPONS</a>, incorporates data on how noise and other disruptors impact and drive animal movements, foraging, and energetics. Although the researchers used porpoises to show the capabilities of the model, DEPONS is applicable to many different marine species. 

The researchers assessed the impact of wind farm construction on the North Sea harbor porpoise population by first monitoring population density during the construction of a Dutch offshore wind farm in the region. 

After recording echolocation sounds during construction, which is how the portoises navigate through the waters, the researchers created a virtual landscape that mirrored the Dutch wind farm and simulated the noise the wind farm generated. 

The simulated wind farm showed the researchers how noise pollution from wind farms would impact the porpoise populations under different scenarios. 

The model could help predict the impact of wind farm construction on other marine species and could be a critical tool for future marine management.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wind farms create clean energy but can disrupt marine animals

Wind farms create clean energy but can disrupt marine animals....

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a> has found that older adults are more likely to get distracted while experiencing stress and other powerful emotions. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/majority-seniors-interested-sex/">Senior adults</a> placed in a stressful situation were found to lose focus due to irrelevant information much more often than young adults.

The researchers found the lack of concentration among older adults to be linked to a tiny region of the brain stem, the locus coeruleus, which connects to many parts of the brain and boosts focus during times of panic or stress. The results of the study suggest that this region loses its power to support attentiveness with age.


“Trying hard to complete a task increases emotional arousal, so when younger adults try hard, this should increase their ability to ignore distracting information,” said Mather. “But for older adults, trying hard may make both what they are trying to focus on and other information stand out more."

The research was designed to investigate how locus coeruleus function changes during aging and Alzheimer's disease. The locus coeruleus appears to be one of the earliest sites of tau pathology, which is linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

“Initial signs of this pathology are evident in the locus coeruleus in most people by age 30,” said Mather. “Thus, it is critical to better understand how locus coeruleus function changes as we age.”

Using brain scans and measurements of pupil dilation, the experts recorded locus coeruleus activity in 28 younger adults and 24 older adults. 

The participants were shown pairs of images featuring buildings and objects in which one of the images was clear and highlighted, while the other was faint. The subjects were asked to report which picture was highlighted in each pair.

The trials started off with sounds which indicated whether or not the individuals may receive an electric shock at the end of the test. Participants showed greater pupil dilation and sweat during trials when they might get a shock, indicating greater physiological arousal.


Younger adults who were anticipating a shock showed amplified activity in response to the clear images and showed decreased activity when they saw faint images. Regions of the brain that control what is focused on and what is ignored had unobstructed pathways linked to the locus coeruleus, enabling the young participants to ignore irrelevant information.


On the other hand, the connection between these critical regions was interrupted across the older adults when they were anticipating a shock, as signals from the locus coeruleus were no longer receiving a response. The older adults also showed heightened activity associated with pictures that were both clear and faint, demonstrating that they were less able to be selective under emotional stress.

“Deciphering exactly how these changes in the brain occur as we age could one day help us uncover how to protect the brain from cognitive decline and loss of function,” said Mather.

An estimated 5.7 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, which is the sixth-leading cause of death in the country.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nathumbehav">Nature Human Behavior</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

There’s a reason why older people are more easily distracted

A new study led by the University of Southern California...

Loud, heavy snoring can disrupt <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/circadian-rhythm-light-melatonin/">sleep</a> and make it difficult to maintain a healthy rest schedule. But it turns out, there could be even more dangerous side effects.

Heavy snoring can be indicative of a serious health problem called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is the result of throat muscles relaxing but can raise blood pressure and put stress on the cardiovascular system. 

As the walls of your throat relax and narrow it doesn’t allow for enough breath which in turn causes snoring, gasping, and sometimes choking. 

And now, a new study has also identified a risk of skull thinning associated with snoring and OSA.

Researchers from the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a> conducted the research that examined the link between skull thinning and obstructive sleep apnea. The results were published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head &amp; Neck Surgery.

Loud snoring and sleep apnea was associated with a weaker skull, and even a skull erosion of 1 millimeter is enough to cause cerebrospinal fluid leak (sCSF-L), according to previous claims.

If the skull thins and cerebrospinal fluid leaks away from the brain and spinal cord it can result in coma, stroke, and sometimes death. 

The researchers found that people with OSA had skulls that were up to 1.23 millimeters thinner compared to people without sleep problems. 

“Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak is associated with obesity, female sex, and middle age,” said Rick Nelson, a co-author of the study. “Consistent with the rise in obesity in the United States, the rates of sCSF-L have more than doubled in the past decade.” 

For the study, the researchers scanned the skulls of 114 people between the ages of 40 and 60. 56 of the participants had been diagnosed with moderate-to-severe-sleep apnea. 

The results of the study showed a difference in skull thickness in the patients with sleep apnea versus those who didn't suffer from a sleep disorder. 

“Future studies are needed to identify the mechanism of how OSA may lead to skull thinning and how this may increase the risk of sCSF-L,” said Nelson. “Patients with skull thinning on CT imaging may be at increased risk of OSA and those patients should be considered for OSA screening.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Heavy snoring can actually cause the skull to thin

Loud, heavy snoring can disrupt sleep and make it difficult...

Days after Hawaii's Kilauea <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hawaiis-kilauea-volcano-erupts/">volcano erupted</a> on the Big Island, over 1,700 people are still displaced and unsure when they will find out if their homes are in the path of destruction. Some residents of Leilani Estates, one of two subdivisions evacuated, were allowed to return to their homes today to retrieve pets, medicine, and other important belongings.

Richard Rapoza is a spokesperson for the <a href="http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/">Hawaii Emergency Management Agency</a>. He told <a href="https://weather.com/">The Weather Channel</a> that the residents “need to get in and out as quickly as possible.” 

Rapoza explained that the slow-moving walls of hot lava are in a relatively confined area. “The biggest danger is exposure to the gas,” he said, warning that masks sold in stores are not effective enough to protect people from the harmful effects of the toxic gas in the area, which contains extremely high levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2).

Emergency personnel are wearing devices that monitor SO2 levels, along with specialized gas masks and equipment. Authorities are warning sightseers to stay away from the region altogether.

Last Thursday’s eruption has been followed by an average of one earthquake per hour, the largest of which was a 6.9 magnitude quake on Friday. According to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/">CNN</a> meteorologist Judson Jones, there were also quakes in the days before the volcano exploded, triggered by magma shifting underground.

Molten lava and toxic gas have been pouring out of a total of ten large cracks, or fissures, that continue to open up on the eastern side of the volcano. Walls of fiery lava are scorching the ground and burning everything in their path, including 26 homes and nine buildings.  

It is unclear when the volcanic activity will end, and experts are warning that it could continue for weeks. Hawaii's Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said on Sunday, “There's no sign of this slowing down.” 

<a href="https://www.usgs.gov">U.S. Geological Survey</a> volcanologist Wendy Stovall explained that there is more magma present in the system. “As long as that supply is there, the eruption will continue,” said Stovall.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/view-new-fissure-luana-street-leilani-estates">USGS</a>

Kilauea volcano continues to threaten homes and neighborhoods

Days after Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted on the Big Island,...

A new study has exposed the surprising fact that importing food can be just as damaging to ecological health as exporting food. Domestic farmers are sometimes forced to switch crops in response to the global food market, and this often leads to unforeseen environmental consequences.


Study senior author Jianguo “Jack” Liu is the director of the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability at <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a>.

“What is obvious is not always the whole truth,” said Liu. “Unless a world is examined in a systemic, holistic way, environmental costs will be overlooked.”


The study was focused on the global trade of soybeans, which are in extremely high demand in China for food products and animal feed. China intercepts over 60 percent of the global supply of exported <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-in-growing-soybeans-could-help-feed-the-world/">soybeans</a> at a price that cannot be matched by China's domestic farmers.


Brazil is one of the largest producers of soybeans in the world, second only to the United States. As a result, massive amounts of rainforest have been converted to cropland in the country.

It would seem obvious that Brazil is incurring, by far, more of the environmental cost associated with soybean production compared to consumers like China. But now, the experts are describing how importers of crops are doing their own ambient damage as well.

Betsy Von Holle is a director of the National Science Foundation's <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18503/nsf18503.htm">Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems</a> program, which funded the study.

“This research demonstrates a surprising environmental impact of global agricultural trade,” said Von Holler. “If the importing country switches from a more sustainable crop, such as soybeans, to one that needs more water and nutrients, such as corn, the nitrogen pollution that results can harm the environment of the importing country.”


The team investigated the soil in China's top-producing cropland and found the largest increase in nitrogen pollution in fields that had been converted from soybeans to rice paddies or corn fields.

The researchers pointed out that decisions driven by global markets can also place heavy demands on water supplies.

“This study underscores the need to pay attention to both sides of international trade not rely on conventional wisdom,” said Liu. “The framework of telecoupling - a new integrated way to study human and natural interactions over distances - shows us unexpected outcomes that can stand in the way of sustainability.”

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The hidden environmental costs of importing food

A new study has exposed the surprising fact that importing...

The tourism industry has been growing quickly as international trade and travel has become more accessible than ever before. But now for the first time ever, a new study has calculated the environmental impact of the world’s tourism industry, ranging from flights, accommodations, and the cost of making souvenirs. 

The study, conducted by<a href="http://www.isa.org.usyd.edu.au/"> Integrated Sustainability Analysis</a> supply-chain research group at the <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/">University of Sydney</a>, marks the first time that the global carbon footprint of tourism and travel has ever been fully calculated taking into account all aspects of the tourism supply chain. 

The results show that tourism is a major source of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-buffer-greenhouse-gas/">greenhouse gas emissions</a>, four times more than what was previously thought. 

Tourism’s environmental impact already accounts for one-tenth of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

The study was published in the journal Nature Climate Change and estimated the impacts of over one billion tourism supply chains throughout the world in order to measure the total global impact of tourism. 

“Our analysis is a world-first look at the true cost of tourism - including consumables such as food from eating out and souvenirs - it's a complete life-cycle assessment of global tourism, ensuring we don't miss any impacts,” said Arunima Malik, a corresponding author of the study. “This research fills a crucial gap identified by the <a href="http://unwto.org/">World Tourism Organization </a>and the <a href="https://www.wmo.int/">World Meteorological Organization</a> to quantify, in a comprehensive manner, the world's tourism footprint.”

One particular finding of interest was that even though the US is responsible for the majority of emissions from tourism, islands are disproportionately affected by international travel. 

Some islands face an increased risk of climate change including sea level rise and coral bleaching due to the fact that they are popular tourist destinations. Air travel is also a major contributor to tourism’s environmental impact. 

Tourism is projected to grow at a rate of four percent each year, and the researchers say that emissions from travel need to be taken into account as nations work to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change. 

“Given that tourism is set to grow faster than many other economic sectors, the international community may consider its inclusion in the future in climate commitments, such as the Paris Accord, by tying international flights to specific nations,” said Ya-Yen Sun, a co-author of the study. “Carbon taxes or carbon trading schemes - in particular for aviation - may be required to curtail unchecked future growth in tourism-related emissions.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Calculating the carbon footprint of the world’s tourism industry

The tourism industry has been growing quickly as international trade...

For the first time, experts are describing what takes place inside of our brains when we experience feelings of gratitude. The research could inspire future studies which explore how our everyday social interactions give rise to complex <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/horses-remember-human-expressions/">emotions</a>.

In 2015, a team from the <a href="https://dornsife.usc.edu/bci/">Brain and Creativity Institute at USC</a> demonstrated that gratitude emerges from the medial prefrontal cortex and perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC). These areas are linked to feelings of reward, self-reference, moral cognition, fairness, and subjective value judgement.

Study participants were presented with true stories about life-saving gifts such as food and shelter that were received by survivors during the Holocaust. While the students placed themselves in these same situations and rated their feelings of gratefulness, the researchers used MRI scanners to monitor brain activity.

“There has not been much attention given to the emotion of gratitude, and yet it is extremely important in social behavior,” said senior author Antonio Damasio. “Gratitude rewards generosity and maintains the cycle of healthy social behavior.”

In the current study, co-author Dr. Xiaolin Zhou of <a href="http://english.pku.edu.cn/">Peking University</a> and his team set out to determine how the brain translates selfless acts into gratitude. The experts used a socially interactive game in which participants had the opportunity to pay money to prevent their partners from receiving a pain stimulation.

When individuals were monetarily supported and spared from pain, the cost to their partners was processed in regions of the brain associated with mentalizing. In addition, pain reduction activated areas of the brain that are linked to reward representation. These brain regions were found to have a direct line of communication with the pgACC.

The findings of the study suggest that the pgACC consults with other areas of the brain that are stimulated by altruistic behavior. Once the relevant social information is received by the pgACC, the emotions of gratitude and appreciation are processed.

The research is published in the <a href="http://www.jneurosci.org/">Journal of Neuroscience</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists explain how the brain causes us to feel gratitude

For the first time, experts are describing what takes place...

An new drug treatment for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stem-cell-injections-alcoholism/">alcoholism</a> and addiction may be well underway thanks to an innovative new study. 

More than 15 million Americans suffer from alcohol addiction, and alcohol misuse reportedly costs the U.S. $250 billion every year, according to a previous 2015 study. 

Although there are drugs on the market that target alcohol addiction, they come with negative side-effects and don’t work very well. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin</a> developed a new drug JVW-1034 that works differently than other traditional addiction drugs and has been successful in tests with worms and rats. 

The study was published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, and although human trails with the drug are far off, the drug could potentially ease withdrawal symptoms and block cravings.

“There's clearly a huge need for something different and better,” said James Sahn, the co-first author of the study. “That's where our approach shines. It's modulating a pathway that doesn't seem to be associated with any of the other drugs that are available.”

JVW-1034 was developed by James Sahn and fellow chemist Stephen Martin. The drug was one of many compounds that could potentially interact with a cell-receptor previously proven to play a role in cocaine addiction. 

In order to see if the drug could work with alcohol cravings, the researchers first tested the drug on hungover worms. 

A tasty substance was placed on the opposite of a petri dish and the hungover worms slowly made their way to the treat, as opposed to control worms who quickly went to the substance. 

The researchers gave the hungover worms doses of the new drug and the worms quickly recovered. 

In another experiment, addicted rats who had free access to alcohol were given the drug. After administering the drug, the rats drank considerably less alcohol even though they had access to it. 

The researchers also confirmed that the drug targeted the sigma 2 receptor, and the study shows for the first time that sigma 2 is involved with alcoholism. 

Next, the researchers plan to optimize the drug so it has a better chance of combating addiction and withdrawal in humans. 

There are many underlying factors that contribute to alcoholism and so treating the disease can be difficult, but the drug would be a major step in the right direction and help toward recovery. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New drug could help treat alcoholism and withdrawal

An new drug treatment for alcoholism and addiction may be...

Many studies have been done on the effects that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noise-pollution-heart-disease/">noise pollution</a> from boats and large ships in our ocean may have on marine life. Species ranging from whales and dolphins to small fish can have their hunting abilities and communication patterns disturbed by the noise created underwater by our ocean-faring vessels. But what about the smaller disturbances we may present, such as activities like swimming, scuba diving, and kayaking?

Researcher Christine Erbe, director of the Centre for Marine Science &amp; Technology at <a href="http://www.curtin.edu.au/">Curtin University</a> in Perth, Western Australia, recently presented her work exploring the impact of man-made underwater noise on marine life. 

“Humans generate underwater noise the moment we take to the water,” says Erbe. “Many people don’t realize that sound travels extremely well and far underwater -- we can hear individual ships tens to hundreds of kilometers away. And when we’re out on the ocean, we can hear ships coming long before we finally see them appear on the horizon.”

Marine animals rely on sound for all of their major life functions, such as foraging, mating, and moving from place to place. To study how our activities may appear to animals underwater, Erbe deployed hydrophones – which are underwater microphones – to record the sound of people swimming in a pool.

“Thanks to simultaneous underwater video and audio recordings, we were able to match specific sounds with activities – including different swimming styles, diving, kayaking and scuba diving,” Erbe explains. “It turns out, most of the sound is related to bubbles that we generate at the water's surface. Every time your arms pierce the surface while swimming freestyle, you push a bubble cloud underwater, which vibrates and sends out an acoustic wave.”

The researchers found that swimming breaststroke was the quietest way for participants to move about. After a while, they were even able to tell which participants swam which style – just by listening to the sounds. 

“Some of us use much more force in swimming than others,” says Erbe. “For example, some swimmers exerted more energy vertically downward – pushing huge and noisy bubble clouds underwater, while other swimmers used their energy more in a forward-propelling sense and created much less bubble noise vertically below them.

When determining the noises made by kayaking, they found that the water falling off the edge of each paddle created a high-frequency dripping sound underwater, which was easily recognizable. “Scuba divers also create an alternating pattern of breathing in and out, which is clearly distinguishable underwater,” Erbe says.

Ultimately, the researchers determined that sounds from non-motorized water sports are unlikely to cause any harm to marine animals. But they want you to know that – although you may not be able to see them – marine animals are able to hear you.

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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

Human activity creates marine noise pollution animals can hear

Many studies have been done on the effects that noise...

A team at <a href="https://www.csail.mit.edu/">MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory</a> (CSAIL) is developing technology that will allow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/self-driving-cars-parking/">self-driving cars</a> to navigate new roads without 3D maps. The framework, which is called MapLite, uses GPS data along with sensors that monitor road conditions.

After a woman was struck and killed by a self-driving Uber vehicle in March, it seems clear that autonomous cars are not yet safe enough for widespread adoption. In addition, there are still few places where these vehicles can even operate.

Self-driving cars are being tested in major cities where exhaustive research has been done to meticulously map the exact 3D positions of lanes, curbs, off-ramps, and stop signs.


On the other hand, roads that are unpaved or not very well-lit can be extremely difficult to map, so it could be a long time before 3D maps are designed for them. MapLite may be advanced enough to eliminate this problem.

“The reason this kind of  ‘map-less’ approach hasn't really been done before is because it is generally much harder to reach the same accuracy and reliability as with detailed maps," explained CSAIL graduate student Teddy Ort. 

“A system like this that can navigate just with on-board sensors shows the potential of self-driving cars being able to actually handle roads beyond the small number that tech companies have mapped.”

The MapLite team collaborated with the Toyota Research Institute and equipped a Prius with a range of LIDAR and IMU sensors. These sensors are used for all aspects of navigation - the GPS data is only used to obtain a rough estimate of the car's location. 

A path is generated by the car’s perception sensors to a preset “local navigation goal,” which must be in view of the vehicle, and a final destination. LIDAR is used to detect the road’s edges.

“Our minimalist approach to mapping enables autonomous driving on country roads using local appearance and semantic features such as the presence of a parking spot or a side road,” said study co-author Professor Daniela Rus.

Next, the researchers will expand upon the types of roads MapLite can navigate. For example, the technology is not yet optimized for mountain roads because it is not programmed to account for changes in elevation. 

“I imagine that the self-driving cars of the future will always make some use of 3D maps in urban areas,” said Ort. “But when called upon to take a trip off the beaten path, these vehicles will need to be as good as humans at driving on unfamiliar roads they have never seen before. We hope our work is a step in that direction.”

The research will be presented this month at the <a href="http://www.icra2017.org/">International Conference on Robotics and Automation</a> (ICRA) in Brisbane, Australia.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, Earth.com Staff Writer

Image Credit: MIT CSAIL

Self-driving cars can now navigate back roads without 3D maps

A team at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory...

A new study may have found what causes low sociability in some monkeys and a biomarker for certain spectrum disorders like autism in humans. 

Currently, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/autism-rates-united-states/">autism</a> is diagnosed through behavior, but finding a measurable biological way to diagnose the disorder has been a goal for many researchers. Unfortunately, previous studies were unable to find any kind of biological signifier. 

However, researchers from <a href="http://www.cnprc.ucdavis.edu/">the California National Primate Research Center</a> at the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis</a> and <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> may have possibly found a link between low levels of the hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) and autism. 

Children with autism often have lower social abilities, and monkeys, although typically known for their social behaviors, exhibit different ranges of social preferences. 

The researchers tested low social and high social macaques in order to see if there were any biological explanations for their difference in social behavior. 

Fifteen percent of the macaques at the California Primate Center are classified as low social and spend less time interacting with others. 

Blood and cerebral fluid samples were taken from both high and low social macaques and analyzed by the researchers. 

The only significant difference between the two social types were the levels of AVP, a hormone found in the cerebral fluid. Further tests confirmed that AVP levels don’t fluctuate over time in monkeys and low levels inhibit social abilities. 

The researchers then examined cerebrospinal fluid samples that had been previously collected from children, seven of whom were diagnosed with autism, for other medical reasons. 

Those who had autism also had lower levels of AVP, similar to the macaques. 

“At this point, we consider vasopressin concentrations to be a biomarker for low sociability,” said John Capitanio, a member of the researcher team.

The researchers say that future studies focusing on boosting AVP levels could pave the way for new treatments for autism.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Scientists may have found the biomarker for diagnosing autism

A new study may have found what causes low sociability...

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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...