We all know the pull of one more episode. Streaming services make it easy to keep watching, and though it often feels like a guilty pleasure, new research suggests it may not be entirely bad.



A study from the University of Georgia (<a href="https://www.uga.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UGA</a>) highlights that binge-watching or marathon reading can actually strengthen how we remember stories. 



These memories may not vanish once the credits roll but instead linger in our minds, shaping imagination and reflection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-binge-watching-strengthens-memory">Binge watching strengthens memory</h2>



The research connects this phenomenon to something called retrospective imaginative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-use-increases-smoking-vaping-risks-among-youth/">involvement</a>, or RII. It refers to how people continue to think about characters and events after finishing a story. 



Rather than ending with the last chapter or episode, stories are reconstructed, expanded, and sometimes even altered in imagination.



“Humans are storytelling creatures. One of the functions of narratives is the ability to satisfy motivations for things like connecting with other people, feeling autonomous and confident, and even security and safety. Stories have characters that fulfill these roles, and we can satisfy those needs through them,” noted Joshua Baldwin, lead author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memory-and-imagination">Memory and imagination</h2>



The study shows that people who binge-watch are more likely to engage with stories later, carrying them into daydreams. Consecutive viewing appears to help audiences create richer mental models of characters and worlds, which makes these stories more accessible in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/emotions-shape-what-goes-viral-on-social-media/">memory</a>. 



By consuming content in longer stretches, viewers weave tighter connections across episodes and character arcs, allowing subtle details to resonate more clearly.



This means binging may support stronger recall in the short term, even if some details fade over time. More importantly, it keeps the emotional and thematic essence alive, which is what fuels imagination and encourages people to revisit stories in new, creative ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-people-binge-watch">Why people binge watch</h2>



Why people binge also matters. Some are drawn to stories to escape stress, while others seek to expand their sense of self through new perspectives. 



The Temporarily Expanding Boundaries of the Self (TEBOTS) model suggests narratives allow people to step outside daily limits and experience autonomy, competence, and connection in imagined worlds.



Escapism-driven viewing, on the other hand, gives relief by pushing aside everyday stress. The study found both motivations can lead to retrospective imagination, though expansion motives appear more powerful in creating long-lasting engagement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enjoyment-versus-appreciation">Enjoyment versus appreciation</h2>



Not all stories affect memory the same way. Lighter tales that are fun and easy to watch often spark simple recollections. 



By contrast, appreciated stories (those that feel deep, moving, or even bittersweet) encourage people to reimagine, expand, and reshape them.



These more reflective narratives are especially likely to trigger dynamic forms of imagination, such as changing events or exploring hidden backstories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-and-leisure-time">Stress and leisure time</h2>



Stress does not influence story recall in a simple way. When stress is low or moderate, imagination can act as a relief, giving people a way to unwind and mentally process experiences. In these cases, stories serve as a calming outlet.



However, when stress levels rise too high, the brain becomes overloaded, leaving fewer mental resources available for remembering or reflecting on narratives. Instead of nurturing imagination, the mind directs energy toward coping with immediate pressures.



Leisure time changes the picture. When people have free, relaxed moments, their minds are more open to revisiting favorite stories. These quiet breaks - during a walk, while chatting, or simply reflecting - create mental space for narratives to return, grow, and shape daydreams.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-binge-watching-can-support-coping">Binge watching can support coping</h2>



Binge-watching has often been criticized for harming sleep and well-being. But this research suggests the picture is more nuanced. 



For some, it builds mental models that last well beyond the show itself. These memories and imagined extensions may even help people cope with challenges, making stories an ongoing psychological resource.



“People who have that habit of binge-watching shows often aren’t doing it passively but are actually actively thinking about it afterwards. They’re very much wanting to engage with stories, even when they’re not around to watch shows,” said Baldwin.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stories-live-on-beyond-the-screen">Stories live on beyond the screen</h2>



Most people think bingeing means wasting hours in front of a screen. But the study shows it can be much more than that. 



When you get lost in a story, the characters and emotions often tag along even after you stop watching. Sometimes they reappear in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-dogs-binge-watch-television-everyday/">daydreams</a>, other times in quiet reflections when your mind drifts.



This habit doesn’t just strengthen memory. It can stir creativity, spark imagination, and even help people make sense of their own lives. 



Stories can offer comfort, connection, or a fresh perspective - things we all need from time to time. That’s why they rarely end with the credits. Instead, they linger in our thoughts, shaping how we dream, reflect, and connect with the world.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825004147?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acta Psychologica</a>.



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Why binge-watching may actually be good for you

We all know the pull of one more episode. Streaming services make it easy to keep watching, and though it often feels like a guilty pleasure, new research suggests it may not be entirely bad. A study from the University of Georgia (UGA) highlights that binge-watching or marathon reading can actually strengthen how we remember stories. These memories may not vanish once the credits roll but instead linger in our minds, shaping imagination and reflection. Binge watching strengthens memory The research connects this phenomenon to something called...

In 2014, a team of neuroscientists stumbled upon a puzzling minority: people who hear music perfectly well but feel nothing when a favorite song comes on. Their discovery - now called specific musical anhedonia - proved that the emotional rush most of us take for granted is not universal.



A new review led by the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/web/ub/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Barcelona</a> revisits the condition after ten years of laboratory tests, brain scans, and surveys, piecing together how a faulty line of communication inside the brain severs melody from reward.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-music-s-reward-link">Testing music’s reward link</h2>



To pinpoint musical anhedonia, the Barcelona team created the <a href="https://www.brainvitge.org/bmrq_eng.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire</a> (BMRQ). 



This short inventory probes five dimensions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-people-are-born-to-enjoy-music-more-than-others/">musical enjoyment</a>: emotional response; mood regulation; social bonding; movement and dance; and the thrill of novelty or collecting new tracks.



People who are musically anhedonic score very low across all five areas, yet they show normal reactions to other rewarding activities - whether savoring a dessert, laughing with friends, or winning a small cash prize.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-sound-meets-no-reward">When sound meets no reward</h2>



Functional MRI studies soon zeroed in on a wiring problem rather than a global deficit. While listening to music, musically anhedonic participants exhibited normal activation in auditory circuits - the brain regions that decode pitch, rhythm, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-doesnt-just-hear-music-it-becomes-the-rhythm/">harmony</a>. 



However, they showed muted activation in the reward circuit that lights up for food, sex, money, or art. Crucially, the same reward circuit fired just fine when those participants experienced non-musical rewards.



“This lack of pleasure for music is explained by disconnectivity between the reward circuit and the auditory network - not by the functioning of their reward circuit, per se," explained study lead author Josep Marco-Pallarés.



Study co-author Ernest Mas-Herrero added that pleasure depends on linkage, not just circuitry strength. “If the reward circuit is not working well, you get less pleasure from all kinds of rewards."



"Here, what we point out is that it might be not only the engagement of this circuitry that is important but also how it interacts with other brain regions that are relevant for the processing of each reward type."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-nurture-or-both"><a></a>Nature, nurture, or both?</h2>



Why the connection breaks down in roughly three to five percent of listeners remains open. 



Twin studies published this year suggest heritability could explain about 54 percent of musical-pleasure sensitivity.



Environment might supply the rest: early musical exposure, cultural context, or even a single formative experience could shape wiring between auditory and reward hubs. Researchers are now collaborating with geneticists to hunt for alleles linked to the trait.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-just-about-music">Not just about music</h2>



Traditional neuroscience has often treated the reward system as a master switch - either on in people who enjoy life, or dimmed in those with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-adult-depression-linked-to-worse-memory-skills/">depression</a>, addiction, or generalized anhedonia. The new study challenges that simplification.



“A similar mechanism could underlie individual differences in responses to other rewarding stimuli,” Marco-Pallarés said.



If so, there may be undiscovered cousins of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-your-body-moves-to-music-even-if-you-dont-enjoy-it/">musical anhedonia</a>: food anhedonia, social-touch anhedonia, even exercise anhedonia. Each could reflect a different miswired bridge between sensory processors and the same dopamine-rich reward circuit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-touch-taste-and-movement">Testing touch, taste, and movement</h2>



To test that broader theory, scientists will deploy the same playbook: develop stimulus-specific questionnaires, scan people’s brains while they taste, touch, or run, and see whether a subgroup shows selective pleasure deficits.



If found, those patterns could offer fresh insight into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zapping-the-brain-with-ultrasound-waves-may-cure-drug-addiction/">addiction</a> (hyper wiring for certain rewards), eating disorders, or behavioral addictions like compulsive gaming - conditions where one reward dominates at the expense of others.



Back in Barcelona, the team also wants to know whether musical anhedonia is fixed or fluid. Does the disconnect fade with time, training, or neuromodulation?



Could curated playlists, rhythmic movement therapies, or even non-invasive brain stimulation coax the auditory and reward networks to sync? Clinical trials are still on the horizon, but the roadmap is clearer than ever.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-isn-t-pleasure-for-all">Music isn't pleasure for all</h2>



Understanding specific musical anhedonia is not just a curiosity about tone-deaf brains. It highlights the individual mosaics of pleasure that define human experience.



One person may feel a crescendo deeply while another just shrugs - and that difference could stem from identifiable neural pathways. As precision medicine advances, mental health interventions may one day target those pathways, dialing up deficient connections or quieting runaway ones.



For now, the research invites a moment of gratitude the next time a song gives you chills. Somewhere else, a perfectly functioning pair of ears registers every note - yet the heart remains unmoved. 



By charting that silent gap, neuroscientists hope to map the full topography of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/happiness-beyond-wealth-some-communities-find-joy-in-simplicity/">human joy</a>, from booming stereos to empty plates. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(25)00178-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trends in Cognitive Sciences</a>



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Music and the mind: New clues about how we experience pleasure

In 2014, a team of neuroscientists stumbled upon a puzzling...

Close,Ups,Of,Wrinkles,And,Skin,Imperfection,On,The,Face

For centuries, people have been searching for ways to reverse the effects of aging. A new study has now revealed that factors present in young human blood can rejuvenate aged skin.&nbsp;



As we age, the cells and tissues lose their ability to function properly, making us more susceptible to disease and, ultimately, death. 



Scientists have been working to understand what drives aging and how to maintain <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health in old age</a>. They suggest that the secret to youth may not lie in anti-aging products, but rather in our blood. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-blood-and-skin-aging">Young blood and skin aging</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-tech-will-track-emotions-through-changes-in-our-skin/">Skin</a>, our largest organ, shows the earliest and most obvious signs of advancing age. This makes it an ideal tissue for studying the mechanisms and effects of aging.



To date, only a handful of approaches have shown promise in reversing the signs of aging. One such approach is a unique method known as <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4072458/#:~:text=Heterochronic%20parabiosis%2C%20the%20parabiotic%20pairing,related%20parameters%20including%20organismal%20longevity." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heterochronic parabiosis</a>.&nbsp;



In this approach, the researchers connected the blood circulation systems of two animals of different ages. 



When the bloodstream of an old mouse was connected to that of a younger one, the tissue function and cellular activity of the old mouse improved. 



In another experiment, scientists intravenously injected <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/exosome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exosomes</a>, which are small extracellular vesicles, from the blood plasma of piglets into old rats. Surprisingly, the rats' hearts, livers, and blood showed significantly fewer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-in-extreme-heat-can-age-your-body-just-like-smoking-does/">signs of aging</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-human-aging-be-reversed">Can human aging be reversed?</h2>



When we age, our DNA undergoes <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/what-is-epigenetics/">epigenetic changes</a>, which are considered a key hallmark of aging. These reversible changes can now be tracked using DNA methylation-based clocks, also known as epigenetic age clocks.&nbsp;



These are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/true-biological-age-hidden-blood-markers-newly-identified/">biological markers</a> that estimate age based on specific DNA-methylation patterns. Since these models are trained on DNA from individuals of all ages and tissue types, they can predict biological age from unknown samples.&nbsp;



In a recent clinical trial, older adult participants received an intramuscular injection of <a href="https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-025-07637-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">umbilical cord plasma</a> concentrate. 



Blood samples taken afterwards revealed a drop in biological age, suggesting that age reversal might also be possible in humans.



But what about the skin? Scientists still need to determine whether these rejuvenating effects extend to other organs, particularly the skin. 



Moreover, the exact mechanisms behind these age-defying effects remain poorly understood. This is where <a href="https://emulatebio.com/microphysiological-systems-the-future-of-research-and-drug-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MPS</a> (microphysiological systems) comes into play.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simulating-aging-skin-in-the-lab">Simulating aging skin in the lab</h2>



Scientists developed organ-on-a-chip platforms, or MPS, to study human biological processes. These are advanced models, created in the lab, that simulate human organs. 



They consist of organoids made of multiple cell types, integrated with a fluid-flowing system that mimics blood circulation.



The first engineered MPS recreated parabiosis in the muscle of mice and rats tissue. However, translating these experiments to human cells has proven more challenging.



In the new study, scientists used MPS to model how juvenile blood affects aging human skin. Importantly, they also incorporated a bone marrow (BM) organoid, a model of the soft tissue found inside bones.



Bone marrow harbors a mix of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blood-stem-cells-grown-in-the-lab-for-first-time-ever-leukemia-treatment/">stem cells</a>, including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and others destined for a variety of roles.



HSCs are the body's blood factories, producing blood cells throughout life. These cells respond to signals in the blood by secreting different molecules, such as cytokines, growth factors, and chemokines.&nbsp;



These signaling molecules play critical roles in making new blood cells, fighting infections, and healing damaged tissues. 



HSCs and all other BM-derived immune cells do not just stay put. They travel to both wounded and non-wounded skin, supporting regeneration and repair.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-blood-revives-bone-marrow">Young blood revives bone marrow</h2>



Over time, our bone marrow loses efficiency and regenerative capacity. The self-renewal capacity of HSCs declines, immune response weakens, inflammation builds up, and epigenetic changes accumulate.&nbsp;



To test this, scientists created a BM model within the MPS and paired it with a full-thickness skin model. They then introduced it to the serum from young and old human donors.



The results were remarkable. Young serum reprogrammed the marrow cells and restored youthful appearance and function to the skin.



Cytokines and immune cells in the blood are likely involved in mediating these effects. Skin rejuvenation is not just a local event, but is influenced by signals from other organs.&nbsp;



As bone marrow ages, it releases inflammatory cytokines, weakening the immune response and disrupting repair. 



This finding underscores the importance of bone marrow-skin communication and demonstrates the value of MPS platforms in studying systemic rejuvenation in human models.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bone-marrow-and-skin-work-together">Bone marrow and skin work together</h2>



But here is the twist. These effects were only observed when both the skin and BM organoids were connected in the same system.&nbsp;



The finding suggests that the bone marrow does not act alone. It secretes rejuvenating factors in response to blood signals, helping reverse the signs of skin aging.&nbsp;



Specifically, the scientists identified 55 age-associated proteins produced by the BM model when exposed to young blood. Several of these proteins directly improved aging skin in laboratory tests.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toward-targeted-age-reversal-therapies">Toward targeted age-reversal therapies</h2>



This study is the first proof that young blood can restore youthful skin in a lab-grown system. The effects depend on the communication between the skin cells and the bone marrow.&nbsp;



Seven of the identified proteins stand out as possible key players to reverse aging.. These findings could open the door to targeted therapies to reverse aging in skin.



But more importantly, they reveal that our skin's age is not just written in its cells. It is shaped by signals from our blood and, even more, from the bone marrow that creates it.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.aging-us.com/article/206288/text" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aging-US</a>.



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Molecules found in young human blood shown to reverse signs of aging on skin

For centuries, people have been searching for ways to reverse...

A new federal report reveals that ultra-processed foods now account for more than half of the calories Americans consume. 



According to data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NHANES</a>), conducted between August 2021 and August 2023, 55% of total daily calories for individuals aged 1 and older came from these highly processed products.



Children had even higher numbers - 61.9% compared to 53% for adults. “That’s excessive,” said Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cleveland Clinic</a>. “That’s concerning. It’s way too much.



"We don’t have guidelines, because why would we provide guidelines for junk food, but about 10% would be reasonable.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-ultra-processed-foods">Understanding ultra-processed foods</h2>



Ultra-processed foods (UPF) flood our grocery aisles and kitchen cupboards. The packaging is designed in labs to grab our visual attention, and the ingredients are chemically-enhanced to satiate our tastebuds.



Food scientists break down natural ingredients and then rebuild them into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breaking-free-from-ultra-processed-foods-the-surprising-health-benefits/">hyper-palatable snacks</a>, drinks, and ready-to-eat meals using additives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and preservatives. 



You’ll recognize them by long ingredient lists with names you can hardly pronounce - think colorants, flavor enhancers, and texturizers. 



Companies engineer these products to taste irresistible and last longer on shelves, which makes them super convenient but also tricky when you’re trying to make healthy food choices and eat mindfully.



Needless to say, ultra-processed foods are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/direct-link-confirmed-between-ultra-processed-foods-upf-serious-health-problems/">very unhealthy</a>. Research links regular consumption of these items to higher risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers. 



Because they often pack in excess sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, they can drive overeating and leave you feeling unsatisfied. 



On the flip side, whole and minimally processed foods - like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and nuts - deliver the nutrients your body craves without <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tool-lets-you-check-how-processed-your-food-is-grocerydb/">hidden additives</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-eats-ultra-processed-foods">Who eats ultra-processed foods?</h2>



The survey revealed that children between the ages of one and five consumed fewer ultra-processed calories than older kids and teenagers. 



Among adults, the highest consumption was in the 19–39 age group at 54.4%, with slightly lower rates for those over 40.



There was one encouraging sign - consumption has slightly decreased. Between 2013–2014 and 2021–2023, the percentage of calories from ultra-processed foods fell from 55.8% to 53% in adults, and from 63.8% to 61.9% in children.



“It’s good that we see a decline of the percentage of ultra-processed food in both children and adults,” said Dr. Fang Fang Zhang, a cancer and nutrition epidemiologist at <a href="https://www.tufts.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tufts University</a>. She noted that the drop might be due to reduced intake of sugary beverages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calls-for-change-in-homes-and-schools">Calls for change in homes and schools</h2>



According to the experts, reducing exposure starts with parents and schools. 



“If kids get a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultraprocessed-foods-pose-major-health-risks-especially-for-kids/">packaged</a> snack or a dessert at school lunch every day, they think it’s okay,” Zumpano explained. She believes education for parents and children is crucial.



Zhang agreed, adding that cutting ultra-processed foods in schools and workplaces could have a long-lasting impact on the overall population level health. 



This push coincides with a larger political movement aimed at reshaping the American <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-ultra-processed-foods-makes-your-muscles-weaker-and-more-fragile/">diet</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-america-s-chronic-disease-epidemic">America's chronic disease epidemic </h2>



The White House’s Make America Healthy Again (<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/maha/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MAHA</a>) Commission is led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.



The commission released a 69-page report that blames ultra-processed foods, environmental chemicals, sedentary lifestyles, and excessive screen time for chronic disease rates.



“We will not stop until we defeat the chronic disease epidemic in America,” said President Donald Trump at a MAHA event. He called Kennedy’s work “hot” and promised to challenge corporate lobbyists.



However, the report does not yet include a budget or specific regulations. Kennedy said the commission would develop policy recommendations in the next 100 days, with a goal to implement them over four years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-criticism-of-the-report">Criticism of the report</h2>



The MAHA report’s criticism of pesticides has already sparked tension. While Kennedy and his advisers want tighter scrutiny, officials like Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that “the food supply is 100% safe.” 



EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin warned that regulating pesticides too quickly could hurt farmers and raise production costs.



Industry groups like the <a href="https://ncga.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Corn Growers Association</a> rejected the pesticide claims, calling the report “fear-based” and not grounded in science. This signals likely battles ahead between the administration and agricultural interests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controversy-over-vaccine-statements">Controversy over vaccine statements</h2>



The report also calls for more research into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-trick-immune-system-into-stronger-vaccine-response/">childhood vaccines</a>. While it affirms that vaccines protect against infectious diseases, it suggests more study on their “appropriate use” and “possible role” in chronic diseases.



This has drawn attention, as public health experts maintain that vaccines are safe and effective based on decades of research.



As the MAHA Commission moves forward, the challenge will be balancing public health reforms, industry concerns, and political realities. 



Whether its focus on cutting ultra-processed foods can meaningfully improve America’s health will depend on how these proposals evolve into concrete action.



This article references data from the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db536.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics report</a>,&nbsp;Ultra-processed Food Consumption in Youth and Adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023&nbsp;(NCHS Data Brief No. 536, August 2025).



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Shock study: Americans get more than half of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods

A new federal report reveals that ultra-processed foods now account...

Ozempic, Wegovy, and their sister drugs have leapt from pharmacy counters to dinner-table conversations in record time. 



These injectable medicines belong to a class called GLP-1 agonists. The drugs were originally designed to control blood sugar in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-a-cellular-switch-mitochondria-that-could-reverse-type-2-diabetes/">type 2 diabetes</a>, but are now more famous for helping users shed significant pounds.



A survey of 8,793 adults conducted by the nonprofit <a href="https://www.rand.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RAND Corporation</a> shows just how far the trend has spread - and who is feeling the side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glp-1-drugs-gain-traction-nationwide">GLP-1 drugs gain traction nationwide</h2>



RAND researchers asked members of their <a href="https://www.rand.org/education-and-labor/survey-panels/alp.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Life Panel</a> whether they are currently taking or have ever taken a GLP-1 agonist such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weight-loss-drug-ozempic-may-help-protect-the-brain-from-stroke/">Ozempic</a>, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound.



Exactly 11.8 percent said yes - virtually unchanged from the 12 percent figure KFF found in 2023. Another 14 percent said they were interested in trying the drugs, while about three-quarters reported that they did not plan to take them.



That 11.8 percent translates to roughly 30 million adults, underscoring the meteoric rise of medications approved for diabetes in 2017 and for obesity in 2021. Prescription numbers have tripled since 2020, according to IQVIA sales data quoted by RAND.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gender-and-age-divide-in-prescriptions">Gender and age divide in prescriptions</h2>



Usage differs sharply by age and sex. GLP-1 prescriptions are most common among Americans aged 50 to 64, with 18.5 percent of everyone in that bracket having tried them. Among women in this age group, the share climbs to a striking one in five.



Men between 50 and 64 are not far behind at 16.8 percent, while adults over 65 show similar rates for both sexes at about 13 percent. Young adults lag well behind: only 3.3 percent of people aged 18–29 reported ever using a GLP-1.



In the 30- to 49-year age range, women at 15.1 percent are more than double their male peers at 7.2 percent. This suggests that body-image pressures or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-suggests-menopause-can-be-delayed-or-even-eliminated/">menopause-related</a> weight gain may play a role.



Although overall uptake has plateaued nationwide, curiosity remains high. More than one in seven adults say they were interested in the injections even if they had never taken them.



High demand continues to strain supply chains; sporadic shortages have led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to list several doses of Wegovy and Ozempic as “in limited availability” throughout 2024 and 2025.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-side-effects-of-weight-loss-drugs">Side effects of weight-loss drugs </h2>



GLP-1 drugs mimic a hormone that slows stomach emptying and triggers satiety signals in the brain, but those same mechanisms can cause digestive distress.



The RAND survey asked the 1,262 respondents who had used one of these drugs about four well-known side effects: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and the rapid loss of facial fat popularly called “Ozempic face.”



Roughly half said they had experienced nausea, while a little over a third reported diarrhea. About one in five had suffered vomiting, and fewer than one in ten mentioned facial hollowing.



Most users described their side effects as mild rather than serious, though nearly nine percent of all users labeled their nausea severe and more than seven percent said the same about their diarrhea.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drugs-remain-expensive-and-restricted">Drugs remain expensive and restricted</h2>



These statistics matter because GLP-1 agonists cost roughly $1,000 per month without insurance and remain subject to insurer restrictions and prior authorization hurdles. 



Knowing who is actually taking them helps forecasters estimate spending for Medicare and private health plans.



Medicare currently covers the drugs for diabetes and, since 2024, to reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changing-one-thing-about-this-everyday-task-cuts-heart-disease-risk-in-half/">cardiovascular risk</a>, but not explicitly for weight management. Bipartisan bills introduced in Congress could change that and further expand access.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-age-and-body-image-influence-use">Age and body image influence use</h2>



The demographic split also hints at cultural factors. Women in early retirement years may be eager to mitigate health risks associated with midlife weight gain. 



Younger men’s low uptake could reflect lower healthcare engagement or simply fewer prescriptions for weight loss in that cohort.



Although uptake has stabilized for now, the survey indicates sustained interest that could push rates higher if costs fall or coverage broadens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-use-and-inequities">Tracking use and inequities</h2>



The American Life Panel is a probability-based cohort of roughly 11,000 people aged 12 and up. RAND fielded its GLP-1 questions online and by telephone in April and May 2025, weighting answers to align with U.S. Census benchmarks.



Because the data rely on self-report, some misclassification is inevitable; nevertheless, the large sample size yields the most detailed snapshot yet of this new pharmaceutical landscape. The FDA is reviewing new GLP-1 drugs that may allow longer dosing or cause fewer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vitamin-c-may-reduce-adverse-effects-of-cancer-treatment/">side effects</a>.



Meanwhile, researchers are tracking rare but serious complications such as pancreatitis and intestinal obstruction. 



Public health experts also warn of disparities in access. High prices and limited insurance coverage may keep these medications out of reach for lower-income and rural Americans, even though obesity rates are highest in those communities. RAND’s finding that interest outpaces actual use hints at these barriers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-the-weight-loss-hype">Beyond the weight-loss hype</h2>



Doctors advise patients considering GLP-1 therapy to review cardiovascular history, pancreas issues, and gallbladder disease. They also emphasize that lifestyle changes - particularly diet, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-in-a-pill-is-now-closer-to-reality/">exercise</a>, and adequate sleep - remain crucial for long-term success.



The injections suppress appetite but do not build muscle or improve nutrition on their own.



Just eight years after Ozempic’s debut, GLP-1 agonists have become household names, waistlines have shrunk, and supply chains have grown.



RAND’s new numbers confirm that the medications have reached one in eight adults and one in five middle-aged women, while side effects are common yet generally mild.



As more formulations win approval and insurers reconsider coverage, usage rates could climb or plateau. Either way, the survey offers a valuable baseline for clinicians, policymakers, and consumers navigating America’s rapidly evolving weight-loss drug frontier.



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Nearly 30 million Americans are using weight-loss drugs

Ozempic, Wegovy, and their sister drugs have leapt from pharmacy...

What if evidence of a cultural tradition stretching back 4,000 years was hiding in someone's smile? As it turns out, dental calculus has been concealing traces of an ancient habit - betel nut chewing.



<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK316574/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Betel quid</a> is a mixture of areca nut, betel leaves, slaked lime, and sometimes tobacco. It has played a central role in religious ceremonies and social gatherings in Southeast Asia. People also use it in traditional medicines and curative practices.&nbsp;



Researchers in Thailand have found the earliest evidence of betel nut use. They analyzed chemical traces in ancient <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.1035324/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dental calculus</a>, which is hardened plaque.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-markers-of-betel-nut-chewing">Identifying markers of betel nut chewing</h2>



To explore whether this ancient habit could be detected in human remains, researchers used a two-phase approach. First, they tested modern samples of betel leaves and areca nut to detect the key compounds.&nbsp;



These included hydroxychavicol from the betel leaf, arecoline from betel nut, and nicotine from tobacco (which is sometimes added). Researchers used <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2643089/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LC-MS</a> (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) to carry out this phase.&nbsp;



In the second phase, the researchers analyzed 36 samples of ancient dental calculus taken from six human burials at the Nong Ratchawat site in Central Thailand. These burials are about 4,000 years old.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-betel-nut-chewing">Evidence of betel nut chewing </h2>



Researchers identified arecoline and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16780361/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arecaidine</a> derivatives, compounds found in areca nut, in the modern test samples and in three dental calculus samples collected from a female burial.&nbsp;



This is the first time researchers have identified betel nut residues in dental calculus. This offered a rare molecular glimpse into a 4,000-year-old habit.



The lack of staining on the teeth, an obvious marker of betel nut use, raised interesting questions. 



Multiple factors may explain the discrepancy: the person might have drunk the mixture or cleaned the teeth often, the chewing duration or frequency might have been low, or <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0031018288900879" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">taphonomic processes</a> might have removed the stains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-following-the-trail-of-betel-chewers">Following the trail of betel chewers</h2>



The researchers aimed to determine whether they could detect chemical traces of betel nut and leaf in the teeth, how uniformly those traces were distributed in the mouth, and whether the habit was common across the population.



Since molars and premolars do most of the chewing, the team expected these teeth to show stronger chemical signals. Hence, they expected that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/100-year-old-people-all-share-these-crucial-blood-biomarkers-that-short-lived-people-dont-have/">biomarkers</a> could be detected using LC-MS analysis.



The researchers also hypothesized that all adults, regardless of age, gender, or social status, may have practiced betel nut chewing. The study found chemical traces of areca nut, but none from betel leaf.



In some individuals, tooth decay and gum disease were noticed. Still, researchers did not report any conditions primarily associated with betel nut chewing, such as osteoarthritis of the <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TMJ</a> (temporomandibular joint) or extreme tooth wear.



Despite this, researchers believed that betel nut chewing could have occurred. Lack of visible clues does not mean it did not happen. It may simply be that the chemical detection methods could not capture it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-archaeological-evidence-in-thailand">Archaeological evidence in Thailand</h2>



Long before this biomolecular discovery, archaeologists had uncovered the remains of areca nuts at Thai sites like Spirit Cave and Ban Chiang. This suggests that chewing betel nuts is an ancient tradition. 



Later studies confirmed that the practice existed in mainland Southeast Asia, dating from 14,000 to 1,500 years ago. 



Researchers previously found indirect archaeological evidence, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/citrus-drink-that-helps-remove-tartar-and-whitens-teeth-helps-bad-breath/">stained teeth</a> and plant fragments, suggesting widespread betel nut use during the prehistoric period, as far back as 14,000 years ago.



Even though rural and minority communities still chew betel nuts, Thai governmental modernization policies since the 1940s have led to their decline. Modern policies emphasize the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/health-risks-of-ultra-processed-foods-revealed-in-30-year-study/">health risks</a> associated with betel nut chewing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dental-calculus-preserves-biomarkers">Dental calculus preserves biomarkers</h2>



However, only a few biomolecular studies have directly confirmed betel nut chewing by identifying the associated chemicals, called alkaloids, in the stained teeth. Only recently have researchers begun exploring hardened dental plaque for traces of betel nut.&nbsp;



New studies have shown that analyzing dental calculus on ancient teeth can reveal information about foodways, nutrition, health, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-human-diets-pose-many-risks-health-environment/">diet</a>, or even milk consumption. It can also provide insights into the use of psychoactive plants and even personalized use patterns.



For instance, researchers previously conducted studies on ancient dental calculus to determine tobacco use in North Americans. 



They found that it preserved both chemical and microscopic clues. This suggests dental calculus could help detect other plant-based psychoactive substances, too. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-potential-for-discoveries">Future potential for discoveries</h2>



By 2020, archaeologists had excavated about 156 burials at the Nong Ratchawat site. Since they have analyzed only six so far, there is significant potential to study dental calculus from the remaining burials.&nbsp;



Future research will examine how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-psychoactive-plants-helped-build-an-ancient-empire/">psychoactive plants</a> were used across different ages and genders, and how these practices shaped ancient Thai and Southeast Asian cultures.



Researchers could apply the chemical techniques used here to other ancient sites across Southeast Asia, opening new windows into how the use of psychoactive plants shaped everyday life, rituals, and even social structures.



The full study was published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-archaeology/articles/10.3389/fearc.2025.1622935/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers</a><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-archaeology/articles/10.3389/fearc.2025.1622935/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> in Environmental Archaeology</a>.



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4,000-year-old teeth reveal the oldest evidence of betel nut chewing

What if evidence of a cultural tradition stretching back 4,000...

Most of us learn to ride bikes as children, then gradually move away from cycling as we get older, choosing other forms of exercise to incorporate into our daily health routines. However, we all may want to reconsider that decision.



A recent study that tracked 82,297 commuters for 18 years found that people who chose pedals over engines were about 50 percent less likely to die from cancer or cerebrovascular disease, a term that covers strokes and other blood-vessel problems in the brain.



The same research linked daily cycling with much better health outcomes across the board - a 47 percent drop in deaths from any cause, and a 24 percent decline in cancer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-molecular-switch-revert-method-turns-cancer-cells-into-normal-cells/">diagnoses</a>. 



Catherine Friel of the <a href="https://www.gla.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Glasgow</a>, who led the project with colleagues from Edinburgh, says the evidence points to cycling as a powerful health habit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commuting-cycling-and-health">Commuting, cycling, and health</h2>



Researchers drew their sample from the <a href="https://sls.lscs.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scottish Longitudinal Study</a>, a census-based record that includes people aged 16 to 74. 



Participants reported their main commute mode in 2001, creating three groups: cyclists, walkers and non-active travelers.



Hospital admissions, prescription records and death certificates were then linked to each person. This approach allowed the team to calculate the hazard ratio, a statistic that compares the likelihood of an event in one group to another over time.



Covariates such as age, income, prior illness and distance to work were adjusted in the models. By controlling these factors, the analysts aimed to isolate the effect of the commute itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cycling-lowers-cancer-boosts-heart-health">Cycling lowers cancer, boosts heart health</h2>



Cyclists showed a hazard ratio of 0.53 for all-cause mortality, meaning a 47 percent lower risk than car or bus riders. 



They also recorded a 30 percent reduction in prescriptions for cardiovascular disease medications, a practical marker of lower <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tool-that-determines-your-heart-age-as-compared-to-your-actual-age/">heart</a> strain.



Walking to work helped too, but less dramatically. Pedestrians lowered their odds of any hospital stay by 9 percent and their need for heart-related drugs by 10 percent. The smaller edge likely reflects shorter distances and gentler intensity.



“Clearly and consistently lower risks of adverse outcomes were identified among active commuters,” stated Friel. The pattern held across age groups and income brackets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-health-matters-too">Mental health matters too</h2>



Prescription data revealed a 20 percent dip in anxiety and depression medication among cyclists. Walking offered a modest 7 percent benefit. Physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that lift mood, which explains part of this trend.



Commuting under one’s own power can also reduce daily stress by eliminating traffic jams and offering social contact on bike paths. These softer factors, though more difficult to quantify, likely add to the mental boost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-road-risks-must-be-considered">Road risks must be considered</h2>



The downside is safety. Cyclists in the study were nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized after a traffic crash. Over the full 18 years, 83 serious injuries were recorded among riders.



“Existing studies confirm that the health benefits far outweigh the risk of injury,” said Luis Cereijo Tejedor of the <a href="https://www.uam.es/uam/en/studyabroad" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Autonomous University of Madrid</a>, who was not involved in the work. He called for better bike lanes and lower urban speed limits to narrow the gap.



Even with the injury burden, the mortality advantage persisted. That result echoes earlier U.K. research that tracked 300,000 people for 25 years, and that also showed cycling was protective despite occasional crashes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cycling-beats-walking-for-longevity">Cycling beats walking for longevity</h2>



Cycling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/active-commuting-cycling-to-work-linked-to-enormous-health-benefits/">typically</a> covers longer distances than walking, pushes the heart rate higher and can replace sedentary car trips entirely. 



A six-mile (9.7-kilometer) ride, common in Scottish cities, meets the 150-minute weekly exercise target in just a few commutes.



Riders also avoid the stop-and-go traffic that limits brisk walking in crowded downtown cores. Consistent moderate effort, rather than short bursts, appears to drive the biggest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changing-one-thing-about-this-everyday-task-cuts-heart-disease-risk-in-half/">cardiovascular gains</a>.



E-bikes may widen access by flattening hills and reducing sweat. Early <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214140522001955" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> suggest electrified cycling still counts as moderate exercise because riders pedal continuously, albeit with assistance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-policy-implications">Policy implications</h2>



Governments seeking to cut medical costs see active travel as a low-budget intervention. The Dutch mileage subsidy of $0.24 per kilometer and the French rebate of up to $930 per year have nudged thousands onto bikes.



Scotland plans to spend about $400 million annually on bike and walking infrastructure by 2026. Friel’s data offer local proof that such investments pay off in health savings as well as carbon cuts.



Remote work complicates the picture. Fewer commutes mean fewer chances to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/just-5-minutes-of-daily-exercise-can-lower-blood-pressure/">exercise</a> in transit, so planners now talk about “everyday mobility,” encouraging errands, school runs and leisure trips by bike.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-cycling-shifts-big-health-gains">Small cycling shifts, big health gains</h2>



Not everyone can pedal the full distance to work, but mixing modes helps. Parking the car a mile away or leaving the bus two stops early still adds regular activity.



Shifting even 10 percent of daily trips to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/car-tires-are-a-big-source-of-microplastics-pollution-but-what-about-mountain-bikes/">bicycles</a> could save thousands of lives, according to modeling studies from England and Wales. Each avoided chronic disease means fewer hospital beds and lower insurance premiums.



Urban designers note that safer streets benefit walkers and wheelchair users too. Wider sidewalks, raised crossings and protected lanes create environments where active travel feels normal rather than heroic.



The study is published in <a href="https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/2/1/e001295" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMJ Public Health</a>.



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People who ride bikes daily are 50% less likely to die from cancer and heart disease

Most of us learn to ride bikes as children, then...

A mother’s genes may influence a child’s weight more strongly than a father’s genes. This is the conclusion of a major study led by researchers at University College London. 



The analysis combines deep genetic data with insights from the Millennium Cohort Study, which tracked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-spaces-have-a-major-impact-on-child-development/">children</a> in the UK from birth to age 17.



The researchers examined how parental BMI and genetics affected children’s weight, diet, and birthweight. They analyzed data at six stages: ages 3, 5, 7, 11, 14, and 17.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moms-affect-kids-beyond-just-genes">Moms affect kids beyond just genes</h2>



The researchers used Mendelian Randomization (MR) with polygenic scores to untangle direct inheritance from indirect effects. These indirect effects are called “genetic nurture.” 



A parent’s genes may shape a child’s weight not through inheritance, but by creating a certain environment - through eating habits, health during pregnancy, or household norms.



“Mothers’ genetics appear to play an important role in influencing her child’s weight over and above the child’s genetics,” explained Dr. Liam Wright from the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College London</a>.



“In addition to the genes mums directly pass on, our findings suggest that maternal genetics are instrumental in shaping the environment in which the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-curiosity-starts-young-and-helps-us-survive/">child</a> develops, therefore indirectly influencing the child’s BMI too.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dads-mostly-pass-down-genes-only">Dads mostly pass down genes only</h2>



Both parents’ BMI were initially linked to higher BMI in children. But when adjusted for genetic transmission, only the mother’s BMI remained consistently associated. 



The father’s BMI, in contrast, showed little to no effect once inherited genes were taken into account.



This suggests that prior studies linking fathers’ weight to children’s weight may have overestimated the impact. Those links likely came from shared <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-disasters-are-fueling-a-child-exploitation-crisis/">genes</a> rather than parenting behaviors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pregnancy-and-child-s-future-weight">Pregnancy and child's future weight</h2>



The study supports the "developmental overnutrition hypothesis." This theory says that high maternal BMI can affect the fetus by exposing it to higher levels of glucose, fatty acids, and inflammatory signals. This may permanently alter appetite control and fat storage.



Birthweight data backs this up. Children of mothers with higher BMI had higher birthweights, regardless of genetics. The link was not observed for fathers. 



This connection could reflect how the prenatal environment contributes to long-term weight trends, noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mom-s-weight-linked-to-child-s-diet">Mom's weight linked to child’s diet</h2>



Mother’s BMI was linked to poorer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/screen-time-and-mental-health-a-vicious-cycle-for-kids/">child</a> diets, especially during adolescence. Children of mothers with higher BMI reported eating more fast food and sugary drinks and less fruit. These effects were subtle but present even after accounting for direct inheritance.



Interestingly, father's BMI showed almost no consistent link to children’s diets. Even where slight effects appeared - like at age 14 - they were weaker than the maternal patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-big-is-the-genetic-nurture-effect">How big is the genetic nurture effect?</h2>



The indirect effects of maternal genetics were found to be between 20 and 50 percent the size of direct inherited effects. That is a significant influence. For diet, the effect of the mother’s genes sometimes exceeded that of the child’s own.



These patterns reinforce the idea that maternal influence is not just about passing on DNA. It includes how mothers eat, behave, and care for themselves and their children - during pregnancy and beyond.



“This isn’t about blaming mothers, rather, supporting families to make a meaningful difference to children’s long-term health. Targeted interventions to reduce maternal BMI, particularly during pregnancy, could reduce the intergenerational impacts of obesity,” said Dr. Wright.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-for-policy-and-families">Why this matters for policy and families</h2>



This research shows that helping mothers achieve healthier weights could benefit their children - now and decades later. 



The results of the study highlight the need for maternal-focused health programs during and before pregnancy. These programs can reduce long-term risks for the next generation.



At the same time, the research challenges assumptions about how fathers influence their children’s health. The findings emphasize the importance of using genetically informed methods when exploring these questions.



As childhood obesity continues to rise, understanding these hidden influences becomes essential. This study brings new clarity - and new directions for preventing obesity from one generation to the next.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.03.07.24303912v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Genetics</a>.



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Mother’s genes may hold the key to childhood obesity

A mother’s genes may influence a child’s weight more strongly...

Fast food in hospitals sounds like a contradiction, but in many U.S. medical centers, it’s still on the menu. Walk through the food court and you’ll see signs for fried chicken, burgers, and pizza - foods known to fuel the very health problems hospitals are meant to treat.



A new poll and report from the <a href="https://www.pcrm.org/">Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine</a>, a nonprofit backed by 17,000 doctors, finds that many Americans don’t believe fast food belongs in hospitals.



The poll, conducted in early July 2025, surveyed 2,202 U.S. adults. Over half (52%) said fast food shouldn’t be sold in hospitals. Nearly 6 in 10 said hospitals shouldn’t make money from it, and 85% agreed these foods don't support good health.



The same report revealed that Chick-fil-A is operating in at least 20 hospitals or medical centers across the country. That data comes from the fast-food chain’s own website.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-counts-as-fast-food-really">What counts as fast food, really?</h2>



Fast food isn’t just about speed. It’s a category of food known for being heavily processed, high in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium, and low in fiber and nutrients. 



Fast food options include fried chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, pizza, fries, soda, and milkshakes - staples of chains like Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and others.



These meals are designed for convenience, not nutrition. They often come packed with calories and additives, and they’re rarely made from whole, unprocessed ingredients. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-foods-of-convenience">Foods of convenience </h2>



Even the “healthier” options, like grilled chicken sandwiches or salads, can come with high-fat dressings, processed meats, or refined grains.



The issue isn’t just indulgence - it’s habit. Many people eat fast food multiple times a week, and for some hospital visitors or staff working long shifts, these meals are the only options available. 



That’s where the problem grows. What’s convenient in the moment may be contributing to long-term health issues that land people in hospitals in the first place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fried-chicken-versus-chickpeas">Fried chicken versus chickpeas</h2>



“While many people consider chicken to be a healthier option than red meat, consuming chicken can increase cholesterol just as much as eating red meat,” said Anna Herby, nutrition education specialist for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. 



“Hospital staff, visitors, and patients would benefit by choosing more chickpeas and other plant-based foods instead of chicken.”



This isn’t just a personal opinion - it’s based on research. Eating chicken has been tied to higher cancer risk. Fried chicken, in particular, has been linked to heart disease.



One study earlier this year showed that eating just 300 grams of poultry per week - roughly a large chicken breast - was associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers and higher all-cause mortality.



Another study, published in The BMJ, found that women who ate fried chicken once or more a day had a 13% higher risk of death from any cause and a 12% higher risk of death from heart disease compared to those who avoided fried food entirely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-health-effects-of-fast-food">Hidden health effects of fast food</h2>



Fast food isn’t just tied to heart disease and cancer - its effects reach much further, often in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.



Regular fast food consumption is strongly tied to obesity, a condition that increases the risk of nearly every major chronic illness. 



These meals are energy-dense but nutritionally poor, delivering lots of calories with little actual nourishment. That makes it easy to overeat and hard to feel full.



Fast food is also a major contributor to type 2 diabetes. High levels of refined carbs and added sugars can spike blood sugar and insulin, leading to insulin resistance over time. Even a seemingly small meal - a muffin, a sweetened coffee - can contain more sugar than a can of soda.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-liver-and-brain-health">Liver and brain health</h2>



There are also effects on the liver. Diets heavy in trans fats and sugar can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now increasingly common even in kids and teens.



And then there’s mental health. Studies have linked high consumption of fried and processed foods with increased rates of depression and anxiety. 



The nutrients we don’t get from fast food - like omega-3s, fiber, and key vitamins - play a big role in brain health. Fast food isn’t just a quick meal. It can quietly affect nearly every system in the body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-to-lead-by-example">Time to lead by example</h2>



This issue is not new. In 2017, the American Medical Association urged hospitals to offer plant-based meals and stop serving processed meats like chicken nuggets. The goal is to make food part of the solution, not the problem.



“Hospitals should set an example by ensuring that their restaurants serve more menu items that are cholesterol-free, low in saturated fat, and high in fiber-rich vegetables, grains, beans, and fruit,” said Dr. Herby. 



“Meals like these have been shown to help prevent or improve the chronic diseases that bring people to the hospital.”



Public support is already there. The majority of Americans agree: fast food doesn’t belong in a place that’s supposed to promote health. 



As research continues to highlight the risks of meat-heavy, fried diets, many are calling for hospitals to make the same shift they ask of their patients.



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Fast food in hospitals? Most agree it doesn't belong

Fast food in hospitals sounds like a contradiction, but in...

Every time you eat, trillions of microbes in your gut spring into action, fermenting dietary scraps your own body can’t digest. In return, they churn out small molecules - short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) - that slip into your bloodstream and quietly influence your immune system, appetite, and even mood.



Until now, no one had precisely calculated how much of this microbial output reaches the body - but a new study led by Markus Arnoldini at <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html">ETH Zurich</a> offers the most detailed accounting yet.



“Our findings provide a detailed picture of how intensively the gut microbiota and the host exchange substances,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-gut-s-hidden-traffic">Measuring gut's hidden traffic</h2>



Researchers from ETH Zurich and <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford</a> set out to count this molecular freight with simple arithmetic anchored in diet records and stool output. 



By balancing how many bacteria are shed each day with how many must regrow, they calculated the carbon budget that keeps the community humming.



Laboratory assays then revealed how many fermentation products each bacterial gram must generate to rebuild that lost biomass. 



The final tally suggests that an adult following a typical Western diet absorbs roughly 1.5 ounces of these acids every 24 hours.



That flow is far larger than earlier textbook estimates. Those estimates relied on indirect breath or blood tests and missed material swiftly metabolized by the liver. It shows that gut chemistry is not a trickle but a steady stream.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fiber-boosts-gut-microbes">Fiber boosts gut microbes</h2>



Fiber content turned out to be the strongest dial on that stream. When the team plugged in data from the Hadza people of Tanzania, who gather tubers and berries rich in resistant starch, acid production doubled.



Under those ancestral conditions, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brewing-beer-in-space-the-future-of-fermentation/">fermentation</a> products can supply up to 10 percent of daily energy needs, a notable windfall in food-scarce settings. 



Modern Western diners, by contrast, glean just 2 to 5 percent of calories from the same pathway because refined grains and sugars leave little work for fermenters.



That finding supports earlier work showing hunters and subsistence farmers host bulkier microbial communities geared to fiber digestion. 



It also hints that energy balance models need to account for changing microbial efficiency when people switch diets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbial-acids-act-as-signals">Microbial acids act as signals</h2>



Energy is only half the story, because these acids act as messengers that bind receptors on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-changes-our-understanding-of-the-immune-system/">immune cells</a>, fat tissue, and the nervous system. 



Animal experiments show butyrate enhances gut barrier repair, while propionate moderates gluconeogenesis in the liver.



Human observational studies back that up, linking higher circulating acetate with better insulin sensitivity. Because the new study quantifies daily dose, clinicians can now align intake ranges with biomarker shifts seen in trials.



The map is useful for nutritionists designing fiber interventions and for drug developers testing synthetic analogs that mimic microbial messages. 



It also challenges the common practice of measuring stool acids alone, since absorption soaks up most of the pool before it exits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gut-microbes-may-shape-mood">Gut microbes may shape mood</h2>



Beyond metabolism, SCFAs instruct the immune system to stay calm. They enhance regulatory T-cell development, dampening gut inflammation in mice predisposed to colitis.



Clinical researchers are testing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/want-to-lose-weight-try-eating-more-protein-and-fiber/">high-fiber diets</a> or encapsulated butyrate as adjunct therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. 



If the Arnoldini framework proves accurate in patients, dosing can be personalized rather than guessed.



Neurologists are equally interested because propionate crosses the blood–brain barrier and modulates dopamine pathways tied to motivation. 



Small trials report improved emotional regulation after fiber supplementation, though cause and effect remain under study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fiber-may-aid-treatment">Fiber may aid treatment</h2>



Because composition plays a smaller role than diet in total acid output, swapping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-probiotic-could-make-it-safer-to-eat-seafood/">probiotic strains</a> alone may not move the needle. 



Instead, results argue for feeding existing microbes with complex carbohydrates they can ferment.



Cancer biologists note that butyrate has antiproliferative effects on colon epithelial cells, raising hopes for prevention strategies. 



A quantitative scaffold now exists to test whether meeting a threshold intake - say 20 grams of fermentable fiber - yields protective colonic concentrations.



Precision matters in diabetes - too little propionate harms glucose control, while too much acetate may trigger fat buildup. Dose-response curves need real numbers, and this study finally supplies them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-gut-microbes-in-disease">Testing gut microbes in disease</h2>



Future projects will marry the carbon budget with real-time metabolic flux analysis, using isotope-labeled fibers to trace individual molecules. 



Such work could reveal whether morning oatmeal and evening salad each spark discrete acid pulses or blend into one continuous wave.



“The precise quantification of these molecular signals forms an important basis for future research,” explained Arnoldini. 



Investigators also plan to test patients with ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-much-more-complicated-than-we-thought-manifesting-in-11-different-forms/">obesity</a> to see if disease shifts the daily harvest upward or downward.&nbsp;



Companies already market designer fibers that promise targeted butyrate release in the right colon. With hard numbers in hand, regulators can demand evidence that claimed doses match physiological realities.



Public health guidelines may eventually express recommended fiber in terms of expected SCFA yield. 



This would mirror how vitamin advice links to functional outcomes. That shift would translate the microbiome from a black box into a measurable partner in nutrition.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867425007949" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell</a>.



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How many microbes live in the human gut? The number is staggering

Every time you eat, trillions of microbes in your gut...

Why do young children struggle to grasp the emotions behind adult facial expressions? A study led by Xie Wanze of Peking University and Professor Seth Pollak from the University of Wisconsin sheds light on this developmental shift. 



The research reveals that between the ages of 5 and 10, children begin to move beyond instinctive reactions to facial cues and start relying more on learned understanding to interpret <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-characters-boost-social-and-emotional-skills-in-children/">emotions</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-use-more-than-faces">Kids use more than faces</h2>



Interpreting facial emotions is essential for social <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-the-simple-emotion-that-gives-life-meaning-and-its-not-happiness/">connection</a>, but children often misread them. Earlier studies suggested that kids gradually move from simple positive or negative assessments to nuanced emotion recognition. 



But this new study shows that children don’t rely solely on visual cues. Instead, their developing brains combine perceptual data with conceptual insights shaped by culture, language, and experience. 



Even young children start to build emotional concepts through stories, labels, and social situations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-brain-and-behavior">Testing brain and behavior</h2>



The researchers used a three-part experiment on children aged 5 to 10. First, they measured spontaneous brain responses using a visual EEG task. Even the youngest group could distinguish different emotional expressions - happiness, anger, sadness, and fear. 



Their brains reacted more strongly to shifts between these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-stress-harms-the-brains-of-low-status-fish/">emotions</a>, confirming early discrimination ability.



Second, a conceptual word-emotion rating task revealed that older children showed clearer, more complex emotional associations. 



They viewed happiness as increasingly distinct from negative emotions and began grouping negative emotions like anger and fear more closely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-children-s-brains-process-emotions">How children’s brains process emotions</h2>



The team found that perceptual and conceptual abilities both contribute to emotion judgment, but not equally. Younger kids rely more on what they see. As they grow, they shift toward what they’ve learned. 



This aligns with the theory of constructed emotion, which proposes that emotional understanding relies more on concepts than raw feelings over time.



The study used Representational Similarity Analysis and statistical modeling to track this transition. 



The analysis revealed that conceptual knowledge predicts emotional accuracy better in older children and adults. In contrast, perceptual discrimination plays a stronger role in younger kids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavior-shows-emotion-growth">Behavior shows emotion growth</h2>



In behavior-based sorting and matching tasks, younger children showed clear struggles. They often sorted emotions broadly - positive vs. negative - without grasping nuances. 



Older children were more precise, identifying subtle differences between similar expressions like fear and anger.



Interestingly, these two tasks revealed different strengths. The sorting task depended more on labels and categories. The matching task leaned on visual cues. This shows how children’s emotion understanding may vary based on how they are asked to respond.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-s-emotions-become-more-complex">Children’s emotions become more complex </h2>



As children grow, they not only get better at telling faces apart but also begin to understand emotional complexity. 



With age, children grasp that anger and fear may share traits or appear together in certain situations. This reflects a maturing emotional framework where emotions are not just labels but dynamic states tied to context and culture.



Children learn that the same expression may mean different things in different situations. This flexibility marks the rise of true emotional reasoning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-helping-children-understand-emotions">Helping children understand emotions</h2>



This research has practical value. It suggests that helping children grow emotionally means more than showing them faces. 



Teaching emotional language, using stories, and helping them understand context can build strong conceptual knowledge.



Children who gain these tools are more likely to manage emotions, understand others, and thrive in social settings. The study supports using both visual and conceptual strategies in emotional education, tailored to age and developmental stage.



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



The study from <a href="https://english.pku.edu.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peking University</a> and <a href="https://www.wisc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wisconsin</a> reminds us that emotion understanding is not fixed. It evolves through exposure, language, and thought. While a child may first recognize a smile, they later learn that not every smile means happiness.



As one grows older, it becomes clear that knowing how someone feels takes more than just looking – it requires thinking. This research shows how that journey unfolds, step by step, in every child’s mind, shaped by experience, culture, language, and social learning. 



Over time, children learn that emotions are not fixed or universal - they depend on situations, relationships, and context. What begins as a simple reaction to a face slowly becomes a deeper understanding of human feelings and how they work in real life.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62210-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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How children learn to read emotions as they grow older

Why do young children struggle to grasp the emotions behind...

Imagine getting your next flu shot not through a syringe, but with something as familiar as flossing your teeth. 



A new proof-of-concept study led by Harvinder Singh Gill, a professor of nanomedicine at <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Carolina State University</a> brings that vision to life.



The team has shown, in mice, that unwaxed dental floss coated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/powerful-ai-algorithm-can-predict-a-persons-attitude-towards-vaccines/">vaccine</a> can be gently threaded between the teeth and gums. This sparks a powerful immune response where pathogens often strike first - the moist linings of the nose, throat, and lungs.



“Mucosal surfaces are important because they are a source of entry for pathogens, such as influenza and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-covid-19-virus-travels-deep-inside-our-lungs/">COVID</a>,” Gill explained. 



“However, if a vaccine is given by injection, antibodies are primarily produced in the bloodstream throughout the body, and relatively few are produced on mucosal surfaces.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-hidden-vaccine-gateway">A hidden vaccine gateway</h2>



Conventional epithelium - the skin-like tissue that lines much of the body - forms a tight barrier. The junctional epithelium, tucked deep in the gum pocket where a tooth meets the jaw, is different. 



Lacking some of the usual protective proteins, it allows immune cells to patrol the area and intercept <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-in-your-mouth-multiply-in-a-very-unique-way/">bacteria</a> that lurk in dental plaque.



“Because the junctional epithelium is more permeable than other epithelial tissues - and is a mucosal layer - it presents a unique opportunity for introducing vaccines to the body in a way that will stimulate enhanced antibody production across the body's mucosal layers,”&nbsp; Gill said.



Delivering antigen there, the researchers reasoned, might train the immune system without needles, sprays, or oral drops.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-floss-rivals-nasal-spray">Floss rivals nasal spray</h2>



The team compared three ways of vaccinating mice against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-the-influenza-virus-hack-our-cells/">influenza</a>: flossing the gum pocket, dripping vaccine under the tongue (the current oral-cavity standard), and instilling it in the nose.



The researchers discovered that flossing outperformed the sublingual route and matched the nasal route. This is notable because intranasal vaccination often requires specially formulated antigens and carries a theoretical risk of delivering particles too close to the brain.



“Applying the vaccine via the junctional epithelium produces far superior antibody response on mucosal surfaces than via the oral cavity, which involves placing vaccine under the tongue,” reported first author Rohan Ingrole, who completed the work as a doctoral student in Gill’s lab.



“The flossing technique also provides comparable protection against flu virus as compared to the vaccine being given via the nasal epithelium.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safe-even-near-brain">Safe, even near brain</h2>



Researchers say this new approach is extremely promising because the nasal lining blocks absorption, preventing most vaccines from being delivered through the nose.



“Intranasal delivery also has the potential to cause the vaccine to reach the brain, which can pose safety concerns. However, vaccination via the junctional epithelium offers no such risk,” said Ingrole.



Better still, the new approach worked with multiple vaccine types - proteins, inactivated viruses, and even mRNA - each time generating strong antibody levels in blood and mucosal secretions.



Whether mice nibbled food or drank water right after flossing made no difference, suggesting that ordinary eating habits would not blunt effectiveness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-floss-on-humans">Testing floss on humans</h2>



Unwinding floss around tiny mouse incisors is one thing; asking people to maneuver drug-soaked thread is another.



To gauge feasibility, the researchers dipped the filament of commercial floss picks in fluorescent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fda-faces-scrutiny-over-synthetic-food-dyes/">food dye</a> and asked 27 adult volunteers to aim for their gum pockets.



“We found that approximately 60 percent of the dye was deposited in the gum pocket, which suggests that floss picks may be a practical vaccine delivery method to the epithelial junction,” Ingrole said.



The pilot study, while small, hints that ordinary oral-care tools might one day double as do-it-yourself vaccine applicators - no medical training required.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-needles-no-stress">No needles, no stress</h2>



Freedom from needles could ease anxieties and speed mass immunization campaigns. “For example, it would be easy to administer, and it addresses concerns many people have about being vaccinated with needles,” Gill noted.



“And we think this technique should be comparable in price to other vaccine delivery techniques.” The method would also bypass cold sprays, which can fail if the antigen cannot cross the nasal barrier.



Limits include toothless toddlers and adults with gum disease or oral infections that may hinder vaccine uptake. The researchers need to refine dosage, ensure consistent coating of floss material, and run larger safety trials. Yet the early data encourage them.



“We're optimistic about that work and - depending on our findings - may then move toward clinical trials,” Gill said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-floss-vaccines-of-the-future">Floss vaccines of the future</h2>



If future studies confirm the promise, dental-floss vaccination could shift routine immunizations from clinics to bathrooms, adding a simple daily habit to global public health arsenals.



Beyond flu, the group plans to explore vaccines against respiratory viruses and perhaps oral boosters that top up <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strong-immune-resilience-in-midlife-reduces-risk-of-early-death/">immunity</a> months or years after a primary shot.



By turning a humble hygiene tool into an immune ally, Gill and colleagues have opened an unexpected channel to the body’s frontline defenses. It’s a reminder that innovation can begin with nothing more than a spool of floss and a curious mind.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-025-01451-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Biomedical Engineering</a>.



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Dental floss delivers vaccines without needles

Imagine getting your next flu shot not through a syringe,...

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite advancements in emergency care and rehabilitation, many survivors still face long-term health issues, including cognitive decline, seizures, and even death. 



Research presented at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery's 22nd Annual Meeting reveals an exciting new discovery. The study suggests that GLP-1 inhibitors, drugs used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, may reduce the severity or risk of strokes.



The diabetes drugs include semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic, which is known for lowering blood sugar and promoting weight loss. The researchers described three studies investigating how these drugs might help the brain during and after <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stroke-risk-is-elevated-by-air-pollution-and-traffic-noise/">stroke</a>. 



The studies covered different patient populations and medical events. They all pointed in one direction: people on GLP-1 inhibitors had better survival odds and fewer long-term complications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diabetes-drug-helped-stroke-survival">Diabetes drug helped stroke survival</h2>



In the first study, researchers from the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a> examined stroke patients on Ozempic. They compared data from their hospital and a global health network. Out of over 2 million stroke patients, 43,338 had used Ozempic.



The results showed a significant survival boost for Ozempic users. In the global data, 5.26% of users died after stroke, compared to 21.61% of non-users. 



Long-term survival stood at 77.5% for Ozempic users versus 30.95% for non-users. The university’s dataset also reflected this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eyes-serve-as-an-early-warning-system-for-stroke-risk/">benefit</a>. Ozempic users had lower death rates (5.26%) compared to those who did not use the drug (26.57%).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fewer-emergency-stroke-cases">Fewer emergency stroke cases </h2>



The second study, also by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, looked at nationwide emergency department records. 



The research team examined the relationship between Ozempic use and stroke incidents. They found that people likely on Ozempic had much lower odds of experiencing a stroke.



However, the study was based on indirect data sources. So, the researchers recommend analyzing pharmacy records next. This could clarify how Ozempic might prevent strokes, not just lessen damage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-hemorrhages-and-long-term-effects">Brain hemorrhages and long-term effects</h2>



The third study came from the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Texas</a> Medical Branch. It focused on GLP-1 agonists and their effect on hemorrhagic strokes and brain bleeds. 



The researchers analyzed patient records at multiple points - six and twelve months after hemorrhage, one and two years post-stroke.



They found that patients using GLP-1 inhibitors had a lower risk of seizures, cognitive decline, and death after their stroke or hemorrhage. 



Additionally, these patients experienced fewer future brain bleeds. This pattern suggests that the benefits of these drugs may extend beyond stroke prevention.



GLP-1 inhibitors could play a broader role in protecting the brain and improving long-term recovery after injury.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-diabetes-drugs-for-stroke">Using diabetes drugs for stroke</h2>



Dr. Ahmed Elbayomy, a research fellow and data scientist from the University of Wisconsin, led two of the featured studies and emphasized the exciting implications of their findings. 



According to Dr. Elbayomy, these early results reveal a new and unexpected benefit of GLP-1 inhibitors. “More research is certainly needed, but seeing the potential protection offered by these medications is a fascinating finding."



Dr. Matias Costa, lead author of the third study, expressed similar optimism. He believes these results open up important conversations about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cause-of-strokes-cervical-artery-dissection-has-increased-400-percent-since-2005/">stroke</a> care. 



“This research could introduce a new perspective to the discussion of preventing and mitigating the devastating effects of stroke and related brain injuries,” noted Dr. Costa.



Both researchers agree that while the data looks promising, it remains essential to test these outcomes in future clinical trials. Doing so will determine if these diabetes drugs can safely be used to support brain health in stroke patients.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-path-in-stroke-prevention">New path in stroke prevention</h2>



GLP-1 inhibitors, commonly used for diabetes and weight loss, may have a new role in stroke care. Collectively, the studies suggest these drugs could help prevent strokes and improve stroke recovery.



This potential crossover between metabolic treatment and brain health is promising. While the findings are still early, they point toward a future where one class of medication supports both physical and neurological health. 



Researchers are now planning prospective trials to confirm these results and better understand how GLP-1 drugs protect the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/17-best-strategies-to-protect-your-brain-from-stroke-dementia-and-depression/">brain</a>. If successful, this could shift how doctors approach stroke prevention and treatment in at-risk patients.



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Weight loss drug Ozempic may protect the brain from stroke

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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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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https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



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.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter 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/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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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...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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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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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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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"

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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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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

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