A nationally representative, wearables-based study has tracked Americans who said they did not do structured exercise. It found that short energy bursts - a median of just 1.1 minutes per day of brief, vigorous effort - was linked with a lower risk of death over roughly seven years.



The pattern was simple. People who racked up about five or six energy bursts per day, each usually around 10 seconds and all under one minute, tended to fare better than those who did none.



This work was led by Emmanuel Stamatakis at the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a>. The team focused on vigorous activity, meaning effort that makes breathing hard and raises heart rate clearly for short spans.



Researchers looked at death from any cause. The curve of benefit rose quickly at low amounts, then flattened, which means the biggest change showed up when going from zero to a little. 



That is important for people who find it hard to schedule <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-can-slow-aging-right-down-to-your-dna/">workouts</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



The sample came from <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NHANES</a> (the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), a long-running U.S. program that links health records with device-measured movement. 



Participants wore a wrist accelerometer - a sensor that records motion dozens of times per second - for about a week.



The authors studied what they call Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2807734" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VILPA</a>). 



That is the short, sharp effort that happens during normal life, like a very fast walk uphill, a quick run to catch a bus, or carrying heavy items up stairs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-short-energy-bursts-mean">What short energy bursts mean</h2>



Two findings stood out. First, daily time VILPA showed a near-linear link with lower risk, and the median of 1.1 minutes per day corresponded to a hazard ratio of about 0.61 in models that accounted for many other factors. 



Second, doing roughly five to six short bursts per day captured most of the observed benefit in this group.



“VILPA is a bit like applying the principles of High <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-feels-better-when-its-matched-to-your-personality/">Intensity</a> Interval Training to your everyday life," Stamatakis explained. 



"We need to further investigate this link through robust trials, but it appears that VILPA may be a promising, cost free recommendation for lowering cancer risk in people who find structured exercise difficult or unappealing."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comparing-with-other-studies">Comparing with other studies</h2>



Earlier U.K. Biobank <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02100-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> reported that a sample median of 4.4 minutes per day of VILPA was associated with noticeably lower risks of all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. 



The U.S. study’s median dose is smaller, which may reflect differences in age, fitness, or baseline activity.



Cancer findings from the U.K. Biobank add useful context. 



A 2023 <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2807734" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> of non-exercisers found that about 4.5 minutes per day of VILPA was linked to lower incident cancer risk, with the steepest gains when moving from none to a little.



A hazard ratio compares rates of an outcome between groups over time. Values below 1.0 indicate a lower rate in the more active group, values above 1.0 indicate a higher rate, and the confidence interval shows the range of uncertainty.



These numbers do not prove that short energy bursts caused the lower risk. They show a strong association after adjusting for many measured factors, which is informative for public health while we wait for further trials.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-energy-bursts-and-health">Energy bursts and health</h2>



Only about one quarter of U.S. adults meet both aerobic and strength targets, notes a CDC <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db443.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>. 



Finding health linked to very short, vigorous effort embedded in daily life could help reach people who are not hitting those goals.



The signal shows up at low doses. That matters because many people cite time, cost, or access as barriers to regular exercise.



The U.S. cohort’s median VILPA time was just over a minute per day, and the median burst count was about five per day. 



Most bursts lasted around 10 seconds, which aligns with the way people actually move when life gets busy.



The dose-response curve rose quickly at first, then flattened around eight bursts per day in this dataset. That pattern supports the idea that small, repeatable effort may offer a meaningful step up from doing none.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-energy-bursts-and-future-health">Energy bursts and future health</h2>



Wearable sensors let scientists capture movement in 10-second windows, which makes it possible to study these micro patterns. That is a big advance over older surveys that missed very short efforts.



Future trials need to test whether nudging VILPA upward changes health markers directly. Those tests could use prompts during chores, commuting, or short work breaks.



This was an observational analysis, so unmeasured differences could still explain part of the link. People who feel better might move more, and some health risks are hard to measure perfectly at baseline.



Device limits matter too. Wrist sensors can misread certain tasks, and any single week of tracking may not reflect a person’s full year of movement.



Public health groups already say that all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-form-of-exercise-is-shown-to-improve-sleep-the-most-according-to-studies/">movement</a> counts. VILPA adds a sharp, practical edge to that message by focusing on brief, intense efforts that do not require special gear or set times.



If ongoing work shows cause and effect, simple cues could help people add a handful of short energy bursts to tasks they already do. 



That kind of shift would be especially useful for those who do not visit gyms or prefer not to schedule workouts.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.05.25333017v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medRxiv</a>.



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Just one minute of this exercise every day can literally add years to your life, says a new study

A nationally representative, wearables-based study has tracked Americans who said they did not do structured exercise. It found that short energy bursts - a median of just 1.1 minutes per day of brief, vigorous effort - was linked with a lower risk of death over roughly seven years. The pattern was simple. People who racked up about five or six energy bursts per day, each usually around 10 seconds and all under one minute, tended to fare better than those who did none. This work was led...

Mid,Adult,Couple,Expecting,A,Baby,While,Husband,Caresses,The

In most countries around the world, many women are diving into pregnancy at older ages to start or expand a family. The choice offers career flexibility, yet the newest data show the baby may shoulder extra risk when the mother's age passes forty.



That warning comes from a study of more than 300,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-baby-talk-reveals-about-infant-learning/">births</a> led by intern physician <a href="https://www.uu.se/en/contact-and-organisation/staff?query=N25-1266" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sofia Voss</a> at <a href="https://www.uu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uppsala University</a>. 



Her team compared infants born to mothers aged 35‑39, 40‑44, and 45 and older, looking for trouble at the delivery‑room door.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-pregnancy-age-keeps-rising">Why pregnancy age keeps rising</h2>



The average age at first birth across the European Union <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11979679/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climbed</a> from 29 years in 2001 to 31 years in 2021. Career planning, reliable contraception, and better fertility treatments all help women delay <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/singing-to-babies-is-a-powerful-way-to-boost-their-mood/">parenthood</a>.



In the United States, the provisional 2023 <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr74/nvsr74-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birth rate</a> for mothers 40‑44 was 12.5 births per 1,000 women, more than double the rate in 1990.  Older parenthood is no longer a fringe choice.



The <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9867659/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swedish Medical Birth Register</a> confirmed that serious complications remain rare at every age. Even so, the odds of <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9685-stillbirth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stillbirth</a> doubled for mothers 45 and older compared with those 35‑39.



Preterm delivery, defined as fewer than 37 weeks of gestation, struck 8.4 percent of babies in the oldest group versus 4.8 percent in the reference group. 



That translates into one extra premature baby for roughly every 25 very‑advanced‑age pregnancies.



“The highest risks of all were to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-babies-walk-much-earlier-than-others/">babies</a> born to mothers 45 years and older,” said Voss. Low birth weight relative to gestational age and newborn low blood sugar also crept upward with each five‑year step in maternal age.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risky-business-babies-health">Risky business babies' health</h2>



Researchers have long known that <a href="https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(23)01102-X/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">advanced maternal age</a> raises the likelihood of placental problems and pregnancy disorders such as <a href="https://www.preeclampsia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preeclampsia</a>. These conditions can cut oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, raising stillbirth risk.



Egg <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33228416/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quality</a> drops steadily after the mid‑thirties, increasing chromosomal errors and triggering early miscarriage or growth restriction. 



Age‑related vascular stiffness may further limit blood flow to the uterus, setting the stage for <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preterm birth</a>.



Cesarean delivery rates also rise with maternal age, partly because older mothers carry more chronic conditions. Surgery itself can lead to short‑term breathing trouble for the newborn.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reproductive-tech-adds-another-layer">Reproductive tech adds another layer</h2>



About 18 percent of Swedish mothers 45 plus conceived with <a href="https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2016/09/perinatal-risks-associated-with-assisted-reproductive-technology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">assisted reproductive technology</a>, triple the share in the 35‑39 group. 



ACOG reviews show ART singletons carry roughly a 30 percent higher risk of birth defects than naturally conceived peers.



Separate Australian registry <a href="https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-014-0406-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> links ART to a significantly higher preterm rate even after adjusting for parental age and health. The reasons range from embryo culture effects to higher twin loss before <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-can-reshape-a-babys-brain-before-birth/">birth</a>.



A U.S. <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2788841" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> of 14 million births echoed those worries, reporting a clear preterm signal in fertility‑treatment pregnancies. When older age and ART stack together, clinicians need to watch even more closely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-medical-advances-are-helping">Medical advances are helping</h2>



Medical advances have softened many dangers once tied to late pregnancy. 



Most infants born to mothers over 40 leave the hospital healthy, and some studies show developmental benefits when parents are older and more financially secure.



Still, the Swedish data remind couples that odds shift as the clock ticks. A baby born at 32 weeks may face weeks in neonatal intensive care and a lifelong risk of breathing and learning difficulties. 



Families weighing egg freezing or career delays should factor those possibilities into their timeline.



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



Clinicians already offer extra ultrasounds and glucose screening to older mothers of advanced age. Voss hopes her findings will sharpen that approach so the most intensive surveillance targets pregnancies when the mother's age is past 44.



Simple steps help too. Maintaining a healthy body mass index, controlling blood pressure, and spacing pregnancies at least 12 months apart all cut complications regardless of age.



A low <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k207" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apgar score</a> at five minutes, even in the 7‑8 range, has been linked to a higher risk of <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8717-cerebral-palsy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cerebral palsy</a> and <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17636-epilepsy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">epilepsy</a>. 



Because the Swedish cohort showed slightly lower scores in older‑age births, delivery teams may err on the side of closer neonatal monitoring.



The demographic trend toward later motherhood is unlikely to reverse soon. With clear statistics in hand, public‑health planners can steer prenatal programs, and prospective parents can make informed decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rising-pregnancy-age-and-healthcare">Rising pregnancy age and healthcare</h2>



As more women give birth later in life, public health systems must rethink how they allocate resources. 



Targeted screenings, flexible prenatal care, and specialized delivery protocols may reduce complications linked to advanced maternal age.



Countries with universal health systems, like Sweden, are positioned to integrate this kind of age-stratified care more easily. 



In nations without guaranteed maternity coverage, however, uneven access may widen health gaps between age groups.



The study is published in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.70185" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acta Paediatrica</a>.



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Doctors warn that pregnancy risks double for women aged 45 and up

In most countries around the world, many women are diving...

Most cancer patients still receive the same chemotherapy their grandparents would recognize, without a test to guide it. The drugs can shrink tumors, yet they also batter healthy tissue and leave many people sicker without ever halting the disease.



A new DNA test promises to flag who is unlikely to benefit before the first infusion, letting doctors steer those patients to other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-proteins-in-blood-may-predict-cancer-years-before-symptoms/">options</a>, a shift long urged because between 20 % and 50 % of people gain <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrc3599" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">no real advantage</a> from conventional regimens.



The study behind the test is led by <a href="https://macintyrelab.org/people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geoff Macintyre</a>, a computational oncologist at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (<a href="https://www.cnio.es/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNIO</a>), working with colleagues at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a> and the start‑up <a href="https://www.tailor.bio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tailor Bio</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemotherapy-s-uneven-track-record">Chemotherapy’s uneven track record</h2>



Many <a href="https://orthop.washington.edu/patient-care/articles/arthritis/cytotoxic-drugs.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cytotoxic drugs</a> entered clinics decades ago, well before the modern push for companion diagnostics, so they get prescribed “one size fits all,” even though tumor biology varies wildly. 



Patients who do not respond endure nausea, neuropathy, and hair loss with no payoff, while healthcare <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-lifetime-cancer-risk-may-be-established-before-we-are-born/">systems</a> pay for cycles that were doomed from the start.



Oncologists have had a few molecular guides, such as hormone‑receptor status or the <a href="https://www.exactsciences.com/cancer-testing/oncotype-dx-breast-recurrence-score-providers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OncotypeDX breast recurrence score</a>, yet most solid tumors still rely on guesswork when it comes to taxanes, platinum salts, or anthracyclines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-helps-test-chemotherapy-resistance">DNA helps test chemotherapy resistance</h2>



The new approach zeroes in on <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30193109/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chromosomal instability</a>, a hallmark of cancer in which cells gain or lose whole DNA chunks and end up with scrambled genomes. 



Such chaos is not random, though, and researchers have teased out patterns, or “signatures,” that correlate with how tumors react to different stresses.



Macintyre’s team built a library of 17 signatures from thousands of archived <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/walking-each-day-at-any-speed-lowers-the-risk-of-cancer/">tumor</a> genomes, then matched them against drug outcomes. 



Three stood out: one flagging platinum resistance, another tied to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7697134/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">taxane evasion</a>, and a trio linked with anthracycline failure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-test-predicts-chemotherapy-failure">New test predicts chemotherapy failure</h2>



Doctors need only a standard biopsy or, for roughly one‑third of ovarian cases in the pilot, a blood sample carrying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-the-next-frontier-in-cancer-treatment/">tumor</a> DNA. 



Low‑coverage whole‑genome sequencing maps copy‑number changes, software scores the signatures, and an algorithm labels the sample “sensitive” or “resistant” for each drug.



“We’ve found a way to turn conventional chemotherapies into precision medicines,” said Macintyre, pointing out that the assay measures all three drugs at once, so a single readout can steer first‑, second‑, and third‑line choices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemotherapy-failure-and-dna-patterns">Chemotherapy failure and DNA patterns</h2>



The study analyzed records from 840 people with breast, prostate, ovarian, or <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17934-sarcoma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sarcoma tumors</a> and retrospectively emulated randomized trials. 



Those whom the test predicted as taxane-resistant failed chemotherapy treatment up to seven times faster than predicted-sensitive patients, while platinum-flagged ovarian cases relapsed 45% sooner.



The work then moved to a real‑world pilot at <a href="https://www.integratedcancermedicine.org/research/prospective-clinical-trials/ovarian/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambridge’s OV04 cohort</a>, where fresh sequencing and clinical follow‑up confirmed the patterns. 



Again, predicted resistant groups progressed significantly sooner, despite receiving state‑of‑the‑art care.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-for-patients-and-health-systems">Benefits for patients and health systems</h2>



Avoiding futile chemotherapy shields people from toxicity and opens the door to <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/immunotherapy.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">immunotherapy</a>, targeted agents, or clinical trials sooner. 



Fewer complications mean shorter hospital stays and less supportive medication, easing both personal and financial burdens.



At scale, the model could save hundreds of millions of dollars each year, because expensive infusions and their downstream side effects would no longer be administered on hope alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steps-toward-clinical-use">Steps toward clinical use</h2>



Because most hospitals already run large gene panels, the team checked whether their signatures survive when data come from an <a href="https://www.illumina.com/products/by-type/clinical-research-products/trusight-oncology-500.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Illumina TruSight Oncology 500</a> assay, a regulatory‑cleared panel common in pathology labs. 



In 93 % of paired samples, the panel and whole‑genome calls agreed on drug sensitivity, suggesting the pipeline can slot into existing workflows. 



A Spanish ministry grant now funds validation at <a href="https://metab.ern-net.eu/hcp/hospital-universitario-12-de-octubre-madrid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Madrid’s 12 de Octubre University Hospital</a>, aiming to prove the test is ready for prospective trials by 2026.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-test-could-guide-chemotherapy-decisions">Test could guide chemotherapy decisions</h2>



The study relied on retrospective data and emulated trials using the test, so randomized prospective chemotherapy evidence is still needed, especially for sarcoma, where sample sizes were small. 



Regulatory pathways for test-based diagnostics that guide already-approved chemotherapy drugs can be tricky, because no drug company sponsors the effort.



Another challenge is tumor heterogeneity, as a single biopsy may miss resistant clones. Liquid biopsy helps, yet only when enough circulating DNA is present, which varies with cancer type and stage.



If upcoming trials confirm performance, oncologists could soon click a software button and know, before prescribing, whether the standard drug cocktail will likely fail. 



That knowledge would transform chemotherapy from educated guess to informed decision, sparing patients needless harm and giving every infusion a better chance to matter.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02233-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Genetics</a>.



-----



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New DNA test can determine if chemotherapy will fail before first dose

Most cancer patients still receive the same chemotherapy their grandparents...

Sometimes insight strikes out of the blue - often after a nap. Now, researchers have put this brain-sleep connection to the test. In a study published in the journal PLOS Biology, Anika Löwe and her team explored how different stages of sleep influence problem-solving breakthroughs.



The researchers found that a short nap, especially one deep enough to enter N2 sleep, increases the odds of having an "aha" moment. 



The study experiment included a perceptual task with a hidden trick. Most participants started with one strategy. But the clever ones found an easier route - often after taking a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-prepares-the-brain-for-the-future-while-protecting-memories-of-the-past/">nap</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleep-sparks-creative-insight">Sleep sparks creative insight</h2>



The study involved 90 participants aged 18 to 35. After learning the rules of a visual dot-tracking task, they were asked to rest. During this break, EEG machines monitored their brain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-quality-could-be-the-key-to-better-metabolic-health/">activity</a>. Participants were grouped into wake, N1, or N2 sleep categories.



The task, called the Perceptual Spontaneous Strategy Switch Task (PSSST), included a hidden rule. Initially, participants responded based on dot movement. Later, without warning, color also predicted correct answers. Discovering this shortcut marked the insight.



Only 70.6% of participants reached this insight. But N2 sleepers stood out. 85.7% of them figured it out. The wake group reached 55.5%, and the N1 group landed at 63.6%.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sleep-and-brain-insights">Deep sleep and brain insights</h2>



The real twist came with EEG analysis. Researchers examined the brain's spectral slope, a marker of aperiodic activity. 



A steeper slope means less background noise and deeper sleep. This steep slope correlated with more frequent insights, especially over fronto-central brain regions.



Surprisingly, traditional brain wave bands like alpha and delta did not predict insight. It was not the rhythms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-new-mothers-feel-exhausted-despite-getting-sleep/">sleep</a> that mattered most, but the non-rhythmic patterns. These patterns may reflect processes like synaptic downscaling, a kind of neural reset during sleep.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-sleep-may-reset-the-brain">How sleep may reset the brain</h2>



The idea is simple. During N2 sleep, weak synaptic connections are trimmed. This regularization clears mental clutter. It is like resetting a puzzle so your brain can see patterns it missed before. The team compared this to regularization in machine learning, which prevents overfitting.



“The EEG spectral slope has only recently been considered as a factor in cognitive processes during sleep," said Löwe.



"I find the link between the spectral slope steepness during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weekend-catch-up-sleep-benefits-teens-when-done-right/">sleep</a>, aha-moments after sleep and the down regulation of weights - which we identified as crucial for aha-moments in our previous computational work - very exciting."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-naps-and-brain-resets-feel-familiar">Naps and brain resets feel familiar</h2>



The research strikes a chord with artists and thinkers. Löwe noted that a lot of people have experienced important realizations after a short nap. 



"It’s really nice to not only have data on that, but also a first direction of what processes are behind this phenomenon."



“What really struck me when telling people in my environment - particularly creatives - about these findings was how much they resonated with people. Many of them could relate to our results with a personal experience of having a (creative) breakthrough after a nap.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-only-deep-sleep-boosts-brain-insight">Only deep sleep boosts brain insight</h2>



The results challenge earlier studies. Some found N1 sleep, the lighter stage, to support insight. But this study’s data suggest otherwise. N1 sleep did not outperform wakefulness. Only N2 made a significant difference.



Even when accounting for subjective reports and EEG scoring methods, N2 sleep remained the best predictor. 



The effect was not explained by increased alertness either. Participants in all groups performed equally well in vigilance tests before and after the nap.



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



This study opens many questions. Why does N2 sleep help so much? Can deeper sleep stages like N3 amplify the effect? How do different types of tasks respond to rest?



Löwe’s team used a visual task. Past work used math-based problems. The brain may process these differently. It is also unclear how long the nap must be. In this case, it lasted only 20 minutes.



“It’s really intriguing that a short period of sleep can help humans make connections they didn’t see before," said study co-author Nicolas Schuck.



"The next big question is why this happens. We hope that our discovery that it may be linked to the EEG spectral slope is a good first lead."



Löwe is a cognitive neuroscience researcher studying sleep, insight, and learning at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universität Hamburg</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Human Development</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003185" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Biology</a>.



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Deep sleep during naps can spark insight and creativity

Sometimes insight strikes out of the blue - often after...

Suggestive,Of,Neck,Ct,Scan,Seen,Right,Side,Problem.,3d

Strokes are usually blamed on clots from the heart or fatty build‑up in the carotid arteries. A new nationwide study points to a far less familiar culprit that is increasing at break‑neck speed.



Hospital stays tied to this type of stroke rose 400% between 2005 and 2019. <a href="https://www.brownhealth.org/providers/shadi-yaghi-md">Shadi Yaghi, MD</a>, a vascular neurologist at <a href="https://www.brownhealth.org/providers/shadi-yaghi-md" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brown University</a>, led the team that reviewed 125,102 records to understand this disturbing trend.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strokes-from-cervical-artery-dissection">Strokes from "cervical artery dissection"</h2>



A <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STR.0000000000000457" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cervical artery dissection</a> happens when the inner lining of a neck artery splits and blood forces its way between the layers, creating a flap that can slow flow or spawn a clot, causing an ischemic stroke.



Up to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9272308/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one in four strokes</a> in adults younger than fifty trace back to an undetected tear, making the condition a top threat during prime working years.



The tear often follows a car crash, sports collision, or heavy lift, yet even an awkward reach into the backseat can trigger it. 



New ultrasound and magnetic‑resonance techniques now reveal tiny mural bruises that older scanners missed, so today’s numbers reflect both a true rise and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eyes-serve-as-an-early-warning-system-for-stroke-risk/">sharper detection</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-something-is-wrong">Clues something is wrong</h2>



A sudden one‑sided headache or neck pain, sometimes paired with a droopy eyelid, is the classic red flag that emergency clinicians <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dramatic-temperature-changes-linked-to-half-a-million-stroke-deaths/">learn to spot</a>. 



Some patients hear a pulsing “whoosh” in one ear, a clue that turbulent blood is racing past the tear.



When symptoms appear vague, physicians look for Horner’s syndrome, a pinpoint pupil with a partly closed lid, that often accompanies the injury. 



Emergency departments rely on computed tomography angiography, a dye scan that maps blood flow in minutes and is now the preferred first test in young <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stroke-risk-is-elevated-by-air-pollution-and-traffic-noise/">stroke</a> patients.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-numbers-keep-climbing">Why the numbers keep climbing</h2>



Incidence climbed from eleven to forty‑six cases per million people over fifteen years, an average ten‑percent rise every year.



Hispanic and Black Americans saw the steepest gains, nearly doubling the increase noted in white patients, suggesting disparities in both exposure to trauma and access to early vascular care. 



Cheaper scanners let smaller hospitals perform <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/peanuts-have-a-beneficial-impact-on-vascular-health/">vascular</a> studies on site. Clinicians also scan first and ask questions later, catching tears that once slipped under the radar.



“Strokes that are not fatal can lead to long‑term disability, poor mental health and reduced quality of life,” stated Yaghi, underscoring why <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stem-cell-therapy-improves-brain-activity-after-stroke/">earlier diagnosis</a> matters. 



The sharpest rise occurred in people older than sixty‑five, hinting that age‑related vessel changes and more liberal imaging are uncovering cases once blamed on arthritis pain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recognizing-cervical-artery-strokes">Recognizing cervical artery strokes</h2>



Sports medicine papers link dissections to wrestling throws, surfing wipeouts, and yoga headstands that force the neck past its usual range. 



A case report describes a thirty‑four‑year‑old woman who suffered a fatal stroke just hours after chiropractic neck manipulation, reminding clinicians to weigh benefits against rare but severe risks.



People with connective‑tissue disorders such as <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndromes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ehlers‑Danlos syndrome</a> face extra risk, and studies tie hypertension and migraine with aura to the condition as well. 



Vertebral tears demand respect because a nationwide follow‑up study found they almost doubled stroke risk within ninety days even when the first hospital stay ended without brain injury.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaps-in-treatment-and-follow-up">Gaps in treatment and follow‑up</h2>



Guidelines favor starting an antiplatelet drug such as aspirin for three to six months, reserving anticoagulants for complicated or vertebral artery dissection that extends toward the brainstem. 



Occlusive tears may call for stronger medication, and many centers reorder imaging within a week to confirm blood is flowing through a safe channel.



Intravenous clot‑busting medicine remains safe when given within the standard window, according to a recent <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.124.039662" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association review</a>. 



Endovascular stenting is saved for repeat attacks that break through medication, with observational series reporting technical success in more than ninety‑percent of treated segments.



Tele‑stroke clinics now let rural patients secure follow‑up scans and medication checks without long travel, a shift that could narrow the racial gap seen in the fresh data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lowering-cervical-artery-stroke-risk">Lowering cervical artery stroke risk</h2>



Wear a seat belt, raise the headrest to eye level, and avoid twisting the neck while lifting heavy objects, even on short trips. 



Always secure loose cargo so you are not tempted to reach suddenly while driving; it is a small habit that keeps your shoulders, and arteries, out of harm’s way.



Strength‑training experts advise easing back into weights with lighter loads and steady breathing after imaging confirms healing, guidance drawn from sports case <a href="https://practicalneurology.com/diseases-diagnoses/stroke/bilateral-vertebral-artery-dissection-and-occlusion-after-a-long-distance-open-water-swim/32070/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reviews</a>. 



Listen to your body. A stubborn one‑sided headache or new neck pain after minor trauma is reason enough to seek medical care, especially if an eye looks different or speech sounds slurred.



Researchers are testing direct oral anticoagulants and ultrasound markers that might spot a weak artery before it fails, while genetic studies hunt for clues in connective‑tissue biology.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000213548" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a>.



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This little-known cause of strokes is breaking records, increasing 400% since 2005

Strokes are usually blamed on clots from the heart or...

Queuosine may sound like a niche detail in a biochemistry textbook, yet this tiny compound touches nearly every corner of human physiology. 



Scientists have now identified how our cells grab it, opening new paths for research on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-map-of-the-brains-mitochondria-may-explain-cognitive-decline/">memory</a>, learning, and cancer resistance.



The work centers on queuosine, a vitamin‑like micronutrient we must borrow from food or friendly gut bacteria. 



A reseearch team led by Valérie de Crécy‑Lagard of the <a href="https://www.ufl.edu/">University of Florida</a> traced the entry point of queuosine into the cell, the transporter gene SLC35F2.



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



Queuosine is not built into proteins or DNA. Instead, it slots into transfer RNA (<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39600051/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tRNA</a>), the molecular interpreters that read genetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/action-observation-network-human-brain-perception-see-what-we-expect-to-see-mind-eye/">codes</a>. 



By modifying the wobble position of tRNAs for histidine, tyrosine, aspartate, and asparagine, queuosine helps ribosomes choose the correct amino acid more quickly and accurately. That fine‑tuning keeps translation errors and oxidative stress in check.



Laboratory <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-83451-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> show that supplementing queuosine reverses translation chaos and steadies protein production in stressed cells. Because humans cannot manufacture queuosine, diet and microbes must deliver a steady supply.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nutrient-and-cancer-connection">Nutrient and cancer connection</h2>



Experiments from the <a href="https://www.dkfz.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Cancer Research Center</a> uncovered a curious twist. Removing tRNA queuosine weakened context‑based memory in female mice but left males mostly unscathed.



The result hints that queuosine’s control over translation interacts with hormone‑sensitive neural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-brain-literally-changes-based-on-daily-activities-and-lifestyle/">circuits</a>. Cancer biologists track the nutrient for another reason.



Tumor tissues often show steep drops in queuosine modification, a change that encourages the rapid, glycolysis‑heavy metabolism called the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7146442/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warburg effect</a>. In cultured cells, adding the precursor queuine slows growth in colon, liver, and breast cancer lines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-queuosine-gets-in">How queuosine gets in</h2>



“For over 30 years, scientists have suspected that there had to be a transporter for this nutrient, but no one could find it. We’ve been hunting for it for a long time,” said de Crécy-Lagard. 



Hints about a queuosine gateway surfaced in the early 1990s when growth‑factor stimulation boosted uptake. Screens of known solute carrier proteins drew blanks, sending researchers back to the drawing board.



The investigators ran cross‑species genomics and <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/CRISPR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CRISPR</a> knockouts in <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henrietta-lacks/importance-of-hela-cells" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human HeLa cells</a>. Only one gene, SLC35F2, consistently blocked uptake when deleted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confirming-the-nutrient-s-pathway">Confirming the nutrient's pathway</h2>



Restoring SLC35F2 rescued transport, confirming it as the primary, high‑affinity channel for queuosine and its nucleobase form, queuine. 



Radiolabeled assays measured a Michaelis constant of 174 nanomoles, and competing nucleosides failed to displace queuosine from the transporter.



Fluorescence imaging placed SLC35F2 on the plasma membrane and inside the <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/golgi-body" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golgi</a>, a hint that queuosine may cycle through secretory routes before reaching cytosolic tRNA pools. 



The study also revealed a second, low‑affinity pathway that kicks in when dietary levels spike.



“We don’t think we could have cracked it without the full team,” said Vincent Kelly of <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trinity College Dublin</a>, joint senior author and professor of biochemistry and immunology, highlighting the collaborative push.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-brain-health">Implications for brain health</h2>



Neurons fire thousands of times per second, and any slowdown in protein synthesis can scramble that rhythm. 



In mice lacking tRNA queuosine, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128131466000059" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hippocampal neurons</a> mis‑translate codons, depressing long‑term potentiation, a cellular marker of learning.



Restoring dietary queuine fixed the translation lag and improved maze performance within days. With SLC35F2 in hand, neuroscientists can now ask whether genetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-brains-use-storage-trick-to-keep-your-memories-in-sequential-order/">variants</a> of the transporter align with neurodevelopmental disorders.



Public databases list rare point mutations in SLC35F2 in fewer than one percent of the population. Their functional impact remains untested, but the data set gives clinicians a starting point for genotype‑phenotype studies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-this-nutrient-help-fight-cancer">Could this nutrient help fight cancer?</h2>



SLC35F2 carries an intriguing label as an oncogene. High expression predicts poor prognosis in some <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4365-leukemia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leukemias</a> and solid tumors.



Researchers once assumed the protein simply imported chemotherapy drugs. Yet new data suggest that tumors may hijack SLC35F2 to starve cells of queuosine and rewire translation. Therapies could exploit the system in two ways.



Selective inhibitors might deprive cancer cells of the nutrient, pushing their error‑prone translation machinery past a lethal threshold. 



Alternatively, stabilized queuosine analogs could flood normal tissues that preserve SLC35F2, tamping down oxidative stress and inflammation. Early animal trials are already underway at several labs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dietary-sources-of-queuosine">Dietary sources of queuosine </h2>



Queuosine comes mainly from meat, dairy, and fermented foods, while some gut bacteria, especially members of the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/bacteroides" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bacteroides</a> genus, synthesize it from scratch. 



Vegans often show slightly lower circulating levels than omnivores, though the difference disappears when microbial producers are abundant.



Antibiotic courses can wipe out those producers for weeks. <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/medicine/psychiatry/research/neuropsychiatric-genetics-research-group/study-volunteers-needed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Researchers</a> in Ireland are now tracking whether short‑term queuosine drops after antibiotics correlate with slower reaction times or mood changes in healthy volunteers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-drug-rides-along">Cancer drug rides along</h2>



SLC35F2 already had a reputation in oncology circles because it escorts the experimental anticancer drug <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7281096/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YM155</a> into cells. 



Knowing that the protein’s day job is moving queuosine gives pharmacologists a fresh angle: they can tweak YM155’s structure to ride the same pathway more efficiently.



Conversely, blocking SLC35F2 might protect healthy neurons during chemotherapy by keeping YM155 out while allowing other nucleosides through alternative transporters. 



That strategy would echo the way cardiologists use dexrazoxane to shield the heart from doxorubicin, targeting transporter specificity rather than the drug itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gut-microbes-and-queuosine">Gut microbes and queuosine</h2>



The discovery also tightens the link between diet, microbes, and host gene expression. If intestinal bacteria ramp up queuosine output, plasma levels rise, SLC35F2 activity increases, and translation fidelity improves.



Better fidelity reduces misfolded proteins that would otherwise inflame the gut, creating a positive feedback loop. 



Disrupt the loop with a high‑fat, low‑fiber <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-diets-offer-health-benefits-and-lower-carbon-footprint/">diet</a>, and queuosine production plummets. Misfolded proteins accumulate, triggering oxidative stress that further damages the gut barrier. Restoring queuosine, through supplements or fermented foods, could break the cycle.



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



The team wants to chart how queuosine levels rise and fall across organs and over the human lifespan. 



High‑throughput mass spectrometry, paired with SLC35F2 genotyping, should reveal whether deficiencies track with cognitive decline or chemotherapy resistance.



“This discovery opens up a whole new chapter in understanding how the microbiome and our diet can influence the translation of our genes,” said Kelly. Diagnostic kits could follow.



A simple blood test measuring queuosine might guide personalized nutrition plans, especially for patients with gut dysbiosis or limited dietary variety.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2425364122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Little-known nutrient can boost your brain and fight cancer

Queuosine may sound like a niche detail in a biochemistry...

A familiar song often pulls dormant memories into focus. Scientists have long wondered why music has such a direct line to memory.



New research reports that the feelings a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-doesnt-just-hear-music-it-becomes-the-rhythm/">listener</a> experiences while the song plays decide which parts of the memory resurface.



The study was led by Kayla Clark, a cognitive neuroscientist at <a href="https://www.rice.edu/">Rice University</a>, and Dr. Stephanie Leal of UCLA.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-emotion-and-memory">Music, emotion, and memory</h2>



The team focused on <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7381437/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotional arousal</a>, the measurable surge of attention and bodily activity that follows a strong feeling. This surge controls hormone release linked to memory storage.



Modern brain‑imaging confirms the century‑old <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613%2824%2900078-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yerkes–Dodson law</a>, which shows that performance <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-people-are-born-to-enjoy-music-more-than-others/">peaks</a> at moderate arousal and drops at both extremes.



Prior <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19421427/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> reveal that high‑arousal scenes strengthen memory for the gist, while low arousal helps people keep track of fine details. 



Large reviews further show that regular music therapy can sharpen cognition in people with dementia, an effect stronger than many non‑pharmacological programs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soundtracks-influence-memory">Soundtracks influence memory</h2>



Clark and Leal recruited 130 young adults who first saw images of everyday objects. 



Thirty minutes later, during the vulnerable consolidation window, participants completed questionnaires while hearing happy, sad, familiar, or unfamiliar classical pieces, neutral sounds, or silence.



After the ten‑minute listening period everyone faced a memory test that asked them to tag pictures as “old,” “new,” or “similar,” a task that separates general recall from precise <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3183227/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pattern separation</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-emotion-less-precision">More emotion, less precision</h2>



“The more emotional that people became from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nostalgic-songs-light-up-your-brain-and-get-you-moving/">music</a>, the more they remembered the gist of a previous event. But people who had more moderate emotional responses to music remembered more details of previous events,” explained Clark. 



Individual reactions diverged even though the playlists were identical. Some listeners showed big spikes in arousal, others a moderate lift, and a third group actually calmed down.



Statistical clustering confirmed her words. Gist memory improved when arousal shot up or down, while the sharp discrimination of look‑alike images peaked only in the moderate group. 



Listeners who heard neutral sounds or silence did not show the same flip‑flop pattern, suggesting that music engages memory circuits differently from generic noise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-it-means-for-daily-life">What it means for daily life</h2>



If you need to recall the outline of a lecture, you may benefit from energizing tracks that push arousal to the top of the curve. 



By contrast, writers, detectives, and students who must store minute specifics might choose calmer pieces that create a gentle emotional bump rather than a rush.



Because every brain gauges arousal differently, the most helpful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-has-the-power-to-change-the-mood-of-our-memories/">playlist</a> will be personal. Smartphone sensors that read heart rate or skin conductance could someday adapt background music in real time, nudging each listener toward an individual sweet spot.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-match-music-to-memory">Match music to memory</h2>



Several brain regions help explain why music influences different types of memory. The hippocampus supports pattern separation, the ability to tell similar experiences apart, while the amygdala boosts memory for emotionally charged events.



Music also activates the nucleus accumbens and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9164627/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ventral tegmental area</a>, key players in the brain’s reward system that release dopamine during pleasurable moments. 



This neural cocktail may shift memory storage pathways depending on emotional intensity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-playlists-powered-by-biosignals">Playlists powered by biosignals</h2>



Tech developers are beginning to explore how biometric feedback could guide music curation. Wearables that track <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/heart-rate-variability-new-way-track-well-2017112212789" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart rate variability</a> or skin conductance might detect emotional arousal and adjust playlists to support focus or memory.



Some apps already use mood tagging or AI-driven personalization, but most lack real-time physiological input. 



Pairing arousal monitoring with tailored soundtracks could lead to smart systems that enhance memory on demand.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memory-response-to-music-is-personal">Memory response to music is personal</h2>



Music that triggers strong emotional responses in one person might leave another unmoved. 



Factors like cultural background, personal experiences, and past associations shape how a listener reacts to a particular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/higher-sound-quality-music/">song</a>.



This helps explain why familiar music didn't always cause the biggest change in arousal. Even songs rated as highly emotional overall had mixed effects across participants, underlining the need for personalized interventions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toward-tailored-dementia-care">Toward tailored dementia care</h2>



Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease often spares broad stories while erasing specifics, the very trade‑off the study maps. 



Personalized playlists might counter that imbalance by steering arousal into the moderate range that supports detail retention.



A 2024 <a href="https://alzres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13195-023-01214-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meta‑analysis</a> of randomized trials reported that music interventions improved global cognition in nursing‑home residents without adding stress, reinforcing the promise of targeted musical medicine.



Future work will need to test older adults, diverse musical genres, and longer follow‑ups, but the current findings offer a practical guide: match the music to the memory goal rather than assuming more volume or excitement is always better.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2025/06/12/JNEUROSCI.0158-25.2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Neuroscience</a>.



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Listening to music can change how we recall memories

A familiar song often pulls dormant memories into focus. Scientists...

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, but the specific types causing death have shifted.



From 1970 to 2022, deaths from heart attacks dropped by 89 percent - a major shift. In the same time period, deaths from other heart problems like heart failure, arrhythmias, and high blood pressure-related conditions rose by 81 percent.



Dr. Sara King is a second-year resident in the Department of Medicine at the <a href="https://med.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford School of Medicine</a> in California.



“This distribution shift in the types of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changing-one-thing-about-this-everyday-task-cuts-heart-disease-risk-in-half/">heart</a> disease people were dying from the most was very interesting to us,” said Dr. King. “This evolution over the past 50 years reflects incredible successes in the way <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-this-amount-of-coffee-helps-prevent-heart-disease-and-diabetes/">heart</a> attacks and other types of ischemic heart disease are managed.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treatment-reduced-heart-attack-deaths">Treatment reduced heart attack deaths</h2>



In 1970, most people who died from heart disease had a heart attack. By 2022, only 29% of ischemic heart disease deaths were from heart attacks, while the rest were from chronic ischemic disease. 



Emergency response and hospital care has improved in the United States. CPR, defibrillators, and coronary care units have helped. Imaging tools like angiography arrived in the 1970s, and angioplasty followed in 1977. Stents and thrombolytics came in the 1980s and 1990s.



Medications like statins, beta blockers, and blood thinners have become common. After 2009, doctors got access to PCSK9 inhibitors and better tests to detect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/">heart</a> attacks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habits-and-policies-supported-heart-health">Habits and policies supported heart health</h2>



Smoking rates dropped. In 1970, 40% of adults smoked. In 2019, that fell to 14 percent. People moved more. Cholesterol and blood pressure guidelines improved, and more patients took medication.



Dr. Keith Churchwell, the 2024-2025 <a href="https://www.heart.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association</a> volunteer president, is an associate clinical professor at the <a href="https://medicine.yale.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yale School of Medicine</a> and an adjunct associate professor at the <a href="https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vanderbilt School of Medicine</a>.



“Through the nearly $6 billion dollars the Association has invested in scientific research since 1948, we have enhanced the knowledge of how we diagnose and treat heart disease in almost all forms,” noted Dr. Churchwell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risk-factors-are-rising-again">Risk factors are rising again</h2>



Obesity rose from 15% to 40% between 1970 and 2022. Diabetes, including prediabetes, now affects half of all adults. Almost 50% of adults live with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-cells-grown-in-space-may-help-heal-damaged-hearts/">hypertension</a>.



People also live longer. In 1970, life expectancy was 70.9 years. In 2022, it reached 77.5. Older adults face higher risks for heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and other lasting heart problems.



The total heart disease death rate dropped by 66 percent, but the type of heart disease causing death shifted. Ischemic deaths fell, while deaths from other heart conditions rose. Today, chronic problems cause more cases.



“We’ve won major battles against heart attacks, however, the war against heart disease isn’t over,” said Dr. King.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthy-habits-prevent-heart-disease">Healthy habits prevent heart disease</h2>



“Now that people are surviving heart attacks, we are seeing a rise in other forms of heart disease like heart failure,” noted Dr. Latha Palaniappan, associate dean for research at Stanford University School of Medicine.



“The focus now must be on helping people age with strong, healthy hearts by preventing events, and prevention can start as early as childhood.”



The American Heart Association highlights eight important goals to protect heart and brain health. A healthy diet comes first. Choosing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can lower bad cholesterol and support heart function. 



It's not just about food, though. Regular physical activity keeps the heart strong, improves circulation, and helps manage body weight. This could mean a structured workout or simply walking more each day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-steps-to-protect-heart-health">Further steps to protect heart health</h2>



Smoking damages blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and increases the risk of both stroke and heart attack. Once someone stops smoking, the body starts to heal. The risk of cardiovascular complications begins to drop. 



Sleep matters, too. People who get enough quality rest give their hearts time to recover and maintain a steady rhythm.



Managing key health markers is just as critical. Keeping a healthy weight takes pressure off the heart and reduces the risk of chronic disease. Controlling cholesterol keeps arteries clear and lowers the chance of a blockage. 



Blood sugar control helps avoid complications tied to diabetes, which often worsens heart problems. And stable blood pressure can prevent stroke, heart failure, and kidney damage.



When combined, these eight steps offer more than protection. They lay the groundwork for a healthier, longer life with fewer heart-related problems.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.038644" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of the American Heart Association</a>. 



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Heart disease kills differently now than five decades ago

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the...

A new clinical trial suggests a modest, tasty fix for stubborn cholesterol. Eating two ounces of pecan halves every day for twelve weeks trimmed participants’ total cholesterol by a little over 8 mg/dL and lowered their LDL numbers as well.



Lead author Tricia L. Hart of <a href="https://www.psu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pennsylvania State University</a> conducted the study with 138 adults who already carried at least one metabolic syndrome risk factor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-pecans-the-basics">Understanding pecans - the basics</h2>



Pecans (<a href="https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/carya/illinoesis.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carya illinoinensis</a>) are a species of hickory native to the southern United States and parts of Mexico, prized for their nutrient-dense nuts and economic value. 



Botanically classified as drupes, pecans develop from a flower with a single ovary and encase their edible seed in a hard shell within a green husk. 



The tree thrives in well-drained alluvial soils and requires a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters to complete its dormancy cycle. 



Researchers have studied its genome to improve traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and nut quality, which are crucial as climate variability intensifies. 



Pecan trees can live for over a century and often require a decade or more before producing commercially viable yields, making early-stage cultivation decisions critical for long-term success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-pecans-and-low-cholesterol">Linking pecans and low cholesterol</h2>



Researchers randomized volunteers into two groups. One group kept its usual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/midnight-snack-the-best-foods-for-a-good-nights-sleep/">snack</a> pattern, while the other replaced whatever chips or cookies they normally grabbed with raw, unsalted pecans, Carya illinoinensis, measured to 57 grams a day.



By the final blood draw, the pecan group’s LDL, often nicknamed “bad” cholesterol, fell by 7 mg/dL, and <a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?contenttypeid=56&amp;contentid=2967" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">triglycerides</a> slid by 16 mg/dL, whereas the control numbers barely budged. 



No significant changes appeared in blood pressure or flow‑mediated dilation, so the nut’s magic seems aimed squarely at lipids rather than vessel stiffness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-inside-the-body">What happens inside the body</h2>



Pecans supply roughly 12 grams of heart‑friendly monounsaturated fat in a one‑ounce handful, plus a spectrum of polyphenols and 34 mg of magnesium. 



Cardiologist <a href="https://www.texasheart.org/people/matthew-segar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matthew Segar</a> of the Texas Heart Institute explains, “They also suppress post‑meal triglyceride spikes, which is especially important because temporary fat surges can contribute to heart disease over time,” said Segar.



Oleic acid, the same fatty acid abundant in olive oil, forms about 60 percent of pecan fat.&nbsp; Replacing refined‑carbohydrate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dips-can-more-than-double-the-calories-of-your-favorite-snack/">snacks</a> with this fatty acid profile can decrease hepatic very‑low‑density lipoprotein synthesis, cutting the pool of LDL precursors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cholesterol-numbers-behind-pecans">Cholesterol numbers behind pecans</h2>



The average total‑cholesterol drop of 3.6 percent in Hart’s trial might look small, yet a 5 mg/dL LDL reduction translates to a roughly 4 percent cut in cardiovascular event risk over five years.  



An updated meta‑analysis pooling more than 50 nut trials shows similar lipid shifts across various tree nuts.



“I would interpret this trial as confirmation that replacing unhealthy snacks with a modest amount of healthy snacks, including nuts and pecans if you enjoy them, is one way to promote a heart‑healthy diet,” said <a href="https://www.ccpdocs.com/physicians-affiliates/physicians/brett-victor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brett Victor</a>, MD, Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia. 



Because snacks account for about one‑fifth of daily calories for U.S. adults, targeting that slot offers an easy win without a complete menu overhaul.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-health-benefits">Other health benefits</h2>



Hart’s team noted a nine‑point jump in Healthy Eating Index scores among pecan eaters, indicating better overall diet quality. 



Fiber climbed by three grams a day and added‑sugar intake fell, echoing <a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dietary Guidelines</a> advice to emphasize nutrient‑dense plant foods.



“Ellagic acid in pecans reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and flavonoids improve blood vessel function, promoting better circulation and cardiovascular wellness,” said preventive dietitian <a href="https://entirelynourished.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michelle Routhenstein, RD</a>. 



Those anti‑inflammatory touches could help explain observational data linking higher nut consumption, five servings a week or more, to 13 percent lower cardiovascular disease risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-pecans-on-the-plate">Putting pecans on the plate</h2>



Two ounces works out to roughly 30–35 halves. Sprinkle them over oatmeal, blend into a smoothie, or just keep a small reusable container in your bag; consistency matters more than recipe creativity. 



Stick with raw or dry‑roasted pieces to avoid excess sodium and sugar. If flavor boredom strikes, toss them with cinnamon, smoked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spicy-foods-can-slow-down-eating-and-cut-calorie-intake/">paprika</a>, or a dash of cocoa powder before roasting at 300 °F for ten minutes.



People watching weight should remember that two ounces deliver about 390 calories. Hart’s participants gained only 1.5 pounds on average, likely because nuts increase satiety, but portion mindfulness still counts.



Not everyone should jump straight into a daily two‑ounce pecan habit without checking their own health context. 



People with <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/nut-allergies" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nut allergies</a>, especially tree nut sensitivities, must avoid pecans entirely, as even trace amounts can trigger severe reactions.



Pecans are also high in caloric density, which can be an issue for those on calorie‑restricted diets. Adding them without adjusting for other energy sources could lead to gradual weight gain, as observed in some participants in the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pecans-cholesterol-and-heart-health">Pecans, cholesterol, and heart health</h2>



Tree‑nut research now spans controlled feeding trials, long‑term cohorts, and mechanistic studies on endothelial function. 



Together they paint a converging picture: regular nut eaters boast healthier lipid profiles and slightly leaner waistlines than non‑nut eaters.



Replacing just one daily serving of highly processed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-carrots-snack-your-way-to-better-health/">snacks</a> with a handful of pecans checks multiple boxes, lower carbs, higher fiber, plant protein, and a bundle of antioxidants. 



Doctors caution that nuts complement rather than replace statins or lifestyle pillars like exercise, yet this simple swap stands out as one of nutrition’s most agreeable tweaks.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916525000577" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition</a>.



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Just one handful of these nuts each day can lower cholesterol and boost heart health, studies show

A new clinical trial suggests a modest, tasty fix for...

In raw processing power, a large language model will outclass toddlers. Yet when a team of researchers did the math, they found a startling gap: if humans learned language at the same rate as ChatGPT, it would take them 92,000 years.



The calculation highlights a long-standing mystery. Children master speech and grammar after only a few years of everyday experience, whereas state-of-the-art <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-generated-birdsongs-may-shed-new-light-on-human-language/">AI</a>, trained on billions of words, still trips over basic nuance.



A new study conducted at the <a href="https://www.mpi.nl/">Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics</a> offers the most comprehensive explanation to date. 



Led by developmental psychologist Caroline Rowland and colleagues at the UK-based <a href="https://www.lucid.ac.uk/">ESRC LuCiD Center</a>, the research proposes that the decisive advantage is not the amount of data children receive, but the way they interact with it.



Their active, embodied, and socially embedded learning engine may also hold lessons for the next generation of artificial intelligence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-toddlers-power-research">How toddlers power research</h2>



The past decade has produced a multitude of tools - head-mounted eye trackers, wearable microphones, machine-vision scene analyzers - that let scientists capture moment-by-moment snapshots of childhood.



A typical modern dataset might include everything a two-year-old sees, hears, grasps, and babbles during an ordinary afternoon. 



What has been missing, Rowland and her co-authors argue, is an integrated theory of how these multisensory streams translate into grammar and vocabulary.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-senses-shape-speech">How senses shape speech</h2>



The framework they propose rests on several mutually reinforcing principles. 



First is multisensory integration. Unlike text-bound chatbots, babies process language against a rich backdrop of sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and textures. 



A spoonful of mashed banana, for instance, comes with a color, a smell, a shape, a temperature, and a spoken label from a caregiver.



Over time, these correlated cues help infants crack linguistic codes that would baffle a purely textual learner.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moving-bodies-active-minds">Moving bodies, active minds</h2>



Second is embodiment. Children’s bodies are constantly in motion - rolling, crawling, pointing, mouthing objects. 



Each action changes the incoming data stream, generating fresh correlations between words and physical experiences, like associating the word cup with the feel of a plastic rim.



This kind of “closed-loop” activity allows children to test hypotheses on the fly, using movement as part of the learning process.



Social immersion plays a third critical role. Caregivers instinctively tailor their speech in real time, repeating words, exaggerating intonation, or shifting topics based on the child’s attention. 



Whereas AI systems read from static datasets, children receive a dynamic, personalized curriculum designed by human minds evolved for teaching.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-curiosity-powers-toddlers-learning">Curiosity powers toddlers’ learning</h2>



A fourth principle is incremental plasticity. The young brain reorganizes rapidly, strengthening and pruning neural connections in response to experience. 



This adaptability allows children to shift their learning priorities as they grow- starting with mastering sounds, then words, then grammar - without needing to discard earlier knowledge.



Finally, there is motivation and curiosity. Perhaps most crucially, toddlers want to decode the world around them. They actively seek novelty, request clarification, and show visible delight when they succeed, sustaining hours of daily language practice without explicit instruction.



“AI systems process data... but children really live it,” Rowland explained. “Their learning is embodied, interactive, and deeply embedded in social and sensory contexts.”



“They seek out experiences and dynamically adapt their learning in response - exploring objects with their hands and mouths, crawling toward new and exciting toys, or pointing at objects they find interesting. That’s what enables them to master language so quickly.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-children-can-teach-ai">What children can teach AI</h2>



The authors believe these insights could reshape machine-learning strategy. Current large language models ingest terabytes of written text, a modality children barely encounter until school age.



To narrow the performance gap, engineers might endow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robots-can-now-learn-from-humans-by-watching-how-to-videos/">robots</a> with multisensory inputs, motor exploration, and real-time social feedback loops - essentially giving silicon learners a simulated childhood.



“AI researchers could learn a lot from babies,” Rowland said. “If we want machines to learn language as well as humans, perhaps we need to rethink how we design them - from the ground up.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-helping-language-thrive-again">Helping language thrive again</h2>



Beyond technology, the framework could illuminate adult second-language acquisition, evolutionary linguistics, and educational practice. 



For example, it suggests that immersive, interactive classrooms may outperform rote drills, and that endangered languages could be revitalized by recreating full sensory contexts for young speakers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simulated-toddlers-in-labs">Simulated toddlers in labs</h2>



Rowland’s group is already testing the model with longitudinal recordings from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-with-autism-benefit-from-learning-multiple-languages/">multilingual</a> families. Meanwhile, cognitive neuroscientists plan brain-imaging studies to chart how sensory–motor loops sculpt language circuits.



On the AI front, several labs are experimenting with embodied agents that crawl through virtual nurseries, manipulating objects while linking words to experience.



Whether those synthetic toddlers can close a 92,000-year deficit remains to be seen. What is clear is that humanity’s smallest linguists still wield secrets that even the largest neural networks have yet to crack.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1364661325001421">Trends in Cognitive Sciences</a>.



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Children are much better at learning language than AI

In raw processing power, a large language model will outclass...

High blood pressure drives heart attacks and strokes, yet the routine test that spots it can be surprisingly fragile. Two inches of arm drift are enough to nudge the reading into the danger zone.



A crossover trial at Johns Hopkins now shows that a patient who lets an arm dangle may appear up to 7 millimeters of <a href="https://www.epa.gov/mercury/basic-information-about-mercury" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mercury</a> higher than one whose arm rests on the exam‑room desk. 



That difference can tip a person's blood pressure reading from "elevated" into dangerous "stage 2" territory.



<a href="https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/tammy-mc-loughlin-brady/2704889" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tammy Brady</a>, MD, PhD, of the <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine</a>, led the investigation that re‑created three real‑world postures seen in clinics every day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-study-was-designed">How the study was designed</h2>



To mimic real checkup conditions, researchers asked each participant to walk for two minutes before every blood pressure reading. Then they rested for five minutes in a quiet room, seated with back and feet supported.



Each person went through four rounds of triplicate measurements using different arm positions. By repeating the desk-supported reading at the end, the team accounted for natural blood pressure shifts over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-blood-pressure-can-fool-us">Why blood pressure can fool us</h2>



Nearly half of U.S. adults live with <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db511.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hypertension</a>, the persistent elevation of arterial pressure that strains the heart and vessels. 



Clinicians rely on a single snapshot often taken in less than a minute, to decide whether to start lifelong medication.



The study enrolled 133 Baltimore volunteers aged 18 to 80 and rotated them through desk‑support, lap‑rest, and side‑dangling positions. 



Researchers used automated cuffs to remove observer bias and repeated the desk posture at the end to control for natural fluctuations.



Compared with the desk standard, a lap‑supported arm averaged 3.9 mmHg higher <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/systolic-blood-pressure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">systolic</a> and 4 mmHg higher <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/a-look-at-diastolic-blood-pressure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diastolic</a>. An unsupported arm reached 6.5 mmHg and 4.4 mmHg above the baseline for those same numbers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-trial-uncovered">What the trial uncovered</h2>



In fast-paced clinics, staff may skip best practices without realizing the consequences. It’s common to see rushed exams where patients hold their own arms or sit on exam tables without support.



These shortcuts might seem minor in the moment, but repeated over time, they add up. Misreadings can creep into charts, shape diagnoses, and affect treatment plans that last for years.



“If you are consistently measuring blood pressure with an unsupported arm, and that gives you an overestimated BP of 6.5 mmHg, that’s a potential difference between a systolic BP of 123 and 130,” warned <a href="https://globalhypertensionathopkins.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sherry Liu, M.H.S.</a>, referencing the clinical jump from "elevated" to "stage 1".



The pattern held in younger and older adults, in people with and without <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-childhood-obesity-rate-is-expected-to-soar-by-2050/">obesity</a>, and in those already diagnosed with high pressure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-properly-take-blood-pressure">How to properly take blood pressure</h2>



Desk‑level support keeps the cuff’s mid‑point at mid‑heart height, equalizing hydrostatic pressure along the arteries. 



Drop the arm, and gravity demands a higher force to push blood upward, so the gauge records extra pressure.



The <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/11/09/where-and-how-you-sit-matters-when-getting-blood-pressure-taken-at-the-doctors-office" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association</a> instructs nurses to seat patients in a backed chair, feet flat, legs uncrossed, and arm resting on a firm surface that aligns with the right atrium.



Even well-trained clinicians don’t always follow textbook guidelines. In busy offices, there’s pressure to move quickly, and details like arm height can get overlooked.



Some providers might think close is good enough, but the research shows that “almost right” still leads to wrong numbers. Unless someone checks posture intentionally, errors can become routine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-at-home-monitors-need-help">At‑home monitors need help</h2>



Millions measure at home, yet many kitchen tables are too low to mimic clinic desks. A pillow under the elbow or sliding the device onto a higher counter can close the gap.



Cuff size matters as well; sleeves that are too narrow can push readings 5 to 10 mmHg higher, a problem affecting about 12 percent of Black Americans with larger <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.23473" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arm circumferences</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poor-technique-leads-to-misdiagnosis">Poor technique leads to misdiagnosis</h2>



Even small inaccuracies in readings can have a big impact on a person's health journey. An overestimated result could lead to an incorrect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-blood-pressure-can-be-detected-in-voice-recordings/">hypertension diagnosis</a>, prompting unnecessary prescriptions or anxiety.



On the other hand, a reading that seems only slightly elevated might prevent someone from getting the treatment they actually need. Proper positioning is not just about data quality - it can change real-life decisions and outcomes.



Brady’s team plans to test whether a simple reminder on the device screen: “Rest arm on table” nudges behavior in primary‑care offices. They also want to see whether the error shrinks with wrist cuffs that use built‑in position sensors.



Public‑health specialists hope standard positioning can prevent thousands of unnecessary prescriptions each year, reducing side effects and costs without compromising cardiovascular safety.



The study is published in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2824754" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JAMA Internal Medicine</a>.



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How you position your arm can alter blood pressure readings, according to scientists

High blood pressure drives heart attacks and strokes, yet the...

Heart disease kills more Americans than any other condition, claiming about 941,652 lives in 2022. That’s nearly one out of every five deaths in the United States.



A new analysis says you can cut that danger in half simply by quickening everyday chores, and it does not require a gym membership. 



<a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/about/our-people/academic-staff/emmanuel-stamatakis.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emmanuel Stamatakis</a> of the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> led the project that quietly tracked more than 24,000 self‑described non‑exercisers with wrist‑worn motion sensors for a week. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-everyday-movement-and-heart-disease">Everyday movement and heart disease</h2>



Most people think of exercise as planned workouts, yet the trackers revealed that tiny bursts of motion during routine tasks, from carrying groceries to scrubbing a tub, still raise the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/low-carb-or-low-fat-food-quality-is-more-important-for-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart rate</a>. 



Each little surge counts toward the 150 minutes of moderate activity that the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/adults.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> recommends every week.



Researchers call this incidental physical activity (IPA), a catch‑all for movement that happens naturally while living, working, or commuting. 



IPA sidesteps the cost, travel, and time barriers that keep roughly three in five U.S. adults from meeting exercise guidelines.



By contrast, staying seated for long stretches lets blood sugar and blood pressure creep upward, feeding <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease (CVD)</a>. Over time those changes stiffen arteries and invite clots that trigger heart attacks or strokes.



Previous large‑scale work shows that women who combine at least three different household or leisure activities cut CVD risk by forty percent compared with women who stick to only one type of movement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-disease-and-movement">Heart disease and movement</h2>



The Sydney team mined data from the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK Biobank</a>, a massive project linking health records with lifestyle tracking. Participants averaged 62 years old and reported no structured workouts, yet their trackers captured every ten‑second burst of motion.&nbsp;



An artificial‑intelligence model sorted each snippet into light, moderate, or vigorous effort. The scientists then waited almost eight years to see who suffered a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/men-and-women-have-different-heart-rhythms-and-now-we-know-why/">heart</a> event or died. Hospital records confirmed 908 major cardiac events and 223 cardiovascular deaths in that time.



Crunching the numbers showed an L‑shaped curve: risk plummeted quickly with the first bits of effort, then leveled off. 



Daily totals of just 24 minutes at a moderate clip or 4 to 5 minutes at a vigorous clip predicted roughly fifty percent fewer heart attacks or strokes compared with people who mostly ambled. 



<a href="https://experts.mcmaster.ca/display/gibalam" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Martin Gibala</a> of <a href="https://www.mcmaster.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McMaster University</a>, who was not involved, called the work “a solid piece of evidence that even brief bursts matter.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-fast-is-fast-enough">How fast is fast enough</h2>



Moderate intensity means you can talk but not sing, like pushing a vacuum cleaner briskly or climbing stairs with purpose. Vigorous intensity steals your breath so that only a few words fit between gasps.



In practical terms, hurrying up two flights of stairs, hauling laundry in double‑time, or sprint‑walking to the mailbox three or four times a day fills that five‑minute vigorous quota. Those minutes do not need to be consecutive; the study counted them whenever they appeared.



Stamatakis’ group calculated health “exchange rates.” One vigorous minute matched about three moderate minutes or nearly forty‑five light minutes for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-is-worse-for-the-heart-than-cocaine/">heart</a> protection. That conversion helps people who dislike huffing and puffing find an alternative pace and duration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adding-some-pep-to-your-step">Adding some pep to your step</h2>



Turn a slow sweep into a speed sweep by widening your stance and pushing the broom in long strokes. This bumps effort into the moderate zone without special gear. 



Carry grocery bags one at a time up the driveway and time yourself. A shorter trip each night builds a habit of pacing.



Swap the elevator for the stairs on the way to your apartment or office. The extra sixty seconds of climbing can replace a two‑minute jog later. Gardening can count too. 



Racing the timer while pulling weeds or raking leaves lifts heart rate beyond the comfortable chatting zone. Small tweaks spread through the day avoid sweating through clothes, a leading barrier cited in surveys.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-heart-disease-prevention">Future of heart disease prevention</h2>



IPA does not replace structured workouts, which improve muscle strength, balance, and mental health in ways chores cannot. 



Yet for millions who struggle to meet formal goals, brisk chores close part of the gap and still leave room for weekend hikes or bike rides.



The <a href="https://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-disease-remains-leading-cause-of-death-as-key-health-risk-factors-continue-to-rise" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association</a> reminds us that eighty percent of cardiac events are preventable through lifestyle choices like diet, activity, and smoking cessation. Quick chores could be the lowest‑cost intervention of them all.



Doctors say the findings dovetail with long‑standing advice to break up sitting with movement. Every hour of desk work should end with a brief spell of standing or walking, and adding intensity multiplies the benefit.



The Biobank cohort was mostly White and middle‑aged, so future studies need to follow diverse younger groups to confirm the effect. 



Scientists also hope to test whether digital nudges, such as phone alerts, can prompt timely bursts of movement.



Meanwhile, public‑health campaigns may soon update guidelines to highlight IPA alongside formal exercise, making the message clearer for busy parents and older adults with mobility concerns.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.072253" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Circulation</a>.



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Changing one thing about this everyday task cuts heart disease risk in half, says a new study

Heart disease kills more Americans than any other condition, claiming...

The human body ages one cell at a time. Most of those cells carry on with their jobs, but a small fraction slip into <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41580-020-00314-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cellular senescence</a>, a dormant state linked to arthritis, diabetes, and memory loss.



Assistant Professor Ippei Yagi and colleagues at <a href="https://www.tmu.ac.jp/english/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tokyo Metropolitan University</a> say they can now spot those problem cells in seconds, and they never touch them with dye, antibodies, or enzymes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-senescent-cells-cause-damage">Senescent cells cause damage</h2>



<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10600" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Senescent cells</a> stop dividing, yet they refuse to die. They pump out proteins that stir up chronic inflammation, helping drive clogged arteries and brittle joints, according to a landmark 2011 Nature paper that removed such cells from mice and delayed several age‑related disorders.



Earlier work showed the same animals regained exercise capacity once the so‑called <a href="https://med.umn.edu/news/defining-zombie-cells" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“zombie” cells</a> were cleared, nudging drug developers toward senolytic compounds that wipe them out. 



Clinical <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10168460/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reviews</a> now count more than a dozen early trials of senolytics like dasatinib and quercetin, though researchers caution that the field still needs larger studies to prove safety and dosing.



Before any pill can be approved, scientists must measure how many senescent cells a tissue holds and watch that number drop during treatment. 



Most labs rely on fluorescent tags that bind to enzymes such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/beta-galactosidase" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">β‑galactosidase</a> or to proteins like p16^INK4a.



Those markers work, yet the staining process can take hours and may alter the very cells under study. High‑throughput screens, tissue biopsies, and regenerative medicine all need a faster, gentler readout.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electric-fields-reveal-cell-identity">Electric fields reveal cell identity</h2>



Yagi’s team turned to frequency‑modulated dielectrophoresis (<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2717594/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FM‑DEP</a>), a method first described more than two decades ago for sorting live cells with microelectrodes. 



When a non‑uniform alternating electric field washes over a cell, charges inside the membrane rearrange, creating a tiny dipole that moves toward or away from the nearest electrode.



The speed and direction of that motion depend on the field’s frequency. Plot the response curve and a single “cutoff” frequency emerges where the force flips sign.



Every cell type owns its own cutoff, wrote <a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9797-145X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ronald Pethig</a> in a foundational 2010 review of dielectrophoresis. Yagi wondered if aging alone would shift a cell’s electrical fingerprint.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-senescent-cells-flip-earlier">Senescent cells flip earlier</h2>



The group cultured <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10217460/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human dermal fibroblasts</a>, the workhorse cells that knit skin together. Some cultures divided briskly, others were coaxed to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/">senesce</a> by repeated replication until they hit their Hayflick limit.



Applying FM‑DEP, the scientists swept the field from 100 kHz to 20 MHz and tracked each cell’s zig‑zag path under a microscope. Young fibroblasts reversed course near 2.8 MHz, while senescent siblings flipped at roughly 1.9 MHz.



“That 30 percent gap is wide enough to separate populations with a single voltage ramp. FM‑DEP is rapid, easy to apply, and label‑free,” explained Yagi. Because the assay runs in a sealed chip, it keeps the cells healthy for follow‑up experiments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-changes-cell-membranes">Aging changes cell membranes</h2>



The shift in cutoff stems from changes in lipid composition. As fibroblasts age, their membranes carry fewer unsaturated fats and pack more cholesterol, thickening the bilayer and slowing charge redistribution.



Those findings dovetail with earlier biochemical studies showing oxidized lipids build up in senescent membranes and stiffen the cell surface. 



The altered dielectric constant caused by aging makes cells respond as if they were slightly larger, even though their physical size hardly changes.



DEP aficionados have used similar shifts to sort stem cells, T cells, and malaria‑infected red blood cells. 



A 2024 microfluidic <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925400524003988" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> even achieved DEP sorting at flow rates 100 times faster than earlier chips, hinting that industrial‑scale purging of senescent cells from stem‑cell grafts may be feasible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-uses-beyond-the-lab">Potential uses beyond the lab</h2>



FM‑DEP could screen senolytic drugs in vitro by counting senescent cells before and after treatment within the same droplet. 



It might also grade the “biological age” of skin samples, tracking how diet, UV exposure, or cosmetics shift membrane profiles over time.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-brittle-star-tissue-could-transform-regenerative-medicine/">Regenerative medicine</a> stands to gain because transplanted stem cells sometimes fall into senescence during expansion. Removing those laggards before implantation could improve wound healing and tissue integration.



Clinicians exploring plasma‑derived therapies or stem‑cell serums also need clean batches free of inflammatory senescent cells. A label‑free sorter that plugs straight into a production line would streamline quality control.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-testing-and-safety-checks">More testing and safety checks</h2>



Yagi’s data come from one fibroblast line, so the next step is to chart cutoff maps for other tissues, including muscle, fat, and neurons. 



Each cell type owns its own membrane recipe, and disease can tweak that recipe long before senescence sets in.



Cross-talk with traditional markers will help validate FM‑DEP. For instance, cells sorted as “young” should show low β‑gal staining and minimal p16^INK4a expression, while those showing signs of aging ought to exhibit the opposite profile.



Researchers also want to know if drugs that rejuvenate <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Mitochondria" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mitochondria</a> or dampen DNA damage can nudge the cutoff back toward youthful values. Such shifts would give pharmacologists a real‑time readout of treatment success.



Finally, safety studies must confirm that high‑frequency fields leave no latent harm. Recent on‑chip DEP reviews suggest the forces used are well within established safety margins for live cells.



The study is published in <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11031132" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IEEE Sensors Journal</a>.



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System that identifies and kills dying cells before they harm you has huge anti-aging potential

The human body ages one cell at a time. Most...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
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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...

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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...

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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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https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







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

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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



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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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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