Ask yourself this: when was the last time you felt truly at peace, not just amused or entertained, but deeply rooted in who you are? A new study suggests that spending more time in nature may play a bigger role in that feeling than we assume.



That deeper layer has a name in psychology - <a href="https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_929" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eudaimonic well-being</a>. It is about purpose, self-acceptance, growth, and relationships. It sticks.



Does nature help with that? The short answer is a resounding "yes." Not only can nature boost your mood for an hour; it can also give you a clearer sense of self that lasts. 



This study examined that question and returned with an answer that feels both refreshing and practical.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-time-and-eudaimonic-well-being">Nature time and eudaimonic well-being</h2>



Researchers invited people in Turku, Finland, to share how the outdoors shows up in their real lives. 



First, 158 residents answered questions about time in nature and how their lives felt in terms of purpose, self-acceptance, growth, relationships, autonomy, and life management. 



Then, 20 people joined creative writing workshops to describe, in their own words, how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-forest-bathing-fresh-breath-for-teen-mental-health/">natural world shapes them</a>. The team paired numbers with stories to capture both patterns and personal depth.



“We wanted to explore how nature supports people's self-acceptance, purpose of life, positive relationships, autonomy, personal growth and agency, as well as life management," explains Joha Järekari, Doctoral Researcher at the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Turku</a>.



"This is called eudaimonic well-being and it can be considered in contrast to <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hedonism/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hedonism</a>: whereas hedonism focuses on short-term pleasures, eudaimonia delves into longer and deeper well-being.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-time-evokes-deep-feelings">Nature time evokes deep feelings</h2>



The study focused on two groups: ages 15 to 24 and adults over 60. Different life stages bring different needs. 



Yet a clear theme showed up in both: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/virtual-forest-bathing-can-reduce-stress-and-improve-mood/">nature felt nonjudgmental</a>. Trees do not judge. Water does not grade them. That sense of relief made room for honesty.



“Although there were some differences between the different age groups in how they spent time in nature and in what kinds of places, they also had many shared experiences," Järekari noted.



"What both age groups had in common was, among other things, a feeling that nature does not judge or criticize, which had a positive effect on the participants' self-acceptance."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-choices-and-belonging">Choices and belonging</h2>



Participants described two kinds of connection. One was inward. Time outside - on a trail, beside water, in a garden - made it easier to hear their own values and act on them. 



The other was outward. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natures-scents-linked-to-improved-health-and-well-being/">Being outdoors</a> helped people feel closer to friends and family, and also widened their sense of community to include birds, trees, and other living things. 



That broader bond pointed toward meaning, not just good moods.



“Spending time and being active in nature brought to the surface what was really important to the participants in their lives," Järekari describes.



"This increased people's agency and autonomy and had a positive impact on personal growth. The participants reported that it was easier to get in touch with oneself, with other people, and with other species."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factoring-in-age-and-experience">Factoring in age and experience</h2>



Older adults often talked about shared moments with grandchildren and unhurried walks, the kind that leave room for quiet. 



Some mentioned <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/religious-leaders-tried-psilocybin-and-it-changed-their-lives/">moments of spirituality</a>, a quiet awareness of being part of something larger than themselves. 



Younger people leaned on the outdoors for healthy solitude. They could be alone without feeling lonely, or with friends without filling every second with conversation. Different routes, same endpoint: a more authentic self.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-worry-creeps-in">When worry creeps in</h2>



The picture was not perfect. Many participants, especially younger ones, felt the weight of environmental damage. 



Worry about climate change often chipped away at that comfort. Shame showed up too, a feeling of being part of the problem just by being human.



“However, this feeling grew stronger when participants noticed the visible effects of the ecological crisis on their surroundings," Järekari continued.



"Many young people also described a sense of shame about being part of the problem, so to speak, by being part of humanity, which challenged their self-acceptance."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-time-goes-deep">Nature time goes deep</h2>



Plenty of research shows that green space can lower stress and help attention bounce back. This work points to something deeper: <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0329411" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">identity-level effects</a> that unfold over time. 



It suggests that nature is not just a reset button. It is a steady setting where people practice being who they want to be.



“Our research unlocks the impact of nature on people's well-being on a deeper level than stress relief or positive emotions," Järekari emphasizes.



"Connection to nature is important to us on an identity level and often shapes our lives in ways that aren’t immediately obvious, but become clearer over time."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eudaimonic-well-being-in-society">Eudaimonic well-being in society</h2>



Design choices of public spaces matter. If we judge parks only by how many joggers they attract, we miss a big part of their value. 



People need quiet corners, meandering paths, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-the-critical-role-of-nature-in-human-well-being/">benches under trees</a>. Those places support reflection, relationships, and responsibility - features, not extras.



“It is important to encourage a deeper public discussion about the meaning of nature in people’s lives," adds Salla Eilola, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Turku. 



"Consequently, these issues could also be taken into account in decision-making and, for example, in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn3028" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urban planning</a>, where nature still often unfortunately has to give way to built environment," 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-steps-lasting-benefits">Small steps, lasting benefits</h2>



You do not need a dramatic plan to make this real. Pick a nearby spot and go there on a regular day, not just on the best day. Let your mind settle and see what values bubble up. 



If you spend time with kids or elders, choose slow routes that welcome pauses. Put phones aside. Short, steady moments count.



None of this turns a park into a productivity tool. It simply gives you space to notice what matters and act on it. 



That's the heart of eudaimonic well-being, and nature offers a simple doorway - whether it is a patch of grass, a line of trees, or a stretch of water.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.70104" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">People and Nature</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Walking through a forest can reshape who you are and bring inner peace, according to science

Ask yourself this: when was the last time you felt truly at peace, not just amused or entertained, but deeply rooted in who you are? A new study suggests that spending more time in nature may play a bigger role in that feeling than we assume. That deeper layer has a name in psychology - eudaimonic well-being. It is about purpose, self-acceptance, growth, and relationships. It sticks. Does nature help with that? The short answer is a resounding "yes." Not only can nature boost your mood for...

Technician,Placing,Blood,Tubes,In,The,Laboratory,Centrifuge

Memory problems are scary, and getting clear answers often takes a long time. For years, the dependable ways to check patients for Alzheimer’s disease have been PET scans or spinal taps, no blood tests involved.



Both can be effective. Both can also be expensive, invasive, or hard to get. That leaves many people waiting, worrying, and bouncing between appointments.



A new blood test aims to change that first step in care. It looks for the same biological signals that define Alzheimer’s disease and turns them into a single score - how likely it is that Alzheimer’s biology is present. 



This breakthrough gives doctors a faster, simpler way to decide what should happen next.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alzheimer-s-blood-test-is-huge">Alzheimer's blood test is huge</h2>



Most people with early memory concerns start in primary care. Those clinics are busy and don’t have advanced imaging on hand. 



A reliable blood test would help sort patients sooner. Some could be <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/targeting-the-gut-might-be-key-in-preventing-alzheimers-disease/">referred to a specialist</a> right away.



Others could be monitored while doctors check for sleep issues, depression, thyroid problems, medication effects, or other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/">common causes</a> of cognitive symptoms.



That kind of triage saves time, cuts costs, and reduces unnecessary procedures. It also helps families move from uncertainty to a plan. Not months from now, but much sooner.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-it-works">How it works</h2>



Alzheimer’s has two key features in the brain: abnormal amyloid and tau proteins. The new blood test examines a form of tau called p-tau217 and the ratio of two amyloid fragments: <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3716832/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aβ42 to Aβ40</a>. 



Together, these numbers capture the core biology doctors care about. The result is a probability score that indicates how closely a person’s blood pattern matches Alzheimer’s changes.



Using both markers strengthens the signal. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-024-03084-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">P-tau217</a> tracks Alzheimer’s-type changes, and the amyloid ratio helps keep false positives in check. 



When combined, the result becomes clearer - either likely Alzheimer’s biology or not.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-blood-for-alzheimer-s-anywhere">Testing blood for Alzheimer's anywhere</h2>



To see how the test would perform in everyday practice - not just in labs - researchers enrolled more than a thousand people in Sweden who came in with memory or thinking concerns. 



Some were evaluated in primary care. Others were seen in specialty memory clinics. Everyone received the usual clinical evaluations provided in those settings.



Blood samples were handled the way a hospital lab would: in batches, on a set schedule. That detail matters because it tests reliability under normal conditions, not just under perfect, hands-on supervision.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comparing-test-methods">Comparing test methods</h2>



In straightforward terms, the blood test matched more definitive <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-causes-and-risk-factors/what-happens-brain-alzheimers-disease" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">measures of Alzheimer’s biology</a> approximately nine times out of ten. Its performance held up in both primary care and specialty clinics, which is exactly where it needs to work.



"Primary care doctors' accuracy in identifying Alzheimer's disease was 61 percent, while specialist physicians were correct 73 percent of the time," explained <a href="https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lund University</a> neurologist Sebastian Palmqvist. 



"This underscores the lack of good, cost-effective diagnostic tools, particularly in primary care, and indicates the potential improvement in diagnosis with the adoption of this blood test in healthcare settings."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fixed-thresholds-were-used">Fixed thresholds were used</h2>



The team set the Alzheimer's blood test thresholds ahead of time and kept them fixed. That’s how a real diagnostic would be used in practice. 



No tuning after reviewing the results. No custom cutoffs for each clinic. A fixed cutoff increases the chance that the same test will work the same way in other places.



That approach adds confidence for doctors who <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-brain-disorder-important-data-was-fabricated/">need predictable tools</a>. Consistency across settings is the difference between a research project and something a health system can actually roll out.



When standard evaluations were used alone, clinicians did well. With blood test information added, decisions became more precise. 



A negative result in someone with mild, vague memory complaints gives doctors support to forgo invasive tests and monitor for changes over time.



As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-disruptions-could-signal-the-onset-of-alzheimers/">symptoms progress</a> to mild cognitive impairment or dementia, a positive result supports referrals for confirmatory testing and, when appropriate, treatments that target Alzheimer’s biology. 



The blood test does not replace PET scans or spinal fluid analysis. It helps focus those tools where they are most useful.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-public-should-know">What the public should know</h2>



This isn’t a casual screening for people without symptoms. It’s a first-line tool when memory concerns are real and doctors need to decide what to do next. 



Used appropriately, it can shorten the path to answers for those who need a deeper look and spare others from procedures they don’t need.



It also fits into normal workflows. A routine draw, a lab run on schedule, and a clear, interpretable score. That kind of practicality is what busy clinics need to act quickly and confidently.



"The test is already available in the USA and is likely to become available in many other countries soon," says senior researcher <a href="https://portal.research.lu.se/en/persons/oskar-hansson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oskar Hansson</a>, a neurologist at Lund University. 



"Initially, it will mainly be used in specialist memory clinics, and it may take approximately one to two years to implement guidelines and training in primary care."



As availability grows, expect specialist clinics to lead the way. Primary care will follow as training, protocols, and reimbursement catch up. That staged rollout is typical when new diagnostics enter real-world care.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-alzheimer-s-blood-tests">What's next for Alzheimer's blood tests</h2>



To sum it all up, this new blood test that reads the biology of Alzheimer’s gives primary care doctors something they’ve never really had: a quick, evidence-based signal that is correct 90 percent of the time to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stopping-alzheimers-before-it-starts-early-treatment-shows-potential/">guide next steps</a>. 



It won’t cure the disease. It will bring clearer direction, earlier in the process, for the people who need it most.



For families, that means fewer dead ends and faster referrals when appropriate. For clinicians, it means a practical tool that strengthens decisions. 



For health systems, it means aiming advanced testing where it can make the biggest difference. That’s progress measured not just in lab values, but in how care actually feels - faster, calmer, and more to the point.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2821669?resultclick=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of the American Medical Association</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

New blood test identifies early-stage Alzheimer's with 90% accuracy

Memory problems are scary, and getting clear answers often takes...

A new mouse study tested what happens when food is prepared on plastic cutting boards and the resulting microplastics end up in the diet. The team chopped on polyethylene and polypropylene boards, mixed the released particles into feed, and watched how the gut responded over weeks.



These tiny particles, called microplastics, are fragments of plastic smaller than 0.2 inches that can carry additives and hitchhiking chemicals. The results did not look the same for each plastic, which matters for everyday kitchens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-the-cutting-board-study">Inside the cutting board study</h2>



The team, led by Hai-Jun Gan from the School of Environment at <a href="https://hjxy.nju.edu.cn/English/HOME/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nanjing University</a>, used two common plastics, polypropylene and polyethylene - then prepared mouse diets on these boards for four and 12 weeks. 



Polypropylene particles averaged about 10 micrometers, while polyethylene pieces averaged about 27 micrometers, which means the polypropylene feed contained many more particles for the same mass.



By week 12, the diets prepared on plastic carried roughly a milligram of microplastics per gram of feed, and the number rose with repeated chopping cycles. 



Independent laboratory work reported that a single cut on a new polypropylene board can release on the order of 100 to 300 particles, which helps explain why older boards tend to shed more.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-plastics-different-effects">Different plastics, different effects</h2>



Polypropylene did not just ride through the gut. Mice eating polypropylene board <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dishwashers-release-nearly-a-million-plastic-particles-per-cycle/">particles</a> showed higher blood markers that track inflammation and gut barrier stress.



The markers included lipopolysaccharide and <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/c-reactive-protein-test/about/pac-20385228" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">C-reactive protein</a>, and lower expression of tight junction genes that help seal the intestinal wall.



Polyethylene told a different story. The mice did not show clear signs of inflammation, but their gut microbiota shifted after 12 weeks, with a lower share of Firmicutes and a higher share of Desulfobacterota in the cecum. 



That shift lined up with distinct changes in fecal and liver metabolites, especially bile-acid related compounds.



The contrast matters. It points to particle size, count, surface chemistry, and additives as separate levers of harm, instead of a single “plastic effect.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-polypropylene-boards-and-microplastics">Polypropylene boards and microplastics</h2>



Plastic cutting boards are not the only source of microplastics in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-packaging-is-leaking-harmful-chemicals-into-meals/">food</a>, but they are close to the action. 



An analysis estimating real-world chopping suggested that people could ingest 7.4 to 50.7 grams per year from polyethylene boards and about 49.5 grams from polypropylene boards, depending on use.



Those numbers track with the lab result that repeated chopping increases particle release as surfaces become scarred.



Microplastics are not limited to kitchens. They have been <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/glass-bottles-contain-more-microplastics-than-plastic-containers/">measured in human blood</a>, which tells us that particles are bioavailable and can circulate to different tissues.



Clinical researchers have also detected plastics in carotid artery plaques and linked their presence to higher rates of heart attack, stroke, or death over nearly three years in a 304 patient cohort.



Those findings do not prove that plastic cutting boards cause disease. They show that human exposure is real, widespread, and worth reducing where it is sensible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gut-response-to-different-plastics">Gut response to different plastics</h2>



The gut barrier is more than a wall. It is a dynamic system that includes mucus, tight junctions, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daylight-boosts-the-immune-systems-ability-to-fight-infections/">immune</a> signals, and bacterial metabolites. 



Polypropylene particles in this experiment lined up with lower expression of genes that help seal that barrier and higher activity of myosin light chain kinase, a protein that can loosen junctions and permit lipopolysaccharide to enter the bloodstream.



Polyethylene pushed on metabolism and community structure instead. Bile acids, the detergents our livers make to manage fat and signal to the gut, dropped in the liver.



On top of that, specific microbially shaped bile acids in the gut also shifted. That pattern fits a gut liver axis response, not a classic inflammatory spike.



One plastic leaned toward barrier injury. The other leaned toward ecosystem drift. Neither path is good news.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wood-is-not-a-perfect-solution">Wood is not a perfect solution</h2>



People switch to wood to avoid plastic shedding. That can reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-are-escaping-from-water-treatment-plants/">microplastic</a> ingestion, but any swap needs basic hygiene. 



Knife scars, moisture, and fat can trap microbes on any surface, and regulators have wrestled with these tradeoffs for years.



Food safety guidance has long noted that wooden boards behave differently from scarred plastics and can be harder or easier to sanitize depending on use and cleaning. 



The key is routine cleaning, separation of raw and ready-to-eat foods, and timely replacement of boards that are deeply grooved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-weigh-plastic-risks">How to weigh plastic risks</h2>



“Based on the limited evidence available, chemicals and biofilms associated with microplastics in drinking-water pose a low concern for human health,” according to the World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO</a>).



But that is drinking water, not food, and it reflects what we know today, not a permanent verdict.



This is where kitchen practice and common sense meet science. Replace old plastic boards more often. 



Avoid harsh scraping that chews up surfaces. Keep raw meat, seafood, and produce on separate boards, and clean thoroughly with hot water and detergent after each use.



There is also a bigger picture. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-linked-to-high-blood-pressure-and-heart-problems/">Plastics</a> differ by polymer and additives, and they age in different ways. Real exposure rarely involves clean, single-polymer spheres.



Results in people may hinge on mixtures, particle sizes, and how the gut is already primed by diet, stress, medications, and infections.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-directions-in-cutting-board-studies">Future directions in cutting board studies</h2>



The mouse study used realistic chopping, not pristine pellets, which is why it stands out. Next steps include human exposure tracking that can pair biomarkers with what people actually do in their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-kitchen-utensils-may-leach-toxic-chemicals-in-food/">kitchens</a>. 



Researchers also plan to compare particle counts and sizes from new, moderately used, and heavily scarred boards across brands. 



They are also working to standardize sampling and detection from tap water to tissue so estimates line up.



That will help translate animal data into sharper human guidance, without overstating confidence or downplaying potential trouble.



The study is published in <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP15472" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Health Perspectives</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

This everyday kitchen tool could be leaching toxins into your food

A new mouse study tested what happens when food is...

We throw the word “cool” around every day when describing people, places and things - but what are we really pointing to? Not fashion trends. Not a perfect playlist. The idea is bigger than that. 



The word "cool" is a label people use when someone stands out in a way that feels confident, lively, and a little daring.



A new set of studies tackled that slippery word head-on. Instead of asking for definitions, participants around the world rated people whom they knew. That choice matters because when you think of a real person, your answers become clearer. 



The big takeaway: “cool” <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-people-believe-they-deserve-good-karma-more-than-others/">overlaps with “good,”</a> but they’re not twins.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-some-people-cool">What makes some people cool?</h2>



"Everyone wants to be cool, or at least avoid the stigma of being uncool, and society needs cool people because they challenge norms, inspire change, and advance culture," said co-lead researcher Todd Pezzuti, Ph.D., an associate professor of marketing at the <a href="https://www.uai.cl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez</a> in Chile.



Researchers ran multiple experiments across countries and languages. 



In each one, people named someone they considered cool or uncool - or good or not good - and then rated that person on many traits and values. 



Comparing those patterns across places helped separate universal cues from local quirks.



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



Participants didn’t define cool in the abstract. They rated acquaintances on specific traits. That approach reduces confusion and produces results that hold up better outside the lab. 



Because the work spanned different languages and cultural settings, the team could check whether the same signals appeared consistently.



If you’ve studied personality before, you’ll recognize some of the traits on those lists. 



Think of common frameworks like the Big Five (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, emotional stability) and widely used value maps that include self-direction, security, tradition, hedonism, and power. 



The research relied on this kind of vocabulary so responses could be compared cleanly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traits-shared-by-cool-people">Traits shared by "cool" people</h2>



When people tag someone as cool, they’re not just saying that person is nice. Ratings show a cluster tied to boldness and self-direction. 



Cool people seem energized by others, open to new experiences, willing to take risks, and motivated by enjoyment. They also look more autonomous - like they’re steering their own ship.



"To be seen as cool, someone usually needs to be somewhat likable or admirable, which makes them similar to good people," Warren said. 



"However, cool people often have other traits that aren't necessarily considered 'good' in a moral sense, like being hedonistic and powerful."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-being-good-differs">How being "good" differs</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-who-are-good-with-words-have-better-health-and-live-longer/">Good people</a>, on the other hand, score higher on warmth and agreeableness. They come off as calm, conscientious, steady, and more traditional. They care about security and fitting in. 



You can picture the difference right away. A trusted neighbor who always shows up might be “good” in every sense of the word, while the trendsetting club owner or startup leader might read as “cool.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cross-cultural-patterns-emerge">Cross-cultural patterns emerge</h2>



Here’s the twist: the pattern barely budged across the map. You might expect cool in the United States to look different from cool in South Korea or Nigeria. 



Yet the same adventurous, open, self-directed, socially energetic profile kept showing up. Slang changes. The core idea travels well.



Why would that be? Some signals are simply easy to read in any language. Openness to experience looks like trying new things. 



Autonomy looks like making your own choices. Social energy looks like bringing life to a room. People track those cues quickly, and they matter in group life everywhere.



One trait did not distinguish cool from good: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-listening-is-not-persuasive-in-arguments-does-not-change-minds/">basic capability</a>. Across the board, competence mattered. If someone seems ineffective, admiration is hard to earn, no matter the lane. 



Beyond that shared base, the paths split - stability and care for “good,” novelty and autonomy for “cool.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-of-this-study">Limitations of this study</h2>



No study is perfect. The surveys kept the English word “cool” even when the rest of the materials were in other languages. English slang spreads widely, but that choice brings a bit of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/attractive-people-have-more-career-opportunities-and-success/">cultural flavor</a>. 



Many participants came from online panels or university pools, which are great for comparisons but don’t capture every voice.



Finally, the work looks at perceptions, not a moral scorecard. It maps how people use the label “cool,” not who deserves praise in some objective sense.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-be-cool-in-real-life">How to be cool in real life</h2>



Want to project cool in a healthy way? 



Skip the stone-faced act - curiosity works better. Try something people haven’t seen yet, then share the energy from that accomplishment.



Own your choices, even small ones, and show you’re comfortable steering your day. People notice autonomy and enthusiasm.



Want to project goodness? Lean into reliability and warmth. Keep your word. Offer calm help. Focus on care and steadiness. Both roles matter in a community. They just carry different cues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-roots-and-relevance-of-cool-people">Roots and relevance of cool people</h2>



"Coolness has definitely evolved over time, but I don't think it has lost its edge. It's just become more functional," Pezzuti said. 



"The concept of coolness started in small, rebellious subcultures, including Black jazz musicians in the 1940s and the beatniks in the 1950s. As society moves faster and puts more value on creativity and change, cool people are more essential than ever."



Those roots explain why cool is tied to early movers. People who tinker, mix influences, and put ideas into action often set the pace. They may not be the most obedient in the room. They make new things feel possible.



We admire both cool people and good people, but for different reasons. If the “cool kid” and the “good kid” seem to orbit different planets, you’re not imagining it. Each plays a role in how groups change and how cultures move forward.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xge-xge0001799.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Psychological Association</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

People who are considered 'cool' have these six things in common across all cultures

We throw the word “cool” around every day when describing...

Most people hear “heart attack” and think of clogged arteries packed with fat and cholesterol. That picture is mostly right, but it may be missing a a key component. 



According to <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1096050" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new research</a>, common mouth bacteria that usually stay in their lane may drift into the bloodstream and trigger heart attacks.



The study suggests that mouth microbes don't just float through the bloodstream and disappear, as has always been understood to be the case. 



They may take up residence inside <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arteriosclerosis-atherosclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350569" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arterial plaque</a> and help spark the kind of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lifestyle-choices-in-young-adulthood-impact-cognitive-ability-in-midlife/">inflammation</a> that makes a weak spot crack. That is the sort of crack that can set off a clot and cut off blood flow to the heart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-and-heart-artery-plaques">Bacteria and heart artery plaques</h2>



Plaques form inside blood vessels over time. They are made of fats, cholesterol, immune cells, and scar-like tissue. Many sit there without causing trouble. 



The risk rises when the thin outer layer - the fibrous cap - breaks. Once that cover fails, the plaque’s contents meet the bloodstream; <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-blood-cells-found-to-squeeze-clots-tight-using-physical-force/">a clot can form</a>, and a heart attack can follow.



This study focused on whether bacteria from the mouth, especially a group called <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/viridans-streptococci" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">viridans streptococci</a>, could be tucked into those plaques. 



The central question was: were bacteria hiding out and then helping to drive inflammation right where it hurts most?



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



Researchers analyzed artery plaques from two sources: people who died suddenly and patients having surgery to clear clogged neck arteries. 



They did not rely on one test. They used DNA methods to detect bacterial genetic traces, special stains to locate bacteria in tissue, and gene activity analyses to see which immune pathways were active. 



They also tested how different bacterial components trigger early warning signals in immune cells. 



Pattern recognition receptors - the body’s “burglar alarms” - were a key focus, including a pathway called <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/tlr2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TLR2</a> that is well known for spotting bacterial signatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biofilm-bacteria-and-the-heart">Biofilm bacteria and the heart</h2>



Inside the deeper parts of many plaques, the team found signs that viridans streptococci were living together as a biofilm. 



A biofilm is a community of bacteria embedded in a protective matrix that helps them stick to a surface and shield themselves from stress.



In those plaque cores, immune cells called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-failure-creates-a-lasting-stress-memory-in-the-body/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">macrophages</a> did not appear to react to the biofilm. In other words, the bacteria appeared tucked away where the body’s defenses were not mounting a response.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-bacteria-break-bad">When bacteria break bad</h2>



The picture changed at the edges of plaques that were cracked or appeared unstable. There, the researchers saw scattered bacteria that appeared to have broken free from the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/biofilms" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hidden biofilm</a>.



That shift coincided with activation of immune alarms. Pattern recognition receptors lit up - especially through TLR2 - a classic “we found bacteria” signal. 



The alarm did not just activate the rapid innate immune response; it also drew in the slower, more targeted adaptive immune system.



“Bacterial involvement in coronary artery disease has long been suspected, but direct and convincing evidence has been lacking," explained <a href="https://researchportal.tuni.fi/en/persons/pekka-karhunen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Pekka Karhunen</a>, lead author of this research.



"Our study demonstrated the presence of genetic material - DNA - from several oral bacteria inside atherosclerotic plaques."



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



Samples that tested positive for viridans streptococci tended to come from plaques that were more advanced and complicated. 



In the autopsy series, bacterial signals lined up with deaths due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-kills-differently-now-than-five-decades-ago/">coronary heart disease</a> and heart attacks. 



That association does not prove the bacteria caused the deaths, but it strengthens the idea that they may play a role in a dangerous chain of events.



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



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brushing-your-teeth-regularly-can-prevent-deadly-liver-disease/">Oral health</a> has long been linked with heart health in population studies. Everyday activities like brushing or chewing can push mouth bacteria into the bloodstream, especially when gums are inflamed. 



The new findings point to a path where certain mouth bacteria might colonize plaques, lie low in biofilms, and then shed pieces that trigger inflammation right where the plaque is fragile.



This is not a call for antibiotics to prevent heart attacks. It does not turn brushing into a magic shield against heart disease. 



Cholesterol levels, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-linked-to-high-blood-pressure-and-heart-problems/">high blood pressure</a>, smoking, diabetes, and family history still carry a lot of weight. 



The study suggests bacteria - especially in biofilm form - may be another player that nudges risky plaques toward rupture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-questions-need-answers">More questions need answers</h2>



To sum it all up, this surprising, peer-reviewed study links oral bacteria within arterial plaques to inflammation associated with plaque rupture, highlighting a plausible mouth-heart connection.



The next steps include testing whether targeting biofilms, improving oral health, or dialing down specific immune alarms could make plaques more stable. 



Researchers will also need to sort out cause versus correlation and identify which bacterial features matter most inside human arteries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-you-should-do">What you should do</h2>



In the meantime, continue to follow the basic guidelines urged by the American Heart Association. 



Keep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eggs-and-cholesterol-a-new-twist-in-an-old-debate/">LDL cholesterol</a> in check. Do not smoke or vape. Move your body most days. Sleep well. Eat in a way that supports cardiovascular health. 



Keep up with dental basics also - regular brushing, flossing, and routine checkups reduce the chances that mouth bacteria slip into your blood. 



None of these habits are cure-alls on their own, but together they lower risk.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.125.041521" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of the American Heart Association</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Germs in your mouth play a key role in heart attacks, upending conventional wisdom

Most people hear “heart attack” and think of clogged arteries...

Measurement,Of,Blood,Pressure.,Manual,Medical,Blood,Pressure,Monitor,And

High blood pressure is the number one reason that most people visit their doctor. Known as the "silent assassin," it often creeps in quietly. You feel fine, yet the force in your arteries runs high day after day. 



The top number, called systolic pressure, is the one doctors watch most closely because it signals how hard your heart is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-you-position-your-arm-can-alter-blood-pressure-readings-according-to-scientists/">working with each beat</a>. Even a small nudge downward can lower the odds of heart attack and stroke.



Doctors have a wide range of medicines that help, but picking the right plan isn’t easy. 



One pill or two? Standard dose or higher? Different drug classes or more of the same? People want clear answers before they commit to a new routine.



Now, an innovative <a href="https://www.bpmodel.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blood Pressure Treatment Efficacy Calculator</a> enables doctors to predict how much different medications are likely to lower blood pressure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comprehensive-blood-pressure-study">Comprehensive blood pressure study</h2>



Researchers pulled together the highest-quality evidence available: 484 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with 104,176 participants. 



At the start, average blood pressure hovered around 154/100 mm Hg. Follow-up lasted roughly nine weeks - long enough to see the full effect in a setting where participants took the medicine as prescribed.



They asked direct questions. 



What drop can you usually count on from a single standard-dose drug? What happens if you double that dose? What if you combine two different drug classes? 



They then used those answers to build a simple way to predict average results for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trying-to-lower-your-blood-pressure-this-common-nutrient-can-help/">common choices</a>.



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



A single blood pressure medicine at a standard dose lowered <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">systolic pressure</a> by 8.7 mm Hg on average. Doubling the dose added about 1.5 mm Hg - modest rather than a big change. 



Some drug classes showed more gain with higher doses, especially calcium channel blockers; <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/beta-blockers/art-20044522" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beta-blockers</a> changed little when the dose increased.



Pairing two different drug classes - each at a standard dose - produced a larger effect: a 14.9 mm Hg average drop. 



Doubling both components added another 2.5 mm Hg. Adding a second drug class was around four times more effective than doubling the dose of a single medicine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-target-many-choices">Clear target, many choices</h2>



“This is really important because every 1mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure lowers your risk of heart attack or stroke by two percent,” said Nelson Wang, cardiologist and Research Fellow at <a href="https://www.georgeinstitute.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The George Institute for Global Health</a>. 



“But with dozens of drugs, multiple doses per drug, and most patients needing two or more drugs, there are literally thousands of possible options, and no easy way to work out how effective they are,” Wang explained.



Blood pressure changes from moment to moment, day to day and by season - these random fluctuations can easily be as big or larger than the changes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/standing-still-exercises-beat-running-for-blood-pressure-control/">brought about by treatment</a>.



“Also, measurement practices are often not perfect, bringing in an additional source of uncertainty - this means it’s very hard to reliably assess how well a medicine is working just by taking repeated measurements," Wang continued.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blood-pressure-baseline-impact">Blood pressure baseline impact</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-linked-to-high-blood-pressure-and-heart-problems/">Starting pressure</a> matters. Across single-drug regimens, for every 10 mm Hg lower at baseline, the expected drop decreases by about 1.3 mm Hg. Treatment still works at lower baseline pressures; there’s simply less excess pressure to remove.



To make decisions easier, the team grouped treatment “intensity” by predicted systolic reduction: low (&lt;10 mm Hg), moderate (10–19 mm Hg), and high (≥20 mm Hg). 



Most single drugs at standard doses fall into the low category. Many two-drug combinations land in the moderate range, and certain higher-dose pairs or three-drug mixes reach high intensity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-combinations">Predicting combinations</h2>



The analysis didn’t stop at describing past trials. Using averages from single-drug studies, the researchers predicted the effects of two-drug combinations and compared those predictions with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/just-5-minutes-of-daily-exercise-can-lower-blood-pressure/">real trial results</a>. 



The match was strong, with a correlation of about 0.76, suggesting that the calculator offers a realistic expectation for most common pairings.



Anthony Rodgers, Senior Professorial Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health, noted that hypertension is a top reason for clinic visits.



Unfortunately, clinicians haven’t had one up-to-date source that shows how effective different medicines are - especially in combinations or at varying doses. 



“Using the [<a href="https://www.bpmodel.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blood Pressure Treatment Efficacy Calculator</a>] challenges the traditional ‘start low, go slow, measure and judge’ approach to treatment, which comes with the high probability of being misled by BP readings, inertia setting in or the burden on patients being too much,” Rodgers noted.



“With this new method you specify how much you need to lower blood pressure, choose an ideal treatment plan to achieve that based on the evidence, and get the patient started on that ideally sooner rather than later.”



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



If someone needs only a small nudge downward, a single medicine at a standard dose is often sufficient. 



If the goal is a bigger change - about 15 to 20 points - adding a second drug class usually gets there more reliably than pushing a single drug to higher doses. 



That matches <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lasers-and-light-replace-the-cuff-in-blood-pressure-breakthrough-scos/">real-world experience</a> in clinics where most patients need more than one medicine.



Because expected effects depend on baseline, the same regimen appears more potent when baseline pressure is high and slightly less potent when it is closer to the goal. 



The intensity tiers give clinicians a quick yardstick to match treatment to the needed reduction, and then fine-tune based on side effects, other conditions, and ongoing home or clinic readings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-blood-pressure-treatment">Future of blood pressure treatment</h2>



“Given the enormous scale of this challenge, even modest improvements will have a large public health impact - increasing the percentage of people whose hypertension is under control globally to just 50% could save many millions of lives,” Professor Rodgers added.



Small changes matter. A standard-dose medicine typically lowers systolic pressure by a meaningful amount. 



Because lower systolic pressure reduces cardiovascular risk, selecting an evidence-based regimen using the intensity framework and calculator can help bring pressure into a safer zone over time.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00991-2/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

New online tool is set to revolutionize blood pressure measurement and treatment

High blood pressure is the number one reason that most...

Sweltering heat does more than make people miserable. Repeated exposure to hot spells appears to push the body toward older biology in ways we can measure.



Biological age is not a birthday. It is a reading of how well the body’s systems are functioning. When that reading runs ahead of our calendar age, scientists call it biological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-purpose-the-secret-ingredient-for-healthy-aging/">age</a> acceleration, and that gap tracks with higher risks of disease and earlier death.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heatwaves-make-us-age-faster">Heatwaves make us age faster</h2>



A team working with health data from 24,922 adults in Taiwan found that more heatwave days over time lined up with faster biological aging.



This new work was led by <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=dbHYypkAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Siyi Chen</a> at The University of Hong Kong (<a href="https://www.hku.hk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HKU</a>). 



The first results focused on a two-year window of heatwave exposures before each participant's health checkup and the link to their biological age recorded at those visits. This cohort that stretched from 2008 to 2022.



“Research now shows that exposure to heatwaves affects the rate at which we age,” said <a href="https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/persons/paul-beggs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paul J. Beggs</a>, School of Natural Sciences at Macquarie University (<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02395-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MU</a>).



Heat is not a niche problem. Many regions are already seeing longer, more frequent hot spells, and those patterns push health systems, workplaces, and vulnerable communities to their limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-biological-age">Understanding biological age</h2>



Biological age estimates how “worn” your body is compared with the average person of your calendar (chronological) age. Two 40-year-olds can have very different biological ages because bodies don’t wear at the same rate. 



Scientists measure this “wear” with biomarkers - objective signs in your cells and blood. 



Common ones include <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epigenetic-dna-clocks-predict-biological-age-more-accurately/">epigenetic clocks</a>, telomere length, fitness measures like <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/vo2-max" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VO₂ max</a> and grip strength, and blood markers tied to inflammation, glucose control, and lipids. 



Your choices and environment push biological age up or down. Regular exercise, enough sleep, nutritious food, not smoking, and managing stress tend to slow aging signals; long-term stress, pollution, ultra-processed diets, and inactivity speed them up.



Some studies even show that improving lifestyle can make certain biomarkers “younger,” at least for a while. Put together, these data predict health risks better than birthdays do.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biological-wear-and-tear">Biological wear and tear</h2>



For this particular study, the researchers estimated biological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-method-reverses-aging-in-human-cells-without-modifying-dna/">age</a> using common clinical markers that reflect inflammation, blood pressure, and organ functions. This approach is well established in aging science and has been refined with large biobank <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-05456-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data</a>.



They calculated biological age acceleration as the difference between a person’s biological age and their birthday age. A higher number means a body that behaves older than the calendar suggests.



They then paired each person’s aging number with the heat they had faced. 



The team built measures of cumulative heatwave exposure in the two years before each screening, including the total number of heatwave days and the intensity of those events.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-hot-days-meant-faster-aging">More hot days meant faster aging</h2>



Each interquartile range increase in cumulative heatwave exposure was associated with a 0.023 to 0.031 year rise in biological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-people-age-better-hundreds-of-genes-identified/">age</a> acceleration. 



That is about 8 to 11 days of extra biological aging for the amount of heat that separates the middle half of exposures in the population.



The total number of heatwave days stood out as the most important driver. Intensity mattered too, but simple counts of hot days carried the strongest signal in this dataset.



The cohort showed some adaptation over the 15 year span, yet the aging effect remained. The pattern suggests communities can adjust, but heat still leaves a mark that adds up over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-heatwaves-speed-up-age">How heatwaves speed up age</h2>



Heat is a physiological stress that forces cells to respond. Heat shock <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11113869/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proteins</a> help keep other proteins from misfolding and assist in repair when temperatures climb.



Sustained heat can also raise oxidative stress and cause DNA damage. Those hits accumulate across tissues and nudge multiple systems toward older states.



Biological age acceleration captures this broad wear and tear. It rolls many signals into a single number that tracks future health risk more closely than birthdays do.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-us-studies-confirm-heatwaves-and-age-link">US studies confirm heatwaves and age link</h2>



The Taiwan findings match results in older American adults. A national US <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr0616" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> used blood based epigenetic clocks to test the link between outdoor heat and aging in 3,686 people.



Short and mid term windows of more heat days aligned with higher PhenoAge acceleration by about 1.07 years, while longer windows showed a 2.48 year rise for one clock and consistent increases across other clocks. 



“These findings provide insights into the biological underpinnings linking heat to aging-related morbidity and mortality risks,” wrote Eun Young Choi, <a href="https://www.usc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southern California</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smarter-ways-to-stay-cool">Smarter ways to stay cool</h2>



Access to air conditioning lowers immediate heat risks, but it also releases added heat outside. 



A seven city Japanese <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37951014/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> estimated that AC use can prevent a large share of heat related deaths while a small fraction of deaths may be attributable to the extra outdoor heat it creates.



That tradeoff points to better cooling strategies, not less protection. More shade, reflective roofs, better building ventilation, and efficient cooling lower indoor temperatures while cutting waste heat and power demand.



Policies should follow the data. Manual workers saw around three times the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/defying-time-three-ways-to-slow-biological-aging/">aging</a> impact for the same heat exposure, and rural residents with fewer air conditioners were also hit harder.



This research shows that protections must prioritize those groups with targeted cooling and work practice changes.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02407-w.epdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Climate Change</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Frequent heatwaves are pushing human bodies to age faster

Sweltering heat does more than make people miserable. Repeated exposure...

Researchers at McGill University report a simple way to steer the behavior of engineered living materials during formation. In a new paper, the team shows that gently vibrating cell-rich gels as they set can make the final material stronger or softer on demand.



The idea could help in emergency <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-blood-cells-found-to-squeeze-clots-tight-using-physical-force/">bleeding</a> control, wound care, and future tissue implants. It also opens a practical route to tune materials without changing their chemistry or harming nearby tissue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-vibrations-on-blood-clots">Testing vibrations on blood clots</h2>



The work was led by <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qNYDrKLDWR0C&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aram Bahmani</a>, a postdoctoral fellow at <a href="https://www.yale.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yale University</a> who completed this research in McGill University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (<a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/mecheng/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MU</a>). The team used a speaker-driven platform to apply controlled vibration while blood-based and other cell-laden gels solidified.



They tested the approach across several soft materials that clinicians and engineers already know. That list included whole-blood clots, plasma gels with added fibroblasts, and gels based on <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22125349/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alginate</a>, a common hydrogel used in wound dressings and tissue engineering.



Vibration settings mattered. Different combinations of amplitude and frequency subtly reorganized how cells sat in 3D space inside the forming gel, shifting them from clustered patterns to more dispersed arrangements.



The group then measured stiffness and fracture <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ginkgo-biloba-plant-may-be-key-to-preventing-blood-clots-vericose-veins/">toughness</a> to see how those micro-scale changes played out at the macro scale. 



They also imaged fibrin fibers, tracked clot contraction, and ran a rat liver puncture model to check that the method worked inside a living body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gentle-shaking-big-changes">Gentle shaking, big changes</h2>



Earlier <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10001275/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">attempts</a> to mold living tissues relied on magnets, acoustic fields, or ultrasound. These tools can be powerful, but at certain settings ultrasound can cause cavitation or heating that damages tissue.



The McGill method avoids those pitfalls by using mild mechanical agitation rather than intense energy. It gives researchers a dial to turn without adding chemicals or embedding foreign particles.



Cell placement shapes the material’s internal scaffold. That change spreads from cell placement to the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5318294/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fibrin</a> network that bears load.



When cells clump, they leave larger pores and create weaker paths for cracks to grow. When cells stay dispersed, fibrin fibers build a denser, shorter linkage network that resists deformation and slows enzymatic breakdown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vibration-changes-clots">Vibration changes clots</h2>



A blood clot that seals a wound must be tough enough to resist tearing. Clots that break can shed pieces that travel downstream, a risk highlighted by <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abc0496" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> from back in 2020.



The McGill team reports that certain vibration settings produced stiffer, tougher clots, while others made clots softer and easier to break down. 



Those outcomes tracked with how cells organized and how the fibrin network took shape, not with any change in chemistry.



“Mechanical nudging allows us to make the material up to four times stronger or weaker, depending on what we need it to do,” said Bahmani. That flexibility points toward tailored <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-says-mouth-bacteria-play-key-role-in-heart-attacks-upending-conventional-wisdom/">materials</a> for very different clinical jobs.



The in vivo tests echoed the lab data. In the rat liver model, optimized settings produced clots that were measurably stiffer than untreated controls, without hurting nearby tissue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-applications-in-medicine">Applications in medicine</h2>



Emergency medicine often needs fast, firm sealing of bleeding surfaces. On the other hand, certain cases call for clots that break down more readily so that flow is restored, as when doctors use clot-busting <a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov/about-ninds/what-we-do/impact/ninds-contributions-approved-therapies/tissue-plasminogen-activator-acute-ischemic-stroke-alteplase-activaser" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">therapy</a> to treat an ischemic stroke.



This vibration method could one day be integrated into dressings or surgical tools that tune clot properties at the bedside. 



It might also assist tissue engineers who need scaffold gels with specific stiffness profiles for different cell types.



“What makes this especially exciting is that our method is non-invasive, low-cost and easy to implement,” said Bahmani. The approach uses equipment that is widely available, which lowers the barrier to adoption outside specialized labs.



Beyond blood, the same concept worked in cell-laden gels that matter for regeneration. It also worked in materials built on alginate, suggesting a path to tune constructs in wound care and soft-tissue repair without exotic reagents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-and-next-steps">Limits and next steps</h2>



Translating a benchtop platform to clinical tools takes careful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweetener-erythritol-sugar-substitute-linked-to-blood-clots-heart-disease/">engineering</a>. Devices must be miniaturized, made portable, and calibrated so that settings match different tissues and clinical scenarios.



The animal results support safety at the tested settings, but human studies will need to confirm tissue tolerance and long-term outcomes. 



Teams will also need to establish how vibration interacts with drugs that change clotting, such as anticoagulants or fibrinolytics.



Irregular wounds present another challenge because geometry and motion can vary from patient to patient. Real-world tools will likely need built-in feedback so that the delivered vibrations stay in a safe, effective window.



Finally, biology is not one-size-fits-all. What helps in hemostasis might hinder <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10024051/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fibrinolysis</a>, so clinicians will need clear guidance on when to stiffen a clot and when to soften it, and how to time those adjustments relative to other treatments.



The study is published in <a href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202515436" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advanced Functional Materials</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Scientists harness sound vibrations to strengthen tissues and quickly heal wounds

Researchers at McGill University report a simple way to steer...

Most of us breathe without a second thought. But change the rhythm, add music, and something unexpected happens. 



A new study shows that high ventilation breathwork (HVB) paired with music can shift blood flow in the brain and create powerful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-psychedelic-dose-may-improve-brain-flexibility/">emotional states</a>.



The work, led by Amy Amla Kartar at <a href="https://www.bsms.ac.uk/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brighton and Sussex Medical School</a>, was published in the journal PLOS One.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-breathwork-interest-is-growing">Why breathwork interest is growing</h2>



Breathwork is gaining ground as a tool for stress and emotional struggles. Unlike psychedelics, it needs no prescription and faces no legal hurdles. 



Practitioners report experiences that resemble drug-induced altered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushrooms-are-the-most-popular-psychedelic-drug/">states</a>: euphoria, unity, even bliss. 



Researchers see HVB as a potential therapy, but until now, the biology behind these effects remained a mystery.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-effects-of-breathwork">Testing the effects of breathwork</h2>



Kartar’s team studied 42 experienced practitioners across three settings: online at home, inside a lab, and during MRI scans. 



Each participant performed about half an hour of continuous cyclic breathing while listening to music.



Soon after, the participants answered questions about mood, fear, and their state of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-shows-psilocybin-from-magic-mushrooms-delays-aging-and-significantly-extends-lifespan/">consciousness</a>. The researchers then compared brain scans and body signals to these reports.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-less-fear-and-more-unity">Less fear and more unity</h2>



Fear dropped and negative emotions eased. Discomfort rose a little, especially in the MRI machine, but no one experienced panic attacks. 



The most common response was Oceanic Boundlessness, a feeling of unity, insight, and bliss.



Freud described this state more than a century ago. Psychedelic users know it well. Here, breathwork produced it reliably without drugs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifts-in-the-brain">Shifts in the brain</h2>



The brain told its own story. Global blood flow fell sharply during HVB, which fits with what hyperventilation usually does. But certain regions behaved differently. 



Flow to the posterior insula and parietal operculum dropped, and those decreases linked directly to feelings of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychedelic-ibogaine-can-now-be-produced-without-rare-plants/">bliss</a> and unity.



At the same time, the right amygdala and hippocampus lit up with more blood flow. These regions process emotional memory. 



The combination suggests HVB loosens the sense of self while opening access to deep emotional material.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-body-under-stress">The body under stress</h2>



The body reacted as if stressed. Heart rate variability fell, showing a shift toward sympathetic activation. Normally, this signals pressure or strain. Yet participants reported relief, not distress. 



Scientists point to hormesis, the idea that brief stress makes us stronger. Here, the physical demand of rapid breathing may actually create psychological release.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breathwork-effects-vary-by-setting">Breathwork effects vary by setting</h2>



Not every setting worked the same. Participants in the quiet lab reported stronger states than those at home. The MRI group showed more discomfort, probably from the scanner’s noise and tight space. 



These differences echo psychedelic research, where set and setting often shape the entire experience.



The findings hint at why HVB could help people with trauma or depression. Reduced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychedelic-use-linked-to-higher-risk-of-schizophrenia/">activity</a> in the insula may dissolve rigid self-boundaries, while increased activity in memory and emotion circuits may help people process difficult experiences. 



Together, these shifts might explain why breathwork leaves many feeling lighter and more open.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-breathwork">Significance of breathwork</h2>



“Our research is the first to use neuroimaging to map the neurophysiological changes that occur during breathwork. Our key findings include that breathwork can reliably evoke profound psychedelic states,” noted the experts.



“We believe that these states are linked to changes in the function of specific brain regions involved in self-awareness, and fear and emotional memory processing. 



According to the researchers, they found that more profound changes in blood flow in specific brain areas were linked to deeper sensations of unity, bliss, and emotional release, collectively known as "oceanic boundlessness."



This insight highlights how HVB may influence not just mood but the very circuits that shape how we process memory and emotion. It shows why participants often describe the experience as deeply moving, even transformative.



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



“Conducting this research was a fantastic experience. It was thrilling to explore such a novel area," said study lead author Amy Kartar.



"While many people anecdotally recognize the health benefits of breathwork, this style of fast-paced breathing has received very little scientific attention. We are very grateful to our participants for making this work possible." 



The study offers a starting point for future work, especially with larger groups and more diverse settings.



“Breathwork is a powerful yet natural tool for neuromodulation, working through the regulation of metabolism across the body and brain," noted Dr. Alessandro Colasanti, the study's principal investigator.



"It holds tremendous promise as a transformative therapeutic intervention for conditions that are often both distressing and disabling."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0329411" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Breathwork creates psychedelic states without drugs

Most of us breathe without a second thought. But change...

A randomized twin trial found that a daily mix of protein and prebiotics improved performance on a sensitive memory test after 12 weeks.



Scientists have been mapping how the gut microbiome communicates with the brain through immune, neural, and hormonal routes, an interconnected axis that shapes cognition across the lifespan. 



That big picture matters when we ask whether feeding gut bacteria can sharpen memory in later life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-fructooligosaccharides">Studying fructooligosaccharides</h2>



Lead researcher <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/mary-ni-lochlainn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mary Ni Lochlainn</a>, King’s College London (<a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KCL</a>), and colleagues asked whether adding a daily prebiotic to a modest protein supplement and light resistance exercise could affect cognition in older twins. 



The team enrolled 36 pairs, each aged 60 or older, and assigned one twin to inulin plus fructooligosaccharides while the co-twin received a placebo, all under double blind conditions.



Everyone received the same branched chain amino acid protein powder and simple at home strength moves. 



The 12 week protocol ran remotely using video visits, online questionnaires, and posted kits for cognitive testing and stool samples.



The twin design reduced genetic and early environmental noise. That choice made any between twin differences more likely to reflect the supplement rather than family background or shared habits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-changed-in-the-gut">What changed in the gut</h2>



Prebiotics are food components that our enzymes do not digest, so bacteria ferment them. 



In this study, relative levels of specific microbes shifted, including an increase in Bifidobacterium, a genus that often responds to inulin and fructooligosaccharides in <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9413759/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">controlled trials.</a>



Participants tolerated the supplement well, with only mild, expected gastrointestinal complaints reported. Adherence stayed high throughout the 3 month window.



Shifts in the gut community did not upend overall diversity. Instead, a few taxa moved in meaningful ways that are biologically plausible for fiber fermenters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fructooligosaccharides-and-memory">Fructooligosaccharides and memory</h2>



The prebiotic group scored higher on a combined cognition factor and made fewer errors on the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-international-neuropsychological-society/article/paired-associate-performance-in-the-early-detection-of-dat/1AFD16E84A939D43AD0A5BF100CDF8AD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PAL test,</a> a visual paired associated task sensitive to early Alzheimer’s related change. 



That pattern fits with decades of work showing PAL detects subtle episodic memory problems before many standard clinic scales do.



“We are excited to see these changes in just 12 weeks. This holds huge promise for enhancing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-brain-map-shows-how-rhythms-instantly-reconfigure-your-mind-freq-ness/">brain</a> health and memory in our ageing population,” said Dr. Lochlainn.



The specific test improvement matters because paired associates learning taps the ability to form new connections between locations and patterns. 



That is a core function that erodes early in Alzheimer’s, so even small gains on this task are notable in people over 60.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-did-not-change">What did not change</h2>



The supplement did not improve chair rise time or other muscle strength measures over 12 weeks. That result held even though everyone received protein and was encouraged to perform simple resistance exercises.



Short interventions often struggle to move physical outcomes in older adults. The authors acknowledge the window may have been too brief to remodel muscle while still being long enough to nudge <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recreational-cannabis-use-protects-against-cognitive-decline/">cognition</a>.



“These plant fibres, which are cheap and available over the counter, could benefit a wide group of people in these cash strapped times. They are safe and acceptable too,” said Professor Claire Steves, senior author at King’s College London. She added that larger and longer trials are the next step.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gut-brain-link-fits-the-data">Gut-brain link fits the data</h2>



Gut microbes create short chain fatty acids, neurotransmitter precursors, and other metabolites that signal along nerves and through the immune system. Reviews outline how this axis shapes learning and memory, especially as we age.



Aging itself alters microbial communities and the barriers that keep inflammation in check. Those shifts ripple into brain circuits involved in attention, processing speed, and memory consolidation.



Fiber fermenters like <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4908950/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bifidobacterium</a> thrive on inulin and fructooligosaccharides, producing metabolites tied to synaptic plasticity. 



That biochemical context helps explain why cognition moved while muscle metrics did not in a 3 month trial.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-read-these-results">How to read these results</h2>



This RCT used a strong within family control, a clear intervention, and validated cognitive outcomes. It also kept participants engaged through a fully remote setup that reduces travel barriers for older volunteers.



Even so, the cohort was modest and mostly female, and the findings apply to healthy older adults rather than people with diagnosed dementia. 



The statistics say cognition moved, but the study was not designed to tell us whether daily functioning changed in a measurable way.



Diet, medications, and baseline microbiomes differ from person to person. That reality suggests responses to the same fiber dose may vary, a point future work should tackle with larger samples and longer follow up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-this-could-go-next">Where this could go next</h2>



A practical next step is to compare different fiber types, doses, and durations head to head in older adults. 



Researchers also need to test whether early cognitive gains persist at 6 or 12 months and whether they translate into fewer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-molecules-unexpectedly-store-their-own-memory/">memory</a> slips in daily life.



Mechanistic work can help map which metabolites rise with supplementation and which brain networks respond. Remote designs, as shown here, make those studies more feasible and inclusive.



The safe profile and accessibility of these fibers lower the barrier to rigorous testing in community settings. 



The unanswered question is not whether the gut talks to the brain, it is how best to tune that conversation for lasting cognitive benefit.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46116-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Common and inexpensive supplement quickly improves memory and prevents dementia

A randomized twin trial found that a daily mix of...

A new approach to weight control has shown promise in animals: edible microbeads that soak up fat in the gut, escort it out of the body, and help shed pounds.



In rats fed a high-fat diet, the beads led to significant weight loss without obvious gastrointestinal side effects. If the strategy translates to people, researchers could stir the beads into everyday foods and drinks to prevent or treat obesity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-meets-fat-blocking-science">Food meets fat-blocking science</h2>



The concept comes as obesity rates keep rising despite decades of prevention campaigns and the advent of potent, but costly, injectable drugs.



Researchers designed the microbeads by combining familiar, food-grade ingredients. Each bead is built from vitamin E and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-tea-delays-biological-aging/">green tea</a> compounds, then sealed in a thin coat of alginate, a fiber derived from seaweed. All three components are approved for food use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.



Once swallowed, the alginate shell swells in the acidic stomach. That expansion creates pores that allow partially digested fats to flow into the bead’s core. 



Inside, fats bind to the tea-derived molecules and vitamin E matrix. The bead - and its cargo - then travel down the intestine and exit in stool, rather than entering the bloodstream.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbeads-help-rats-loose-weight">Microbeads help rats loose weight</h2>



To test the idea, the team fed eight <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rats-on-cocaine-investigating-the-cues-that-lead-to-drug-addiction/">rats</a> a diet in which 60 percent of calories came from fat, plus the microbeads. Another eight rats ate the same high-fat diet without beads. A third group ate a 10 percent fat diet without beads. 



After 30 days, the microbead-treated rats had lost about 17 percent of their starting body weight on average. The two control groups did not lose weight.



Dissections and lab tests showed the treated animals carried less body fat and had fewer signs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-causes-liver-damage/">liver injury</a> than the controls.



The researchers also analyzed fecal pellets. Rats receiving beads excreted about as much fat as a fourth group treated with orlistat, an established weight-loss medicine that blocks fat absorption.



That similarity is important. It means the beads likely deter fat uptake in the gut much like orlistat does - yet without the messy drawbacks that often limit the drug’s use.



“One of the reasons why [orlistat] still isn’t very popular is because it makes it much more difficult to control bowel movements,” said Sander Kersten of <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell University</a>. In the rat experiments, the bead-treated animals did not show those gastrointestinal side effects.



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



Newer anti-<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-much-more-complicated-than-we-thought-manifesting-in-11-different-forms/">obesity</a> drugs such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) can deliver significant weight losses. But they are expensive, require ongoing injections, and carry notable risks and side effects.



A food-based product that passively lowers fat intake could fill a different niche: an add-in for people who cannot tolerate or afford medications, or a preventive option for those who are gaining weight but do not yet have obesity-related disease.



Because the beads are flavorless and can be shaped into small spheres - think tapioca pearls or boba - the team imagines adding them to desserts or bubble teas. 



“We want to develop something that works with how people normally eat and live,” said lead author Yue Wu, a scientist at Sichuan University.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-human-trial-launched">First human trial launched</h2>



A first clinical study is underway, with 26 adult participants enrolled to assess safety, tolerability, and early signals of efficacy. “We anticipate that preliminary data may become available within the next year,” Wu said.



Even if the early results look good, several issues will need careful study. One concern is nutrient balance. By binding dietary fats, the beads might also hinder absorption of fat-soluble <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vitamin-c-promotes-skin-renewal-and-anti-aging-at-the-genetic-level-dna-demethylation/">vitamins</a> such as A, D, E, and K.



Dosing will matter too: the beads must capture enough fat to be useful without causing cramps, bloating, or oily stools at higher intakes.



There is also the question of consumer acceptance. Kersten cites the cautionary tale of olestra, a synthetic, non-absorbable fat briefly used in U.S. snack foods in the late 1990s. The drug delivered fewer calories but fell out of favor, in part due to side effects and in part because shoppers simply didn’t warm to it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-another-route-to-weight-loss">Another route to weight loss</h2>



Mechanistically, the approach is straightforward: reduce the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/americas-addiction-to-ultra-processed-foods-is-getting-worse/">calories</a> that reach the body by filtering fats at the source. In theory, that could pair with lifestyle changes or with drugs that curb appetite or improve glucose control.



Because the components are already widely used in foods, the regulatory path might be simpler than for a new chemical entity - though formal approval would still require rigorous trials demonstrating safety and benefit in humans.



For now, the animal data offer a clear signal: rats on a fatty diet lost weight and excreted more fat when researchers add microbeads to their food.



If a similar effect appears in people - without the bathroom headaches associated with orlistat - the beads could become a practical, low-friction tool. They would not replace other treatments, but they might help tip the daily energy balance in the right direction, one meal at a time.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-biomaterials/fulltext/S3050-5623(25)00010-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Biomaterials</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Fat-soaking microbeads could be the next weight-loss breakthrough

A new approach to weight control has shown promise in...

Outdoor,,Couple,And,Thumbs,Up,For,Support,,Fist,Bump,And

New research shows that primates with longer thumbs also tend to have larger brains. The finding suggests that brains and hands evolved together, not on separate tracks.



The study covered 94 primate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brains-learn-new-skills-much-faster-than-expected/">species</a>, living and extinct. From lemurs to humans, the same trend appeared: longer thumbs, bigger brains. That pattern stayed strong even when humans were left out of the data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-longer-thumb-means-bigger-brains">Longer thumb means bigger brains</h2>



Long thumbs allow a precise grip. Picking up a nut, holding a stick, or shaping a stone requires control. The study shows that as this skill sharpened, brain size followed. 



Dexterity and intelligence were not two unrelated steps. They moved forward side by side.



“We’ve always known that our big <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-brain-learns-study-reveals-an-unexpected-twist/">brains</a> and nimble fingers set us apart, but now we can see they didn’t evolve separately," said Dr. Joanna Baker, lead author from the <a href="https://www.reading.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Reading</a>.



"As our ancestors got better at picking up and manipulating objects, their brains had to grow to handle these new skills. These abilities have been fine-tuned through millions of years of brain evolution."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-connection-in-the-brain">Surprising connection in the brain</h2>



The researchers first assumed that thumb length would be tied to the cerebellum, since that region directs movement and coordination. 



To their surprise, the connection was with the neocortex, the part of the brain responsible for thought, awareness, and sensory <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-prepares-the-brain-for-the-future-while-protecting-memories-of-the-past/">processing</a>.



This shows that the thumb’s evolution was not limited to better movement but was also linked to higher cognitive demands. 



Controlling fine hand actions requires more than quick reflexes. It involves planning each step, adjusting based on feedback, and maintaining focus.



These are exactly the kinds of tasks managed by the neocortex, explaining why its growth paralleled the rise of dexterous hands.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dexterity-beyond-thumb-length">Dexterity beyond thumb length</h2>



The researchers also tested whether other hand features mattered. They found that dexterity comes from many factors including finger proportions, joint structure, and even the role of the fifth digit. 



Still, thumb length proved a reliable indicator of how well a primate could manipulate objects.



The team measured “manipulation workspace” - the range where the thumb and finger can move an object. Species with longer thumbs had larger workspaces. 



Those workspaces also lined up with brain size. Both hands and brains paid the cost of better <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-brain-literally-changes-based-on-daily-activities-and-lifestyle/">skills</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hominins-in-focus">Hominins in focus</h2>



Most hominins fit the general pattern, but there were exceptions. Australopithecus sediba had an unusually long thumb compared to its brain size. That didn’t make it more skilled. 



In fact, biomechanical models suggest the species wasn’t great at thumb opposition. A long thumb without extra brain power did not guarantee complex manipulation.



Homo naledi also had long thumbs and smaller brains, yet it followed the general rule across primates. The difference between species shows that hands cannot be studied alone. The brain always enters the picture.



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



When researchers examined specific brain regions, the neocortex emerged as the key player. Thumb length showed a strong connection to this region, but not to the cerebellum, which mainly handles coordination. 



This finding means that fine hand control relied more on higher-level processing than simple movement control. 



Areas in the motor and parietal cortices likely expanded to support the growing demands of precise manipulation.



Some scientists suggest this expansion had wider effects, linking hand use with the evolution of language. 



Both tool use and speech require planning, sequencing, and complex control, so shared brain networks may have supported the rise of these defining human skills.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strongest-thumb-and-brain-link">Strongest thumb and brain link</h2>



Humans sit at the far edge of this evolutionary story. Our species combines the longest thumbs with the largest brains among primates, a pairing that gave us the capacity to make tools, form cultures, and build societies. 



But this link between dexterity and intelligence did not appear suddenly with us. It runs deep across the primate family tree, shaping species long before humans emerged.



The evidence shows that smarter brains and skilled hands advanced together over millions of years. Our ability to think was never separate from our ability to grasp and shape objects. 



Intelligence, in this sense, is tied to action. The human mind grew stronger because our hands demanded it.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-08686-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Biology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

How thumbs played a key role in shaping human brains and intelligence

New research shows that primates with longer thumbs also tend...

A growing body of research points to a deceptively simple prescription for healthy aging: eat Mediterranean-style, move a bit more, and get structured support. 



Two major studies released this year - one a six-year clinical trial in Spain, the other a decades-long U.S. cohort analysis - reach the same conclusion from different angles.&nbsp;



The first, published in the journal <a href="https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-00388" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annals of Internal Medicine</a>, shows that a calorie-smart Mediterranean plan with moderate exercise and coaching can cut new cases of type 2 diabetes by nearly a third.&nbsp;



The second, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03891-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Medicine</a>, links a Mediterranean diet to lower dementia risk and slower cognitive decline, with the biggest brain benefits in people at the highest inherited risk for Alzheimer’s disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-win-for-metabolic-health">A win for metabolic health</h2>



The <a href="https://www.predimedplus.com/en/project/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PREDIMED-Plus trial</a>, the largest nutrition study ever run in Europe, followed 4,746 adults aged 55–75 with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-much-more-complicated-than-we-thought-manifesting-in-11-different-forms/">obesity</a> and metabolic syndrome, but no <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-diabetes-type-5-is-now-officially-recognized-linked-to-nutritional-deficiencies/">diabetes</a> or cardiovascular disease. 



The trial was conducted across more than 100 primary-care centers in Spain.&nbsp;Participants were split into two groups.



One followed a traditional Mediterranean diet without calorie limits or exercise advice. The other adopted an “optimized” version that cut about 600 calories a day, added moderate activity like brisk walking and strength training, and included ongoing professional support.



After six years, the optimized group saw a 31% relative reduction in incident type 2 diabetes compared with controls. They also lost more weight and shrank their waistlines more.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventing-new-diabetes-cases">Preventing new diabetes cases </h2>



In population terms, that prevented roughly three new diabetes diagnoses for every 100 participants - a meaningful public-health gain in a world where type 2 diabetes already affects more than 530 million people.



“Diabetes is the first solid clinical outcome for which we have shown&nbsp; - using the strongest available evidence&nbsp; - that the Mediterranean diet with calorie reduction, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fitness-focused-medicine-physical-activity-reduces-chronic-disease-risk/">physical activity</a>, and weight loss is a highly effective preventive tool,” said Miguel Ángel Martínez-González,&nbsp; a professor of preventive medicine and public health at the <a href="https://en.unav.edu/inicio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Navarra</a>.



“Applied at scale in at-risk populations, these modest and sustained lifestyle changes could prevent thousands of new diagnoses every year.”



Mechanistically, the pattern’s emphasis on extra-virgin <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/olive-oil-can-boost-brain-health-and-fight-off-alzheimers-disease/">olive oil</a>, nuts, legumes, whole grains, fish, fruits, and vegetables is thought to improve insulin sensitivity and tamp down chronic inflammation - effects magnified by weight loss and movement.&nbsp;



“The Mediterranean diet acts synergistically to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. With PREDIMED-Plus, we demonstrate that combining calorie control and physical activity enhances these benefits,” said Miguel Ruiz-Canela, the chair of preventive medicine and public health at the University of Navarra.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mediterranean-diet-and-dementia-nbsp">Mediterranean diet and dementia&nbsp;</h2>



A complementary study led by <a href="https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mass General Brigham</a> followed 4,215 women in the Nurses’ Health Study (validated in 1,490 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study) from the late 1980s and 1990s through 2023.&nbsp;



The researchers assessed long-term dietary patterns with food-frequency questionnaires, profiled blood metabolites, genotyped participants to estimate inherited <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-blood-test-can-track-the-progression-of-alzheimers/">Alzheimer’s risk</a>, and tracked new dementia diagnoses. A subset of 1,037 women also completed regular telephone-based cognitive testing.



People adhering more closely to a Mediterranean-style diet had a lower risk of developing dementia and showed slower cognitive decline.&nbsp;



Crucially, the protective association was strongest among individuals with two copies of APOE4 - the most powerful common genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease - suggesting that diet may help offset inherited vulnerability.



“One reason we wanted to study the Mediterranean diet is because it is the only dietary pattern that has been causally linked to cognitive benefits in a randomized trial,” said first author Yuxi Liu, a research fellow at Bingham and Women’s Hospital.



“We wanted to see whether this benefit might be different in people with varying genetic backgrounds, and to examine the role of blood metabolites, the small molecules that reflect how the body processes food and carries out normal functions.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dietary-strategies-for-healthy-aging">Dietary strategies for healthy aging</h2>



According to Liu, the findings suggest that dietary strategies, specifically the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-diet-a-delicious-way-to-manage-stress/">Mediterranean diet</a>, could help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and stave off dementia by broadly influencing key metabolic pathways.



“This recommendation applies broadly, but it may be even more important for individuals at a higher genetic risk, such as those carrying two copies of the APOE4 genetic variant,” said Liu.



The authors acknowledge limits - participants were predominantly well-educated and of European ancestry, and most people don’t know their APOE status - but the signal is consistent with prior trials and mechanistic work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-diabetes-and-dementia-risks">Reducing diabetes and dementia risks</h2>



No single diet cures all ills. But two high-quality studies in top journals now show that a Mediterranean-style pattern - especially when paired with modest calorie reduction, regular activity, and support - can meaningfully reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.&nbsp;



At the same time, long-term adherence also tracks with lower <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-you-live-may-affect-your-dementia-risk/">dementia risk</a> and slower cognitive decline, most notably among people with the highest genetic risk. 



In an era of expensive new drugs, these findings are a reminder that small, sustained lifestyle shifts still deliver large, compounding dividends - for body and brain alike.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

These simple life changes can prevent diabetes and dementia

A growing body of research points to a deceptively simple...

<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.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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>



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



-----

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.

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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

News coming your way