Do you recall those childhood days when you eagerly anticipated bedtime stories about Peter Rabbit, Toad or Ratty from The Wind in the Willows? Or the excitement that washed over you every time you opened a children's book teeming with playful, animated animals? 



Well, a new study is giving us a fresh perspective on the role of these furry, iconic characters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-s-books-animal-characters">Children's books animal characters</h2>



The research has shed light on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toddlers-learn-faster-after-witnessing-impossible-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">potential influence</a> of non-human characters in children's books.



The researchers aimed to gauge how these animal characters affected children's theory of mind skills - crucial abilities which include deciphering social changes in the environment based on voice tone, word choice, or facial expressions.



They worked with over 100 children aged five to 10, each of whom were tested on their theory of mind skills after hearing stories featuring animal characters, as well as those highlighting human characters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-vs-animal-characters-in-books">Human vs. animal characters in books</h2>



The study unveiled an interesting pattern. When exposed to stories centered around human characters, an age-related progression was observed. 



Older children were consistently outperforming their younger counterparts, with 3rd grade children surpassing the researchers' expectations in tests featuring human characters.



But the revelations didn't stop there. The tests that involved animal characters threw up another surprise. 



The younger participants were able to match the scores achieved by pupils in 3rd grade, who were two years their senior. That's quite a feat for our young champions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-insight-into-children-s-development">New insight into children's development</h2>



These findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, highlight the importance of both human and non-human characters in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-classes-improve-childrens-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">children's developmental stages</a>.



The research was led by Dr. Gray Atherton and Dr. Liam Cross from the University of Plymouth’s <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/psychology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Psychology</a>.



"Animals play a huge part of children’s stories, whether that is in books and comics or through TV and film. We wanted to test if that is down to more than simply liking the characters, and whether there are actual benefits of children learning through by watching or reading about animals and if this changes over time," said Dr. Atherton.



"Our findings showed that both human and non-human characters are important in helping children interpret the world around them, and that they play differing roles at different stages in their development. Adapting activities and lessons in nurseries and the early school years to take that into account could be hugely effective in helping to support their development."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-educators-and-parents">Implications for educators and parents</h2>



The insights gained from this study have substantial implications for educators and parents aiming to support children's cognitive and social development.



By incorporating both human and animal characters into books, educators can craft a more balanced learning environment that caters to the diverse needs of children across age groups. 



Parents, too, can enrich their children's home learning experiences by selecting a variety of stories that include both human and animal protagonists. 



This approach not only makes reading sessions more engaging but also aids in developing empathy and understanding of complex social scenarios.



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



While this study provides valuable insights, it also opens avenues for further exploration. 



Future research could go deeper into the types of animal characteristics that are most effective in nurturing children's theory of mind. For instance, exploring whether anthropomorphized animals or more realistic portrayals have differing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-who-use-humor-have-better-relationships-with-their-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">impacts</a>. 



Similarly, cross-cultural studies could investigate whether the affinity towards animal characters holds true in diverse cultural contexts. These inquiries could refine understanding and application in educational strategies, enhancing the efficacy of storytelling as a developmental tool.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-characters-and-autism-treatment">Animal characters and autism treatment</h2>



In previous studies, Dr. Atherton and Dr. Cross examined the factors influencing the educational and social development of individuals with autism and learning difficulties.



The experts launched initiatives proving how board and online games can bolster confidence among people with autism. 



Borrowing insights from this research, the scholars now plan to dig deeper to explore if their findings could provide specific benefits to children with such conditions.



Dr. Cross envisions a significant impact of this study on individuals with autism or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kids-with-behavioral-issues-have-high-cortisol-levels-in-their-hair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">other conditions</a> affecting their learning. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-way-of-looking-at-animal-characters">A new way of looking at animal characters</h2>



The researchers have observed how tasks involving animal characters can result in autistic individuals performing on par with non-autistic children. 



The plan is to replicate this study with autistic children in an effort to unveil more effective ways to support them at a critical stage in their development.



In a nutshell, this study has unraveled an entirely new dimension of how we view animals in children's books. 



Those delightful animal characters do more than simply entertain; they help shape our children's minds and understanding of the world around them in their formative years.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002209652400256X?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Child Psychology</a>. 



-----



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



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



-----

Animal characters boost social and emotional skills in children

Do you recall those childhood days when you eagerly anticipated bedtime stories about Peter Rabbit, Toad or Ratty from The Wind in the Willows? Or the excitement that washed over you every time you opened a children's book teeming with playful, animated animals? Well, a new study is giving us a fresh perspective on the role of these furry, iconic characters. Children's books animal characters The research has shed light on the potential influence of non-human characters in children's books. The researchers aimed to gauge how these...

In a matter of just three decades, Puerto Rican honey <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/hungry-bumblebees-bite-plants-to-make-them-bloom-early/">bees</a> have somehow become less aggressive and much more gentle than their "killer bee" predecessors. 

A new study may help to unravel this mystery, showing that aggressive behavior among honey bees is primarily influenced by the genetic traits of the hive as a whole, rather than by the DNA of individual bees.

Study co-lead author Matthew Hudson is a professor of Bioinformatics at the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</a>.

"We've always thought that the most significant aspects of an organism's behavior are driven, at least in part, by its own genetic endowment and not the genomics of its society," said Professor Hudson. "This is a signal that there may be more to genetics as a whole than we've been thinking about."

Africanized honey bees will swarm and attack an intruder, even far from the hive, to defend their territory. However, Puerto Rican descendants of these so-called killer bees have evolved to become much more docile. 

Previous research conducted by the Illinois scientists revealed that Puerto Rican bees still have most of the genetic traits of Africanized honey bees, except for a few regions of DNA that resemble European honey bees.

For the current investigation, the researchers examined nine honey bee populations in Puerto Rico.

"We wanted to know which parts of the genome are responsible for gentle behavior versus aggressive behavior," said Professor Hudson. "And because these are Africanized bees but they're also gentle, they are an ideal population to study. There's quite a bit of variation in aggression among them."

Upon the disturbance of their hive, honey bees that serve as guards chemically signal soldier bees to mobilize. Soldier bees that launch a full-blown attack and resort to stinging sacrifice their lives. Foraging bees, on the other hand, do not typically participate in violence to defend the hive.

The researchers analyzed the genetic makeup of soldier and forager bees from each of the honey bee colonies in Puerto Rico. They also examined the aggressiveness of soldier bees while defending the colony.

The experts found that there were no substantial differences in the genome sequences of soldier and forager bees that could explain why they respond so differently to threats.

However, when the researchers compared the collective DNA sequences of the most aggressive honey bee hives with the least aggressive hives, they identified a strong association between hive genomics and aggression. 

The study pinpointed one particular region of the genome that seems to have a major influence on the gentle or violent nature of a bee hive.

"Mostly these bees' genomes look like Africanized bees," said Hudson. "But there was one chunk that looked very European. And the frequency of that European chunk in the hive seems to dictate how gentle that hive is going to be to a large extent."

"What that tells us is that the individual genetic makeup of the bee doesn't have a strong influence on how aggressive it is. But the genetic makeup of the society that the bees live in - the colony - has a very strong impact on how aggressive the bees in that colony are."

Study co-lead author Professor Gene Robinson explained how the research relates to other species.

"Many behavioral traits in animals and humans are known to be strongly affected by inherited differences in genome sequence, but for many behaviors, how an individual acts also is influenced by how others around it are acting - nature and nurture, respectively. We now see that in the beehive, nurture can also have a strong genomic signature."

According to Professor Robinson, behavioral genomic influences may be particularly pronounced in honey bees, which live in an extraordinarily cooperative society where each individual has a defined social and functional role.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Killer bees are aggressive by nurture, not just by nature

In a matter of just three decades, Puerto Rican honey...

A new study from <a href="https://www.isglobal.org/en/home">Barcelona Institute for Global Health</a> (ISGlobal) suggests that blue spaces such as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/seaweed-infestation-beaches/">beaches</a>, lakes, or rivers provide mental health benefits. The experts report that short walks in areas that feature water can improve one's mood and overall well-being.

As part of the BlueHealth project, the researchers analyzed the physical and mental responses of 59 individuals before and after exposure to various settings.

During one week, participants spent 20 minutes each day walking across a beach in Barcelona. During a second week, the individuals spent 20 minutes a day walking along city streets. 

For the third week of the experiment, the participants were instructed to spend the same amount of time relaxing indoors.

Before, during, and after each activity, the heart rate and blood pressure of each participant was measured. The experts also used surveys to assess well-being and mood.

"We saw a significant improvement in the participants' well-being and mood immediately after they went for a walk in the blue space, compared with walking in an urban environment or resting," said study co-author Mark Nieuwenhuijsen.

After taking a short walk on the beach, participants reported improvements in their mood, vitality, and mental health. 

"Our results show that the psychological benefits of physical activity vary according to the type of environment where it is carried out, and that blue spaces are better than urban spaces in this regard," said study lead author Cristina Vert.

While cardiovascular health benefits were not identified, the researchers believe this was due to the short duration of the oceanfront walks.

"We assessed the immediate effects of taking a short walk along a blue space," said Vert. "Continuous, long-lasting exposure to these spaces might have positive effects on cardiovascular health that we were not able to observe in this study."

Previously, ISGlobal studies have documented specific health benefits associated with green spaces, including improved focus and attention in children, lower risk of obesity, and slower physical decline in adults. The new study provides evidence that blue spaces are favorable to mental health.

"According to the United Nations, 55 percent of the global population now lives in cities," said Nieuwenhuijsen. "It is crucial to identify and enhance elements that improve our health - such as blue spaces - so that we can create healthier, more sustainable and more liveable cities."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-research">Environmental Research</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Blue spaces improve mood and well-being

A new study from Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.amnh.org/">American Museum of Natural History</a> suggests that some of the biggest animals that ever lived had ancestors that were tiny. Researchers have discovered an ancient relative of dinosaurs and pterosaurs that was only four inches tall.

The fossil reptile, Kongonaphon kely, existed around 237 million years ago. The new species is also referred to as the "tiny bug slayer" because it appears to have survived on a diet of insects.

"There's a general perception of dinosaurs as being giants," said study co-author Christian Kammerer. "But this new animal is very close to the divergence of dinosaurs and pterosaurs, and it's shockingly small."

Due to a lack of fossil evidence, the origins of Ornithodira groups such as dinosaurs and pterosaurs are not very well understood. The fossils of Kongonaphon were discovered in 1998 in Madagascar by a team of researchers led by paleontologist John Flynn.

"This fossil site in southwestern Madagascar from a poorly known time interval globally has produced some amazing fossils, and this tiny specimen was jumbled in among the hundreds we've collected from the site over the years," said Flynn. 

"It took some time before we could focus on these bones, but once we did, it was clear we had something unique and worth a closer look. This is a great case for why field discoveries - combined with modern technology to analyze the fossils recovered - is still so important."

Kammerer explained that Kongonaphon is not the first small animal known near the root of the Ornithodira family tree, but such specimens were previously considered "isolated exceptions to the rule." It was assumed that body size remained similar among the first archosaurs and the earliest ornithodirans, before some creatures became gigantic.

"Recent discoveries like Kongonaphon have given us a much better understanding of the early evolution of ornithodirans. Analyzing changes in body size throughout archosaur evolution, we found compelling evidence that it decreased sharply early in the history of the dinosaur-pterosaur lineage," said Kammerer.

&nbsp;

The "miniaturization event" may have served as a survival strategy for early ornithodirans. For example, teeth marks found on Kongonaphon show that the tiny creature preyed on insects. This diet eliminated the need for the creatures to compete with their relatives for meat.

The research also suggests that feathers and other fuzzy skin coverings found on dinosaurs and pterosaurs may have originated to protect their small-bodied ancestors from the climate extremes of the mid-late Triassic period.

"Discovery of this tiny relative of dinosaurs and pterosaurs emphasizes the importance of Madagascar's fossil record for improving knowledge of vertebrate history during times that are poorly known in other places," said study co-author Professor Lovasoa Ranivoharimanana. 

"Over two decades, our collaborative Madagascar-U.S. teams have trained many Malagasy students in paleontological sciences, and discoveries like this helps people in Madagascar and around the world better appreciate the exceptional record of ancient life preserved in the rocks of our country."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dinosaurs may have descended from four-inch-tall ancestors

A new study from the American Museum of Natural History...

In recent years, scientists have begun to unravel the structural changes that take place in a woman's brain during <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/vegetable-consumption-before-pregnancy-lowers-risk-of-preterm-birth/">pregnancy</a> and after childbirth.

One study published in Nature Neuroscience showed that brain remodeling persists for as long as two years after a child is born, and the modifications may play a key role in the transition to motherhood.

A new study from the <a href="https://www.sfn.org/">Society for Neuroscience</a> has produced even more evidence that neural modifications help moms adapt. Using a mouse model, the researchers found that motherhood takes over the brain's decision-making regions to prioritize caring for offspring. 

The brain's medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) filters relevant information to help us make decisions. This process often involves choosing between conflicting stimuli that can be very powerful, such as when a mother who is addicted to drugs must decide whether to seek drugs or care for her child.

The infralimbic and prelimbic cortices of the (mPFC) have been shown to control behavior in different ways. The prelimbic cortex has been implicated in the expression of drug-seeking behavior, while the infralimbic cortex is thought to suppress such behavior.

The most effective addiction therapies for new moms emphasize the relationship between the mother and infant. With this in mind, the study authors theorized that there must be a region of the brain that guides a mother to prioritize offspring over drugs.

To investigate, the researchers temporarily deactivated the infralimbic and prelimbic cortices  in mice and then gave them the choice between a room with their pups or a room with cocaine. Prior to this trial, 40 percent of the mice showed a preference for their pups, 40 percent showed a preference for cocaine, and 20 percent were neutral.

The study revealed that when the infralimbic cortex was deactivated, none of the mice chose the pup room and 78 percent chose the cocaine room. On the other hand, when the infralimbic cortex remained active, most mice selected the pup room and none entered the room with drugs.

The researchers concluded that during motherhood, the brain recruits the power of the infralimbic cortex to prioritize caring for offspring over competing inclinations. The study showed that when the infralimbic cortex was shut down, mothers were less protective and nurturing toward their babies.

The research is published in the <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/">Journal of Neuroscience</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Neural changes help guide decisions in motherhood

In recent years, scientists have begun to unravel the structural...

In a new study published by the <a href="https://www.europeanlung.org/">European Lung Foundation</a>, experts have found that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nearly-half-of-u-s-teens-have-been-harassed-by-a-partner/">teenagers</a> who stay up late are more prone to allergy and asthma issues than those who go to bed earlier.

Previous research established a strong link between asthma and the body's circadian rhythm, with symptoms worsening in the early morning hours. The current study is the first to examine sleep patterns and asthma risk among teens.

According to the researchers, the study reinforces the importance of sleep timing for teenagers and opens up a new channel of research into how sleep affects respiratory health.

"Asthma and allergic diseases are common in children and adolescents across the world and the prevalence is increasing. We know some of the reasons for this increase, such as exposure to pollution and tobacco smoke, but we still need to find out more," explained study lead author Dr. Subhabrata Moitra, who conducted the research at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.

"Sleep and the 'sleep hormone' melatonin are known to influence asthma, so we wanted to see if adolescents' preference for staying up late or going to bed early could be involved in their asthma risk."

The investigation was focused on data from the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Asthma and Allergy-Related Diseases among Adolescents (PERFORMANCE) study, involving 1,684 adolescents living in West Bengal, India.

The participants reported on any wheezing, asthma, or allergy symptoms - such as a runny nose and sneezing. 

The teens were asked questions regarding what time of the evening or night they feel tired, when they choose to wake up, and how tired they feel first thing in the morning. This information was used to classify the teens as being evening types, morning types, or somewhere in between.

When the researchers compared the teenagers' medical symptoms with their sleep preferences, they found that asthma was around three times more prevalent among teens who preferred to fall asleep later at night. The study also revealed that the risk of allergic rhinitis was twice as high in adolescents who went to bed and woke up later.

"Our results suggest there's a link between preferred sleep time, and asthma and allergies in teenagers," said Dr. Moitra. "We can't be certain that staying up late is causing asthma, but we know that the sleep hormone melatonin is often out of sync in late-sleepers and that could, in turn, be influencing teenagers allergic response."

"We also know that children and young people are increasingly exposed to the light from mobile phone, tablets, and other devices, and staying up later at night. It could be that encouraging teenagers to put down their devices and get to bed a little earlier would help decrease the risk of asthma and allergies. That's something that we need to study more."

Professor Thierry Troosters,  president of the European Respiratory Society, commented on the research. 

"We need to know much more about why asthma and allergies are rising in children and teenagers and, hopefully, find ways to reduce these conditions," said Dr. Troosters.

"This is the first study to examine the possible role of different sleep preferences in teenagers' risk of asthma and allergies, and it opens up an interesting and important new line of research. We already know that sleeping well is important for physical and mental health, so we should continue to encourage teenagers to get a good night's sleep."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://openres.ersjournals.com/">ERJ Open Research</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Teens who stay up late have more asthma and allergy issues

In a new study published by the European Lung Foundation,...

A new study has revealed that some features of wireless home security cameras could easily compromise the user's safety. The research shows that it is possible to learn compromising details of a homeowner's activity without even accessing the video footage itself.

Internet Protocol (IP) cameras are installed and connected to the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/internet-changing-our-brains/">internet</a> for remote viewing. These wireless security cameras are growing in popularity, with the global market expected to reach $1.3 billion over the next couple of years. 

An international team of researchers set out to investigate the potential privacy risks of a major brand of wireless security cameras. 

The experts analyzed whether an attacker could obtain private information about the activity and whereabouts of a camera's owner by passively tracking the uploaded data without any of the actual video content.

"Once considered a luxury item, these cameras are now commonplace in homes worldwide. As they become more ubiquitous, it is important to continue to study their activities and potential privacy risks," said study co-author Dr. Gareth Tyson from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/">Queen Mary University of London</a>. 

The analysis showed that the traffic generated by the cameras could be monitored and used to predict when a house is unoccupied.

The researchers also determined that future activity within the monitored home could be predicted based on past traffic data, leaving users at a higher than of break-ins and burglaries.

The experts confirmed that attackers could detect when the camera was uploading motion, and could even distinguish between certain types of motion, such as walking or sitting. This information was implied through the rate at which data was uploaded by the cameras to the internet, rather than through the video footage itself.

"Whilst numerous studies have looked at online video streaming, such as YouTube and Netflix, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which looks in detail at video streaming traffic generated by these cameras and quantifies the risks associated with them," said Dr. Tyson. "By understanding these risks, we can now look to propose way to minimize the risks and protect user privacy."

The findings were presented at the <a href="https://infocom2020.ieee-infocom.org/">IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications</a> (InfoComm 2020).

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wireless security cameras have unexpected privacy risks

A new study has revealed that some features of wireless...

The Earth's magnetic field can change direction up to ten times faster than previously realized, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a> and UC San Diego.

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nasa-satellites-are-monitoring-the-sahara-dust-cloud/">Satellites</a> have improved efforts to  measure and track the ever-shifting magnetic field in recent years, but scientists also need to examine how the field has changed and evolved throughout history.

"We have very incomplete knowledge of our magnetic field prior to 400 years ago," said study co-author Dr. Chris Davies. "Since these rapid changes represent some of the more extreme behavior of the liquid core they could give important information about the behavior of Earth's deep interior."

The magnetic field is generated by electric currents that flow in the planet's molten core. The currents are hundreds of miles wide and pass through the crust into outer space. 

The field does not just help to guide navigation systems, but also protects the atmosphere from damaging solar winds and prevents extraterrestrial radiation from reaching the planet.

To measure the magnetic field back through geological time, experts typically analyze sediments, lava flows, and human-made artifacts. However, the rates of changes estimated through these types of studies are not necessarily accurate.

In the new study, the researchers tried out a different approach by combining computer simulations with a recently published reconstruction of time variations in Earth's magnetic field spanning the last 100,000 years.

The most recent estimates report that the magnetic field changes up to one degree per year. However, the new study has revealed that directional variations in the Earth's magnetic field have historically reached rates that are up to 10 times faster.

The research showed that such rapid changes are associated with local weakening of the magnetic field. According to study authors, this means that the changes have generally occurred around times when the field reversed polarity or when the dipole axis moved far from the locations of the North and South geographic poles.

For example, the experts pinpointed a sharp change in the geomagnetic field direction of roughly 2.5 degrees per year 39,000 years ago. The shift was associated with a weak field strength in a confined spatial region off the west coast of Central America.

The analysis indicates that the fastest directional changes are associated with reversed movement across the surface of the liquid core, primarily at lower latitudes.

"Understanding whether computer simulations of the magnetic field accurately reflect the physical behaviour of the geomagnetic field as inferred from geological records can be very challenging," said study co-author Professor Catherine Constable.

"But in this case we have been able to show excellent agreement in both the rates of change and general location of the most extreme events across a range of computer simulations."

"Further study of the evolving dynamics in these simulations offers a useful strategy for documenting how such rapid changes occur and whether they are also found during times of stable magnetic polarity like what we are experiencing today."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Earth's magnetic field shifts ten times faster than expected

The Earth's magnetic field can change direction up to ten...

Dogs may help small <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-the-top-sources-of-empty-calories-for-children-and-teens/">children</a> learn to manage their emotions and develop more meaningful relationships. In a new study published by <a href="https://www.springer.com/">Springer</a>, researchers have found that children from households with pet dogs have improved social and emotional well-being compared to kids without a dog at home.

The experts analyzed survey data from the Play Spaces and Environments for Children's Physical Activity (PLAYCE) study, which involved 686 dog-owning households with children between the ages of two and five. For the PLAYCE study, parents assessed the physical activity and social-emotional development of their children.

After accounting for other relevant factors, the researchers found that children from dog-owning households were 23 percent less likely to have difficulties with their emotions and social interactions. 

In addition, children with dogs at home were 30 percent less likely to engage in antisocial behaviors, 34 percent more likely to share and show consideration, and 40 percent less likely to have difficulty interacting with other children.

Study co-author Professor Hayley Christian is a senior researcher at the <a href="https://www.telethonkids.org.au/">Telethon Kids Institute</a> and a professor at the <a href="https://www.uwa.edu.au/">University of Western Australia</a>.

"While we expected that dog ownership would provide some benefits for young children's well-being, we were surprised that the mere presence of a family dog was associated with many positive behaviors and emotions," said Professor Christian.

Children who engaged with their dogs often were found to reap the most rewards. Those who joined family dog walks each week were 36 percent less likely to have poor social and emotional development compared to those who did not walk with their dog at least once per week. 

In addition, children who played with their family dog at least three times per week were 74 percent more likely to regularly engage in considerate behaviors.

"Our findings indicate that dog ownership may benefit children's development and wellbeing and we speculate that this could be attributed to the attachment between children and their dogs," said Professor Christian.  

"Stronger attachments between children and their pets may be reflected in the amount of time spent playing and walking together and this may promote social and emotional development."

According to the study authors, the research is limited by its observational nature and does not establish the exact mechanism that links dog ownership to improvements in social and emotional development in young children.

Further research is needed to assess the social-emotional effects of different types of pets, and the potential influence of the attachment that children have to their pets.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/pr">Pediatric Research</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Dogs improve social and emotional well-being in children

Dogs may help small children learn to manage their emotions...

Scientists have identified two ancient groups of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-changing-where-migratory-birds-breed/">birds</a> that shared striking similarities despite the fact they evolved independently of each other in different parts of the world - millions of years apart. The findings reveal an incredible phenomenon in which giant penguins were succeeded by birds on another continent that looked and behaved just like them.

In previous work, scientists described the fossilized bones of the earliest known penguins. The fossils were uncovered in North Canterbury, New Zealand, and represented nine different types of penguins. The species ranged from the small penguins we see today to giant penguins that were 1.6 meters tall, which is the height of a five-foot-three human.

Much later in the fossil record - about 35 million years ago - a younger group of birds emerged in the Northern Hemisphere known as plotopterids. The fossils were recovered from sites in North America and Japan. Like penguins, plotopterids used their wings for swimming instead of flying. The last known plotopterids vanished around 25 million years ago.

For the current study, a research team including <a href="https://www.canterburymuseum.com/">Canterbury Museum</a> Curators Dr. Paul Scofield and Dr. Vanesa De Pietri compared the fossilized bones of plotopterids to specimens of three giant penguin species found in New Zealand.

The analysis showed that plotopterids and giant penguins had many features in common, including similar chests, shoulder bones, wings, and beaks. The anatomy of both species suggests they were strong swimmers that used their wings to propel them deep underwater to find food.

In both groups, there were subspecies that could grow to massive sizes. The largest known plotopterids were even bigger than giant penguins at over two meters long.

Despite the strong resemblance, plotopterids were more closely related to boobies, gannets, and cormorants than they were to penguins.

"What's remarkable about all this is that plotopterids and ancient penguins evolved these shared features independently," said Dr De Pietri. "This is an example of what we call convergent evolution, when distantly related organisms develop similar morphological traits under similar environmental conditions."

Dr. Scofield noted that some large plotopterid species would have looked very similar to the ancient penguins. 

"These birds evolved in different hemispheres, millions of years apart, but from a distance you would be hard pressed to tell them apart," said Dr. Scofield. "Plotopterids looked like penguins, they swam like penguins, they probably ate like penguins - but they weren't penguins."

The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14390469">Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Ancient birds looked and behaved like giant penguins 

Scientists have identified two ancient groups of birds that shared...

Nearly half of U.S. teens have been harassed by a partner. Experts at the <a href="https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/">Boston University School of Medicine</a> have investigated the prevalence of mental <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/parent-risk-factors-child-abuse/">abuse</a> in teen relationships. The study revealed that nearly half of U.S. teens between the ages of 12 and 18 have been stalked or harassed by a partner.

The research is part of the first nationally-representative study of non-physical youth dating abuse.

"These victimization and perpetration numbers are unacceptably high," said study lead author Dr. Emily Rothman. "Unfortunately, they are in line with estimates of similar problems like dating and sexual violence victimization, so they are both shocking and unsurprising at the same time."

According to Dr. Rothman, previous research shows that harassing behaviors, such as destroying belongings or going through social media accounts, can lead to physical violence. She said that especially now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, non-physical dating abuse needs to be recognized as real and harmful in its own right.

"Adolescents have already been fully aware of how harmful online forms of abuse can be - that it's valid to be interested in that and to try to address it," said Dr. Rothman. "COVID has in some ways made parents, teachers, and other adults more willing to see, right now, that what we do online matters and is fully part of our real lives."

The research was focused on data from the ongoing Survey on Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence (STRiV) study. The team analyzed survey responses from 148 boys and 172 girls who were currently in relationships or had been in the past year. 

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/social-media-mental-health/">Teens</a> reported on whether a partner had ever followed or spied on them, damaged something that belonged to them, or gone through their social media accounts. The adolescents were also asked if they had ever engaged in these threatening behaviors themselves.

The analysis showed that rates of perpetration and victimization were similar for boys and girls. Nearly 45 percent of boys and  more than 51 percent of girls had been stalked or harassed by a partner. In addition, 46.5 percent of boys and 50.6 percent of girls identified themselves as a perpetrator.

Upon further analysis, the researchers found that girls are at a higher risk of being a victim or perpetrator of harassment if they live in neighborhoods with higher rates of violent crime, or use marijuana or alcohol. For boys, the risk of involvement in dating abuse is higher if they have strained relationships with their parents or live in neighborhoods with higher rates of violent crime. 

More research is needed to investigate these associations, but the findings show that dating abuse is shaped by forces larger than the individual, said Dr. Rothman.

"We know from intervention research that the way to prevent stalking and harassment, or sexual and dating violence, is partly about addressing how young people think about relationships, gender norms, and improving their social-emotional skills, but these are also influenced by the context in which they are operating."

"So, addressing racism, poverty, homophobia, misogyny, and disability-related discrimination is part of the solution, too," said Dr. Rothman.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/yas">Youth and Society</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Nearly half of U.S. teens have been harassed by a partner

Nearly half of U.S. teens have been harassed by a...

A new study has revealed that seismic activity can be increased by the impacts of severe storms. An international team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.gfz-potsdam.de/startseite/">GFZ-Potsdam</a> found that in Taiwan, a massive amount of erosion from a catastrophic <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/typhoon-chaba-intensifies-super-typhoon/">typhoon</a> temporarily changed the frequency of earthquakes.

Active mountain ranges like those found in Taiwan are positioned over "thrust faults," where breaks in the Earth's crust contain older rocks pushed above younger rocks. When the pressure becomes too powerful, the rocks break.

Usually, it is the continuous strain of moving crustal plates that causes faults to slip, and the resulting earthquakes cause landslides and erosion. In the new study, experts have revealed that the reverse is also true - landslides and erosion can trigger earthquakes.

Located in the western Pacific Ocean, the island of Taiwan is a hotspot for seismic activity. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot was the deadliest typhoon to impact Taiwan in recorded history.

The storm dumped unprecedented amounts of rainfall across the region. In a matter of three days, three thousand liters of rain fell per square meter. To put this in perspective, Berlin receives an average of 550 liters of rainfall per square meter in an entire year. The water led to widespread flooding and landslides, killing more than 600 people.

The researchers conducted a statistical analysis to investigate seismic activity following the typhoon. The study showed that there were significantly more small-magnitude and shallow earthquakes during the 2.5 years after Typhoon Morakot compared to the years before. Importantly, increases in seismic activity were only observed in areas that had experienced extensive erosion. 

"We explain this change in seismicity by an increase in crustal stresses at shallow depth, less than 15 kilometers, in conjunction with surface erosion," said study senior author Niels Hovius. 

Landslides move enormous loads, while rivers transport the material away from the devastated regions. Hovius explained that the removal of these loads progressively changes the state of the stress in the upper part of the Earth's crust, causing more earthquakes on thrust faults.

"Surface processes and tectonics are connected in the blink of an eye," said Hovius. "Earthquakes are among the most dangerous and destructive natural hazards." 

"Better understanding earthquake triggering by tectonics and by external processes is crucial for a more realistic assessment of earthquake hazards, especially in densely populated regions."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Powerful typhoon changed seismic activity in Taiwan

A new study has revealed that seismic activity can be...

In a new study published by <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">The BMJ</a>, experts have found that individuals who meet the recommended weekly levels of physical activity have a lower risk of death.

While the positive effects of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/exercise-can-reduce-or-prevent-vision-loss/">exercise</a> were observed regardless of intensity, the benefits of vigorous exercise were slightly higher than those associated with light to moderate activity.

Physical inactivity has been estimated to contribute to as much as ten percent of major chronic diseases that are non-communicable worldwide. In 2013 alone, sedentary behavior resulted in global healthcare costs of about $53.8 billion.

A growing collection of research shows that physical activity prevents a large variety of chronic diseases and reduces mortality. Governments have responded by establishing guidelines for physical activity levels.

In the United States, a minimum of 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity or 150 minutes of moderate intensity is recommended per week. In addition, the U.S. guidelines include muscle strengthening activities of moderate or greater intensity at least two days per week.

Even though the guidelines are well-established, however, it has been unclear how these standards relate to a potential reduction in mortality.

To investigate, an international team of researchers analyzed the correlation between physical activity - according to U.S. guidelines - and death from any cause. The experts also examined eight specific causes of mortality including cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, chronic lower respiratory tract diseases, accidents and injuries, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes.

The study was focused on data from the National Health Interview Surveys conducted between 1997 and 2014. 

The research involved 479,856 adults from 18 to 85, who reported on the amount of leisure time they dedicated to aerobic physical activity and muscle strengthening activity each week. This data was linked to national death records over an average of about nine years.

During the study period, nearly 60,000 participants passed away. In addition, only 16 percent met the recommended activity levels. The individuals who engaged in sufficient aerobic activity had a 29 percent lower risk of mortality from any cause, while those who engaged in sufficient muscle strengthening activity had an 11 percent lower risk of death.

Notably, participants who fully met the recommended activity levels - both sufficient muscle strengthening and aerobic activities - were found to have a remarkable 40 percent lower risk of death from any cause.

The study showed that adults who reached the recommended levels of physical activity had a lower risk of death from all eight specific causes. Those who engaged in sufficient muscle strengthening activity had a reduced risk of death from three causes: cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory tract disease.

"Our findings support that the physical activity levels recommended in the 2018 physical activity guidelines for Americans provide important survival benefits," wrote the study authors. "Additionally, in accordance with the guidelines, more physical activity than the minimum recommendation could provide greater health benefits."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">The BMJ</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Recommended physical activity levels tied to lower death risk

In a new study published by The BMJ, experts have...

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



---



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



---



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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