Americans hear the same advice again and again - eat better and move more. Yet obesity keeps climbing. Almost 40 percent of adults live with it today. Healthcare costs soar past $170 billion each year.



Related diseases, including certain cancers, are rising too. If the answer were only diet and exercise, the trend would have reversed by now.



Scientists at <a href="https://www.uclahealth.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA Health</a> argue that something else is driving the epidemic. They point to stress, inequality, and life circumstances that change how the gut and brain work. 



These forces don’t just influence choices. They shape cravings, motivation, and biology itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-obesity-tied-to-social-pressures">Obesity tied to social pressures</h2>



The new review, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, shows how social conditions affect obesity. Researchers call these conditions social determinants of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-childhood-obesity-rate-is-expected-to-soar-by-2050/">health</a>. 



These includes income, education, neighborhood safety, healthcare access, childhood adversity, discrimination, and isolation.



Think of them as the backdrop of daily life, where cheap food options dominate, streets feel unsafe, health care is hard to reach, and stress never fades. 



Each of these pressures pushes the body toward weight gain, shaping how people eat, how much they move, and how they cope.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gut-microbes-influence-brain-cravings">Gut microbes influence brain cravings</h2>



The body has a messenger system linking the gut to the brain. Microbes in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-linked-more-to-food-than-fitness/">gut</a> release signals. The brain responds with hormones and chemical shifts. Together, they steer appetite and cravings.



Dr. Arpana Church, who co-directs the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center, describes this loop as central. 



“Our findings reveal that tackling obesity requires more than focusing on individual choices - it demands recognizing the powerful role that social and environmental forces play in shaping gut health, behavior and long-term health outcomes," said Dr. Church.



"Reversing the escalating obesity epidemic in America demands a dual approach - personalized, equitable care for individuals and bold, systemic policy reforms that address the root causes."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-fuels-obesity-patterns">Stress fuels obesity patterns</h2>



Financial stress shapes food choices. Families on tight budgets often buy processed meals because fresh produce costs more. 



Food insecurity makes obesity more common in both adults and children. Stress hormones then reinforce those eating patterns.



Neighborhoods also matter. Poorer areas often lack grocery stores, safe spaces, or healthcare. Violence and crime raise daily stress, pushing people toward food for comfort. Structural racism deepens the problem by concentrating disadvantage in certain communities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loneliness-changes-brain-responses">Loneliness changes brain responses</h2>



Isolation adds another layer. People without strong social ties process <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fat-soaking-microbeads-could-be-the-next-weight-loss-breakthrough/">food</a> cues differently. The brain becomes more sensitive to rewards, and food looks more tempting. 



At the same time, the gut microbiome loses diversity. Inflammation rises and cravings grow stronger.



“Research shows that social determinants of health - such as access to nutritious food, safe spaces for physical activity, access to resources such as education, grocery stores, and quality health care - are powerful drivers of obesity risk, underscoring the need to address the conditions in which people live, work and grow,” said Dr. Church.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-rewires-the-brain-and-body">Stress rewires the brain and body</h2>



Stress, poor diet, and discrimination don’t just change behavior - they rewire systems. Brain scans show less gray matter in areas that control motivation and self-control.



Chronic inflammation lowers dopamine, reducing satisfaction from normal rewards. Harmful bacteria flourish in the gut, weakening metabolism and insulin response.



Racism-related stress leaves its mark too. Repeated exposure alters <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-over-matter-brain-boosting-diet-could-enhance-focus-in-children/">brain</a> networks that handle emotions and decision-making. 



It also shifts gut chemistry, promoting inflammation. These biological changes make food an easy, almost automatic coping tool.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-childhood-stress-sets-obesity-patterns">Childhood stress sets obesity patterns</h2>



The review shows that these effects start young. Stress during pregnancy changes fetal development. Children may inherit altered metabolic responses before they’re born. 



After birth, breastfeeding, antibiotics, and early diet shape the microbiome further. Breastfeeding can lower obesity risk in adolescents, especially in disadvantaged families. 



Still, ongoing stress and poor diet often outweigh those protections. By the time children reach school age, the patterns are set.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community-resources-reduce-risk">Community resources reduce risk</h2>



Dr. Church emphasized that policy shifts are vital. Health care must expand. Schools need <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthy-foods-can-be-staged-to-look-more-appealing/">healthier meals</a>, and neighborhoods need grocery stores and safe parks. But individuals can still act within limits.



Choosing affordable nutritious food, keeping social connections, and practicing stress relief can all help. Walking outside, journaling, and gratitude exercises are simple tools. 



"At the same time, healthcare providers have a vital role to play, not only by screening for current social determinants of health, but also by recognizing how these factors accumulate and evolve over time, which is rarely accounted for in today’s clinical practice," said Dr. Church.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mindfulness-and-therapy-show-promise">Mindfulness and therapy show promise</h2>



Clinics are trying new strategies. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tai-chi-reduces-inflammatory-risks-in-cancer-survivors/">Cognitive behavioral therapy</a> helps people change eating habits. Mindfulness reduces stress-driven overeating. 



Researchers are also testing probiotics and even fecal microbiota transplants to restore gut health.



“By understanding these influences and tailoring treatment plans to account for biological and psychosocial challenges, providers can offer more personalized plans that improve outcomes, empowers individuals to take control over their health,” noted Dr. Church.



The message is clear: obesity is not only about food or exercise. It reflects stress, inequality, and biology shaped by the world outside. Until those pressures shift, the numbers won’t change.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1542356525007323" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology</a>.



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New study claims obesity is driven by these two factors, not just diet and exercise, upending current beliefs

Americans hear the same advice again and again - eat better and move more. Yet obesity keeps climbing. Almost 40 percent of adults live with it today. Healthcare costs soar past $170 billion each year. Related diseases, including certain cancers, are rising too. If the answer were only diet and exercise, the trend would have reversed by now. Scientists at UCLA Health argue that something else is driving the epidemic. They point to stress, inequality, and life circumstances that change how the gut and brain work. These...

A broad survey of Colorado dispensaries found that nearly half of all cannabis flower products are mislabeled. The THC potency listed on the package often doesn’t match what’s actually inside.



Most of the inaccurate labels overstate the amount of THC - the psychoactive compound in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-extract-cbd-proven-highly-effective-at-killing-mosquitoes/">cannabis</a>. By contrast, testers found that almost all of the concentrates examined - including oils and waxes - were labeled correctly. In fact, 96 percent fell within an acceptable margin of error.



These findings come from the first large-scale audit of potency labels in a legal cannabis market. The researchers provide a rare look at today’s cannabis potency, highlighting where testing is reliable and where it needs improvement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thc-labels-are-often-inaccurate">THC labels are often inaccurate</h2>



Study senior author Cinnamon Bidwell is an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a> and co-director of the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/center/cuchange/">Center for Health and Neuroscience, Genes, and Environment</a> (CU Change).



“Cannabis use has complex and wide-ranging effects, and we are working hard to better understand them,” said Bidwell. “While that research plays out, we should, at the very least, be providing accurate information about the amount of THC in these products.”



The <a href="https://www.instituteofcannabisresearchcolorado.org/">Institute of Cannabis Research</a> - Colorado’s official cannabis research institute - funded the project, which researchers carried out with <a href="https://www.medpharm.com/">MedPharm Research, LLC</a>, a licensed testing lab, manufacturer, and retailer.



“We want to instill and foster trust in products, and the only way to do that is to continually evaluate and correct any issues that might be discovered,” said Duncan Mackie, director of pharmacology at MedPharm and a co-author of the paper.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-reveals-true-cannabis-potency">Testing reveals true cannabis potency</h2>



Because federal regulations prohibit university scientists from purchasing or handling commercially available cannabis, the team collaborated with MedPharm to collect samples.



A “secret shopper” visited 52 dispensaries across 19 Colorado counties. They purchased 277 products: 178 flower items - including loose buds and pre-rolled joints - and 99 smokable concentrates, ranging from distilled oils to Moroccan hash and waxy “sugar.” Edibles were not part of this phase of the study.



The shopper photographed each label and anonymized every sample with a number. MedPharm chemists, blind to the labeling information, then tested each product.



Flower samples averaged 21 percent THC; concentrates averaged 71 percent, with some as high as 84 percent. For perspective, marijuana in the 1980s typically contained about 8 percent THC.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-thc-labels-fall-short">Where THC labels fall short</h2>



Colorado considers a cannabis label accurate if the product’s THC content is within 15 percent (higher or lower) of the printed value. Among flower products, 44 percent missed that mark. Of those, 54 items overstated THC levels, while 23 contained more THC than advertised.



Though the average discrepancy was modest - about two percentage points - some errors were large. One sample labeled 24 percent THC, for instance, tested at only 16 percent.



Concentrates fared much better: only four samples fell outside the acceptable range. “When it comes to concentrates, Colorado gets a good grade for labeling accuracy, but there are some real issues with flower,” Bidwell said.



Previous work in other states suggests some third-party testing labs inflate potency results, possibly to satisfy businesses seeking stronger-sounding products.



Yet concentrates, which are homogeneous oils, are easier to measure than the heterogeneous structure of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trema-micrantha-brazilian-plant-found-to-contain-cannabis-cbd-compound/%C3%B9">plant</a> material. 



This difference offers another explanation for why flower labels run off-target. Standardizing plant sampling methods could reduce label discrepancies, the authors note.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-labels-miss-key-compounds">Labels miss key compounds</h2>



Colorado requires labels to list <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-reduces-the-unwanted-side-effects-of-thc/">cannabidiol</a> (CBD) content, and 80 to 85 percent of products complied. However, only 16 percent included information on other cannabinoids, such as cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA).



Interestingly, the tests found greater quantities of CBG and CBGA - compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-relieves-anxiety-without-the-risks-that-come-with-thc/">anti-anxiety</a> effects - than CBD across product types. Yet labels rarely show those figures.



“Focusing on THC on the label can actually do a disservice for consumers, because it creates an environment in which people buy based solely on THC content,” Bidwell said. “Our data suggests that multiple other cannabinoids should also be reported there.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-edibles-will-be-examined-next">Edibles will be examined next</h2>



Backed by additional funding from the Institute of Cannabis Research, the team plans to extend its label audit to include edibles and other product categories.



As more states legalize cannabis for medical and recreational use, accurate labeling will become increasingly important for patient safety, informed recreational use, and public trust.



“We all want the same thing: a strong, successful industry that regulators can feel good about, businesses can thrive in, and customers can trust,” Mackie concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-03854-3">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Cannabis potency: Why you shouldn't trust the label

A broad survey of Colorado dispensaries found that nearly half...

Many people toast the end of the day with a five‑ounce glass of wine, hoping that ritual keeps heart trouble at bay. Two new analyses suggest the habit might offer real - if limited - protection for adults already at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.



The latest evidence comes from a Spanish arm of the long‑running <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28684083/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PREDIMED trial</a>. The study tracked 1,232 older adults following a <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16037-mediterranean-diet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean diet</a> and found that those who averaged roughly half to one glass per day had significantly lower heart risks. 



After five years, their risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiac death dropped by nearly half.



Researchers verified intake by measuring wine‑derived tartaric acid in urine instead of relying on memory, a switch that turned vague drink logs into hard numbers. 



The work was led by <a href="https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/professionals/ramon-estruch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Ramon Estruch</a> of the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Barcelona</a> and <a href="https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hospital Clinic Barcelona</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-reveals-true-wine-intake">Chemical reveals true wine intake</h2>



Questionnaires often miss what people actually pour, so scientists struggle to pin down alcohol’s true effects. Using the <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/11/1173" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grape‑exclusive metabolite tartaric acid</a> makes it possible to see how much wine someone enjoyed over the previous week without asking them to confess.



“By measuring tartaric acid in the urine, alongside food and drink questionnaires, we have been able to make a more accurate measurement of wine consumption,” said Estruch.



The study linked tartaric acid levels to self-reported wine intake, confirming it as a reliable consumption marker.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wine-s-effects-in-mediterranean-diets">Wine's effects in Mediterranean diets</h2>



Adopting such objective tools may help resolve decades of conflicting findings that swing from “red wine is medicine” to “no amount is safe.”



The investigators also adjusted for smoking, exercise, and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/to-get-fit-and-stay-healthy-walk-this-exact-distance-every-day/">lifestyle habits</a>, so the reduced risk cannot be written off as a simple marker of healthier living.



Importantly, tartaric acid only captures wine, not beer or spirits, letting researchers isolate how fermented <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-chemistry-of-wine-what-actually-shapes-its-texture/">grape products</a> behave inside a diet already rich in extra‑virgin olive oil, fish, and vegetables.



That context matters because many of wine’s plant compounds appear to interact with the broader Mediterranean plate, enhancing their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healing-chronic-wounds-with-gold-and-red-wine/">antioxidant reach</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-tied-to-small-servings">Benefits tied to small servings</h2>



Participants who logged between three and thirty‑five five‑ounce glasses a month, roughly half to one serving a day, saw their risk of a major cardiac event fall by 50 percent. Light users who stayed below half a glass a day gained a 38 percent cut.



Once intake climbed above one glass each day, the advantage disappeared and, in some analyses, reversed. 



That pattern mirrors American Heart Association <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidance</a>, which caps daily wine at one five‑ounce serving for women and two for men.



Men, who made up just under half the study group, appeared to draw a stronger benefit. However, statisticians caution that the sex difference may fade in larger samples.



Even within the favorable range, nurses warned that pouring size matters because many home glasses hold eight or nine ounces, inadvertently nudging people past the safer ceiling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-wine-different">What makes wine different</h2>



Wine carries a mix of polyphenols such as resveratrol, quercetin, and catechins that seem to boost the lining of blood vessels. 



Clinical <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34119624/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reviews</a> report that supplemental resveratrol can improve endothelial function, a key factor in healthy blood pressure and clot prevention.



Red wine has more antioxidants due to skin fermentation, though white wine still provides some. That biochemical cocktail may partly explain why studies often find beer or spirits lack the same signal.



Moderate alcohol itself can raise high-density lipoprotein (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/about/ldl-and-hdl-cholesterol-and-triglycerides.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HDL</a>), the so‑called “good” cholesterol, yet ethanol also raises triglycerides and blood pressure at larger doses. Polyphenols may tilt the equation back toward benefit, but only within a narrow window.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-too-much-wine-harms-the-heart">Too much wine harms the heart</h2>



A 2023 systematic <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802963" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> that pooled data from 4.8 million people found no reduction in all‑cause mortality among moderate drinkers once misclassified former drinkers were excluded. 



The authors warned that earlier optimism probably stemmed from comparing social drinkers with people who quit because of illness.



Heavy pouring is indisputably harmful. Even <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/07/31/even-just-1-alcoholic-drink-a-day-may-increase-blood-pressure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one extra daily drink</a> can raise systolic blood pressure by two to four millimeters of mercury, a change large enough to push many people into hypertension. Elevated pressure strains arteries, sets the stage for arrhythmias, and accelerates heart failure.



<a href="https://alcoholresearchforum.org/members/giovanni-de-gaetano/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Giovanni de Gaetano</a> noted that the biomarker approach “provides robust evidence that moderate wine consumption is associated with lower CVD risk. He cautioned that the same data “remind us of the risks associated with higher levels of consumption.”



Alcohol also carries addictive potential, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that roughly <a href="https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/media/releases/2014/p0626-excessive-drinking.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one in ten deaths</a> among working‑age adults is tied to excessive drinking. 



That sobering statistic explains why public health agencies repeat that zero is the only completely risk‑free dose.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wine-humans-and-heart-health">Wine, humans, and heart health</h2>



For adults older than about 35 who already follow a <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16037-mediterranean-diet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean diet</a>, a small glass of wine with supper may fit comfortably into a heart‑conscious lifestyle.



People who are pregnant, taking interacting medications, or battling addiction should not take the PREDIMED results as a green light.



Nutrients that give wine its appeal, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moderate-wine-consumption-reduces-cardiovascular-risks/">including resveratrol</a>, also reside in grapes, blueberries, nuts, and olive oil. Anyone who chooses to skip alcohol can still obtain similar antioxidant support without ethanol’s downsides.



Clinicians emphasize that no one should start drinking for health reasons. Instead, the sensible takeaway is that very modest wine, enjoyed with meals and within established limits, is unlikely to harm. It might even help certain high‑risk adults when paired with vegetables, fish, and extra‑virgin olive oil.



The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/46/2/161/7920812" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Heart Journal</a>.



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How a glass of wine a day affects your heart, according to doctors

Many people toast the end of the day with a...

Suffering with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a child is difficult enough. Now, scientists tell us that those who suffer from ASD and ADHD also face higher vulnerability to common plastic pollutants.



A recent study found that their bodies detoxify <a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bisphenol A (BPA)</a> less efficiently than neurotypical peers, increasing the time their tissues are exposed to this chemical.



<a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6148-2363" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. T. Peter Stein</a> of <a href="https://som.rowan.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rowan‑Virtua School</a> of Osteopathic Medicine led the study. Researchers measured urine glucuronidation, the liver process that adds a sugar molecule to BPA so it can be excreted.&nbsp;



Children with ASD and ADHD had reduced BPA detoxification efficiency compared to the control group. 



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28770280/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BPA glucuronidation</a> was about 11% lower in the ASD group and 17% lower in those with ADHD, while differences in <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5842715/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phthalate DEHP</a> detoxification followed the same trend but were not statistically significant.



Children with ASD and ADHD often have weaker detox systems, leaving them exposed to BPA in the body longer. 



That doesn’t guarantee illness from BPA but raises concern. Stein noted that this was the “first hard biochemical evidence” linking impaired BPA clearance to <a href="https://www.epa.gov/americaschildrenenvironment/health-neurodevelopmental-disorders" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neurodevelopmental disorders</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-asd-and-adhd">Understanding ASD and ADHD</h2>



<a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Individuals with ASD</a> often face challenges in social communication and exhibit restricted or repetitive behaviors. 



They might have difficulty interpreting social cues, maintaining eye contact, or adjusting to changes in routine. 



Sensory sensitivities - such as heightened responses to light, sound, or textures - are also common. ASD presents across a wide spectrum, so the degree and nature of symptoms can vary greatly from person to person.



In contrast, ADHD primarily involves persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning. 



<a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">People with ADHD</a> may struggle to focus, stay organized, or complete tasks, often acting without thinking or having trouble sitting still. 



While ADHD and ASD are separate diagnoses, they can co-occur, and some traits overlap - such as difficulties with executive function and emotional regulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bpa-exposure-in-children">BPA exposure in children</h2>



<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/glucuronidation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glucuronidation</a> converts toxins like BPA into water‑soluble compounds that exit via urine. In this study, mass spectrometry tracked both bound and unbound BPA. 



A lower percentage of detoxification indicated less efficient excretion. Stein’s team confirmed the effect held true even when accounting for urine strength using creatinine levels.



Of twelve detox pathways tested, only BPA and DEHP stood out, suggesting a specific vulnerability rather than a broad weakness. 



Comparing results with metabolomic profiles, ASD and ADHD children showed unique patterns tied to BPA metabolism that controls did not share.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bpa-detox-with-adhd-and-asd">BPA detox with ADHD and ASD</h2>



BPA and DEHP act as <a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">endocrine disruptors</a>, interfering with hormone signals. If detoxification is compromised, these chemicals linger longer in the body during critical phases of brain development. 



Though genetic vulnerability may play a role, this adds a measurable biological mechanism to the environmental risk picture.



Sterile in lab animals, DEHP affects neurodevelopment via epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation. A recent <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.03.641339" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> of prenatal exposure in 847 Australian children linked DEHP levels to later ASD and ADHD symptoms. 



<a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/the-role-of-methylation-in-gene-expression-1070/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Methylation</a> in key genes and neural cell networks showed mediation effects between 21% and 80%. These epigenetic footprints reinforce the idea that plastics can affect neurodevelopment through non-genetic pathways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-environmental-links">Evidence of environmental links</h2>



This study builds on a large body of research connecting neurodevelopmental disorders to environmental pollutants. 



<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK201995/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Epidemiological studies</a> have associated prenatal exposure to air pollution, flame retardants, and pesticides with elevated ASD and ADHD risk. 



The common thread in these findings is timing; exposure during pregnancy and early life seems to matter most.



Regulatory bodies have long debated what constitutes a “safe” exposure level for these chemicals. 



The <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-packaging-other-substances-come-contact-food-information-consumers/bisphenol-bpa-use-food-contact-application" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Food and Drug Administration</a> and the <a href="https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/bisphenol" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Food Safety Authority</a> have reviewed BPA safety multiple times, but the growing evidence suggests current thresholds may not be low enough for sensitive populations, especially children with neurodevelopmental conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-all-of-this-mean">What does all of this mean?</h2>



This study doesn’t claim BPA or DEHP cause <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-with-autism-benefit-from-learning-multiple-languages/">autism</a> or ADHD. But it does show that children with these conditions often metabolize these chemicals less efficiently. 



Because BPA exposure is widespread (found in everything from food can liners to thermal paper) this raises questions about safety thresholds for all kids, not just those with ASD or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/autism-and-adhd-disorders-directly-linked-amount-of-time-kids-spend-on-screens/">ADHD</a>.



Reducing reliance on BPA and phthalates in daily life (choosing glass or stainless steel containers, fresh food over cans, and avoiding receipts) can help limit exposure. 



Policy swings already reflect this concern: several countries are phasing out DEHP and tightening BPA regulations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bpa-plastics-and-the-future">BPA, plastics, and the future</h2>



Future studies could investigate whether impaired detoxification is present from birth or develops over time. Longitudinal tracking of exposure, detox pathway function, and neurodevelopment could help answer this. 



Researchers also recommend examining genetic variants in detox enzymes, which might identify individuals most at risk.



On the epigenetic side, researchers are starting to connect prenatal chemical exposure to long‑term <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-your-dna-information-safe-scientists-warn-of-cyber-threats/">DNA</a> changes in specific brain regions, pointing to windows of vulnerability. 



That knowledge could eventually guide nurse‑led intervention, dietary changes, or policies to protect early brain development.



Children with ASD and ADHD are at a double vulnerability: genetic and developmental differences and a slower ability to clear everyday pollutants. 



While this study doesn’t offer advice on treatment or diagnosis, it certainly does ask parents and policymakers to seriously consider chemical exposure in early childhood and pregnancy as a significant factor in neurodevelopment.



The study is published in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0289841" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS ONE</a>.



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Scientists link a common chemical in plastics to autism and ADHD in children

Suffering with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)...

Family ties span generations in ways that often go unnoticed. Beyond the immediate household, the quiet bond between grandparents and grandchildren can play a powerful role in shaping lives.



A recent study by Olivia Healy and Rachel Dunifon at <a href="https://www.cornell.edu">Cornell University</a> sheds light on these overlooked ties.



Grandparents have long played an important role in families. They offer guidance, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/speech-pattern-wfd-that-is-a-clear-indication-a-person-is-in-cognitive-decline/">care</a>, and sometimes even financial support. Prior to this study, however, little was known about how close most children live to their grandparents. 



The researchers explored this connection using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), a major long-term survey that collects detailed information about American households. 



The study revealed that many children live surprisingly near their grandparents. This closeness affects how families share time, care, and resources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-kids-live-near-grandparents">Many kids live near grandparents</h2>



Earlier studies measured proximity using broad ranges, such as within 25 or 30 miles. That approach left out crucial details about families living extremely close together.



Healy and Dunifon used precise geographic data from the PSID. They measured distances down to census blocks - the smallest geographic units available in census data. This allowed them to see exactly how many children lived within walking distance of their grandparents.



The analysis showed that nearly half of American grandchildren live within 10 miles of a grandparent. About 13 percent of grandchildren live within just one mile. Surprisingly, this group is just as large as the group living 500 miles or more away.



The numbers suggest that many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/losing-loved-ones-can-speed-up-biological-aging/">families</a> have daily opportunities for interaction and mutual support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-families-living-nearby-often-face-struggles">Families living nearby often face struggles</h2>



Living near grandparents is not evenly spread across all families. The researchers found clear differences based on education, income, and family structure.



Families living closer to grandparents tend to face more economic challenges. Many have lower levels of education, and unmarried parents are more common in these households. 



For example, 39 percent of mothers living within one mile of a grandparent have a high school degree or less. This compares to just 20 percent for families living at least 500 miles away.



These nearby families also tend to have lower household incomes and more single-parent households. Incomes for these close-knit families are often far below those of families living farther away.



Additionally, maternal grandparents are more likely to live near their grandchildren. The study found that 63 percent of close-living families were near the maternal side, compared to only 51 percent for those at greater distances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-families-share-more-time">Nearby families share more time</h2>



Proximity has a powerful effect on how much time <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/friends-family-members-and-guardians-dogs-are-more-than-just-pets/">families</a> spend helping each other. Healy and Dunifon found that the closer families live, the more time they exchange.



Among families living within one mile of a grandparent, 61 percent reported receiving help from grandparents. Nearly the same share, 62 percent, reported providing help in return. 



These families often devote many hours to helping one another. Those living within one mile received a median of 208 hours of help per year and provided 128 hours in return.



The numbers drop sharply as distance increases. Families living 500 miles or more away reported far fewer hours of shared help. The researchers confirmed that these differences were meaningful through statistical testing.



“Substantial numbers of grandchildren live very close to a grandparent,” said Dunifon. “Additionally, our results reveal that the characteristics of families living very close to grandparents differ from the characteristics of those living just a little farther away.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-of-monetary-support">Limits of monetary support</h2>



Interestingly, financial exchanges do not follow the same pattern as time-based support. The study found little difference in the likelihood of receiving money from grandparents based on distance.



Roughly one-fourth of families across most distance categories received money from grandparents. One exception stood out: families living more than 500 miles away reported higher median financial support, about $2,000 annually. 



However, this spike did not suggest a consistent pattern of greater financial help among distant families.



When it came to giving money back to grandparents, proximity mattered slightly. Families living within 1 mile were somewhat more likely to provide financial assistance to grandparents than those living farther away.



Still, the key finding remained clear. Time-based exchanges dominate family interactions at close distances. Money plays a smaller, less predictable role.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-childcare-support-from-grandparents">Childcare support from grandparents </h2>



The study’s findings carry important lessons for understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-couples-consider-their-pets-as-children-redefining-concepts-of-family-and-parenting/">modern family</a> life. Families living near grandparents often build daily habits around mutual support.



“This suggests that family members living in very close proximity are highly embedded in each other’s lives," noted Dunifon.



Many of these time transfers likely involve childcare. This has wide-reaching effects. Grandparents can ease the burdens of working parents by caring for young children. Parents benefit from added help, while grandparents may gain emotional rewards from spending time with grandchildren.



Studies suggest that grandparents feel greater well-being when involved with their grandchildren. This highlights the potential benefits of these close living arrangements for all generations involved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-near-grandparents-strengthens-bonds">Living near grandparents strengthens bonds </h2>



This research stands out for focusing specifically on families with children. Previous studies largely focused on parents and adult children, often ignoring the presence of grandchildren.



By including grandchildren, Healy and Dunifon offer a more complete picture of family support networks. They also examined how distance shapes both time and money transfers, showing that proximity creates stronger daily connections.



“We highlight the significant numbers of grandchildren living in very close proximity to their grandparents and demonstrate that geographic distance, at a very fine scale, is linked to important time investments to and from households,” Dunifon said.



These findings also challenge assumptions that distant grandparents send more money to compensate for less face-to-face interaction. The study suggests that wealthier, distant families may not need as much financial help.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distance-deserves-closer-study">Distance deserves closer study</h2>



The researchers acknowledge some limits in their study. Their sample only includes grandparents who appear in the PSID dataset. This means their findings may not capture all families.



The team noted that some families may move closer in anticipation of major life events, like the birth of a grandchild. This possibility raises questions about how much of the observed proximity results from deliberate choices.



Still, the findings reveal strong evidence that geographic closeness shapes family life in America today. Future research may explore how these patterns affect the well-being of all three generations involved.



In the end, the study leaves readers with a clear message: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-u-s-just-expanded-its-territory-by-a-million-square-kilometers/">geography</a> plays a crucial role in American family life, and many children live closer to their grandparents than we might expect.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.demographic-research.org/articles/volume/52/34" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Demographic Research</a>.



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When grandparents live nearby, family support grows stronger

Family ties span generations in ways that often go unnoticed....

Walking is the easiest exercise to start and the hardest to overdo, yet many of us still wonder how far we should go each day to stay fit and healthy. 



Fitness trackers flash numbers, apps buzz reminders, and friends swap step counts, but the advice often feels like guesswork.



New evidence by a team of researchers from <a href="https://en.csu.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central South University</a> alongside colleagues at the <a href="https://medicine.yale.edu/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yale University School of Medicine</a>, offers very clear guidance on this debate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-daily-walks-healthy-life">Daily walks, healthy life</h2>



Walking raises heart rate just enough to train the cardiovascular system <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/walking-each-day-at-any-speed-lowers-the-risk-of-cancer/">without punishing joints</a>. In people with <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hypertension</a>, adding 1,000 daily steps lowered overall death risk by 9% and heart‑related death risk by 8% in a twelve‑year U.S. cohort study.



Scientists call those outcomes reductions in <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/all-cause-mortality" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">all‑cause mortality</a> and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10809869/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular mortality</a>. 



The study found little extra benefit above 8,250 steps for overall survival and 9,700 for heart health, a range well under the folklore goal of 10,000.



Those numbers echo a <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2734709" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2019 trial</a> of older women in which 7,500 steps delivered the same survival edge as 10,000. Led by <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/i-min-lee/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. I‑Min Lee</a> of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, this research supported the idea that most people can stop chasing ever‑higher counts once they reach a moderate plateau.



“The simple message could perhaps be refined to, ‘Some stepping is good. More is better, up to a certain point,’” said Lee, explaining that health gains plateau after that range.



The idea dates back to 1965, when a Japanese pedometer maker coined “<a href="https://www.news-medical.net/health/Mythbusting-The-10000-Steps-Per-Day-Trend.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Manpo‑kei</a>,” or 10,000‑step meter, as a catchy slogan rather than a physiologic milestone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-the-sweet-spot">Finding the sweet spot</h2>



Hitting 8,000 to 9,700 steps translates to about 3.8 to 4.8 miles for an average adult stride. At that distance, energy expenditure lands near 300 to 400 calories, a figure the research team noted can help shave roughly one pound a week when paired with mindful eating.



People with <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22171" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">higher body weight</a> tend to burn more calories per step, while lighter individuals may need more distance to match that burn. Either way, reaching the same calorie goals depends on stride length, walking pace, and overall effort.



The same twelve‑year U.S. cohort study that pinpointed 8,250 steps showed risk curves flattening beyond that mark. 



Researchers think the body’s major adaptations, better blood‑pressure control, improved insulin sensitivity, stronger leg muscles, occur early, then taper.



Rather than pushing for 15,000 steps, time‑pressed adults can focus on hitting the middle ground consistently. 



Accumulating steps on two or three separate days each week still cut ten‑year <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802810" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">death risk</a> by about fifteen percent in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey <a href="https://www.health.com/how-many-steps-a-day-health-benefits-7375335" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-healthy-steps-into-timelines">Turning healthy steps into timelines</h2>



A simple rule converts steps to distance: two thousand steps equal one mile for most people. Using that, 8,000 steps equal about four miles, which most folks cover in eighty minutes of leisurely walking or forty‑five minutes at a brisk clip.



In pace terms, keeping conversation but not singing comfortably marks <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/japanese-interval-walking-training-technique-iwt-improves-health-prevents-disease/">moderate intensity</a>. Heart‑rate monitors read roughly fifty to seventy percent of maximum during these walks, the sweet zone for cardiovascular conditioning.



Those who prefer time targets can aim for 150 minutes of moderate walking per week, the level in federal activity guidelines. 



Spread across seven days, that’s just over twenty minutes daily, slightly less than the time needed for 4,000 steps but far short of 10,000.



Beginner? Start slow. Build consistency first, then distance, per the implications of the findings. Once consistency feels easy, adding an extra block or two extends the workout without scheduling gymnastics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-age-health-and-walking-distance">Age, health, and walking distance</h2>



Age, baseline fitness, and chronic conditions shape the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/walking-can-counteract-the-health-risks-of-sitting/">ideal daily distance</a>. People over sixty often see benefits plateau near 6,000 to 8,000 steps, according to the study mentioned earlier. 



Meanwhile, younger adults can climb to 10,000 before gains level off, according to Lee’s pooled analyses.



Weight‑loss seekers may stretch walks beyond the plateau because calorie balance, not mortality curves, dictates fat loss. 



“Bigger goals = longer walks,” an idea that underscores that cutting calories works best alongside extra movement.



Those living with joint pain can still gain overall health benefits by combining short walks with cycling or water exercise to protect knees while keeping step counts modest. Smartwatches capture equivalent “active minutes,” ensuring effort registers even without heel strikes.



Medical limits aside, the most reliable predictor of long‑term success is enjoyment. If neighborhood strolls bore you, shifting to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-exercise-amplifies-physical-and-mental-health-benefits/">park trails</a>, mall loops, or treadmill podcasts can supply variety without complicating the plan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-walking-yourself-better-health">Walking yourself better health</h2>



Time scarcity derails many routines, but short bouts add up. The research <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-exercise-amplifies-physical-and-mental-health-benefits/">offers a template</a>: “Morning reset,” “Lunchtime stroll,” and “Evening unwind” sessions lasting ten to fifteen minutes each.



Skipping elevators for stairs, parking farther from the store, or pacing during phone calls collects hidden steps. A mile‑and‑a‑half grocery run with reusable bags in hand turns errands into strength training and step boosting at once.



Tracking helps: pedometer apps reward mini‑wins and reveal idle stretches begging for micro‑walks. Celebrating streaks reinforces habit loops, a psychological trick as potent as any shoe technology. 



Finally, pairing walks with friends or pets injects accountability and pleasure. Social walkers often over‑shoot goals without noticing, a happy accident that health research fully supports.



The study is published in <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-21216-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMC Public Health</a>.



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To get fit and stay healthy, scientists recommend walking this exact distance every day

Walking is the easiest exercise to start and the hardest...

Skipping breakfast does more than trim calories. It sets off a metabolic switch that floods the bloodstream with ketone bodies, small fat‑derived molecules that the brain eagerly soaks up.



The latest evidence traces how the primary ketone <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-46776-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">β‑hydroxybutyrate</a> clings to misfolded proteins and steers them toward the cell’s waste‑recycling system. 



The work comes from <a href="https://www.buckinstitute.org/lab/newman-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. John Newman</a> of the <a href="https://www.buckinstitute.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buck Institute</a> for Research on Aging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ketone-bodies-and-the-brain">Ketone bodies and the brain</h2>



When glucose runs low the liver converts stored fat into β‑hydroxybutyrate and its cousins. Within hours blood levels can climb past 3 millimoles per liter, a range the mice in Newman’s lab hit during a week of ketone‑ester dosing. 



At that concentration the ketone slips across the blood‑brain barrier and begins attaching to proteins that have lost their shape.



Misfolded <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/this-high-protein-fruit-prunes-strengthens-muscles-and-bones-in-people-over-45/">proteins</a> are sticky; they jam up cellular machinery like lint in a dryer. By binding to them early β‑hydroxybutyrate lowers their solubility, flagging them for removal through <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33233502/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">autophagy</a>.



“<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10634967/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ketone bodies</a> interact with damaged and misfolded proteins directly, making them insoluble so they can be pulled from the cell and recycled,” noted Dr. Newman.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ketone-behind-the-brain-cleanup">The ketone behind the brain cleanup</h2>



Chemically, β‑hydroxybutyrate is a four‑carbon molecule with a lone <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/hydroxyl-group" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hydroxyl group</a> sitting two atoms away from its acid tail. 



That subtle tweak lets it wedge into protein folds without forming permanent bonds, a trick confirmed when a non‑reactive alcohol analog failed to trigger the same protein drop‑out.



In mass‑spectrometry screens the team catalogued almost 300 proteins that shifted from soluble to insoluble, many bearing tubulin‑like domains that give neurons their internal scaffolding. 



Those struts often falter first in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-blood-test-can-track-the-progression-of-alzheimers/">Alzheimer’s disease</a>, so forcing the damaged pieces out early could head off later trouble.



The cell handled the overload well. Within two days of sustained ketosis the dirtiest aggregates were gone, suggesting that the janitorial burst is brief but powerful.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiments-in-mice-that-remember">Experiments in mice that remember</h2>



To test real‑world impact the researchers fed a ketone‑ester drink to 20‑month‑old mice, roughly the rodent equivalent of a 65‑year‑old human. 



Treated animals cut their brain amyloid load and showed sharper performance in maze tasks compared with oil‑fed controls, echoing earlier work in transgenic Alzheimer rodents.



Blood β‑hydroxybutyrate peaked near 4 millimoles per liter and drifted down within four hours, yet the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-model-esm3-creates-new-protein-that-simulates-500-million-years-of-biological-evolution/">protein</a>‑cleanup signature persisted, hinting at a lasting reset.



“Once they were treated with ketone bodies the animals recovered their ability to swim,” said doctoral researcher <a href="https://sebastopolrotary.com/speakers/4e1baab0-9bd3-4f6d-80c5-d7a645b35738" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sidharth Madhavan</a>. 



Separately, nematode worms <a href="https://currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpet.35" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(Caenorhabditis elegans)</a> engineered to produce human <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459119/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amyloid‑β</a> regained their wiggling strength after swimming in ketone‑spiked media. 



These cross‑species results point to a mechanic that works on core cell chemistry, not on quirks of one model.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-hints-in-human-studies">Early hints in human studies</h2>



Humans do not need engineered worms or maze trials to reach ketosis; an overnight fast or a <a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.12206" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ketogenic breakfast shake</a> can raise blood ketones above 1 millimole per liter. 



In a six‑month randomized trial a medium‑chain triglyceride drink that generated similar ketone levels improved episodic memory in people with mild cognitive impairment.



Brain imaging from a companion <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8596139/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> showed that ketones bypassed sluggish glucose uptake and restored white‑matter energy use. While small, these findings back the idea that alternative fuel can do more than fill a calorie gap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-everyday-eaters">What this means for everyday eaters</h2>



Nobody is prescribing full‑time ketogenic diets yet, but brief fasts, time‑restricted eating, or exogenous ketone drinks are being tested as practical ways to spark the same cleanup pathway. 



Clinicians caution that ketosis is not for everyone, especially people managing insulin‑dependent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-diabetes-type-5-is-now-officially-recognized-linked-to-nutritional-deficiencies/">diabetes</a>, yet most healthy adults can safely visit mild ketosis for a few hours.



Even endurance athletes, who traditionally favor carbohydrate loading, now experiment with ketone esters between sessions to speed brain recovery. 



If future trials confirm <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-protein-boosts-survival-but-plants-boost-longevity/">protein</a> clearance in humans, weekend fasting or a morning ketone shot could become part of standard brain hygiene.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safer-brain-aging-with-ketone-bodies">Safer brain aging with ketone bodies</h2>



The Buck team is already screening related metabolites to see whether some outperform β‑hydroxybutyrate without the metallic taste or digestive side effects.



They are also mapping which brain cells benefit most, because clearing toxic proteins in astrocytes may relieve different symptoms than doing so in neurons.



For now, the discovery widens the lens on how metabolism shapes brain destiny. As life spans lengthen, a simple molecule that exercises the cell’s garbage disposal on command might help minds stay clear.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-chemical-biology/fulltext/S2451-9456(24)00459-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Chemical Biology</a>.



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Molecules produced by the body during fasting improve brain health

Skipping breakfast does more than trim calories. It sets off...

For more than a century, the notion that left-handed people possess a special creative spark has held popular imagination. Icons such as Leonardo da Vinci, M. C. Escher, and Jimi Hendrix often headline lists of left-handed geniuses, reinforcing the idea that such people enjoy an artistic or inventive edge.



Scientists themselves have occasionally entertained the possibility. They argue that motor control for the left hand is more strongly connected with the brain’s right hemisphere. 



Because the left side typically supports divergent thinking, some have suggested that left-handers naturally make more unexpected connections and generate novel ideas.



However, new research from <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a> now shows that the story is far more complicated and that, on balance, the data do not support a link between left-handedness and heightened <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-outperforms-humans-in-creativity-tests/">creativity</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-lefty-myth">Testing the lefty myth</h2>



Daniel Casasanto, an associate professor of psychology in the College of Human Ecology, and his colleagues conducted a sweeping review of the scientific literature to test the claim.



“The data do not support any advantage in creative thinking for lefties,” Casasanto said. “In fact, there is some evidence that righties are more creative in some laboratory tests, and strong evidence that righties are overrepresented in professions that require the greatest creativity.”



Professor Casasanto and study first author Owen Morgan sifted through nearly 1,000 studies published since 1900. 



Most of the studies were excluded because they either omitted data on handedness. Others enrolled only right-handers in search of homogeneous samples, a common practice in experimental design.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creative-edge-goes-to-righties">Creative edge goes to righties</h2>



Only 17 studies provided enough standardized information to be included in a meta-analysis. Together, they yielded close to fifty separate measures of creativity in relation to handedness.



Across the most frequently used tests of divergent thinking - exercises in which participants list alternative uses for common objects, for example - hand preference made almost no difference.



When a difference did appear, it typically favored right-handers, though the advantage was small. The findings undermine earlier suggestions that habitual use of the left hand, paired with right-hemisphere activation, offers any systematic boost to creative thought.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creative-jobs-show-same-trend">Creative jobs show same trend</h2>



Recognizing that lab tasks do not capture every facet of real-world creativity, the researchers expanded their inquiry to professional life.



A second meta-analysis confirmed a familiar observation: left-handers turn up disproportionately among visual artists and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/live-music-connects-people-emotionally-and-physically/">musicians</a>. Yet the pattern stopped there. The researchers found no excess of left-handed individuals among architects, despite common assumptions.



Seeking a broader picture, the team reexamined U.S. government data covering nearly twelve thousand adults in more than seven hundred occupations. Each job was scored for creativity using ratings of originality and inductive reasoning.



On that measure, theoretical physicists and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mathematicians-may-have-solved-a-125-year-old-problem-linking-the-laws-of-physics/">mathematicians</a> ranked alongside fine artists at the top of the scale. The data showed that, contrary to the enduring myth, left-handers were under-represented in these highly creative fields.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lefty-myth-explained">The lefty myth explained</h2>



Why, then, does the legend persist? Casasanto and co-authors point to several reinforcing misconceptions.



One is what they call “left-handed exceptionalism:” since left-handedness is uncommon and creative genius is rare, people tend to connect the two. Popular culture also romanticizes the “tortured artist”- someone both brilliant and beset by mental illness.



Because left-handers in artistic circles show higher rates of depression and schizophrenia, observers may conflate these separate traits, seeing them as parts of a single package.



A third factor is plain statistical cherry-picking. Researchers have repeatedly cited small studies that found more left-handers in art or music over the decades. Meanwhile, larger and more representative surveys have faded into obscurity.



Professor Casasanto noted that the focus on these two creative professions where lefties are overrepresented, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simply-looking-at-art-can-improve-your-well-being/">art</a> and music, is a really common and tempting statistical error that humans make all the time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-left-or-right">Beyond left or right</h2>



The new analysis does not deny that many great artists have been left-handed, nor does it dismiss the intricate roles of brain lateralization in cognition. It simply shows that handedness alone does not predict who will excel at creative tasks or professions.



Creativity, the authors argue, springs from a richer interplay of cognitive capacities, personality traits, training, and cultural opportunity. 



By dispelling the allure of a simple biological explanation, the findings invite a fuller exploration of how innovative ideas arise - one that looks beyond which hand holds the pen or strums the guitar. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-025-02717-2">Psychonomic Bulletin &amp; Review</a>.



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Are left-handed people really more creative? The answer is finally revealed

For more than a century, the notion that left-handed people...

Genetic,Brain,Disorders,,Conceptual,3d,Illustration.,Mutations,In,The,Dna

When folks picture Neanderthals, the image often involves heavy brows, furry pelts, and stone tools. Yet pieces of their DNA are still part of the modern human genome. Recent research suggests that some of these genetic variants inherited from Neanderthals could be linked to autism spectrum disorder.



About 50,000-60,000 years ago, small groups of modern humans trekked out of Africa into Eurasia. They met Neanderthals, exchanged tools, and also exchanged genes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-analysis-reveals-most-recent-modern-human-to-interbreed-with-neanderthals/">through interbreeding</a>. 



It has been estimated that Eurasian-derived populations have approximately <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq3010" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2% Neanderthal DNA</a>, which was acquired during introgression events occurring shortly after anatomically modern humans migrated out of Africa.



Later, some descendants journeyed back to Africa, sprinkling a much thinner dusting of Neanderthal genes across the continent. 



That genetic shuffling means nearly everyone on Earth carries at least a trace of <a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-neanderthal-in-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neanderthal ancestry</a>, though the amount varies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-fragments-big-questions">Small fragments, big questions</h2>



Genetic leftovers can be helpful. Certain <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-06587-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neanderthal alleles</a> boost immune responses or aid survival at high altitudes. 



Many others never meshed well with our biology and were slowly weeded out by natural selection. Brain-related genes are especially unforgiving; even minor glitches can prove disruptive. 



With the recent sequencing of multiple <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867424001168" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">archaic human genomes</a>, there has been growing interest concerning the influence of archaic human-derived alleles on modern health.



Yet some Neanderthal variants slipped past that filter. They linger in regions tied to perception, memory, and social understanding, sparking curiosity about their subtle effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-autism-clues-in-neanderthal-dna">Autism clues in Neanderthal DNA</h2>



The study linking autism to Neanderthal DNA was led by researchers from <a href="https://www.clemson.edu/">Clemson University</a> and <a href="https://www.luc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Loyola University</a>.



The authors compared whole-genome data from autistic people, their unaffected siblings, and unrelated controls across diverse ethnic backgrounds. 



They saw that both rare and common Neanderthal-derived variants appeared more often in autistic participants. 



The pattern wasn’t about carrying more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-inject-40000-year-old-neanderthal-dna-gli3-gene-into-mice-with-incredible-results/">Neanderthal DNA</a> overall; it hinged on possessing particular snippets.



One striking theme involved genes that guide how distant brain regions talk to each other. 



Visual-processing circuits appeared to run hotter, while the so-called default mode network, linked to daydreaming and social reflection, ran cooler. 



Those connectivity signatures match traits many autistic individuals report - keen pattern recognition alongside social fatigue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seeing-the-world-in-sharp-focus">Seeing the world in sharp focus</h2>



Functional MRI scans from the same project confirmed this pattern. People who carried a higher load of the identified <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/inner-ears-of-neanderthals-reveals-catastrophic-population-event-during-their-evolution/">Neanderthal variants</a> - whether autistic or not - showed stronger signaling in visual areas. 



Meanwhile, pathways that normally hum during casual conversation or idle thought stayed quieter. 



The result hints that these ancient genes might sculpt a cognitive profile tuned for intense observation and precise motor planning.



Archaeologists note a similar nuance in Neanderthal craftsmanship and stone tool making skills. 



Their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levallois_technique" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Levallois technique</a> required stepwise planning, spatial reasoning, and sustained focus - skills that resonate with strengths many autistic thinkers display today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-evolutionary-twist">An evolutionary twist</h2>



Why would such variants stick around? One idea points to the small, tight-knit bands <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-neanderthals-species-face-structure-evolved-differently/">Neanderthals</a> likely formed. In that setting, visual scouting for game, shelter, or stone resources could outweigh complex social juggling. 



When Homo sapiens groups interbred with them, those advantageous perceptual talents may have proved useful enough to persist.



The study does not argue that Neanderthal DNA “causes” autism. Instead, it suggests that a handful of inherited tweaks can raise the odds of certain traits emerging along a spectrum. 



Those traits might have offered benefits in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-theory-explains-why-neanderthals-vanished-and-homo-sapiens-are-alive-today/">ancestral environments</a> - and still do in fields that prize logic, detail, and pattern spotting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neanderthal-contributions-to-autism">Neanderthal contributions to autism</h2>



Researchers stress that genetics is only part of the autism puzzle. Environment, early development, and countless other genes interact in ways science is still charting. 



Even so, identifying concrete Neanderthal contributions helps explain why autism exists worldwide, independent of culture or upbringing. 



It also reframes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/placenta-hormones-may-have-driven-human-brain-evolution/">neurodiversity</a> as a legacy of humanity’s mixed heritage rather than a modern anomaly.



Many families notice clusters of analytical talent - mathematicians, engineers, visual artists - scattered among autistic and non-autistic relatives alike. The new findings offer a biological thread connecting those shared gifts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



“We hope this research will lead to further investigation into the ongoing influences of ancient hybridization between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthals-and-humans-had-multiple-waves-of-contact/">Homo sapiens and Neanderthals</a> in brain development, human intelligence, and overall human health, as well as spur work into additional clinical resources for this complex population,” the research team wrote.



Future projects will likely probe other neurodevelopmental conditions, explore how Neanderthal variants interact with modern lifestyles, and refine personalized supports. 



As we continue to discover, the story of human evolution didn't stop with one lineage replacing another. It wove their strengths together, leaving fingerprints that guide our thoughts, perceptions, and innovations in modern humans to this day.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02593-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molecular Psychiatry</a>.



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Scientists link autism to Neanderthal DNA found in modern humans

When folks picture Neanderthals, the image often involves heavy brows,...

Indian,Senior,Woman,Have,Sensitive,Teeth,With,Ice,Lolly,Or

For most of us, teeth mean crunching pretzels or tearing steak. But a new fossil analysis suggests their first job was feeling the world, not shredding it.



“What good is having all these teeth on the outside?” asked Yara Haridy of the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago</a>, lead author of the study. Using high‑energy scans, researchers found that the earliest tooth‑like bumps sat on fish skin and were wired for sensation.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teeth-began-as-skin-sensors">Teeth began as skin sensors</h2>



These skin teeth, known as <a href="https://www.morphosource.org/projects/000626244" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">odontode units</a>, appear in Eriptychius fossils from the middle <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/ordovician/ordovician.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ordovician Period</a>, roughly 460 million years ago. 



Slicing the fossils reveals thick bands of <a href="https://www.drbicuspid.com/clinical/imaging-cad-cam/article/15747523/fossil-scans-of-ancient-fish-may-explain-modernday-tooth-sensitivity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dentine</a>, the same pain‑transmitting material that still lies beneath human enamel.



Each odontode contains a pulp <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tooth-enamel-analysis-suggests-early-eurasians-were-multiple-species-paranthropus-robustus/">cavity</a> and wide tubules that open at the surface, a layout ideal for detecting pressure or temperature shifts. By contrast, later fish with heavy enamel caps muted that sensitivity but gained better protection.



One celebrated Cambrian candidate for the “first fish,” Anatolepis, has been demoted after fresh scans showed its bumps match arthropod <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/post/university-chicago-study-finds-tooth-sensitivity-may-linked-ancient-fish-led-dr-yara-haridy/16499129/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sensilla</a>, not vertebrate dentine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-armor-came-with-nerves">Early armor came with nerves</h2>



Sensilla in crabs and scorpions let them taste, feel vibration, and track currents. Early vertebrates adopted a similar strategy, embedding nerves inside mineral caps that hardened into armor.



“Tooth‑like structures likely first evolved in the skin of early vertebrates, prior to the oral invasion of these structures that became teeth,” said <a href="https://biology.ufl.edu/gareth-fraser/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gareth Fraser</a> of the University of Florida, an evolutionary biologist not involved in the scans.



Because armor muffles most tactile cues, adding built‑in sensors restored environmental awareness without sacrificing defense. The same compromise appears again and again whenever <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-finally-confirm-species-identity-of-the-dragon-man-fossil-skull-denisovan/">animals</a> grow shells, scales, or plates.



The Ordovician seas teemed with cephalopods and sea scorpions, so feeling a predator brush past could mark the difference between survival and lunch. Even a thin sensory layer offered that edge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teeth-moved-from-skin-to-mouth">Teeth moved from skin to mouth</h2>



Once fish started lunging at prey, bringing those hard nodules inside the oral cavity made practical sense. The genetic toolkit for building odontodes simply redeployed along the jaw line.



CT reconstructions show a stepwise shift, first lining lips, then clustering on internal ridges that became true teeth. No new tissue was required, only a new address.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/human-teeth-sensitivity_evolution_skate-fish_CT-scan_tooth-like-denticles_Yara-Haridy_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/human-teeth-sensitivity_evolution_skate-fish_CT-scan_tooth-like-denticles_Yara-Haridy_1s.webp" alt="CT scan of the front of a skate, showing the hard, tooth-like denticles (orange) on its skin. Yara Haridy" class="wp-image-1976721"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">CT scan of the front of a skate, showing the hard, tooth-like denticles (orange) on its skin. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Yara Haridy</figcaption></figure>



This migration explains why modern teeth still flinch when chilled soda hits exposed dentine. The tissue did not lose its ancient job, even after millions of years chewing. 



Human <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21168271/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">odontoblast cells</a> inside dentine express <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK5244/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temperature‑sensing TRP channels</a> that trigger pain signals, reinforcing the link between sensation and tooth structure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ice-cream-pain-is-ancient">Ice cream pain is ancient</h2>



Skates, sharks, and certain catfish still wear odontodes across their skin, and fluorescent imaging reveals nerves curling around each unit. The same wiring lights up in their oral teeth.



Dentists encounter the legacy daily: about 30 percent of adults report <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34302871/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dentin hypersensitivity</a> - a direct outcome of open tubules harking back to those armored swimmers.



Laboratory studies show that activating <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4541108/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TRPA1 and TRPV4</a> channels in human odontoblasts releases ATP, a chemical that excites nearby nerves and sparks the familiar zing of ice‑cream pain.



Understanding the fossil record clarifies why blocking tubules with varnishes or bioactive glasses calms sensitivity more reliably than numbing gels alone. Closing the ancient sensory windows cuts the signal at its source.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-mistake-changed-tooth-history">Fossil mistake changed tooth history</h2>



The misidentification of Anatolepis as a vertebrate with dentine pushed the timeline of true teeth further back than the evidence supports. 



With updated scans showing Anatolepis as an arthropod, the emergence of real vertebrate dental tissue now firmly begins in the middle Ordovician.



This correction removes about 40 million years of assumed vertebrate history. It also reorients where scientists search for the evolutionary leap from external skin sensors to internal biting tools.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-teeth-link-to-modern-health">Ancient teeth link to modern health</h2>



Reclassifying Anatolepis as an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cambrian-fossils-reveal-new-clues-about-arthropod-evolution/">arthropod</a> pushes the oldest confirmed vertebrate dentine forward by almost 40 million years, tightening the evolutionary timeline. Paleontologists can now focus on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/470-million-year-old-animal-fossils-discovered-in-frances-cabrieres-biota/">Ordovician</a> strata when hunting the first mouths with teeth.



The fossil findings also challenge textbook diagrams that present teeth as novel structures formed deep inside the jaw. 



Instead, they appear as immigrants from the skin, carrying sensory baggage that still shapes dental health.



Medical researchers already mine shark and skate genes to inspire regenerative dentistry. Knowing those genes once built skin sensors may guide efforts to coax human cells into growing replacement enamel.



Finally, the study highlights a broader pattern: nature often solves different problems with the same parts. 



Sensory armor, lateral‑line canals, and even mammal whiskers show how sensation sneaks into protective structures whenever the need arises.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08944-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Fossil discovery explains why our teeth are still so sensitive to cold

For most of us, teeth mean crunching pretzels or tearing...

A quick text that says “thinking of you” might seem trivial, yet these small gestures can quietly shift our own mood. A month‑long study tracking daily life revealed that people who expressed love were more likely to rate themselves as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-are-falling-in-love-with-ai-companions-and-it-could-be-dangerous/">loved</a> in the hours that followed.



This loop between giving and receiving affection was uncovered by a research team led by Dr. Zita Oravecz at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-acts-express-love">Small acts express love </h2>



Social psychologist Dr. Barbara Fredrickson of <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=University+of+North+Carolina+at+Chapel+Hill&amp;client=ms-android-charter-us-rvc3&amp;sourceid=chrome-mobile&amp;ie=UTF-8#ebo=0">UNC Chapel Hill</a> calls these shared moments <a href="https://www.themarginalian.org/2013/01/28/love-2-0-barbara-fredrickson/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">positivity resonance</a>. She describes love as “micro‑moments of warmth and connection” that feel the same whether they happen with a stranger or a soul mate.



By focusing on brief interactions rather than grand declarations, her framework reminds us that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-our-relationships-with-dogs-matter-so-much/">love</a> is accessible dozens of times a day.



Those flashes of connection line up with the <a href="https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a> finding that even modest acts, like holding a door or sending a supportive emoji, can echo back for hours. 



Because the feeling is mutual and momentary, the cost of entry is low, but the psychological payoff is high.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-daily-love-and-feelings">Daily love and feelings</h2>



The researchers used <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18509902/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecological momentary assessment</a> to ping 52 adults six times daily for four weeks, asking how much love they had expressed since the last alert and how loved they felt right then. 



The participants slid a marker from 0 to 100 on each question, producing nearly 8,200 observations for analysis.



A continuous‑time model showed that felt love stayed elevated far longer than the urge to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-people-are-born-to-enjoy-music-more-than-others/">express</a> it; in statistical terms, its inertia remained strong even eight hours later. 



Expressed love, by contrast, faded quickly, hinting that we need to keep showing up if we want the warm glow to persist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expressing-love-makes-you-feel-loved-nbsp">Expressing love makes you feel loved&nbsp;</h2>



Numbers told the clearest story: a spike in expressed love predicted a later bump in felt <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oxytocin-cuddle-hormone-fosters-love-boosts-memory-and-may-cure-addiction/">love</a>, peaking about three hours after the gesture. However, a surge in feeling loved did not reliably spark new expressions outward.



“Let’s spread more love in the world by expressing love throughout our daily lives,” said the researchers.



The asymmetry suggests that taking the first step matters more than waiting to be inspired by someone else’s kindness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-feeling-loved-lasts-after-expressing-it">Feeling loved lasts after expressing it</h2>



Felt love’s staying power linked strongly to flourishing, a broad gauge of purpose, relationships, and optimism measured with the <a href="https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/The_Subjective_Happiness_Scale.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diener Flourishing Scale</a>. 



People whose loving feelings decayed slowly also scored higher on subjective happiness, echoing prior work showing that secure social bonds shield against stress and loneliness.



Because the emotional state lasts, a single morning compliment can quietly steer the rest of the day. The model implies a simple arithmetic: every extra act you offer raises the baseline from which later mood unfolds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-love-improves-health-and-happiness">Love improves health and happiness</h2>



“These benefits happen when affection is expressed, not merely felt,” said Kory Floyd, professor at Arizona State University.



Professor Floyd <a href="https://news.asu.edu/content/study-expressing-love-can-improve-your-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">found</a> that kissing lowered cholesterol, decreased cortisol, and boosted relationship satisfaction. 



Other <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15740822/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> link affectionate touch with higher oxytocin, lower blood pressure, and faster recovery from acute stress, reinforcing the biological logic behind the Penn State data.



Stacked together, the evidence recasts love as a preventive health behavior rather than a soft emotion. Doctors can’t prescribe it in a bottle, yet a polite note or gentle squeeze may rival many over‑the‑counter remedies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ways-to-express-love-in-daily-life">Ways to express love in daily life</h2>



Putting the findings into practice begins with noticing small moments - a barista’s name tag, a co-worker’s quiet contribution, or a relative’s favorite song on the radio. 



Turning that recognition into a kind word, gesture, or small favor can plant a seed that often blooms later in the day.



Because the loop begins with behavior, it sidesteps the trap of waiting until you “feel like it.” 



Habitual practice trains attention to catch more of Dr. Fredrickson’s micro‑moments, which in turn widens the field for the next act of love.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-love-exists-beyond-romance">Love exists beyond romance</h2>



Although many associate love with romantic partners, the study didn’t limit its scope to couples. Participants reported loving exchanges across a range of relationships, including friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers.



Other studies have demonstrated that people commonly recognize small acts from anyone, like a kind word from a passerby, as ways to express and feel real love. 



The study suggests that everyday expressions of love aren't limited to close relationships - they’re woven into many forms of human connection.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0323326" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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Small acts of love might be the key to feeling loved

A quick text that says “thinking of you” might seem...

Everyone sends texts. It’s simple - one message goes out, another comes back. Somewhere in between, emojis appear. They smile, wink, cry. Without much notice, emojis change how messages feel.



Researchers often ignore these tiny icons. But Eun Huh from the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Texas at Austin</a> decided to take a closer look. Her study asks a simple question: do emojis make people feel closer in their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sending-the-right-message-emojis-can-be-misinterpreted/">relationships</a>?



"The study revealed that emojis can boost relationship satisfaction by signaling emotional attentiveness. Interestingly, it's not the type of emoji but simply their presence that makes people feel closer to their partner," noted Huh.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emojis-change-how-texts-feel">Emojis change how texts feel</h2>



Think about your last text. Did it have an emoji? Most likely it did. Nearly everyone uses them.



But emojis aren’t just decorations. They work like tiny signals of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-way-you-send-emojis-shows-your-attachment-style/">emotion</a> and bring life to plain words. A simple thumbs-up or heart can completely change a the mood of a message.



The researchers looked at this effect closely. Their analysis showed something surprising. People feel more connected to those who use emojis. It’s not about picking the right emoji. The magic lies in using them at all.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emojis-make-relationships-feel-closer">Emojis make relationships feel closer</h2>



The researchers asked 260 adults to imagine texting close friends. They read 15 different chat examples. Some had emojis, while others didn’t.



The results were clear. People trusted emoji users more. They called them more responsive and the chats felt warmer.



Surprisingly, the type of emoji didn’t matter - faces, hearts, or objects made no difference. What mattered was simply that an emoji was there at all.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-messages-feel-human">Making messages feel human</h2>



Text without emotion can feel cold. Emojis fix that. They help <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/older-adults-often-understand-emojis-but-hesitate-to-use-them/">messages</a> feel personal, soften harsh words, and make it easier to spot the sender’s true feelings.



Our brains react to emojis just like they do to real human faces. That’s not just a guess - it’s been measured. These icons tap into deep emotional areas in the mind.



Emojis also work fast. They don’t need long explanations. A simple symbol gets the message across instantly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emojis-help-people-feel-heard">Emojis help people feel heard</h2>



Responsiveness may be the element that boosts a feeling of connectedness. In every case, people felt more heard when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/">messages</a> included emojis. That sense of being heard led to stronger friendships.



The researchers ran more tests to dig deeper. They found that emojis didn’t boost likability or closeness on their own. Instead, emojis made people feel listened to. That feeling then brought everything else - friendship, closeness, and satisfaction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-matching-emojis-boost-connections">Matching emojis boost connections</h2>



The study controlled the message tone carefully. The researchers didn’t want sarcastic jokes throwing off the results.



Positive emojis appeared with positive text. Sad emojis came with sad words. This made sure the emotional flow stayed clear. 



Even with this careful setup, the study proved its point. People felt emotionally connected when emojis matched the message.



But here’s the best part: the type of emoji still didn’t matter. Any emoji could spark the same emotional effect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emojis-fix-tone-and-avoid-confusion">Emojis fix tone and avoid confusion</h2>



Why do emojis work so well? They make conversations feel softer and friendlier. A simple smiley face can take the edge off a blunt reply. 



Emojis can help to reduce misunderstandings, since tone gets tricky over text. Emojis also act like little bursts of warmth. They draw attention and show effort, even in rushed conversations. 



Most importantly, emojis can do what words sometimes can’t - show that you care.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-digital-friendships">Growing digital friendships</h2>



This study offers a simple truth: emojis make people feel closer. You don’t need to think hard about which emoji to use. Just adding one makes a difference. 



In a world where everyone is busy, emojis are shortcuts to emotional connection. They don’t take much time. But they pack a punch. 



Emojis turn plain chats into something more meaningful. They remind people that someone is paying attention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-studies-are-needed">Further studies are needed</h2>



Of course, every study has limitations. This one focused on imagined situations. People weren’t texting real friends during the test. The researchers suggest testing real-time chats next.



The experts pointed out that this study included mostly U.S.-based participants. Emoji meanings can shift across cultures. What works in one place might not in another.



And there’s one more question waiting. What happens when emojis clash with words? Like a smiley face paired with sad news. Future studies might explore those mixed signals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emojis-and-relationship-satisfaction">Emojis and relationship satisfaction </h2>



In the end, this study reveals something many miss. Emojis are not just fun add-ons. They act as emotional glue in text messages.



They help people feel seen, make replies feel warmer, and pull friendships a little closer.



"The study revealed that emojis can boost relationship satisfaction by signaling emotional attentiveness," said Huh. "Interestingly, it's not the type of emoji but simply their presence that makes people feel closer to their partner."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0326189" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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Emojis help people feel closer in their relationships

Everyone sends texts. It’s simple - one message goes out,...

Most of us have heard a parent or grandparent say, “Time goes by faster every year,” while shaking their head at how quickly July 4 seems to roll around. 



When you’re twelve, however, the brain has a different perception of time - the wait for summer vacation feels endless, and a single school day can feel as slow as a traffic jam in August heat.



That gap between the child’s long afternoon and the adult’s lightning-fast month isn’t just storytelling, it’s how our brain's perception of time changes, altering the way it measures all of the moments that make up our lives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-vs-fresh-experiences">First vs. fresh experiences</h2>



Children cram their days with firsts: a first dive into the pool, a first try at long division, a first sleepover away from home.



These fresh experiences swarm the brain with new images to file away, stretching the subjective length of a single afternoon.



Adults, by contrast, tend to replay <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-impacts-our-daily-routines-and-transportation/">familiar routines</a>. With fewer novel snapshots to store, the days collapse into something closer to a highlight reel than a feature film.



According to psychologist Marc Wittmann at the Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health <a href="https://igpp.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(IGPP</a>), the feeling that time accelerates is tightly linked to how much new material our brains record each day.



He points out that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/memory-clutter-speeds-up-aging-in-the-brain/">memory</a> and time perception sit on the same neural bench; when one slows, the other shrinks. "Newness" holds the key to this phenomenon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-brain-and-time-perception">Human brain and time perception</h2>



Whenever a brain encounters something it has never processed before, a quick surge of attention flags the event as worth keeping. The more flags raised, the thicker the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-brains-use-storage-trick-to-keep-your-memories-in-sequential-order/">memory log</a> becomes, and the longer that span later feels.



Kids, still green to nearly everything, throw flags left and right. A lunchroom joke, a new word in science class, or a game of tag - each registers as its own small chapter.



Adults often glide through copy-and-paste days that differ only by the date on the calendar. With fewer chapters recorded, the book of any given week reads as a short story.



Research using immersive virtual reality in 2024 showed that older volunteers underestimated simple time intervals by roughly 15 percent, highlighting how novelty <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S096800042300302X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharpens the inner clock</a>.



Routine doesn’t just compress the past; it also drains the present.



Studies tracking holiday seasons in several countries found that people who stuck to predictable daily rhythms felt that Christmas or Ramadan arrived sooner every year, while those who sprinkled in new activities reported a slower march toward the festivities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-processing-speed-linked-with-time">Brain processing speed linked with time</h2>



Every sensation has to travel from eye or ear to cortex. In youngsters, those <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/speech-pattern-wfd-that-is-a-clear-indication-a-person-is-in-cognitive-decline/">neural highways</a> are short and well-paved. As bodies grow, the routes lengthen, and the conduction speed though still quick can’t match its earlier zip.



Add natural age-related slowing of signal processing and the brain starts sampling the world less often each second.



Fewer samples mean fewer “ticks” on the subjective stopwatch, so a morning meeting seems to vanish faster for a forty-year-old than for a fourth grader.



This sampling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-link-pupil-dilation-to-brains-working-memory-levels/">shows up in the eyes</a>. Our eyes jerk from point to point in rapid saccades, pausing in brief fixations while the brain grabs a visual frame.



Young, rested eyes squeeze in more fixations per minute. Older or fatigued eyes lag, offering the brain fewer still frames to stitch together. With a thinner film strip, the projection of the day speeds along.



Scientists studying eye movements liken perception to a flipbook. Each fixation is a page; flip them fast enough and you see smooth action.



When fixations slow, the flipbook loses pages. Motion still appears, but the storyline gets choppy, and, in recall, it shortens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleep-and-alertness">Sleep and alertness</h2>



A single night of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-can-boost-memory-in-a-surprising-way/">good sleep</a> can pull the brake on runaway days. When neurons are well-rested, they fire faster, notice more, and form clearer memories.



Athletes know the flip side: stepping onto the field after too little shut-eye makes the whole match blur. The plays happen, but the mind records only a highlight or two before the final whistle.



Students grinding through an all-nighter meet the same fate - an exam that seems to finish moments after it starts.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-the-best-treatment-for-excessive-daytime-sleepiness/">Chronic fatigue</a> magnifies the effect. Continually short-changing rest lowers baseline alertness, trimming snapshots day after day.



Over months, life can feel like it’s slipping through the cracks, not because the clock sped up but because the recorder slowed down.



<a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/dopamine-the-pathway-to-pleasure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dopamine</a>, a neurotransmitter tied to motivation and time estimation, also dips with sleep debt, further warping the <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1364166/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sense of duration</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-media-and-lost-time-perception">Social media and lost time perception</h2>



Endless feeds promise variety, yet most algorithms serve look-alike posts. Swipe through video after video of the same dance trend, and the brain barely registers a change.



Hours evaporate while the memory log remains nearly blank. Compound that with the blue-light-induced bedtime delay, and you have a double punch: fewer snapshots captured and fewer hours slept.



Cutting back on passive scrolling or swapping it for an activity with genuine novelty - trying a new recipe, learning a chord on guitar - feeds the brain more distinct moments. Those moments stretch subjective time, turning a blur of an evening into something that feels full.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-with-age-comes-responsibility">With age comes responsibility</h2>



Beyond slower processing, adults juggle long lists of responsibilities. Focus narrows to tasks at hand - emails, errands, budgets - scanning less of the environment for new input. Novelty drops, and subjective days shorten.



<a href="https://www.tiaa.org/public/institute/publication/2023/young-adults-their-attitudes-and-outlook-toward-retirement-and-the-future" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A 2023 survey</a> comparing young adults with retirees found that the older group reported the year as “rushing by” nearly twice as often, linking the feeling to the predictability of daily routines rather than to health issues.



Even so, not every senior feels the rush. Researchers tracking so-called “<a href="https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/4-habits-super-agers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">super-agers</a>” note that those who keep learning new skills and staying socially engaged maintain sharper senses of time, along with stronger memory performance. Variety keeps the brain’s camera clicking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-your-brain-to-slow-time-perception">Use your brain to slow time perception</h2>



Here's the good news - the tools to lengthen your days fit into ordinary life. Go to bed on a schedule that honors the seven-to-nine-hour rule.



Plan at least one activity each week that forces you out of autopilot: a different jogging route, a museum you’ve never visited, a new language app.



While doing it, pay close attention to sights, sounds, and textures. Engagement packs extra snapshots into the mental album.



Stay curious daily. Swap a lunchtime scroll for a short walk and notice five things you’ve never clocked before - a mural, a bird call, the scent of a bakery vent.



Those micro-discoveries add pages to the flipbook, expanding the subjective afternoon. Over time, the habit can "thicken" the memory book that tells the story of a year, making December feel like it belongs twelve full months away, right where the calendar says it should be.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-review/article/why-the-days-seem-shorter-as-we-get-older/2CB8EC9B0B30537230C7442B826E42F1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Review</a>.



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Scientists explain why time seems to move faster and 'fly by' as we age

Most of us have heard a parent or grandparent say,...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

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Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

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A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. 



The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.



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Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.



Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. 



They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).



Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.



Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.



This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

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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

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&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> Staff Writer 



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features 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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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