New research suggests that a playful mindset can be instrumental during difficult times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals who score high on a playfulness scale exhibit stronger resilience compared to less playful counterparts. 



The findings indicate that this resource is essential to maintaining well-being and facing adversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-playfulness">The power of playfulness</h2>



The research, conducted by researchers at <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon State University</a> (OSU), offers profound insights into how playful people navigate adversity.



The research may ultimately guide the development of strategies and interventions aimed at helping individuals handle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-eats-away-our-brains-cognitive-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress</a> and uncertainty.



These findings are timely, given the increasing global challenges that demand both a realistic assessment and creative adaptation.



Xiangyou “Sharon” Shen of the OSU Health, Environment, and Leisure Research Lab (HEAL) is the study's lead author.



"Understanding how playful people navigate adversity can inform interventions and strategies to help people cope with stress and uncertainty," said Shen. 



"They shared similar perceptions of risk and protective factors as their less playful peers, but demonstrated greater optimism when envisioning future possibilities, engaged in more creative problem solving, and managed to infuse quality and enjoyment into everyday activities."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pandemic-stress-and-public-health">Pandemic stress and public health</h2>



Chronic stress is a significant public health concern in the United States, linked to a wide range of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, depression, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teachers-experienced-high-anxiety-during-the-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxiety</a>. 



External factors like the pandemic, economic uncertainty, and social issues can exacerbate stress levels and contribute to mental health diagnoses.



For the analysis, Shen and study co-author Zoe Crawley divided a group of more than 500 U.S. adults into two subgroups based on their levels of playfulness, as measured by the Adult Playfulness Trait Scale.



Shen noted that highly playful individuals actively altered challenging situations, found creative substitutes for what was lost, viewed obstacles as opportunities for growth, and maintained a strong sense of control over their responses.



Perhaps most revealing, she added, was that while the highly playful didn’t necessarily engage in different activities or do them more often than their less playful counterparts, they experienced those activities with higher quality - demonstrating greater immersion, activeness, and positive affect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-playful-people-during-the-pandemic">Playful people during the pandemic </h2>



Shen describes the approach of creating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-helps-us-learn-from-positive-and-negative-experiences/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">positive experiences</a> amid adversity as "making lemonade from lemons." 



This is deeply connected with resilience as it combines realistic assessment with flexible problem-solving, which offers a clear demonstration of how personality traits like playfulness shape our responses to stress.



"Highly playful people were just as realistic about COVID-19 risks and challenges as others, but they excelled at ‘lemonading’ - creatively imagining and pursuing the positive, discovering ways to create moments of joy even in difficult circumstances," said Shen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-playful-advantage-in-a-pandemic">Playful advantage in a pandemic</h2>



While it has been widely accepted that playful people "reframe" situations to make them more enjoyable, these findings suggest that it is not about wearing "rose-colored glasses." 



Playful individuals maintain their ability to view <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/consciousness-may-stem-from-unseen-dimensions-beyond-our-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reality</a> as it is while finding the silver linings.



Shen emphasized that playfulness doesn't distort reality - it enhances it, offering specific ways in which this trait helps individuals navigate challenging times.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-playfulness-can-be-cultivated">Playfulness can be cultivated</h2>



The study also suggests several approaches to cultivate playfulness, including engaging in activities that provoke joy and curiosity, embracing new experiences, creating opportunities for spontaneous exploration, spending time with inspiring, fun-loving people, and appreciating moments of silliness and humor.



"A key to all of this is focusing on the quality of engagement rather than simply doing what might be called play activities. True playfulness doesn’t require a playground, games, or toys. It’s about bringing a spirit of openness, flexibility, and fun to everyday moments," noted Shen.



She also emphasized that setting aside time for play can be beneficial, providing a safe space to express and practice playfulness. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-navigating-life-s-biggest-challenges">Navigating life's biggest challenges </h2>



No matter how occupied you might be, dedicating five to ten minutes daily for a small dose of play can make a meaningful difference in your life.



This research represents a significant step toward understanding the role of playfulness in helping individuals navigate challenging situations. 



In the context of our current global challenges - whether economic uncertainty, environmental concerns, or public health crises - the insights are invaluable. 



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1462980/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Psychology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Playful people handled pandemic stress better than others

New research suggests that a playful mindset can be instrumental during difficult times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals who score high on a playfulness scale exhibit stronger resilience compared to less playful counterparts. The findings indicate that this resource is essential to maintaining well-being and facing adversity. The power of playfulness The research, conducted by researchers at Oregon State University (OSU), offers profound insights into how playful people navigate adversity. The research may ultimately guide the development of strategies and interventions aimed at helping individuals handle...

A new study has found that rising temperatures will nearly triple the number of migrants applying for asylum in the European Union. If carbon emissions are reduced and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/major-coal-company-climate/">climate change</a> is mitigated, the asylum applications are still projected to rise by at least a quarter by 2100.

"Europe is already conflicted about how many refugees to admit," said study senior author Wolfram Schlenker of <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University</a>. "Though poorer countries in hotter regions are most vulnerable to climate change, our findings highlight the extent to which countries are interlinked, and Europe will see increasing numbers of desperate people fleeing their home countries."

Schlenker collaborated with study co-author Anouch Missirian, comparing asylum applications to the EU filed from 103 countries between 2000 and 2014. They observed temperature variations in the home countries of the applicants. 

The analysis revealed that the more temperatures in each country's agricultural region deviated from 68 degrees Fahrenheit during growing season, the more likely people were to seek refuge.

Once the researchers accounted for future warming, they found that an increase of average global temperatures of 1.8 °C would cause a 28 percent rise in asylum applications by 2100. The current rate of global warming  would cause a 188 percent increase in applications by the end of the century.

The research adds to a growing collection of evidence that extreme weather changes can destabilize societies, escalate conflict, and force people to leave their home countries. 


Solomon Hsiang, an economics professor at UC Berkeley who was not involved in the research, referred to the study as an "incredibly important" alert. 

"We will need to build new institutions and systems to manage this steady flow of asylum seekers," said Hsiang. “As we have seen from recent experience in Europe, there are tremendous costs, both for refugees and their hosts, when we are caught flat footed. We should plan ahead and prepare." 

Colin Kelley is a climate scientist at Columbia's International Research Institute for Climate and Society.

"It's unclear how much more warming will occur between now and the end of the century, but the study clearly demonstrates just how much climate change acts as a threat multiplier,” said Kelley. “Wealthier countries can expect to feel the direct and indirect effects of weather shocks from man made climate change in poorer, less resilient countries."


The research is published today in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Migration to Europe to drastically increase as global temps rise

A new study has found that rising temperatures will nearly...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a> have found that children who eat fish at least once a week sleep better and have higher IQ scores. The investigation revealed that children who ate fish had IQ test scores an average of four points higher than children who did not eat fish regularly.

Previous studies have linked omega-3s to improved intelligence and also to better <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genes-body-stays-sleep/">sleep</a>,but never linked all three together. The current study identifies sleep as a possible mediating pathway that may be the missing link between fish and intelligence.

"This area of research is not well-developed. It's emerging," said study lead author Jianghong Liu. "Here we look at omega-3s coming from our food instead of from supplements."

The study was focused on 541 9- to 11-year-olds in China who reported on how often they consumed fish in the previous month. The participants also completed the Chinese version of an IQ test called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised.

Next, the children's parents answered questions about sleep quality, including  topics such as sleep duration, night waking, and daytime sleepiness.

Analysis of the results showed that children who reported eating fish weekly scored 4.8 points higher on the IQ tests than those who rarely or never ate fish. Participants who reported eating fish sometimes scored 3.3 points higher on the exams. 

Furthermore, increased fish consumption was linked to fewer sleep disturbances, which is a good indication of overall sleep quality.

"Lack of sleep is associated with antisocial behavior; poor cognition is associated with antisocial behavior," said study co-author Adrian Raine. "We have found that omega-3 supplements reduce antisocial behavior, so it's not too surprising that fish is behind this."

Study co-author Jennifer Pinto-Martin pointed out that this study “adds to the growing body of evidence showing that fish consumption has really positive health benefits and should be something more heavily advertised and promoted.”

Pinto-Martin says that children should be introduced to fish by age two. The researchers also recommend serving fish at least once a week to the whole family.

"Doing that could be a lot easier than nudging children about going to bed," said Raine. "If the fish improves sleep, great. If it also improves cognitive performance - like we've seen here - even better. It's a double hit."

The study is published this week in <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

Eating fish leads to better sleep and higher intelligence

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have found that children...

Researchers at the <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University of Waterloo</a> are reporting that working class people are better at managing interpersonal relationships than people in the middle class. Despite the fact that education and knowledge are associated with a higher social class, working class people demonstrate more wisdom when it comes to dealing with others.

The research team conducted two studies in which they examined the participants’ ability to reason in interpersonal relationships. The individuals reported on conflicts including those at home and in the workplace.

The first study was an online survey focused on unresolved <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/appearing-stressed-avoid-conflict/">conflicts</a>. The participants recalled and described a recent issue, answering 20 questions including “How much did you try to understand the other person’s viewpoint?” The researchers evaluated which types of reasoning were used by the individuals according to their responses.

For the second study, the team presented the participants with three conflicts published in an advice column. The subjects reported on how they would settle the issue, and their responses were scored based on specific types of wise reasoning.

In both experiments, those participants who were in lower social classes consistently scored higher in wise reasoning than individuals in higher social classes.

The findings of the study suggest that economic hardship leads to superior social skills. According to the experts, working class individuals spend more time considering how their decisions will affect others.

“This is not surprising when we consider our cultural emphasis on intelligence such as IQ, competency to accomplish tasks independently and the focus on self as opposed to the considerations of others, in the reach for success,” said lead author Igor Grossman. “As we continue to focus as a society on independence and entitlement among the middle class, we are also inadvertently eroding wisdom and reasoning in favor of a more self-centered population.”

The study is published in the <a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Report: Working class people are smarter in their relationships

Researchers at the University of Waterloo are reporting that working...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a> have identified a link between premature death and people who retire early. The association was found to be 20 percent stronger in males.

The experts analyzed birth and death records from the U.S. Census Bureau, accounting for the population of the entire country. This data was compared with social security claims, including the gender and age of retirees and the age of subsequent death.

The study revealed that almost one-third of Americans applied for social security benefits at age 62. The researchers found that this group of early retirees had a noticeable jump in mortality rates.

According to the study authors, the findings of this investigation suggest that premature retirement “may have an immediate, negative impact” on health.

Previous studies have suggested that many people <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/retirement-stress/">retiring</a> before age 65, which is considered early retirement, have health issues which cause them to leave the workplace as early as possible.

The Social Security administration <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/workingpapers/wp93.html">reported</a> that men taking retirement at exactly 62 had a higher death rate than those retiring at age 63, 64, or 65. 

Retiring at exactly age 62 was found to increase the odds of death by 24 percent compared to those men who retired at 64. The report stated, “A group with relatively severe health problems waiting for their 62nd birthday to take benefits could create this result.”

On the other hand, a team of researchers from <a href="http://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a> led by Chenkai Wu found that even people who considered themselves to be unhealthy lived longer if they continued working. Their study revealed that adults working one year past the retirement age of 65 reduced their risk of death by 11 percent, regardless of lifestyle, demographic, or health issues.

“It may not apply to everybody, but we think work brings people a lot of economic and social benefits that could impact the length of their lives,” explained Wu.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

People who retire later actually live longer

Researchers at Cornell University have identified a link between premature...

One of the most important rules for pet owners is keeping chocolate away from dogs. Chocolate has long been known to be toxic to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-understand-humans-better/">dogs</a>, causing vomiting, increased heart rate, seizures, and even death.

The reason chocolate is so harmful to dogs is that it contains theobromine, a caffeine-like substance that is easily metabolized by humans but not dogs. 

Different types of chocolate have varying quantities of theobromine, and typically the darker and less refined the cocoa, the more toxic the product. Baking chocolate is the worst kind of chocolate for dogs to consume. 

A new study, conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/">University of Liverpool</a>, found that the holidays cause an increased risk of chocolate poisoning in dogs because there’s typically much more chocolate left out in the house.

This is the first study to analyze veterinary records to find patterns of heightened cases of toxicity during holidays like Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day and Halloween, when chocolate is readily available. 

The researchers found that Christmas, followed by Easter, were the worst times for dogs regarding the risk of toxicity. 

For the study, the researchers examined records from 229 veterinary practices between 2012 and 2017, specifically focusing on cases that dealt with chocolate poisoning during the common chocolate heavy holidays. 

All in all, the researchers had data from 386 cases involving 375 individual animals. 

One in four of the cases occurred an hour after eating the chocolate, while over 50 percent of the cases were brought to the vet within six hours of chocolate consumption. 

The symptoms reported in the cases were typical with chocolate toxicity, but none of the cases were severely life-threatening. 

The researchers found that access to chocolate was four times more likely for dogs during Christmas and twice as likely during Easter. Interestingly, there were no increased cases during Valentine’s day or Halloween. 

“Here we describe significant peaks of chocolate intoxication, most notably at Christmas and to a lesser extent Easter presumably reflecting the enhanced availability of seasonally-related chocolate such as Easter-eggs, chocolate Santa Claus figurines and Christmas tree decorations, possibly in the hands of younger members of society,” said the authors in their study. 

You should keep chocolate away from your pets all year long, but this study shows that it’s important to be extra aware of chocolate in the house during the December holidays.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dogs are most at risk of chocolate poisoning around Christmas

One of the most important rules for pet owners is...

A new study has found that the optimal time to learn a new skill is between the ages of 17 and 20, due to increased activity in the striatum part of the brain. 

The striatum has also been linked to risk-taking in teens, but the new study also finds that increased activity in this part of the brain also equates to being more responsive to feedback when learning a new task or skillset. 

The research was conducted by scientists from<a href="https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en"> Leiden University</a>, who found that adolescence marks the perfect period for social cognition and brain development, along with an enhanced time for feedback learning. 

For the study, the researchers asked 230 participants, aged 8 to 25, to undergo a feedback-learning task. 

A feedback learning-task means that as the participants completed the task, positive feedback was given to those who performed the task well. 

As the study participants performed the task, they were also being monitored via MRI imaging so the researchers could examine brain activity. 

The MRI scans showed increased activity in the striatum, responding strongly to the positive feedback. This response was at its peak for the participants ages 17-20. 

The researchers also found that the more responsive the striatum was to feedback, the more likely it was the individual would have better learning performances as the years went on. 

“The results presented here show that striatal activity indicating heightened sensitivity to learning signals peaks in late adolescence, and that enhanced striatal activity can predict better current and future learning performance,” the study authors wrote.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-behavior-teens/">Teenagers</a> typically have a bad reputation for being moody and reckless, but as it turns out, if you use those years wisely, they can be among the most productive in your lifetime.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The best time of life to learn a new skill

A new study has found that the optimal time to...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.jhsph.edu/">Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health</a> have revealed that a diet high in tomatoes and fruit can slow down the natural decline in lung function. This suggests that certain elements of these foods, particularly tomatoes and apples, may promote the restoration of lung damage from smoking.

The investigation is part of the Ageing Lungs in European Cohorts (ALEC) Study, which is funded by the European Commission. Vanessa Garcia-Larsen is an assistant professor in the Bloomberg School's Department of International Health and the study's lead author. 

"This study shows that diet might help repair lung damage in people who have stopped smoking. It also suggests that a diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung's natural aging process even if you have never smoked," said Garcia-Larsen. “The findings support the need for dietary recommendations, especially for people at risk of developing respiratory diseases such as COPD."

The experts found that adults who consumed at least two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genetic-research-tomatoes-production/">tomatoes</a> or three portions of fresh fruit per day showed a slower decline in lung function than individuals who ate less than one tomato or one portion of fruit. The protective effects were only observed in fresh fruits and tomatoes, and not in processed foods such as tomato sauce.

The research team also found a slower decline in lung function among all adults with the highest tomato consumption, including those who didn't smoke.

For their investigation, the researchers analyzed the lung function of over 650 adults in 2002, and repeated the same tests in 2012. The link between stronger lung function and diet was particularly prevalent in former smokers. Ex-smokers who ate a diet high in tomatoes and fruits had around 80 ml slower decline over the ten-year period of observation.

"Lung function starts to decline at around age 30 at variable speed depending on the general and specific health of individuals," said Garcia-Larsen. "Our study suggests that eating more fruits on a regular basis can help attenuate the decline as people age, and might even help repair damage caused by smoking. Diet could become one way of combating rising diagnosis of COPD around the world."

The study is published in the <a href="http://erj.ersjournals.com/">European Respiratory Journal</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Tomatoes and fresh fruit help improve lungs of ex-smokers

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health...

Depending on who you ask, marriage can be the best thing that ever happened to you, or a living nightmare, but often, a little bit of both. Recent research has found that millennials are waiting longer to get married, if at all, and the old-fashioned notion of marrying right after college is no longer necessarily the norm.

These days, fewer younger people are getting married as a means of solving their problems. But can marriage help your overall level of contentment later in life?

According to a new study, getting married to your best friend may be an effective method to counter mid-life dissatisfaction. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://economics.ubc.ca/">Vancouver School of Economics</a> found that marriage can increase happiness and even double contentment, and this was especially true for middle-aged couples. 

For the study, the researchers examined data from two surveys, the British Household Panel Survey and the United Kingdom's Annual Population Survey from 2011 to 2013. 

The British Household Panel Survey included 30,000 people from 1991 to 2009, and the Population survey had over 300,000 responders. 

The researchers wanted to measure if marriage affected happiness overall, or if single people reported higher levels of satisfaction and contentment.

According to the results, married people were more satisfied in life than singles, which included couples who were living together but not technically married. 

This new study shows that despite the rates of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/divorce-genetic/">divorce</a>, marriage can increase happiness and contentment, particularly for middle-aged couples with partners they claim are their best friend. 

“The well-being benefits of marriage are much greater for those who also regard their spouse as their best friend,” said John Helliwell. Helliwell is the co-author of the study. 

“These benefits are on average about twice as large for people whose spouse is also their best friend.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Marriage increases happiness later in life, study finds

Depending on who you ask, marriage can be the best...

Although dog treats are the fastest growing segment of the pet food industry, very little is known about their nutritional value and their impact on a dog’s diet, health, and wellness. 

Currently, European regulation states that dog treats should be labeled as “complementary feed” and establishes rules for labeling to give consumers the necessary information. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines also state the daily treat intake should not be greater than 10% of a dog’s energy needs – known as maintenance energy requirement (MER).

However, recent research published in the <a href="http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/">Vet Record</a> finds that most dog treats on the market contain a wide range of unidentified ingredients – including sugars – and often exceed the recommended daily energy allowance for treats.

For this study, researcher Giada Morelli of the <a href="http://www.unipd.it/en/">University of Padua</a> in Italy looked to compare the nutrient composition of different categories of treats and determine whether daily intake recommendations on their labeling were in accordance with WSAVA guidelines. Taking 32 popular dog treats found in pet shops and supermarkets, Morelli and colleagues analyzed the products for levels of minerals, starch, simple sugars, and the amino acid hydroxyproline. 

The results showed that over three-quarters (76%) of treats contained between four and nine ingredients, and these ingredients were not precisely described on the label. Out of six categories of different treat types, only the instructions for dental sticks remained below 10% MER for every dog size. Biscuits were found to be the most calorically dense treat, while dental sticks were the least.

This study is the first to investigate and categorize dog treats to determine their nutrient profile. Although the authors note some study limitations, like the small number of treats that were analyzed in each category, they maintain that these findings suggest that treat labeling needs to include more information on the ingredients present. If these instructions are more closely followed, it could help prevent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-understand-humans-better/">dogs</a> from becoming overweight and at increased risk of conditions such as diabetes.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Poor labeling on dog treats may put your pet at risk

Although dog treats are the fastest growing segment of the...

It’s becoming more common these days for people to turn to improved nutrition as a way to better their health, rather than relying on simply taking handfuls of pills as they age. A healthier diet can increase your energy as well as help you lose weight, and now scientists say that it could slow the rate of brain aging.

According to a recent study published in <a href="http://www.neurology.org/">Neurology</a>, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, eating roughly one serving per day of green, leafy vegetables may improve your memory and thinking skills.

The study included 960 people with an average age of 81 who did not have dementia and were observed for an average of 4.7 years. The participants had their thinking and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blueberry-vinegar-battle-dementia/">memory</a> skills tested on a yearly basis, and filled out a questionnaire about how often they ate certain foods. The questionnaire asked them how many servings they ate per day of three vegetables: spinach, kale, and collards. 

The participants’ scores on the thinking and memory tests declined over time at a rate of 0.08 standardized units per year. However, the rate of decline for those who ate the most leafy greens was slower by 0.05 standardized units per years compared to those who ate the least. This difference is equivalent to being 11 years younger in age.

These results still hold true when factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, education level, and amount of physical and cognitive activity are taken into account. However, the authors do note that this study does not prove that eating leafy green vegetables slows brain aging, it only shows that there is an association. Nevertheless, unless you’re deathly allergic to spinach, kale, or collards, it won’t hurt to have more of those leafy greens in your diet.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Increasing your salad intake may keep your brain young

It’s becoming more common these days for people to turn...

As temperatures continue to rise due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/major-coal-company-climate/">climate change</a>, scientists are warning that winter sports are in jeopardy. Some Winter Olympic athletes are having to look farther and farther from home to find snow for training.

“Without the snow and the cold in the places in the States where it's normally cold, we have to travel over here and find a place on a glacier to get a couple of jumps off,” said world champion skier Jon Lillis. “Something that terrifies every winter athlete daily is the fact that the conditions are not as good as they used to be. You see videos of people skiing on glaciers back in the '80s and '70s, and half of that glacier doesn’t even exist anymore.”

Climate change was first mentioned by Winter Olympics officials in 1998. The authors of the wrap-up report wrote, “The depletion of the ozone layer and global warming are two examples of issues affecting our natural ecosystem on a worldwide scale. Therefore, striving to host the Olympic Winter Games in harmony with nature is especially important, and we ask the IOC and future Olympic Winter Games host cities to pay close attention to the environment.”

Almost 20 years later, concern has now turned into fear as the world scrambles to find ways to reverse the damage that human-induced climate change is causing the planet. The harmful effects of global warming, which were once environmental issues that would need to be dealt with in the future, have clearly arrived. Warmer winters are becoming more and more frequent, and winter athletes can no longer depend on suitable conditions.

Losses due to cancellations and weather delays will not only hurt the Winter Olympics, but will also impact the recreational side of winter sports. A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that ski resort revenue in New Hampshire was $54 million less in the warmer winters of 2001 and 2006 compared with 2007 and 2008 when snowfall totals were higher.
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Winter Olympic sports are suffering from warmer winters

As temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, scientists...

For millions of people around the world, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marriage-lessen-dementia/">dementia</a> is a real health issue that takes away their ability to function over time. This disease robs people of their memories and ability to think, and severely impacts the lives of those they love. Now, a new study in the American Chemical Society’s <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/journal/jafcau">Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry</a> has found that blueberry vinegar might be a solution to this problem.

Previous research has shown that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia – have lower levels of the signaling compound acetylcholine and its receptors within their brains. Other research has also shown that blocking acetylcholine receptors disrupts both learning and memory. Furthermore, drugs to stop breakdown of acetylcholine have been used to fight dementia, but they can be toxic to the liver and don’t last very long in the body.

Other studies have suggested that natural extracts could be a safer treatment option for dementia patients, as these extracts can improve cognition. In addition, fermentation is a natural process that can boost the bioactivity of some natural products. This led researcher Beong-Ou Lim and colleagues to test whether vinegar made from blueberries might help prevent cognitive decline, as blueberries are filled with a wide range of active compounds.

In their experiment, Lim and colleagues gave blueberry vinegar to mice with induced amnesia. Through measuring molecules in their brains, they showed that the vinegar reduced the breakdown of acetylcholine and boosted levels of brain-derived neurotropic factor – a protein associated with maintaining and creating healthy neurons.

The researchers analyzed how the mice performed in mazes and an avoidance test, in order to see how treatment affected cognition. The animals that were treated showed improved performance for both of these tests, which leads researchers to believe that the fermented product improved their short-term memory. Although further testing is needed, these results point to the chance that blueberry vinegar may be a promising food to help treat dementia.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Blueberry vinegar improves memory and could help battle dementia

For millions of people around the world, dementia is a...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...