A recent study reveals that Americans who are 55 years of age and older now face an estimated 42% lifetime risk of developing dementia, surpassing older estimates by more than double.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preventing-dementia-scientists-say-three-factors-matter-most/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dementia</a>, which involves progressive declines in memory, concentration, and judgment, is expected to result in roughly 500,000 new cases in 2025, a figure set to climb to one million cases a year by 2060.&nbsp;



Researchers explain that this rise is closely linked to the aging U.S. population, along with additional risk factors such as genetic predisposition, high rates of hypertension and diabetes, obesity, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and mental health challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-previous-estimates-were-lower">Why previous estimates were lower</h2>



Researchers attribute prior underestimations to inconsistent documentation of dementia in health records and death certificates, inadequate monitoring of early-stage cases, and the underreporting of cases among racial minorities, who are disproportionately affected by the condition.



The findings stem from a large collaborative study funded by the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Institutes of Health,</a> conducted by <a href="https://nyulangone.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NYU Langone Health</a>, with contributions from <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> and other institutions.&nbsp;



The research utilized data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS), which has been tracking the vascular and cognitive health of nearly 16,000 participants since 1987. ARIC-NCS is noted for being the longest research effort focusing on cognition and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-environments-and-sidewalks-improve-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart health</a> in African-Americans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gender-and-racial-disparities">Gender and racial disparities</h2>



The study’s findings, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03340-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Medicine</a>, detail 3,252 dementia diagnoses among participants from 1987 to 2020, translating to a lifetime risk of 42% for middle-aged Americans. 



The results indicate that men face a 35% risk, whereas women face a 48% risk - a difference primarily due to women’s longer average life expectancy. 



The research also pinpoints higher dementia susceptibility among Black adults and among carriers of a particular APOE4 gene variant, recognized as a chief genetic risk factor for late-onset <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-a-brain-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s disease</a>.



"The relative growth in new dementia cases was especially pronounced for Black adults. These results highlight the urgent need for policies that enhance healthy aging, with a focus on health equity," noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dramatic-rise-in-dementia-risk">Dramatic rise in dementia risk</h2>



“Our study results forecast a dramatic rise in the burden from dementia in the United States over the coming decades, with one in two Americans expected to experience cognitive difficulties after age 55,” said Josef Coresh, who served as senior investigator on the research and is the founding director of the <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/optimal-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Optimal Aging Institute</a> at NYU Langone.&nbsp;



Coresh noted that the increase in cases is partly tied to brain function decline starting in middle age, a growing number of Americans over 65, and longer average lifespans among women.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-concerns-linked-to-dementia-risk">Health concerns linked to dementia risk </h2>



The study also reveals that the lifetime risk of dementia surpasses 50% for those reaching age 75. However, previous findings suggest that strategies for preventing heart disease - such as blood pressure control and diabetes prevention - could similarly help reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recreational-cannabis-use-protects-against-cognitive-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cognitive decline</a>.



“The pending population boom in dementia cases poses significant challenges for health policymakers, in particular, who must refocus their efforts on strategies to minimize the severity of dementia cases, as well as plans to provide more health care services for those with dementia,” Coresh said.



Hearing loss is another critical concern tied to dementia risk, yet only about a third of older Americans experiencing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hearing-loss-linked-to-a-greater-risk-of-dementia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hearing loss</a> use hearing aids. Coresh advocates greater monitoring, expanded testing, and more affordable hearing aids to alleviate this issue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-racial-disparities-and-broader-recommendations">Racial disparities and broader recommendations</h2>



According to Coresh, far more resources are needed to address racial inequities in health care, noting that while dementia numbers among Caucasian individuals are expected to double over the next four decades, rates among Black individuals are expected to triple. 



Health policies should heighten efforts in Black communities to improve childhood education and nutrition, which research has shown to be beneficial for delaying cognitive decline later in life.



Ultimately, these findings highlight the daunting challenges posed by dementia as Americans age, but they also suggest paths for intervention - through robust healthcare systems, preventative heart health measures, support for hearing care, and programs targeted at reducing social and racial inequities.



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Risk of dementia is much higher than previously thought

A recent study reveals that Americans who are 55 years of age and older now face an estimated 42% lifetime risk of developing dementia, surpassing older estimates by more than double.&nbsp; Dementia, which involves progressive declines in memory, concentration, and judgment, is expected to result in roughly 500,000 new cases in 2025, a figure set to climb to one million cases a year by 2060.&nbsp; Researchers explain that this rise is closely linked to the aging U.S. population, along with additional risk factors such as genetic predisposition,...

Can what you eat affect how you age? A series of six new studies found correlations between the popular Mediterranean diet and healthy aging. But to fully reap the benefits, foodies must do more than swap butter for olive oil.

The studies looked at six different areas related to the Mediterranean diet:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">What requirements and underlying mechanisms actually define the diet</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Connections between the diet and physical and mental health</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">How the diet interacts with genetics to modify inflammatory responses</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Whether it can be linked to impaired physical function among older adults</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">How a coenzyme Q10 supplement changes the diet’s effects</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Whether the Mediterranean diet can be linked to longer, healthier lives</li>
</ul>
The studies showed generally positive results for those who follow the Mediterranean diet – as long as they properly define it and then stick to it.

"Greater clarity on how this diet is defined, in both interventions and observational studies, will be critical in the aim of achieving a consensus on how to optimally apply this dietary pattern towards maximizing healthy aging," Dr. Michelle A. Mendez and Dr. Anne B. Newman wrote in an editorial introducing the series of papers. Newman is the editor-in-chief of the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/issue/73/3">Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences</a>, which published the series in Issue 73.

The diet focuses on whole grains and legumes – with as little processing as possible – as its staple foods, supplemented by several diverse servings of fresh vegetables and fruits each day. Cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil, nuts and seeds provide fat, along with moderate servings of fish. Dairy products and red meat are eaten only in very small amounts as a rare treat. 

The researchers used several different measures with study participants to see how well they stuck to their diets.

While the researchers still aren’t sure how and why the Mediterranean diet works so well, they were able to observe a few effects that lead to better health. One of the articles, by researchers at <a href="https://wustl.edu/">Washington University in St. Louis</a>, found that the diet was correlated with lower lipid levels, protection against inflammation and genetic changes that can encourage cancer growth, antioxidant properties, and other positive effects on health.

The benefits may not be restricted to the Mediterranean diet, either. Other diets that follow the same patterns – and emphasis on fresh vegetables, grains and fruits with minimal processing – may also promote good health.

“Recent evidence suggests that the patterns of diet that may be most healthful are plant-based food patterns, where vegetables, whole grains and legumes are the dietary staples, with less meat – but not less total fat – than is typically consumed in developed countries,” Mendez and Newman <a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/73/3/315/4917619">wrote in their editorial</a>.

—

By Kyla Cathey,<a href="http://www.earth.com"> Earth.com</a> staff writer

Can a Mediterranean diet lead to a healthier, longer life?

Can what you eat affect how you age? A series...

Major cities must devote a great deal of space to accommodate parking lots, which ultimately increases their carbon footprint and environmental impact. 

But now, researchers from the<a href="http://www.engineering.utoronto.ca/"> University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering </a>have found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/self-driving-electric-taxis/">self-driving cars</a>, or autonomous vehicles (AVs), could significantly reduce the amount of space needed for parking. 

After dropping off their passengers at their destination, AVs would then be able to head to a designated parking space.

According to the new study published in the journal Transportation Research Part B, self-driving cars would be able to make much more efficient use out of less space than traditional parking lots today. 

“In a parking lot full of AVs, you don't need to open the doors, so they can park with very little space in between,” said Matthew Roorda, the senior author. “You also don't need to leave space for each car to drive out, because you can signal the surrounding AVs to move out of the way.”

Parking lots are designed specifically so cars can pull in out of each spot, no car is boxed in and unable to get out. 

But with an AVs parking lot, cars could easily be packed together and move aside to let cars get in and out. 

The researchers wanted to find the optimal size parking lot grids for AVs in order to maximize storage and still make sure that it wouldn’t take too long for any one car to get out. A computer model and algorithm was used to find the best design. 

The results showed with a certain number of cars, an optimal parking lot could fit 62 percent more cars than current parking areas today. The algorithm even showed that square-shaped grids could fit 87 percent more cars. 

Less space devoted to parking lots means a much smaller environmental impact for cities.

“Right now, our downtown cores have giant municipal parking lots next to major attractions,” said Roorda. “AVs could allow us to both shrink and relocate these parking lots, opening up valuable space in cities.”

The new design concepts could also have some unintended negative consequences, such as parking lots far away from major attractions, meaning it would take longer to retrieve your car when you needed it. 

The researchers say that AVs parking lots as a reality are a long way off, but if and when they become commonplace, the researchers have a potentially efficient, eco-friendly, and time-saving solution for parking. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Self-driving cars to alleviate parking headaches in major cities

Major cities must devote a great deal of space to...

Researchers in Montreal have found that children who live in more walkable neighborhoods generally have healthier body weights and smaller waist lines. According to the study, which was led by <a href="http://www.inrs.ca/">INRS</a> professor Tracie A. Barnett, urban design plays a significant role in the development of childhood obesity.

The study was focused on children in Montreal who had a family history of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/body-temperature-obesity/">obesity</a> and who lived at the same address up until the investigation was completed. The team compared and analyzed data that had been collected over the course of two years.

The researchers discovered that infrastructure which had been designed to accommodate pedestrians and promote walking was associated with lower childhood obesity rates. In denser neighborhoods, resources built for pedestrians such as wider sidewalks and pedestrian crossing lights were found to have the biggest impact.

These types of amenities not only encourage children to walk more often, but also promote bike riding and other outdoor activities that burn energy and fat.

The experts were surprised to find that, overall, children had healthier weights in neighborhoods with convenience stores. For this reason, the research will need to be refined to take into account various new factors, such as the types of food sold in convenience stores and fast food restaurants.


The current study corresponds with research that was published in 2016. The previous study demonstrated that, when children had access to high quality food at low prices within 875 yards of their home, they had a reduced risk of obesity.

Ongoing studies are also documenting the transformations of residential neighborhoods to see how major changes over the last 10 years may have affected obesity rates.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/preventive-medicine/">Preventive Medicine</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, Earth.com Staff Writer

Kids who live in walkable neighborhoods tend to be healthier

Researchers in Montreal have found that children who live in...

The source of the sound that is created by knuckle cracking has been the subject of debate since the early 1900s. A team of experts may be close to settling this debate after developing a mathematical model to represent the origin of the sound.

Chemical engineering student Vineeth Chandran Suja, who is now a doctoral candidate at Stanford University, teamed up with Professor Abdul Barakat of the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis</a> to try and solve the mystery.

One of the many theories that has emerged over the years is that the knuckle cracking noise comes from the collapse or formation of bubbles as articular surfaces are separated in the synovial joint.

Researchers previously determined that the cracking sound is created as bubbles form inside of the joint, but Suja suspected that the noise is too intense to be produced by the formation of bubbles. 

For the current study, the team developed a mathematical model to represent the activities leading up to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/detect-silent-sound/">sound</a>.

“We model the sounds accompanying knuckle cracking by resolving the acoustic signature of cavitation bubbles inside the joint during articular release,” wrote the study authors. 

The researchers ultimately identified cavitation bubble collapse as the source of the cracking sound, and not the formation of the bubbles. 

“When we crack our knuckles we're actually pulling apart our joints. And when we do that the pressure goes down,” explained Suja. “Bubbles appear in the fluid, which is lubricating the joint - the synovial fluid.”

“During the process of knuckle cracking there are pressure variations in the joint which causes the size of the bubbles to fluctuate extremely fast, and this leads to sound, which we associate with knuckle cracking.”

The model also revealed that only a partial collapse of the bubble is needed to replicate the sound, which means that the bubbles may persist after the cracking noise is generated.

Suja said that improved models may be developed in the future based on this research that could identify the origin of the knuckle cracking sound beyond any doubt.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why do knuckles make that sound you when you crack them?

The source of the sound that is created by knuckle...

A new report from China's environment ministry has revealed that nationwide pollution sources have skyrocketed in the last 8 years, growing from 5.9 million in 2010 to an estimated 9 million sources today. 

Earlier this month, the environment ministry was delegated the responsibility of analyzing damage caused by pollution in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollution-chinas-solar-energy/">China</a> over the last few decades. 

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), as the new and improved environmental agency is now called, is currently conducting a nationwide census to identify all sources of pollution across China. 

The survey, which will be completed in 2019, is being directed by the office of Hong Yaxiong. 

“The goal for the census is to do thorough data collection so that it can reflect the extent of the pollution,” Yaxiong told reporters.

According to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/">Reuters</a>, preliminary results of the census have placed the number of pollution sources at 9 million, which is up by over 3 million since 2010, and includes 7.4 million sources of pollution identified in the industrial sector alone.

As one of the countries most responsible for global carbon emissions pursues a cleaner future, the MEE will reportedly broaden its search to include more pollution sources in the current survey.

A recent <a href="https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2018/03/14/chinas-war-against-pollution-shows-promising-results-study-finds">investigation</a> revealed that China's aggressive strategies to combat air pollution, in particular, seem to be working. In the country’s most populated cities such as Beijing, air pollution levels were found to have dropped by as much as 39 percent.

Michael Greenstone, the director of the Energy Policy Institute at the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/">University of Chicago</a>, conducted the study.

“The data is in - China is winning its war against pollution,” said Professor Greenstone. “By winning this war, China is due to see dramatic improvements in the overall health of its people, including longer lifespans, if these improvements are sustained.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Pollution sources in China have risen dramatically this decade

A new report from China's environment ministry has revealed that...

A new study has revealed that our brain’s structure may have a significant influence on our political preferences. A certain shape of the brain was found to be a strong predictor that individuals would find the current social system desirable and legitimate.

The research team used neuroimaging to observe which study participants were more likely to accept things the way they are and which participants were more likely to have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/political-split-climate-change/">political opinions</a> that strongly oppose the order of society.

The study showed that individuals who had a larger volume of the amygdala, a region of the brain that is responsible for fear and other emotions, were found to be less likely to challenge the current social system or engage in political movements.

This type of “system justification” is strongly linked to conservatives.

“A system-justifying psychological orientation favors the social, economic, and political status quo, and may promote vigilance to social hierarchy and a preference for ideologies that characterize extant inequality as legitimate and necessary,” wrote the researchers.

Study co-author Jay Van Bavel is an associate professor of Psychology and Neural Science at <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/">New York University</a>. He explained that brain structure likely influences what political movement or parties we find appealing.

Van Bavel said that it is also likely that, as our political views change, there is a corresponding change in the brain's structure. “Virtually any change in behavior is mirrored by a change in brain structure,” said Van Bavel.

The research also corroborates the theory that political preferences are substantially influenced by genetics. “It seems quite likely that these biological predispositions are manifested in brain structure,” explained Van Bavel.

The study authors concluded: “The findings suggest that the amygdala may provide a neural substrate for maintaining the societal status quo, and opens up avenues for further investigation into the association between system justification and other neuroanatomical regions.”

The research 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

Brain structure may be related to political opinions

A new study has revealed that our brain’s structure may...

The <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) may soon announce a new plan to rollback automobile fuel economy and emissions standards.

According to a new report by the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/climate/epa-cafe-auto-pollution-rollback.html?smid=fb-nytimes&amp;smtyp=cur">New York Times</a>, the plan not only sets the precedent for an increase in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/capture-conversion-carbon-emissions/">carbon emissions</a> in the United States, but could create a chain reaction of undoing emission and fuel policies worldwide. 

The plan also directly conflicts with an allowance in California that lets the state make their own decisions about fuel and emissions, with several states typically following suit including New York. 

California can require automakers to adhere to stricter standards and with the new EPA decision, there is a chance the state could end up fighting in court for the right to continue the practice.

“We’re going to defend first and foremost existing federal greenhouse gas standards,” Xavier Becerra, the Attorney General of California, told the New York Times. “We’re defending them because they’re good for the entire nation. No one should think it’s easy to undo something that’s been not just good for the country, but good for the planet.”

The new EPA plan directly contradicts policies put in place by the Obama Administration.

Dubbed Obama’s “climate change legacy,” the previous Administration's efforts included a plan to reduce tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions that would have drastically cut down on CO2 pollution and fuel consumption. 

The shift would have pushed the automotive industry towards making fuel-efficient cars, but after Trump’s inauguration, auto company executives argued that the new standards were unreasonable. 

Now, with the help of Scott Pruitt, now head of the EPA, the new plan will create fewer restrictions in the hopes of making cars more affordable. 

However, in doing so, carbon emissions and fuel consumption will increase and put the United States further behind in the battle against climate change. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

EPA set to rollback fuel and emissions standards for cars

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may soon announce a new...

A little more than a month after a 7.5 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, a 6.9 magnitude tremor occurred near the coast and triggered a tsunami warning earlier today. 

Papua New Guinea’s location within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pressure-released-earthquakes/">Pacific Ring of Fire</a>, a horseshoe-shaped string of volcanoes along the edges of the Pacific Ocean, makes seismic activity common. 

According to<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ring-fire/"> National Geographic</a>, 90 percent of all earthquakes occur in the Ring of Fire and 75 percent of the world’s active volcanoes are located in that region. 

Although no damage was reported, resort goers near where the quake struck felt the shaking and ran out of buildings in fear of collapse. 

“We felt the earthquake, everything was moving so we went out of the building,” May Dovon, a receptionist at the Rapopo Plantation Resort told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/30/earthquake-papua-new-guinea-tsunami-warning">The Guardian</a>. “Nothing was damaged.” 

The earthquake struck around 100 miles southwest of the town of Rabaul on New Britain Island. 

According to the Guardian, the area where the quake was felt was much remote than where the earlier 7.5 quake struck. 

The latest earthquake triggered a tsunami warning that was issued by the <a href="http://ptwc.weather.gov/">Pacific Tsunami Warning Center</a> which went out to all coastlines located within 200 miles of the epicenter of the earthquake. 

The tsunami warning was later called off, but while no damage has been reported for this quake the country is still recovering from the earlier quake. 

The February earthquake caused major landslides, damaged water supplies and killed 100 people. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Earthquake near Papua New Guinea triggers tsunami warning

A little more than a month after a 7.5 earthquake...

When we take pictures of special moments and events in our lives, we are hoping to preserve those memories for a long time. But now, researchers have found that the excessive use of smartphones to capture and share pictures not only takes some of the pleasure out of our experiences, but also alters the way that we remember them.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-sleep-social-media/">Social media</a> is undoubtedly the driving force behind a growing obsession with sharing, and often oversharing, images of our daily lives with others. A team of experts set out to investigate how social media use may affect or even change the experiences that we share online.

The researchers developed an experiment in which participants were instructed to take a self-guided tour of a church. Some individuals were given iPods to take pictures throughout the tour, while others were asked to simply take notes along the way without using any media.

After the fact, the participants were given an unexpected memory test and asked to report about their levels of engagement and enjoyment during the tour.

“Across three studies, participants without media consistently remembered their experience more precisely than participants who used media,” wrote the study authors. 

Emma Templeton is a researcher at <a href="http://home.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a> and the lead author of the study. She explained that smartphones have now become a “giant source of distraction” in our lives.

According to the experts, using a smartphone takes us out of the moment and ultimately changes the way we remember what has happened in our own lives.

The researchers concluded: “Together, these findings suggest that using media may prevent people from remembering the very events they are attempting to preserve.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-experimental-social-psychology/">Journal of Experimental Social Psychology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Taking pictures for social media causes you to miss the moment

When we take pictures of special moments and events in...

As experts and elected officials across the globe are developing and implementing strategies to offset the harmful impacts of human-induced climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to doubt the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">reliability of climate science</a>.

In a memo obtained by <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/">HuffPost</a> this week, regional staff members of the EPA are encouraged to openly question the impact of human activities on climate change.

The email includes eight talking points on how to discuss preparedness for natural disasters while emphasizing that the driving force behind our growing climate crisis is uncertain. 

According to HuffPost, one of the talking points recommended by the EPA states: “While there has been extensive research and a host of published reports on climate change, clear gaps remain including our understanding of the role of human activity and what we can do about it.”

Another talking point in the memo reads:

“Human activity impacts our changing climate in some manner. The ability to measure with precision the degree and extent of that impact, and what to do about it, are subject to continuing debate and dialogue.”

EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman defended the email, stating that the document is “not an official memo,” but is “simply an email among colleagues.”

President Trump and EPA administrator Scott Pruitt have consistently expressed doubt about climate change. 

Earlier this month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its latest four-year action plan without any mention of the phrase “climate change,” just as the EPA had done in its own strategic four-year plan last year. 

More recently, the EPA announced a new policy that will greatly limit the type of research that can be used as the basis for new environmental regulations. 

Critics argue that the policy, which requires raw data to substantiate scientific research, will enable the EPA to disregard important studies that are necessary to protect Americans from serious threats such as air and water pollution.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

EPA staff encouraged to question human impact on climate change

As experts and elected officials across the globe are developing...

How much would you be willing to pay for clean water, forest conservation, or flood control? For the people of <a href="http://time.com/4634937/flint-water-crisis-criminal-charges-bottled-water/">Flint, Michigan</a>, the recent water crisis has made access to safe drinking water a top priority. 

Some ecosystem service programs trade environmental protection services for a fee, but researchers from the <a href="https://missouri.edu/">University of Missouri</a> set out to determine which services the public was willing to pay for in different parts of the United States.

It turns out people are willing to pay more for improved water quality more than anything else, but the results show that when looking to implement an ecosystem service program, it’s important to start local as priorities change in different regions. 

For example, people who deal with frequent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-roads-flooding-frequently/">flood</a> damage would likely be more interested in programs that provide flood control. 

“People in different areas of the country have different priorities, and that's hard to coordinate at a national level,” said Francisco Aguilar, a member of the research team. “If someone lives in a floodplain, they are going to be a lot more willing to pay for flood controls. Still, people from around the nation consistently seem to be willing to pay for water quality improvements.”

The results were published in the journal Ecosystem Services.

For the study, the researchers surveyed more 1,000 U.S households nationwide. The participants in the survey were asked about their preferences for various hypothetical ecosystem services with a fee added to monthly utility bills. 

The results showed that clean water was a top priority nationwide but other services such as habitat protection and flood control programs had different levels of importance depending on each participant's locations. 

Landscape beauty was one of the services ranked least important for all the survey responders. 

The results show that location and attitude toward the environment are better indicators than income and demographics when it comes what services people are willing to pay for.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Study: Public willing to pay more for clean water, flood control

How much would you be willing to pay for clean...

A decade-long project set out to understand what life was like during the Triassic period all around the world. 

The Triassic period, 252 to 199 million years ago, followed a great mass extinction and saw the arrival of the earliest mammals and reptiles. These terrestrial species lived on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-mass-extinction-coal/">Pangea</a>, an early supercontinent where all the world’s land masses were connected. 

Researchers led by geologists from the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> wanted to find out what kind of evidence of the mass extinction and the Triassic could be found in other geographic regions. Their findings were released in a collection of articles published in Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.

“Most of what we know about the major mass extinction is from the South African Karoo Basin. I was always interested in understanding, do we see the exact same pattern around the world, or do we not?” Said Christian Sidor, a UW Biology Professor and curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the <a href="http://www.burkemuseum.org/">Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. </a>

The project resulted in the discovery of exciting new fossils and ecological breakthroughs.

A new lizard-like species called a procolophonid and an early dinosaur called a Teleocrater were both discovered as a result of new fieldwork. 

Sidor and a team of paleontologists visited the Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania five times and the Luangwa and mid-Zambezi basins of Zambia four times since 2007. 

The researchers collected fossils and examined museum specimens in order to fill in the gaps about Triassic life in different regions around the world.

The researchers were primarily looking for similarities in the fossil record across varied locations. 

“These papers highlight what a regional perspective we now have -- we have the same fossils from Tanzania, Antarctica, Namibia and more,” said Sidor. “We're getting a much better Southern Hemisphere perspective of what's going on in the Triassic.”

The fieldwork, studies, and articles also help explain how dinosaurs grew to be such a dominant group of reptiles. 

“This was a time when dinosaurs were just stepping onto the stage, and they were not very big and not very remarkable animals then,” said Sidor. “These papers really round out what dinosaurs were competing with before they became the dominant reptiles on land.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Christian Sidor/<a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a>

Piecing together what life was like during the Triassic Period

A decade-long project set out to understand what life was...

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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



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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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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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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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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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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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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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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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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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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> 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

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.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

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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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...