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...

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...

Often in the confusing and hectic place that is our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-aware-die/">mind</a>, we find ourselves faced with unwanted thoughts about unpleasant memories. When this occurs, we don’t always have the ability to ignore these uncomfortable reminders. 

In a new study, scientists have identified a key chemical within the “memory” region of the brain that helps us suppress unwanted thoughts. These findings may help explain why people who suffer from conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and depression experience constant intrusive thoughts that they have no control over.

“Our ability to control our thoughts is fundamental to our wellbeing,” says Michael Anderson from the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a>. “When this capacity breaks down, it causes some of the most debilitating symptoms of psychiatric diseases: intrusive memories, images, hallucinations, ruminations, and pathological and persistent worries.” Anderson goes on to point out that these are all major symptoms of the previously mentioned mental illnesses.

In this study, a team of researchers led by Anderson and Dr. Taylor Schmitz used a task known as “Think/No-Think” in order to determine a new brain process that allows the prefrontal cortex to inhibit our thoughts. The prefrontal cortex is a region at the front of the brain that is known to play a role in controlling our actions, and acts on other brain regions as well.

The task involved participants learning to associate a series of words with a paired – but unconnected – word. Some examples of this would be ordeal/roach and moss/north. They were then asked to recall the associated word if the cue was green, or suppress it if the cue was red.

The researchers used a combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy in order to analyze what was occurring in key regions of the brain when the participants were attempting to inhibit their thoughts. The spectroscopy allowed the researchers to measure brain chemistry along with the imaging being observed through the fMRI.

The results revealed that our ability to inhibit unwanted thoughts hinges on a certain neurotransmitter, which is a chemical in the brain that allows messages to pass between nerve cells. This neurotransmitter is known as GABA, and is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. It was discovered that GABA concentrations within the hippocampus – the key area of the brain involved in memory – determine an individual’s ability to block the retrieval process and prevent thoughts from returning.

“Where previous research has focused on the prefrontal cortex - the command center – we’ve shown that this is an incomplete picture,” explains Anderson. “Inhibiting unwanted thoughts is as much about the cells within the hippocampus - the ‘boots on the ground’ that receive commands from the prefrontal cortex. If an army’s foot-soldiers are poorly equipped, then its commanders’ orders cannot be implemented well.”

The researchers believe that these findings may help determine the mechanisms behind schizophrenia, as well as other conditions that exhibit elevated activity in the hippocampus, such as PTSD, anxiety, and chronic depression. Further studies may one day lead to more effective treatments for individuals that suffer from these debilitating conditions.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists locate chemical that helps suppress unwanted thoughts

Often in the confusing and hectic place that is our...

Researchers have found that the risk of oversharing in conversation, or providing too many irrelevant details, increases with age.

Experiments conducted with a group of 100 participants revealed that the thinking skills needed to appropriately respond to the perspectives of others deteriorate as the years go by.

Experts from <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/">The University of Edinburgh</a> and <a href="http://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> used a series of visual and computerized learning tests to evaluate the thinking skills of the subjects, who ranged in age from 17 to 84 years old. 

The team closely examined the participants’ attention skills, or their ability to concentrate on one thing and ignore another. The researchers wanted to see how these skills influenced the ability of an individual to consider a partner's point of view while engaged in conversation.

The experts conducted two listening tests to analyze two different types of attention skills. First, they assessed inhibition, the ability to stay focused and ignore distracting information. Next, they monitored switching, the ability to shift focus between two different sounds and filter relevant information.

The researchers asked the participants to describe one of four objects to a partner who could see only three of the objects. The older individuals were found to be more likely to reveal irrelevant information to their partners.

The team also determined that attention switching skills declined with age, and that the degeneration of these skills directly influenced how the older adults responded to their partner's perspective.

For younger adults, their ability to filter distracting information was what helped them to effectively respond to the perspectives of their partners.

Madeline Long of the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences is the lead author of the study.

"The study identified two attentional functions that influence whether we consider another's point of view and how that changes as we age,” said Long. “This is particularly important for older adults who are more susceptible to revealing private information.

We hope these findings can be used to design targeted training that helps <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/increased-levels-herbicides-adults/">older adults</a> improve these skills and avoid embarrassing and potentially risky communicative errors."

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001002771730241X">Cognition</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

The ability listen and connect in conversation lessens with age

Researchers have found that the risk of oversharing in conversation,...

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea, affecting 25 percent of adults in the United States. This potentially serious sleep disorder is linked to an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Scientists have now identified specific neural circuits responsible for stimulating the brain during sleep apnea conditions, which may lead to improved drug therapies.

Often characterized by loud snoring, obstructive sleep apnea is caused by partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway. As oxygen levels in the blood fall and carbon dioxide levels rise, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-much-brainpower/">brain</a> is alerted and wakes the individual up to re-establish breathing.

"A person with apnea wakes up and starts breathing again and this cycle can repeat hundreds of time per night, so the person never gets very deeply asleep," said study senior author Clifford B. Saper. "In the morning, they may not remember that they have not had a restful night's sleep but will feel very tired."

Researchers at the <a href="http://www.bidmc.org/">Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center</a> simulated the effects of obstructive sleep apnea in mice by using an enclosure with adjustable atmospheric levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide. They changed the ratio of the gases every five minutes for 30 seconds. 

The team then focused on a subset of neurons, PBelCGRP cells, which are known to activate in response to elevated carbon dioxide levels. The researchers genetically altered these cells in the mice so that the neurons could be activated or suppressed using light or drugs. The activation of these cells woke the mice up and could keep them awake for hours at a time, while the suppression of the neurons allowed the mice to sleep even through elevated levels of carbon dioxide. This demonstrated that these cells are responsible for waking up the brain.

In the final phase of the study, the experts followed the long branches, or axons, of the PBelCGRP neurons to the cells with which they connect in other parts of the brain. When the researchers switched off the neurons’ connection to a key region of the basal forebrain, all sensitivity to carbon dioxide was also turned off.

"Our goal was to identify the circuitry responsible for waking the brain up during sleep apnea, which is distinct from the part of the brain that controls breathing," said Saper. "If we could keep the brain from waking up during apneas and activate only the part of the brain that opens up the airways, people with obstructive sleep apnea would still be able to get a good night's rest."

The fragmented sleep that results from sleep apnea can cause significant impairments to cognition, mood, and alertness. The scientists hope to use the findings of their study to develop more effective treatments for sleep apnea patients.

"The long-term goal of this research is to come up with drugs that will affect specific pathways in the brain," said Saper. "The next step is to see if we can use drugs to prevent the wake-up response while augmenting the opening of the airway. That way, having an apnea won't wake a person up."

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.cell.com/neuron/home">Neuron</a>.

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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

Scientists identify area of the brain that triggers sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep...

These days, more people around the world are living alone than ever before. In America, the number of people who live alone jumped from 5 percent in 1920 to 27 percent in 2013. 

There’s certainly something to be said for independence and the ability to pursue one’s own goals without being held back by a relationship. But numerous <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/110/15/5797">studies</a> have shown that living alone can also take a toll on a person’s emotions, self-confidence, and mental well-being. 

Now, a new study has found that people who eat alone, particularly men, are at an increased risk of developing high cholesterol and obesity. 

The study was conducted by researchers from <a href="http://isen.dumc.or.kr/">Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital</a> in Seoul, South Korea and published in the journal Obesity Research &amp; Clinical Practice. 

The researchers monitored 7,725 adults and their living habits, and compared their health with how often they ate alone. 

The study also made sure to adjust for lifestyle factors like age, smoking, and how often someone exercised. 

The results showed that of the participants, men who ate alone had a 45 percent increased risk of being <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/working-night-shift-obesity/">obese</a> and a 64 percent increased risk of developing high cholesterol or a metabolic syndrome. 

Women, on the other hand, were less likely to develop obesity or a metabolic syndrome if they ate alone. 

There are a few reasons why eating alone may have such an adverse impact on health. For example, when you’re alone you might be more likely to choose unhealthy options or junk foods which can raise blood sugar and increase your risk of obesity.  

The results of the study provide a warning for people who do live alone so that they can monitor and avoid associated any health risks.

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By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Eating alone can be bad for your health

These days, more people around the world are living alone...

A new study has found that alcohol use prior to cocaine use could drive compulsive and addictive drug-seeking behaviors. 

The study was conducted on rats by a team of researchers from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University_Medical_Center">Columbia University Medical Center</a> and sheds further evidence to the “gateway drug hypothesis.” 

The gateway drug hypothesis, as described by Denise Kandal, an epidemiologist from Columbia University, is the idea that people who get involved with drugs follow a certain sequence, where some drugs preface other drugs. 

But proving this hypothesis is difficult because of how difficult it would be to gather the right data in advance. But this team of researchers found that by giving rats cocaine and alcohol in a lab setting, they could track the rat’s compulsive tendencies. 

For the study, several groups of rats were given doses of cocaine, released through a lever that the rats operated. One of the groups was given a water bottle of alcohol for two hours before the cocaine was administered for ten days.

One group was not given any <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-treating-alcoholism-depression/">alcohol</a> before cocaine use, and another group of rats was given both alcohol and cocaine at the same time. 

The rats exposed to alcohol before cocaine use showed signs of cocaine-addiction, looking to get the drug even when they received a small electric shock in doing so. 

During periods when the drug was not released, the rats who had been given alcohol were persistent in their efforts to get the drug, pressing the lever 58 times. 

Rats without prior alcohol use were not as inclined to seek out the drug. 

The researchers were able to target what was causing such a strong inclination towards cocaine addiction in the rats who had alcohol beforehand, finding that alcohol breaks down important proteins in the region of the brain that is responsible for reward-based memory. 

The study shows the role that alcohol and nicotine play as gateway drugs, and just how they contribute to compulsive and addictive behaviors with other drugs down the line. 

The researchers hope this will prompt further studies to see if other drugs have similar reactions to alcohol in the brain, and also help fine-tune intervention and outreach programs once risk factors for addictions are identified. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Alcohol makes the brain more susceptible to cocaine use

A new study has found that alcohol use prior to...

Language is always changing. Vocabulary is often generational, and slang terms can go out of style as quickly as they came in. The drastic differences between the writings of Shakespeare and modern American English beg the question: what exactly guides and determines the evolution of a language?

A new study set out to examine whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-easier-speak-language/">language</a> evolves by a set selective force or random chance. 

The study was conducted by both linguists and evolutionary biologists at the<a href="https://www.upenn.edu/"> University of Pennsylvania </a>and published in the journal Nature.

Researchers began mapping language through the years, similar to the way evolutionary biologists map genomes to see if one particular gene evolved to be dominant over time. 

Experts from both fields worked together analyzing collections of annotated texts ranging from the 12th to 21st centuries, looking for changes to get a better picture of how language evolved. 

The research revealed that some changes in language were guided by selective force, but other changes happened purely by chance. 

“An individual happens to hear one variant of a word as opposed to another and then is more likely to use it herself. Chance events like this can accumulate to produce substantial change over generations. Before we debate what psychological or social forces have caused a language to change, we must first ask whether there was any force at all,” said Joshua Plotkin, the senior author of the paper.

For the study, the researchers examined three well-documented changes to the English language in order to decipher how what prompted these changes. 

One of the changes analyzed was the regularization of past-tense verbs. The research team searched the sample texts for both irregular and regular verbs in past-tense forms, such as “dived” and “dove.”

Many of the irregular past-tense forms we use today are the result of purposeful selection that became taught and enforced. But there are also quite a few verbs whose current past-tense form is just the result of pure chance, or what simply “caught on.” 

The researchers noted that random chance affected rare words and selective force was the guiding hand in changing common verbs. 

The results of the study also found that grammar evolved through happenstance. For example, now we use “do” as in “do they say,” whereas 800 years ago we would’ve said, “say they.”

The study's use of common methods in evolutionary biology is noteworthy and allows linguists to evaluate the evolution of language through the years in intense detail. 

Because of this method, the researchers were able to find examples of random chance in the evolution of language and now have a more thorough grasp on the nature of how language changes. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Despite rules, language often evolves by chance

Language is always changing. Vocabulary is often generational, and slang...

In business, having employees that are proactive can significantly increase effectiveness and competitiveness, as proactive behaviors can improve organizational creativity, processes, and job satisfaction. For that reason, getting your employees to be more proactive would seem like a priority for most business leaders.

Recent research has found that employees with empowering leaders tend to be more proactive. This is believe to be due to increased “role breadth self-efficacy,” which is defined as the confidence to perform a variety of tasks outside one’s job description. Furthermore, this research has found that when subordinates trust a leader’s competency, the leader’s power sharing behavior increases the subordinates’ confidence in performing these tasks.

“Despite the well-documented benefits of proactive behavior, the question of how to promote employee proactivity in the workplace is relatively under-explored,” says Dr. Yungui Guo, from China's <a href="http://www.zknu.edu.cn/">Zhoukou Normal University</a> and one of the study's authors. “Our research elaborates a theoretical model that explains why, and when, empowering leadership might promote this.”

In determining this, the researchers surveyed 280 leader-follower relationships from a large state-owned Chinese company. These surveys assessed the level of empowering leadership in supervisors and proactive behavior in subordinates, as well as trust in leader competence, proactive personality, and role breadth self-efficacy.

Even after controlling for proactive personality, the results showed that empowering <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/abusive-bosses-short-boost/">leadership</a> is positively correlated with proactive behavior. This effect only increased when employees had a higher level of trust in their leader’s competence.

“When you think your leader is capable, you may view their sharing of power as an opportunity to learn new things,” says Guo. “This gives you confidence to go beyond your job description – which increases your experience and mastery of different skills.”

This research also found that it is actually less necessary for leaders with high trust levels to share their power in order to motivate the proactive behavior of subordinates. “If you view your leader as incompetent, you may prefer to make your own decisions than follow what he or she tells you to do,” explains Guo. “Therefore, empowered employees with lower level of trust in leader competency are more likely to seize opportunities to exert more proactive behaviors.”

These findings provide great insight into how managers can be more effective, which in turn can lead to businesses being more effective as well. However, similar studies will have to be done in other countries in order to determine whether or not the results are only specific to one country.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Employees win when they’re empowered and trust leadership

In business, having employees that are proactive can significantly increase...

A report released earlier this week reveals that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cities-combat-climate-change/">climate change</a> is not a future problem that we may be able to prevent, but already a critical public health issue. The impacts of air pollution and heat waves are causing serious health consequences for millions of people and weakening labor productivity across the globe.

“The Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change” is the result of an international, multidisciplinary collaboration from the British medical journal <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current">The Lancet</a>. The research closely examines five various aspects of what the authors refer to as the “complex association between health and climate change.” 

"The human symptoms of climate change are unequivocal and potentially irreversible - affecting the health of all populations today," says the report. In addition, the consequences are disproportionately affecting communities that are least responsible for climate change yet most vulnerable to its impacts, according to the researchers.

While most research on climate change focuses on future impacts, this research demonstrates that critical health impacts of environmental changes are now occurring across the globe. "The delayed response to climate change over the past 25 years has jeopardized human life and livelihoods," say the authors of the study.

The analysis found that between 2000 and 2016, there was a 46 percent spike in the number of weather-related disasters. Within the same time frame, 125 million more people were exposed to heat waves than in previous decades. Furthermore, harmful exposure to air pollution increased by 11.2 percent worldwide since 1990.

The research also determined that global warming is accelerating the spread of Dengue fever and lengthening the duration of allergy seasons in the United States.

Despite these and other discouraging findings from the investigation, the researchers point out that “the past five years have seen an accelerated response, with momentum building across many sectors.” Greenhouse gas emissions are being cut back and a transition from coal to renewable energy has started. “Unprecedented gains in public health" will follow as climate change is tackled, say the authors.

“Preventing illnesses and injuries is more humane, more effective and more economical than treating people once they’ve become sick,” explains study co-author Howard Frumkin of the <a href="http://sph.washington.edu/">University of Washington School of Public Health</a>. “What this report makes clear is that fighting climate change is disease prevention.”

The Lancet Countdown follows up on the work of the 2015 Lancet Commission, which arrived at the conclusion that global response to climate change could be “the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century.” The Lancet Countdown will continue to track progress on health and climate change every year.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Report: Climate change is already a critical health issue

A report released earlier this week reveals that climate change...

A new study has found that depression is on the rise in the United States, especially amongst teens. Unfortunately, treatment for depression has not mirrored this rise, leaving many cases untreated and undiagnosed. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.mailman.columbia.edu/">Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health</a> and was published in the journal. Psychological Medicine. 

The findings pose a serious problem for public health, as the most rapid rise in depression was among younger Americans, ages twelve to seventeen. 

“Depression appears to be increasing among Americans overall, and especially among youth,” said Renee Goodwin, leader of the research from the Department of Epidemiology at Mailman School of Public Health.

Goodwin also noted that undiagnosed depression is one of the highest risk factors for suicidal behaviors. 

The study used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which is an annual study involving participants ages 12 and up. 

The researchers analyzed data from a little over 600,000 respondents to the Drug Use and Health survey, using criteria from the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to measure the prevalence of depression among the survey responders. 

It is the first study of its kind to examine depression and analyze trends based on gender, income, and education. 

The results show that depression is increasing in the United States, with a jump from 8.7 percent in 2005 to 12.7 percent in 2015 in those ages twelve to seventeen.

The researchers found that depression rates increased most among young and old age groups, whites, lower and higher income groups, and among those with higher education levels. 

The findings are significant as they reveal the lack of treatment options for people with depression who don’t have good access to health care, even though depression is one of the most treatable mental disorders. 

The researchers found risk groups in different backgrounds, income levels, and ages which can hopefully inform outreach efforts and improve access and treatment options for individuals with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/depression-risk-early-death/">depression</a>. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Depression increasing in the US, but many cases left untreated

A new study has found that depression is on the...

Participants in a recent study who ate spicy foods were found to be less likely to eat too much salt and more likely to have lower blood pressure. Both of these benefits combined make individuals less susceptible to a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cold-weather-heart-attack/">heart attack</a> or stroke.

Zhiming Zhu, M.D., the study's senior author, is the director of the Department of Hypertension and Endocrinology at the <a href="http://www.tmmu.edu.cn/">Third Military Medical University</a>. 

"Previously, a pilot study found that trace amounts of capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers their pungent smell, enhanced the perception of food being salty," said Dr.Zhu. "We wanted to test whether this effect would also reduce salt consumption."

The research team focused their evaluation on 606 Chinese adults. They determined the participants’ preferences for salty and spicy flavors, and then linked those preferences to blood pressure. 

The study revealed that the individuals who most preferred spicy foods had lower systolic and lower diastolic blood pressure numbers. These adults were also found to consume significantly less salt compared to subjects who had a low spicy food preference.

Using imaging techniques, the researchers also examined two areas of the participants' brains known to be activated by salty taste. They discovered that the areas excited by salt and spice overlapped, and that spice further increased activity in brain regions stimulated by salt. The authors of the study explained that this heightened stimulation makes people more sensitive to salt so that they can enjoy food with less of it.

"If you add some spices to your cooking, you can cook food that tastes good without using as much salt," said Dr. Zhu. "Yes, habit and preference matter when it comes to spicy food, but even a small, gradual increase in spices in your food may have a health benefit."

While salt and sodium are often mistaken to be the same thing, they actually quite different. Over 75 percent of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from processed and restaurant foods, and not out of a salt shaker. The research is published in in the American Heart Association's journal <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150109.php">Hypertension</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Spicy food may help you eat less salt and lower blood pressure

Participants in a recent study who ate spicy foods were...

A new study shows that political views have a limited impact on our perception of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cities-combat-climate-change/">climate change</a>. The researchers found this to be particularly true when people observe weather conditions which persistently deviate from what is expected.

Human activities are altering the function of the very ecosystems that we all depend upon for survival. To preserve ecological services such as food and water which are critical to the sustainment of human life, humans must become aware of indications that these ecosystems are deteriorating.

At times, signals of ecosystem decline are obvious and can be easily detected. During a water pollution event, for example, it is noticeable that major changes are taking place. At other times, however, the signals are much more subtle and subject to distortion by political motivation or biases.

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.ou.edu/">University of Oklahoma</a> and <a href="https://go.okstate.edu/">Oklahoma State University</a> set out to develop a study on how people perceive climate anomalies such as extreme temperatures or rainfall. The study was focused on people in Oklahoma, a conservative state where a large portion of the population is skeptical about human-caused climate change.

The research team compared high-resolution climate data to the Meso-Scale Integrated Socio-geographic Network (M-SISNet), a panel survey that keeps a consistent measure of the public's perceptions of climate conditions.

"We found that, apart from slight biases at the extreme ends of the political spectrum, people in Oklahoma - a state where the concept of 'global warming' traditionally gets quite a chilly reception - readily perceived feedback from the climate system,” explained lead author Dr. Joseph Ripberger.

"We saw individuals drawing on objective signals, such as departures from average rainfall and temperatures, when they revised their perceptions of climate feedback. As you would expect, this revision was at its most pronounced when the signals were large and consistent,” said Dr. Ripberger.

The results of the study will be encouraging for anyone hoping to see climate change policies agreed upon across party lines.

"While more work is needed to understand how this kind of updating affects broader beliefs about climate change and public policy, analysis of dynamic data on human perceptions allows us identify similarities across the partisan spectrum,” said co-author Dr. Hank Jenkins-Smith.

"These similarities bode well for efforts to promote mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, as human systems continue to interact with a changing climate," said Dr. Smith.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/erl">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Politics have finite impact on how we perceive changing climate

A new study shows that political views have a limited...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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...