Wish,To,Meet,Santa,Claus.,Merry,Christmas,And,Happy,New

Every December, colorful lights and festive tunes remind kids, and adults, that Santa Claus is on his way. Families fill their homes with decorations, children write wish lists, and a sense of anticipation hangs in the air. 



Parents have long told their kids that if they behave well, Santa will bring them just what they asked for. Until recently, few studies examined whether this belief actually influenced how kids act.



In a new project, researchers decided to see if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/irregular-bedtimes-disrupt-the-well-being-and-behavior-of-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">children</a> truly become more considerate when they think Santa is watching. 



They explored whether kids act better because of the story of Santa or because of everything else going on during the holiday season. 



Professor Kapitány from the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a> led the investigation along with colleagues from <a href="https://www.durham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Durham</a>, <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edinburgh</a>, and <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leeds</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-santa-and-surprises">Kids, Santa, and surprises</h2>



The study tracked 533 kids between ages four and nine over three separate Christmases and visits from Santa. Families <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kids-with-behavioral-issues-have-high-cortisol-levels-in-their-hair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported on behaviors</a> like sharing, helping others, and following rules. 



Parents also described whether their kids believed in Santa and took part in festive traditions. According to the data, there was no direct link between Santa belief alone and an increase in kindness.



Instead, good behavior rose as Christmas neared when families engaged in activities such as decorating their homes, singing carols, and enjoying special treats.&nbsp;



The study noted that these experiences led to small but consistent boosts in generous and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kindergarten-conduct-childhood-behavioral-problems-will-cost-society-later/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">respectful actions</a>. 



This shift also came with a bump in more rowdy moments, highlighting that heightened excitement can show up in many ways.



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



For many families, hanging ornaments or baking Christmas cookies is more than just a fun holiday pastime. 



These rituals offer children a chance to feel a sense of togetherness and excitement that breaks up their usual routine. 



The study suggests that these shared activities have a greater <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-consider-their-own-past-actions-before-judging-others/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effect on kindness</a> than the idea of being judged by a mysterious gift-giver in a red suit.



Parents often say they remind kids to be on their best behavior so Santa will reward them. Yet the findings show it’s the holiday atmosphere itself that has the strongest pull. 



One researcher described it by saying “the magic is in the time of year, so to speak, not in the claim over the supernatural big man.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-supernatural-beliefs-and-morality">Supernatural beliefs and morality</h2>



Some scholars point out that Santa is often placed on the same pedestal as other powerful beings in certain cultures. 



Parents treat him as a figure who can watch children from afar, keep track of good deeds, and decide on gifts. 



This study adds to conversations about how belief in unseen forces might shape moral choices.



Other work shows that religious ideas can sometimes bring out prosocial behavior. Hearing about rules or promises of rewards can prompt more cooperation.&nbsp;



In the case of Santa, though, the results suggest that the presence of traditions might play a bigger role in guiding kids toward friendly, generous actions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contrasting-philosophies-on-kids-and-santa">Contrasting philosophies on kids and Santa</h2>



Philosophers have different views on whether parents should even promote Santa’s story. 



Dr. Joseph Millum from the <a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of St. Andrews</a> worries it “breaches trust,” calling Santa a “preposterous lie.” Others feel that Santa can be a healthy way to bring joy into children’s lives. 



Tom Whyman, a lecturer in philosophy at the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Liverpool</a>, says that “kids need Santa.” 



These opinions highlight the varying attitudes people have toward a figure whose influence has become an enduring feature of holiday culture.



When parents choose whether to encourage this tale, they grapple with how it shapes their children’s sense of wonder and truth. 



Some families see Santa as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pretend-play-builds-the-foundation-for-learning-and-relationships/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">harmless make-believe</a>, while others wonder if creating a magical visitor might later undermine a child’s trust. 



The study reminds us that cultural myths carry weight, yet they may not fully explain shifts in children’s behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-holiday-traditions">Implications for holiday traditions</h2>



The research shows that singing festive songs, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/christmas-trees-have-unique-strategies-to-survive-freezing-winters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">placing ornaments on a tree</a>, or preparing traditional foods creates a distinct environment. That environment is linked with both extra kindness and occasional bursts of negative behavior. 



While the belief in Santa himself did not correlate directly with improved conduct, the coordinated celebration of the season proved to be more powerful.



Families can consider how these moments <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/personality-traits-are-not-strongly-inherited-from-parents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bring the household closer</a>. Children who help bake cookies or watch a classic Christmas movie often feel a greater sense of involvement. 



This sense of participation aligns with the study’s findings that holiday events can be a driving force behind thoughtful gestures, cooperation, and cheer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bigger-questions-about-childhood-and-culture">Bigger questions about childhood and culture</h2>



Santa’s modern image traces back to a blend of folklore, marketing campaigns, and traditions inspired by Saint Nicholas. 



For countless children, the idea of a kindhearted figure traveling the skies in a single night is a highlight of December. 



This study encourages us to think about how such stories fit into broader questions about parenting approaches and cultural myths. 



Many communities celebrate special figures who reward the nice and ignore or punish the naughty. 



In each case, children experience stories they can hold onto, if only for a few magical years. The current research suggests that these stories may matter less than the rituals and music, but they still add color to the season.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



Plenty of families continue to share the Santa story, watch Christmas movies, and maintain lively traditions. 



The researchers point out that more studies could explore how different cultural celebrations, and the potential <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/holiday-stress-is-higher-this-year-compared-to-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress levels surrounding them</a>, ultimately help shape child development. 



From the outside, it might seem obvious that gatherings, songs, and decorations encourage bright and kind behavior, yet measuring these elements takes careful planning.



Some psychologists are curious about whether similar patterns show up around other holidays or special events with strong rituals.&nbsp;



The core message remains that communal practices, family bonding, and joyful anticipation often spark gentler and more considerate behavior in children. 



The Santa myth is part of that puzzle, but it may not be the only factor making kids play nicely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-did-we-learn-about-kids-and-santa">What did we learn about kids and Santa?</h2>



The takeaway here is that Christmas is a powerful backdrop for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-parents-use-threats-to-discipline-children-but-its-not-effective-in-the-long-run/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shaping how children behave</a>. 



A lively household filled with festive foods, carols, and colorful decorations can steer kids toward more thoughtful choices, even if the well-known Santa story doesn’t stand alone as a motivator. 



Traditions that families share appear to matter more than the promise of presents under the tree.



These observations offer a new way to think about how myths and rituals come together to create a meaningful holiday experience.&nbsp;



Children may still look forward to Santa’s arrival each year, but the real spark for positive behavior lies in those precious moments spent enjoying the season.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://osf.io/preprints/osf/e8jm6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSF Pre-prints</a>.



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Does believing in Santa make kids behave better? A new study found out

Every December, colorful lights and festive tunes remind kids, and adults, that Santa Claus is on his way. Families fill their homes with decorations, children write wish lists, and a sense of anticipation hangs in the air.  Parents have long told their kids that if they behave well, Santa will bring them just what they asked for. Until recently, few studies examined whether this belief actually influenced how kids act. In a new project, researchers decided to see if children truly become more considerate when they think...

A new study finds that people are not born with a belief in God. While previous studies have focused on how religious beliefs are affected by intuitive thinking and analytical thinking, the current research reveals that spiritual beliefs are not influenced by either of these cognitive styles but instead by our surroundings and upbringing.

In the past, many experts have thought that people who have strong <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientific-education-beliefs/">religious</a> beliefs are less analytical and more intuitive. These researchers believe that when people think more analytically, their spiritual beliefs decline.

Researchers at <a href="http://www.coventry.ac.uk/">Coventry University</a> and <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">Oxford University</a> have determined that such theories are not entirely accurate because people are not “born believers.” Their analysis was focused on pilgrims participating in the Camino de Santiago, a religious tradition in Spain. 

The team asked pilgrims about the strength of their beliefs and assessed their levels of intuitive thinking with a probability task, where participants had to decide between a logical and an instinctive choice. The researchers also performed brain-imaging experiments on the participants to look for a connection between analytical thinking and religious convictions. 

Ultimately, there was no link found between intuitive or analytical thinking and religious beliefs from any of the tests. The scientists concluded that socio-cultural processes and childhood surroundings were much more likely to play a role in spiritual beliefs. 

The study was the first to challenge a growing collection of work by cognitive psychologists, who have tried to show for the past two decades that believing in the supernatural is something that comes naturally or intuitively.

Lead author Miguel Farias said, "What drives our belief in gods - intuition or reason; heart or head? There has been a long debate on this matter but our studies have challenged the theory that being a religious believer is determined by how much individuals rely on intuitive or analytical thinking.”

The researchers feel that their research supports a different theory that religion is a nurture-based process which develops throughout the time of one's upbringing and education.

"We don't think people are 'born believers' in the same way we inevitably learn a language at an early age,” said Farias. “The available sociological and historical data show that what we believe in is mainly based on social and educational factors, and not on cognitive styles, such as intuitive/analytical thinking.Religious belief is most likely rooted in culture rather than in some primitive gut intuition."

The research is published 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

Religious beliefs linked to upbringing, not thought process

A new study finds that people are not born with...

Grabbing a late night snack is always tempting, but research has shown that eating at night is detrimental to your overall health and wellbeing. 

Eating after dinner, when the body should be at rest, can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain, as calories consumed at that time are more likely to be stored as fat.

Now, a new study from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Autonomous_University_of_Mexico">National Autonomous University of Mexico</a> has found that eating late at night disrupts the body’s natural 24-hour cycle. 

For the study, researchers focused on triglycerides in rats. The team fed fat to a group of rats right before their rest period, and their blood-fat levels increased rapidly as a result. 

The blood-fat levels were higher if they were fed before rest than if they were fed before their active period. 

In another part of the study, the researchers removed part of the rat’s brain that controls the 24-hour cycle. After doing this, there was no change in blood-fat levels regardless of when the rats were fed. 

The study shows that when the rats were fed before rest, it was counter to their natural 24-cycle, which increased their blood-fat levels. 

People who snack late at night are also running counter to their body’s natural rhythm and increase their risk of diabetes, weight gain, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-diets-heart-disease/">heart disease</a>. 

These results are especially problematic for those individuals whose work schedules run counter to the 24-hour cycle, such as people who work the late shift or work nights. 

It turns out that in the long-term, late-night eating can be more than just a bad habit, but even dangerous one.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Late night snacking may increase risk of diabetes, heart disease

Grabbing a late night snack is always tempting, but research...

In the information age, anyone with a phone or computer can be a critic. Whether discussing the current political climate or an opinion on music or restaurants, opinions are everywhere online.

Just one look at the news and you can see how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/twitter-unreliable-representation/">Twitter</a> has changed the landscape of how we discuss current events and personal opinions. 

But now, a new study has found that the way in which we receive an opinion makes a difference in how we understand it. According to the research, people are more receptive to differing ideas or opinions if they are heard a loud or in person rather than read in text.

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/">Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley</a> and published in the journal Psychological Science.

“Our findings show that even when the content is the same, the medium through which it is expressed can affect evaluations of the communicator,” said Juliana Schroeder, the study’s lead researcher. “It is possible that variance in communicators' natural cues in their voices, such as tone, can convey their thoughtfulness

For the study, the researchers conducted several experiments where opinions were either read, watched, or listened to. Six participants were recorded while they expressed their personal opinions on political and social topics. 

A different group of participants were then randomly given either the full video recording to watch, an audio version of the recording, or a transcript of the recording to read. 

The researchers measured the reactions to the different mediums and asked the second group of participants to rate the “speaker.” 

The results showed that listening versus reading made a difference in how people judge the mental capacities of the communicator. The participants who either watched the full recordings or just listened to the audio had similar ratings of the speaker compared to those who just read the transcripts. 

As it turns out, listening to someone tell their opinion humanizes them. Intonation, speech patterns, and natural pauses give a little more validity to the speaker, as opposed to just reading the words in text.

“If mutual appreciation and understanding of the mind of another person is the goal of social interaction, then it may be best for the person's voice to be heard,” said the researchers. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

People are more receptive to opinions they hear rather than read

In the information age, anyone with a phone or computer...

Quitting smoking is no easy feat. Even though you may be very aware the health risks associated with smoking, the side effects of withdrawal can be even more daunting to deal with.

But now, a new study conducted by researchers at the <a href="http://www.lsi.umich.edu/">University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute</a> may have uncovered genetic factors that explain why quitting smoking is so difficult.

The research found that a genetic mechanism may predispose a person to be dependent on nicotine.

For the study, the researchers examined nicotine dependence in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/roundworms-protection-alzheimers/">roundworms</a>. They may sound like a strange test subject, but roundworms actually have similar reactions to nicotine as mammals do, and become easily dependent on it. 

After analyzing the genetic makeup of the roundworms, the researchers discovered that a series of genes were involved in creating more nicotine receptor proteins. 

These proteins have been the focus of many studies involving nicotine dependence, but the roundworm study gives new insight into the genetic processes leading up to the creation of those proteins. 

The results of the study point to specific genes and microRNAs as vital to the creation of nicotine receptor proteins, increasing the roundworm’s dependence on nicotine and worsening withdrawal. 

“We're seeing a clear link between nicotine, microRNA, the receptor proteins, and nicotine-dependent behavior,” said Jianke Gong, a lead author of the study.

The connection between microRNAs and receptor proteins has been examined by researchers before and thought to be irrelevant to nicotine dependence. But the researchers note that this was decades before when the technology for research was not nearly as advanced as it is today. 

The study shows that roundworms are an excellent model for examining nicotine dependence and withdrawal, and delves into genetic mechanisms that may be at the heart of nicotine dependence. 

The researchers hope their findings will encourage future studies that look into just how microRNAs contribute to addiction and withdrawal.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Can’t quit smoking? Blame your genes

Quitting smoking is no easy feat. Even though you may...

Beer and wine doesn’t just taste good because of the ingredients. The complex flavors that you’ll hear about from every wine connoisseur and “hop head” at the bar are a result of carefully balanced chemistry. A combination of biological factors from the ingredients and resulting chemical reactions when they’re mixed can give these alcoholic beverages the distinctive tastes many people love.

In Belgium – arguably one of the beer capitals of the world – microbiologists have been using genetic mapping to identify specific yeast genes that produce higher levels of a rose or honey aroma in wine and beer. This aroma comes from a flavor compound known as phenylethyl acetate.

Yeast is a major component of the flavor of any <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/probiotic-beer-helps-gut/">beer</a>, as it adds both carbonation and flavor in fermentation. Although most of the flavor in wine comes from the grapes used, the metabolism of the yeast can alter the flavors and add secondary flavors.

“In some wines, you can smell the rose flavor above all the others,” says Johan Thevelein, a microbiologist at the Center for Microbiology at <a href="http://www.vib.be/en/Pages/default.aspx">VIB</a>, a life sciences institute in Flanders. “But why certain yeast strains make more of this compound than other strains, there was no knowledge at all.”

By using high-throughput genomic analysis to study genes in a hybrid strain of brewer’s yeast, the researchers identified the causative gene that was linked to higher production of phenylethyl acetate. They used CRISPR/Cas9 to play with the alleles they identified that were responsible for higher production of this flavor compound, switching the alleles between parent strains and observing the increase in phenylethyl acetate production.

“You have to do two things,” says Thevelein. “One is to improve the yeast trait that you want to improve. Second is to change nothing else in the yeast. In practice, the latter turns out to be much more difficult than the former. If the fermentation is bad, you have to throw away all the beer.”

In the past, enhancing these yeast strains for more desirable flavors has been a significant challenge. The process can be both expensive and time-consuming. But the researchers believe that CRISPR/Cas9 will help create a more efficient way to engineer desirable traits in yeast – adding desirable genes and swapping out undesirable genes.

And there’s even more good news for beer drinkers: the researchers have recently partnered with a Belgian brewery to help evaluate their experimental strains with the idea of creating and controlling even tastier beer.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Using science to improve the taste of beer and wine

Beer and wine doesn’t just taste good because of the...

A study from the <a href="https://www.med.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine</a> has found that 70 percent of all cannabidiol products sold online are not labeled correctly, potentially causing serious harm to consumers. Lead author Marcel Bonn-Miller believes the mislabeling of cannabidiol products is a direct result of the insufficient regulation of the drug.

"The big problem, with this being something that is not federally legal, is that the needed quality assurance oversight from the Food and Drug Administration is not available,” said Bonn-Miller. “There are currently no standards for producing, testing, or labeling these oils.”

Cannabidiol, a natural chemical found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-use-sex/">marijuana</a> plants, has been the subject of much interest in recent years as research has shown the compound has many therapeutic uses. CBD provides medical benefits without making patients feel intoxicated because it is not a psychoactive drug like marijuana.

In states where it has been legalized, patients report using CBD for a variety of health conditions including epilepsy, migraines, insomnia, and anxiety. Business experts estimate that the market for CBD products will spike to over $2 billion in consumer sales within the next three years. 

While the interest in CBD continues to grow, the regulation of products containing CBD is not keeping up with the pace. This is primarily due to the fact that CBD is still considered a Schedule 1 controlled substance despite its legal status in many states. Most CBD products are purchased online, where sites often do not even use the term cannabidiol to avoid getting into trouble.

"So, right now, if you buy a Hershey bar, you know it has been checked over; you know how many calories are in it, you know it has chocolate as an ingredient, you know how much chocolate is in there” said Bonn-Miller. “Selling these oils without oversight, there is no way to know what is actually in the bottle. It's crazy to have less oversight and information about a product being widely used for medicinal purposes, especially in very ill children, than a Hershey bar."

Bonn-Miller and his team purchased and analyzed 84 products containing CBD from 31 online retailers. They found that at least 42 percent of the products were under-labeled, meaning that the product contained a higher concentration of CBD than indicated. 26 percent of the products examined by the team were over-labeled, meaning the product contained a lower concentration of CBD than indicated on the label. 

Only 30 percent of the CBD products purchased by the researchers contained an actual CBD content that was within 10 percent of the amount on the product label. While excessive CBD is not thought to be dangerous, the wrong dosage may negate the therapeutic effects of the drug.

"People are using this as medicine for many conditions (anxiety, inflammation, pain, epilepsy)," said Bonn-Miller. "The biggest implication is that many of these patients may not be getting the proper dosage; they're either not getting enough for it to be effective or they're getting too much."

A number of the products analyzed for the study also contained a significant amount of THC, the chemical compound in cannabis responsible for making people feel high. THC is linked to cognitive impairment and other negative health effects. Because this medication is often given to children who suffer from epilepsy, parents could be giving their child THC without realizing it.

"Future research should be focused on making sure people are paying attention to this issue and encouraging regulation in this rapidly expanding industry,” said Bonn-Miller.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cannabidiol products sold online are most often mislabeled

A study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine...

Love is most likely one of the most complex nouns in the English language. It brings to mind so many different feelings of its own, and just hearing the word may invoke a wide variety of emotions in different people. However, researchers from <a href="http://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a> have found that love as a feeling holds a lot of similarities between the American people.

In a study published in the <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/home/spr">Journal of Social and Personal Relationships</a>, researchers had 495 American adults answer a questionnaire about whether or not they thought most people would feel loved in 60 different scenarios. These scenarios included positive, neutral, and negative situations. 

“Whether we feel loved or not plays an important role in how we feel from day to day,” says Saeideh Heshmati, a postdoctoral researcher in Penn State’s <a href="http://hhd.psu.edu/">College of Health and Human Development</a>. “We were curious about whether the majority of Americans could agree about what makes people feel loved on a daily basis, or if it was a more personal thing.”

Their findings show that people feel the most loved when they receive small, non-romantic physical gestures, such as hugging and snuggling up with a pet.
"We found that behavioral actions -- rather than purely verbal expressions -- triggered more consensus as indicators of love," said Heshmati.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, controlling behaviors – such as someone wanting to know their whereabouts at all times – were seen as the least loving.

“Our results show that people do agree, and the top scenarios that came back weren’t necessarily romantic,” explains Heshmati. “So it is possible for people to feel loved in simple, everyday scenarios. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top gestures.”

Overall, the researchers found that behavioral actions were more likely to be seen as indicators of love, rather than verbal expressions. And yes, that even included saying “I love you.” Heshmati explains this by proposing that people might see behavior as more authentic, rather than someone “just saying something.”

Another interesting finding of the study was that men tended to know less about what the majority of the American culture deems loving. Heshmati points out that previous research has shown that men tend to think differently about the concept of love compared to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-couples-women-house/">women</a>. Furthermore, people in a relationship and people with agreeable or neurotic personality traits also had a better idea of the cultural consensus. 

After all this, Heshmati still says that we should be careful in assuming that any one individual may have the same feelings about love as us, even if you’re in a relationship with them. “It may not be wise to go into a relationship assuming that both of you know the same things about feeling loved or that all of the same things will make you feel loved,” Heshmati says. “I think it’s important to communicate these things to each other, which can assist in being more in tune with each other and feeling loved in the relationship.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Physical gestures tend to make people feel more loved

Love is most likely one of the most complex nouns...

While global food demand is expected to increase exponentially in the coming years, drought and water shortages will have a major impact on agricultural output.

Population growth, changes in diets, and increased demand for biofuels are just a few of the reasons agricultural demand is growing, all while global aquifers are quickly being depleted.

Now, a new study conducted by researchers at <a href="http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/">Columbia University’s Earth Institute</a> offers a new solution to meet agricultural demand amid future water shortages.

The study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, suggests that redrawing crop distribution maps worldwide could drastically increase output.

For the study, the researchers looked at crop water-use models, and yield maps for 14 major food crops that make up 72 percent of all crops farmed worldwide.

The crops used were groundnut, maize, millet, oil palm, rapeseed, rice, roots, sorghum, soybean, sugarbeet, sugarcane, sunflowers, tubers, and wheat.

The study especially focused on crop distributions that would put less stress on water consumption. 

The new maps would produce enough food for an additional 825 million people and reduce water consumption considerably, at least 20 percent in some countries.

The key, according to the study, is increasing the production of certain nutrient-rich crops like soybeans and tubers, and reducing yields in crops like rice, sugar, and wheat that need more water but have less caloric value.

Crop distribution would vary from country to country, but the results show that it is possible to meet growing demand and reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/buffer-filter-nitrates-groundwater/">water</a> usage worldwide. 

Some of the exciting aspects of this option are that unlike other alternatives, redistributing crops would not require installing expensive new technology. The new maps also wouldn’t risk any loss in crop diversity.

However, this is just the first step, according to the researchers. There are still many factors to consider before any of these new maps can be implemented.

“If we think about the economic, social, and environmental aspects of food security in a particular country and work closely with local decision-makers, we can create solutions tailored to the needs and goals of that country's people,” said Kyle Davis, the study’s lead author.

The study results can serve as a tool in helping further research efforts to meet the growing demand for sustainable agriculture. 

--

By <a href="http://mailto:kayandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Global crop redistribution could feed 825 million more people

While global food demand is expected to increase exponentially in...

With the end of Daylight Saving Time marking the opportunity to “fall backward,” many people are happy to have gotten the extra hour of sleep this past weekend.  

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-depression-stress-anxiety/">Sleep deprivation</a> has many well-known negative consequences including reduced cognitive functioning and poor performance at work or school. 

But now, new research explains exactly why sleep deprivation affects memory and our ability to process information the following day. In other words, we finally have some answers that explain why we space out when we haven't gotten enough sleep.

The new study from the <a href="http://www.ucla.edu/">University of California Los Angeles</a> (UCLA) is the first of its kind to show how sleep deprivation interrupts the communication between brain cells which leads to mental lapses. 

For the study, a team of researchers observed twelve UCLA epileptic patients who had electrodes implanted in their brains. 

The researchers had the patients categorize a series of images as quickly as possible while they stayed up.

The longer the patients stayed awake, the task of categorizing the pictures became much more difficult to perform. The longer the task took, the slower the reaction and communication in the subject’s brain cells. 

“We were fascinated to observe how sleep deprivation dampened brain cell activity. Unlike the usual rapid reaction, the neurons responded slowly, fired more weakly and their transmissions dragged on longer than usual,” said  Dr. Yuval Nir, the lead author of the study.  

The results show that sleep deprivation affects the brain’s ability to encode information which interferes with visual input and conscious thought. It takes longer for us to register what we’re seeing or experiencing when sleep deprived. 

The researchers hope their findings will put an emphasis on sleep deprivation and avoiding the troubling consequences it can bring with it. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why we space out when we don't get enough sleep

With the end of Daylight Saving Time marking the opportunity...

According to research from the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a>, embellished drinking glasses often contain high levels of lead and cadmium. The study found concentrations of lead that were more than 1,000 times the limit.

The research team performed 197 tests on 72 new and used drinking glasses, including tumblers, beer mugs, wine glasses, and jars.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/imported-candy-contaminated-foods/">Lead</a> was present in 139 tests and cadmium was present in 134, both on the surface of the glasses and on the rims. When long-term use was simulated on the glasses, paint often flaked and came off the glass. This suggested that the substances may be ingested with sustained use.

The research adds to a growing collection of evidence that people are often unsuspectingly exposed to toxic substances. Lead author Dr. Andrew Turner also led a study to examine the potential danger of playground paints. The evaluation revealed that children are at risk for ingesting paint flakes from play equipment, but Dr. Turner believes that drinking glasses pose an even greater risk.

"The presence of hazardous elements in both the paint and glaze of decorated glassware has obvious implications for both human health and the environment," said Dr. Turner. “So it was a real surprise to find such high levels of lead and cadmium, both on the outside of the glassware and around the rim. There are genuine health risks posed through ingesting such levels of the substances over a prolonged period, so this is clearly an issue that the international glassware industry needs to take action on as a matter of urgency."

The researchers examined the glassware using portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Over 70 percent of the glass products tested positive for lead, which was found in all colors including decorated gold leaves present on some of the glasses. The same percentage of glassware tested positive for cadmium, with the highest levels detected in red enamel.

The lead concentrations ranged from 40 to 400,000 parts per million, while the levels of cadmium ranged from 300 to 70,000 parts per million. According to the <a href="https://oehha.ca.gov/">U.S. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment</a>, the limit levels for the decorated surface rim area of drinking glasses are 200 parts per million for lead and 800 parts per million for cadmium.

"Given that safer alternatives are available to the industry, the overall results of this study are both surprising and concerning," said Dr. Turner. "Why are harmful or restricted elements still being employed so commonly to decorate contemporary glassware manufactured in China, the European Union and elsewhere? I believe consumers should be made aware of this, while retailers and the glass industry have the responsibility to eliminate toxic metals from decorated products."

The study is published in <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/science-of-the-total-environment/">Science of the Total Environment</a>.
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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dangerous levels of lead found in decorated drinking glasses

According to research from the University of Plymouth, embellished drinking...

If you’re feeling down, a trip outside to reconnect with nature may be just what you need to boost happiness, a new study claims.

Spending time in the great outdoors each day can help to increase personal well-being, the researchers found – no travel required. Just be sure to take time to pay attention to your natural surroundings and how they make you feel.

"This wasn't about spending hours outdoors or going for long walks in the wilderness," said Holli-Anne Passmore, a doctoral student at the <a href="https://ok.ubc.ca/">University of British Columbia-Okanagan</a>. "This is about the tree at a bus stop in the middle of a city and the positive effect that one tree can have on people."

Nearly 400 study participants spent two weeks on an “intervention” intended to boost happiness. They were asked to spend time outside each day, document the natural world around them, and explore how the plants, trees and wildlife made them feel.

Each participant was asked to photograph any part of nature that caught their eye, from a bird or squirrel to a week growing from the sidewalk, and write down a short note about how it made them feel.

A second group did the same exercise but with man-made objects like statues and buildings, and a third control group did neither. 

The study participants turned in nearly 2,500 photos and notes. Researchers found that for those in the nature group, simply being aware of their surroundings had participants reporting a happiness boost and a greater connection to their community.

"The difference in participants' well-being – their happiness, sense of elevation, and their level of connectedness to other people, not just nature – was significantly higher than participants in the group noticing how human-built objects made them feel and the control group,” Passmore said.

The study is one of several that the University of British Columbia’s psychology researchers have undertaken to explore how nature is connected to well-being. The researchers hope to add to the scientific documentation showing the benefits of green spaces in urban landscapes.

The study has been published in the <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17439760.2016.1221126">Journal of Positive Psychology</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Feeling blue? Take notice of nature to boost happiness

If you’re feeling down, a trip outside to reconnect with...

From the California drought and wildfires to the string of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hurricane-harvey-worst-hurricanes/">hurricanes</a> that devastated Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean, 2017 has been full of extreme weather events. While politicians argue over environmental policy, climate change is set to bring even more extreme weather in the years to come.

Two recent reports by the <a href="http://www.nationalacademies.org/">National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine</a> examine disaster readiness and discuss measures that would improve both emergency response systems and the public’s ability to respond and react in the face of a disaster.

The research outline two different categories: the systems used to alert the public during or before an event, and social and behavioral factors.

The researchers argue that improving alert and warning systems is a must, especially because there are so many facets of technology, like social media platforms, that aren’t fully utilized for emergency warning purposes.

Gaining a better understanding of social and behavioral factors can enhance how severe weather events are prepared for and discussed, possibly improving evacuation protocols and infrastructure, among other disaster readiness situations.

The first report focuses on emergency alert and warning systems. Early warning systems like Wireless Emergency Alerts and the Integrated Public Alert Warning System need to match the rapid advances in being made technology.

However, researchers note that any advances made in early warning systems should also take into account social and behavioral sciences.

Facebook, Google, and other social media platforms could be maximized to help inform the public of a disaster, and utilizing private companies and social media will expand the government’s potential to reach more people.  

Another way modern advances in technology could improve alert and warning systems is through improved geotargeting, which could more accurately pinpoint the location of individuals in danger. 

The second report discusses the need for weather enterprises to include social and behavioral sciences to improve weather predicting technologies.

“Weather forecasts and warnings are being made with greater accuracy, geographic specificity, and lead time, which allow people and communities to take appropriate protective measures,” said the report. “As recent hazardous weather events have illustrated, social and behavioral factors -- including people's contexts, experiences, knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes -- shape responses to weather risks.”

The new research has outlined specific steps that the government and public safety official can integrate to better prepare communities for severe weather events. Whether or not the suggestions will be applied, however, remains to be seen.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

More extreme weather events will require improving public safety

From the California drought and wildfires to the string of...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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