New research reveals a potential link between diabetes drugs and a reduced risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.



According to a recent study published by the American Academy of Neurology, certain diabetes drugs may significantly lower the risk of diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diabetes-medications-and-neuroprotection">Diabetes medications and neuroprotection</h2>



The prime focus of the study was a class of diabetes drugs known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, or SGLT2 inhibitors. 



These gliflozins play an essential role in maintaining <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-become-hangry-when-their-blood-sugar-is-low/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blood sugar</a> levels. They achieve this by prompting the kidneys to dispel <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-sugar-sources-are-key-to-preventing-childhood-obesity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sugar</a> from the body through urination.



Dr. Minyoung Lee of <a href="https://medicine.yonsei.ac.kr/medicine-en/index.do" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yonsei University College of Medicine</a> in South Korea emphasized the significance of the research.



“We know that these neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s disease are common, and the number of cases is growing as the population ages, and people with diabetes are at increased risk of cognitive impairment, so it’s encouraging to see that this class of drugs may provide some protection,” said Dr. Lee.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comparing-diabetes-medications">Comparing diabetes medications</h2>



The researchers took a retrospective approach, analyzing individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who started diabetes medication between 2014 and 2019 in South Korea.



Participants were segregated into two groups. One group was administered SGLT2 inhibitors, while the other was given alternative oral diabetes medications. 



Over a period of roughly two years for the SGLT2 group and four years for the other group, the researchers tracked whether the participants developed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dementia-was-extremely-rare-in-ancient-times-so-why-is-it-now-so-prevalent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dementia</a> or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-plays-an-unexpected-role-in-movement-and-parkinsons-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parkinson's disease</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-incidence-rates-of-dementia-and-parkinson-s">Incidence rates of dementia and Parkinson’s </h2>



Among the 358,862 participants, who had an average age of 58, a total of 6,837 developed dementia or Parkinson’s disease during the study period. The incidence rates differed significantly across both groups.



For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-disease-earliest-biomarker-protein-psd-95-identified/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer's disease</a>, those taking SGLT2 inhibitors had an incidence rate of 39.7 cases per 10,000 person-years. For those on other diabetes drugs, the incidence rate stood at 63.7 cases.



Similarly, for vascular dementia, the incidence rate was notably lower for the SGLT2 group (10.6) compared to the group on other diabetes medications (18.7). For Parkinson’s disease, those on SGLT2 inhibitors also had a lower incidence rate (9.3) compared to their counterparts (13.7).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lower-dementia-and-parkinson-s-risk">Lower dementia and Parkinson’s risk</h2>



After adjusting for factors such as complications from diabetes and medications, the researchers found that SGLT2 inhibitor use was correlated with a 20% decrease in the risk of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and a 30% decreased risk of developing vascular dementia.



“The results are generally consistent even after adjusting for factors like blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and kidney function,” said Dr. Lee. “More research is needed to validate the long-term validity of these findings.”



Since participants were followed for less than five years, Dr. Lee noted that it’s possible that some participants could still develop dementia or Parkinson’s later on.



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



This study opens the door to new possibilities in managing not only diabetes but also in preventing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s. 



As populations age and cases of dementia rise, these findings provide hope for patients and healthcare professionals alike.



However, while the results are promising, experts caution that further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on brain health. 



Larger clinical trials and extended follow-up periods could help determine whether these medications should play a more central role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases. 



Additionally, researchers are looking into whether similar benefits could be observed in other types of diabetes treatments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diabetes-drugs-and-cognitive-health">Diabetes drugs and cognitive health </h2>



Diabetes management and cognitive health are closely linked, as both high and low blood sugar levels can have significant effects on the brain. Over time, poor management of diabetes can increase the risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and other neurological issues.



With growing evidence linking diabetes management to cognitive health, this study highlights the importance of continued innovation in the treatment of chronic diseases. 



As we move forward, the potential to repurpose existing medications for new therapeutic uses remains an exciting frontier in medicine.



The research was supported by the Korea Health Technology R&amp;D Project, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the Ministry of Health &amp; Welfare of Korea, Severance Hospital, and Yonsei University College of Medicine.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209805" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a>.



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Diabetes drugs may protect against dementia

New research reveals a potential link between diabetes drugs and a reduced risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. According to a recent study published by the American Academy of Neurology, certain diabetes drugs may significantly lower the risk of diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s. Diabetes medications and neuroprotection The prime focus of the study was a class of diabetes drugs known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, or SGLT2 inhibitors. These gliflozins play an essential role in maintaining blood sugar levels. They achieve this by prompting the kidneys to dispel...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> and the Robert Koch Institute reveals that leprosy has been found in wild <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/roads-have-far-reaching-impacts-on-chimpanzees/">chimpanzees</a> for the first time. The origins of the infections discovered in Guinea-Bisau and Tai National Park are unclear, but scientists believe that it is probably circulating in more wild animals than previously suspected, either as a result of exposure to infected humans or other unknown environmental sources.



Humans are the main hosts of Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium causing leprosy. However, spillovers to other mammals such as red squirrels, armadillos, or even captive primates have been known to occur occasionally. This study is the first to document the presence of leprosy in two distinct populations of wild chimpanzees.



"This is the first confirmation of leprosy in nonhuman animals in Africa," said study lead author&nbsp;Dr Kimberley Hockings, a senior lecturer in Conservation Science at University of Exeter’s&nbsp;<a href="http://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/cec/aboutus/">Centre for Ecology and Conservation</a>. "It’s amazing that it also happens to be in our closest living relative, the chimpanzee, especially considering how well studied chimpanzees are in the wild.”



The scientists first noticed possible symptoms of leprosy, such as lesions and “claw” hands, in a population of wild chimpanzees in Guinea-Bissau. Since then, further cases have been identified in Tai National Park in western Ivory Coast.



"The strains identified in each chimpanzee population are different, and both are rare in humans and other animal reservoirs worldwide," reported Dr. Charlotte Avanzi, a postdoctoral fellow at <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a>.



"This study unlocks a new step toward the understanding of the disease transmission in endemic countries and more investigations will eventually shed light on the dynamic of transmission between human, animal, and environmental sources."



According to the scientists, it is possible that in Guinea-Bissau chimpanzees acquired leprosy from humans. However, in Ivory Coast, chimpanzees are more distant from human settlements, so they might have acquired the infection from another animal species, or from environmental sources such as water bacteria or ticks.



Since western chimpanzees are already critically endangered, even the loss of a few individuals could be significant. Further research and long-term health monitoring are needed in order to establish the scale and effects of leprosy among wild chimpanzees.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03968-4%C3%B9">Nature</a>.&nbsp;



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<h2 id="h-more-about-leprosy">More about leprosy</h2>



Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is an infectious disease caused by two types of bacteria: Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after the scientist Gerhard Armauer Hansen who discovered it, the bacteria was the first disease-causing bacterium identified in humans. This slow-growing, chronic bacterial infection primarily affects the skin and nerves, but can also impact the eyes, the inside of the nose, and peripheral nerves in the limbs.



Here's a summary of what we know about leprosy:



<h3>Transmission:</h3>



Leprosy is not highly contagious, but it can be passed from person to person. It is believed to be transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with untreated cases. It is also worth mentioning that a significant portion of people are naturally immune to leprosy.



<h3>Symptoms:</h3>



The disease causes skin lesions that are lighter than the normal skin color and may become numb due to nerve damage. Other symptoms might include weakness and poor eyesight. Because the bacteria reproduce very slowly, the disease has a long incubation period, often taking 5 to 20 years for symptoms to appear after infection.



<h3>Types of Leprosy:</h3>



Leprosy can manifest in different forms, depending on the individual's immune response:



<ol>
<li>Tuberculoid: A mild, less severe form of leprosy. People with this type have only one or a few patches of flat, pale-colored skin (often with decreased sensation). The nerves may be enlarged and inflamed. Tuberculoid leprosy is less contagious than other forms.</li>



<li>Lepromatous: A more severe form of the disease. It causes widespread skin bumps and rashes, numbness, muscle weakness, and other complications. Lepromatous leprosy is more contagious.</li>



<li>Borderline: People with this type of leprosy have symptoms of both tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy. The disease may get better or worse, or may switch between types.</li>
</ol>



<h3>Diagnosis:</h3>



Doctors often diagnose leprosy through a clinical examination of the characteristic skin lesions and testing sensation in the skin. Additionally, they may take a skin biopsy or a nasal swab for laboratory examination.



<h3>Treatment:</h3>



Leprosy is curable with a treatment known as multidrug therapy (MDT), as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The treatment uses a combination of antibiotics, usually dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine, to kill the bacteria. The duration of treatment can range from 6 months to 2 years or more, depending on the severity of the disease.



<h3>Effects:</h3>



Although treatment can cure the disease and prevent it from getting worse, it doesn't reverse nerve damage or physical disfigurement that occurred before treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing disability due to leprosy.



<h3>Epidemiology:</h3>



The disease occurs worldwide, but it is most common in warm, wet areas in the tropics and subtropics. WHO is striving to eliminate the disease, and over the past decades, there has been significant progress towards this goal, with a major decrease in the number of cases.



However, leprosy remains a significant health problem in some areas, including parts of India, Brazil, and Indonesia.



In the animal kingdom, armadillos are the only known non-human carriers of leprosy. The bacterium causing leprosy has been found in wild armadillos in the southern United States, and there have been reported cases of transmission to humans.



It's important to note that information about leprosy continues to evolve, and research is 



ongoing to further understand the transmission, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of leprosy.



<h3>Vaccination and Immunity:</h3>



The BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin) vaccine, initially developed for tuberculosis, offers some protection against leprosy and is often given in countries where leprosy is more common. However, the immunity it offers varies and is not fully protective.



In addition, it seems that a significant number of people are naturally immune to leprosy, likely due to genetic factors. It's worth mentioning that the majority of people who are exposed to the bacteria that cause leprosy never develop the disease.



<h3>Leprosy and Stigma:</h3>



Historically, leprosy has been a highly stigmatized disease due to its potential to cause physical disfigurement and disability. In some cultures, people with leprosy have been ostracized or segregated from the rest of society.



While effective treatments now exist, this stigma can still persist, contributing to delays in seeking treatment and psychological distress for those affected. Efforts are being made worldwide to combat this stigma and to ensure that people with leprosy can lead normal lives and are not discriminated against.



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



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Leprosy has been found in wild chimpanzees

A new study led by the University of Exeter and...

A team of astrophysicists led by the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/university/">University of Geneva</a> (UNIGE) and the <a href="http://nccr-planets.ch/">National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS</a> have recently investigated the past of the planet Venus to find out whether Earth’s sister planet once had oceans.&nbsp;



Venus is of comparable mass and size as the Earth, consists of rocky material too, and even holds some water and has an atmosphere. However, the differences are striking: its atmosphere consists mostly of CO2, it has extreme surface temperatures and pressures, and is covered by sulphuric acid clouds.&nbsp;



Previous studies have suggested that Venus may have been a much more hospitable place in the past, hosting its own seas and oceans. Over the next decade, three space exploration missions will be sent to Venus in order to answer these questions. In the meanwhile, the astrophysicists from UNIGE and NCCR PlanetS have tried to clarify these issues with tools available on Earth.



By using sophisticated 3D models of the atmosphere, similar to those employed to simulate the Earth’s current and future climate, the scientists studied how Venus’ atmosphere could have evolved over time.



&nbsp;“We simulated the climate of the Earth and Venus at the very beginning of their evolution, more than four billion years ago, when the surface of the planets was still molten”, explained study lead author Martin Turbet, a researcher at the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/sciences/en/larecherche/domainesderecherche/astronomie/">Department of Astronomy</a> of UNIGE and member of the NCCR PlanetS. “The associated high temperatures meant that any water would have been present in the form of steam, as in a gigantic pressure cooker.”



“Thanks to our simulations, we were able to show that the climatic conditions did not allow water vapor to condense in the atmosphere of Venus,” he added. “One of the main reasons for this is the clouds that form preferentially on the night side of the planet. These clouds cause a very powerful greenhouse effect that prevented Venus from cooling as quickly as previously thought.”



Thus, it seems that temperatures on Venus never got low enough for the water in its atmosphere to form raindrops that could fall on its surface and form oceans. “But we will not be able to rule on the matter definitively on our computers,” concluded co-author David Ehrenreich, a professor in the Department of Astronomy at UNIGE. “The observations of the three future Venusian space missions will be essential to confirm - or refute - our work.”&nbsp;



---



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

Did the planet Venus have oceans in the past?

A team of astrophysicists led by the University of Geneva...

Many archaeologists believe that Native Americans migrated from Japan to the Americas 15,000 years ago based on similarities in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/capuchin-monkeys-stone-tools/">stone tools</a>. The idea is that the “Jomon” people of Japan moved along the Pacific ocean rim until reaching the Bering land bridge to reach North America.



As popular as this theory is, new research undermines the idea of Native Americans originating in Japan. The research claims that genetics and skeletal anatomy don’t support a human migration from Japan to the Americas. “We found that the human biology simply doesn’t match up with the archaeological theory," said study lead author Professor Richard Scott, an expert on human teeth. "We do not dispute the idea that ancient Native Americans arrived via the Northwest Pacific coast - only the theory that they originated with the Jomon people in Japan.”



Professor Scott's analysis of teeth from the Jomon people in Japan found only seven percent linked to non-arctic Native Americans. Just as damning for the theory, genetics didn’t support it either.&nbsp;



“This is particularly clear in the distribution of maternal and paternal lineages, which do not overlap between the early Jomon and American populations," said study co-author and human geneticist Dennis O’Rourke. "Plus, recent studies of ancient DNA from Asia reveal that the two peoples split from a common ancestor at a much earlier time,”&nbsp;



Altogether, the genetic and archaeological evidence paints a picture of Native American origin from Siberia.



“These people (the Jomon) who lived in Japan 15,000 years ago are an unlikely source for Indigenous Americans," said Professor Scott. "Neither the skeletal biology or the genetics indicate a connection between Japan and the America. The most likely source of the Native American population appears to be Siberia.”



Archaeology continues to be complicated and more evidence may emerge to challenge this new discovery. But until then, we have a new small piece of the puzzle of our species.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20555563.2021.1940440">PaleoAmerica</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Theory of Native American origins undermined

Many archaeologists believe that Native Americans migrated from Japan to...

This year, a global pile of electronic waste was created that weighs an estimated 57.4 million metric tons. This is more than the weight of the Great Wall of China, the world’s heaviest man-made object.&nbsp;



The 2021 figure surpasses 2019’s electronic waste, which was estimated at 53.6 million metric tons, and is up 21 percent from the first year it was monitored in 2014. At this rate, it’s estimated that there will be 74 million metric tons of electronic waste by 2030.&nbsp;



The problem of increasing electronic waste is attributed to shorter product life, greater consumption of electronics and few repair options. In Europe, an average household has 72 electronics - 11 of which are not used or broken. In the United States, it’s estimated that at least 151 million phones end up in landfills or incinerated, contributing 40 percent of the heavy metals found in landfills. Nations fail to meet goals on recycling electronics for many reasons.&nbsp;



Pascal Leroy is the Director General of the waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) Forum. The organization has established October 14 as International E-Waste Day to raise awareness about the increasing need to recycle and reuse electronics.



“Many factors play a role in making the electrical and electronics sector resource efficient and circular. For example, our member producer responsibility organizations collected and secured responsible recycling of 2.8 Mt of e-waste in 2020," said Leroy.



"But one thing stands out: as long as citizens don’t return their used, broken gear, sell it, or donate it, we will need to continue mining all-new materials causing great environmental damage.”



Dr. Ruediger Kuehr, Director of the SCYCLE Programme and Head of UNITAR’s Office in Bonn, emphasized the importance of recycling electronics.&nbsp;



“A ton of discarded mobile phones is richer in gold than a ton of gold ore,” said Dr. Kuehr. "Embedded in 1 million cell phones, for example, are 24 kg of gold, 16,000 kg of copper, 350 kg of silver, and 14 kg of palladium -- resources that could be recovered and returned to the production cycle. And if we fail to recycle these materials, new supplies need to be mined, harming the environment.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



If social norms can be changed and recycling made more easily accessible, huge resources could be tapped to reduce destructive mining. As electronic consumption and technology continues to grow, this will become more and more important.&nbsp;



Last year, more than 120 organizations from 50 countries supported the third annual International e-Waste Day. This year, the WEEE Forum and other organizers invite all organizations involved in effective and responsible e-waste management to plan awareness raising activities. To learn more, go to <a href="http://www.internationalewasteday.com">www.internationalewasteday.com</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

This year's electronic waste outweighs the Great Wall of China

This year, a global pile of electronic waste was created...

Climate change is causing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-intelligence-can-predict-the-future-of-arctic-sea-ice/">sea ice</a> in the Arctic Ocean to shrink increasingly fast: it now spans less than half the area it did in the 1980s. A new study published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021EF001988">Earth’s Future</a> has found that, by the end of the century, global warming could make the summer Arctic sea ice vanish completely, along with creatures such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loss-of-genetic-diversity-in-polar-bears-linked-to-climate-change/">polar bears</a> or seals.



The scientists have identified a one million square kilometer area north of Greenland and the Canadian archipelago, where sea ice has been thickest and consistently persisted all year round. The experts modeled how climate change will affect this region under an optimistic and pessimistic scenario. Sadly, under both scenarios, the summer ice in this “Last Ice Area” (LIA) will dramatically diminish by 2050.



Under the optimistic scenario, if carbon emissions can be significantly curbed, LIA will start a slow recovery process in the second half of the century, with some seals, bears, and other ice-dependent animals possibly surviving. However, if emissions will continue at the current pace, this area will completely disappear by the end the century, shattering all ice-dependent ecosystems.



“Unfortunately, this is a massive experiment we’re doing,” warned study co-author&nbsp;Robert Newton, a senior research scientist at Columbia University’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/">Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory</a>. “If the year-round ice goes away, entire ice-dependent ecosystems will collapse, and something new will begin.”&nbsp;



“This is not to say it will be a barren, lifeless environment,” Newton added. “New things will emerge, but it may take some time for new creatures to invade.”&nbsp;Fish, diatoms, and other animals might come up from the North Atlantic Ocean, but it is not yet clear if they could survive the long, sunless Arctic winters.&nbsp;



Urgent action is needed in order to protect the Arctic sea ice and the vast ecosystems it currently shelters. A step forward in this direction has already been taken. In 2019, Canada established a 320,000 square kilometer Marine Protected Area in the Inuit territory of Nunavut, spanning the middle third of LIA. This region is protected against mining, transportations, and other developments for five years, while Canada considers the possibility of extending this protection indefinitely.&nbsp;



However, if the Last Ice Area is to be preserved, many other marine protected areas should be quickly established in order to curb the dissemination of spilled oils, industrial or agricultural contaminants, and other potential hazards and save the sea ice and its inhabitants.



---



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

The Arctic may lose its "Last Ice Area" this century

Climate change is causing sea ice in the Arctic Ocean...

Close,Up,Of,African,American,Woman,Lighting,Marijuana,Joint,At

New research conducted by <a href="https://case.edu/">Western Case Reserve University</a> has found that persons with substance use disorders (SUDs) are at increased risk for COVID-19 infections, even after getting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vaccination-offers-more-protection-than-prior-covid-19-infection/">vaccinated</a> (“breakthrough infections”). The highest rate of breakthrough infections occurred in individuals with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-cannabis-use-affect-embryonic-development/">cannabis</a> use disorders.



In a population-based cohort study with 579,372 participants, the researchers assessed the risk, time trends, outcomes, and disparities of COVID-19 breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated SUD patients. They found that people addicted to substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, or opioids had an almost double risk of contracting the coronavirus after getting both of their vaccine shots. Thus, while people without SUDs had a 3.6 percent rate of breakthrough infections, those with substance addictions had a seven percent rate.



In the case of cannabis use disorder, this rate increased to 7.8 percent. “Patients with cannabis use disorder, who were younger and had less comorbidities than the other SUD subtypes, had higher risk for breakthrough infection even after they were matched for adverse socioeconomic determinants of health and comorbid medical conditions with non-SUD patients,” the authors said.



However, as the scientists admit, additional variables, including behavioral factors or negative effects of cannabis use on pulmonary and immune functions could also contribute to the increased risk for breakthrough infections in this group.



Furthermore, cannabis advocates had already criticized this study, arguing that most cannabis users are not addicted and that there is no clear causal relation between cannabis use and increased risk of breakthrough infections.



“This study is limited to people with ‘substance use disorder’ which is a very small subset of cannabis consumers,” said Morgan Fox, the media relations director for the <a href="https://thecannabisindustry.org/%C3%B9">National Cannabis Industry&nbsp;Association</a>.&nbsp;



“This is merely correlation and does not show a causal relationship … individual behavior patterns and social conditions may be a major contributing factor above and beyond simply exhibiting problematic substance use patterns, such as lack of access to reliable information, sharing joints, etc.”



“Clearly more study is welcome and necessary, but it is important not to overstate or misrepresent the very inconclusive results presented in this particular research and ensure that cannabis consumers are accurately informed about what the newest research actually indicates,”&nbsp;Fox concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wps.20921">World Psychiatry</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

Cannabis use increases the risk of COVID breakthrough infections

New research conducted by Western Case Reserve University has found...

An investigation into the dark side of social media use has revealed dozens of threats to mental and physical well-being. Researchers at the <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/">University of Technology Sydney</a> (UTS) identified a total of 46 harmful effects, ranging from mental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seabirds-are-damaging-their-health-by-eating-plastic/">health</a> problems to negative impacts on school and work performance.



More than 3.6 billion people use social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. By gaining a better understanding of the potential dangers involved with social media use,&nbsp; experts can develop strategies to mitigate these harmful effects.



“Social media harms have mostly been studied from a psychopathological perspective. They have received less attention from information systems researchers,” said Dr Eila Erfani, Deputy Head of the UTS School of Information, Systems and Modeling.



“Information systems looks at the impact of technology on people and organisations in order to better meet their needs. Identifying and understanding how to reduce adverse outcomes from social media use is part of that challenge."



“The World Health Organization has recognised the need for further research on information technology addiction and the need to develop strategies for preventing and treating this problem."



In collaboration with PhD candidate Layla Boroon and Professor Babak Abedin from Macquarie University, Dr. Erfani conducted a systematic review to determine what is already known about the negative effects of online social networks.&nbsp;



“Much of the research on social network use has focused on its benefits and potential, but we were interested in comprehensively identifying the negative impacts that have been associated with social media use,” said Boroon.



“We reviewed more than 50 research articles published between 2003 and 2018. Some of the most common negative impacts included psychological harms such as jealousy, loneliness, anxiety and reduced self-esteem, as well as things like exposure to malicious software and phishing risks.”



Ultimately, the researchers grouped the negative effects into six themes, including annoying content. This includes a wide range of content that annoys, upsets or irritates, such as disturbing or violent content or sexual or obscene content.



Another theme that was identified is the cost of social exchange. This encompasses psychological harms, such as depression, anxiety or jealousy, and well as other costs such as wasted time, energy, and money.



Currently, Boroon is investigating the factors that influence social media addiction and the strategies people use to regulate their behavior. The next step will be to develop applications and other solutions to help reduce the negative effects of social media.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.igi-global.com/journal/journal-global-information-management/1070">Journal of Global Information Management</a>.



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

The dark side of social media: experts find dozens of dangers

An investigation into the dark side of social media use...

The effects that climate change will have on extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migration-of-the-north-atlantic-jet-stream-will-cause-extreme-weather/">weather</a> across the planet is well documented, but not many people are aware of the effects it will have on the life cycles of marine animals. A key example of a creature that will be affected is the Dungeness crab, a marine animal that relies heavily on consistent seasonality timings.



A new research study is investigating the implications that climate change will have on the population of these crabs to inform new strategies for conservation and to keep fishery management sustainable.



The researchers investigated a Dungeness crab fishery in the Pacific Northwest ranging between Alaska and Southern California, attempting to determine which life stages are most vulnerable and to which stressors.



“Tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest identify Dungeness as both culturally and economically important species for their way of life," said <a href="https://uconn.edu/">UConn</a> Professor Samantha Siedlecki. "Species are moving but of course tribal communities don’t have the option of moving their land in response. The tribal communities are very interested and motivated to think about ways they can sustain the fishery.”



Ocean acidification, hypoxia and warming temperatures were the three key stressors that were assessed, all resulting from increased carbon emissions. Information regarding each stressor was used to create a model, pinpointing different vulnerable life stages between birth and maturity.



In order to model for future levels of carbon emissions, the researchers used emission scenarios named RCPs (representative carbon pathways) provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).



“We used RCP 8.5, considered the ‘worst case scenario’ if there is no climate change mitigation at all,” explained PhD student Halle Berger. “Then we overlaid the ocean conditions and habitat maps for each life stage. We also added something new to the framework, where we layered in a larval transport model to simulate the movement of larvae in the water column to get a more realistic picture of the conditions they would experience.”



Previous data collected on Dungeness crabs were then reviewed in order to assign vulnerability scores for each live stage.



“It turned out that the adult life stage is the most critical in driving the overall population vulnerability,” said Berger. “We found that for all three stressors there will be increased population level vulnerability in the future, and the most severe is to hypoxia. Low oxygen events are confined to the upwelling season, in spring and summer which impacts the adults, whereas ocean acidification manifests more year-round in the future, impacting all life stages.”



This data is anticipated to be useful to make decisions regarding protection processes for vital life stages around stressful conditions. “An example would be monitoring low oxygen events in the summer, and maybe pulling the crab traps earlier,” said Berger. “This would help mitigate from the crabs dying in the trap.”



The research findings have been published in <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/2576604x">AGU Advances</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How climate change will affect the Dungeness crab

The effects that climate change will have on extreme weather...

In the largest study of its kind, researchers have found that poor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-moon-disrupts-sleep-among-men-more-than-women/">sleep</a> quality is associated with mental illness. The investigation, conducted by experts at the <a href="https://www.camh.ca/">Centre for Addiction and Mental Health</a>,&nbsp;is the first to objectively measure sleep patterns among people with mental illness compared to the general population on a large scale.&nbsp;



The results suggest that individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness are more likely to suffer from poor sleep quality.



“The differences in sleep patterns indicated worse sleep quality for participants with a previous diagnosis of mental illness, including waking up more often and for longer periods of time,” said study senior author Dr. Shreejoy Tripathy. He emphasized that measuring the quality of sleep was just as important as sleep duration with regard to its impact on mental health.



“The relationship between sleep and mental health is bi-directional,” explained study lead author Dr. Michael Wainberg, a postdoctoral researcher at the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics. “Poor sleep contributes to poor mental health and poor mental health contributes to poor sleep. Sleep pattern differences were a feature of all mental illnesses we studied regardless of diagnosis.”



The analysis was focused on data collected from 89,205 participants who wore activity trackers 24 hours a day for seven days. The researchers used machine learning to break this vast amount of data down into ten metrics, including bedtime, wake time, and the longest duration of uninterrupted sleep. These metrics were&nbsp; compared between individuals who had been diagnosed with mental illness and those who had not.



“We know that up to 80 percent of people with mental health disorders can have problems with falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up earlier than they intended,” said sleep disorder specialist Dr. Michael Mak.&nbsp;



“We know that sleep disturbances cause a great burden to society, including an economic one. And we know that treatments that improve sleep quality, whether it is therapy or some types of medication, can improve mental health outcomes.”



The activity trackers made it possible for sleep monitoring to be conducted in each individual’s natural home environment rather than in a lab setting.



“Until now nobody has looked at objectively measured sleep in the context of mental illness at quite this scale before,” said Dr. Tripathy. “Part of why we wanted to do this study is that with the emergence of smartphones and wearables, we have access to data streams that we never had before.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/">PLoS Medicine</a>.



---



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

Poor sleep quality is associated with mental illness

In the largest study of its kind, researchers have found...

Populations of resident killer whales inhabit the Salish Sea off the southwestern coast of Canada. There is a northern population of about 300 individuals that feeds during summer in the Johnstone Straight, and a southern population, numbering just 73 individuals, that forages in the Juan de Fuca Strait. Both straits are important foraging grounds because this is where the killer whales catch migrating Chinook <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/washington-voters-want-dam-removal-to-save-salmon/">salmon</a>, their preferred prey.



Recently, scientists have become concerned that whales from the southern population are thinner than their northern counterparts and speculated that there may be less fish available to the killer whales in the southern population. In response, scientists from the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/">University of British Columbia</a> conducted an assessment of the availability of prey for killer whales in both the northern and southern areas of the Salish Sea.



“People have been talking about a prey shortage as if it’s a fact, but this is the first study to quantify and compare the amount of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon, available to southern and northern resident killer whales,” said lead author Dr. Mei Sato, a research associate at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at UBC at the time of the study, and now an assistant scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.



“Measurements from drone footage have shown the southern resident killer whales are thinner on average than the northern residents – which supports the common belief that the southern residents are experiencing a food shortage,” said co-author Dr. Andrew Trites, professor and director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit (MMRU) at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at UBC. “Our findings suggest that this food shortage is probably not occurring during the summertime when they have traditionally fed in the Salish Sea.”



The researchers surveyed the two areas – the Johnstone Strait in the north and the Juan de Fuca Strait in the south – during the summers of 2018 and 2019. They used state-of-the-art fish finders to locate and count Chinook salmon in the two straits, and were also able to estimate the sizes of the fish using this technology. In addition, the team also captured sample fish to validate the acoustic signals from their fish finders and distinguish between different fish species, as killer whales prefer larger, older Chinook salmon.



They collaborated with sport and commercial fisherman, the Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia, and whale watching companies to design the survey and conduct fish sampling. In this way they identified the best time to carry out the field work, based on peak salmon availability and killer whale foraging behavior.



“We got help from sport and commercial fisherman, chartered fishing vessels and used echosounders to detect the number and size of fishes in the water,” said Dr. Sato. “Killer whales use a similar technique to locate the fish – only it’s much better than the electronic one we use because they can distinguish between different fish species in the water.”



The results showed that, although the distribution and sizes of fish were similar in both straits, prey abundance was four to six times greater in each patch sampled in the Juan de Fuca Strait. This clearly debunks the myth that killer whales experience a food shortage in their southern feeding grounds during summer. However, the authors emphasize that their study did not look at other factors that may prevent the southern killer whales from eating the available fish – factors such shipping activity and noise.



“We don’t really know about prey availability outside of the Salish Sea and outside the summer season. To answer the question of whether there’s an overall prey shortage, we still need to figure out what’s happening during winter and spring, whether there are significant fluctuations year-to-year and in the different locations these whales travel to, like California,” said Dr. Sato.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://cdnsciencepub.com/journal/cjfas">Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Killer whales are not short of prey in southwestern Canada

Populations of resident killer whales inhabit the Salish Sea off...

Power,Generation,Wind,Farm,35m,In,Height,To,The,Hub

If humanity is going to reduce the devastating impacts that greenhouse gases have on global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-will-unleash-more-intense-tropical-cyclones/">warming</a> over the next few decades, it will be essential for us to put worldwide mitigation into action. One potential strategy is to replace greenhouse gas usage with energy produced by wind farms, a solution that a new study is rigorously assessing.



Researchers from <a href="https://eng.ctgu.edu.cn/">Three Gorges University</a> of China set out to examine the diurnal and seasonal patterns of wind speeds and their ability to produce energy. The research comes at a time when the cost of wind energy technology is decreasing, and relevant research and incentive policies are increasing.&nbsp;



Despite these advancements, wind farms will need to be made more efficient if they are going to replace the use of fossil fuels. However, this will only be achieved if a formal and universal assessment process is developed to measure the efficiency of wind farming.



"In wind farm planning, decision-makers need to select an appropriate site for wind farm installation," explained study co-author Shuwei Miao. "We developed a seasonal adequacy assessment procedure using historical wind speed data, wind turbine parameters, system peak load, and other important factors that can help inform decisions on wind farm siting and operation."



The researchers confirmed the accuracy of their results by comparing them to wind site data collected in North Dakota, which helped them to develop the procedure for seasonal adequacy assessments.



"Wind speed associates with uncertainty along with the season, terrain, and climate," said Miao. "And it also determines the energy production potential. If a power system contains considerable wind farm capacities, then the capability of system generation to meet system load will be heavily influenced by uncertain wind speed. This capability refers to system adequacy, and the quantitative assessment of system adequacy can be helpful to optimal wind farm planning."



The first phase of the simulation model examines the probability distribution of wind speed across 24-hour periods, with the second phase considering wind patterns across a seasonal basis. When combined, these two phases are designed to deliver highly applicable insights into how efficiently the naturally occurring energy resource of wind can be utilized.



"We believe our findings are valuable to wind energy development and production," said Miao. "When historical wind speed data, wind turbine parameters, and other data for a candidate site in other regions are available, the model and procedure presented in this study can be readily applicable to simulate the wind profile and assess the seasonal system adequacy indices."



The study is published in <a href="https://aip.scitation.org/journal/rse">Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How much power can wind farms generate?

If humanity is going to reduce the devastating impacts that...

According to a new study published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26048-7">Nature Communications</a>, El&nbsp;Niño, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-already-affects-80-percent-of-the-world/">climate</a> pattern characterized by the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, drives millions of children into hunger every few years.



“It would have been very difficult to prepare the world for a pandemic that few saw coming, but we can’t say the same about El Niño events that have a potentially much greater impact on the long-term growth and health of children,” said study lead author Amir Jina, an assistant professor at University of Chicago’s <a href="https://harris.uchicago.edu/">Harris School of Public Policy</a>.&nbsp;



“Scientists can forecast an approaching El Niño up to six months in advance, allowing the international community to intervene to prevent the worst impacts. Our study helps to quantify those impacts on child nutrition to guide global public investments in food insecure areas.”



By assembling data on over a million children spanning four decades and all tropical developing countries, Professor Jina and his research team provided the first estimate of El Niño’s impact on child nutrition throughout the tropics. Their findings suggest that the number of malnourished children increases by 2.9 percent during El Niño years, affecting thus millions of children.



During the severe 2015 El Niño, the number of malnourished children increased by six percent, accounting to nearly six million children. Although children’s weight seemed to increase in the following years, the shock on their nutrition at such a young age will likely stunt their growth in later years.



While it is not yet clear whether climate change will increase the intensity and frequency of El Niño, it will certainly cause many already affected areas to become hotter and drier. When El Niño will occur on top of these changes, it will doubtlessly have even more dire impacts on public health.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“These are routine events in the climate that lead to real tragedy around the world,” said study co-author Jesse Anttila-Hughes from the <a href="https://www.usfca.edu/">University of San Francisco</a>. “Studying El Niño can teach us about the impacts that come from a hotter, drier climate - important lessons as these changes become more global in scale with climate change."



"But the fact that we live through an El Niño every few years, we know they’re coming, and we still don’t act is a bad sign since many of these climate shifts - from isolated heat waves to hurricanes - will be a lot less predictable as the climate changes.”



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

El Niño drives millions of children into hunger

According to a new study published in the journal Nature...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.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;



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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.

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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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



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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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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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

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

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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;



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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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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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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



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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://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



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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.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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;



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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 the immune system responds to injury

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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



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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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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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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"

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

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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

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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