Who knew that a simple catch-up with your pals could hold the secret to a longer, healthier life? A recent study has suggested an intriguing link between our levels of social interaction and loneliness, and our physical health.



Leading the study was Dr. Chun Shen, along with his dedicated team from the University of Cambridge. The researchers found that a lack of social contact might be more harmful than previously suspected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-problem-of-loneliness">Growing problem of loneliness</h2>



Loneliness has become a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-isolation-and-loneliness-trigger-changes-in-blood-proteins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global public health issue</a> that affects people of all ages. While often associated with the elderly, loneliness has surged among younger generations as well, with 61% of 18–25-year-olds reporting frequent feelings of isolation.



Technology, despite promoting virtual connections, has deepened the problem by replacing meaningful, face-to-face interactions with superficial, online relationships.



Workplace changes, like remote work, have also reduced casual interactions and increased isolation among employees. Urban environments, with their fast-paced, individualistic cultures, paradoxically leave many feeling disconnected despite being surrounded by people.



Governments worldwide are recognizing loneliness as a crisis. The U.K. appointed a Minister for Loneliness, and Japan has initiatives to address extreme social withdrawal. The World Health Organization has also flagged loneliness as a growing concern.



Addressing loneliness requires promoting inclusive communities, encouraging social connections, and raising awareness to counter its significant emotional, physical, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-disrupts-college-students-sleep-more-than-screen-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">societal impacts</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proteins-loneliness-and-health">Proteins, loneliness, and health</h2>



Researchers from the University of Cambridge analyzed blood samples from 42,000 adults aged 40-69, collected through the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.K. Biobank</a>. Their study revealed a critical insight: loneliness increases the production of five specific proteins.



These proteins are directly linked to serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and even early death. This finding sheds light on the biological mechanisms through which loneliness can harm physical health.



“We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why. Our work has highlighted a number of proteins that appear to play a key role in this relationship,” explained Dr. Shen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-social-contact">Role of social contact</h2>



The study emphasizes how social bonds act as a protective shield against many health issues. Loneliness and social isolation have long been associated with reduced well-being and early mortality. 



However, this research offers new insights into the biological mechanisms at play.



“These findings drive home the importance of social contact in keeping us well," noted Professor Barbara Sahakian from the Department of Psychiatry at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>.



"More and more people of all ages are reporting feeling lonely. That’s why the World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO</a>) has described social isolation and loneliness as a ‘global public health concern.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-of-loneliness-and-health">The science of loneliness and health</h2>



The research indicated that loneliness was linked to the increased production of five distinct proteins in the body.



One of the primary ways loneliness affects health is through chronic stress. When people feel socially isolated, their bodies may register stress and prepare them for a state of “fight or flight.”



This stress response can elevate inflammation, disrupt hormone regulation, and impair immune system function. Over time, these physiological changes contribute to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-harms-health-more-than-alcohol-obesity-or-smoking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development of diseases</a>.



Additionally, loneliness impacts heart health by influencing blood pressure and increasing the likelihood of conditions such as hypertension. It also contributes to metabolic changes, which can lead to insulin resistance - a precursor to type 2 diabetes.



These findings reveal that loneliness is not just a social or emotional issue but a biological one with far-reaching implications for overall health. Understanding the science behind these processes emphasizes the importance of addressing loneliness to prevent its harmful effects on the body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-tips-for-staying-connected">Practical tips for staying connected</h2>



Promoting relationships and staying socially connected can significantly improve your well-being. Below are some practical ways to build and maintain connections while reducing feelings of loneliness.



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Reconnect with friends and family
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Send a message, make a call, or schedule regular meetups.</li>



<li>Plan activities like meals, walks, or shared hobbies.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Engage in community activities
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Join local groups or clubs, such as book clubs or fitness classes.</li>



<li>Volunteer in your community to meet people and make a difference.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Build new social networks
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Attend events like workshops, networking meetups, or local festivals.</li>



<li>Use platforms like Meetup or Facebook Groups to find people with similar interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Strengthen everyday interactions
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Greet your neighbors, chat with coworkers, or start conversations in daily settings.</li>



<li>Smile, make eye contact, and show interest to encourage connections.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Focus on quality over quantity
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Spend time nurturing relationships that bring joy and support.</li>



<li>Prioritize meaningful connections over having a large social circle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-combating-loneliness-for-better-health">Combating loneliness for better health</h2>



The findings, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, stress the need for society to prioritize social contact. Whether through community programs, mental health support, or simply reaching out to loved ones, staying socially connected can significantly improve overall health.



In a world that often feels more digitally connected but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeling-lonely-and-unhappy-can-age-you-faster-than-smoking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">socially distant</a>, these insights remind us of the importance of nurturing real-life relationships - for both our hearts and our health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02078-1">Nature Human Behaviour.</a>



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Social contact is a protective shield against health issues

Who knew that a simple catch-up with your pals could hold the secret to a longer, healthier life? A recent study has suggested an intriguing link between our levels of social interaction and loneliness, and our physical health. Leading the study was Dr. Chun Shen, along with his dedicated team from the University of Cambridge. The researchers found that a lack of social contact might be more harmful than previously suspected. Growing problem of loneliness Loneliness has become a global public health issue that affects people of...

In an effort to downplay subpar high school experiences, people will often tell young adolescents “high school doesn’t matter after you graduate.” But how true is that really? We know that the academic side of high school is obviously imperative to continued academic success, but the social side of school is often brushed off as juvenile, and friendships short-lived.

But researchers from the <a href="http://www.virginia.edu/">University of Virginia</a> wanted to dive deeper into the long-lasting impacts of peer relationships for high school students. Their study encompassed a community sample of 169 adolescents over a decade, from ages 15 to 25. The group studied was racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse. 

Individuals were assessed annually through surveys and interviews that asked questions about who their closest friends were, details about friendships and assessments analyzing feelings of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-low-doses-relieve-stress/">anxiety</a>, social acceptance, self-worth, and depression. The close friends of participants were also interviewed and asked to report on their friendships.

Friendship quality was determined from these reports by best friends of participants at age 15. The friendships that had a degree of attachment and support and allowed for intimate exchanges were considered “high-quality friendships.” Popularity was determined by the number of peers in the individual’s grade that ranked them as someone they would want to spend time with, and fully measured using nominations from all teens.

The study ultimately found that teens who prioritized close friendships early on had lower social anxiety, increased self-worth, and fewer symptoms of depression at age 25 compared to their peers. On the other hand, teens who were more popular in high school had higher levels of social anxiety as young adults.

“Our research found that the quality of friendships during adolescence may directly predict aspects of long-term mental and emotional health,” says Rachel K. Narr, PhD candidate in clinical psychology at the <a href="http://www.virginia.edu/">University of Virginia</a>, who led the study. “High school students with higher-quality best friendships tended to improve in several aspects of mental health over time, while teens who were popular among their peers during high school may be more prone to social anxiety later in life.”

The study concludes that focusing on strong, intimate friendships during adolescence can help promote long-term mental health. This may be because positive experiences with friends can help enhance positive feelings about oneself during a stage of life when personal identify is being developed. 

“Our study affirms that forming strong close friendships is likely one of the most critical pieces of the teenage social experience,” explains Joseph Allen, a professor at the <a href="http://www.virginia.edu/">University of Virginia</a>, who coauthored the study. “Being well-liked by a large group of people cannot take the place of forging deep, supportive friendships. And these experiences stay with us, over and above what happens later. As technology makes it increasingly easy to build a social network of superficial friends, focusing time and attention on cultivating close connections with a few individuals should be a priority.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

High school friendships impact mental health later in life

In an effort to downplay subpar high school experiences, people...

The connection between climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and meat consumption is somewhat of a tangled and complicated web. We know that the majority of greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock industry come in the form of methane <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cowspiracy-film-review/">emitted by cows</a> via belching and flatulence. Unfortunately, there isn’t one clear cut solution for reducing these emissions.

It has been estimated by the <a href="http://www.fao.org/home/en/">United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization</a> that 2.2 billion tons of greenhouse gasses, or 35 percent of total emissions, are anthropogenic methane emissions from cattle.

Livestock production and agricultural practices also contribute to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/california-start-regulating-gas-emissions-cows/">methane emissions</a> through the use, or misuse, of fertilizer, the crops that are fed to cows, and the land and pastures that cows graze on. 

Grass-fed beef have a slightly lesser impact on the environment, but it’s still a significant amount. Research has also shown that grass-fed cows are smaller in size but still emit more greenhouse gasses per pound of meat produced than those that are grain-fed. 

Meat production and the cattle industry also have a significant impact on increasing carbon emissions. Cattle farms require more land and water than pig or chicken farms, and grain-fed cows only uses a fraction of the energy and nutrients in grain. 

Environmentalists and scientists are quick to point out the connection between livestock, meat consumption, and high methane emissions and offer up suggestions for reducing meat consumption. It is true that demand for meat is on the rise and the United States is known for its meat-centricity, but simply eating less meat would not be a sustainable or effective way to cut those emissions from cows and livestock. 

As a society, eating less meat may not be a bad thing. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10584-008-9534-6">One study</a> found that transitioning to a low-meat diet on a global scale would cut climate mitigation costs by 50 percent by 2050. 

But these studies do little to factor in the growing demand for meat, and the positive impact that a cheap source of reliable and nutrient-rich protein could have on impoverished countries. 

Meat consumption, livestock, agriculture and methane emissions might seem like a cut and dry case of flatulence and belches from cows, but reaching a solution to reduce these emissions is anything but simple. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

What does meat consumption have to do with climate change?

The connection between climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and meat...

Researchers have tracked the origin of citrus fruits and examined their distribution throughout history. The earliest lemon remains were found in Rome and date back to the turn of the first century. The study reveals that citrons and lemons were status symbols in ancient Rome, rare commodities acquired by only the rich and powerful.

Dr. Dafna Langgut is a researcher at <a href="http://archaeology.tau.ac.il/?page_id=4538">Tel Aviv University’s Laboratory for Archaeobotany and Ancient Environments</a> who led the study.

“The first remains of the earliest lemon, found in the Roman Forum, date to right around the time of Jesus Christ, the end of the first century BC and early first century AD,” said Dr. Langgut. “It appears that the citron was considered a valuable commodity due to its healing qualities, symbolic use, pleasant odor and rarity. Only the rich could have afforded it.”

Langgut explained that the spread of lemons and citrons was “helped more by its high social status, its significance in religion and its unique features, rather than its culinary qualities.”

Prior to the first century, Romans only had a large, tasteless citron with a thick rind that originated in Jerusalem between 4th and 5th century B.C. While citrus trees may thrive in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/crete-greece-mediterranean-sea/">Mediterranean</a> today, they are actually not native to the region.

“Today, citrus orchards are a major component of the Mediterranean landscape and one of the most important cultivated fruits in the region,' said Langgut. “But citrus is not native to the Mediterranean Basin and originated in Southeast Asia.”

Dr. Langgut said that other citrus fruits did not spread until over a millennium later, most likely due to economic reasons. Muslim traders introduced sour oranges, limes, and pomelos to the West by route of Sicily and the Iberian Peninsula around the 10th century.

“It is clear that Muslim traders played a crucial role in the dispersal of cultivated citrus in Northern Africa and Southern Europe,” Dr Langgut said. “It's also evident because the common names of many of the citrus types were derived from Arabic, following an earlier diversification in Southeast Asia. Muslims controlled extensive territory and commerce routes from India to the Mediterranean.”

Sweet oranges arrived in Europe around the 15th century, and mandarins appeared as recently as the 19th century. According to Dr. Langgut, “By the time mandarins appeared in the 19th century, citrus fruits were considered commonplace. They were cash crops rather than luxury items.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lemons were a symbol of wealth in Rome, originally came from Asia

Researchers have tracked the origin of citrus fruits and examined...

Contact sports and collision sports have been increasingly studied due to the risk of brain damage for participating athletes. Football and hockey, in particular, have been cited as sports where brain damage and concussions are high risk. A recent study even reported that the appearance CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy was found in <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/25/health/cte-nfl-players-brains-study/index.html">99% of deceased NFL players' brains</a> that were donated for scientific research. CTE is classified as a neurodegenerative brain disease which can cause memory loss and other common symptoms associated with dementia. 

Now, a new study from <a href="http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/">St. Michael's Hospital </a>and <a href="http://stmichaelshospitalresearch.ca/research-programs/neuroscience-research-program/">St. Michael's Neuroscience Research Program</a> in Ontario Canada has found that contact and collision sports have an even greater impact on the brain and long-term health of youth athletes. 

The researchers looked at brain scans of 65 varsity athletes, 23 from collision sports, 22 from contact sports, 20 from non-contact sports. They found that the athletes from collision and contact sports had structural and chemical differences in the brain versus athletes from non-contact sports. 

Some of the differences observed in the brain scans were structural variations in white matter, which are fibers that connect different parts of the brain. There was also a decrease in the communication between different areas of the brain for athletes in higher contact sports. 

It is worth noting that the researchers found no significant impairment in the varsity athletes, just marked differences in certain parts of the brain between athletes participating in contact sports versus non-contact sports. 

Dr. Nathan Churchill, a postdoctoral fellow from St. Michael's Neuroscience Research Program, noted that the study came about from the “growing concern about how participation in contact sports may affect the brain.” 

This information helps to build a better understanding of how contact sports and collision sports impact brain activity and structure and the long-term ill-effects that high contact sports sometimes pose. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

More evidence shows contact sports impact young brains

Contact sports and collision sports have been increasingly studied due...

The avocado is having a moment. The beloved fruit is incredibly trendy and widely consumed worldwide (see: hipster avocado toast). In fact, Americans eat 1.9 billion pounds of avocados each year, but usually only the fleshy inside of the avocado is used. This means tons of skins, seeds, and seed husks are thrown away and wasted. But now, new research has found many beneficial properties of avocado seed husks that could cut down on food waste and provide new treatments for serious diseases. 

Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D from the <a href="http://www.utrgv.edu/">University of Texas Rio Grande Valley</a>, and his colleagues conducted a study using the dried seed husks from 300 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/avocado-supply-struggling/">avocados</a>. The team ground them into a powder to create a wax and an oil that were found to contain a treasure trove of medicinal chemical compounds. There were 116 chemicals compounds discovered in the oil and 16 in the wax, that the researchers believe came from the seed husks.

"It could very well be that avocado seed husks, which most people consider as the waste of wastes, are actually the gem of gems because the medicinal compounds within them could eventually be used to treat cancer, heart disease, and other conditions," said Bandyopadhyay. 

The researchers identified compounds like behenyl alcohol in the oil, which is used in anti-viral medications. They also found heptacosane, which can help hinder tumor cells, and dodecanoic acid, which can decrease the risk of atherosclerosis. 

There is also the possibility of avocado seed husks being used to enhance cosmetics, perfumes, and plastics. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The previously-unknown secret powers of avocado seed husks

The avocado is having a moment. The beloved fruit is...

When it comes to controversy over climate change, evolution, the big bang and other scientific topics, stronger scientific education is often suggested as a solution to end argument.

A new study from <a href="http://www.cmu.edu/">Carnegie Mellon University</a>, however, suggests that more education could actually cause more fights than it ends.

People’s beliefs about scientific topics – at least, when they’re tied to their political and religious beliefs – tend to become more polarized as their education grows, not less polarized, the researchers found. 

"A lot of science is generally accepted and trusted, but certain topics have become deeply polarizing,” said Dr. Caitlin Drummond, the study’s lead author. “We wanted to find out what factors are related to this polarization, and it turns out the 'deficit model' – which says the divisions are due to a lack of education or understanding – does not tell the whole story."

Researchers looked at six often-controversial scientific topics: climate change, stem cell research, evolution (particularly human evolution), the big bang, genetically modified organisms, and nanotechnology. 

They found that four of the topics, for most people, were tied to political identity, religious beliefs, or both. But in all cases, researchers found, those with more scientific education and literacy had more polarized beliefs.

Nanotechnology and genetically modified food tend not to be connected to either political or religious beliefs, the researchers found.

They used the <a href="http://gss.norc.org/">General Social Survey</a> to study people’s stances on these issues. 

"These are troubling correlations. We can only speculate about the underlying causes," said Dr. Baruch Fischhoff of Carnegie Mellon. "One possibility is that people with more education are more likely to know what they are supposed to say, on these polarized issues, in order to express their identity. Another possibility is that they have more confidence in their ability to argue their case."

They also found that regardless of the topic, people who trust science generally are more likely to accept scientific findings about the issues.

The study will be published in the journal <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences</a>. Research was supported by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> and <a href="http://www.rj.se/en">Riksbankens Jubileumsfond</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Baruch Fischhoff, <a href="http://www.cmu.edu/">Carnegie Mellon University</a>

Scientific education doesn't change people's beliefs, study finds

When it comes to controversy over climate change, evolution, the...

A new study shows that activity in a reward region of the brain slumps in the early afternoon – and it could offer clues to why people feel tired after lunch. 

Activity in the reward-processing area peaks in the morning and evening, but drops off at around 2 p.m., researchers from the <a href="http://www.swinburne.edu.au/">Swinburne University of Technology</a> in Australia discovered. 

The neuroscientists, led by Dr. Greg Murray, studied the brain activity of 16 healthy young males as they took part in a gambling task at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. What they found: activation of the left putamen, a structure located at the base of the forebrain, was lowest during the 2 p.m. task. 

The findings contrast with previous studies that show people report being in the best mood in the early afternoon. The researchers on the new study suspect that activation might be higher in the morning and evening because there is no expectation of a reward during that time.

The timing could mean clues toward treating depression, sleep disorders, addiction and other mood disorders, the scientists said. Patients with these disorders often report symptoms that fluctuate throughout the day. The putamen plays a role in the reward region of the brain that earlier research has connected to addiction and depression.

The new study also shows that doctors may want to consider when they conduct imaging studies of their patients’ brains. Scans taken during the morning may look different from scans taken during the afternoon in the same patient.

The results may also offer some insight into why some people have an “afternoon slump” after lunch. The sleepy feeling some people report around 2 or 3 p.m. is part of the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/afternoon-energy-boosters#1">body’s natural rhythms</a>, doctors believe.

The study will be published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0918-17.2017">Journal of Neuroscience</a>. Funding came from the <a href="http://www.swinburne.edu.au/lss/bpsyc/barbaradicker/">Barbara Dicker Brain Sciences Foundation</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Brain reward region slumps in afternoon – and it could affect mental health

A new study shows that activity in a reward region...

Yes, the Great American Eclipse of Monday, August 21 is likely to be as memorable as its name would suggest. For one thing, it’s a pretty exclusive event. 

While there were 228 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/importance-solar-eclipses-history/">solar eclipses</a> during the 20th century, only 71 of them were total eclipses. That’s where the moon appears to nearly completely block sight of the sun. Viewers see the sky suddenly darken and the brilliance of the sun’s corona, or outermost ring of atmosphere. If it’s not a total eclipse, the moon covers only part of the sun and the effect is muted.

This one’s total.

But even at that, we Earthlings have experienced 71 total eclipses over the last hundred years, so the phenomenon still isn’t all that rare. So what’s the big deal about the Great American Eclipse?

The Path of Totality

It’s the word “American,” not “Eclipse,” that creates the distinction. Even the most thrilling of solar eclipses are only fully experiences by a relatively few people lucky enough to find themselves within prime viewing area. That’s because the sight is only visible on relatively small swaths of the globe. Even if you’re only a few miles outside of the area of “totality” you’ll see little or no evidence of the eclipse. 

To illustrate, the last total solar eclipse fully viewable in the United States was in 1991, but you had to be in Hawaii to see it. The last total eclipse on view from any area of the continental U.S. was way back in 1979, and that only occurred over the northwest corner of the country. The last time the Path of Totality went coast-to-coast was in 1918. We assume you missed it.

So, yeah. This one’s pretty special.

Where You’ll See It

On August 21, only those in about a 70-mile band of the country stretching west to east principally along 12 states will get an awe-inspiring view. Those states are Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and, finally, South Carolina. Very tiny sections of two more states, Montana and Iowa, will also be in the path.

If you’re planning on traveling, don’t be late! Viewers in each location will only have between about two and less than three minutes to catch the stunning moment of totality.

What You’ll See

First contact is the moment when the two heavenly bodies begin to come together. From this moment to totality will be a period of about an hour and a half.

What you’ll notice leading up to totality is a change in the color of the light. Shadows become sharper. As the two bodies move closer, the sun takes on more and more of a crescent shape. 

As the sun and moon are in full alignment, the sky will darken and you’ll suddenly see the night’s stars and planets (assuming that your viewing sky is clear of cloud cover). At the point of total eclipse, the sun will look life a fiery ring. You'll be viewing it’s corona, or outer edge, the only portion of the sun that will be on view.

The experience itself is virtually indescribable. But you can see videos of previous total eclipses <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DanvV8QTaVY">here</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lHb5ruGUyw">here</a>. 

Viewings and Doings in America

Americans know that the Great American Eclipse is a big deal, and they’re making the most of it. Here are just a few of the eclipse-related happenings on tap. (Events are selling out rapidly due to crowds, so be sure to check event websites or call before traveling.)

<a href="http://independencegoesdark.com/">Independence, Oregon, Indy Goes Dark Eclipse Festival</a>, (Aug. 17-21) -- Festivities include a beer garden, 5K run, fireworks and concert in the park. But don’t stay out too late the day before. Totality hits soon after 9am here. 

<a href="http://eclipsemoonfest.com/#top">Idaho Falls, Idaho, Moonfest Music Festival</a>, (Aug. 18-21) -- Food, merch, mechanical bull riding, hypnotists and some 16 artists and bands. Oh, and the total eclipse of the sun.

<a href="http://www.eclipseville.com/">Hopkinsville, Kentucky, The Point of Greatest Eclipse</a> (Aug. 18-21) -- Just like the name says, this is the place in which viewers will get the longest show -- two minutes and 41 seconds of totality. That's why the town of 33,000 expects 200,000 visitors. 

<a href="http://italianlights.org/">Nashville, Tennessee, Italian Lights Festival and Solar Eclipse 2017</a>, (Aug 18-21) -- Music City has the distinction of being the largest city on the Path of Totality, so it’s celebrating in a number of ways and places. This event, focused on Bicentennial Capitol Mall downtown, celebrates with food, wine, music and art.

<a href="http://www.comoeclipse.com/">Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston RiverDogs</a>, (Aug. 21) This Old South city is the last on this solar tour. Its minor league team, the Charleston RiverDogs will be one place where you can get a doubleheader -- a solar eclipse and then a ballgame (if it’s not sold out). The eclipse is at 2:48 pm, the game’s at 4:05. 

That was just a sampler. <a href="http://www.americaneclipse2017.org/eclipse-events/">Visit here</a> for a more comprehensive listing of national happenings. 

Protect Your Eyes

The sun is dangerous to your vision at every stage of eclipse except totality. That means you must protect your eyes at all times until that final stage. And if you’re not in that swath of land that will see totality, there’s never a moment when it will be safe to view the sun.

Before ruining your vision, get eclipse glasses that meet the following ISO standards for eye safety: ISO 12312-2. Wear those ISO-certified glasses as the moon and sun go through the initial phases of alignment and only take them off at the point of full eclipse. 

And remember, there are no valid substitutes for those glasses. Sunglasses, no matter how strong the filter, won’t offer the vision protection you need. And if you do get official eclipse glasses (which will be a challenge at this late date), test them. You should only be able to see the sun with them. Nothing else. If you can see even strong artificial lighting, the filter isn’t strong enough. Toss them and don’t look up until the point of totality.

Now enjoy this perhaps once-in-a-lifetime and definitely unforgettable event.   

 --

By <a href="mailto:dsearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Everything you need to know about the Great American Eclipse

Yes, the Great American Eclipse of Monday, August 21 is...

Scientists are developing sensor-based smart labels that are capable of alerting consumers when food is spoiled or contaminated. The devices have also been used to authenticate wine and tea, and have the potential to detect unsuitable cosmetics or locate natural antioxidants in remote regions of the world. 

The smart labels are paper-based, making them portable and inexpensive. They also feature a user friendly interface and have demonstrated outstanding analytical performance during testing. Silvana Andreescu, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science at <a href="https://www.clarkson.edu/">Clarkson University</a> and lead author of the study.

"I've always been interested in developing technologies that are accessible to both industry and the general population," said Andreescu. "My lab has built a versatile sensing platform that incorporates all the needed reagents for detection in a piece of paper. At the same time, it is adaptable to different targets, including food contaminants, antioxidants and free radicals that indicate spoilage."

According to Andreescu, these sensors are better than comparable devices due to the efficiency of the nanostructures that catch and bind to compounds they're looking for.

"Most people working on similar sensors use solutions that migrate on channels," said Andreescu. "We use stable, inorganic particles that are redox active. When they interact with the substances we want to detect, they change color, and the intensity of the change tells us how concentrated the analyte is."

The scientists have worked with the sensors extensively to detect antioxidants in tea and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cork-vs-screw-cap-wine/">wine</a>. They have found that these products have unique antioxidant "fingerprints" that could be used for authentication purposes. Andreescu pointed out that the portable sensors could also be used to identify natural sources of antioxidants in remote locations such as the Amazon rainforest.

Andreescu’s team recently explored the capability of the devices to detect food contamination and environmental pollutants. One sensor prototype can spot ochratoxin A, a fungal toxin which is frequently found in products such as cereal and coffee. Further research may enable the detection mechanisms to recognize salmonella and E. coli.

Currently, the experts are creating sensors that change colors when food and cosmetics go bad. Andreescu said this technology could ultimately be used to tell consumers when to throw products out.

The findings of this study will be presented today at the 254th National Meeting &amp; Exposition of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a>. A video on the research is available at <a href="http://bit.ly/acssensors">http://bit.ly/acssensors</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

New smart labels will tell you when to throw out food

Scientists are developing sensor-based smart labels that are capable of...

Studies are released every day that explore the benefits of physical activity, but rarely does research examine the negative effects of sedentary behavior. New research has found a link between inactivity and the risk of death for frail persons who are middle-aged and older. For people who are not considered frail, on the other hand, inactivity is not as dangerous.

Frailty is measured by a person's overall health, and increases with the number of health problems an individual is facing. Researchers in Novia Scotia set out to examine if a person's level of frailty and sedentary behavior are associated with a higher risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-deaths-climate-changes/">death</a>. To do so, the team used data from the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm">US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey</a> (NHANES).

The NHANES assessed 3,141 adults aged 50 and over from 2003-2004 and 2005-2006. Participants used activity trackers during waking hours and were evaluated using a 46-item frailty index. They were followed up on until 2011 or date of death.

Dr. Olga Theou is a clinical research scientist in the Department of Medicine at <a href="https://www.dal.ca/">Dalhousie University</a> and lead author of the study.

"We found that in people who scored low on the frailty index, sitting time was not linked to risk of death," explained Theou. "Prolonged sitting was associated with a higher risk of death only in vulnerable or frail people who did not meet the weekly recommendation for 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity."

The researchers acknowledged some study limitations such as less activity tracking data for people with higher levels of frailty. This obstacle prevented all participants with severe frailty from landing in the same category for analysis.

"Physicians should stress the harms of inactivity with patients, similar to the harms of smoking, to encourage movement," said Dr. Olga Theou. "Even something as simple as getting up and walking around the house with a walker or cane can benefit frailer people."

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.cmaj.ca/">Canadian Medical Association Journal</a>.
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By <a href="http://csexton@gmail.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Here’s why it’s extra dangerous to be sedentary as you get older

Studies are released every day that explore the benefits of...

Televisions, tablets, and other tech devices are now being made with quantum dot displays that are setting a new standard for high definition images, but some of the quantum dots contain potentially dangerous metals. A team of researchers set out to evaluate the harm these nanomaterials may cause when the devices are thrown out and exposed to the elements.

"In just the past decade, engineered nanomaterials have been incorporated into so many consumer products," said co-author Yuqiang Bi from the <a href="http://www.arizona.edu/">University of Arizona</a>. "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has funded us to assess these nanomaterials. They want to know how to predict and manage the risk from these substances." 

The researchers wanted to observe the amount of nanomaterials that would seep out of devices under simulated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epa-tightens-greenhouse-gas-emissions-rules-at-landfills-2/">landfill</a> conditions. The first step was getting their hands on electronics which contained the nanomaterials.

"Consumer electronics don't list their ingredients like foods do," explained Bi. "We have to scavenge everything we can find to get ideas about how the electronics are manufactured and which consumer products actually have the nanomaterials." 

The researchers tested devices for the presence of quantum dots and identified a tablet containing cadmium quantum dots. Cadmium selenide, or CdSe, is a heavy metal that is toxic and carcinogenic. The team also discovered a television with indium quantum dots. Indium is much less toxic than cadmium, but the indium nanomaterials require an energy-exhaustive process to produce. 

The researchers wanted to determine whether using the safer quantum materials is worth the expense of energy. 

"Just because a product has quantum dots doesn't mean it poses a risk," said Bi. "That depends on whether the quantum dots can get into the environment."

The researchers focused on what might happen to the products after being discarded. 

"In a landfill, a product's contents are susceptible to leaching into its surroundings," said Bi. "Rainfall in a landfill creates acidic solutions. The metals can get dissolved and, once dissolved, cadmium has a much greater potential to penetrate the groundwater."

The researchers simulated landfill water with acidic chemicals and performed tests to expose the devices to the liquid in various ways. When they measured to see how much cadmium and indium leached into the solution, they found that the cadmium poses much less of an environmental threat than expected. With this in mind, the experts believe it is more beneficial to use the toxic quantum dots along with their eco-friendly manufacturing process.

The researchers are still working to get a more accurate estimate of how much of the materials seeped into the solution. So far, Bi said that they “aren't seeing huge amounts of leaching, especially when we are talking about realistic disposal methods.” The researchers will present their work on August 20th at the 254th National Meeting &amp; Exposition of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New wave of tech devices prompt environmental dilemma

Televisions, tablets, and other tech devices are now being made...

Optogenetics is an elegant science that uses a biological technique to control neurons in the brain and effectively turn them into light switches. It is a common practice that uses light sensitive proteins, like the matter found in glowing algae and other bioluminescent organisms, called opsins and places them in specific neurons using gene therapy techniques. Now, a new study has uncovered how the brain creates the itching sensation, which could potentially help those suffering from chronic itching conditions. 

Itching is an important response in humans and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-first-appeared-earth/">animals</a>, but for those who have skin conditions or liver disease, chronic itching can be seriously damaging to overall well-being. It can even cause scarring if scratching isn’t controlled. 

The study from the <a href="http://www.ion.ac.cn/">Institute of Neuroscience of the Chinese Academy of Sciences</a> has now found a way to isolate the exact pathway from the spinal cord to the brain that creates the physical itch response. 

“In this study, we revealed a long-range neural circuit that is critical for transmitting itch signal from the spinal cord to brain,” said Dr. Sun Yangang, lead author of the study. 

The research found that there are two crucial components to the itch mechanism and processing itch sensations in the brain: parabrachial nucleus (PBN) in the brain and spinal neurons with a chemical known as GRPR (gastrin-releasing peptide receptor). 

The researchers used optogenetics to make the spinal neurons GRPR sensitive to light, and when the light was applied to the neurons, the researchers tracked the itch sensation as it traveled through the spine to the parabrachial nucleus. 

The researchers also found that by turning off the GRPR neurons with light, the itch sensation was suppressed. The findings could ultimately lead to new treatment and therapies for chronic itching conditions in humans. 

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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

Breakthrough could lead to better treatment for itching

Optogenetics is an elegant science that uses a biological technique...

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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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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...