Meat lovers can attest that the move to plant-based alternatives isn't always a simple transition. However, thanks to a team of innovative Stanford engineers, life is becoming a little tastier for those wishing to embrace greener diets.



Working from a unique mechanical engineering perspective, they’ve developed an intriguing approach to food texture evaluation. 



This could potentially lead to plant-based steaks that even the staunchest meat enthusiasts will find impossible to resist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovation-in-plant-based-meat-texture">Innovation in plant-based meat texture</h2>



The team from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a> recently showcased how mechanical testing, combined with machine learning, can essentially mimic the palate of human taste testers. Their ingenious method could potentially accelerate the evolution of superior plant-based meats.



Interestingly, they discovered that several plant-based products are already successfully emulating the texture of the meats they strive to replicate. According to Ellen Kuhl, the senior author of the recent study, it is possible to close the gap between animal meat texture and that of plant-based meats. 



"We were surprised to find that today’s plant-based products can reproduce the whole texture spectrum of animal meats,” noted Kuhl.



This is phenomenal progress since the days when tofu was the only <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-meat-paradox-people-care-about-animals-but-still-eat-meat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meat</a> substitute available.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-environmental-impact-of-our-food-choices">The environmental impact of our food choices</h2>



Industrial animal agriculture's environmental toll is heavy; it leads to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-consumption-climate-change-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, pollution, habitat loss, and antibiotic resistance. An effective way to lighten this is by shifting from animal proteins to plant proteins.



Previous studies have shown that plant-based meats cause, on average, 50% less environmental impact than animal meats. However, most meat eaters are hesitant to make this change.



For instance, in one survey, only a third of Americans stated their likelihood of purchasing plant-based <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-plant-based-meat-alternatives-the-key-to-a-healthier-heart/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alternatives</a> as "very likely' or 'extremely likely."



"People love meat. If we want to convince the hardcore meat eaters that alternatives are worth trying, the closer we can mimic animal meat with plant-based products, the more likely people might be open to trying something new," explained Skyler St. Pierre, the lead author of the paper. 



Unfortunately, conventional food testing methods are neither standardized nor transparent, making it tougher for scientists to collaborate on creating new recipes for alternatives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-food-texture-testing">The future of food texture testing</h2>



This novel and futuristic food texture test that makes use of AI came to life as part of a class project by St. Pierre. He was looking for affordable materials to use in engineering tests on stress, load and stretching. He turned to tofu and hot dogs as possible study materials.



Through the summer of 2023, student researchers experimented with the texture and mechanics of these and other foods, and then trialed their findings on eight products including animal and plant-based hot dogs, sausages, turkey, and firm and extra firm tofu. 



A machine was used to simulate the act of chewing, and to test how the materials reacted when pulled, pushed, and sheared.



This data was then processed using machine learning to design a new type of neural network, and resulted in equations defining the properties of the different meats.



A survey was later conducted to test if these equations could truly replicate the sensation of texture. 



The survey respondents, after sampling the eight products, rated them in 12 categories including softness, hardness, brittleness, chewiness, gumminess, viscosity, springiness, stickiness, fibrousness, fattiness, moistness, and meat-likeness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-based-findings-and-hope-for-the-future">Plant-based findings and hope for the future</h2>



The results were thrilling. For instance, plant-based hot dogs and sausages were very similar to their animal counterparts in terms of their stiffness. Human testers ranked the stiffness of the hot dogs and sausages very similarly to the mechanical tests. 



“What’s really cool is that the ranking of the people was almost identical to the ranking of the machine. That’s great because now we can use the machine to have a quantitative, very reproducible test,” said Kuhl.



Such discoveries suggest that data-driven methodologies may accelerate the development of delectable plant-based products. 



The team even suggests using generative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-artificially-intelligent-machines-take-over-food-production/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a> for creating plant-based meat recipes that have specific desired properties.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-open-source-collaboration-and-future-prospects">Open-source collaboration and future prospects</h2>



In an effort to push this field forward, the team has opted for open-source data, allowing other researchers to view, add to, and learn from their work. 



“Historically, some researchers, and especially companies, don’t share their data and that’s a really big barrier to innovation,” Kuhl added.



The team continues in their food testing endeavors as they look to establish a public database of their findings.



They're now testing deli slices, both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-carrots-and-colorful-veggies-really-can-improve-your-eyesight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vegetable</a> and meat-based. They also plan to test engineered fungi that has been developed by a new addition to their team.



Kuhl has generously extended an invitation to the wider community to contribute to the ongoing study. 



“If anybody has a plant-based meat they want to test, we’re so happy to test it to see how it stacks up,” said Kuhl.



In their quest to save the planet one bite at a time, these Stanford engineers are transforming our perception of plant-based diets. 



Their commitment to open-source information and collaboration is setting the stage for a more sustainable future.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-024-00330-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science of Food</a>.



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Scientists are perfecting plant-based meats with AI

Meat lovers can attest that the move to plant-based alternatives isn't always a simple transition. However, thanks to a team of innovative Stanford engineers, life is becoming a little tastier for those wishing to embrace greener diets. Working from a unique mechanical engineering perspective, they’ve developed an intriguing approach to food texture evaluation. This could potentially lead to plant-based steaks that even the staunchest meat enthusiasts will find impossible to resist. Innovation in plant-based meat texture The team from Stanford University recently showcased how mechanical testing, combined...

A new comparative genomic study analyzed the genomes of 57 species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-dwelling-mammals-are-getting-bigger/">mammals</a> in order to understand the variability in longevity among different species. A common feature in the longest-living species appears to be the greater stability of the proteins expressed by their genome.



Scientists have long been intrigued by what determines the life expectancy of various species. Until recently, it was thought that ecological adaptations, such as living in trees or underground, determine longevity, since such adaptations reduce mortality by predation. However, the causes of the great variability in longevity among different mammal species remained a mystery.



In the case of humans, studies looking for longevity genes only compared genomes within our own species. This proved to be insufficient to clearly explain the causes of human life-expectancy.



“When you only compare human genomes, you see differences between the genes that codify small differences in longevity between people. But the genetic structure behind the character may be based on mutations that occurred millions of years ago in our lineage, and we all have incorporated now," explained&nbsp;co-author Arcadi Navarro, a professor at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ibe.upf-csic.es/navarro">Evolutionary Genomics Laboratory</a>&nbsp;at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology.



One of the research team’s key findings was that in all mammals after a certain age, the proteome (all the proteins expressed by the genome) becomes unstable and contributes to physiological decline. However, in longer-living organisms, the proteins that contain amino-acid changes are significantly more stable than those of shorter-living organisms.



“We believe that a protein is more stable when it continues to perform its function longer within the cell without degradation. With our approach, we have seen that this generic stabilization of the proteome is fundamentally found in genes we have identified as being related to age and longevity," said co-author Gerard Muntané, an associate professor at Professor Navarro’s lab.



These findings open important research paths for developing new therapies to treat diseases associated with aging. “The perspective of evolutionary biology can make significant contributions and be directly applied to human health, although it is often ignored as a research paradigm," concluded Professor Navarro.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mbe">Molecular Biology and Evolution</a>.



---



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

Scientists explain longevity in mammals

A new comparative genomic study analyzed the genomes of 57...

An international research team led by <a href="https://www.hhu.de/">Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf</a> (HHU) found that plants respond to environmental threats by initiating powerful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/horseradish-flea-beetles-take-up-plant-toxins-for-their-own-defense/">defense</a> mechanisms to protect themselves from pest infestation or changing weather conditions.



Scientists estimate that between five and 20 percent of global harvests are lost annually due to damage caused by insects alone. A new study published in the journal Science Advances discovered an important chemical component that plants use to “notify” unwounded leaves when attacked by pests. These leaves can then produce defense substances in order to protect the plant from damage.&nbsp;



The researchers examined plants’ vascular system, which plays a crucial role in transporting water and nutrients from the roots. Their hypothesis was that this system is also important for dispersing hydraulic, chemical, and electrical signals in order to protect the plants from environmental threats.



A key substance they discovered was a mechanosensitive ion channel called “MSL10.” This protein plays a crucial role in registering stretches of the cell membrane and corresponding changes in pressure. When this change in pressure coincides with a rise in glutamate (a substance produced when the plant is wounded), the plant receives a quick warning that it is under attack.&nbsp;



“Our international team thus succeeded in demonstrating for the first time that a stretch-activated mechanosensitive ion channel is necessary for wound-induced signaling in plants,” explained study authors Dr. Thomas Kleist and Dr. Michael Wudick.&nbsp;



To test how important the MSL10 protein is for a plant’s defense mechanism, the scientists blocked its formation. As expected, without this protein the electrical wound signal was shortened and signal molecules such as calcium ions dispersed less effectively.&nbsp;



“It’s fascinating to see that plants use electrical signals in the same way as animals and humans and that even the components involved are similar,” concluded study co-author Wolf B. Frommer, a professor at the Institute of Molecular Physiology at HHU.&nbsp;



“If we can better understand wound signaling and the processes and components involved, we may be able to help plants recognise threats faster and defend themselves against them. This in turn could help prevent the loss of harvests due to pest infestation and insect damage.”



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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

Plants transmit signals to defend against environmental threats

An international research team led by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf...

A new study from Denmark has identified a link between traffic noise and a greater risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dementia-cases-expected-to-triple-over-the-next-three-decades/">dementia</a>. The experts found that road traffic and railway noise were associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease of up to 27 percent.



Of the 8,475 cases of dementia that were registered in Denmark in 2017, the researchers estimate that 1,216 cases could be attributed to traffic noise exposure.&nbsp;



The results of the study indicate that reducing traffic noise has great potential to combat dementia. Previous research has linked traffic noise to a range of other health conditions, including coronary heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.&nbsp;



For the current investigation, the researchers looked at the association between long term residential exposure to road traffic and railway noise and the risk of dementia among two million adults over the age 60 who lived in Denmark between 2004 and 2017.&nbsp;



After accounting for other factors, the experts found that an average of 10 years of exposure to road traffic and railway noise at the most exposed sides of buildings was associated with a higher risk of all-cause dementia.



The effect of noise on health may be explained by sleep disturbance and the release of stress hormones, which could lead to inflammation and changes in the immune system - early events in the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.



“If these findings are confirmed in future studies, they might have a large effect on the estimation of the burden of disease and healthcare costs attributed to transportation noise," noted the study authors.&nbsp;



"Expanding our knowledge on the harmful effects of noise on health is essential for setting priorities and implementing effective policies and public health strategies focused on the prevention and control of diseases, including dementia.”



“Reducing noise through transportation and land use programs or building codes should become a public health priority."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">The BMJ</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

Traffic noise linked to higher risk of dementia

A new study from Denmark has identified a link between...

A new study published in the <a href="https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(21)00330-5/fulltext">American Journal of Preventive Medicine</a> has found that, in over 50 U.S. cities where cannabis is legalized, indoor smoking at licensed cannabis businesses is permitted, endangering the health of customers and employees by exposing them to secondhand cannabis smoke (SHCS).



After years of progress on protection against secondhand tobacco smoke, several states now allow indoor marijuana smoking in cannabis smoking lounges pertaining to licensed retailers.



Study first author Thomas L. Rotering is a professor at the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies and the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“While many states maintain strong tobacco smoking and vaping bans to protect public health, our research reveals that some state and local laws exempt cannabis smoke from clean air laws and open the door to smoke-filled businesses, defeating decades of public health advances,” said Professor Rotering.



The researchers investigated government websites, legal databases, local laws, and public reporting to asses the status of cannabis smoking lounges. They found significant variations in how different states address the issue of SHCS exposure, with some states prohibiting cannabis consumption in public spaces, and others (including Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Michigan) allowing onsite consumption at licensed cannabis businesses.



The experts found that of the 56 localities which permit onsite consumption cannabis businesses, only 9 percent require indoors to be smoke-free. Combined with ineffective ventilation and engineering requirements, this may endanger the health of customers and employees alike.



“After decades of progress in clearing the indoor air of tobacco smoke, we are seeing it replaced with cannabis smoke using the same discredited arguments the tobacco industry used in its unsuccessful fight against tobacco smoke restrictions. We need to learn from the past and keep the air clean for all,” said senior investigator Stanton A. Glantz, an emeritus professor at <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/">University of California, San Francisco</a>.&nbsp;



The study authors suggest that a solution to these problems is designing isolated, outdoor smoking places at cannabis retailers, or allowing the indoor use of only non-inhalable modes of administration that do not pollute the air and thus put the health of patrons, staff, and customers at risk.&nbsp;



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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

Indoor cannabis smoke endangers public health

A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive...

New research published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/2041210x">Methods in Ecology and Evolution</a> compared museum collection specimens to abundance in the wild. The research was the collaboration of 19 scientists from the United States and Europe. The researchers analyzed 1.4 million field observations and 73,000 museum records, comprising more than 22,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spotted-skunk-dna-helps-identify-new-species/">species</a>.



Surprisingly, the study showed that museum collections, despite almost never being standardized, are a good measure of species abundance in the wild.&nbsp;



“We can use this relationship to predict the relative abundance of species in the wild when field collections are not available or even possible," said study lead author Nicholas Gotelli of the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/">University of Vermont</a>.



"It also means that we can estimate the relative abundance of species from earlier decades, even for species that are currently very rare or possibly extinct.”



The study was initiated in 2019 when two other researchers collaborated with Gotelli to analyze Florida ant records for the past 60 years.



“The Florida ant dataset offered an amazing window into the past and suggested that non-native species have gradually become ecological dominants over of a span of many decades. But I was concerned that a reviewer could knee-cap the entire analysis by simply questioning whether museum specimen records are related to species’ abundance in the field," explained Gotelli.



Not only does the new method offer a new tool for conservation scientists and ecologists, it upholds the importance of museum collections and a type of science often overshadowed by more ‘advanced’ techniques.&nbsp;



“This is really exciting," said study co-author Corrie Moreau of Cornell. "This is another example of the scientific importance of museum collections. I bet the people collecting these specimens decades or centuries ago had no idea all the ways they would be used.”&nbsp;



The tool, although useful and powerful, does have some important limitations. It seems that extremely rare species are overly represented and extremely common species are under represented in collections. This is basically because it’s more exciting to collect something rare and less interesting to collect something very abundant.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



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

Museum collections reflect species abundance in the wild

New research published in the journal Methods in Ecology and...

In New Zealand, endemic flightless parrots, known as kākāpō, used to number tens of thousands and were widespread throughout the mainland and offshore islands. By 1995, however, these populations had undergone severe losses due mostly to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-americas-largest-mammals-were-a-casualty-of-climate-change/">overhunting</a> by humans and predation by introduced mammals. A total of only 51 birds survived. Fifty kākāpō inhabited Stewart Island, a small island off the south coast of New Zealand, and only one individual, named Richard Henry, survived on the mainland.



The species was considered critically endangered and management strategies were developed to promote breeding and enhance genetic diversity in order to protect the remaining birds.



Of the 51 individuals that survived the genetic bottleneck, only Richard Henry and 39 others reproduced; these 40 birds are thus the ancestors of all kākāpō hatched since 1995. Today, 204 individuals represent this species, most of them descendants of the kākāpō population on isolated Stewart Island.



In recent research conducted by scientists from Sweden and New Zealand,&nbsp;the genomes of 49 kākāpō were sequenced and analyzed to investigate the impact of inbreeding on the birds. Genetic material was obtained from 35 individuals in the Stewart Island population, from Richard Henry who survived on the mainland, and from a further 13 museum specimens that also represented the now-extinct population on the mainland.&nbsp;



Population genetics theory suggests that very small, inbred populations will suffer an accumulation of genetic mutations that will eventually reduce fitness and lead to extinction. Modern day kākāpō have reportedly lost 70 to 80 percent of their genetic diversity since the 1800s and show poor sperm quality and low hatching success, suggesting that they do indeed carry deleterious mutations in their genes.



However, the current study reported surprisingly positive results; despite 10,000 years of isolation and inbreeding on Stewart Island, the kākāpō there have fewer harmful mutations than were found in the genomes of the now-extinct populations on the mainland. The flightless parrots on Stewart Island appear to have lost mutations in their genes, rather than accumulated them.



“Even though the kākāpō is one of the most inbred and endangered bird species in the world, it has many fewer harmful mutations than expected,” says Nicolas Dussex, a researcher at the Center for Palaeogenetics and Stockholm University. “Our data shows that the surviving population on Stewart Island has been isolated for approximately 10,000 years and that, during this time, harmful mutations have been removed by natural selection in a process called ‘purging’ and that inbreeding may have facilitated it.”



“In small populations, this type of harmful mutation can lead to genetic diseases,” adds Love Dalén of the Center for Palaeogenetics and Swedish Museum of Natural History. “Our finding of a reduced number of harmful mutations is therefore important, since it means that inbreeding in the present-day population is likely to have less severe impact than we had initially thought.”



The authors state that their findings can be used to inform breeding programs in future, and to select breeding individuals that do not introduce harmful genetic mutations. Richard Henry, for example, is genetically distinct from the Stewart Island kākāpō and might be considered an important breeder in terms of improving genetic diversity. However, his genome carries more harmful mutations than the genomes of the Stewart Island birds and this means that he may not be the ideal father for future offspring after all.



The findings from this study can now be applied in the small and endangered populations of other species. “Our results are good news, not only for kākāpō but also for the conservation of other highly inbred and isolated species, because they suggest that it is possible, under some circumstances, for small populations to survive even if isolated for hundreds of generations,” says Bruce Robertson, University of Otago, who has studied kākāpō genetics for 25 years.



“While the species is still critically endangered, this result is encouraging as it shows that a large number of genetic defects have been lost over time and that high inbreeding alone may not necessarily mean that the species is doomed to extinction,” Dussex says. “It thus gives us some hope for the long-term survival of the kākāpō as well as other species with a similar population history.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-genomics/home">Cell Genomics</a>.



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

Inbreeding has led to genetic advantages in flightless parrots

In New Zealand, endemic flightless parrots, known as kākāpō, used...

While several U.S. states have legalized medicinal and recreational use of cannabis in recent years, illegal cannabis farming is still very much prevalent, presenting serious threats to the habitats of threatened <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/how-tyrannosaurs-grew-into-fierce-predators/">predators</a>.&nbsp;



New research from Greta Wengert and colleagues of the Integral Ecology Research Centre in California shows that favorable illegal cannabis farming sites across the West Coast of the U.S. overlap with habitat ranges of three threatened predators, reducing preservation attempts by exposing them to toxic farming pesticides.



As opposed to the regulated nature of legal farming, illegal cannabis cultivation is seeing rampant use of dangerous pesticides such as rodenticides which can be passed through rodents and accumulate in the bodies of endangered predators.&nbsp;



The research has been undertaken through a new collaboration between wildlife biologists and law enforcement, mapping the distribution of grow sites across regions of California and Southern Oregon through location data across 1,469 illegal cannabis cultivation sites discovered between 2007 and 2014.&nbsp;



This location data has then been compared with distribution models of habitats for two endangered carnivorous mammals: the Humboldt Marten and the Pacific Fisher. In addition to these predators, the data has also been compared with habitats of the Northern Spotted Owl, a threatened bird of prey.



The illegal cannabis distribution models predicted that over 21,000 square kilometers of forest is likely being used for illegal cannabis cultivation, in addition to sixteen undetected cannabis farms based on ground-truthing.&nbsp;



The results of this predictive analysis hypothesize that these illegal cannabis cultivation sites have a vast overlap with each endangered species within the study. The data shows overlap with the habitats of the Spotted Owl by 48 percent, the Pacific Fisher by 45 percent, and the Humboldt Marten by 40 percent.&nbsp;



Furthermore, cultivation areas show an overlap of 100 percent with the female Pacific Fisher habitat ranges in the Southern Sierra Nevada, hypothesizing that this population is particularly at risk of toxification from pesticide exposure. The authors of the study have concluded that locating and detoxing these contaminated grow sites should be prioritized by land managers and conservationists.



The researchers noted that the results of their study and its validation support concerns that the problem of trespass cannabis cultivation is more extensive than previously thought. "The study solidifies our belief that the environmental impacts of this illicit activity adversely affect the recovery of these three sensitive forest predators in ways that we haven’t yet begun to address.”



The research is published in the journal PLOS ONE.



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

Illegal cannabis farms infringe on crucial animal habitats

While several U.S. states have legalized medicinal and recreational use...

Supermarket layout strongly influences customers’ <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-sugar-in-packaged-foods-can-prevent-disease-in-millions/">food</a> choices, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/">University of Southampton</a> conducted in collaboration with the supermarket chain Iceland Foods Ltd. The scientists discovered that removing confectionary products and other unhealthy food choices from checkouts, and placing fruits and vegetables near store entrances promote healthier food purchases.&nbsp;



The study took place in several Iceland stores in England and closely monitored sales and purchasing patterns of a sample of regular customers. Researchers found that store-wide confectionary sales decreased and food and vegetables sales increased in cases where water and non-food items were placed at checkouts, and a larger fruit and vegetable section was re-positioned near the store entrance.



&nbsp;“Altering the layouts of supermarkets could help people make healthier food choices and shift population diet towards the government’s dietary recommendations. The findings of our study suggest that a healthier store layout could lead to nearly 10,000 extra portions of fruit and vegetables and approximately 1,500 fewer portions of confectionery being sold on a weekly basis in each store,” reported lead author Dr. Christina Vogel, a research fellow in Public Health Nutrition&nbsp;at the University of Southampton.



By investigating how reducing customers exposure to unhealthy food choices impacts store sales, regular purchasing patterns, and diets in a significant statistical sample, this study is one of the most comprehensive analyses of the effects of supermarket layout on customer choices and, implicitly, lifestyle and diet.



"We have been pleased to support this long-term study and the evaluation of how product placement in supermarkets can affect the diets of our customers,” said Matt Downes, Head of Format Development at Iceland Foods. “We know that childhood obesity is a growing issue and the retail industry has its part to play in tackling this. We hope that the outcomes of the study provide insights for the wider retail industry and policy makers about the impact of store merchandising on purchasing decisions.”



According to co-author Janis Baird, a Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology at the University’s MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, this study provides “novel evidence to suggest that the intended UK government ban on prominent placement of unhealthy foods across retail outlets could be beneficial for population diet, and that effects may be further enhanced if requirements for a produce section near supermarket entrances were incorporated into the regulation.”&nbsp;



The research was published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/">PLOS Medicine</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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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

Supermarket layout influences food choice and diet

Supermarket layout strongly influences customers’ food choices, according to a...

According to a new study published in <a href="https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP281838">The Journal of Physiology</a>, a high fat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-sense-of-smell-is-crucial-for-a-balanced-diet/">diet</a> fed to rats disturbs their brainstem body clock. Since this clock is essential for controlling satiety, such disturbances generally lead to over-eating and obesity.



The number of obese people has tripled worldwide since 1975. In England alone, 28 percent of adults are obese and over 36 percent are overweight. Obesity is known to lead to other health problems such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, strokes, and several types of cancers.



Until recently, scientists thought that the master body clock was located solely in the brain area called the hypothalamus. However, further research has shown that other parts of the brain and body also control our body’s daily rhythms, including hormone levels, appetite, and satiety markers. Specifically, the dorsal vagal complex (DVC), a cluster of neurons in the evolutionary ancient brainstem, has been found to control food intake by inducing a feeling of satiety.



Although it was known that, in obesity, daily rhythms in food intake and the modulation of eating-related hormones are blunted or eliminated, it has not been clear whether these disturbances in the brain areas controlling appetite are a cause or result of obesity.



Researchers from the <a href="https://en.uj.edu.pl/">Jagiellonian University in Krakow</a> and the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> found that rats fed with a high-fat diet showed significant changes in the DVC’s daily neuronal activities and responses to metabolically-relevant hormones, even before the rats began gaining weight. Thus, it appears that disturbances in the DVC’s timekeeping induced by high fat diets are important causes of obesity, rather than a result of excessive weight.&nbsp;



Although more research is needed in order to understand whether these processes are similar in the case of humans, this study is one of the first to discover a neurobiological basis of obesity, and thus to open important therapeutic pathways.



“I’m really excited about this research because of the possibilities it opens up to tackle the growing health issue of obesity,” said study first author Dr Lukasz Chrobok. “We still do not know what are the time cues which are able to reset or synchronise the brainstem clock. Hopefully, the restoration of daily rhythms in this satiety centre before or after the onset of obesity may provide new therapeutic opportunities.”



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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

Scientists reveal the neurobiological basis of obesity

According to a new study published in The Journal of...

Recent climate projections show that more frequent and extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-linked-to-extreme-winter-weather-in-the-u-s/">weather</a> phenomena are to be expected by the end of the 21st century. A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.716621/full">Frontiers in Water</a> found that Europe is headed towards an increasing number of extreme and severe droughts in the next decades.&nbsp;



According to the World Health Organization (WHO), <a href="http://archive">droughts</a> have a serious impact on health, economies, agriculture, and the environment, and affect around 55 million people around the globe annually. In Europe, the consequences of climate change have already been significant. Droughts have already caused major environmental, social, and economic turmoil, particularly in the years 2003, 2010, and 2018.



“Summer droughts are a highly relevant topic in Europe,” said lead author Magdalena Mittermeier of <a href="https://www.lmu.de/">Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München</a> (LMU) in Germany. “We find a clear trend towards more, longer and more intense summer droughts, in terms of a precipitation deficit, towards the end of the century under a high-emission carbon scenario (<a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-the-high-emissions-rcp8-5-global-warming-scenario">RCP8.5</a>).”



Professor Mittermeier and her colleagues divided Europe into eight regions with different climates (the British Isles, Scandinavia, mid-Europe, the Alps, Eastern Europe, France, the Mediterranean, and the Iberian Peninsula), and statistically modeled the probable frequency and intensity of droughts for each of these regions in the 21st century.



The team identified four “hot spots” which they believe will face most significant droughts by the end of the century: France, the Alps, the Mediterranean, and the Iberian Peninsula.&nbsp;



“Our study shows that unabated climate change will worsen the risk of hot-spot droughts drastically. But also, in some regions where droughts currently play a minor role, the future drought risk is expected to get serious. We show that the Alps should be considered an additional future hot-spot,” explained Professor Mittermeier.



“Unmitigated climate change, under the RCP8.5 scenario, will drastically increase the frequency, duration and intensity of summer droughts in many European regions. Such extreme effects can be avoided by climate mitigation. This is why consistent mitigation of climate change as agreed on under the Paris Agreement is highly relevant in terms of droughts in Europe.”&nbsp;



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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

Europe will face more frequent and extreme droughts

Recent climate projections show that more frequent and extreme weather...

Many different types of endothermic (“warm-blooded”) animals use their appendages, such as legs, ears or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geckos-rely-on-their-tails-to-survive-a-crash-landing/">tails</a>, to help regulate their body temperature. This phenomenon is governed by Allen’s Rule, which states that animals in warm environments will have larger appendages to enable them to dissipate heat more effectively.



A recent review, published by bird researcher Sara Ryding of Deakin University in Australia, documents changes in the sizes of thermoregulatory appendages in many animal species. The study finds evidence that temperature can be a strong predictor of morphological change in a diverse array of animal species and over a wide geographical range.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“A lot of the time when climate change is discussed in mainstream media, people are asking ‘can humans overcome this?',&nbsp;or ‘what technology can solve this?' It’s high time we recognized that animals also have to adapt to these changes, but this is occurring over a far shorter timescale than would have occurred through most of evolutionary time,” says Ryding. “The climate change that we have created is heaping a whole lot of pressure on them,&nbsp;and while some species will adapt, others will not.”



It is known that a bird’s beak is well supplied with blood vessels and that heat is lost through this appendage. In addition, the unfeathered legs of birds and sparsely furred legs or tails of mammals are often used to dissipate heat and keep body temperature constant. Large ears that are typical of rabbits and elephants have also been associated with a heat exchange function due to their sizeable surface area. As the climate continues to warm, these appendages will assume an even more important adaptive role.&nbsp;



Ryder and her colleagues found evidence in the published literature of increasing appendage size in response to climate change. This was particularly noticeable in several species of Australian parrots that have shown an increase in bill size of between 4 and 10 percent since 1871. This increase correlates with the summer temperature each year. Other bird species that have shown increases in bill length in response to climate change include Galapagos finches, great tits and red knots.



Mammals such as wood mice have shown increases in ear size, while tail and leg length have increased in masked shrews. Great roundleaf bats have shown an increase in wing size in response to climate changes. In addition, changes in temperature conditions in experimental laboratories have resulted in longer tails in mice, longer tails and bigger ears in pigs, and longer bills in Japanese quails.



“The increases in appendage size we see so far are quite small - less than 10 percent - so the changes are unlikely to be immediately noticeable,” says Ryding. “However, prominent appendages such as ears are predicted to increase - so we might end up with a live-action Dumbo in the not-so-distant future.”



In the long run, changes in the size of appendages such as legs, ears and tails will lead to changes in the overall proportions of animals in warmer climates. The authors term this morphological change “shapeshifting,” and see it as a poorly recognized but important response to climatic warming.



“Shapeshifting does not mean that animals are coping with climate change and that all is ‘fine,’ says Ryding. “It just means they are evolving to survive it - but we’re not sure what the other ecological consequences of these changes are, or indeed that all species are capable of changing and surviving.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/home">Trends in Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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

Animals are “shapeshifting” to survive climate change

Many different types of endothermic (“warm-blooded”) animals use their appendages,...

It is commonly known that sugar is harmful to our health. New research emphasizes the potential for health and financial gains in the U.S. if food and beverage companies were to reformulate their products to contain less sugar.



The new research study, undertaken by a research team formed across several U.S. health research departments and funded by the National Institutes of Health, calls for the reduction of sugar quantities in packaged foods by 20 percent and beverages by 40 percent. The recommendations are based on a new model that simulates and quantifies the health, economic, and equity impacts of sugar-reduction policies formed by the U.S. National Salt and Sugar Reduction Initiative (NSSRI).&nbsp;



The team has hypothesized that these sugar reductions in products could prevent almost 2.5 million cardiovascular disease events, 490,000 cardiovascular deaths, and 750,000 diabetes cases in the U.S. alone.&nbsp;



However, for the proposed policies to be implemented, it will be necessary for the government to monitor companies and their progress toward hitting these targets.&nbsp;



“We hope that this study will help push the reformulation initiative forward in the next few years,” explained study lead author Dr. Siyi Shangguan, who is a physician at <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/">Massachusetts General Hospital</a>.&nbsp;



“Reducing the sugar content of commercially prepared foods and beverages will have a larger impact on the health of Americans than other initiatives to cut sugar, such as imposing a sugar tax, labeling added sugar content, or banning sugary drinks in schools.”



The NSSRI model also shows that sugar reductions could save the U.S. over $150 billion across the lifetime of the current adult population if the policies are fully enforced. The study claims that these calculations have been conservative and thus the cost savings are likely to be underestimated. According to the experts, even partial industry compliance would generate significant gains in terms of both health and economy.&nbsp;



The U.S. currently lags behind other countries such as the UK and Norway in reformulating products to reducing harmful nutrients, but this study shows the potential for the U.S. to change this. “The NSSRI policy is by far the most carefully designed and comprehensive, yet achievable, sugar-reformulation initiative in the world,” said Dr. Shangguan.



Consumption of sugary foods and beverages directly correlates with levels of obesity and cardiovascular disease, representing the leading cause of mortality in the United States.



“Sugar is one of the most obvious additives in the food supply to reduce to reasonable amounts,” said study co-senior author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.&nbsp;



“Our findings suggest it’s time to implement a national program with voluntary sugar reduction targets, which can generate major improvements in health, health disparities, and healthcare spending in less than a decade.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/circ">Circulation</a>.



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

Reducing sugar in packaged foods can prevent disease in millions

It is commonly known that sugar is harmful to our...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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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



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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://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

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" 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 the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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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



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

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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