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...

New research shows that cancer deaths caused by alcohol have almost doubled in the United States since 1990, reaching more than 23,000 lives lost each year.



Investigators examined national mortality records for malignancies known to be fueled by alcohol, including tumors of the breast, liver, colon, mouth, throat, voice box, and esophagus. They charted how those figures changed between 1990 and 2021.



The researchers discovered that the overall number of deaths attributable to drinking rose from just under 12,000 to just over 23,000 during that span. The surge is especially pronounced among men older than 55, whose alcohol-related cancer mortality has risen a little more than one percent each year since 2007.



The analysis is led by the <a href="https://umiamihealth.org/locations/sylvester-comprehensive-cancer-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> at the University of Miami. It draws on three decades of data from the <a href="https://www.healthdata.org/research-analysis/gbd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Burden of Disease</a> database. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-awareness-still-lags">Public awareness still lags</h2>



Lead author Chinmay Jani, a hematology-oncology fellow at Sylvester, described the trend as “a big and concerning rise.” He noted that public understanding lags far behind the science. 



Although the carcinogenic effects of alcohol have been clear to researchers for years, a 2019 survey by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quitting-smoking-greatly-reduces-the-risk-of-deadly-cancers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Institute for Cancer Research</a> found that fewer than half of U.S. adults knew drinking raises cancer risk. In contrast, nearly nine of ten recognize the danger of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quitting-smoking-greatly-reduces-the-risk-of-deadly-cancers/">smoking</a>.



Jani hopes the new analysis, which earned an ASCO Merit Award, will prompt physicians as well as patients to take the link more seriously.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-men-hit-hardest-by-alcohol">Men hit hardest by alcohol</h2>



Looking beyond national figures, the researchers broke down the data by gender and disease site. Alcohol-related cancer mortality among women has modestly declined since 1990, thanks to earlier detection and better treatments.



In men, however, the burden continues to inch upward, erasing any gains made through medical advances. Liver, colorectal, and esophageal cancers show the steepest increases in alcohol-linked deaths; <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/western-diet-identified-as-major-cause-of-colon-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">colorectal</a> and esophageal cancers also show the largest proportional increases relative to their total mortality.



The experts then asked how much of today’s cancer mortality can be caused by alcohol. Even for tumor types where overall death rates have fallen, the proportion attributable to drinking has climbed.



Across all cancers combined, alcohol now accounts for nearly fifty percent more deaths than it did thirty years ago. Other factors may lower fatalities, but alcohol is increasingly responsible for the remaining cancer deaths.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geography-and-regional-disparities"><a></a>Geography and regional disparities</h2>



Geography adds another layer. State-level analysis shows wide variation: the District of Columbia and Texas top the chart for alcohol-related cancer mortality, while Utah, where religious norms curtail drinking, reports the lowest burden.



The investigators suggest that local drinking culture, socioeconomic status, and access to health care probably all influence these differences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-alcohol-causes-cancer"><a></a>How alcohol causes cancer</h2>



At the biological level, alcohol promotes cancer through several pathways. Ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde can damage DNA and hamper genetic repair mechanisms; chronic drinking also alters hormone levels and fosters inflammation, especially in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-say-this-is-the-best-fruit-to-eat-for-a-healthier-liver/">liver</a>.



People vary in how their bodies process alcohol, so genetic background may modulate individual risk. 



Senior author Gilberto Lopes, medical director for Sylvester’s international programs, says a deeper understanding of these mechanisms could eventually allow doctors to identify patients who are unusually susceptible and tailor screening or preventive advice accordingly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limited-alcohol-warnings">Limited alcohol warnings</h2>



Public-health experts note that alcohol’s contribution to mortality dwarfs more familiar hazards. 



The surgeon general recently reported that drinking is implicated in roughly 100,000 new U.S. cancer diagnoses each year. It also contributes to about 20,000 deaths, numbers that far outstrip fatalities from drunk driving.



Yet government campaigns have historically focused on road safety while devoting far less effort to educating people about alcohol’s carcinogenic potential.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-call-for-action">A new call for action</h2>



The scientists recommend a multipronged response. First, routine medical visits should include frank discussions of alcohol intake and its cancer risks, much as physicians already counsel patients about smoking.



Second, consumer awareness could be boosted through warning labels on alcoholic beverages and mass-media campaigns modeled on successful anti-tobacco efforts.



Third, evidence suggests that excise taxes, limits on retail hours, and restrictions on outlet density all lower community-level consumption and could help curb cancer deaths.



Finally, targeted outreach to older men in high-burden states could combine cancer screening with programs that support reduced drinking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-fight-must-include-alcohol">Cancer fight must include alcohol</h2>



While these policy levers are familiar, their application has been uneven. Many U.S. jurisdictions maintain low alcohol taxes; few require explicit cancer warnings at the point of sale. 



Even in oncology clinics, conversations often revolve around chemotherapy side effects, genetic testing, and surgery rather than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-lifestyle-changes-could-prevent-half-of-all-cancer-deaths/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lifestyle factors</a>.



Jani argues that the new data underline how behavioral choices can undermine medical progress. If the upward trend continues, alcohol will increasingly drive cancer mortality, offsetting gains from improved treatments as the population ages.



Lopes echoes that concern, emphasizing that alcohol consumption is a modifiable risk. The study’s message, he says, is straightforward: every drink carries more than social consequences; for tens of thousands of families each year, it is part of a chain that ends in a cancer ward.



Confronting that reality - through education, clinical practice, and public policy - will be essential if the nation hopes to keep pushing cancer deaths downward rather than letting alcohol erase hard-won victories in treatment and prevention.



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Alcohol-related cancer deaths rise steeply in the United States

New research shows that cancer deaths caused by alcohol have...

We didn’t just grow taller for no reason. Our ancestors didn’t just burn energy from meat out of nowhere. Something shifted, deep in our biology - and meat had everything to do with that energy.



A new study published in the journal Cell Genomics dives into this change. It shows how a single genetic tweak, one <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tool-flint-discovery-challenges-theory-of-human-cultural-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient</a> variant, may have helped drive two things we now take for granted: our height and how much energy our bodies use when at rest.



You might not expect metabolism and height to share roots, but they do. And the story starts with meat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meat-and-human-metabolism">Meat and human metabolism </h2>



"The dietary shift from a primarily plant-based diet to increased meat consumption marks a major milestone in human evolution," noted co-corresponding authors Jin Li and He Huang of Fudan University.



"Previous studies have suggested that this shift influenced many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-ancestor-paranthropus-robustus-walked-upright-2-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">traits</a> and phenotypes in anatomically modern humans. It is therefore not surprising that height may also have been affected."



Meat did more than change dinner. It may have changed DNA. Specifically, a variant called rs34590044-A, which affects a gene named ACSF3. 



This gene lives in our cells’ energy factories - the mitochondria - and helps manage how we break down amino acids, especially those found in meat. When ACSF3 expression goes up, so does metabolism. Bones also seem to grow more.



The researchers didn’t guess. They had data from nearly half a million people. They dug into the UK Biobank and found over 6,000 genetic variants that connect height and basal metabolic rate. But one kept flashing bright red: rs34590044-A.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meat-based-diets-altered-human-height">Meat-based diets altered human height</h2>



The team ran tests on computer models and in real cells and living mice. When mice got the ACSF3 variant and ate a meat-mimicking diet, they grew longer and used more energy. That’s not a fluke - it’s a functional effect. The gene works harder when meat is around.



Without the variant, metabolism slowed. Bones didn’t grow as much. Mice burned less energy. But once scientists dialed ACSF3 expression back up, everything changed - again. This time, growth returned. So did energy use. But only with the right amino acids in the diet.



"In anatomically modern humans, basal metabolic rate and stature exhibit notable evolutionary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-wooden-structure-completely-rewrites-early-human-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">divergence</a> compared to non-human apes," said Shaohua Fan of Fudan University in Shanghai, China.



"Although both traits, particularly height, have been extensively investigated, the evolutionary mechanisms driving these changes remain comparatively underexplored. That's why we decided to focus on these two traits together."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meat-gene-spread-with-human-migration">Meat gene spread with human migration</h2>



It wasn’t just today’s bodies that told the story. Ancient DNA backed it up. The researchers traced the variant through time. They found it often in meat-eating cultures, like the Yamnaya, and rarely in early plant-farming groups. 



The gene didn’t spread randomly - it rode the wave of meat consumption across continents and centuries. As farming spread, the variant dipped in frequency. Then, over the past 5,000 years, it came back even stronger. 



Populations that reintroduced meat or mixed with meat-eaters showed higher levels again. Evolution doesn’t forget what works.



This mutation isn’t loud. It doesn’t code for muscle or bone directly. It tweaks regulation - how much of ACSF3 gets made. That’s enough to tilt the body’s internal balance: more ACSF3, more energy, more bone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-look-at-human-evolution">A new look at human evolution</h2>



ACSF3 doesn’t act alone. It reduces toxic byproducts like methylmalonic acid (MMA). That’s important because MMA buildup messes with mitochondria. If your cells can’t breathe, they can’t grow or fuel the body properly. The gene, in a way, cleans the engine before it revs.



When they took ACSF3 out in mice, those animals struggled. Their energy dropped and their bones stopped stretching. But put it back - and give them threonine, an amino acid from meat - and everything reversed. Growth and heat returned.



"This research reveals the intricate interplay between the genetic, environmental, and demographic factors that have contributed to the emergence and evolution of anatomically modern humans," noted Fan.



"It also has important implications for understanding susceptibility and resistance in contemporary metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-energy-and-warm-bodies">More energy and warm bodies</h2>



This isn’t the first time diet shaped us with energy from meat. Our ability to digest milk, for example, only emerged in some farming groups. Starch-digesting genes exploded in others. ACSF3 joins that list - powered by meat, driving energy. A quiet change, with big consequences.



The gene didn’t just help us survive meat - it let us thrive on it. More energy meant better movement, warmer bodies, and longer limbs. 



That matters when the world turns cold or when food gets scarce. A fast-burning engine beats a sluggish one when every calorie counts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dietary-changes-in-modern-humans">Dietary changes in modern humans </h2>



The research team plans to keep going. They want to find more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/28000-year-old-hybrid-child-confirms-interbreeding-between-humans-and-neanderthals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">traits</a> that co-evolved, just like height and metabolism. They’ll keep digging into ancient genomes, testing in labs, and matching genes to diets.



The researchers are especially interested in how our bodies maintain balance. Metabolic homeostasis, the fancy term for it, may have shaped more traits than we realize. 



And as diets continue to change today, our ancient genetic choices could still be nudging us in new directions.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-genomics/fulltext/S2666-979X(25)00111-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Genomics</a>.



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Early humans took a giant evolutionary leap when they started eating meat

We didn’t just grow taller for no reason. Our ancestors...

Clay,Brain,Model,Surrounded,By,Variously,Colored,Pills,On,A

More than 55 million people around the world experience neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. These illnesses often compromise a person's memory and leave them and their families feeling overwhelmed and desperate for treatment options.



Scientists at Case Western Reserve University may have uncovered a new way to maintain healthy brain function in Alzheimer’s and other related <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/finger-prick-method-could-simplify-alzheimers-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disorders</a>. 



According to Andrew Pieper, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist at <a href="https://www.uhhospitals.org/locations/uh-cleveland-medical-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center</a>, the research was focused on a lesser-studied area of the brain’s “border” instead of neurons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-s-barrier-may-be-key-in-memory-loss">Brain’s barrier may be key in memory loss</h2>



The blood-brain barrier (<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24931-blood-brain-barrier-bbb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBB</a>) is a protective layer of cells that keeps out toxins and dangerous particles. It plays a crucial role in regulating which substances can pass from the bloodstream into the brain.



The team discovered that the enzyme <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-36463-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">15-PGDH</a> was particularly active in the BBB in mouse models of Alzheimer’s. They noticed that high levels of 15-PGDH were linked with serious damage in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preventing-dementia-scientists-say-three-factors-matter-most/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain</a>.



The researchers tested a drug called <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37285764/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SW033291</a> which blocks this enzyme and watched what happened next.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blocking-enzyme-protects-memory">Blocking enzyme protects memory </h2>



“In these mouse models treated with the drug the BBB remained completely undamaged,” said Pieper. 



He explained that the mice maintained their brain cells and showed normal memory on tests, which suggests that targeting the BBB might be more promising than only looking at <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/amyloid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amyloid</a>, the sticky protein that is often linked with Alzheimer’s.



The team also studied a similar effect in traumatic brain injury, an event that sometimes raises the risk of future dementia. Lab mice with a concussion-like injury were given the drug a day after the trauma.



The mice did not show the usual decline in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preventing-dementia-scientists-say-three-factors-matter-most/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory</a> and movement, giving hope that BBB support could be relevant in multiple disorders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fresh-approach-to-brain-care">A fresh approach to brain care</h2>



“Notably, SW033291 didn’t change how much amyloid was in the brain,” said Sanford Markowitz at <a href="https://case.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Case Western Reserve</a> and University Hospitals. 



He explained that this is different from recent Alzheimer’s medicines, many of which only lower amyloid in the brain.



The researchers see this enzyme-blocking strategy as a new direction for Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injury, and possibly more conditions that involve the BBB. 



This line of thinking focuses on limiting damage from within, so that the rest of the brain can keep functioning as well as possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeting-amyloid-may-not-be-enough">Targeting amyloid may not be enough</h2>



For decades, Alzheimer’s treatments have focused mostly on removing amyloid plaques, the protein clumps often seen in patient brains. 



While these plaques are associated with the disease, clearing them has not consistently improved memory or thinking ability. 



Some of the latest approved drugs that reduce amyloid can also cause serious side effects, like brain swelling or bleeding.



The 15-PGDH inhibitor, by contrast, does not affect amyloid levels at all, and still appears to prevent memory loss in mice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-alzheimer-s-drug-protects-memory">New Alzheimer’s drug protects memory</h2>



At the moment, there are few therapies that offer meaningful relief for Alzheimer’s patients, which means that any innovation is welcomed by scientists and sufferers alike. If future clinical trials confirm these results, families dealing with memory loss may have more hope.



This concept could also spark additional interest in drugs that strengthen the blood-brain barrier. The research may ultimately open the door for simpler, safer methods to slow or stop mental decline at earlier stages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-memory-drug-on-people">Testing the memory drug on people</h2>



Many questions remain, including whether <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-94660-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBB-focused treatments</a> can help people in advanced stages of memory loss or those with other neurodegenerative diagnoses. 



It will be important to find out whether blocking 15-PGDH in humans is safe in the long-term, and how soon a therapy might become available.



Researchers aim to move the work forward by refining the drug’s design and planning more advanced animal studies. Only time will tell whether this new approach will be part of routine care for Alzheimer’s or concussion-like injuries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memory-fix-beyond-alzheimer-s">Memory fix beyond Alzheimer’s </h2>



The benefits seen in individuals with traumatic brain injury suggest that 15-PGDH inhibition might help in conditions beyond Alzheimer’s. 



Disorders like <a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/parkinsons-disease" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parkinson’s disease</a>, <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/multiple-sclerosis-ms#:~:text=Multiple%20sclerosis%20(MS)%20is%20a,may%20have%20only%20mild%20symptoms." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multiple sclerosis</a>, and even long COVID may involve similar inflammation and BBB disruption.



If future studies confirm these links, SW033291 or similar drugs could play a role in treating a range of brain disorders - not by targeting disease symptoms directly, but by keeping the brain's defense system intact.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2417224122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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New drug helps protect memory in brain diseases like Alzheimer's

More than 55 million people around the world experience neurodegenerative...

Sleep might seem disconnected from the natural world these days. Our lives are ruled by alarms, smartphones, and overhead lights - not sunrise or sunset. But our bodies tell a different story. 



A new study finds that our internal clocks and sleep schedule still march to the beat of sunlight, even in today’s high-tech world.



Scientists from the <a href="https://umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> (U-M) found that our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colors-of-sunset-and-sunrise-reset-our-circadian-rhythms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">circadian rhythms</a> continue to respond to seasonal changes in daylight.



Even when our daily routines are shaped by artificial lighting and unpredictable schedules, the cycles of dawn and dusk still leave their mark.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-sunlight-shapes-our-sleep">How sunlight shapes our sleep</h2>



The research has major implications for mental and physical health. It offers a new way to look at seasonal affective disorder, a form of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-and-depression-study-challenges-self-medication-theory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depression</a> triggered by the changing seasons.



"Humans really are seasonal, even though we might not want to admit that in our modern context," said Ruby Kim, U-M postdoctoral assistant professor of mathematics. "Day length, the amount of sunlight we get, it really influences our physiology." 



"The study shows that our biologically hardwired seasonal timing affects how we adjust to changes in our daily schedules."



Previous studies have shown a link between mood and how well our sleep matches our internal clock. This new work builds on that.



"This work shows a lot of promise for future findings," Kim said. "This may have deeper implications for mental health issues, like mood and anxiety, but also metabolic and cardiovascular conditions as well."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inherited-sleep-struggles">Inherited sleep struggles</h2>



The study also uncovered something else: a genetic factor. Our response to changing day length might be partially inherited. That could help explain why some people feel fine after a time change, while others struggle for weeks.



Daniel Forger, who led previous sleep studies, is an U-M professor of math and director of the Michigan Center for Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics. 



"For some people they might be able to adapt better, but for other people it could be a whole lot worse," he said.



Figuring out how this genetic piece fits in will take more time. But it opens the door to understanding why some people are more vulnerable to sleep disruptions than others. The research also suggests that our bodies may not operate on a single <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-circadian-disturbances-trigger-mental-health-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep-wake</a> clock.



"A lot of people tend to think of their circadian rhythms as a single clock," Forger said. "What we're showing is that there's not really one clock, but there are two. One is trying to track dawn and the other is trying to track dusk, and they're talking to each other."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleep-disruptions-meet-seasonal-clocks">Sleep disruptions meet seasonal clocks</h2>



To observe these rhythms in action, the researchers turned to a large dataset: thousands of medical residents participating in the Intern Health Study. 



The interns wore health trackers like Fitbits and submitted data over the course of their demanding first year of training.



Medical interns often work long, irregular hours that conflict with natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/irregular-sleep-cycles-linked-to-greater-diabetes-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep cycles</a>. Despite these disruptions, the study found that their circadian rhythms still showed a clear seasonal pattern. That makes a strong case for how deeply embedded this response is in humans.



This kind of seasonal response has long been observed in animals - from fruit flies to mice. Until now, though, strong real-world evidence for this in humans had been limited.



"I think it actually makes a lot of sense. Brain physiology has been at work for millions of years trying to track dusk and dawn," Forger said. "Then industrialization comes along in the blink of evolution's eye and, right now, we're still racing to catch up."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-linked-to-rest">DNA linked to rest</h2>



Interns in the study also provided saliva samples for DNA analysis. The team identified a small group of participants who had a variation in a gene already known to affect circadian rhythms in animals. 



This variation made it harder for their sleep cycles to stay in sync with the seasonal shifts in sunlight.



That means shift work could be especially harmful to certain individuals - raising new questions about how genetics and work schedules affect our health. The researchers plan to investigate this further.



For now, the study shows that even with busy lives and bright lights, we still carry a deep connection to the sun. Our internal clocks haven’t forgotten what millions of years of evolution taught them - and neither should we.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-025-01678-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">npj Digital Medicine</a>.



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Sunlight plays a critical role in human sleep

Sleep might seem disconnected from the natural world these days....

Lovely,Young,Happy,Couple,Sitting,In,The,Back,Of,Their

Births are steadily dropping in many parts of the world, while dogs are taking center stage in households that once prioritized children. Families everywhere say their pets feel like children, and it sparks questions about how we view families, caring, and belonging.



At the heart of this conversation is the idea that some people use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-dogs-replacing-children-how-modern-society-is-changing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> to satisfy a nurturing need without the commitments that come with raising human children. 



Research from <a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eötvös Loránd University</a> shines a light on these evolving roles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-treat-pets-like-children">Why we treat pets like children</h2>



This review was led by PhD student, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wAduFK4AAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ms. Laura Gillet</a>, and senior author, <a href="https://enikokubinyi.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ms. Enikő Kubinyi</a>, of the MTA-ELTE ‘Momentum’ Companion Animals Research Group at Eötvös Loránd University. 



Their work offers a fresh perspective on why people may treat their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-people-treat-their-dogs-is-directly-tied-to-their-own-childhood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> as dear family members, even calling them furry children.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-see-pets-as-easier-than-kids">Many see pets as easier than kids</h2>



“Despite the high dependency and attachment of dogs to their caregivers, in the eyes of many, commitments coming with dog ownership remain less burdensome than child parenting” explained Ms. Gillet.&nbsp;



Households vary widely when it comes to pets. Some folks see their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/family-dogs-boost-physical-activity-levels-among-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">canine companions</a> as children in all but name. Others embrace the idea that dogs are simply easier to manage than human kids.&nbsp;



Individuals who decide to adopt dogs say it meets their desire to look after another living being. 



Some appreciate the freedom of having a friendly companion without the lengthy financial and emotional investment that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-treat-their-children-differently-but-do-they-have-a-favorite/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raising a human child</a> often demands.



This shift in how we welcome dogs into our daily routines partly explains why people across different cultures now place their pets in roles once held only by children.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-have-needs-similar-to-toddlers">Dogs have needs similar to toddlers</h2>



Dog and owner relationships often show strong attachment features. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23224364/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Studies</a> using separation and reunion tasks found that dogs are more at ease with their primary caregiver than with strangers. 



Dogs also look to their owners for comfort during stressful situations, which adds to the idea that canines naturally bond with people in ways that mirror child-parent attachments.



Despite these similarities, dogs will not grow into independent adults who leave home. They stay reliant on their caregivers for food, walks, and social outings, and this ongoing dependence can make them feel like permanent toddlers. 



Many owners find it heartwarming to remain in that caregiver role, though there can be questions about whether the dog’s own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-get-a-rush-of-the-love-hormone-by-playing-with-dogs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">needs</a> are fully understood or respected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



“We would like to point out that, contrary to popular belief, only a small minority of dog owners actually treat their pets like human children” said Ms. Kubinyi, head of the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/veterinary-science/research/companion-animal-research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Companion Animals Research Group</a>, senior author of the review. 



Some people view dog care as a way to fill time or emotional space. Others juggle raising dogs alongside actual children, seeing them as separate bonds. Those with no children may prefer dogs for a sense of closeness and routine that is less daunting.



Still, cultural norms play a big part. In places where human births are dropping or delayed, it is easier to focus resources on pets and treat them with child-like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dog-day-honoring-mans-best-friend/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">affection</a>. 



The Internet and social media also encourage this trend by highlighting stories and pictures of so-called pet parenting, which can reinforce the idea that dogs fit perfectly into a modern household.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pets-children-and-health">Pets, children, and health</h2>



Many <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31323057/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experts</a> worry that the intense focus on adorable dog breeds with round faces and short muzzles can lead to health problems. 



When a dog looks <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lost-in-translation-how-we-misread-our-dogs-emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extremely childlike</a>, it may come with breathing issues or other complications linked to breeding. If owners favor an “infant look,” they might ignore the fact that these animals still require robust exercise and proper medical care.



Others point out that lavishing dogs with constant attention can create behavioral problems. It is easy to misread signs that a dog needs more personal space or is uneasy. 



Overprotective owners could even cause <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-feel-our-emotions-through-our-heart-rate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress for their pet</a>, especially if they hold it to human child standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-family-dynamics-are-changing">Modern family dynamics are changing</h2>



For some, dogs may serve as “pre-children,” fitting in before a couple welcomes a human baby. Later, that same dog might be a sibling figure once an infant arrives. 



In other cases, a dog might stand in for a child permanently, offering a sense of purpose and affection. Each setup reflects personal choices, finances, and local customs, and it reveals how family can expand to include pets in new ways.



Though dogs do not replace children, they can ease the universal desire to nurture and connect. As modern life changes, it will be interesting to see how these bonds evolve and whether dog parenting continues to reshape what we think of as family.



The study is published in <a href="https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1027/1016-9040/a000552" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Psychologist</a>.



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More couples are calling their pets 'kids,' redefining the concepts of family and parenting

Births are steadily dropping in many parts of the world,...

There’s something timeless about a Viking boat cutting through the waves - raw wood, square sail, no compass, just human instinct and ancient knowledge. It’s a window into how these fierce and clever seafarers actually lived and moved.



For three years, one archaeologist has been retracing the maritime paths once taken by Viking sailors, not just to prove where they went, but to understand how they got there. 



His journey has spanned thousands of kilometers, navigating frigid waters and pushing the limits of ancient boat design. What he discovered could change our view of Viking exploration forever.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-greer-jarrett-and-his-viking-boat">Greer Jarrett and his Viking boat</h2>



The work was led by researchers from <a href="https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lund University</a> in Sweden. 



Using an open, square-rigged clinker boat modeled after those from the Viking Age (800–1050 AD), archaeologist Greer Jarrett and his team sailed over 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), from Trondheim to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-ice-hits-record-winter-low-raising-global-alarm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic Circle</a> and back.



Their goal? To see just how far these boats could go - and how they managed open water voyages with no modern navigation tools.



“I can show that this type of boat sails well on open water, in tough conditions. But navigating close to land and in the fjords sometimes presents challenges that are just as great, but not as obvious," said Jarrett, a doctoral student in archaeology at Lund.



He explained that factors such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-satellite-is-rewriting-what-we-know-about-ocean-currents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underwater currents</a> and katabatic winds blowing down from mountain slopes would have had significant impacts on navigational success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viking-boat-routes">Viking boat routes</h2>



Jarrett's research shows that Viking ships likely traveled farther from shore than previously thought. These weren’t just coastal voyages hugging the land. 



Instead, the Vikings may have used offshore routes across the Kattegat and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/algae-revived-after-7000-years-beneath-the-baltic-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baltic Sea</a>, which proves their vessels could handle tougher conditions than many assumed.



Despite lacking a deep-draught keel, the boats handled well. They remained stable and agile, even in the open sea. This directly challenges the idea that Vikings avoided long stretches away from land due to fears of instability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-journey-wrought-with-dangers">Journey wrought with dangers</h2>



But these trips came with real danger. On one leg of the journey in 2022, the main support for the sail - the yard - snapped. The boat was 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) out in the Vestfjorden when it happened.



“We had to lash two oars together to hold the sail, and hope that it would hold. We made it back to the harbor safely, but then we had to spend several days repairing the boat before we could sail again,” recounted Jarrett.



Another time, a minke whale surfaced just meters from their boat, and slapped its massive tail fin into the water. Yet for all the physical risks, one of the biggest lessons was about people.



“The cold in the Lofoten Islands was a challenge. Our hands really suffered. At that point I realized just how crucial it is to have a good crew,” said Jarrett.



“You need a boat that can withstand all kinds of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-is-becoming-more-difficult-to-predict/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather conditions</a>. But if you don't have a crew that can cooperate and put up with each other for long periods, these journeys would probably be impossible.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-navigating-viking-boats-with-stories">Navigating Viking boats with stories</h2>



The Vikings didn’t rely on compasses or maps. Instead, they used memories, stories, and oral traditions to find their way. Coastal myths became mental landmarks that helped sailors remember dangerous spots or identify safe harbors.



Examples include Viking stories about the islands Torghatten, Hestmona and Skrova off the Norwegian coast. The stories serve to remind sailors of the dangers surrounding these places, or of their importance as navigation marks.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/viking-boat_The-Nordvegr_sailing-routes-map_Lund-University_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/viking-boat_The-Nordvegr_sailing-routes-map_Lund-University_1s.webp" alt="The Norðvegr, with the coastal regions mentioned in the text, the tracks of the project’s two trial voyages (black and white dashed lines), and the traditional sailing corridor along the west coast of Norway (blue shaded zone), known in Old Norse as leið. Credit: Lund University" class="wp-image-1971188"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Norðvegr, with the coastal regions mentioned in the text, the tracks of the project’s two trial voyages (black and white dashed lines), and the traditional sailing corridor along the west coast of Norway (blue shaded zone), known in Old Norse as leið. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Lund University</figcaption></figure>



Jarrett refers to this system as a “Maritime Cultural Mindscape.” The idea is simple but powerful - stories turned the landscape into a living map that was passed down through generations.



To better understand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vikings-landed-in-the-americas-500-years-before-columbus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Viking navigation</a>, Jarrett also interviewed modern-day Norwegian sailors and fishermen. Many of their traditional 19th- and early 20th-century sea routes mirror those that might have been used a thousand years earlier.



“I used the experience of my own journeys and the sailors’ traditional knowledge to reconstruct possible Viking Age sailing routes.” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-and-where-they-slept">How and where they slept</h2>



The new research also uncovers four likely Viking “havens” - small harbors located on islands and peninsulas, farther out to sea than previously known major ports. These spots may have played a key role in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-vikings-traveled-great-distances-to-hunt-walruses-for-ivory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Viking travel and trade</a>.



“With this type of boat, it has to be easy to get in and out of the harbor in all possible wind conditions. There must be several routes in and out. Shallow bays are not an issue because of the shallow draft of the boats," explained Jarrett.



However, the boats were difficult to sail upwind with their square rigs, so sailing up the narrow fjords could prove tricky. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trade-route-efficiency">Trade route efficiency</h2>



Jarrett believes these decentralized ports made Viking trade more efficient. They provided shelter, opportunities to meet fellow sailors, and safe places to stop mid-journey - all of which would have been critical for long-distance voyages.



“A lot of the time, we only know about the starting and ending points of the trade that took place during the Viking Age. Major ports, such as Bergen and Trondheim in Norway, Ribe in Denmark, and Dublin in Ireland," explained Jarrett. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/viking_archaeologist-sailing_Greer-Jarrett_credit-Lund-University_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/viking_archaeologist-sailing_Greer-Jarrett_credit-Lund-University_1s.webp" alt="Archaeologist Greer Jarrett rowing his Viking boat. Credit: Lund University" class="wp-image-1971185"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Archaeologist Greer Jarrett rowing his Viking boat. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Lund University</figcaption></figure>



"The thing I am interested in is what happened on the journeys between these major trading centers. My hypothesis is that this decentralized network of ports, located on small islands and peninsulas, was central to making trade efficient during the Viking Age," Jarrett concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-about-vikings-by-sailing-their-boats">Learning about Vikings by sailing their boats</h2>



Greer Jarrett’s hands-on voyage in a Viking boat reveals far more than just the technical capabilities of ancient ships. On his journeys, Jarrett also experienced the deep seam of cultural memory that guided Viking sailors across unforgiving waters. 



Their navigation was rooted in oral traditions and shared experience, not instruments. And their strength lay not just in craftsmanship, but in cooperation, resilience, and an intimate relationship with the sea. 



Jarrett's fascinating research rewrites Viking maps and also rehumanizes the Vikings themselves, showing how memory, myth, and muscle worked together to shape an age of exploration.



Click here to <a href="https://youtu.be/Os9nS4jstXw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch a video about this expedition...</a>



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10816-025-09708-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory</a>.



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Archaeologist sailed on a Viking boat for three years, rewriting the history of these fierce explorers

There’s something timeless about a Viking boat cutting through the...

Ozone pollution may become harder to manage as climate change accelerates. A new study suggests that global warming could reduce the effectiveness of current strategies to control ground-level ozone - a harmful pollutant and major contributor to urban smog. 



This shift could make it more difficult to improve air quality and protect public health in future.



The scientists behind this research are from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>). They used a combination of climate and atmospheric chemistry models to explore how rising temperatures could alter the behavior of pollutants.



Their findings show that in regions like eastern North America and Western Europe, greater reductions in emissions may be required to achieve the same air quality results. 



In contrast, parts of northeast Asia may see stronger impacts from emission cuts in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ozone-levels-and-smog-the-basics">Ozone levels and smog - the basics</h2>



Smog is that hazy, brownish gunk you sometimes see hanging over cities, especially on hot, sunny days. It’s a nasty mix of air pollutants, and one of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/decline-in-ozone-depleting-chemicals-is-an-encouraging-trend/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">main ingredients is ozone</a> - but not the kind high up in the atmosphere that protects us from the sun. 



This ground-level ozone forms when sunlight hits pollutants from cars, factories, and other sources, triggering a chemical reaction. 



The result is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">layer of pollution</a> that makes the air hard to breathe, especially for people with asthma or other lung problems.



Even though ozone up in the sky is helpful, the ozone down near the ground is a troublemaker. 



It doesn’t come out of tailpipes or smokestacks directly - instead, it forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (things that come from gasoline, paint, and even some cleaning products) mix in the heat and sunlight. 



So when people say we need to cut smog, they’re really talking about cutting down the stuff that creates ozone down here. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stroke-risk-is-elevated-by-air-pollution-and-traffic-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clean air laws</a> and better car engines help, but smog still shows up, especially in big cities with lots of traffic and sun.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ground-level-ozone-tough-to-control">Ground-level ozone tough to control</h2>



Unlike the ozone layer high in the atmosphere, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ozone-pollution-is-stunting-tropical-forest-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ground-level ozone</a> isn’t helpful - it’s harmful. It’s a lung irritant and contributes to heart disease and asthma. It’s also linked to thousands of early deaths every year.



But controlling it isn’t straightforward. That’s because ozone is a secondary pollutant. It doesn’t come directly from cars or factories. 



Instead, it forms in the atmosphere when sunlight reacts with other pollutants, mainly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-nitrogen-oxide-pollution-could-boost-crop-yields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen oxides</a> and volatile organic compounds.



“That is why you tend to have higher ozone days when it is warm and sunny,” explained Emmie Le Roy, a graduate student in the MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (<a href="https://eaps.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EAPS</a>), and lead author of a research paper on this study.



Typically, regulators try to lower ground-level ozone by cutting nitrogen oxide emissions. But this pollutant reacts in complicated ways. In some environments, reducing nitrogen oxide can even cause ozone levels to go up.



“Past research has focused on the role of emissions in forming ozone, but the influence of meteorology is a really important part of Emmie’s work,” said senior author Noelle Selin, a professor in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) and EAPS.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-ozone-levels-matter">Why ozone levels matter</h2>



To understand what might happen decades from now, the team ran two different future climate scenarios - one with more warming, one with less - and compared those to past conditions from 2000 to 2015. 



For each scenario, they simulated 80 years of data, broken into five, 16-year periods.



The team focused on three regions: Eastern North America, Western Europe, and Northeast China. These areas were chosen because they have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cutting-emissions-could-save-250000-lives-a-year-in-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high emissions</a> and good monitoring data.



Their model showed that as the Earth warms, nitrogen oxide emissions from soil - which increase with temperature - could reduce the effectiveness of human-led emission cuts in places like North America and Europe.



“This shows how important it is to improve our representation of the biosphere in these models to better understand how climate change may impact air quality,” stated Le Roy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-northeast-asia-s-ozone-tradeoff">Northeast Asia’s ozone tradeoff</h2>



The story is different in northeast Asia. There, industrial sources release more ozone per unit of nitrogen oxide. So, reducing those emissions in the future could have a bigger payoff.



“But I wouldn’t say that is a good thing because it means that, overall, there are higher levels of ozone,” Le Roy added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-averages">Looking beyond averages</h2>



Many past studies used average weather data to make their predictions. This study took a different approach. It modeled year-to-year weather changes - including extremes - to better understand what might happen.



“Average climate isn’t the only thing that matters. One high ozone day, which might be a statistical anomaly, could mean we don’t meet our air quality target and have negative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/health-impacts-of-plastic-pollution-are-a-top-concern/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human health impacts</a> that we should care about,” explained Le Roy.



The results suggest that future clean air plans should consider how changing weather patterns interact with pollution. We may need to cut emissions more sharply just to stay even.



“Future air quality planning should consider how climate change affects the chemistry of air pollution. We may need steeper cuts in nitrogen oxide emissions to achieve the same air quality goals,” said Le Roy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-the-models">Expanding the models</h2>



The researchers hope to expand their approach to include other factors that change from year to year, such as wildfires and biomass burning.



“We’ve shown that it is important for air quality scientists to consider the full range of climate variability, even if it is hard to do in your models, because it really does affect the answer that you get,” Selin concluded.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5c01347" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.



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Reducing smog by taming ozone levels in a changing climate is proving quite difficult

Ozone pollution may become harder to manage as climate change...

Hummus is an extremely popular dip in many places around the world. It is praised for its creamy texture and protein content, and fans often enjoy it with bread or vegetables. It is a convenient staple for quick <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-of-food-safety-ai-can-detect-contamination-early/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meals</a>.



Yet contamination incidents tied to this product have raised concerns among health officials, including 20 outbreaks in the United States between 2000 and 2018 that caused hospitalizations and fatalities. 



New research, led by Professor Shyam Sablani at <a href="https://wsu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington State University</a>, has now considered an alternative method of sterilization for hummus products.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-hummus-can-be-risky-to-store">Why hummus can be risky to store</h2>



Hummus can carry a contamination risk due to the ease with which certain pathogens can multiply in this moist, protein-rich <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-tongue-could-revolutionize-food-safety/">food</a>. Commercial versions of this dip sometimes rely on chemical preservatives to prevent bacterial growth and extend freshness. 



However, one <a href="https://www.usda.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USDA</a> study found that microwave-based treatments can significantly reduce bacterial presence in food.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mild-microwave-heat-kept-hummus-safe">Mild microwave heat kept hummus safe</h2>



Microwave-assisted <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780081005286000103" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pasteurization</a> system is a method that uses targeted energy to warm up packaged foods more evenly than conventional processes. It has been tested in several applications to maintain product quality while reducing the presence of harmful microorganisms.



In the current project, the milder pasteurization process kept lentil hummus safe in a fridge for about one month, if unopened. This approach allowed the dip to retain much of its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/innovative-sensor-uncovers-hidden-antibiotics-residues-in-milk-and-honey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flavor</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stronger-microwave-heat-kept-hummus-safe-for-2-years">Stronger microwave heat kept hummus safe for 2 years</h2>



<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224419301475" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microwave-assisted thermal sterilization</a> uses stronger heat exposure compared to pasteurization. It aims for a longer shelf life and room-temperature storage.



This more intense treatment can make hummus shelf-stable for up to two years, while unopened. It does reduce overall flavor intensity, but it still achieves a product that remains edible for extended periods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-lentils-are-a-smart-base-for-hummus">Why lentils are a smart base for hummus</h2>



Lentils are often overlooked in hummus recipes, yet they are a nutritious option because they are rich in plant-based proteins and dietary fiber. According to the <a href="https://www.fao.org/pulses-2016" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food and Agriculture Organization</a>, pulses are key for sustainable diets.



“After testing for storage, quality, texture, color, and vitamin retention, both processes held up quite well,” said Sablani. Researchers tried a lentil hummus <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electro-agriculture-grows-food-in-the-dark-with-94-less-land-required/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">formulation</a> to see if it would endure microwave processing without losing color or texture.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-heating-affected-added-vitamin-c">How heating affected added vitamin C </h2>



Many grains and legumes lack notable amounts of vitamin C, which is crucial for human immune function. That gave the team a reason to add extra vitamin C during production to boost the final product’s nutritional profile.



They found that nearly three-quarters of the added vitamin remained in samples treated with the milder pasteurization system. Even with the stronger sterilization method, some vitamin content remained intact.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tasting-the-results">Tasting the results</h2>



Food scientists and staff sampled the new hummus in informal trials. "I tried it several times and thought it tasted very good," related Sablani.



Further evaluations will involve focus groups to gauge flavor acceptance, aroma, and overall appeal. Keeping the dip free of preservatives was a key objective.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-these-methods-may-attract-food-producers">These methods may attract food producers</h2>



This research opens up new options for producers who want to avoid chemicals in their recipes. Industry partners might use one of these microwave methods to make hummus safer without sacrificing freshness.



Scaling up will require specialized equipment and careful adjustments for different volumes and packaging. The team’s project is part of the Soil to Society program, which promotes nutrient-rich grains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-it-could-lead">Where it could lead</h2>



Public interest in healthy, shelf-stable foods continues to increase. Wider acceptance of microwave processing may expand to other plant-based dips or spreads.



There is hope that new ideas will keep items fresh for longer, cut down on waste, and still satisfy consumer needs. It is important to find safer choices without chemical add-ons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stable-color-fats-and-acidity">Stable color, fats, and acidity</h2>



Investigators monitored pH changes and found that both treatments caused a slight increase at first. Over time, the pH gradually decreased, indicating that the dip remained stable during storage.



<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/lipid-oxidation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lipid oxidation</a> tests revealed that values stayed under acceptable limits, suggesting minimal rancidity. Preserving the hummus’s fatty acid profile was important for maintaining its freshness.



Color measurements showed that the lighter appearance (L* value) was more consistent under pasteurization. Meanwhile, the stronger sterilization caused subtle darkening to occur over long-term storage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microwave-helps-hummus-keep-flavor">Microwave helps hummus keep flavor</h2>



Temperature control plays a big role in how flavors hold up in sealed packages. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230973815_High-Temperature_Microwave_Processing_of_MaterialsTopical_Review" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microwave heating</a> can reduce cold spots that allow bacteria to linger.



Applying the right energy level at every stage allows the product to maintain taste and consistency while meeting safety standards. This fine balance has long been a challenge in traditional canning or hot-fill methods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microwave-hummus-is-free-from-additives">Microwave hummus is free from additives</h2>



Many people now prefer items with fewer additives. This shift encourages companies to experiment with new processes and find safer, simpler solutions.



Nutrition labels that skip preservatives can attract health-focused buyers. Microwave processing could lead to more trust in ready-to-eat spreads.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-could-change-food-safety">This could change food safety</h2>



Scientists see these microwave methods as potential game-changers for more than just hummus. They may also be adapted to other plant-based dips or bean-based products that require extended stability.



Moving forward, collaborations with food manufacturers might unlock greater availability of preservative-free, shelf-stable goods. Freshness and safety should go hand in hand.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scaling-up-the-technology">Scaling-up the technology</h2>



Manufacturers may need to upgrade facilities and train staff to handle these microwave machines. The effort can be worth it, if it brings longer shelf life and fewer preservatives.



Packaging materials must withstand thermal stress without harming product quality. Certain plastics and flexible pouches might be better for uniform heating than rigid containers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-microwave-hummus-and-nutrition">What’s next for microwave hummus and nutrition</h2>



Countries with high demands for ready-to-eat items could embrace these technologies for bulk production. This might eventually reduce costs and increase access for consumers.



Research groups might also investigate other nutrients that can be fortified in similar dips or spreads. <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Omega-3 fatty acids</a> or specialized amino acids could be next.



The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfpe.70104" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Food Process Engineering</a>.



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Microwave method keeps hummus safe and preservative free

Hummus is an extremely popular dip in many places around...

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Words carry meaning, yet they rarely tell the full story. Picture the instant a friend asks, “Are you okay?” You answer, “Yeah, I’m fine.” The script sounds reassuring, but a flat voice and sagging shoulders shout louder than the syllables. 



We instinctively weigh sighs, pauses, eyebrow arches, and tapping feet before we trust a message, and that silent vetting happens countless times every day. That reflex guides hallway chats, video calls, and awkward first dates. 



A tidy trio of numbers - 7, 38, 55 - tries to capture why. It says only 7 percent of an emotional message rides on words, 38 percent travels by tone, and 55 percent arrives through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/body-language-expresses-emotions-across-cultures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">body language</a>. 



Plenty of boardroom misunderstandings and family squabbles prove the point each week, yet the real lesson behind those percentages is richer than the headline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tone-and-gestures-win">Tone and gestures win</h2>



In the late 1960s psychologist <a href="https://www.psych.ucla.edu/faculty-page/mehrab/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Albert Mehrabian</a> tested how people judged likability when words and expressions clashed. 



He played recorded words over mismatched facial photos and found that listeners trusted faces and voices far more than vocabulary. 



One summary crystallized the math: “Total Liking = 7% Verbal Liking + 38% Vocal Liking + 55% Facial Liking.” 



In plain speech, how you sound and look can eclipse what you say. 



The 7-38-55 rule sits idle during recipes or Wi-Fi passwords and wakes up when feelings blur facts. 



Say “Great job, everyone” in a monotone while scrolling your phone, and the praise fizzles. Lift your head, warm your tone, and the praise lands.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-38-55-behind-the-numbers">7-38-55: Behind the numbers</h2>



<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Mehrabian" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mehrabian</a> warned that the formula fits only when signals conflict. He wrote, “When there are inconsistencies between attitudes communicated verbally and posturally, the postural component should dominate in determining the total attitude that is inferred.” 



Ignoring that caution twists the finding into the myth that 90 percent of all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/want-to-know-how-your-dog-is-feeling-learn-their-body-language/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">communication is nonverbal</a>. Words still carry data; the rule simply spotlights where people look when emotions muddy the water.



A manager mutters, “This was a solid effort,” while checking email, and doubt blooms. The identical line, paired with eye contact and an open stance, feels encouraging. 



A date can recite compliments yet watch the clock and sap any spark. Reverse it - clumsy phrases, a bright smile, a close lean - and you might walk away thinking, “That went really well,” on the ride home.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digital-talk-magnifies-the-gap">Digital talk magnifies the gap</h2>



Text removes 93 percent of the emotional palette, which is why a one-word “Sure” can sting. 



We patch the hole with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-way-you-send-emojis-shows-your-attachment-style/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">punctuation and emojis</a> - “Thanks.” versus “Thanks!!! 😊” - but misunderstandings slip through. Video calls help, yet lag, lighting, and thumbnail windows still blur intentions.



Professional communicators know the risk. A transcript of an impassioned speech captures content, yet readers miss the cadence that signals urgency or irony. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/older-adults-often-understand-emojis-but-hesitate-to-use-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Social feeds</a> can spin a straightforward post into sarcasm because tone never makes it past the screen. The numbers remind writers to add cues - clips, context, or at least a clear heading - so audiences catch inflection.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephants-have-heartwarming-ways-to-greet-their-friends/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nonverbal signals</a> sway dollars as well as feelings. Allan and Barbara Pease watched thousands of sales talks and found body language beats argument strength in face-to-face settings. Deeper voices often rate as more authoritative, and smiles spread almost involuntarily. 



Communication coach <a href="https://carolkinseygoman.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carol Kinsey Goman</a> notes, “Gesturing can help people form clearer thoughts, speak in tighter sentences, and use more declarative language.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-everyday-stakes">Everyday stakes</h2>



Workplaces live on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-take-more-risks-when-talking-to-avatars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feedback loops</a>. Team members decide whether to back ideas, chase promotions, or seek new gigs based on signals that rarely appear in spreadsheets. 



A well-timed nod, relaxed shoulders, and steady tempo reinforce trust faster than charts. Nearly 40 percent of the attitude in a room rides on vocal cues alone, so the sound of a message deserves rehearsal.



Romance hinges on similar micro-moves. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-and-human-brains-sync-up-during-eye-contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eye contact</a> sparks connection, while crossed arms cool it. Research shows smiles invite smiles; they are literally contagious. 



Someone who leans in and laughs easily often comes across as sincere, even if a sentence or two trips over itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fine-tuning-7-38-55-signals">Fine-tuning 7-38-55 signals</h2>



Start simple. Align posture with intent. If you apologize, face the person, steady your tone, and pocket the phone. 



Behind a keyboard, add context or a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sending-the-right-message-emojis-can-be-misinterpreted/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">friendly emoji</a> to replace the missing 93 percent. In meetings, let gestures echo your words instead of fluttering at random; congruence beats flourish every time.



Voice matters, too. A measured pace and a slightly lower pitch project calm, while abrupt changes in volume can seed tension. 



Practice phrases out loud so that the cadence supports the content, not the other way around.



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



The 7-38-55 rule doesn’t mean words don’t matter, it just reminds us that they’re only part of the picture. When emotions run high or something really matters, people don’t just hear what we say, they feel how we say it. 



If your tone and body language don’t match your message, trust can slip through the cracks. But when everything lines up - your words, your voice, your presence - people pay attention. They feel it. And that’s when real communication happens.



Words set the stage, voice paints mood, and body language delivers the verdict. Match all three and the message sticks; let them clash, and even polished phrases fall flat. 



When something important rides on your words, remember that most of the conversation is still happening between the lines.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337463120_An_Urban_Legend_Called_The_73855_Ratio_Rule" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Polygraph</a>.



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Psychologists claim the "7-38-55 Rule" will radically improve your emotional intelligence

Words carry meaning, yet they rarely tell the full story....

Public health conversations often focus on a person's own well-being. But what if our habits in adolescence echo not just through our lives, but through the gene expression and health of our children?



A new study offers sobering evidence of this possibility. It suggests that boys who gain excess weight during puberty may set in motion biological changes that affect the health of their future offspring.



This isn’t just speculation or a sociological observation. The research identifies specific changes in the offspring’s genes linked to asthma, obesity, and low lung function. These are not inherited mutations but rather epigenetic markers - chemical switches that tell genes when to turn on or off.



The study connects lifestyle choices made in early teenage years to real molecular traces in the next generation, offering a sharp reminder of how deep the consequences of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/americas-tide-of-obesity-is-rising-with-75-already-impacted/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a> may go.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dad-s-teen-weight-and-children-s-genes">Dad's teen weight and children's genes</h2>



Led by scientists from the University of Southampton and the <a href="https://www.uib.no/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bergen</a>, the research looked at 339 father-child pairs. 



Participants ranged in age from 7 to 51 and came from six different countries. The goal was to understand how changes in a father’s body shape during different life stages might affect their children’s genetic expression.



To estimate fat levels, researchers used a validated silhouette scale showing nine body types. Fathers selected the image that best represented their body shape at age 8, at the time of voice break (a marker for puberty), and at age 30. These responses served as a stand-in for measured body composition. 



The researchers then examined DNA methylation - an epigenetic process that affects gene expression - in the offspring. This allowed them to trace whether the father’s earlier body weight left a biological signature in their children’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-obesity-rates-are-surging-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teen-weight-gain-and-future-children">Teen weight gain and future children</h2>



The most striking results were tied to weight gain during puberty. Overweight fathers at voice break had children with 2,005 DNA changes in 1,962 genes tied to fat, inflammation, and insulin.



“The overweight status of future fathers during puberty was associated with a strong signal in their children’s DNA which were also related to the likelihood of their children being overweight themselves,” said Dr. Negusse Tadesse Kitaba, Senior Research Fellow at the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a>.



“Early puberty, when boys start their developing sperm, seems to be a key window of vulnerability for lifestyle influences to drive epigenetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-now-affects-more-than-a-billion-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">changes</a> in future offspring,” noted the authors of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-genes-affected-by-teen-obesity">Key genes affected by teen obesity</h2>



The study identified several genes that may explain the health risks seen in offspring. These include genes that regulate insulin release, fat cell growth, aging, and glucose levels. Many of these genes have been linked in other studies to obesity and metabolic disorders. 



For example, one gene affected in the daughters was HIF3A, previously connected to body mass and fat storage.



There was also a gender difference in the results. The biological effects were more pronounced in daughters than sons, though different genes were affected in each. The methylation differences also seemed to carry sex-specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evening-exercise-can-reduce-major-health-risks-of-obesity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consequences</a>.



Some genes influenced hormone regulation in daughters, while others affected gene-linked fat metabolism in children of both sexes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-inequalities-across-generations">Health inequalities across generations </h2>



Importantly, the changes were not confined to fat-related traits. The study found epigenetic links to asthma and reduced lung function as well. 



Nearly 1,000 of the identified methylation changes in offspring were associated with lung performance. This suggests that the impact of a father’s teenage weight gain could extend to breathing ability and respiratory health in children.



 “The new findings have significant implications for public health and may be a game-changer in public health intervention strategies,” noted Professor Cecilie Svanes from the University of Bergen. 



She stressed that failing to address obesity in young boys today could deepen health inequalities across generations.



“They suggest that a failure to address obesity in young teenagers today could damage the health of future generations, further entrenching health inequalities for decades to come,” said the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gene-changes-pass-through-generations">Gene changes pass through generations</h2>



The study found 24 imprinted genes, inherited parent-specifically, linked to obesity, diabetes, and brain development.



These imprinted genes offer a mechanism by which the body might remember environmental exposures from the father’s adolescence. 



The genes help explain how temporary factors like teenage weight can have lasting effects without altering the DNA sequence itself. This biological memory adds another layer to how we think about inherited health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-obesity-worsens-the-impact">Long-term obesity worsens the impact</h2>



The study also noted that the longer-term body shape trajectory - from puberty to adulthood - was linked to additional methylation effects. 



When fathers remained overweight into adulthood, their children showed even more signs of altered gene expression related to asthma and reduced lung capacity.



This finding adds urgency to early intervention. It’s not just a matter of teen boys “growing out of” extra weight. 



The effects may stretch well beyond their own lives and into their children's well-being. The biological signals do not vanish. They accumulate and potentially shape the health trajectory of entire families.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-obesity-alters-the-genes-of-future-children">Obesity alters the genes of future children</h2>



The study comes at a time when childhood and adolescent obesity are rising worldwide. Public health systems often focus on the here and now - on controlling blood pressure, reducing diabetes, and improving lifestyle. But this research asks us to think further ahead.



Study co-author John Holloway is a professor at the University of Southampton and the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.



“Childhood obesity is increasing globally," said Professor Holloway. "The results of this study demonstrate that this is a concern not only for the health of the population now but also for generations to come."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-08121-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Biology</a>.



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Teen boys’ weight may alter their future children’s genes

Public health conversations often focus on a person's own well-being....

Cancer rates in women are creeping up in the Middle East and North Africa. At the same time, the region is experiencing some of the fastest-rising temperatures in the world. 



New research suggests the two trends may be connected. Breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers are not just becoming more common - they are becoming more deadly.



The study was conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.aucegypt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the American University in Cairo</a>. The team analyzed how rising ambient temperatures from 1998 to 2019 have coincided with higher rates of cancer in 17 countries across the region.



“As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises - particularly for ovarian and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breast-cancer-incidence-linked-to-high-particulate-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breast cancers</a>,” said Dr Wafa Abuelkheir Mataria of the American University in Cairo.



“Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-region-under-pressure">A region under pressure</h2>



Environmental health is deteriorating as climate change accelerates. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warmer-temperatures-directly-linked-to-severe-vision-impairment-in-older-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warmer temperatures</a>, air pollution, and food insecurity increase vulnerability to a wide range of diseases. 



Healthcare systems in many of these countries are also strained by climate-related disasters and economic instability. In this context, access to screening and treatment becomes more limited - especially for women.



The researchers looked at Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries are already experiencing intense heat. 



Data on the prevalence and mortality rates for the four cancers was analyzed alongside average annual temperature changes over two decades.



“Women are physiologically more vulnerable to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clinical-terminology-fails-to-represent-climate-related-health-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate-related health risks</a>, particularly during pregnancy,” said co-author Dr Sungsoo Chun of the American University in Cairo. 



“This is compounded by inequalities that limit access to healthcare. Marginalized women face a multiplied risk because they are more exposed to environmental hazards and less able to access early screening and treatment services.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-trends-and-rising-temperatures">Cancer trends and rising temperatures</h2>



For every 1°C rise in temperature, ovarian cancer prevalence rose the most - and breast cancer the least. The increase ranged from 173 to 280 cases per 100,000 people.



Cancer-related deaths followed a similar trend, rising by 171 to 332 deaths per 100,000 per degree Celsius. Ovarian cancer again showed the highest jump, while cervical cancer showed the smallest.



However, these increases were not seen across the board. Only six countries - Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Syria - showed a measurable increase in both prevalence and mortality. These countries tend to have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-summer-of-2023-was-the-hottest-in-2000-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hotter summers</a>, but other unknown factors may also be at play.



In Qatar, for example, breast cancer rates rose by 560 cases per 100,000 people for each 1°C of warming. In Bahrain, the increase was smaller - 330 per 100,000. The difference suggests that temperature is not the only variable influencing risk.



“Temperature rise likely acts through multiple pathways,” said Chun. “It increases exposure to known carcinogens, disrupts healthcare delivery, and may even influence biological processes at the cellular level. Together, these mechanisms could elevate cancer risk over time.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-driving-higher-cancer-rates">Factors driving higher cancer rates</h2>



It’s possible that more people are being diagnosed due to better screening programs. But improved screening should lead to earlier detection and lower mortality - not higher.



The fact that both diagnoses and death rates increased points to more significant exposure to harmful environmental factors.



“This study cannot establish direct causality,” noted Mataria. “While we controlled for GDP per capita, other unmeasured factors could contribute." 



"Nonetheless, the consistent associations observed across multiple countries and cancer types provide compelling grounds for further investigation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-is-becoming-a-health-crisis">Climate change is becoming a health crisis</h2>



The research makes one thing clear: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-worsens-cardiovascular-health-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> is not just an environmental issue. It's a health issue - and it’s affecting women in vulnerable regions in ways we’re only beginning to understand.



“Strengthening cancer screening programs, building climate-resilient health systems, and reducing exposure to environmental carcinogens are key steps,” said Chun. “Without addressing these underlying vulnerabilities, the cancer burden linked to climate change will continue to grow.”



This study serves as a call to action for public health leaders in climate-vulnerable regions. As temperatures continue to rise, protecting women’s health will require more than just medical help - it will also require environmental solutions.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529706/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Public Health</a>.



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Rising temperatures linked to higher cancer rates among women

Cancer rates in women are creeping up in the Middle...

Health experts have long urged people to eat slowly, arguing that unhurried meals aid digestion, give the brain time to register fullness, and help prevent weight gain. Yet turning that advice into everyday practice is difficult - especially in a world full of food designed for speed.



A new study led by <a href="https://www.fujita-hu.ac.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fujita Health University</a> in Japan suggests a surprisingly simple solution: focus on what you eat rather than fussing over how you chew.



“Eating slowly is widely recommended for obesity prevention,” said professor Katsumi Iizuka, who led the research. “But people often don’t know how to implement this advice."



"Our study shows that simply choosing the right type of meal - such as a bento instead of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stuck-in-traffic-youre-more-likely-to-grab-fast-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fast food</a> - can naturally extend meal duration and encourage more mindful eating.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-slice-or-a-bento">A slice or a bento?</h2>



Iizuka’s team recruited 41 adults - 18 men and 23 women aged 20 to 65 - and invited them to eat three different test meals on separate days.



One meal was a slice of ready-to-eat pizza. The other two were identical bento boxes containing rice, vegetables, and hamburger steak, but with a twist. In one trial, participants ate the vegetables first, and in the other, they ate the vegetables last.



Each volunteer wore a small chewing sensor on the cheek while researchers filmed the session. Together, the sensor and video tracked bite count, chewing speed, and total meal time from first bite to last swallow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meal-type-alters-eating-speed">Meal type alters eating speed </h2>



The contrast was striking. Regardless of vegetable order, participants finished their pizza far faster than either of the bento meals. 



Eating pizza required fewer chews, took less time, and involved a smoother, almost uninterrupted rhythm of bites.



The bento boxes, on the other hand, demanded chopsticks, small mouthfuls, and pauses between items, all of which stretched the meal and bumped up chew counts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-food-is-designed-for-speed">Some food is designed for speed</h2>



Researchers had expected that starting with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-fruits-and-vegetables-improve-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vegetables</a> might slow people down, yet the vegetable-first versus vegetable-last sequence made little difference. What mattered was the physical format.



Bento lunches present food in separate compartments and oblige diners to pick up each morsel individually, often with an eye toward appreciation and balance. Pizza, by contrast, is explicitly engineered for one-handed convenience.



“One key factor affecting meal speed is how the food is served and eaten. Bento meals are served in small portions that need to be picked up with chopsticks, which slows down the process," Iizuka said. 



"In contrast, pizza is eaten by hand and is often designed to be eaten quickly. This difference in serving style plays a big role in how fast people eat.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-obesity-and-meal-types">Obesity and meal types</h2>



Across the sample, men generally ate more quickly than women, taking fewer chews per bite. Age also affected tempo: older participants tended to finish sooner than younger ones, perhaps reflecting dental changes or learned habits.



Contrary to stereotype, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weight-and-bmi-do-not-accurately-reflect-a-persons-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">body mass index</a> did not predict speed. Higher weight volunteers did not necessarily eat faster. 



Instead, the authors speculate that those struggling with obesity might favor ultra-processed, easy-to-eat foods like pizza, which lend themselves to shorter meals and possible overeating.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chewing-rhythm-is-hard-wired">Chewing rhythm is hard-wired</h2>



The investigation uncovered another intriguing detail: chewing tempo - how many chews per second - varied only slightly between meals. 



That finding supports earlier research indicating that humans maintain a brainstem-controlled chewing rhythm that is remarkably constant, no matter the cuisine.



What changes with meal type is the number of chews and the time between bites. Bigger, softer pieces let diners breeze through lunch; smaller, denser bites naturally slow them down.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blueprint-for-mindful-eating">Blueprint for mindful eating</h2>



“Eating slowly” sounds simple, yet it often fails in real-world settings because it demands willpower at every bite. The new results point to an easier route: design meals in a way that enforces slow eating automatically.



Serving food in smaller portions, requiring utensils, and mixing textures that need more mastication can stretch meal time without conscious effort.



“If we want to help people eat more slowly, we should focus less on telling them how to chew and more on helping them choose meals that require slower, more deliberate eating," Iizuka said. "This could be a simple yet powerful tool in our fight against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-is-obesity-difficult-to-reverse-it-starts-in-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a> and related diseases,”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-laboratory-to-lunch-box"><a></a>From laboratory to lunch box</h2>



The study carries immediate implications for public-health advice. Nutritionists might steer clients toward multi-component meals - traditional Japanese bento, Mediterranean mezze, or even tapas - rather than single-piece fare.



Schools and workplace cafeterias could offer compartmentalized trays that encourage utensil use and smaller bites. Food manufacturers might rethink <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-plastic-food-packaging-contains-9936-harmful-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">packaging</a> to promote paced consumption instead of speed.



For individuals looking to adopt slower eating habits, the takeaway is refreshingly doable: swap handheld, “instant” foods for dishes that involve a bit of assembly on the fork or chopsticks.



In an age of rising obesity rates, that simple choice could help people eat less, savor more, and support long-term health without counting chews or watching the clock.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/9/1576" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nutrients</a>.



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Why meal type matters more than eating speed

Health experts have long urged people to eat slowly, arguing...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://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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