The inclusion of fiber in the diet has been linked to a variety of health perks for decades. The body needs this essential nutrient to keep digestion running smoothly and maintain steady blood sugar levels.&nbsp;



Most experts recommend at least 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams for men, yet many adults in the United States barely reach half that goal. But there is more to this story than a happy belly or balanced glucose.&nbsp;



A recent study in Nature Metabolism shows that fiber may also leave a mark on our genes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-fiber-still-matters">Why fiber still matters</h2>



Fiber comes in many forms, from the crunchy stems of leafy greens to the chewy shells of beans and nuts. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/want-to-lose-weight-try-eating-more-protein-and-fiber/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dietary fiber</a> travels to the large intestine, where friendly bacteria feast on it.&nbsp;



This feast produces short-chain fatty acids, including propionate and butyrate, which have gained attention recently for their effects on gut health.



Researchers have been eager to see whether these acids from fibers impact genes beyond basic energy production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fiber-gut-and-fatty-acids">Fiber, gut, and fatty acids</h2>



The science behind short-chain fatty acids and genes has intrigued experts for years, and now <a href="https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/michael-snyder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Snyder</a>, Stanford B. Ascherman Professor of Genetics at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>, has shed more light on it through this project. 



His team traced the biological footprints of propionate and butyrate in both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fiber-rich-diets-reduce-antimicrobial-resistance-in-the-gut/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">normal cells</a> and cancer cells. 



The aim was to see how these acids might switch genes on or off in ways that influence the growth and survival of cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-fiber-impacts-genes-nbsp">How fiber impacts genes&nbsp;</h2>



Short-chain fatty acids are generated when gut microbes break down fiber. They move into the bloodstream and can reach different tissues.&nbsp;



The study found that propionate and butyrate attach to certain sites on histones - which are proteins that act like spools for DNA - causing direct modifications on genes related to cell division and cell death.



“We found a direct link between eating fiber and modulation of gene function that has anti-cancer effects,” said Snyder.



Instead of simply describing fiber’s link to good health, the researchers pinpointed the exact molecular changes behind those benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventing-uncontrolled-cell-growth">Preventing uncontrolled cell growth</h2>



Cancer often begins when cells lose their usual checks and balances. Normal cells are expected to grow, specialize, and sometimes self-destruct if there’s a problem.&nbsp;



When those processes go haywire, mutated cells can survive too long or multiply too fast. The study uncovered how certain chemical markers on genes for cell regulation might switch in a protective way when these short-chain fatty acids are around.



It is generally the case that people’s diets are very poor in fiber. Adjusting meal plans to include foods like beans, nuts, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/certain-vegetables-protect-us-from-illness-by-strengthening-the-lung-barrier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cruciferous vegetables</a>, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-one-avocado-each-day-can-add-years-to-your-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">avocados</a> may promote the production of more of these acids, potentially offering some defense against abnormal cell growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-gut-and-genes-might-need-more-fiber">Why gut and genes might need more fiber</h2>



A diet that skimps on fiber starves the microbes that produce these beneficial fatty acids. Low levels can reduce the supply of butyrate and propionate.



That could leave you short on important chemical signals that appear to help keep unwanted cellular behavior under control.&nbsp;



According to the <a href="https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/carbohydrates/fiber/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a>, most Americans only consume around 15 grams of fiber daily, which falls short of <a href="https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/carbohydrates/fiber/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recommended amounts</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-risk-and-fiber-s-gene-protective-role">Cancer risk and fiber’s gene-protective role</h2>



Colon cancer is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-cooking-oils-in-your-diet-may-be-linked-to-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">concern for many adults</a>. The <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Cancer Society</a> estimates that about 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with colon cancer at some point in their lifetime. 



This new study provides a window into how the byproducts of fiber breakdown might influence gene behavior in the colon, and possibly other tissues, in a helpful way.



“By identifying the gene targets of these important molecules we can understand how fiber exerts its beneficial effects,” said Snyder.&nbsp;



Although more work is needed to confirm how each type of fiber interacts with the gut and the rest of the body, this adds to growing evidence that diet and cancer risk are tightly woven together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connection-between-diet-gut-and-genes">Connection between diet, gut, and genes</h2>



The research highlights the importance of diet as a modulator of genetic signals. 



It also emphasizes potential opportunities for personalized strategies that combine better eating habits with therapies aimed at correcting harmful gene activity.&nbsp;



Many clinicians see fiber as a key feature of a balanced diet, and these findings may prompt more specific guidelines on how much and which types of fiber are most valuable for long-term health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-foods-can-boost-fiber-intake">What foods can boost fiber intake?</h2>



Whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes remain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ketogenic-diet-may-help-the-body-kill-cancer-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top options</a> for boosting your daily fiber count. Vegetables like Brussels sprouts and broccoli, as well as fruits such as raspberries, also offer generous amounts.&nbsp;



Even small shifts like opting for a whole-wheat tortilla instead of a white-flour tortilla can push your numbers up. 



For individuals who struggle to reach recommended targets, talking with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian can point the way to practical changes that nourish both you and your gut bacteria.



People sometimes balk at the thought of adding more plant-based foods to their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/which-dietary-changes-are-best-for-cancer-prevention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diet</a>. But a gradual introduction may help your gut adjust without uncomfortable bloating or gas.&nbsp;



Your digestive system, along with your genes, could benefit from these simple swaps, especially as ongoing research on fiber clarifies the links between short-chain fatty acids and various cellular pathways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-health-research">Future of health research</h2>



All signs suggest that fiber is more than just a helper for digestion. These insights about short-chain fatty acids may prompt further collaboration between nutrition science and genetics.&nbsp;



By paying attention to what our microbes need, we may discover fresh paths to protect our cells from harm. The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-024-01191-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Metabolism</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Eating enough fiber prevents cancer in a surprising way

The inclusion of fiber in the diet has been linked to a variety of health perks for decades. The body needs this essential nutrient to keep digestion running smoothly and maintain steady blood sugar levels.&nbsp; Most experts recommend at least 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams for men, yet many adults in the United States barely reach half that goal. But there is more to this story than a happy belly or balanced glucose.&nbsp; A recent study in Nature Metabolism shows that fiber may...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a>, experts set out to investigate whether neighborhood dynamics - such as trust and social connectedness - may have an effect on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-green-spaces-are-urgently-needed-to-improve-health/">health</a> outcomes of people who live by themselves. According to Pew Research Center, about 27 percent of Americans aged 60 and older live alone.



"The adverse effect of living alone on health has been well-documented in community-dwelling older adults. A less understood topic in this research area is whether some neighborhood characteristics may mitigate the negative impact of living alone on health outcomes and mortality," wrote the researchers.



"This study aimed to extend the existing work on living arrangements and health by examining the potential interactive effect of living alone and perceived neighborhood cohesion on all-cause mortality among older Chinese Americans."



The researchers found that among this particular group of older adults, strong neighborhood connections greatly reduced the risk of premature death associated with living alone.



“Older Chinese Americans who lived by themselves in neighborhoods with low cohesion were much more likely to die earlier than those who lived by themselves in neighborhoods with strong cohesion,” said study co-author Yanping Jiang.



For the investigation, the experts analyzed data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). The team examined whether the perception of trust and connection among neighbors had an impact on the risk of death.&nbsp;



The analysis revealed that participants who lived alone and reported low interaction or connection with their neighbors had a 48.5 percent increased risk of death compared to people who did not live alone. However, this increased risk of mortality was not found among participants who lived alone and reported strong cohesion with their neighborhood.



“Our findings show the particular challenges faced by older adults who live alone in communities with little interaction or connection,” said Jiang. “Enhancing neighborhood cohesion may be a promising way to reduce early death for older adults who live alone.”



The researchers noted that the public can play a role in improving community health by reaching out and being kind to neighbors, particularly those who live alone.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115568">Social Science &amp; Medicine</a>.



---



By <a href="http://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.

Neighbors can help reduce the health risks of living alone

In a new study from Rutgers University, experts set out...

Young <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/in-children-long-covid-symptoms-change-over-time/">children</a> can experience emotions very intensely and may express these in terms of tantrums and defiance. Between the ages of two and five, children develop the skills necessary for emotional self-regulation, including the capacity to calm themselves down when upset. However, when parents are faced with a distraught child who is screaming and fussing, they may reach for a mobile digital device, such as a smartphone or tablet, to distract the child and bring peace back into the arena. Although this may bring immediate relief to the upset child, its efficacy as a long-term solution has not been tested.&nbsp;



A study conducted by researchers at <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/">Michigan Medicine</a>, University of Michigan, has now investigated the bidirectional relationships between using digital devices to soothe young children, and the levels of executive function and emotional reactivity in those children. The study involved 422 parents or caregivers, each one with a child aged between 3 and 5 years. Baseline data collection took place between August 2018 and January 2020, and was followed for each child by subsequent surveys after 3 months and 6 months.&nbsp;



Executive functioning involves a set of mental processes that a person needs in order to assess and control their own behavior, and to ensure that it achieves the desired goal. These cognitive skills develop over time in young children, in tandem with the development of the frontal lobe of the brain. Deficits in executive function manifest in poor impulse control, hyperactivity, inability to pay attention and difficulty in following instructions.&nbsp;



Emotion regulation, in contrast, refers to a person’s ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences and unexpected emotional challenges that occur throughout the day. In this study it included both a measure of the child’s propensity to emotional reactivity and the child’s capacity to calm down when upset.&nbsp;



Parents answered questions online about their use of digital devices to calm their child. In particular, they were asked “When your child is upset and needs calming down, how likely are you to give him/her a mobile device to use, like a smartphone or tablet?”&nbsp;Parents responded on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all likely) to 4 (very likely). In addition, parents rated their child’s levels of executive function and emotional reactivity using standard psychometric tools for preschoolers.&nbsp;



The results of the analysis, published in the JAMA Pediatrics, suggest that, even at the time that baseline data were collected, there were links between the use of digital devices for calming, and the child’s executive function and emotional reactivity. This pattern continued in the data after the first three months, and after the six-month survey. The relationship was stronger when emotional regulation was associated with device use for calming. The researchers found that the relationship was bidirectional – higher emotional reactivity in children was associated with an increased use of devices for calming purposes, and an increased use of devices for calming was associated with higher emotional reactivity in children.



“Using mobile devices to settle down a young child may seem like a harmless, temporary tool to reduce stress in the household, but there may be long term consequences if it’s a regular go-to soothing strategy,” said lead author Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. “Particularly in early childhood, devices may displace opportunities for development of independent and alternative methods to self-regulate."



The association was particularly marked in boys and in children with a tendency to show hyperactivity, impulsiveness and a strong temperament (surgency); these traits tend to make children more likely to react intensely to feelings like anger, frustration and sadness. In these two groups, frequent use of digital devices as a calming tool was associated with symptoms of emotional reactivity or dysregulation over the six-month period. Signs of increased dysregulation could include rapid shifts between sadness and excitement, a sudden change in mood or feelings and heightened impulsivity.



“Our findings suggest that using devices as a way to appease agitated children may especially be problematic to those who already struggle with emotional coping skills,” said Dr. Radesky.



And it may be particularly the parents of these children who are most likely to turn to digital devices to soothe their children. The preschool period is already a developmental stage when children may be more likely to exhibit difficult behaviors, such as tantrums, defiance and intense emotions, making this an especially difficult time for children who already struggle with self-regulation.&nbsp;



“Caregivers may experience immediate relief from using devices if they quickly and effectively reduce children’s negative and challenging behaviors,” said Dr. Radesky. “This feels rewarding to both parents and children and can motivate them both to maintain this cycle.”



“The habit of using devices to manage difficult behavior strengthens over time as children’s media demands strengthen as well. The more often devices are used, the less practice children - and their parents - get to use other coping strategies."



It may be tempting for parents to use videos, apps, or photographs on a device to distract a young child during moments of distress. However, the results of the current study suggest that, if used frequently, this tactic may end up making childrens’ own emotion-regulation skills worse over time. Radesky, who is a mother of two herself, acknowledges that there are times when parents may strategically use devices to distract children, such as during travel or when multitasking with work. While occasional use of media to occupy children is expected and realistic, it is important for it not to become a primary or regular soothing tool.



Among solutions Radesky recommends as alternatives to a digital device are:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Sensory techniques:&nbsp;Young kids have their own unique profiles of what types of sensory inputs calm them down. This could include swinging, hugging or pressure, jumping on a trampoline, squishing putty in their hands, listening to music or looking at a book or sparkle jar. If you see your child getting antsy, channel that energy into body movement or sensory approaches.</li><li>Name the emotion and what to do about it:&nbsp;When parents label what they think their child is feeling, they both help the child connect language to emotions and also show the child that they are understood. The more parents can stay calm, the more they can show kids that emotions are “mentionable and manageable,” as Mister Rogers used to say.</li><li>Use color zones:&nbsp;When children are young, they have a hard time thinking about abstract and complicated concepts like emotions. Color zones (blue for bored, green for calm, yellow for anxious/agitated, red for explosive) are easier for kids to understand. Color zones can be made into a visual guide kept on the fridge, and will help young children paint a mental picture of how their brain and body are feeling. Parents can use these color zones in challenging moments (“You are getting wiggly and in the yellow zone – what can you do to get back to green?”)</li><li>Offer replacement behaviors:&nbsp;Kids can show some pretty negative behaviors when they are upset, and it’s a normal instinct to want it to just stop. But those behaviors are communicating emotions – so kids might need to be taught a safer or more problem-solving replacement behavior to do instead. This might include teaching a sensory strategy (“Hitting hurts people; you can hit this pillow instead”) or clearer communication (“If you want my attention, just tap my arm and say 'excuse me, mom.'”)</li></ul>



“All of these solutions help children understand themselves better, and feel more competent at managing their feelings,” said Dr. Radesky. “It takes repetition by a caregiver who also needs to try to stay calm and not overreact to the child’s emotions, but it helps build emotion regulation skills that last a lifetime.”



“In contrast, using a distractor like a mobile device doesn’t teach a skill – it just distracts the child away from how they are feeling. Kids who don’t build these skills in early childhood are more likely to struggle when stressed out in school, or with peers, as they get older."



---



By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</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.

Mobile devices may soothe children, but with consequences

Young children can experience emotions very intensely and may express...

A,View,Of,A,Meteor,Shower,And,The,Milky,Way

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-spectacular-geminid-meteor-shower-peaks-tonight/">Geminid meteor shower</a> occurs every year between late November and end of December, providing a spectacular celestial event for passionate stargazers. This year, the shower will peak on December 13 and 14, with up to 150 meteors expected to be visible each other during these two nights. Unfortunately, a bright moon may make the shooting stars more difficult to spot.&nbsp;



Unlike most meteors that we can notice from Earth, which are debris emerging from comets, the Geminids come from a rather small asteroid called 3200 Phaeton, which was first discovered by scientists in 1983, and has a comet-like orbit, leading many astronomers argue that it may in fact be a “dead comet” or a new type of “rock comet.”



The meteors, which are small pieces of debris from this strange asteroid, will appear to radiate from close to the star Castor in the constellation Gemini. Their glow is caused by friction with the upper atmosphere that heats them up, causing the air around them to shine brightly.



According to experts from the <a href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory">Royal Observatory</a> in Greenwich, the Geminids are quite unusual, and different from other meteors, since they can be multi-colored (white, yellow, green, red, and blue). These colors are mainly caused by the presence of traces of metals such as sodium and calcium – much like what makes fireworks colorful. Moreover, the Geminids also have a slower closing speed than many other meteors emanating from comets, as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere at an angle, travelling at about 79,200 miles per hour.



&nbsp;“For the best chances to spot the Geminids, find a dark area of clear sky and allow around 20 minutes to let your eyes adapt to the dark,” said Anna Gammon-Ross, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory. “It may also be advisable to lie down as you may be looking up for a long time.”



&nbsp;“Unfortunately, the waning gibbous moon will make it trickier to see the meteors during the peak night this year. The gibbous phases are when the near side of the moon is over halfway lit up by the Sun, meaning it will appear very bright in our skies. This will make it difficult to see any other celestial objects nearby,” she concluded.



—-



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</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.

Geminid shower set to shoot 150 meteors per hour at its peak

The Geminid meteor shower occurs every year between late November...

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a nervous-system related health condition which most frequently affects young women of childbearing age. It is characterized by a rapid increase in heartbeat by over 30 beats per minute, or a heart rate exceeding 120 beats per minute, within about 10 minutes of standing. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or fainting, and - in patients with severe disease – migraines, increased urination, anxiety, sweaty extremities, and tremors. Effective interventions against this disease include avoiding triggers such as prolonged standing, extreme temperatures, or alcohol.



Now, a study led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cedars-sinai.org/programs/heart.html">Smidt Heart Institute</a>&nbsp;at Cedars-Sinai&nbsp;has found that a small percentage of patients vaccinated against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/china-may-trigger-the-deadliest-wave-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/">Covid-19</a> may develop this condition. However, the experts have also discovered that those diagnosed with Covid-19 are five times more likely to develop POTS after infection then after vaccination - a finding emphasizing the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines against post-infection heart conditions.



“The main message here is that while we see a potential link between Covid-19 vaccination and POTS, preventing Covid-19 through vaccination is still the best way to reduce your risk of developing POTS,” said study lead author Alan Kwan, a cardiovascular specialist at Cedars-Sinai.



The scientists analyzed data from 284,592 vaccinated patients treated within the broader Cedars-Sinai Health System from 2020 to 2022, as well as 12,460 patients that had Covid-19. “From this analysis, we found that the odds of developing POTS are higher 90 days after vaccine exposure than the 90 days prior to exposure,” said Kwan. “We also found that the relative odds of POTS were higher than would be explained by increases in visits to physicians after vaccination or infection.”



While these findings identify a possible, yet rare, associated between Covid-19 vaccination and POTS, the rates of POTS after vaccination were much lower than after SARS-CoV-2 infections. Moreover, since before the pandemic this condition was quite difficult to diagnose, in an unexpected but important way, the pandemic increased awareness of POTS, both to patients and healthcare providers.&nbsp;



“Given a broader understanding of the disease, many patients can be diagnosed more quickly permitting earlier interventions that can greatly improve their symptoms,” explained study co-author Peng-Sheng Chen, an expert in POTS who leads of the few clinics in the country specializing in this condition.



“We recognize as clinicians that side effects from vaccines can vary in type and severity, even if still uncommon overall. We hope that clearer data and improved understanding will eventually enhance medical trust and quality of care as well as communications around vaccines. Ultimately, our goal is to optimize vaccine uptake,” Kwan concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44161-022-00177-8">Nature Cardiovascular Research</a>.&nbsp;



—-



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</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.

Covid-19 increases the risk of developing heart conditions

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a nervous-system related health...

As food systems in the United States become more complex and interconnected, products such as beef often impact the environment in unpredictable ways. Now, a team of scientists from the <a href="https://www.pitt.edu/">University of Pittsburgh</a> has found that, although <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-supply-from-icy-mountains-will-become-less-reliable/">water</a> is needed throughout the entire food supply, the beef industry is the least efficient in using it.



The experts designed a model to investigate the beef industry’s impact on virtual water flows – the hidden movement of water in food production – by tracing supply chains from calf production to beef consumption across the entire U.S.



“Understanding beef demands and the spatial distribution of both feed and cattle production are key for evaluating the environmental sustainability of food systems and developing improvement strategies,” said Vikas Khanna, a civil and environmental engineer at Pittsburgh.&nbsp;



Scientists have long known that all food production requires vast amounts of water, most of it used to produce feed. The irrigation process for feed requires water found in surface and ground reservoirs (so-called “blue water”).&nbsp;However, using this type of water exclusively can lead to environmental problems such as water depletion, soil degradation, or salinization.



By using an optimization-based framework and datasets on supply and demand, the researchers discovered a marked disconnect between consumption and production counties, with over 22 billion cubic meters of blue water transferred in 2017 alone (thus, a higher quantity than the Great Salt Lake, which has about 19 billion cubic meters of water).



“Typically, real-world networks have a skewed degree of distributions with few connected intersections. We observed this in our network as the majority of counties have few connections, while a small number of counties have a large number of connections,” Khanna explained.



&nbsp;“This research reflects the complexity of environmental systems and how important it is to take that complexity into account with a systems perspective,” added Bruce Hamilton, a program director in National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Engineering.&nbsp;



In the future, the scientists aim to apply this framework to better understand the environmental impacts of other animal-based production practices, and to identify opportunities for improvement.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://beta.nsf.gov/now-leaving-b6080ec977d9f697b9b745cc03?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpubs.acs.org%2Fdoi%2F10.1021%2Facs.est.2c03986&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbeta.nsf.gov%2Fnews%2Fimpact-us-beef-network-water-resources%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery">Environmental Science and Technology</a>.



—-



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</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.

US beef industry is inefficient in using water resources

As food systems in the United States become more complex...

A team of researchers led by the <a href="http://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> (UW) has measured the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-reduces-sleep-quality-elevates-disease-risk/">sleep</a> patterns of students and found that the participants fell asleep later in the evening and woke up later in the morning during winter, when daylight hours are limited and the skies are usually overcast. According to the experts, this phenomenon happens because in winter, people receive less light exposure during the day.



“Our bodies have a natural circadian clock that tells us when to go to sleep at night,” said senior author&nbsp;Horacio de la Iglesia, a professor of Biology at UW. “If you do not get enough exposure to light during the day when the sun is out, that ‘delays’ your clock and pushes back the onset of sleep at night.”



The scientists used wrist monitors to examine the sleep patterns and light exposure of 507 UW undergraduate students from 2015 to 2018. While the analysis showed that students were getting about the same amount of sleep each night regardless of the season, on school days in winter, they were going to sleep on average 35 minutes later and waking up 27 minutes later than during summer – a rather surprising discovery.



“We were expecting that in the summer students would be up later due to all the light that’s available during that season,” said de la Iglesia. However, something in the winter appeared to be “pushing back” the students’ circadian cycles. For most humans, the innate circadian cycle governing when we are awake and when we sleep runs at approximately 24 hours and 20 minutes, and is calibrated by environmental inputs. This study revealed that the participants’ circadian cycles were running nearly 40 minutes later in winter than in summer.



While light appeared to play a major role in this phenomenon, the researchers stressed that light has different effects on circadian rhythms at different times of the day. “Light during the day — especially in the morning — advances your clock, so you get tired earlier in the evening, but light exposure late in the day or early night will delay your clock, pushing back the time that you will feel tired,” said de la Iglesia. “Ultimately, the time that you fall asleep is a result of the push and pull between these opposite effects of light exposure at different times of the day.”



According to the scientists, while each hour of daytime light moved up the participants’ circadian phases by 30 minutes, each hour of artificial evening light delayed circadian phases by an average of 15 minutes.



“Many of us live in cities and towns with lots of artificial light and lifestyles that keep us indoors during the day. What this study shows is that we need to get out — even for a little while and especially in the morning — to get that natural light exposure. In the evening, minimize screen time and artificial lighting to help us fall asleep,” de la Iglesia advised.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12843">Journal of Pineal Research</a>.&nbsp;



—-



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</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.

Exposure to daylight leads to better sleep

A team of researchers led by the University of Washington...

During war, factories often retool to support the needs of the combatants. For instance, assembly lines change course from producing car parts to machine guns, or from building washing machines to aircraft engines. According to a new study led by <a href="https://duke.edu/">Duke University</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-have-a-memory-of-drought/">plants</a> are capable of shifting from peacetime to wartime production too.



Plants are frequently under attack from viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. Each year, over 15 percent of crop yields are lost to bacterial and fungal diseases, costing the global economy about $220 billion. However, when a plant senses an imminent microbial invasion, it makes radical changes in the composition of its proteins to help them fight the invaders.



Since, unlike animals, plants do not have specialized immune cells which can travel through the bloodstream to the site of the infection, each plant cell needs to be able to stand and fight for itself, quickly shifting into battle mode. When microorganism attack, cell plants rapidly change their priorities from growth to defense, by starting to synthesize new proteins while suppressing the production of others.



To build a new protein, genetic instructions in the DNA packed inside a cell’s nucleus are translated into mRNA, which then travels to the cytoplasm, where ribosomes “read” the message and translate it into a protein. The scientists found that, when plants are infected, certain mRNA molecules are translated into proteins faster than others. These proteins have in common a region at the front end of the RNA strand with recurring letters in its genetic code, where the nucleotide bases adenine and guanine repeat themselves. This region works with other structures within the cell to activate “wartime” protein production.



Thus, when plants detect a pathogen attack, the molecular signposts responsible for signaling the usual starting point for ribosomes to land on and read the mRNA are removed, stopping the cells from making their typical “peacetime” proteins, and use instead the region of recuring adenine and guanine nucleotides for docking. “They basically take a shortcut,” explained study senior author Xinnian Dong, a distinguished professor of Biology at Duke.



These processes turn fighting infection into a balancing act for plants. When they allocate more resources for defense, less will be available for photosynthesis and other activities, which can often lead to collateral damage, causing plants with over-active immune systems to suffer stunted growth.



Further research is needed to clarify how plants strike this delicate balance in order for scientists to find new ways to engineer disease-resistant crops without compromising yields.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.06.037">Cell</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer&nbsp;&nbsp;

Plants reprogram their cells to fight pathogens

During war, factories often retool to support the needs of...

People who drink black tea on a frequent basis may lower their risk of mortality by as much as 13 percent, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/">National Institutes of Health</a>. The experts found that the reduced mortality risk was greatest among individuals who drank two or more cups of black tea per day.



Previous studies have suggested that both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-tea-compound-may-be-a-powerful-weapon-against-cancer/">green tea</a> and coffee have similar health benefits. While the exact mechanisms, remain unclear, green tea and coffee seem to reduce mortality by preventing chronic diseases.



"Tea is frequently consumed worldwide, but the association of tea drinking with mortality risk remains inconclusive in populations where black tea is the main type consumed," wrote the NIH researchers. "In contrast, published studies in populations where black tea drinking is more common are limited with inconsistent findings."



To investigate, study lead author Dr. Maki Inoue-Choi and colleagues set out to evaluate the associations of tea consumption with all-cause mortality. The team also wanted to examine whether common tea additives (milk and sugar) or genetic variants affect the rate at which people metabolize caffeine.



The study was focused on nearly half a million men and women aged 40 to 69 years who participated in the U.K. Biobank. Among these individuals, 85 percent reported drinking tea on a regular basis, and 89 percent of the frequent tea drinkers reported drinking black tea.&nbsp;



An analysis of the data revealed that individuals who drank two or more cups of black tea each day had a 9 to 13 percent lower risk of premature death from all causes. These health benefits were found regardless of added sugar and other factors that may influence caffeine metabolism.&nbsp;



"Higher tea intake was associated with lower mortality risk among those drinking two or more cups per day, regardless of genetic variation in caffeine metabolism," wrote the researchers. "These findings suggest that tea, even at higher levels of intake, can be part of a healthy diet."



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.acpjournals.org/journal/aim">Annals of Internal Medicine</a>.



---



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

Drinking black tea lowers mortality risk from all causes

People who drink black tea on a frequent basis may...

Experts have discovered that in tropical climates like that of Singapore, even a small drop in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/temperature-tolerance-has-co-evolved-with-sexual-selection/">temperature</a> increases the risk of heart attack among older adults over the age of 65. The experts set out to investigate how temperature changes may influence a specific type of myocardial infarction, which is the medical term for a heart attack.



"Myocardial infarction is an important cause of cardiovascular mortality and can be precipitated by climatic factors. The temperature dependence of myocardial infarction risk has been well examined in temperate settings. Fewer studies have investigated this in the tropics where thermal amplitudes are narrower," wrote the researchers.



Study co-senior author Professor Marcus Ong is the director of the Health Services &amp; Systems Research Programme and the Pre-hospital &amp; Emergency Research Centre (PERC) at <a href="https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/">Duke-NUS Medical School</a>.



“Using 10 years of nationally collected data, we found strong evidence that a drop of 1°C in ambient temperature increased the risk of a type of acute myocardial infarction in the population by 12 per cent,” said Professor Ong. “Furthermore, people aged 65 and above appeared to be about 20 per cent more vulnerable to cooler temperatures compared to younger people."



The researchers analyzed daily patient records from the Singapore Myocardial Infarction Registry. The team identified patients who experienced a type of acute heart attack that happens when a blood vessel feeding the heart becomes partially blocked, known as a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).&nbsp;



Overall, the team compared 60,643 cases of NSTEMI to corresponding weather data from 2009 and 2018. The analysis revealed that cooler ambient temperatures were independently associated with an increased risk of NSTEMI up to 10 days after a temperature drop.&nbsp;



“Our study found that even in a relatively warm part of the world, cooler ambient temperatures increased the risk of heart attacks,” said study first author Dr. Andrew Ho. “This improves our understanding that deviations from the temperature that one is used to can lead to harmful bodily stress. Consistent with our previous studies that showed that the elderly were more susceptible to environmental stressors including air pollution, we found some evidence that this group of individuals were at greater risk of heart attacks at cooler temperatures."



“There are several individual-level risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but none are as widely experienced as weather patterns,” said study co-senior author Dr Joel Aik. “Daily weather variations have the capacity to trigger cardiovascular disease events in at-risk individuals, with particular implications for Singapore’s ageing population. In the context of climate change, these findings highlight a risk factor of substantial public health concern.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158010">Science of The Total Environment</a>.



---



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

Cold spells in tropical climates increase heart attack risk

Experts have discovered that in tropical climates like that of...

Many people worldwide are experiencing repeat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sars-cov-2-can-survive-on-frozen-meat-for-up-to-a-month/">SARS-CoV-2</a> infections, but the health risks associated with these reinfections have remained unclear. Now,&nbsp; a team of researchers led by <a href="https://wustl.edu/">Washington University in St. Louis</a> has found that repeated COVID-19 infections increase the risk of organ failure and death.



“During the past few months, there’s been an air of invincibility among people who have had COVID-19 or their vaccinations and boosters, and especially among people who have had an infection and also received vaccines; some people started to referring to these individuals as having a sort of superimmunity to the virus,” said study senior author Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly.&nbsp;



“Without ambiguity, our research showed that getting an infection a second, third or fourth time contributes to additional health risks in the acute phase, meaning the first 30 days after infection, and in the months beyond, meaning the long COVID phase.”



The results of the study also indicate that the risk seems to increase with each infection. “This means that even if you’ve had two COVID-19 infections, it’s better to avoid a third. And if you’ve had three infections, it’s best to avoid the fourth.”



Dr. Al-Aly emphasized that limiting exposure to the virus is especially important as the U.S. heads into the winter months, with new variants emerging, mutating and already causing an upswing in infections in some parts of the country.



“People should do their best to prevent repeat infections by masking, for example, getting all of their eligible boosters, staying home when sick. Also, get a flu shot to prevent illness. We really need to do our best to reduce the chance we will have a twin-demic of both COVID-19 and the flu this winter season.”



For the investigation, the researchers analyzed 5.8 million medical records in a database maintained by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The team used statistical modeling to assess the health risks of COVID-19 reinfections within the first 30 days after contracting the virus, and then up to six months later.



The analysis revealed that people with COVID-19 reinfections were twice as likely to die and three times more likely to require hospitalization.&nbsp;



Furthermore, patients with repeat infections were 3.5 times more likely to develop lung problems, three times more likely to suffer heart conditions and 1.6 times more likely to experience brain conditions.



“Our findings have broad public health implications as they tell us that strategies to prevent or reduce the risk of reinfection should be implemented,” said Dr. Al-Aly. “Going into the winter season, people should be aware of the risks and practice vigilance to reduce their risk of infection or reinfection with SARS-CoV-2.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02051-3">Nature Medicine</a>.



---



By <a href="http://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.

COVID-19 reinfection increases the risk of fatal complications

Many people worldwide are experiencing repeat SARS-CoV-2 infections, but the...

Seasonal changes in leaf cover have a big impact on the local climate in forested <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-animals-bigger-on-the-rainy-side-of-the-mountain/">mountain</a> regions, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/">University of Tsukuba</a>.



"Nocturnal temperature inversion (NTI) is an important factor characterizing the local climate in mountainous areas. In central Japan, most of the mountain slopes are covered by forests, but the effects of their leaf expansion/fall on the NTI variations in basins have not been clarified," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



Since the forest canopy shields the forest floor from sunlight and reduces temperature variations throughout the day, the effects may also alter the surrounding climate at night.



"However, previous studies have not fully considered the contribution of mountain forests to the nocturnal local climate in downstream areas," said study senior author Professor Kenichi Ueno. "This is what we set out to investigate."



In particular, the researchers wanted to examine how leaf expansion may influence nocturnal temperature inversion (NTI) in mountain basins. Leaf expansion refers to the stage in deciduous plants when leaves expand from buds to mature leaves.



The researchers conducted a three-year study of leaf area index (LAI) on a forested mountain slope site in a small basin. The team observed sudden shifts in the development of the nighttime cold-air pool over the basin that were related to leaf expansion and leaf fall.&nbsp;



"Our results indicated that changeability in daytime forest heat storage can offset nighttime radiative cooling from the forest canopy," explained Professor Ueno. "In short, our research has revealed that the cycle of tree leaf growth and leaf shedding in mountain forests has an observable effect on the local climate."



"The estimated timings of leaf expansion/fall at the catchment scale based on the effective cumulative temperature almost coincided with the NTI changes," wrote the researchers. "Micrometeorology observations showed that NTI at the forest floor and downslope winds at the adjacent grassland strengthened during the dormant (leafless) season in the nighttime when the radiative cooling is strong."



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/jmsj">Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan</a>.



---



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

Leaf cover affects the climate in mountain forests

Seasonal changes in leaf cover have a big impact on...

A new study led by <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a> may finally settle a long-standing debate over what caused five major mass extinctions, including the event that ultimately wiped out the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-impact-crater-dates-back-to-the-end-of-the-dinosaurs/">dinosaurs</a>. While some scientists argue that mass extinctions were the result of comet or asteroid impacts, the new study supports the theory that volcanic activity was the key driver of the biggest extinction events in Earth's history.



According to the researchers, four of the five mass extinctions are contemporaneous with a type of volcanic outpouring called a flood basalt. These eruptions are known to flood vast areas, even entire continents, leaving behind what scientists refer to as “large igneous provinces.”&nbsp;



To fit into this category, a large igneous province must contain at least 100,000 cubic kilometers of magma.&nbsp;



As a point of reference, the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens involved less than one cubic kilometer of magma. Most of the volcanoes represented in the study erupted on the order of a million times more lava than that, noted the researchers.



“The large step-like areas of igneous rock from these big volcanic eruptions seem to line up in time with mass extinctions and other significant climatic and environmental events,” said study lead author Theodore Green.



For example, the Deccan Traps is a large igneous province in west-central India that dates back to the time when dinosaurs were wiped out 66 million years ago, which is also the same time that the Chicxulub impact crater was formed.&nbsp;



“All other theories that attempted to explain what killed the dinosaurs, including volcanism, got steamrolled when the Chicxulub impact crater was discovered,” said study co-author Professor Brenhin Keller. However, he noted that there's very little evidence of similar impact events that coincide with the other mass extinctions despite decades of exploration.



In collaboration with study co-author Professor Paul Renne, the researchers set out to quantify the apparent link between volcanic eruptions and extinctions. They discovered that this link was far greater than it would be by random chance.&nbsp;



“While it is difficult to determine if a particular volcanic outburst caused one particular mass extinction, our results make it hard to ignore the role of volcanism in extinction,” said Professor Keller.&nbsp;



“Our results indicate that in all likelihood there would have been a mass extinction at the Cretaceous tertiary boundary of some significant magnitude, regardless of whether there was an impact or not, which can be shown more quantitatively now,” said Professor Renne. “The fact that there was an impact undoubtedly made things worse.”



Green explained that the eruption rate of the Deccan Traps in India suggests that the stage was set for widespread extinction even without the asteroid. The impact was the double whammy that loudly sounded the death knell for the dinosaurs, he said.



“While the total amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere in modern climate change is still very much smaller than the amount emitted by a large igneous province, thankfully, we’re emitting it very fast, which is reason to be concerned," said Professor Keller.



Green pointed out that carbon dioxide emissions are uncomfortably similar to the rate of the environmentally impactful flood basalts they studied. He said that this places climate change in the framework of historical periods of environmental catastrophe.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



---



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

Volcanoes were the key driver of Earth's mass extinctions

A new study led by Dartmouth College may finally settle...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River.



In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;



According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;



Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. 



Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.



Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. 



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



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.

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.



“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. 



The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.



“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;



“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”



The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



---



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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes the first comprehensive estimate of carbon density in the Saharan, Sahel, and Sudanian zones of Africa. In an effort to measure the amount of carbon stored across these drylands, a team of scientists used high-resolution satellite images and artificial intelligence to map nearly 10 billion individual trees. 



"The high spatial resolution (50 cm) combined with AI and field measurements used in this study is key to improving tree inventories in drylands," said Pierre Hiernaux, a French researcher working for NASA. "The ever-increasing availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery will make it possible to assess carbon pools and their dynamics at the individual tree level on a global scale."



"This study is exceptional because it is pioneering a type of approach that will revolutionize the monitoring of trees and forests on a global scale: in the short term, it will be possible to map the world's trees from the centre of the Amazon to our schoolyards," said <a href="https://www.inrae.fr/en">INRAE</a> researcher Jean-Pierre Wigneron.



"Many fields of application will become much more efficient and accurate, such as tracking carbon stocks, biodiversity, monitoring logging and protection against illegal forest degradation, in near real time.”



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



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.

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> features a visual dataset of.methane emissions from wetlands across the globe. Atmospheric methane levels have reached record highs in recent years, and wetlands are a major source of these emissions.&nbsp;



"Methane is an important greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. On a molecule by molecule basis, methane is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the main driver of warming," says NASA.



"Though human activities, including agriculture, oil and natural gas production and use, and waste disposal, collectively contribute the majority of methane to the atmosphere, about a third of total methane emissions comes from wetlands."&nbsp;



According to NASA, understanding methane emissions from wetlands and other natural sources is critically important for scientists and policymakers who are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions from human activities.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes why experts are studying zebrafish to gain a better understanding of how the immune system responds to injury. Zebrafish have the ability to repair and regenerate organs.



“Organ regeneration offers an exciting opportunity for studying the immune system and to inquire why some species can regenerate organs like the heart or missing limbs while others like humans cannot,” explained Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski.



Zebrafish sensory organ hair cells are an ideal system to investigate the pathways and cell types involved in regeneration since they are easily destroyed with antibiotics and begin regenerating within five hours. This enabled the researchers to identify the exact timing and genetic programs for each anti-inflammatory macrophage activation state.&nbsp;



“Our hypothesis is that human macrophages do not receive the proper chemical activation 'cocktail' to instruct pro-regenerative processes,” said Dr. Nicolas Denans. “Identifying the molecular recipe of macrophage activation in zebrafish may one day enable us to design regenerative immunotherapies in humans.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“The new evidence is a valuable resource for comparative studies on the genetic programs involved in macrophage-mediated repair and regeneration. In other words, different types of injuries may induce different kinds of inflammatory responses. We want to decipher whether this 'language' is universal or if there are a variety of dialects."



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



---



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 the immune system responds to injury

[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Stowers...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how record-breaking heat expressed itself around the world in 2022.



Scientists have determined that 2022 was the 5th warmest year since 1880. Furthermore, the last nine consecutive years have been the warmest on record.



From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;



"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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.

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



---



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...