The stereotype that women outtalk men persists across many cultures. Yet, a prominent study in 2007 challenged that notion by finding that men and women each speak around 16,000 words per day, on average.



A new, larger investigation revisits this topic and offers a more nuanced view: women may indeed be more talkative - but only during a specific stage of life.



Study co-lead author Colin Tidwell is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona </a>(U of A).&nbsp;



“There is a strong cross-cultural assumption that women talk a lot more than men,” said Tidwell. “We wanted to see whether or not this assumption holds when empirically tested.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-talking-varies-by-age-and-gender">Talking varies by age and gender</h2>



Analyzing data from nearly 2,200 participants, the researchers found that women aged 25 to 65 speak about 3,000 more words per day than men in the same age bracket.&nbsp;



However, in adolescence (10-17), emerging adulthood (18-24), and older adulthood (65 and up), they observed no notable gender gap in daily word count.



The study also suggests that people overall might be talking less than before, which the researchers suspect could be linked to growing reliance on digital communication.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-claim-that-women-talk-more">The claim that women talk more</h2>



In 2007, University of Arizona psychologist Matthias Mehl investigated the common claim that women are significantly more talkative than men.&nbsp;



Participants in that study - about 500 men and women - wore a device called the EAR (Electronically Activated Recorder), which periodically recorded brief clips of their everyday <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-20-minute-conversation-with-a-humpback-whale-named-twain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conversations</a>.



After estimating each participant’s total daily word count, the researchers concluded that no significant gender difference existed - a finding that appeared in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1139940?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D90780648708216300104417575982572668868%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1738666255&amp;adobe_mc=MCMID%3D90780648708216300104417575982572668868%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1738667536" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a> and garnered national headlines.&nbsp;



Nevertheless, critics pointed out that most participants were college-aged and all lived in Austin, Texas, limiting the study’s diversity.



Almost two decades later, Mehl collaborated with Tidwell, Valeria Pfeifer, a postdoctoral researcher at the U of A, and Alexander Danvers, a former U of A postdoctoral fellow, to repeat the experiment on a larger scale.&nbsp;



The new work incorporates 630,000 EAR recordings from 22 separate studies across four countries, covering individuals aged 10 to 94 - a total of 2,197 participants, which is four times the original sample size.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-do-women-talk-more">Why do women talk more?</h2>



Among all age groups studied, a significant difference between men’s and women’s word counts emerged only in early to middle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lifestyle-choices-in-young-adulthood-impact-cognitive-ability-in-midlife/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adulthood</a> (25-64). During these years, women spoke about 21,845 words per day, while men spoke about 18,570.



The researchers remain unsure exactly why women might talk more during this period, but they propose that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parent-children-relationships-are-key-to-lifelong-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parenting</a> responsibilities could be one contributing factor.



“Gender-linked differences in child rearing and family care are one possibility that could account for this difference,” said Mehl, the senior author of the study and a professor in the U of A Department of Psychology.&nbsp;



“If biological factors like hormones were to be the main cause, a sizable gender difference should have also been present among emerging adults. If societal generational changes were to be the driving force, there should have been a gradually increasing gender difference with older participants. Neither, though, was the case.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-talking-trends-across-time">Talking trends across time</h2>



While the data suggest that women do speak more than men during early and middle adulthood, Mehl highlighted that individual differences can overshadow such group patterns.&nbsp;



The least talkative person in the entire study - a man - spoke roughly 100 words a day, while the most talkative participant - also a man - exceeded 120,000 words.



“We humans are so much more different individually than the two genders systematically,” Mehl said.



Another revealing finding was that the average word count across participants has been declining since 2005, slipping from about 16,000 words per day to about 13,000.



“We did a full analysis looking at what year the data were collected and found that, indeed, 300 spoken words on average per year go missing,” noted study co-lead author Pfeifer.



Although the exact cause for this decline is not fully established, researchers suspect that digital technologies - such as texting, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spending-less-time-on-social-media-improves-your-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social media</a>, and online chats - could be supplanting spoken conversations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conversation-as-a-health-behavior">Conversation as a health behavior</h2>



Mehl emphasized the need for further inquiry into the effects of talkativeness and social engagement on overall health. He is currently co-developing a device called SocialBit, akin to a Fitbit, that tracks the duration of daily conversations without recording their content. Instead, it relies on an algorithm to detect whether ambient sounds contain speech.



“I'm fascinated by the idea that we know how much we need to sleep, we know how much we need to exercise, and people are wearing Fitbits all the time, but we have no idea how much we're supposed to socialize,” he said.&nbsp;



“The evidence is very strong that socializing is linked to health, at least to the same extent as physical activity and sleep are. It's just another health behavior.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions-nbsp">Future research directions&nbsp;</h2>



Overall, the follow-up study offers a refined perspective on the question of whether women speak more than men. While the gap exists during early and middle adulthood, no significant difference emerges in adolescence, emerging adulthood, or older age.&nbsp;



Beyond that, both genders may be speaking fewer words over time - possibly due to a shift toward digital forms of communication.



As researchers continue to investigate the intersection between conversation, well-being, and modern technology, novel tools like SocialBit may shed light on just how much human dialogue contributes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-activity-may-delay-the-onset-of-dementia-by-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health</a>, reinforcing the importance of face-to-face interactions in an increasingly digital era.



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Do women really talk more than men? A new look at the debate

The stereotype that women outtalk men persists across many cultures. Yet, a prominent study in 2007 challenged that notion by finding that men and women each speak around 16,000 words per day, on average. A new, larger investigation revisits this topic and offers a more nuanced view: women may indeed be more talkative - but only during a specific stage of life. Study co-lead author Colin Tidwell is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona (U of A).&nbsp; “There is a strong cross-cultural assumption...

Experts have concocted a three-course dinner that is specifically designed for optimal sleep. Dr Rachel Edwards-Stuart and Lily Soutter identified foods that are known to improve sleep and used them to create the ultimate dinnertime meal. They incorporated complementary ingredients that would not counteract the sleep-enhancing properties of the food.  

Dr. Edwards-Stuart researched the flavor and texture of foods for the menu at the <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham</a>, while Soutter meticulously developed the menu in the lab of mattress company SIMBA Sleep.

The first ingredient selected for the menu was kiwi. Previous research from Taiwan's Taipei Medical University established that the high antioxidant and serotonin levels found in kiwi help improve both quality and quantity of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-purpose-in-life/">sleep</a>. Chicken was chosen due to the fact that it is one of the best sources of tryptophan, an essential building block of the sleep hormone melatonin. The experts picked walnuts for the meal because research from the University of Texas established they are also a good source of melatonin.

The first course of the dinner paired kiwi with mackerel, which is rich in omega 3 and fatty acids. A study from Oxford University has shown that omega 3 fat stimulates the release of the sleep hormone melatonin. After considering shared aroma compounds, the team added spinach and olives to the dish. Spinach was also chosen because it is high in magnesium and levels of this mineral rise and fall with our sleep cycles.

The main course consisted of magnesium-rich pumpkin seeds with chicken. This course also featured a sweet potato - another excellent source of tryptophan.  

The team wanted a dessert that did not have a lot of sugar, and chose honey to sweeten the dessert because it does not make blood sugar levels spike. Melon and apple juice were used as a source of fiber which can help stabilize blood sugar levels at night.

“Although many of us understand the importance of nutrition during the day, few of us are aware that certain foods could be sabotaging our sleep,” explained Soutter. 

She added that “these recipes are simple enough to replicate or inspire your meal choices at home.” 

--

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.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham</a>

The perfect meal to help you sleep better at night

Experts have concocted a three-course dinner that is specifically designed...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.unl.edu/">University of Nebraska</a> have evaluated the potential damage that would result from a nuclear strike. The team estimated the impact of a single nuclear warhead would cause extreme climate change with drought and famine severe enough to kill millions of people.

The Cold War persisted for five decades with a military strategy between the United States and the Soviet Union of mutually assured destruction. In other words, the superpowers understood that both the attacker and defender would be completely destroyed in the event of a nuclear attack. This strategy, however, is no longer effective with countries such as North Korea. The Korean People’s Army recently tested an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking Alaska as well as cities in Asia and the Middle East. 

While the international community is concerned over North Korea’s nuclear program, other countries are adopting their own doctrines that could be cause for concern as well. Russia, for example, may consider the use of nuclear force to end future wars and the United States may also deliberate use of a limited nuclear strike as a defense strategy.

A study led by biological systems engineer Adam Liska has determined that even a limited nuclear strike would have global consequences. Liska’s research team included experts in climate modeling and climate change. The study focused on 19 types of weapons in the possession of the five major nuclear powers. The team estimated how many bombs in each category of weapons would be able to cause a “nuclear drought.”

"The question is not if a nuclear drought can occur, but what factors increase its probability of occurring and what actions can be taken to mitigate the potentially devastating global impacts?" said Liska. 

The researchers determined that the United States, Russia and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chinas-loess-plateau-was-formed-by-wind-3/">China</a> each have weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles and land-based missiles, that could initiate a nuclear drought with the detonation of fewer than five bombs. China could trigger a nuclear drought with the launch of a single one of its 20 land-based missiles.

Oglesby explained that the black ash created by a nuclear explosion would cool temperatures at the Earth's surface, resulting in less temperature difference between the lower and upper atmosphere. Rainfall would drastically decline and thrust large regions across the globe into drought.

"If the ash reaches the stratosphere, many months could pass before it dissipates," Oglesby said.

Previous research has identified nuclear blasts capable of igniting a developed area roughly the size of Los Angeles. An event of this magnitude would shoot 5.5 million tons of ash and soot into the stratosphere. Rainfall could decrease by as much as 80 percent and temperatures would be the coldest they have been in hundreds of years. It would take at least five years for growing seasons to recover. 

"We're losing our memory of the Cold War and we're losing our memory of how important it is to get this right," said co-author Tyler White. "Even a conflict that doesn't involve the United States can impact us and people 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.unl.edu/">University of Nebraska</a>

Nuclear strike would cause severe climate change, drought, famine

Researchers from the University of Nebraska have evaluated the potential...

Researchers using high-resolution X-ray technology have been able to document the revolution of thinning seed coats, a major marker of domestication of seeds by humans.

"Seed coat thickness is a great indicator of domestication, as thinner coats will mean faster germination of a seed when it is watered," said Dorian Fuller of <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a>, co-author of the paper.

The researchers found evidence of seed coat thinning between 2,000 BC and 1,200 BC in the legume horsegram, a bean commonly eaten in southern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-crisis-india/">India</a>.

Using the high-resolution X-ray computed tomography technique (HRXCT) at the UK's synchrotron facility, <a href="http://www.diamond.ac.uk/">Diamond Light Source</a>, allowed researchers to measure thickness without breaking and destroying archaeological specimens.

"Being able to look at the seed coat thickness without breaking the sample is possible by other methods, but you can only look at a spot on the seed," said Charlene Murphy, co-author on the paper.

Researchers analysed 12 samples, putting the seeds into two distinct groups: thicker (wild type) seed coats, with averages thicknesses above 17 micrometres, and thinner (more domesticated) seed coats between 10 and 15 micrometers.

The findings show the potential for HRXCT to be used to look at a variety of domesticated grains and pulses, such as peas, the authors said.

"We're continuing to work with Diamond to look at other interesting archaeological seeds, and how they've become domesticated," said Fuller. "Peas are a great example of this - wild peas are ejected from their pods naturally, but domesticated peas only leave the pod when the cultivator removes them - a quite symbiotic relationship."

--

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.diamond.ac.uk/">Diamond Light Source</a>

Humans domesticated plant seeds thousands of years ago

Researchers using high-resolution X-ray technology have been able to document...

The habenular region of the brain is prompted by various internal and external activities and communicates with other organs in the body about how to respond. A new study reveals the role the habenular system plays in helping zebrafish regain control after becoming “frozen” with fear.

The habenular region is located in the forebrain and broadcasts information throughout the body. This set of structures is found in all vertebrate animals and outputs messages to regions of the midbrain that are responsible for the release of dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals regulate emotional responses and assist in motor control.

Researchers from the<a href="https://carnegiescience.edu/"> Carnegie Institute for Science</a> set out to observe the habenular regions of the brains of larval <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zebrafish-spinal-discs-repair/">zebrafish</a> while they responded to fear. Erik Duboué and Marnie Halpern led the team in the analysis.

The study used mild electric shock to make the zebrafish freeze in fear. The scientists noted that the fish relied on neurons in the left habenula to quickly resume normal swimming activity. The study showed that the function of the left and right habenulae are different when it comes to the experience and recovery from fear.

"The link between the asymmetrical nature of brain function and responses to fear or anxiety may be a general feature of the vertebrate brain," explained Halpern. 

The study, published in Current Biology, shows that the habenulae are critical in relaying messages within the brain. Previous research has associated the habenular system with pain and reward processing, anxiety, modulating sleep cycles, and more. This system has also been linked to depression and addiction.

One theory that has emerged from the study is that positive and negative stimuli are not processed the same by the left and right sides of the brain. Duboué will conduct further research to test this theory. 

--

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://carnegiescience.edu/">Carnegie Institute for Science</a>

How the brain overcomes fear and picks a course of action

The habenular region of the brain is prompted by various...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/effective-steps-battle-climate-change/">Climate change</a> is a current and gradually increasing problem for our planet, which is likely not news to you. But some of the consequences of climate change may catch you by surprise. When the air gets warmer, its density decreases. Air with less density (also known as “thin” air) makes it harder for airplanes to generate lift from their wings. Because of this, rising global temperatures due to climate change may actually make it harder for airplanes to take off in the not-to-distant future.

A new study in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10584">Climate Change</a> presents a global analysis that looked at how rising temperatures affect airplanes and airports. Researchers estimate that if our current emissions continue at this rate, fuel capacities and payload weights on airplanes may have to be reduced by as much as 4 percent on particularly hot days. For the average aircraft (roughly 160 seats), a 4 percent weight reduction is equal to about 12 to 13 passengers. Such temperature-related issues could cause major delays and travel headaches for airports and passengers in many countries.

Airplanes with lower temperature tolerances will also be at a greater risk for these problems, and airports located in hotter parts of the world with shorter runways or at high elevations will also see these issues exacerbated. For example, researches estimate that on LaGuardia’s short runways, a Boeing 737-800 may have to offload weight half of the time during New York’s hottest days.

“As the world gets more connected and aviation grows, there may be substantial potential for cascading effects, economic and otherwise,” says study coauthor Radley Horton, a climatologist at Columbia University.

Average global temperatures have risen nearly 1 degree Centigrade since 1980, and may already be having an effect on certain areas of the planet. Just this past June, American Airlines canceled more than 40 flights out of Phoenix when temperatures hit highs of almost 120 degrees. These high temperatures made it dangerous for smaller regional jets to take off.

Besides simple safety issues, this also negatively impacts the airline industry, which generally operates on a razor-thin margin to begin with. Modifications to airplane engines and body designs could help mitigate the heat problem, but they would come at great cost. This study just shows another example of how climate change has consequences that reach far across the planet and touch almost every part of our lives.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/">The Earth Institute at Columbia University</a>

Heat waves caused by climate change could disrupt airplanes

Climate change is a current and gradually increasing problem for...

A new study has found that the heavier mothers were during pregnancy, the higher the risk of behavioral problems in their sons.

However, the study, published in <a href="http://www.ajpmonline.org/">American Journal of Preventive Medicine</a>, did not find the same effects in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/males-females-depression-differently/">girls</a>.

"The study results suggest that early intervention with women to attain healthy weights before they become pregnant is critical to their health and the health of their future children," said senior investigator Barbara Abrams, of the <a href="http://berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a>.

According to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 out of every 100 women of childbearing age are severely obese.

Recent research has linked high maternal weight, before and during pregnancy, to child behavior and particularly to problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There may also be a link with problems such as depression. These problems can have negative effects on school performance and relationships with others.

Researchers used the U.S. National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 to investigate whether maternal pre-pregnancy body-mass index (BMI) is associated with behavioral problems among school-age children. 

Boys whose mothers entered pregnancy obese were at higher risk for behavior problems at ages 9-11 years, the study said. Boys whose mothers were underweight pre-pregnancy also showed higher risk for behavior problems. The study did not show the same effects in girls, and there were no differences for race.

"It is the first study to document gender differences, and one of a handful of studies to show that pre-pregnancy underweight, in addition to obesity, may be problematic," said investigator Juliana Deardorff, of UC Berkeley. "Future research should examine whether the gender differences reported here for ages 9-11 years persist into adolescence or shift as children get older."

--

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.elsevier.com/">Elsevier</a>

Study: Behavioral problems more likely in boys with obese mothers

A new study has found that the heavier mothers were...

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, may be more effective than traditional psychiatric therapies for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders, a new study found.

Researchers at <a href="http://www.tu.edu/">Touro University California</a> reviewed seven published psilocybin clinical trials and concluded that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy has strong potential in improving patient outcomes, particularly for those who haven’t responded to other treatments.

Patients can also show improvement after just a few six-hour “medicated” therapy sessions and a few weeks of follow-up therapy, the review found.

The studies all investigated the use of psilocybin in strictly controlled clinical conditions under the supervision of therapists and other health professionals.

“Additional studies are required to determine if psilocybin will be deemed safe and effective enough to gain FDA approval,” the researchers wrote. “While psilocybin’s clinical utility still remains uncertain, it should be investigated further to determine if this novel treatment paradigm has the potential to dramatically improve outcomes in patients with psychiatric disorders.”

As psychological and psychiatric researchers have gained greater access to brain imaging technologies, they are forming new hypotheses about the physiological roots of psychological disorders. One is the idea that major depression is rooted in atypical connections between regions of the brain that aren’t usually connected, which may in turn underlie the fixation and rumination on thoughts that characterizes depression.

Recent studies have found that psilocybin from mushrooms significantly affects connectivity among different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-training-no-affect-decision/">brain</a> regions. 

In most of the United States psilocybin is still classified as a Schedule I substance, meaning it has “a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision,” according to the<a href="https://www.dea.gov/index.shtml"> U.S.  Drug Enforcement Administration</a>.

Whether the DEA will take the most recent scientific data into account, remains to be seen, the authors said.

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ujpd20/current">Journal of Psychoactive Drugs</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="http://www.tu.edu/">Touro University California</a>

Ingredient in magic mushrooms could help psychiatric therapies

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, may be more...

Stress raises the chances that pregnant women exposed to toxic chemicals will have a low birth weight baby, a new study found.

"It appears that stress may amplify the health effects of toxic chemical exposure, which means that for some people, toxic chemicals become more toxic," said Tracey Woodruff, a <a href="http://berkeley.edu/">University of California - Berkeley</a> professor and lead author of the study.

This is the first study to examine the combined effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-low-doses-relieve-stress/">stress</a> and environmental toxic chemical exposures on fetal growth, researchers said.

High-stress pregnant women who smoked were about twice as likely to have a low birth weight baby as low-stress smokers, the study found. Stress was quantified by factors such as socioeconomic status or years of paternal education. 

The effects of air pollution on low birth weight were heightened when combined with stress, the researchers found. Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter, a type of air pollution, increased the risk of African-American women having a low birth weight baby compared to those who were white.

The study, published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>, was based on a systematic review of 17 human studies and 22 animal studies examining the links between chemicals, stress and fetal development.

"While the evidence on the combined effects of chemicals and stress is new and emerging, it is clearly suggestive of an important question of social justice," said co-author Rachel Morello-Frosch at UC Berkeley.

Poverty-related stress may make people more susceptible to the negative effects of environmental hazards, she said. 

"That needs to be a consideration for policymakers and regulators," Morello-Frosch said.

--

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://berkeley.edu/">University of California - Berkeley</a>

Stress amplifies the effects of toxic chemical exposure

Stress raises the chances that pregnant women exposed to toxic...

Scientists have developed assistive stairs for home use that absorb the user’s energy on the way down and return it to them while climbing up.

Researchers from <a href="http://www.mst.edu/">Missouri University of Science and Technology</a> and the <a href="http://www.gatech.edu/">Georgia Institute of Technology</a> say the new stairs could offer a less expensive and more practical alternative for people with reduced motor function who can negotiate stairs.

Existing alternatives such as elevators, stair lifts, and escalators are expensive and require a lot of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-blowhole-electricity-ocean/">energy</a>, researchers said. 

The prototype they developed uses latching springs to store energy during stair descent and then use it to make climbing stairs easier. It could reduce the metabolic energy expended in going up and down stairs while also lowering the pain from stress on muscles and joints, the authors said.

"Low-cost, easily-installed assistive stairs could be a way to allow people to retain their ability to use stairs and not move out of their homes," said Georgia Tech’s  Karen Liu, one of the researchers.

Further investigation is required, the authors said. The study was published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</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="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>

New energy-recycling stairs make climbing much easier

Scientists have developed assistive stairs for home use that absorb...

Nearly 90 percent of American households use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/summer-air-conditioning-pollution/">air conditioning</a> during the hot summer months. That’s understandable, but the planet pays a price. All of those air conditioners release 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere -- and that, of course, contributes to climate change. It can also overload the power grid when everyone is blasting their ACs full power. 

You’re not going to toss your air conditioner (and anyway, that burdens landfills and can leak hydrofluorocarbons). But there are ways you can reduce your reliance on window units or central air and save money -- without significantly increasing your discomfort. Here are a few tips.

Dress for the weather. Sure, you spend your downtime in shorts and flip flops. But how do you dress for work? Is your company old school when it comes to dress code? If the requirements are dress casual or even more formal, you might not be dressed for the weather. Tell your boss that the business could save on energy costs with a more relaxed summer dress code. If you’re the boss, comfortable attire could increase morale and boost productivity while cutting costs. Win win.

Don’t chill out. We’ve all seen (or been) restaurant diners bringing sweaters into the establishment during an August heat wave. Many homes and commercial spaces air condition well beyond the comfort needs of visitors and occupants. Try dropping your home or business thermostat setting a notch or two. Back off if you feel uncomfortable or others complain, but you just might save money and increase comfort with this easy step.

Use the heat cycle. It’s rarely uniformly warm on even the hottest summer days. It’s generally cooler early in the day and after the sun goes down. Can you use that time better? Dial up the AC and step out to do your gardening, walk the dog, cut the grass or run errands during these relatively cool dayparts.   

Hug a tree. Or at least get on a first name basis with a few. Trees strategically placed around your property can keep the radiant sun out of your house and cool your yard. Take a few ticks off of your AC setting at home and bring the kids to the park. Or sit in the shade with a book or a laptop to get some work done. Trees rock during the sweltering summer months.

‘Summerize’ your home. Make sure you have screens in place, then open windows and use or install ceiling fans to stir up whatever breezes can be found. Also, it might sound counterintuitive, but better insulating your home blocks the summer heat as well as it keeps the icy air out in the winter. Add plantings or window shades outside to reduce the sun’s impact.  All of these steps can help reduce the time you need your air conditioner or at least allow you to use it more efficiently. 

Stay temp aware. Is the AC running 24/7 simply because it’s summer and probably hot out? Find out if that’s true. Step outside or get a current temp reading on your phone. If you can adjust the AC setting or even turn it off altogether and open the windows you’ll save money while doing the planet a solid.  

--

Original Feature by <a href="mailto:DSearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How to keep cool while staying green this summer

Nearly 90 percent of American households use air conditioning during...

Rising temperatures that result from global warming may lead to major losses for the European wine industry. New research is shedding light on the potential impact of warmer weather in <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-western-mediterranean-sea/">Mediterranean</a> countries. The study reveals that labor and productivity could suffer as agricultural workers try to adjust to the heat.

Unlike most other major industries, the production of wine is still largely operated by manual workers. Because of this, experts believe the wine industry is likely to take a direct hit from the effects of global warming. The researchers set out to examine the influence of heat on the productivity and labor output of manual grape-picking workers in Cyprus to test this theory. These laborers work in temperatures that reach over 96 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The researchers used an innovative technique known as time-motion analysis to evaluate labor output and productivity of seven workers. Time-motion analysis is a reliable method of discovery, as it can account for every second spent by each worker during every shift.

The study established that hot summer temperatures coincided with labor loss up to 27 percent. The workers felt they were exerting more energy due to the impact of the heat on their metabolic and cardiovascular systems and labor output suffered as well. The hotter temperatures caused a need for irregular breaks, and the workers engaged in working activities for 15 percent less time. 

The findings of this study, published in the journal <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ktmp20">Temperature</a>, suggest that workplace heat is directly related to labor and productivity losses, particularly in European agricultural workers. The wine industry makes up 0.2% of all the goods and services produced worldwide, which means increased temperatures are a potential source of economic losses on a global scale.

The study is an unprecedented assessment of the impact of workplace heat on European agriculture workers. However, the authors express a need for expansion of this study to accurately predict the scope of global warming’s influence on agricultural laborers in the wine industry. Further research is needed that will include wine production workers in other countries.

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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="http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ktmp20">Temperature</a>

How global warming could severely hurt the European wine industry

Rising temperatures that result from global warming may lead to...

In teaching people about how to reduce their carbon footprints, governments and schools aren’t highlighting the most effective steps, according to a new study.

The four steps that most substantially decrease carbon footprint are eating a plant-based diet, avoiding air travel, living car-free, and having smaller families, the <a href="http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/">Lund University</a> study said.

However, many governments are still promoting strategies like comprehensive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-bottle-threatens-environment/">recycling</a>, which is four times less effective than a plant-based diet, or changing household light bulbs, the study said.

The research analyzed 39 peer-reviewed papers, carbon calculators, and government reports to develop the potential of a range of individual lifestyle choices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The researchers found that government resources from the EU, United States, Canada and Australia don’t highlight these actions, instead focussing on incremental changes with much smaller potential to reduce emissions.

"We recognize these are deeply personal choices,but we can't ignore the climate effect our lifestyle actually has,” study co-author Kimberly Nicholas said. “Personally, I've found it really positive to make many of these changes. It's especially important for young people establishing lifelong patterns to be aware which choices have the biggest impact.”

The authors hope the study “sparks discussion and empowers individuals," she added.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/erl">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

[caption id="attachment_718178" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/145043.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-718178" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/145043-300x175.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="175" /></a> Credit: Seth Wynes/Kimberly Nicholas, Environmental Research Letters, 2017[/caption]

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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.lunduniversity.lu.se/">Lund University</a>

Image: Seth Wynes/Kimberly Nicholas, Environmental Research Letters, 2017

The most effective individual steps to battle climate change

In teaching people about how to reduce their carbon footprints,...

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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



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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



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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 



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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



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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



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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



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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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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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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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...