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>. 



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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...

We know that too much stress can impact health and wellbeing and even lead to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/work-stress-sleep-hypertension/">high blood pressure, insomnia</a>, and anxiety.

However, researchers from the <a href="https://www.bcm.edu/">Baylor College of Medicine</a> and the <a href="https://www.houstonmethodist.org/research/">Houston Methodist Research Institute</a> have discovered that a newly described type of stress called chromatin stress can improve longevity. 

A new study, published in the journal Science Advances, shows that chromatin stress triggers certain responses in yeast that increase lifespan. 

The research could help create new treatments for aging. 

The chromatin is a structure in the nucleus of the cells which is formed by DNA wrapping itself around histone proteins like beads on a string. As other proteins in the cells bind to the chromatin, it creates even more complicated structures. 

With chromatin stress, the structure is disrupted in a way that causes unwanted changes in gene expression. 

“Chromatin stress refers to disruptions in the way DNA is packed within the nucleus of the cell,” said Dr. Weiwei Dang, the corresponding author of the study. “One of the factors that influences chromatin structure is proteins called histones.”

For the study, the researchers studied how different amounts of histone proteins affected longevity in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 

If the yeast were genetically engineered to carry fewer copies of histone proteins, the researchers theorized that the yeast might have a shorter lifespan compared to non-genetically engineered yeast. 

But the team found the exact opposite to be true. 

“Unexpectedly, we found that yeast with fewer copies of histone genes lived longer than the controls,” said Ruofan Yu, the first author of the study. 

When the yeast had low doses of histone genes, there was much more chromatin stress, but this stress triggered responses in the genes that helped promote longevity and increased lifespan. 

In a previous study, the researchers found that increasing or overexpressing histone genes in aging yeast improved longevity, and now the researchers have found that decreasing the number of histone gene copies in young yeast also increases lifespan. 

“We have identified a previously unrecognized and unexpected form of stress that triggers a response that benefits the organism,” said Yu. “The mechanism underlying the chromatin stress response generated by moderate reduction of histone dosage is different from the one triggered by histone overexpression we had previously described, as shown by their different profiles of protein expression responses.”

If chromatin stress triggers the same kind of response in humans, it could lead to new interventions to help reverse the aging process. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/vchal

A moderate amount of stress could boost longevity

We know that too much stress can impact health and...

Vitamin D could help battle childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic across the world and according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm">Centers for Disease Control</a> (CDC), by 2016 nearly 1 in 5 school-aged children in the US was considered <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/societal-changes-obesity-epidemic/">obese</a>. 

There are many health risks associated with childhood obesity including the development of diabetes, metabolic problems, and heart disease later on in life. 

A new study, conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://en.uoa.gr/">National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School </a>in Greece, found that Vitamin D supplements could be an effective treatment for combating obesity in adolescents and children.

The research was presented at the 57th annual<a href="https://www.eurospe.org/"> European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology</a> meeting.

Vitamin D deficiencies are usually linked to poor bone health and not getting enough sun.

However, there is a growing body of research on vitamin D and it's potential to help with weight loss and reduce risk factors for metabolic disease and obesity.

To understand how Vitamin D impacts obesity rates in young people, 232 obese children and adolescents were chosen to participate in the study.

For 12 months, 117 of the child participants were given recommended regular doses of vitamin D. The researchers measured vitamin D levels and took blood samples to evaluate liver and heart health at the beginning and end of the study.

At the end of the 12 months, the 117 children who had been given vitamin D supplements had a lower body mass index, body fat and better cholesterol levels according to the results. 

“These findings suggest that simple vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of overweight and obese children developing serious heart and metabolic complications in later life,” said Evangelia Charmandari, the lead researcher of the study. 

The positive results of the study suggest that vitamin D may be a helpful asset in combating obesity and metabolic disease.

The researcher's next plan to study the impacts of Vitamin D supplements on children and adolescents with diagnosed health problems like high blood pressure and cholesterol. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Vitamin D could help battle childhood obesity

Vitamin D could help battle childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is...

Drink as a teen, and you may face liver problems as an adult. That’s the conclusion of a new study into the risks of alcohol consumption in adolescence. 

Studies have linked alcohol consumption to cirrhosis of the liver for decades, along with conditions like alcoholic hepatitis and fatty liver disease. 

Among alcoholics and chronic heavy drinkers, anywhere from 15 to 20 percent develop cirrhosis – liver damage that is, unlike fatty liver disease, irreversible. 

It turns out that when someone starts drinking may play a role in whether they develop cirrhosis, along with how much they drink.

"Our study showed that how much you drink in your late teens can predict the risk of developing cirrhosis later in life," lead investigator Dr. Hannes Hagström of Sweden’s <a href="https://www.karolinska.se/en">Karolinska University Hospital</a> said in a press release.

The new investigation used data from a 1969-1970 study of Swedish men conscripted into military service; during that period, conscription was compulsory and with few exceptions, only men who had severe disabilities were allowed to bow out.

This gave Hagström’s team around 49,000 men from ages 18 to 20 to include in their study. Using identity numbers with their conscription records, they checked to see how many of the men had developed severe liver problems including cirrhosis.

They then used information about alcohol consumption early in the men’s life to determine whether it played a role in their later liver problems. They found that the 383 men who had severe liver disease, liver failure or who had died from liver problems had a history of drinking more in late adolescence than their peers.

While the recommended alcohol limit for men is 30 grams, or about three drinks a day, the scientists found that even six grams of alcohol a day in youth can significantly raise the risk of developing cirrhosis later in life. 

"The present study adds to our knowledge about the risks of chronic alcohol consumption at a younger age," Dr. Alexandre Louvet of the <a href="http://www.chru-lille.fr/organisation-structure/hopitaux/98611.html">Hôpital Huriez</a> in France wrote in an editorial to accompany the study. "Safe levels of alcohol consumption must be revised for the general population and public health policies must be adapted accordingly.”

The study’s results are restricted to men; further study among women is needed, the researchers said.

The study was published in the <a href="http://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/">Journal of Hepatology</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Adolescent drinking can lead to adult liver problems

Drink as a teen, and you may face liver problems...

A new study shows that cleaning your hands not only revitalizes your skin but also stimulates your mind. Researchers at the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/">University of Toronto</a> discovered that hand washing redirects the brain and allows future goals to take priority over past goals.

Put those old aspirations in your rear view and focus on what is important going forward. This is what researchers claim is an unexpected benefit of washing our hands. The scientists found that the act of cleaning off dirt operates as a catalyst for mentally disconnecting from lingering notions associated with the past.

The research team set out to evaluate the underlying mental process that takes place during handwashing with a series of four tests. The examinations began with priming the participants to become aware of certain goals through the use of word games and surveys. Some of the individuals were then asked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/washing-hands-cold-water/">wash their hands</a> with sanitized hand wipes.

The participant who used the hand wipes became less inclined to reflect on past objectives. They were also less likely to behave in a way that would support their prior goals and less likely to place value on them. Their attention was easily shifted toward future desires.

“For people who were primed with a health goal, for example, using the hand wipe reduced their subsequent tendency to behave in a healthy manner - they were more likely to choose a chocolate bar over a granola bar,' said Ping Dong,  a PhD student who took part in the study.

The findings of this study are consistent with separate research at the University of Michigan which showed that individuals felt no need to justify their decisions after washing their hands. 

Dong pointed out that the experiments focused only on the short-term mental impact of handwashing. Further work will be needed to establish the long-term effects that handwashing routines have on goal pursuit.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/">University of Toronto</a>

Study: Washing our hands also refreshes our minds

A new study shows that cleaning your hands not only...

A new process has been developed by researchers in China that turns plant waste, derived from agriculture and timber harvesting, into aviation fuel. This new, more sustainable fuel could be the key to reducing CO2 emitted by air travel.

Published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(19)30085-6">Joule</a>, the process revolves around cellulose, an abundant polymer found in the walls of plant cells. Chain alkanes pulled from cellulose have been previously used in the production of jet fuel, however, the researchers say their new process produces more complex polycycloalkane compounds that can be used as high-density aviation fuel.

The study’s author Ning Li, a research scientist at the<a href="http://english.dicp.cas.cn/"> Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics</a>, believes this new fuel could push the aviation industry to commit to and be successful in going green.

"Our biofuel is important for mitigating CO2 emissions because it is derived from biomass and it has higher density (or volumetric heat values) compared with conventional aviation fuels," Li said. "As we know, the utilization of high-density aviation fuel can significantly increase the range and payload of aircraft without changing the volume of oil in the tank."

Li and his team found that cellulose can be “selectively converted” to 2,5-hexanedione using hydrogenolysis. The team then separated 2,5-hexanedione by converting the  5-methylfurfural in hydrogenolysis to 2,5-hexanedione, while keeping 2,5-hexanedione in the overall product unchanged. What they ended up with is a 71% isolated carbon yield.

The team then caused a reaction between hydrogen with the 2,5-hexanedione derived from wheatgrass cellulose to get their final product: a mix of C12 and C18 polycycloalkanes with a low freezing point and a density of about 10% higher than that of conventional <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/jet-fuel-biofuel-blend/">jet fuels</a>. The high density means the product can be used as a wholesale replacement fuel or as an additive to existing fuels to improve efficiency.

"The aircraft using this fuel can fly farther and carry more than those using conventional jet fuel, which can decrease the flight number and decrease the CO2 emissions during the taking off (or launching) and landing," Li said.

Because the process to produce this fuel is so cheap and sustainable, Li believes the fuel will be ready for commercial use in the very near future. The team must first work around using dichloromethane, found in paint removers, to break the cellulose down because the compound is considered an environmental and health hazard.

"In the future, we will go on to explore the environmentally friendly and renewable organic solvent that can replace the dichloromethane used in the hydrogenolysis of cellulose to 2,5-hexanedione," Li continued. "At the same time, we will study the application of 2,5-hexanedione in the synthesis of other fuels and value-added chemicals."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plant scraps can be used to make cheap and sustainable jet fuel

A new process has been developed by researchers in China...

Methanotrophic bacteria are known for their incredible ability to remove <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/melting-ice-sheets-release-methane/">methane</a> from the environment and convert it into fuel, but exactly how the bacteria initiate this transformation has been unclear. 

In a groundbreaking new study, experts at <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> have discovered that the catalyst for the methane-methanol conversion induces this complex reaction at a site that contains just one copper ion. 

“The identity and structure of the metal ions responsible for catalysis have remained elusive for decades,” said study co-senior author Amy C. Rosenzweig. “Our study provides a major leap forward in understanding how bacteria methane-to-methanol conversion.”

The results of the research may ultimately lead to the development of man-made catalysts that can easily convert methane to usable fuel.

“By identifying the type of copper center involved, we have laid the foundation for determining how nature carries out one of its most challenging reactions,” explained co-senior author Brian M. Hoffman.

[caption id="attachment_1872470" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/methane.png"><img class="wp-image-1872470" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/methane.png" alt="" width="650" height="393" /></a> The metabolic enzyme in methanotrophic bacteria catalyzes the conversion with one copper ion. Image Credit: Northwestern University[/caption]

Methanotrophic bacteria, also known as “methanotrophs,” are not only removing a harmful greenhouse gas from the atmosphere by converting methane to methanol, but are also producing fuel for electricity and vehicles that is sustainable and ready to use. 

The process that is currently used to generate a methane-to-methanol reaction is very demanding and requires tremendous pressure and extreme temperatures higher than 1,300 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, methanotrophs can deliver this service at room temperature without any additional requirements. 

“While copper sites are known to catalyze methane-to-methanol conversion in human-made materials, methane-to-methanol catalysis at a monocopper site under ambient conditions is unprecedented,” said study first author and graduate student Matthew O. Ross. “If we can develop a complete understanding of how they perform this conversion at such mild conditions, we can optimize our own catalysts.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

How bacteria can convert methane into a sustainable fuel

Methanotrophic bacteria are known for their incredible ability to remove...

Both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-treat-anxiety/">meditation</a> and focused breathing practice have been long-claimed to increase one’s ability to focus more clearly on tasks. Breath-focused meditation and yogic breathing practices are known to have a number of cognitive benefits, ranging from increased focus and positive emotions to decreased emotional reactivity and improved arousal levels. Despite this, no direct neurophysiological link has been found between respiration and cognition… until now. 

New research has shown for the first time that meditation and breathing exercises directly affect the levels of a natural chemical messenger in the brain called noradrenaline. 

Noradrenaline is released when we are focused, challenged, curious, exercised, or emotionally aroused — although hopefully not all at the same time. If produced at the right levels, it can help the brain develop new connections. This means that the way we breathe has a direct effect on our brain chemistry, and can enhance our attention as well as improve our brain health.

The research was done by scientists at <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/Neuroscience/">Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience</a> and the <a href="http://www.gbhi.org/">Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity</a>. They looked to measure study participants’ breathing, reaction time, and brain activity in an area of the brain stem called the locus coeruleus – where noradrenaline is made. The researchers discovered that participants who focused well while doing a task that necessitated a lot of focus had greater synchronization between their breathing patterns and their attention, compared to those who focused poorly.

“This study has shown that as you breathe in locus coeruleus activity is increasing slightly, and as you breathe out it decreases,” explains Michael Melnychuk, a PhD candidate at the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, and lead author of the study. “Put simply this means that our attention is influenced by our breath and that it rises and falls with the cycle of respiration. It is possible that by focusing on and regulating your breathing you can optimize your attention level and likewise, by focusing on your attention level, your breathing becomes more synchronized.”

The findings, published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14698986">Psychophysiology</a>, give a deeper look into the neurophysiological mechanisms that are behind ancient meditation practices. Additional research may help with the development of non-pharmacological therapies for people with attention compromised conditions like ADHD and traumatic brain injury.

“Our findings could have particular implications for research into brain ageing. Brains typically lose mass as they age, but less so in the brains of long term meditators,” says Ian Robertson, Co-Director of the <a href="http://www.gbhi.org/">Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity</a> and Principal Investigator of the study. “More ‘youthful’ brains have a reduced risk of dementia and mindfulness meditation techniques actually strengthen brain networks. Our research offers one possible reason for this - using our breath to control one of the brain's natural chemical messengers, noradrenaline, which in the right ‘dose’ helps the brain grow new connections between cells. This study provides one more reason for everyone to boost the health of their brain using a whole range of activities ranging from aerobic exercise to mindfulness meditation.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Meditation, breathing exercises noticeably improve brain health

Both meditation and focused breathing practice have been long-claimed to...

Our lives are strongly impacted by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/axial-cycles-antarctic-sea-ice/">astronomical cycles</a> including the rotation of the Earth on its axis and the rotation of the Earth around the Sun. These cycles determine the changing of the seasons and serve as a consistent way to measure time.

Geologists can use this astronomical clock to study major climate variation like the changes in the Earth’s orbit that helped bring about the ice ages.  

It’s possible to date these orbital changes thanks to the development of an astronomical time scale that dates geologic periods in relation to astronomical cycles going back millions of years. 

Researchers can match cycles in geologic archives to the cycles of an astronomical solution which is calculated by looking at planetary orbits backward through time. Think of the astronomical solution as a calculated astronomical parameter with a built-in clock which helps with archiving geologic periods.

However, this timescale or calendar has limits and only stretches back around 50 million years ago. Attempting to date geologic records and astronomical cycles before this time is hindered by something called solar system chaos.

Researchers from the <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawaii at Manoa </a>and <a href="https://www.uu.nl/en">Utrecht University</a> have found a way to get around solar system chaos and extend the astronomical time scale by eight million years.

The researchers analyzed data from drill cores dating back to the Early Eocene, 58 to 53 million years ago. The sediment data in the cores detailed the Earth’s elliptical orbit around the Sun or its eccentricity.

The researchers also calculated a new astronomical solution that matched the drill core data.

“This was truly stunning,” said Richard Zeebe, a co-author of the study. “We had this one curve based on data from over 50-million-year-old sediment drilled from the ocean floor and then the other curve entirely based on physics and numerical integration of the solar system. So the two curves were derived entirely independently, yet they looked almost like identical twins.”

The new astronomical solution was called ZB18a, and after testing 18 different computations, the new solution was the most accurate in terms of matching with the 50 million-year-old sediment core data.

The research has many wide-reaching implications, including the discovery that the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum was jump started by an orbital trigger which could help inform future climate studies factoring in the impact of astronomical cycles on climate.

The study was published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aax0612">Science</a>. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Rost9

Deep-sea sediments help scientists bypass solar system chaos

Our lives are strongly impacted by astronomical cycles including the...

Breakthrough may lead to better smelling, longer lasting roses. Soon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/roses-red-violets-blue/">roses</a> could last longer, smell sweeter and be pest-resistant thanks to gene editing technology.   

Breeding roses for color, appearance, or pest resistance, can take up to a decade, and even then there have been complaints that genetically modified roses lose some of their strong, attractive scents. 

This is why a team of French researchers decided to sequence the genome of a rose plant and use CRISPR technology, which can edit and cut DNA, to speed up the process of creating the perfect rose. 

The results were published in the journal Nature Genetics.

The researchers wanted to find a way to make roses resistance to common diseases and pests in hopes that it would extend their life after the roses are cut. 

Roses are of course highly valued both economically and aesthetically. Their scents are used in countless fragrances, perfumes, and bath products and a rose bush is a great addition to any garden. 

Finding a way to make the roses last and resist disease without sacrificing scent or appearance would be beneficial to florists, gardeners, and consumers alike. 

There are currently 200 species of the genus Rosa and roses were <a href="https://extension.illinois.edu/roses/history.cfm">first cultivated</a> 5,000 years ago. 

As part of the study, the researchers fully sequenced the genome of a garden rose for the first time in order to identify its natural traits and what genes are responsible for scent and color. 

The species Rosa chinensis, or ‘Old Blush,’ was used for the study because it was one of the first varieties of roses imported from China in the 18th century. 

In order to map the genome, the researchers extracted DNA from young leaves of the rose plant. 

After sequencing the rose, the researchers found more genes that give the rose it’s pleasant scent than were ever identified in previous research. The researchers also identified color genes and genes that could make roses last longer after they’re cut. 

Future studies could use this new information to edit the rose DNA using CRISPR technology to improve the rose’s scent, susceptibility to disease, and color. 

“I hope we will be able to change how these flowers look in the future and make them last longer with more of a scent, which is lost the longer roses stay in a vase,” said Mohammed Bendahmane, a co-author of the study.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Breakthrough may lead to better smelling, longer lasting roses

Breakthrough may lead to better smelling, longer lasting roses. Soon...

New research from scientists at the <a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/">University of Buffalo</a> has revealed a link between a plant compound found in red wine, called resveratrol, and anti-stress effects. 

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/red-wine-lung-cancer-prevention/">Resveratrol</a> can effectively block the expression of a stress-control enzyme in the brain, and therefore, the compound may be useful in future depression treatments.

This study is published in <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/neuropharmacology">Neuropharmacology</a>.

"Resveratrol may be an effective alternative to drugs for treating patients suffering from depression and anxiety disorders," said co-lead author Ying Xu, MD, PhD, a research associate professor in the <a href="http://pharmacy.buffalo.edu/">UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences</a>.

Resveratrol, found in the skins and seeds of grapes and other berries, was already known to have antidepressant effects, however its relationship to phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), an enzyme influenced by stress hormone corticosterone, which regulates the body’s response to stress, was unknown. 

When too much corticosterone is released, a person can develop depression and other mental disorders. However, as this study shows, resveratrol inhibits the expression of PDE4, and therefore provides neuroprotective effects against corticosterone. 

Although prescribing red wine for depression is certainly not the answer, the researchers hope that their discovery can help scientists develop depression treatments from a new angle.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Artemidovna

Resveratrol found in red wine offers new methods for treating depression

New research from scientists at the University of Buffalo has...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/">University of Tokyo</a> has demonstrated that exercise can change the connections in the brain that are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research, which was focused on a mouse model, showed that behavioral differences disappeared and structural differences were reduced after one month of treadmill <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/morning-exercise-improves-cognitive-performance/">exercise</a>. 
"Voluntary exercise can be a safe, drug-free way to improve overall health and now we have a better understanding of how exercise can positively change brain structure in ASD," said study lead author Professor Ryuta Koyama.

The study was performed in mice, and the researchers caution against expecting the same results in humans.

"A very important part of this research is that the mice were not forced to exercise - any physical activity was voluntary," said Professor Koyama. "If children are interested, they should be encouraged to do any exercise they want, but this research does not reveal how different activities might affect the brains of children with ASD."

Around ten years ago, a collection of small studies began producing evidence to suggest that regular exercise could improve the social difficulties and repetitive behaviors commonly observed among children with ASD. While many studies have investigated how exercise can make large-scale changes in healthy brains, there was no research to show how exercise may alter the brain structure of ASD patients. 

As they get older, the brains of children naturally trim away any redundant connections between neurons. A defining feature of autism is the presence of too many of these redundant connections in the brain. The results of the mouse model study indicate that exercise somehow activates the brain's normal pruning process. 

"Exercise likely enhanced the contrast between active and inactive neuronal connections so that the weak ones could be more easily targeted for removal," said Professor Koyama.

The ASD model mice display the same behaviors that are characteristic of neurodevelopmental differences. For example, they groom themselves repetitively, they interact less with new mice, and it takes them longer to start eating again when they are exposed to a new environment.

The researchers placed a running wheel in the corner of the cages so the mice could run as much as they wanted from the time they were four weeks old until eight weeks old, which is when mice reach adulthood. 

"Part of the variability of our data is that we could not give all mice the same amount of exercise. Some mice may have exercised just a little, some may have exercised very intensely," said Professor Koyama.

The researchers found that the ASD model mice who exercised exhibited behavior that was similar to healthy mice after just 30 days of gaining access to the running wheel.

Next, the researchers analyzed a brain structure called mossy fibers in the hippocampus, which is the site of neurogenesis in adults. In this area, neurons are often connected to dozens of mossy fibers sent out by other neurons.

This brain region is also equipped with immune cells called microglia, which alter the structure of the brain by overtaking less active synapses. The researchers noted that microglia had removed the less active mossy fibers in the brains of the mice that were on the spectrum, while sparing the active mossy fibers. 

According to the research team, the findings suggest that the connection between exercise and microglia should receive as much attention as future research focused on the causes of autism spectrum disorder.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/home">Cell Reports</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

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Exercise can help eliminate the excess brain connections of autism

A new study from the University of Tokyo has demonstrated...

The hardest part of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/crash-dieting-health-damage/">dieting</a> is the dieting itself. Not eating your favorite unhealthy foods can leave you dreaming about the sugary and fatty treats that got you into this diet in the first place. But these cravings for junk food that seem to grow the further we get into a diet are not just in your imagination.

“Craving for foods high in fat - this includes many junk foods - is an important part of obesity and binge eating,” says Jonathan Hommel, assistant professor in the department of pharmacology and toxicology at the <a href="https://www.utsystem.edu/institutions/university-texas-medical-branch-galveston">University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston</a>. “When trying to lose weight people often strive to avoid fatty foods, which ironically increases motivation and craving for these foods and can lead to overeating. Even worse, the longer someone abstains from fatty foods, the greater the cravings.”

Recently, Hommel and a team of UTMB researchers identified the brain circuits that may be able to act as a brake on binge eating and junk food craving. In a study published in <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/behavioural-brain-research">Behavioural Brain Research</a>, the researchers successfully inhibited fatty food seeking behaviors in rats who had spent a month eating a low-fat diet.

While multiple behavioral studies have shown that denying certain foods causes increased craving and motivation for that food, the brain mechanisms that lead to this type of overeating have not been identified. 

The UTMB team took rats that had been on a 30-day low-fat diet and trained them to work for fatty treats by pressing a lever. In order to measure craving and motivation, the amount of times needed to press the lever to receive a treat was increased until the rat gave up trying. In half the rats, the researchers blocked the effects of a brain chemical called neuromedin U receptor 2 within a region of the brain that regulates food intake. The other half were the control group, and did not undergo this procedure. 

It turned out that the rats who had been treated did not work as hard for fatty treats as the control rats. This may indicate that the researchers found new brain circuits that could one day help us better understand our own cravings – and maybe stop them entirely.

“While our findings are only the first step in a long process from the scientific lab to the doctor’s office, we are planning to develop new drugs to help curb those cravings,” says Hommel. “Although it may be years before the drug is ready, our research highlights some important features of food craving that may help you set realistic New Year’s resolutions.”

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why do food cravings seem to get worse when you’re dieting?

The hardest part of dieting is the dieting itself. Not...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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

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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



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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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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



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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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

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

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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

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

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...