The COVID-19 lockdown reshaped lives in many ways, including how people approached pet ownership. During the pandemic, a surge in puppy purchases swept across the U.K. as individuals and families sought companionship while they were confined to their homes.



While many welcomed new furry companions with open arms, concerns arose about the long-term consequences of these impulsive adoptions.



Would owners remain committed once life returned to normal? Would these dogs develop behavioral problems due to rushed decisions and inadequate training? Researchers at The Royal Veterinary College (<a href="https://www.rvc.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RVC</a>), U.K., led by Dr. Bree Merritt, set out to answer these questions.



The study, published in the journal PLOS One, reveals the complex reality of pandemic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reimagining-pet-diets-for-a-more-sustainable-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">puppy ownership</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-puppy-purchases-during-the-pandemic">Puppy purchases during the pandemic</h2>



As lockdown measures took hold in early 2020, people found themselves spending more time at home. Many saw this as the perfect opportunity to welcome a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dog-day-honoring-mans-best-friend/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">puppy</a> into their lives.



The demand for dogs soared, leading to inflated prices, overwhelmed breeders, and, in some cases, unethical breeding practices.



Animal welfare experts expressed concerns about the potential fallout. They worried that some buyers acted impulsively, without considering whether they could provide for a dog long-term. Would these pandemic puppies face neglect, abandonment, or behavioral struggles in homes that were unprepared for their needs? 



These questions fueled the need for deeper research into the experiences of owners and their dogs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-pandemic-puppy-owners">Tracking pandemic puppy owners</h2>



To better understand the reality of pandemic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-owners-ages-and-beliefs-influence-their-pet-food-choices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">puppy ownership</a>, the researchers surveyed nearly 800 U.K. dog owners who had purchased a puppy between March and December 2020. The study aimed to uncover their motivations, training approaches, and overall experiences.



Participants provided details about their daily interactions with their pets, their emotional connection, and any difficulties they faced. A follow-up survey was conducted when the puppies reached 21 months of age. 



This allowed researchers to assess how ownership experiences evolved over time and whether the initial excitement had given way to unexpected challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-owners-stayed-committed-but-at-a-cost">Owners stayed committed, but at a cost</h2>



Despite widespread concerns that many pandemic puppies would end up abandoned or rehomed, the study found that 98% of surveyed owners still had their dogs at 21 months old. 



This high retention rate suggests that, for most, the commitment to their pets remained strong even as their daily routines returned to normal.



However, the study also revealed that ownership came with significant challenges. Of those surveyed, 40% admitted that the pandemic influenced their decision to get a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-dogs-say-goodbye-before-they-die-these-signs-will-tell-you-if-your-friend-is-leaving-soon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dog</a>.



These owners were more likely to report difficulties related to costs, lifestyle changes, and unexpected responsibilities. Many struggled with cleaning up after their pets, sacrificing personal activities, and managing expenses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavioral-issues-and-owner-burden">Behavioral issues and owner burden</h2>



One of the biggest concerns for pandemic puppy owners was behavioral issues. 



Dogs that grew up in lockdown often had limited exposure to the outside world, leading to problems such as separation anxiety, control struggles, and aggression. Owners who reported behavioral difficulties felt a greater burden of dog ownership.



While various problem behaviors caused stress, aggression had the most significant impact. Owners of aggressive dogs experienced a weaker emotional connection with their pets compared to those dealing with other challenges. 



This highlights the importance of early intervention and training to prevent behavioral issues from escalating.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-capturing-the-whole-picture">Capturing the whole picture</h2>



The study acknowledged a potential limitation in its findings. Owners who had already rehomed their dogs might have been less likely to participate in the follow-up survey. 



This means the 98% retention rate could represent a best-case scenario. Some dogs may have been relinquished after the survey period ended, making the overall picture more complex than the data suggests.



Additionally, the financial and emotional burdens of dog ownership might have driven some participants to keep their struggles private. Many may have hesitated to admit difficulties, especially if they felt judged for their decision to acquire a dog during the pandemic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-better-behavioral-support">Need for better behavioral support</h2>



For those who faced challenges with their pandemic puppies, access to evidence-based behavioral support could make a crucial difference. Professional training and behavior modification techniques could help struggling owners manage their dogs more effectively, improving their overall quality of life.



"Relationships with our dogs can be immensely rewarding, but it’s not all fun and games. Looking after them can be hard work, expensive or even change day-to-day activities," noted Dr. Merritt.



"Problem behaviors are likely to be a much wider concern beyond just those dogs who were brought home during the pandemic. These results show how important it is to find evidence-based help for problem behavior to improve the emotional health of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/friends-family-members-and-guardians-dogs-are-more-than-just-pets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a>, their owners and sustain their relationship.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impulsive-pandemic-puppy-purchases">Impulsive pandemic puppy purchases</h2>



The findings of this study serve as an important reminder that dog ownership requires long-term planning, not just short-term enthusiasm. 



Many pandemic puppy buyers made decisions based on the temporary circumstances of lockdown life. Once restrictions eased and daily routines resumed, they found themselves struggling with responsibilities they had not fully anticipated.



"Impulsive acquisition of dogs based on short-term circumstances is an enduring challenge for the canine welfare sector," said Dr. Rowena Packer, senior author of the study. 



"Here, we demonstrate that puppy purchases that were a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as having increased time for a dog during this atypical period, resulted in owners who felt a greater burden of dog ownership by the time their puppy was a young adult, compared to owners whose purchases were planned based on longer-term circumstances."



"U.K. campaigns have long encouraged owners to consider their ability to care for a dog for the duration of its lifetime at acquisition. However, if the efficacy of these messages remains limited, greater interventions may be needed to emphasize the responsibilities of dog ownership, ideally prior to purchase.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-lifelong-commitment">A lifelong commitment</h2>



While most pandemic puppy owners chose to keep their dogs, the challenges they faced highlight the importance of informed decision-making. 



Owning a dog is not just about companionship; it requires time, effort, and financial resources. Without proper preparation, owners can find themselves overwhelmed, and their pets may suffer as a result.



The study reinforces the need for education and support for prospective dog owners. Those considering bringing a pet into their home must evaluate their long-term ability to care for an animal - not just their immediate desire for companionship.



With the right guidance, future pet buyers can ensure a fulfilling and responsible relationship with their dogs, built on commitment rather than impulse.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0316166" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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Pandemic puppy owners report challenges but remain committed

The COVID-19 lockdown reshaped lives in many ways, including how people approached pet ownership. During the pandemic, a surge in puppy purchases swept across the U.K. as individuals and families sought companionship while they were confined to their homes. While many welcomed new furry companions with open arms, concerns arose about the long-term consequences of these impulsive adoptions. Would owners remain committed once life returned to normal? Would these dogs develop behavioral problems due to rushed decisions and inadequate training? Researchers at The Royal Veterinary College (RVC),...

Extreme weather events attributed to climate change have cost the United States federal government over $350 billion over the past decade to provide disaster relief and insurance, according to a new report from the <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/687465.pdf">U.S Government Accountability Office</a> (GAO). 

The report comes at the same time that Congress is working to approve funding for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/americans-climate-change-hurricanes/">hurricane relief</a> after the string of historic hurricanes that hit Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean. 

"Climate change impacts are already costing the federal government money, and these costs will likely increase over time as the climate continues to change," the report said.

Senators Susan Collins from Maine and Maria Cantwell from Washington asked the GAO to conduct a full report on the cost of climate change. 

The report proves that not only will unmitigated changing climate have disastrous effects on our towns cities, but will also be extremely costly to taxpayers as well. 

The GAO was asked specifically to look at the economic impact of climate change and how it would affect the federal government. The report outlines the methods used to estimate the costs of climate change and recommendations for reducing these costs. 

The report includes reviews of 30 studies on climate change and interviews with 26 experts including researchers, agency officials, and consultants selected specifically by the GAO.

Two of the studies had “national-scale information about the economic effects of climate change across multiple sectors and regions in the United States,” according to the report. 

Those two studies in particular show that the costs of climate change will differ from region to region, with some coastal areas facing damages between 4 and 6 billion dollars per year due to storm surges and potential sea level rise. 

"We cannot ignore the impact of climate change," Senator Collins said in a statement. "This nonpartisan GAO report Senator Cantwell and I requested contains astonishing numbers about the consequences of climate change for our economy and for the federal budget in particular."

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Climate change costing the U.S. billions, says new report

Extreme weather events attributed to climate change have cost the...

A recent study has discovered an increase in herbicide levels found in the urine of older adults. 

The study, conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://ucsd.edu">University of California</a>,<a href="https://ucsd.edu"> San Diego</a> found a jump in detectable urine levels of the herbicide glyphosate and its metabolite in Southern California adults between the years 1993 and 2016. 

Used in herbicides for genetically modified crops (GMO), glyphosate’s increased presence in humans further adds the body of the evidence that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-device-will-hunt-gmos-that-escape-into-the-environment/">GMOs</a> may have unforeseen negative repercussions. 

The study used data from the<a href="https://knit.ucsd.edu/ranchobernardostudy/"> Rancho Bernardo Study of Healthy Aging</a>, which had 112 of its participants take a urine sample every clinic visit from 1993 to 2016. 

Of these, 100 were randomly selected for the new study looking at herbicide levels in the urine samples. 

University of California Researchers took the data from the Rancho Bernardo Study and measured levels of glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) from the urine samples that were collected over the years. 

Glyphosate levels increased from .24 micrograms per liter from 1993 through 1996 to .314 micrograms per liter in 2014 through 2016. For 70 of the participants with levels above the limit of detection, the researchers found glyphosate numbers at .449 micrograms per liter from 2014 through 2016. 

AMPA levels also increased from .008 micrograms per liter in 1993 through 1996 to .285 micrograms in 2014 through 2016. Levels above the limit of detection reached .401 micrograms per liter in 70 of the study participants. 

These numbers are worrying, especially since levels above the limit of detection were so pronounced and increased over time in a large number of the samples. 

Glyphosate was listed as a probable carcinogen in 2017 by the State of California, and the researchers note that herbicides using glyphosate may cause adverse health effects. 

More research will need to be done to find out of the extent of harm herbicides like those using glyphosate will have on health and wellbeing of humans in the future.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Increased levels of herbicides found in older adults

A recent study has discovered an increase in herbicide levels...

In a study led by the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a>, researchers found that people would sacrifice one person in order to save a larger group of people – not surprisingly. However, they also found that the force with which an individual would carry out this action could actually be predicted by known psychopathic traits.

The study used a questionnaire to compare what people “said” they would do with what they actually did during actions in immersive moral dilemmas that used virtual-haptic technologies. These technologies included using a robotic device that measured force, resistance, and speed when simulating the action of a test subject harming a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-brain-tripled-size/">human</a>.

In some of the moral dilemmas participants were presented with, they had to decided whether or not to sacrifice a person by performing a harmful action against them in order to save a larger group of people. Although all participants were more likely to sacrifice others in these immersive environments than in the questionnaire, the researchers found that individuals with strong psychopathic traits were more likely to perform these actions with greater physical power.

Common traits of psychopathic behavior include antisocial behavior and impaired empathy. Previous research has shown that resilience to performing actively harmful acts enables psychopathic individuals to act for the “greater good” in situations such as what was studied here. 

“This research highlights our proneness to moral inconsistency; what we say and what we do can be very different,” says Dr. Kathryn Francis of the <a href="http://www.reading.ac.uk/">University of Reading</a>. “For the first time, we demonstrate how personality traits can influence the physical power of our moral actions.”

This research shows that psychopathy may actually be beneficial in some specific situations. “This work shows how techniques developed to study human movement can play a value role in psychological assessment and thereby lead to new insights into human social behavior,” adds Dr. Ian Howard of the Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Psychopaths can actually contribute when used for greater good

In a study led by the University of Plymouth, researchers...

A team of researchers at <a href="http://www.clarku.edu/">Clark University</a> examined parenting techniques in Ghana and the United States, two countries with very different cultures. They found that when parents recognize the viewpoints of their adolescent children and encourage them to express themselves, teens are more motivated in school, have a stronger sense of their self-worth, and are less prone to depression.

"A parenting approach that allows teens to feel they are being heard has been linked to youths being happier, more self-motivated, and more confident," explained lead author Kristine N. Marbell-Pierre. 

On the other hand, the freedom to make their own choices did not result in the same outcomes across teens in the two countries. Independent decision-making had positive consequences in the United States, but not in Ghana.

"This type of parenting is considered western in its approach and there have been questions about its benefit in nonwestern, more hierarchical cultures that place greater emphasis on respect for and obedience to elders by children and youths,” said Marbell-Pierre. “In our study, helping adolescents feel that their perspective mattered was helpful to youths - in both Ghana and the United States - while the role of decision making and choice differed between the two cultures."

The researchers investigated responses to surveys completed by 245 adolescents from the United States and 156 adolescents from Ghana. The teenagers answered questions about the extent to which their parents acknowledged their perspectives and allowed them to make their own choices and express their opinions. 

Questionnaires also measured how controlling the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-longer-grow/">teens</a> perceived their parents to be over their behavior, their academic motivation, the extent of their self-worth, level of depression, and perception of themselves as a single unit with their parents or a separate entity.

The study revealed that when students were encouraged to express themselves and their points of view were acknowledged by their parents, their engagement in school and feelings of self-worth improved. Levels of depression were also lessened. 

"Our study resolves conflicting findings from previous studies," said co-author Wendy Grolnick. "It suggests that supporting adolescents' sense of agency is universally beneficial, but how this support is given may not necessarily look the same across cultures."

The findings of the study are published in the journal <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/index.html">Child Development</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Acknowledging the opinions of teens helps them in the long run

A team of researchers at Clark University examined parenting techniques...

Little is known about when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kids-avoid-racial-bias/">children</a> begin practicing various skills without being prompted, even though this type of deliberate practice is critical for cultivating basic skills and expertise. Researchers at the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a> have now broken new ground on this subject. Their investigation has found that children begin spontaneously practicing skills to prepare for their future at age 6. 

"Our study contributes to our understanding of how young children start to regulate their own learning to achieve their long-term goals, as well as the development of the cognitive processes that allow people to acquire a range of general skills and highly specialized expertise throughout life," said lead author Melissa Brinums. "It is one of only a small number of studies documenting age-related differences in children's future-oriented behavior beyond the preschool period."

The research team set out to determine when children begin to engage in practice on their own, and also wanted to examine what kids understand about practice. They recruited 120 participants between the ages 4 and 7 and set up two rooms for their experiment.

In the first room, the children were taught three games and told they would be later be tested on one game in particular, a target game. The children were then placed in the second room which also contained the games they had just learned. They were told they had five minutes to play before they would be brought back to the first room for their test.

The researchers expected that children who understood the importance of practice would spend more time playing the target game in their free time to prepare for the test. After playing in the second room, the children were asked which game they played the longest and why. They were also asked to explain practice.

Most of the 6-7 year olds were able to describe what practice is and were aware that it helped to improve their skills. Most of the children in this category also played the target game longer and acknowledged that they were practicing for the test. 

The majority of 5-year-olds showed an understanding of practice and spent a little more time playing the target game. However, this group did not convey to the researchers that they spent more time on the target game in order to practice for the test. In addition, most 4-year-olds did not understand the concept of practice and did not spend more time playing the target game.

"By providing insight into children's understanding of practice and the age at which they start to practice for the future with and without prompting, our study may help caregivers and teachers structure age-appropriate learning activities for children," explained study co-author Kana Imuta. 

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-8624">Child Development</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Children start practicing skills for the future at age 6

Little is known about when children begin practicing various skills...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-depression-stress-anxiety/">Numerous studies</a> have shown the importance of getting a good night’s sleep to the mind and body’s overall health and well-being. But according to a new study, better quality sleep actually reduces your brain’s sensitivity to fear and otherwise traumatic stimuli.

Monitoring sleep habits early on could even predict the risk of developing PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, according to the research.

The study was conducted by researchers at <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University </a>and published in the journal JNeurosci.

PTSD typically occurs when someone has undergone a dangerous or extremely life-changing event, but not everyone who has PTSD witnesses a major event. The unexpected death of a loved one could also trigger PTSD. 

PTSD can be acute or chronic and comes with a wide range of symptoms, including re-living or flashing back to the event that triggered it, avoiding certain situations and places, and misplaced feelings of blame and guilt. 

Poor sleep, nightmares, and sleep disturbances are also a common part of PTSD. Previous studies involving PTSD and sleep usually focused on single sleep episodes, analyzing how one night’s sleep impacted fear memories in patients with PTSD. 

This new study, however, looks at sleep patterns in younger people before a traumatic event occurs to see if sleep habits and sleep quality have any effect on the brain’s coping response to fear. 

For the study, the researchers asked students to participate in a one-week sleep monitoring test, where the students recorded their sleep in a log and wore headbands that measured brain waves and bracelets that measured arm movements. 

The students also underwent a fear conditioning test where a neutral image was associated with a mild electric shock, developing a fear response to the image in question. 

The results showed that the students who had better quality sleep and spent more time in REM sleep had weaker responses to the fear learning. To put it another way, their brain was not as sensitive to the fear stimuli. 

The researchers replicated the same results in a second study and monitored participants’ sleep patterns with polysomnographic technology the night before fear learning was to take place. Once again, they found that better quality sleep impacted how the brain coped with fear responses. 

--

By <a href="http://mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a>, Staff Writer

Better quality sleep reduces your sensitivity to fear

Numerous studies have shown the importance of getting a good...

The part of the brain associated with daydreaming or “doing nothing” is called the Default Mode Network (DMN).

The DMN was discovered by scientists from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_University_School_of_Medicine">Washington University School of Medicine</a> who found that certain regions of the brain were more active during states of restful thinking, like planning in the future, thinking about the past, and daydreaming.

Now, new research has revealed that the DMN is important for performing day-to-day activities on autopilot. 

After we learn how to do something, the DMN allows us to perform those everyday tasks without continually having to relearn or actively engage in doing them. 

The research was conducted by scientists at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> and published in the journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. 

The researchers asked 28 volunteers to perform a task where they would match cards to a target card, but they were not told the rules. They could match by color, shape, or number.

The participants performed the matching task in an MRI scanner. The MRI scanned the participants’ brains as they went through the trial and error process of learning the rules of matching the cards. 

The researchers found differences in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-dwellers-brain-health/">brain</a> activity during two stages, learning (the rules) and application (the task). 

Once the rules were learned and the participants entered the application phase, their MRI scans showed that the DMN was more active. 

The stronger the relationship between brain activity in the DMN and the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with memory, the quicker a participant was able to learn and perform the matching task from memory. 

“It is essentially like an autopilot that helps us make fast decisions when we know what the rules of the environment are. So for example, when you're driving to work in the morning along a familiar route, the default mode network will be active, enabling us to perform our task without having to invest lots of time and energy into every decision,” said Dr. Deniz Vatansever, one of the study’s researchers. 

The researchers note that the DMN is an important part in decision making and helping us perform certain tasks, and that their efforts will be helpful for those dealing with brain injuries and mental disorders. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The daydreaming part of the brain helps us perform routine tasks

The part of the brain associated with daydreaming or “doing...

According to the <a href="https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics">Anxiety and Depression Association of America</a>, nearly seven percent of adults in the U.S. suffer a major depressive episode in a given year. But now, recent research has discovered that men and women suffering from depression also face an increased risk of death. 

“At first, the association was limited to men, but in later years it was seen for women as well,” said Dr. Stephen Gilman of the <a href="https://nichd.nih.gov/">Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.</a>

An international team of researchers analyzed a 60 year-study and published their efforts in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The study was the first community-based study ever done on mental illness and looked at 60 years of data from the residents of Stirling County in Canada. 

The researchers combed through years of data on 3,410 adults and them compared that to deaths from the Canadian Mortality Database to see if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushrooms-depression-brain/">depression</a> and high risk of death were related. 

There was a strong correlation between death and depression amongst men in each year the researchers studied, but after the 1990s, a pattern emerged wherein women were at high risk of death as well. 

The researchers noticed that risk of death was strongest in the years following a depressive episode. The study’s results show that depression can shorten a lifespan by as much as 18 years.

“The lifespan of young adults with depression at age 25 was markedly shorter over the 60-year period, ranging from 10 to 12 fewer years of life in the first group, 4 to 7 years in the second group and 7 to 18 fewer years of life in the 1992 group,” said Dr. Ian Colman, the Canada Research Chair in the School of Epidemiology at the <a href="https://www.uottawa.ca/en">University of Ottawa</a> in Ottawa, Ontario.

Dr. Colman also noted that there was a 50 percent increase in the risk of death for women with depression after 1992. A possible reason for this increase, according to the study, is the changes in roles for women in society after the 1990s 

“During the last 20 years of the study in which women's risk of death increased significantly, roles have changed dramatically both at home and in the workplace, and many women shoulder multiple responsibilities and expectations,” says Dr. Colman.

The researchers suggest stronger monitoring between patients and doctors, as support and treatment to temper depressive episodes could help reduce the associated risk of death.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Depression linked to higher risk of early death

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, nearly...

All-natural, non-GMO, fair trade, gluten-free, lactose-free, low-calorie, cage-free, organic. Food labels are meant to help consumers make healthier choices, but do they?

Not always, according to researchers led by the <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a>. Some of the foods sporting such labels are no healthier than other snacks or treats. Other foods are healthy, but overlooked because they lack a label.

The problem is that too many labels have loose regulations or little science behind them, the economists found. But because they sound good, they can make customers feel like they’re buying healthy food and ignoring unhealthy choices when that’s not actually the case.

"That has me worried about the poor and those who are food insecure, because now you're trying to make everything a high-end food choice,” said Dr. Kent Messer, the study’s lead author and an expert on environmental and agricultural economics. “And frankly, we just want to have healthy food choices, we don't need to have extra labels that scare away people."

Messer was joined by Dr. Marco Costanigro of <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a> and Dr. Harry M. Kaiser of <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a>. The three economists reviewed 90 studies about how food labels affect customers’ perception of products. 

Food labels like “organic” and “fair trade” describe the process of how the food is produced, not the overall outcome for diners’ health, the researchers said. However, shoppers who haven’t learned all of the meanings behind these so-called process labels may not realize that a gluten-free cookie can be just as unhealthy as one that uses wheat-based ingredients – or even more.

Which doesn’t mean the labels are all bad.

“The good part is that process labels can help bridge the trust between the producer and the consumer because it gives the consumer more insight into the market," Messer said in a press release. "New products can be introduced this way, niche markets can be created, and consumers, in many cases, are willing to pay more for these products.”

The downside, though, is that customers in a rush for time and with too much information may grab a food item labeled “natural,” thinking that means it’s organic or free of genetically modified organisms. But that’s not what the label means.

And sometimes, labels ride a trend that people think is good, but may not be. The locavore movement is an example. While is some cases, eating locally raised food is good for the environment – it cuts down on transport-produced greenhouse gases, for example – it’s situational.

Messer offered the example of tomatoes. Creating an artificial environment that would allow them to grow in Canada actually uses more energy and creates more waste than shipping them from Florida, he said.

Backlashes against genetically engineered food has led to fewer investments in agricultural science and fewer options for a growing global population in need of food, he added. Similarly, if people have access to what they believe is “safe” food, clearly labeled, they stop pushing for standards and regulations that make all foods safe, the researchers wrote.

The researchers don’t expect food companies to stop using process labels anytime soon. They’ve divided their study into three portions – the good, the bad and the ugly – to highlight ways in which labels are useful, and ways they are not. For example, labeling water “gluten-free” is not only not useful, because water doesn’t contain gluten normally, but it makes some shoppers suspicious of unlabeled water.

Instead, the researchers had three recommendations for making labels more useful and less damaging to the food industry: First, have mandatory labeling only when a product has been shown to harm human health. Second, governments should not ban process-based food labels, because when used correctly, they can help shoppers learn more about their food. Third, food companies should provide information to help shoppers decipher labels, perhaps through something like a smartphone app. 

The study has been published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppx028">Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy</a>. 

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">The University of Delaware</a>

Study: food labels can make healthy choices harder

All-natural, non-GMO, fair trade, gluten-free, lactose-free, low-calorie, cage-free, organic. Food...

Infidelity can be brutal on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-couples-women-house/">couples</a>, but there are some differences when it comes to how each partner handles and interprets infidelity. 

Twenty percent of couples today, possibly more, are unfaithful to their spouse, and forgiveness after the fact is difficult. 

A new study from <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/">Norwegian University of Science and Technology</a> (NTNU) examined infidelity in relationships and how forgiveness was handled by both partners. 

Researchers surveyed 92 heterosexual couples and asked them questions about hypothetical emotional and sexual infidelities. 

The results showed many similarities in the way both men and women cope and interpret infidelity, but there were some differences. 

For some people who have been unfaithful, even if their partners forgive them, it can be difficult to really believe that, so the natural response is to overcompensate. If you don’t show enough effort, however, that could also do further damage to the relationship. 

For most partners, getting revenge or seeking infidelity as a response to their spouse being unfaithful is not the typical response. 

“Partners want the infidelity to have a cost, but will rarely respond by being unfaithful themselves," said Trond Viggo Grøntvedt form the NTNU's Department of Public Health and Nursing.

Gender doesn’t factor much when it comes to how infidelity is handled after the fact. Both men and women have similar ideas when it comes to whether or not breaking up or ending the relationship is necessary. 

However, the study did find one clear difference between the sexes regarding defining emotional infidelity. 

Women have a much harder time dealing with emotional infidelity when a partner is found spending time with someone else, and if the connection is emotional, not physical, that can be hard to process. 

Men, however, don’t necessarily see this as cheating, since they aren’t having sex, so they won’t go out of their way to make amends. 

Men are also quicker to forgive emotional fidelity in their spouses. 

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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

Infidelity: Hard to forgive, harder to rebuild trust

Infidelity can be brutal on couples, but there are some...

The malevolent qualities of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism are collectively known in psychology as the “dark triad.” While past studies have found that people with these ruthless traits make the best leaders, researchers from the <a href="https://www.du.edu/">University of Denver</a> have determined that this is not necessarily the case.

The research team analyzed the personality traits of 101 investment fund managers to assess which attributes were associated with the most successful leaders. The experts compared the investments and returns of the individuals between 2005 and 2015.

The study showed that managers with psychopathic characteristics made less profitable investments, and stuck with bad investment decisions for longer than they should have. In addition, leaders with narcissistic traits were found to take more risks than other investors who were less narcissistic.

On the other hand, managers who were fair, compassionate, and courageous demonstrated the most effective leadership abilities.

“We should re-think our assumptions that might favor ruthlessness or callousness in an investment manager,” said lead author Dr. Leanne ten Brinke. “Not only do these personality traits not improve performance, our data suggest that they many hinder it.”

The results of this study support a growing collection of evidence which indicates that dark triad personality traits are not desirable in a range of leadership positions.

“When choosing our leaders in organizations and in politics, we should keep in mind that psychopathic traits - like ruthlessness and callousness -don't produce the successful outcomes that we might expect them to,” said Dr. ten Brinke. 

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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

Ruthless personalities are bad for business, study finds

The malevolent qualities of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism are collectively...

Beyond the beauty that indoor plants bring into the home, they also have many surprising health benefits such as stress reduction and energy stimulation. Studies from the <a href="http://www.ahta.org/">American Horticultural Therapy Association</a> have demonstrated that houseplants can even help improve concentration.

Perhaps the most amazing benefit of indoor plants is the ability to filter toxins out of the air and expel <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-atmosphere-oxygen/">oxygen</a>. Some plants can help combat formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, and other common indoor pollutants. The following are the ten best purifying plants to improve the air quality of your home. 

Areca Palm

According to a study by <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>, the areca palm is the number one best indoor air purifying plant. The areca palm is also capable of putting moisture into the air when it is needed and thrives in a humid area.

Peace Lily

Also recognized by NASA for the ability to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from inside the home, peace lilies are beautiful and easy to care for. They simply require shade and weekly watering.

Snake Plant

The snake plant is known as one of the best for filtering out formaldehyde, which is common in cleaning products. Low light and humidity are the ideal conditions for the snake plant.

Aloe Vera 

In addition to many natural health benefits such as healing wounds and easing sunburn, the aloe plant helps combat formaldehyde and benzene. Place it in a sunny window for best results.

Bamboo Palm

This plant is considered the best to remove trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent linked to toxic effects in the liver and kidneys. The bamboo palm flourishes in a humid spot with bright, indirect light.

Weeping Fig

The weeping fig is a great choice for removing pollutants from sources such as carpeting and furniture. It performs best in a room with a consistent temperature and plenty of indirect light.

Chinese Evergreen

This adaptable plant improves its ability to purify the air over time. The Chinese evergreen develops best in humid, low-light spaces.

Chrysanthemum

The blooms of the chrysanthemum’s flowers not only brighten up the house but also help to remove benzene. According to the <a href="http://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a>, “benzene is a well-established cause of cancer in humans.” Indoor mums need bright light and plenty of water.

Spider Plant

In addition to filtering out the most common indoor pollutants, this plant is resilient and extremely easy to care for. Spider plants grow best in bright yet indirect light.

Azalea

Known to help counteract formaldehyde from sources such as foam insulation and plywood, azaleas are ideal for the basement if there is a sunny spot available. These beautiful flowers thrive in cool and humid spaces.

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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 10 best plants to improve the air quality of your home

Beyond the beauty that indoor plants bring into the home,...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[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...