As the new year approaches, millions prepare to adopt healthier eating habits. However, experts warn that this well-intentioned shift towards "clean" eating can sometimes go too far, leading to a dangerous obsession known as orthorexia nervosa. 



Researchers, including those from Semmelweis University in Hungary, caution that overly restrictive “clean eating” diets can result in physical malnutrition and severe mental health issues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-allure-of-clean-eating">Allure of clean eating</h2>



In recent years, clean <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-food-day-fighting-global-hunger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eating</a> has become synonymous with health and discipline. For many, this lifestyle promises physical vitality and mental clarity.



Yet, a survey conducted by <a href="https://semmelweis.hu/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Semmelweis University</a> of 179 female fashion models revealed that over one-third showed symptoms of orthorexia nervosa - an unhealthy fixation on eating only “pure” foods. Alarmingly, about one-fifth of the control group, comprising students, exhibited similar tendencies.



Orthorexia nervosa manifests when an individual’s dedication to healthy eating disrupts their daily life. Warning signs include avoiding social gatherings, such as family meals or holiday celebrations, due to dietary restrictions. 



People with this condition often experience stress when their eating routines are disrupted and may suffer from physical symptoms like hair loss, brittle nails, and chronic fatigue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risks-of-restrictive-diets">Risks of restrictive diets</h2>



Dr. Nikolett Bogar of Semmelweis University emphasizes the dangers of such restrictive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeding-children-healthy-diets-can-be-very-challenging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diets</a>. 



“If someone eats only certain types of food - for example, fish, vegetables, green foods, raw items, or exclusively carbohydrate-free dishes - they can just as easily develop nutrient deficiencies as those with eating disorders,” said Dr. Bogar. “They don’t consume enough vitamins, minerals, protein or carbohydrates.”



The obsession with food quality over quantity is particularly concerning. While prioritizing healthy foods is important, it often leads to nutritionally inadequate diets. Severe cases of orthorexia nervosa can even escalate to clinical eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-growing-trend-of-clean-eating">A growing trend of clean eating </h2>



The research highlighted a startling reality: 90% of participants reported aspiring to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sustainable-diets-can-reduce-environmental-pressure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthy</a> and clean eating, mirroring the cultural obsession with slimness from past decades.



Statistics indicate that around 35% of people attempt to adopt healthier diets in January following indulgent holiday seasons.



However, experts warn against categorizing foods as strictly good or bad. Dr. Bogar advises embracing a balanced, long-term dietary approach. 



“Eating should not simply be seen as a source of nutrients but a social and cultural event, especially during the festive season and the following weeks,” said Dr. Bogar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origins-of-orthorexia-nervosa">Origins of orthorexia nervosa</h2>



Orthorexia nervosa, first introduced in 1997 by American physician Steven Bratman, describes an unhealthy fixation on consuming only "pure" or "clean" foods. 



Unlike other eating disorders, orthorexia focuses more on the quality of food rather than its quantity. Although widely discussed in medical and psychological circles, it is not yet officially recognized as an eating disorder in diagnostic manuals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consequences-of-eating-disorders">Consequences of eating disorders</h2>



Dr. Bratman observed that extreme clean eating trends could lead to severe consequences, both physical and psychological. Individuals with orthorexia often isolate themselves socially, avoiding gatherings where their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-human-diets-pose-many-risks-health-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">specific dietary preferences</a> cannot be met.



This isolation can promote anxiety and stress, further compounding the mental toll. Over time, their limited food choices may result in malnutrition, depriving the body of essential nutrients. In extreme cases, this obsession can even lead to life-threatening outcomes.



Orthorexia impacts both men and women equally and is often linked to personality traits like perfectionism and narcissism. Many individuals with orthorexia strive for an ideal of purity or perfection in their eating habits. 



Interestingly, studies suggest that the underlying motivation for this behavior is not low self-esteem, as seen in some other eating disorders. Instead, it often stems from a desire to feel superior to others, using their strict dietary discipline as a marker of personal virtue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-setting-new-dietary-goals">Setting new dietary goals</h2>



For those setting new dietary goals in January, experts recommend aiming for moderation. Dr. Bogar highlights the importance of indulgence without guilt. 



“Aim for a long-term, balanced diet rather than an ultra-clean one in January. Occasionally indulging in chocolates or holiday treats should be part of your diet – without guilt,” she added.



Ultimately, food should nourish the body and enrich life through shared cultural and social experiences. By embracing balance, individuals can avoid the pitfalls of orthorexia and maintain both physical and mental health.



This study, published in the journal Eating and Weight Disorders, serves as a timely reminder to approach clean eating and dietary resolutions with caution and self-compassion.



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Obsession with eating 'clean' might result in eating disorders

As the new year approaches, millions prepare to adopt healthier eating habits. However, experts warn that this well-intentioned shift towards "clean" eating can sometimes go too far, leading to a dangerous obsession known as orthorexia nervosa. Researchers, including those from Semmelweis University in Hungary, caution that overly restrictive “clean eating” diets can result in physical malnutrition and severe mental health issues. Allure of clean eating In recent years, clean eating has become synonymous with health and discipline. For many, this lifestyle promises physical vitality and mental clarity....

Nothing gets your pooch’s tail wagging and excitement up like the w-word, walk. That and maybe seeing you after a long absence. Well, let’s face it, dogs are pretty easily pleased overall. That’s why we love them. But one study out of the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a> and Center for Diet and Activity Research at the <a href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> showed that owning a dog and walking them regularly had a hugely positive impact on keeping older adults more active.

The results were found using data from the EPIC Norfolk cohort study, which currently looks at the health of residents of Norfolk. 

The study particularly focused on those who were less likely to be active later in life and in climates with bouts of bad weather. Research teams looked at over 3,000 adults who were asked if they owned a dog and were given an accelerometer to wear for seven days to measure physical activity. 

The end results found that those who owned a dog were far more active than those who weren’t (30 minutes more), even if the weather was poor. After all, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainfall-carbon-emissions-soil-microbes/">rain</a> or shine, Rover has to go. In fact, this is one thing professor and project lead Andy Jones mentioned in his findings.  He said, “Being driven by something other than our own needs might be a really potent motivator and we need to find ways of tapping into it when designing exercise interventions in the future."

The confirmed findings, although not suggesting that everyone get out and buy a puppy, were helpful to show even small ways that can counter inactivity later in life no matter the weather. According to the study, bad weather was one of the biggest hindrances to regular exercise.

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dog walking found to keep older adults more active

Nothing gets your pooch’s tail wagging and excitement up like...

Time is money, that’s what they say. And they also say money can’t buy happiness, however, a new study by research teams at <a href="http://www.hbs.edu/">Harvard Business School</a> and the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/">University of British Columbia</a> show that time, money and happiness are all linked together with surprising results. The study seemed to show that people who bought time ended up with greater happiness.

The study surveyed over 6,000 adults in the United States, Canada, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Researchers wanted to see who was buying time for themselves and if that created a greater sense of happiness overall. Buying time in this study refers to those who might outsource tasks like house cleaning, mowing the lawn, etc, and hire someone to do those jobs leaving more free time.

It might seem like a luxury to be able to pay to have someone do our chores for us. But the study surveyed all income levels and found the results the same “across the income spectrum,” according to BC psychology professor and the study's senior author Elizabeth Dunn.

In one experiment, a group of individuals were given 80 dollars, split evenly over two weekends. The first weekend they were asked to spend on a time-saving task and the other weekend a material item. And the time-saving task ultimately made people more content. 

It’s not how much you make, or the number of vacation days you have, or the things you possess, it’s about your time and how you spend it. 

Another part of the study talked about how few people actually reserve their money for time-saving tasks, even if they could afford it.  Next time you’re looking at your lawn with that weighing sense of, “needs to get done but when?”, consider budgeting your time elsewhere and hiring someone for the job. Your wallet might take a bit of a hit but the time you free up to spend on yourself will more than makeup for it.

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study: How money actually can buy happiness

Time is money, that’s what they say. And they also...

A new study out of <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a> demonstrated the effect violence has on memory and cognitive functions. 

Showing that those exposed to bouts of violence and crime were more likely to perform poorly in schools, have their short-term memory and cognitive functions hindered, and open them up to a wide range of issues such as PTSD and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extra-virgin-olive-oil-protects-brain/">Alzheimer’s</a> later on in life.

The study looked at over 500 civilians in Colombia, which has been notorious for its high crime rate and violence. It also looked at two different groups, those in rural areas and those in urban. Pietro Ortoleva, who co-authored the study, studied both short term memory and cognitive functions because “they are important determinants for individual well-being and societal development".

Ortoleva would ask some members of test groups in both rural and urban areas to recall an event that caused emotional distress, violence being a very likely cause, and the remaining members were asked to recall a happy memory. Then each individual was set to perform a series of easy tests meant to highlight memory and cognitive functions. Unsurprisingly, those who were asked to remember a distressing or violent memory performed poorly on the tests. 

The study will hopefully help to further show the impact violence, especially long-term exposure, has on individuals and their ability to function in society. 

The cycle of violence is easily continued when there is a stark lack of resources for those who have experienced trauma in their lives, just leading the way to further “poverty and violence,” as Ortoleva noted. There are lots of possibilities with this study as it relates to not just Columbia, but any group that is exposed to violence, crime, and war. Looking at how to introduce the most effective therapy and techniques to help those who are affected better cope.

-- 

By: <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Exposure to violence blocks short-term memory

A new study out of Princeton University demonstrated the effect...

Cortisol is a steroid hormone which is released in response to stress. A new study has found that varying patterns of cortisol secretion can reveal the levels of stress that individuals are experiencing. This discovery could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for people with more extreme cases of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-toxic-chemical-exposure/">stress</a>.

Known as the “stress hormone,” cortisol influences many of the changes that happen within the body as a result of stress. For example, cortisol provides the body with glucose under stressful conditions to help regulate blood sugar. This means that long-term elevated levels of cortisol can put individuals at risk of health issues such as type 2 diabetes.

Previous stress analysis was based on the classification of participants as responders or non-responders after the individuals were exposed to a short period of induced stress. The current study, published in <a href="http://www.jneurosci.org/">The Journal of Neuroscience</a>, identified three different types of cortisol response by taking a new approach to stress research.

Roee Admon, Diego Pizzagalli, and colleagues recruited 79 healthy women for the study. The team used modified lab procedures to induce stress in each of the women for over an hour. 

The results of the study showed that participants who released very high or very low amounts of cortisol were more stressed than those who released a moderate amount of cortisol. 

The research team also discovered that the high and low responders had smaller volume of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a structure near the center of the brain that has a large amount of cortisol receptors. Previous studies have linked smaller hippocampal volume to individuals with stress-related disorders.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.jneurosci.org/">The Journal of Neuroscience</a>

Cortisol levels indicate how stressed out a person feels

Cortisol is a steroid hormone which is released in response...

Researchers have found a direct correlation between a person's “attachment style” and the way they behave on social media. 

Omri Gillath, a professor of Psychology at the <a href="https://www.ku.edu/">University of Kansas</a>, led a study which was focused on a very specific personality trait referred to as attachment style. 

"Attachment style is basically a relationship style,” explained Gillath. “It's the way we think, feel and behave in our close relationships. It's known to affect relationship processes and emotion regulation.”

People can be secure or insecure, and insecurity leads to anxiety or avoidance in a person's attachment style. 

"If you're high on attachment avoidance, you're trying to avoid intimacy and tend not to trust others - downplaying the importance of emotions and relationships," said Gillath. "Conversely, if you're high on attachment anxiety, you're very concerned with rejection and abandonment and tend to be overwhelmed by emotions.”

According to Gillath, individuals with an insecure attachment style have difficulty relating to trust and friendship. On the other hand, a secure attachment style is associated with stable, satisfying relationships.

Participants in the study were first evaluated for attachment style. Next, the researchers estimated the "tie strength" and "multiplexity" of their social networks. 

Tie strength is how close the person is to members of their network, which can be measured by how frequently there is communication with friend connections. Multiplexity assesses how many roles the network members fill in a person's life - whether they go to church together, play the same sport, or share the same political interests.

"We found people high on attachment anxiety or avoidance had weaker tie strength," he said. "Further, people high on avoidance reported lower multiplexity."

The researchers also considered how the participants initiated, maintained, or dissolved ties in their social networks. People high on attachment avoidance were found to be less likely to initiate and maintain connections, and more likely to dissolve network ties.

High anxiety people, who were expected to cling onto ties out of fear neglect and rejection, were also found to be more likely to see dissolution of ties. Gillath explained their anxiety may cause the issue, explaining that “network members may feel smothered and dissolve the ties.”

The experts also noted that the size of a person's social media network affects the quality of the relationships with other members of the network.

"We found the more friends you have in your network, the lower your tie strength and multiplexity - size dilutes the quality of your networks ties," Gillath said.

In another aspect of the study, the researchers used priming to boost the participants’ attachment security. This made people more likely to initiate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-activity-helps-dementia/">social</a> ties and less likely to dissolve them. The security prime also significantly improved relationship maintenance. This suggests that people with attachment security gain more positive and beneficial experiences from social media. 

"There are many things that can be bad about social networks, if you tend to search for hours on your exes and do Facebook lurking and are not involved in relational process - that can lead to jealousy and all kinds of negative emotions," said Gillath. 

"However, if you're using your social networks for fulfilling or serving your attachment needs -- such as a secure base or safe haven -- that's likely to result in positive outcomes."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.ku.edu/">University of Kansas</a>

How a person’s attachment style explains social media behavior

Researchers have found a direct correlation between a person's “attachment...

For decades, tai chi practitioners have cited improved balance as one of the benefits of the slow, gentle martial art. Now, science may be backing them up.

A number of studies analyzing tai chi, other forms of exercise, and physical therapy exist. Dr. Rafael Lomas-Vega of the <a href="http://www.ujaen.es/">University of Jaén</a> in Spain set out with a team of colleagues to analyze that existing research and see whether tai chi can improve balance and prevent falls as effectively as other methods.

They found 10 scientific studies that used randomized, controlled trials to study the benefits of the ancient Chinese martial art.

What they found was promising: over a 12-month period, tai chi appeared to reduce the risk of falls by about 43 percent. In the long-term, the rate of falls dropped by about 13 percent. Additionally, in both the short-term and long-term, tai chi practitioners were less likely to be badly injured during a fall.

"Tai chi practice may be recommended to prevent falls in at-risk adults and older adults. The length of the interventions ranged from 12 to 26 weeks. The frequency of the 1-hour sessions ranged from one to three times per week," Lomas-Vega said. 

Tai chi emphasizes slow, gentle movements that can be easily modified to address physical limitations, which makes it an ideal form of exercise for older adults. Older adults are also the group most at-risk for falling and most in danger due to injuries caused by falls. This review of current research is encouraging for older people looking for a safe form of exercise.

However, more research on the positive benefits of the gentle exercise is still needed, the researchers warned.

"Due to the small number of published studies, further research is needed to investigate the effect of tai chi on injurious falls and time to first fall," Lomas-Vega said.

The research review will be published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15008">Journal of the American Geriatrics Society</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Tai chi may improve balance, prevent falls

For decades, tai chi practitioners have cited improved balance as...

A study published in the latest issue of the journal Scientific Reports reveals that sea level rise is not the only danger to waterfront areas as a result of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-massive-blow-asia/">climate change</a>. As storm patterns shift and change directions, property and structures along the coastline that were once considered to be relatively safe from the impact of storms are now at risk of being severely damaged.

Engineers at <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/">University of New South Wales</a> in Sydney analyzed data from a “superstorm” that hit the eastern coast of Australia in June 2016. The storm, one of the strongest in decades, flooded towns and took out buildings. 

Recording tools were deployed a week before the storm and used into the weeks that followed the storm. These devices including drones, floating sensor buoys, fixed cameras, and aircraft fitted with LiDAR laser ranging sensors. This provided experts with the most detailed pre-storm and post-storm record that had ever been assembled.

The team determined that 11.5 million cubic meters of sand was eroded from beaches across a 200-kilometer stretch of Australia's eastern coast in only three days. This amount of sand could fill up a 100,000-person-capacity stadium to the brim with sand more than seven times. This is comparable to the amount of sand diminished on eastern coast of the United States by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The superstorm surveyed in Australia was only average in its force, but hit from a very unusual direction. 

"And that's what's really worrying," said co-author Ian Turner. "The damage we saw from a moderately intense storm last year is a harbinger of what's to come. Climate change is not only raising the oceans and threatening foreshores, but making our coastlines much more vulnerable as the direction of incoming storms change.”

Previous research calculated the cost of infrastructure damage caused by sea level rise could reach $226 billion in Australia alone. Buildings at risk include 258 police and emergency response stations, 75 hospitals and health centers, 41 waste disposal facilities, and five power stations. Data collected from long-term monitoring in areas like Narrabeen Beach in Sydney will help engineers build models to predict storm damage in advance. 

"With this data, we can now construct accurate coastal erosion models, to predict damage days before a storm hits," said senior lecturer Karen Splinter. "It will also be pivotal in understanding the future effect of climate change on coastal variability around the world."

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/">University of New South Wales</a>

Photo: Christopher Drummond/UNSW

Formerly calm coastal areas could soon see major storms

A study published in the latest issue of the journal...

Scientists at the <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University of Waterloo</a> have determined that couples who live together actually share microbes. By testing the microbial profiles of cohabiting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fertility-treatment-likelihood-divorce/">couples</a>, the researchers were able to determine that the skin microbiomes of the partners had been significantly influenced by each other.

Ashley Ross led the study with senior author Josh Neufeld, whose lab focuses on microbial communities and their interactions. Ross had previously determined that microbes on the skin vary from region to region, and wanted to determine if external influences such as cohabitation help shape a person’s microbiome. 

Ross and Neufeld recruited heterosexual couples living in the Waterloo area for the unprecedented study. With the help of Dr. Andrew Doxey, the team analyzed 330 swabs collected by the participants from 17 regions of the skin. These areas included skin on the upper eyelids, torso, and armpits. 

Similarities in the microbial communities of the partners were strong enough that computer algorithms could identify cohabiting couples with 86 percent accuracy based on the data collected from the skin swabs. The strongest microbial similarities were found on the feet.

"In hindsight, it makes sense," said Neufeld. "You shower and walk on the same floor barefoot. This process likely serves as a form of microbial exchange with your partner, and also with your home itself."

The study, published in the journal mSystems, pointed out that aspects of a person such as gender and the specific part of the body being tested are factors which are more likely to affect a person's microbial configuration than cohabitation. For example, microbial communities of the inner thighs more closely resemble those of other people of the same sex than that of the partner. Computer testing was able to differentiate between men and women with 100 percent accuracy using inner thigh microbial samples alone. 

According to the researchers, people usually still resemble their own microbiome much more than their partner’s.

Ross plans to expand upon this study with the assessment of same-sex couples and couples with different ethnic backgrounds. The team expresses a need to continue the research in an effort to understand how skin microbiomes adapt and change with their hosts.

“Ultimately what we're trying to learn is whether skin microorganisms have co-evolved with their hosts over time,” said Neufeld.

 --

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff

Source: <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University Of Waterloo</a>

Study: Couples who live together actually share microbes

Scientists at the University of Waterloo have determined that couples...

Dogs have become much more friendly with humans after their genetic divergence with wolves thousands of years ago. Researchers have now identified a genetic marker in domestic dogs that is also found in people who have Williams-Beuren syndrome, a developmental condition that causes extremely sociable and outgoing behavior.

“The genetic basis for the behavioral divergence between dogs and wolves has been poorly understood, especially with regard to dogs’ success in human environments,” said Monique Udell, an animal scientist at Oregon State University.

Researchers from <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a> and <a href="http://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a> developed problem-solving tasks to evaluate 18 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-developed-wolves-europe/">domesticated</a> dogs and 10 human-socialized wolves. 

For the first experiment, the animals were given boxes containing sausages, and were allowed two minutes to figure out how to open the boxes. A person was placed in the room in order to test the responses of both groups to the presence of a human. The dog most often abandoned the task and focused their attention on the person, while the wolf was not concerned with the individual and attempted to complete their challenge.

In a second evaluation, a person was placed inside of a marked circle. First, the human attempted to make contact with the animals and called out their names. Next, the individual sat inside the circle without attempting any physical contact. Both wolves and dogs immediately approached the person in both phases of the test. However, the wolf lost interest within seconds and wandered away, while the dog stuck around for long periods of time.

The team used molecular tools to analyze blood samples from the animals. The blood tests revealed that dogs have the same genetic markers of people who suffer from Williams-Beuren syndrome, a condition that is characterized by hypersocial behavior.

“It was once thought that during domestication dogs had evolved an advanced form of social cognition that wolves lacked,” explained Udell. “This new evidence would suggest that dogs instead have a genetic condition that can lead to an exaggerated motivation to seek social contact compared to wolves.”

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a>

The real reason why dogs are so friendly and love everybody

Dogs have become much more friendly with humans after their...

Humans arrived in Australia about 65,000 years ago, over than 10,000 years earlier than scientists had previously believed, according to a new study.

The findings call into question the argument that humans caused the extinction of unique animals such as giant kangaroos, wombats, and tortoises more than 45,000 years ago, the authors said.

"Previously it was thought that humans arrived and hunted them out or disturbed their habits, leading to extinction, but these dates confirm that people arrived so far before that they wouldn't be the central cause of the death of megafauna," said Ben Marwick, co-author of the study and <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> Associate Professor of Anthropology. "It shifts the idea of humans charging into the landscape and killing off the megafauna. It moves toward a vision of humans moving in and coexisting, which is quite a different view of human evolution."

Researchers using radiocarbon dating and optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) to evaluate artifacts found in various layers of settlement at Madjedbebe, a rock shelter in Australia's Northern Territory.

Among the artifacts discovered were ochre "crayons" and other pigments, what could be the world's oldest edge-ground hatchets, and evidence that early humans ground seeds and processed plants. The pigments could have been used as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-paint-hydrogen-water-vapor/">paint</a>, while the tools may have been used to cut food.

Scientists determined the age range using OSL, which can tell the last time a grain of sand was exposed to sunlight, even up to 100,000 years prior.

The Madjedbebe findings not only reveal that humans occupied Australia at least 65,000 years ago, but also provide further support to the theory that Homo sapiens evolved in Africa before dispersing to other continents, Marwick said.

The findings also show that Neanderthals and Denisovans overlapped with humans for a long period of time, and suggest a larger role for Australia in the backstory of humankind, Marwick added.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a>

Humans arrived in Australia earlier than previously believed

Humans arrived in Australia about 65,000 years ago, over than...

Scientists, divers, and underwater photographers teamed up to document the disappearance of coral reefs in the Netflix film <a href="https://www.chasingcoral.com/">Chasing Coral</a>. The shocking images captured by the team give viewers an unparalleled look at the rapid decline of corals across the globe.

Richard Vevers, founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.theoceanagency.org/">The Ocean Agency</a>, developed the project in an effort to expose the magnitude of the coral crisis. He assembled a team to capture footage of a massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-bleaching-havoc-hawaiian/">coral bleaching</a> event, enlisting the help of Director Jeff Orlowski after viewing his 2012 documentary Chasing Ice.

In Chasing Coral, coral bleaching is described as a “phenomenon directly attributed to climate change” that has only been seen in recent years. Beginning in the 1980’s, large portions of coral began to turn white. The scientists explain this was not due to disease but to rising ocean temperatures. During the bleaching process, the corals attempt to get rid of algae that are not functioning properly and basically starve themselves by eliminating their main food source.

Dr. Ruth Gates is a coral reef biologist that expresses “the utmost respect for corals.” She describes the fascinating composition of the animals and compares their complexity to that of human beings, saying that corals choose to be “really sophisticated in a quiet way.” Dr. Gates explains that coral bleaching is a stress response much like fever is a stress response in humans.

Corals have many other species that depend on them in a type of “neighborhood” setting. According to the film, corals are essentially the nursery for 25 percent of life in the ocean.

For the project, the team managed to quickly develop cameras that could survive the stressors of being underwater and transmit images wirelessly to the researchers. Two months after the cameras were deployed, however, the experts discovered they were out of focus.

The team then travelled to the Great Barrier Reef, where they resorted to manually capturing underwater time-lapses. They ultimately selected two of the hottest locations where coral bleaching was certain to be taking place. At a site called Lizard Island, most of the reef turned to barren rock face in a matter of two months. 

Underwater camera technician Zack Rago says his infatuation with corals dates back to childhood. While he realized the heat wave they were documenting was going to be “nothing short of catastrophic for the coral,” he was still not prepared for the devastation he witnessed firsthand in his emotionally grueling dives on the Great Barrier Reef.

The footage is an alarming testament to the strain placed on marine ecosystems by rising ocean temperatures. The researchers point out that the majority of the impact of global climate change is occurring within Earth’s oceans. 93 percent of the heat trapped from greenhouse gases is absorbed by the ocean, and this film provides irrefutable evidence of the destruction that results.

50 percent of the world’s corals died in the last 30 years. In 2016, 29 percent of the corals of the Great Barrier Reef were lost in a single year. According to Dr. Gates, global warming at the current rate will result in the “eradication of an entire ecosystem in our lifetime.” 

Despite the fact that over half a billion people rely on coral reefs for their main source of food and income, the experts explain that it is difficult to make people realize the gravity of this issue. Vevers says that one of the biggest problems is that the ocean “is completely out of sight, out of mind.” He reminds us, “Without a healthy ocean, we do not have a healthy planet.”

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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

Source: <a href="https://www.chasingcoral.com/">Chasing Coral</a>

Earth.com film review: Chasing Coral

Scientists, divers, and underwater photographers teamed up to document the...

A new study has found that people who are genetically susceptible to Alzheimer's disease also face a greater risk of lower cognition from sleep-disordered breathing.

According to the study, published in the journal <a href="http://www.atsjournals.org/toc/annalsats/current">Annals of the American Thoracic Society</a>, individuals with the ε4 allele, an alternative form of the APOE gene that supports injury repair in the brain, have a higher chance of Alzheimer's disease. An estimated 20 percent of people carry the ε4 allele.

The new study evaluated whether the APOE-ε4 allele gene also influences the link between sleep-disordered breathing and cognition. The authors defined sleep-disordered breathing based the number of stopped or shallow breaths per hour.

Poorer attention and memory and daytime <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perfect-meal-sleep-better-night/">sleepiness</a> were more strongly associated with APOE-ε4 carriers, the new study found.

Screening and treating sleep-disordered breathing could help reduce a person's risk of dementia, especially if they carry APOE-ε4, said the study’s senior author, Susan Redline of <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/">Harvard Medical School</a>.

“Our study provides further evidence that sleep-disordered breathing negatively affects attention, processing speed and memory, which are robust predictors of cognitive decline,” Redline said. “Given the lack of effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease, our results support the potential for sleep-disordered breathing screening and treatment as part of a strategy to reduce dementia risk."

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By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.thoracic.org/">American Thoracic Society</a>

Sleep disorders could cause cognition problems due to this gene

A new study has found that people who are genetically...

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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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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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



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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...