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The Tampa Bay area experienced record-breaking rain levels from Hurricane Milton, reaching levels not seen in a millennium.

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Hurricane Milton dumped so much rain on parts of Florida’s Tampa Bay area that it was classified as a once-in-1,000-year rainfall event.

The government said 18.31 inches, or more than 1.5 feet, of rain fell in St. Petersburg in the 24 hours the storm made landfall. Precipitation data from the National Weather Service.

This includes a whopping 5.09 inches in one hour from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET. This level is believed to have an approximately 0.1% chance of occurring in any given year.

“This is insane! St. Petersburg reported 5.09 inches of rain in one hour and 9.04 inches in three hours,” said Matthew Cappucci, Atmospheric Scientist and Senior Meteorologist at MyRadar Weather. states.Posted on Wednesday by X. “That’s rarer than a once-in-a-millennium rain event.”

Milton made landfall near Siesta Key as a strong Category 3 storm Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Other significant precipitation amounts across Florida include 14.01 inches in Clearwater Beach, 13.09 inches in Baskin, 11.43 inches in Tampa, and 10.12 inches in Seminole.

Scientists have not yet completed their analysis of the impact on Milton because it takes time to understand the effects of climate change on individual weather events. But in general, experts know that global warming is making storms wetter and more intense.

Research shows that global warming causes sea surface temperatures to rise, which provides extra energy to storms, increasing their speed and intensity. The unusually high sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico that strengthened hurricanes Milton and Helen are 200 to 500 times more likely to be caused by climate change, according to a study released Wednesday. It is said that

The warmer the atmosphere, the more water it can hold. For every 1 degree Fahrenheit increase in Earth’s temperature, the atmosphere can hold about 3% to 4% more water. Therefore, storms can dump large amounts of rain on land.

Milton’s heavy rains quickly flooded roads, homes, and other structures along the Florida Gulf Coast. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Tampa and St. Petersburg, which lasted until 2:30 a.m. ET Thursday.

Forecasters expected heavy rain as Milton moved into Florida. Hours before landfall, the National Hurricane Center said it expected 6 to 12 inches of rain to fall across the central and northern Florida peninsula through Thursday, with local rainfall totals up to 18 inches.

The east coast of Florida is also experiencing rain. Preliminary measurements Wednesday showed 7 inches of precipitation in St. Augustine, 7.38 inches in Titusville, and 3.05 inches in Daytona Beach, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Milton has returned to the ocean, but additional rain and flooding is expected to continue into parts of eastern and central Florida through Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Dennis Chow

Dennis Chow is a science and space reporter for NBC News.

Kathryn Plosif and Joe Murphy contributed.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Keto diet promotes weight loss while also raising cholesterol levels

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On the keto diet, most of your calories come from fat.

Shutterstock/George Dolgic

The keto diet, which gets most of its calories from fat and few from carbohydrates, can certainly lead to fat loss, but it can also clog arteries and harm your gut flora.

Also known as the ketogenic diet, this diet forces your body to use a different type of fuel. Instead of relying on glucose from carbohydrates, you rely on ketones, a type of fuel your liver produces from your fat stores, which can lead to weight loss.

In previous studies, Comparing people who follow a ketogenic diet to those who don't suggests there are both advantages and disadvantages.

now, Javier Gonzalez Researchers at the University of Bath in the UK conducted the largest randomized controlled trial in medical evidence. They recruited 53 non-obese people with an average age of 34. They randomly assigned about one-third of them to a ketogenic diet, in which less than 8% of energy came from total carbohydrates and more than 70% came from fat.

The remaining third of participants were instructed to follow a low-carbohydrate diet, with 5 percent of their energy intake coming from 'free' sugars – a type of carbohydrate found in foods such as syrup, cakes and biscuits – and 45 percent and 35 percent from other carbohydrates and fat respectively.

The remaining third consumed diets with moderate amounts of free sugars, accounting for just under 20% of their energy intake, while carbohydrate and fat intakes without free sugars were around 30% and 35%, respectively. These participants acted as the control group. Protein intake was between 15-18% across all diets.

After one month, x-rays showed that participants on the ketogenic diet had lost an average of 1.6 kg of fat. The researchers verified that participants were following the diet by measuring ketone levels in their blood, urine, and breath. Food diaries also assessed adherence to the diet.

Meanwhile, those on low-carb diets lost an average of one kilogram of fat, while those on moderate diets lost nothing. By having participants intermittently wear activity monitors to estimate their energy intake, the team found that the fat loss was due to reduced calorie intake, not increased activity, something that hadn't been known before, Gonzalez says.

But despite greater fat loss, the ketogenic diet group had 16 percent higher levels of “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than the control group, and 26 percent higher levels of apolipoprotein B, a protein that clogs arteries and increases the risk of heart-related events. In contrast, people on the low-carb diet had 10 percent lower LDL cholesterol levels than the control group, and no change in apolipoprotein B levels.

The researchers also found that people on a ketogenic diet had lower levels of a type of gut bacteria than those on a moderately low-carb diet. Bifidobacteriawhich Helps produce vitamin B and It has been shown to strengthen the immune systemThe same wasn't true for those on a low-carb diet, likely because those on the ketogenic diet consumed less fiber. Bifidobacteria Level, Gonzalez says.

However, it is unclear whether the ketogenic diet truly has a negative effect on the gut microbiome, because we do not fully know what the optimal diet is or what the full effects of the ketogenic diet are. Bifidobacteria says Natasha Scholer At Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Additionally, while elevated apolipoprotein B levels are a concern, the elevated cholesterol levels seen in the study aren't necessarily harmful unless they reach a dangerous threshold, Scholer said.

Longer-term studies are also needed to determine whether the weight-loss benefits of ketogenic diets outweigh potential concerns about cholesterol and gut health in obese people, Scholer said.

Ultimately, the main challenge for obese or overweight people to lose weight is following a diet, says Scholer: “Whether it's a normal carbohydrate diet, a low-calorie diet, or a calorie-for-calorie reduced-carb diet, if you stick to it, you will generally lose weight.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The melting Antarctic ice may decelerate the rise in sea levels

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Weddell Sea ice shelf in Antarctica

Sergio Pitamitz/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Uplifting the land beneath the Antarctic ice sheet could help slow ice loss and limit sea level rise over the coming centuries, but if emissions continue to rise, it could cause more sea levels to rise than the ice melt alone.

The findings come from models that simulate Earth’s mantle, the layer beneath the crust, in greater detail than ever before. When Antarctica loses its weight as ice melts, the elastic mantle beneath it bounces back, causing the land above it to rise. When ice melts and the continents lose their weight, Earth’s elastic mantle bounces back, causing the land above it to rise. The bounced back land can slow the flow of ice sheets where they meet the ocean. This “sea-level feedback” occurs primarily because the uplifted land changes the shape of the ocean floor, limiting the thickness of the ice sheet’s edges. Thinner ice there reduces the overall inflow of ice into the ocean.

Researchers have long suspected that this effect plays a role in slowing ice loss, but it was unclear when this effect begins or how it varies in different parts of the ice sheet.

Natalia Gomez Gomes and his colleagues at McGill University in Canada modeled the relationship between the melting ice and the rebounding land, and also simulated the mantle, capturing the different viscosities beneath the continents: East Antarctica sits on a more viscous mantle and thicker crust, while West Antarctica’s rapidly melting glaciers sit on a less viscous mantle and thinner crust. This more detailed picture of Earth’s interior is based on precise measurements of ice sheet elevation changes over decades, as well as data about the mantle beneath Antarctica from seismic waves generated by earthquakes. “This is hard-earned,” Gomes says.

The researchers found that under a very low emissions scenario, compared to a model that considered the ground beneath the ice solid, land uplift would reduce Antarctica’s contribution to global mean sea level rise by more than 50 centimeters by 2500. This effect was less pronounced under a moderate emissions scenario, but still led to a large reduction in sea level rise, with effects starting to be felt as early as 2100.

But in a very high emissions scenario, the team found that land uplift in Antarctica would raise sea levels by an additional 0.8 meters by 2500. This happened because the ice sheet retreated faster than land uplift, and the rising sea floor pushed more water into the rest of the ocean.

“From a modeling perspective, this is a huge step forward.” Alexander Bradley The British Antarctic Survey’s Bradley says it’s always been thought that land uplift would limit sea-level rise, but this high-resolution modeling shows that the effect depends on emissions. “The changes that occur in the 21st and 22nd centuries will depend very much on what we do now,” he says.

Alexander Lovell Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta call it a “very good simulation,” but the scenario in which land uplift drives sea level rise is based on worst-case assumptions about emissions and the rate at which ice sheets are retreating.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New study suggests Ancient Mars was cold and had moderate levels of water

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In a new study, planetary scientists have found strong similarities between the soil of Gale Crater on Mars and that of the cold, sub-Arctic climate of Newfoundland, Canada.

X-ray amorphous material comprises 15-73% by weight of the sedimentary rocks and eolian deposits in Gale Crater. This material is siliceous and high in iron and low in aluminum. The presence of volatiles is consistent with the presence of early weathering products. To better understand the impact of this material on past water conditions on Mars, Feldman and others used bulk and selective dissolution techniques, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the formation and lifetime of X-ray amorphous material in terrestrial iron-rich soils of different ages and environmental conditions. Image courtesy of M. Kornmesser / ESO.

Scientists often use soil to portray environmental history, as the minerals it contains can tell the story of a landscape's evolution over time.

Understanding more about how these materials formed could help answer long-standing questions about the Red Planet's historical conditions.

The soil and rocks in Gale Crater are a record of a climate that existed 3 to 4 billion years ago, when Mars was relatively water-rich, coinciding with the time when life first emerged on Earth.

“Gale Crater is an ancient lake bed and clearly water was present, but what were the environmental conditions like when the water was there?” said Dr Anthony Feldman, a soil scientist and geomorphologist at the Desert Institute.

“We'll never find a direct analogue on the Martian surface because conditions on Mars and Earth are so different, but we can look at trends under Earth conditions and apply them to problems on Mars.”

NASA's Curiosity rover has been exploring Gale Crater since 2011 and has found large amounts of soil material known as X-ray amorphous material.

These components of soil lack the typical repeating atomic structure that characterizes minerals and therefore cannot be easily characterized using traditional techniques such as X-ray diffraction.

For example, when a crystalline material like diamond is hit with X-rays, the rays scatter at characteristic angles based on the mineral's internal structure.

However, X-ray amorphous materials do not produce these characteristic fingerprints.

This X-ray diffraction method was used by the Curiosity rover to demonstrate that soil and rock samples tested in Gale Crater consisted of 15-73% X-ray amorphous material.

“Think of X-ray amorphous material as being like jelly, which is a soup of different elements and chemicals that slide around one another,” Dr. Feldman said.

Curiosity also conducted chemical analysis of soil and rock samples and found that the amorphous material was rich in iron and silica and deficient in aluminum.

Beyond limited chemical information, scientists don't yet understand what this amorphous material is or what its presence means about Mars' historical environment.

Uncovering more information about how these enigmatic materials formed and persist on Earth could help answer long-standing questions about the Red Planet.

Dr. Feldman and his colleagues visited three locations in their search for similar X-ray amorphous material: the Tablelands of Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, the Klamath Mountains in Northern California, and western Nevada.

All three sites contain serpentinite soils that the researchers predicted would be chemically similar to the X-ray amorphous material in Gale Crater, meaning it would be rich in iron and silicon but poor in aluminum.

The three locations also recorded ranges of rainfall, snowfall and temperatures, which could help provide insight into the types of environmental conditions that produce amorphous material and promote its preservation.

At each site, the team examined the soil using X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy, allowing them to see the soil material at a more detailed level.

The subarctic climate of Newfoundland produced materials chemically similar to those found at Gale Crater, but lacked the crystalline structure, whereas soils produced in warmer climates such as California and Nevada did not produce the crystalline structure.

“This tells us that you need water there to form these materials,” Dr. Feldman said.

“But to preserve the amorphous material in the soil, the average annual temperature needs to be cold, close to freezing.”

Amorphous materials are often considered to be relatively unstable, meaning that at the atomic level, the atoms have not yet organized into a final crystalline form.

“Something is happening in the rates, or kinetics, of the reactions that slows them down so that these materials are preserved over geological timescales,” Dr Feldman said.

“What we're suggesting is that very cold conditions, close to freezing, are the specific kinetic limiting factors that allow these materials to form and be preserved.”

“This research improves our understanding of the Martian climate.”

“The results suggest that the abundance of this material in Gale Crater is consistent with subarctic conditions similar to those found in Iceland, for example.”

Team work Published in a journal Communication Earth and the Environment.

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A.D. Feldman othersIn 2024, iron-rich X-ray amorphous material will record Mars' past climate and the persistence of water. Community Global Environment 5, 364; doi: 10.1038/s43247-024-01495-4

This article is based on a press release from the Desert Research Institute.

Source: www.sci.news

Webb uncovers high levels of hydrocarbons in protoplanetary disks surrounding ultra-low-mass stars

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Very low-mass stars orbit rocky exoplanets more frequently than other types of stars. The composition of these planets is poorly understood, but it is thought to be related to the protoplanetary disk in which they form. In the new study, astronomers used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to investigate the chemical composition of the planet-forming disk around ISO-ChaI 147, a red dwarf star just one-tenth the mass of the Sun. They identified emission from 13 carbon-containing molecules, including ethane and benzene.

This is an artist's impression of a young star surrounded by a disk of gas and dust. Image courtesy of NASA/JPL.

ISO-ChaI 147 It is a red dwarf star with a mass 0.11 times that of the Sun, located about 639 light years away in the constellation Chamaeleon.

The star was observed as part of the MIRI Mid-Infrared Disk Survey (MINDS), which aims to bridge the gap between the chemical composition of the disk and the properties of exoplanets.

These observations provide insight into the environments and fundamental elements for the formation of such planets.

Astronomers discovered that the gas in ISO-ChaI 147's planet-forming region is rich in carbon.

This could be due to carbon being removed from the solid material from which rocky planets form, which could explain why Earth is relatively carbon-poor.

“WEBB has greater sensitivity and spectral resolution than conventional infrared space telescopes,” said Dr Aditya Arabavi, an astronomer at the University of Groningen.

“These observations are not possible from Earth because the radiation is blocked by the atmosphere.”

“So far we have only been able to identify acetylene emissions from this object.”

“But Webb's high sensitivity and spectral resolution allowed us to detect faint emissions from fewer molecules.”

“Thanks to Webb, we now know that these hydrocarbon molecules are not only diverse, but abundant as well.”

The spectrum of ISO-ChaI 147 shows the richest hydrocarbon chemical composition ever observed in a protoplanetary disk, consisting of 13 carbon-containing molecules. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/Ralf Crawford, STScI.

The spectrum of ISO-ChaI 147 is Webb's mid-infrared measuring instrument (MIRI) displays the richest hydrocarbon chemical composition ever observed in a protoplanetary disk, consisting of 13 carbon-containing molecules up to benzene.

This includes the first extrasolar detection of ethane, the largest fully saturated hydrocarbon detected outside the solar system.

Fully saturated hydrocarbons are expected to form from more basic molecules, so detecting them here can give researchers clues about their chemical environment.

Astronomers also detected ethylene, propyne, and methyl radicals in a protoplanetary disk for the first time.

“These molecules have already been detected in our solar system, for example in comets such as 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy),” Dr. Arababi said.

“It's amazing that we can now see these molecules dancing in the cradle of the planet.”

“This is a completely different environment to how we normally think of planet formation.”

The team note that these results have significant implications for the astrochemistry within 0.1 AU and the planets that form there.

“This is very different to the composition found in disks around solar-type stars, where oxygen-containing molecules (such as carbon dioxide and water) dominate,” said Dr Inga Kamp, also from the University of Groningen.

“This object proves that these are unique classes of objects.”

“It's incredible that we can detect and quantify the amount of a molecule that's well known on Earth, such as benzene, in an object more than 600 light years away,” said Dr Agnes Perrin, an astronomer at the French National Center for Scientific Research.

Team result Published in today's journal Science.

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AM Arabavi other2024. Abundant hydrocarbons present in a disk around a very low-mass star. Science 384, 6700: 1086-1090; doi: 10.1126/science.adi8147

Source: www.sci.news

New research indicates that following a Mediterranean diet may alleviate anxiety and lower stress levels

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Researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of South Australia have discovered in a recent study that following a Mediterranean diet is linked to lower severity of anxiety and stress-related symptoms in older Australians living in the community. Despite this, there was no observed connection with depressive symptoms. The study also found that specific components of the Mediterranean diet, such as reduced consumption of sugary beverages and increased intake of fruits, nuts, and legumes, were independently associated with lower levels of anxiety symptoms.

The Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with the severity of anxiety and stress-related symptoms.

Anthony Villani, a researcher from the University of the Sunshine Coast, and his team investigated the correlation between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and the severity of depression, anxiety, and stress-related symptoms in older adults. A total of 294 older adults with an average age of 70.4 years who lived independently in Australia participated in the study.

The results showed that adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower levels of anxiety and stress-related symptoms, but not depressive symptoms. Furthermore, specific dietary components like low intake of fruits, nuts, legumes, and sugar-sweetened beverages were linked to decreased severity of anxiety and stress-related symptoms.

Dr. Anthony Villani noted, “These foods were key indicators in a study of more than 300 older Australians.” Additionally, he mentioned that individuals following a Mediterranean-style diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish, and olive oil had lower intensity of anxiety symptoms.

He continued, “Higher consumption of legumes and nuts, along with lower intake of sugary beverages, showed the most significant impact on reducing anxiety and stress. Nuts and legumes are rich in fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants, which can have positive effects on brain health through gut health and inflammation reduction.”

The study, which controlled for various factors associated with poor mental health, emphasized the importance of a healthy diet in maintaining good mental health. It also highlighted the need for further research to explore the mental health benefits of the Mediterranean diet in older adults.

Published in Nutrients, the findings of the study are significant for understanding the relationship between diet and mental health in older populations.

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Lisa Allcock et al. 2024. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with anxiety and stress, but not depression: a cross-sectional analysis of community-dwelling older Australians. Nutrients 16(3):366; doi: 10.3390/nu16030366

Source: www.sci.news

Lung Association finds that 131 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy pollution levels

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Nearly 40% of Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution, and the U.S. is set to regress in air-cleaning progress as the effects of climate change intensify, according to a new report from the American Lung Association. It’s coming. The group’s report, its 25th annual analysis of the nation’s “state of the air,” estimates that between 2020 and 2022, 131 million people will live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution. It turned out that it was. This number is an increase of nearly 12 million people from the previous survey a year ago. The report also found that people in the United States are experiencing the most “very unhealthy” or “hazardous” air quality day in the study’s history. Katherine Pruitt, national senior director of clean air policy at the American Lung Association, said the process has been in place for decades through the Clean Air Act, a federal law passed in 1963 to regulate air pollution and set air quality standards. He said that the cleanup efforts that have been made are gradually being undermined by climate change.

“Climate change, including heat, drought and especially wildfires, is starting to undo some of the progress we’ve made,” Pruitt said. “It’s sad to know that so many people live with air quality that threatens their health.” Wildfires are a rapidly growing source of pollution that policymakers are struggling to address. Climate scientists predict that wildfire smoke will increase in the future as greenhouse gas emissions raise temperatures. The Lung Association’s analysis reached the same conclusion as a peer-reviewed study published last year in Nature. The study’s author, Marshall Burke, suggested that wildfire smoke has undone about 25% of the Clean Air Act’s progress.

“If you take a step back and think about what the root cause is, it’s the burning of fossil fuels,” says Dr. Lisa Patel, a pediatrician and clinical associate professor at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. “We don’t have to be in this situation. We have the technology and the federal investment to harness renewable energy. What we need now is the political will.”

Each year, the “State of the Air” report analyzes air quality data from the past three years. This analysis focuses on ozone exposure and short-term and annual exposure to particulate pollution. The report issues a rating for each measure and summarizes the number of areas that passed or failed for each rating. According to the report, nearly 44 million people currently live in areas that do not meet all three criteria.Small particles are a serious concern because they can enter a person’s lungs, circulate in the bloodstream, and affect other organs. Although these particles are only a fraction of the size of a human hair, they have been shown to increase the risk of asthma, lung cancer, chronic lung disease, premature birth, and miscarriage. Patel, who is also executive director of the Medical Societies Consortium on Climate and Health, has noticed an increase in preterm births during wildfire seasons and is educating parents about how heat and smoke are risk factors during pregnancy. He said he has started giving advice.

“After several weeks of poor air quality, more people will become pregnant and give birth before 37 weeks,” Patel said, adding that parents may wonder whether their actions led to premature birth. He added that he often thinks about this. “When people ask me about the risk of premature birth, I say climate change. Heat and wildfires are both risk factors. They are not within your control.” Additionally, Patel said she has noticed that when wildfire smoke incidents occur in California, patients at her pediatric clinic often complain of nasal infections, eye irritation, and asthma exacerbations, among other ailments. Pruitt said concerns about particle pollution used to be concentrated in the industrial Midwest and Northeast. But in this report, for the first time, all 25 cities with the highest daily particle pollution are in the West. Most were in California.

“Early in our history, we had a lot of particulate pollution coming from coal-fired power plants, transportation sources, and industrial processes,” Pruitt said. “Particle pollution problems in the eastern United States are less severe because the Clean Air Act has cleaned up these sources. But Western countries, of course, have similar access to regulation and cleanup; We are also affected by climate change and wildfires.” Daniel Mendoza, an assistant professor of atmospheric science at the University of Utah, said many communities in Western states are dealing with acute, short-term pollution episodes rather than long-term chronic exposure. Scientists are still trying to figure out how much damage wildfire outbreaks cause compared to long-term exposure from industrial sources. “Not all bad air pollution is created equal,” Mendoza said. Pollution from traffic and industrial sources could continue to decline if the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed stricter standards could be implemented.

Last year, the EPA proposed a rule that would require nearly all coal and large gas plants in the country to reduce or capture about 90% of their carbon emissions by 2038. In March this year, the agency introduced stricter rules to reduce tailpipe emissions from passenger cars. Another EPA policy aimed at curbing nitrogen oxide pollution that spreads across states was challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2022, the Supreme Court limited the government’s ability to use the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is one bright spot in this report. That means ozone pollution continues to improve dramatically. Compared to last year, about 2.4 million fewer people live in areas with unhealthy ozone pollution. Since this analysis was completed, wildfire smoke has gotten even worse.

Americans in 2023 inhaled more wildfire smoke than in any other year on record, Stanford University researchers found last year.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

New Tool from NOAA and CDC Reveals Heat Predictions and Risk Levels

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CDC Director Mandy Cohen emphasized the importance of utilizing tools and guidelines to help individuals identify places to stay cool when air conditioning is not available, recognize symptoms of heat illness, and properly manage medications. Cohen highlighted the significance of understanding how drugs interact with heat during a press conference on Monday.

“While heat can impact our health, it is crucial to remember that heat-related illness and death are preventable,” Cohen stated.

Heat-related deaths outnumber those caused by other extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes in the United States each year. The record-breaking heat experienced last summer highlighted the threat of scorching temperatures, particularly in the South and Southwest regions of the country.

NOAA officials expressed optimism that the new resources will assist communities in preparing for the upcoming summer season. The agency anticipates above-average temperatures in May and June across the United States, indicating another hot summer ahead.

“It is never too early to start preparing for heat-related challenges,” emphasized NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad during a briefing.

NOAA’s HeatRisk tool categorizes heat risks on a scale from 0 (green) to 4 (magenta), with 4 indicating extreme and/or prolonged heat impacts. The tool considers factors such as maximum and minimum temperatures as well as the combined effects of heat during both day and night. It is tailored to provide location-specific heat outlooks as environmental conditions vary from one place to another.

The forecast also includes historical data to provide context on the predicted temperatures relative to past records during the same time of year.

NOAA National Weather Service Director Ken Graham highlighted that the HeatRisk tool can assist individuals in making informed decisions about outdoor activities based on the heat risk level. The tool aims to complement heat watches and warnings issued by government agencies by offering additional context for users.

The initial prototype of the HeatRisk tool was developed for California by the National Weather Service in 2013 and expanded to include Western states in 2017. It is currently available as a trial tool across the continental United States.

Members of the public are encouraged to submit feedback on the tool by September 30th to the National Weather Service.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

What causes variations in anxiety levels among individuals?

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We all know that person who, when faced with a tremendous problem, shrugs their shoulders, comes up with a solution, and moves forward without furrowing their brow.

For those who have had a relationship with anxiety, even temporarily, it may seem surprising how others manage to live their lives so calmly. Why are some people protected while others are more likely to experience it? As with most aspects of our behavior, genetics as well as environmental pressures and lifestyle choices Science also has an influence. Thankfully, with a deeper understanding of how they interact, we can find new ways to minimize the problem.

Let’s start with your genes. Research shows that approximately 30 percent of the variation in generalized anxiety disorder in the general population is due to Caused by genetics. This is not due to any particular gene, but rather to a large number of interacting genetic factors.

For some people, it may be a gene related to the hormone serotonin, which carries messages to the brain. A study of marmosets found that the level of anxiety the animals perceived Gene responsible for protein that removes serotonin An area of ​​the brain called the amygdala processes memories associated with fear. When serotonin was blocked from entering cells in the amygdala, the animals’ anxiety appeared to decrease.

This suggests that some people may have a genetic predisposition to absorb too much serotonin into cells in this area. As a result, less serotonin passes between neurons, disrupting the messages that help us…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Unsure of possibility, gamers rush to conquer 80,000 levels in Super Mario Maker

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○On March 14, Team 0% was on the verge of finishing their seven-year mission to conquer all 80,000 incomplete levels of the 2015 Nintendo game Super Mario Maker. They only had two challenging maps, “Herb Trimming” and “The Last Dance,” left to conquer. But as time ticked away, Nintendo dropped the bombshell that they would be shutting down the game’s servers on April 8th. Any level unfinished by then would remain that way forever. Unfortunately, Team 0% fell short at the final hurdle.

When Super Mario Maker was released for the Wii U, players discovered the thrill of creating their own levels and sharing them online. However, to upload a level, players had to beat it themselves first. Little did they know that one of the remaining levels was a hoax.

From its launch, Super Mario Maker inspired players to create incredibly difficult levels with inventive designs. A website called Super Mario Maker Bookmarks tracked every uploaded level, generating stats on completion rates. In 2017, a Reddit user named the0dark0one compiled a list of levels yet to be beaten, unknowingly sparking a journey.

Jeffie, the founder of Team 0%, launched a Discord server in December 2017 to tackle the backlog. They faced technical challenges due to the volume of data but persisted, clearing the initial list after eight months. However, new levels kept pouring in, each more challenging than the last.

Super Mario Maker allows players to craft levels using the Wii U’s touchscreen, resulting in a range of creative challenges. Photo: Nintendo

The team developed training levels within Super Mario Maker to teach newcomers the unique skills required to ace tricky levels. As they sharpened their skills, the task became more daunting with the deadline looming, requiring nearly 100 levels to be completed daily.

As the team neared the finish line, they faced suspicions regarding the legitimacy of the last level, “Trimming the Herbs.” Some speculated it might have been completed using cheats like TAS (Tool-Assisted Speedrun). Ultimately, the creator admitted to using TAS, tarnishing the victory moment.

Despite the disappointment, players continue to tackle “Trimming the Herbs” before the shutdown. The accomplishment lies not just in completing every level in Super Mario Maker, but in preserving the efforts of all creators in the game’s history.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coastal Cities in the US Facing Increased Flooding Risk Due to Rising Sea Levels by 2050

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New Orleans is at risk of more flooding than expected due to land subsidence

William A. Morgan/Shutterstock

Sea levels are rising faster than expected in U.S. coastal cities, primarily due to land subsidence from groundwater and fossil fuel extraction. This means up to 518,000 additional people living in these areas could be at risk of major flooding by 2050 if adequate protection is not in place.

Coastal cities often experience subsidence, where the land gradually sinks over time. One of the biggest factors causing this is the compaction of the earth by extracting resources such as water and fossil fuels from the ground.

To investigate how land subsidence and sea level rise will impact coastal communities. leonard owenhen The Virginia Tech researchers created a model based on land elevation changes in 32 major coastal cities, including Boston and San Francisco, and sea level rise projections through 2050.

Researchers found that cities on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, such as New Orleans, have lower elevations and are sinking faster. It is sinking at least two millimeters more per year than other cities in the region, increasing the risk of future flooding. . Urban areas along the Pacific coast are better protected from rising sea levels because of their higher elevations.

“We were surprised to see that Biloxi, Mississippi, experienced the most rapid subsidence,” Owenhen says.

They also found that existing flood risk assessments in the United States do not take into account the combined effects of land subsidence, underestimating its threat. Researchers have found that nearly 1,400 square kilometers more land will be at risk of flooding by 2050 than current estimates. That means, in total, 1 in 50 people and 1 in 35 homes in 32 cities are at risk. .

This would put an additional 518,000 people and more than 288,000 homes at risk of flooding.

The study looked at flood risk for dozens of coastal U.S. cities by 2050.

Image courtesy of Leonard Owenhen

These findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen U.S. flood protection now, team members say Manuchel Shirzai, also at Virginia Tech. “Individual cities will need to adapt differently. New Orleans will need to strengthen city-wide flood protection, while San Francisco will probably only need to protect its critical infrastructure.”

Other things could be done to reduce the threat. “If land subsidence is being caused by groundwater extraction, oil and gas development, or other human-induced stresses, we need to do everything we can to reverse these trends before it’s too late.” he says. Simon Anisfeld At Yale University.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Research: Daily consumption of 100% orange juice reduces blood sugar levels compared to orange drink

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A new study from Toronto Metropolitan University says 100% orange juice and sugar-sweetened beverages are not equivalent when it comes to their effects on food intake and blood sugar response, and should not be placed in the same category when making beverage decisions.

Consuming 100% orange juice before a meal reduces food intake at the next meal and lowers daily blood glucose concentrations in healthy, normal weight adults when compared to orange drink.

The World Health Organization suggests reducing free sugar intake to no more than 10% of daily energy intake to reduce the risk of unhealthy weight and tooth decay.

Consistent with these recommendations, some national dietary guidelines recommend reducing sugar intake from all sources.

However, these recommendations do not differentiate between sources of free sugars and are primarily based on data from observational studies, so the physiological mechanisms underlying the observed effects cannot be readily determined.

“Our findings highlight the importance of considering the source of sugar when considering overall health effects,” said Dr. Nick Bellissimo of Toronto Metropolitan University, senior author of the study. I am emphasizing that.”

The randomized, repeated measures study included 36 adult men and women with normal BMI levels who received 1 cup of 100% orange juice, orange flavored, 2 hours after a breakfast consisting of cereal, 2% milk, and 2% milk. Ingested sugar-sweetened beverages and water. Breakfast bar.

Blood sugar responses, average appetite, and subjective emotions were measured every 15 minutes for 60 minutes in 34 participants.

Glycemic responses and energy intake for the rest of the day were measured in 31 participants using continuous blood glucose monitors and food records.

Subjective sweetness and pleasantness were measured immediately after ingesting the test beverage.

Glycemic responses, average appetite, and subjective emotions were measured every 15 minutes for 60 minutes.

Food intake was measured 60 minutes after the pizza lunch.

Blood sugar levels were lower with 100% orange juice than with orange drink at 15, 30, and 45 minutes, but not after 60 minutes.

Blood sugar levels for the rest of the day were lower after drinking 100% orange juice compared to drinking orange or water.

The findings also showed that food intake at lunch and throughout the day was lower after consuming 100% orange juice compared to consuming orange drink.

Participants also had higher subjective comfort measures and enjoyed 100% orange juice more compared to orange beverages and water.

Using 100% orange juice instead of sugary drinks may reduce your total daily calorie intake and help regulate blood sugar levels.

100% orange juice contains flavonoids such as hesperidin, which can affect sugar absorption by slowing glucose transport, causing a delayed blood sugar response.

Consumption of 100% orange juice is associated with increased flavonoid intake, decreased added sugar, and higher quality diet.

The researchers said, “Consumption of 100% orange juice as a preload resulted in higher caloric compensation, lower total daily energy intake, and lower blood glucose concentrations compared to orange beverages.”

“Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess whether the habit of replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with 100% orange juice contributes to a healthier body weight and improved glycemic control.”

of paper It was published in the magazine nutrients.

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Stephanie Robayo other. 2024. Effects of her 100% orange juice and moderate sugar-sweetened beverages on subjective appetite, food intake, and glycemic responses in adults. nutrients 16 (2): 242; doi: 10.3390/nu16020242

Source: www.sci.news

Hippocampal Taurine Levels Decrease by 20% in Association with Depression

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A groundbreaking study by South Korean researchers has revealed a link between lower levels of taurine in the hippocampus and depression in young women. This discovery, using 7T MRI technology, opens new avenues in the treatment and understanding of depression and highlights the importance of taurine in brain health. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Precise observation using ultra-high magnetic field 7T MRI. A South Korean research team has discovered for the first time that there is a significant relationship between depression and taurine levels in the hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for memory and learning functions. This discovery provides an opportunity to promote the role and importance of taurine in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of depression in the future. (source)

Advanced imaging technology reveals important insights. Researchers from the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI, Director Sung-kwan Yang) biochemical analysis team (Dr. Young-kyu Song, Dr. Ji-hyun Cho, and Dr. Chae-joon Jeong) used ultra-high magnetic field 7T human MRI (7T MRI). (source)

The study was conducted in collaboration with a research team led by Dr. Kim Hyun-jun from the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM) and Professor Song Jin-hoon from Chungnam University (CNU), and compared two groups of female participants. It is, a group of 36 female patients with major depressive disorder, and a control group of 40 healthy women. All participants were between 19 and 29 years old. (source)

(A) Brain regions where spectra were measured (yellow box) (B) 1H MR spectrum of the hippocampus: taurine signal in the hippocampus shown at 3.4 ppm (arrow). Black line: actually measured spectrum. Red line: LCModel fitting spectrum. Credit: Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI)

Global impact of depression. Depression is an illness that causes serious damage and loss, not only personally, but also socially and economically. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 260 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and more than 800,000 people take their own lives each year. (source)

What is taurine? Taurine is an aminosulfonic acid acid unlike most others, amino acid, does not build proteins. Instead, it plays several important roles in the body. It is naturally present in the brain, heart, eyes, and muscle tissue. Taurine can be synthesized in the body and can also be obtained from the diet, especially meat, fish, and dairy products. It is also a common ingredient in energy drinks. (source)

Taurine acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and has a calming effect on the nervous system. It also plays a role in regulating calcium levels in certain cells, contributes to heart function, and has antioxidant properties that protect cells from damage. Taurine’s role in health, particularly heart and brain health, has been the focus of numerous medical studies. (source)

Taurine concentrations in the hippocampus, frontal cortex (anterior cingulate cortex, ACC), and occipital cortex (OCC) (red: depressed patient group, blue: healthy control group). The average taurine concentration within the hippocampus was 0.91 mM in the depressed patient group and 1.13 mM in the healthy control group. Credit: Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI)

Pioneering research methods. MRI is widely used in brain disease research because it can accurately scan specific locations within the body and obtain a variety of quantitative information. Previous MRI studies of depression have focused on uncovering changes in metabolites mainly confined to areas of the cerebral cortex at the edges of the brain. This study is the first to reveal the relationship between metabolites in the hippocampus, located inside the brain, and depression. (source)

Detailed analysis of brain metabolites. To identify substances closely associated with depression, the research team identified seven substances that are present in the frontal, occipital, and hippocampal regions of depression: taurine, choline, creatine, glutamine, glutamic acid, myo-inositol, and N-acetylaspartate. The concentrations of two metabolites were measured and compared. young woman. (source)

When performing MRI scans, there are technical limitations to measuring metabolite concentrations within the hippocampus due to the location of the hippocampus in the brain. Taurine is also particularly difficult to obtain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) signals due to its low concentration compared to other metabolites. The research team used 7T MRI, which provides high signal sensitivity and resolution, and an sLASER pulse sequence designed to reduce chemical shift displacement errors, to detect subtle differences in taurine signals in the hippocampi of patient and control groups. succeeded in measuring. (source)

(Left) Dr. Cho Ji-hyun (Right) Dr. Song Young-gyu.Credit: Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI)

Implications for future research. Concentrations of metabolites were also precisely measured, taking into account the precise distribution of components of white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is individual-dependent. In the future, it is expected that these measurement results will be applied to brain disease research customized to individual characteristics. (source)

KBSI research team leader Dr. Jee-Hyun Cho said, “This study will advance research on the role of taurine in the hippocampus and its relationship with depression, and will contribute to etiological research and diagnostic development of depression.” he declared. Furthermore, “Using KBSI’s cutting-edge research equipment, we plan to conduct follow-up research on changes in taurine concentration in the brain through long-term observation of patients with depression, as well as the effects of taurine intake as a treatment.” Ta. depression. (source)

collaborative efforts. The KBSI research team proposed an initial research idea on the relationship between depression and hippocampal taurine levels, performed measurements of brain metabolites using 7T MRI, and conducted an analysis of the obtained data. . The research team from KIOM and CNU participated in the recruitment of depressed patients and a healthy control group, conducted psychological tests and clinical interviews, and controlled demographic, (source)

Reference: “Association between hippocampal taurine levels and major depressive disorder in young women: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 7 Tesla” Yong-Gyu Song, Ji-Hyun Cho, Hyun-Jung Kim, Yong-Jim, Yi-Hae Chung, Sunyoung Choi , Jeong-Hon Park, Sungho Tak, Bumwoo Park, Jin-Hun Sohn, Gyunggoo Cho, Chaejoon Cheong, September 5, 2023, biological psychiatry.[source]

DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.08.025[source]

Source: scitechdaily.com

Discovery of a direct correlation between elevated insulin levels and pancreatic cancer by scientists

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A new study has proven a direct link between high insulin levels and increased risk of pancreatic cancer in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. This landmark study shows how excess insulin overstimulates pancreatic acinar cells, leading to inflammation and precancerous cells, particularly in the case of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). These findings highlight the importance of maintaining healthy insulin levels and may lead to new strategies for cancer prevention and treatment, including lifestyle interventions and targeted therapies.

For the first time, we explain in detail why people with obesity and type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine revealed a direct relationship between high blood pressure and high blood pressure. insulin This level is frequently observed in patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and pancreatic cancer.

This study cell metabolismprovides the first detailed explanation of why people with obesity and type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. This study shows that excessive insulin levels overstimulate pancreatic acinar cells, which produce digestive juices. This excessive stimulation causes inflammation and transforms these cells into precancerous cells.

“In addition to rapid increases in both obesity and type 2 diabetes, we are also seeing an alarming increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer,” said co-senior author and professor in the Department of Cellular Physiology Sciences and co-senior author of the study. said Dr. James Johnson, interim director of the agency. UBC’s Institute of Life Sciences. “These findings help us understand how this is happening and highlight the importance of keeping insulin levels within a healthy range. can be achieved through medication.”

Dr. James Johnson is a professor in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and interim director of the UBC Life Sciences Institute. credit:
UBC Faculty of Medicine

The study focused on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer and a highly aggressive disease with a five-year survival rate of less than 10 percent. The incidence of pancreatic cancer is on the rise. By 2030, PDAC is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

Role of insulin in pancreatic cancer

Although obesity and type 2 diabetes were previously established as risk factors for pancreatic cancer, the exact mechanisms by which this occurs remained unclear. This new study sheds light on the role of insulin and its receptor in this process.

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Reference: “Hyperinsulinemia causes pancreatic cancer through acinar insulin receptors by increasing digestive enzyme production and inflammation” (Anni MY Zhang, Yi Han Xia, Jeffrey SH Lin, Ken H Chu, Wei Chuan K. Wang, Titine JJ Ruiter, Jenny) CC Yang, Nan Chen, Justin Choa, Shilpa Patil, Haoning Howard Sen, Elizabeth J. Rideout, Vincent R. Richard, David・F. Shafer, Rene P. Zahedi, Christoph H. Borchers, James D. Johnson, Janelle L. Kopp, October 31, 2023. cell metabolism.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.10.003

This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Lustgarten Foundation.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Nighttime exposure to high levels of light linked with higher risk of anxiety and depression

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A large-scale study involving 87,000 participants found that while excessive night-time light exposure increases the risk of mental illness, increasing daytime light can reduce these risks. This groundbreaking study highlights the importance of balancing light exposure for mental health and suggests simple lifestyle adjustments for better health.

Exposure to artificial light at night increases the risk of developing mental illnesses such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.PTSD), with a tendency toward self-harm.

The world’s largest study of the effects of light exposure on mental health, involving nearly 87,000 people, found that increased exposure to light at night increases the risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder and PTSD. Not only that, but it has also been shown that the possibility of self-injury increases. harm. Importantly, the study also found that enhancing exposure to natural light during the day may serve as a non-drug approach to reducing the risk of psychosis.

Day and night light exposure: a balancing act

People exposed to high amounts of light at night had a 30 percent increased risk of depression, while those exposed to high amounts of light during the day had a 20 percent decreased risk of depression. A similar pattern of results was found for self-harm, psychosis, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD. These findings demonstrate that the simple practice of avoiding light at night and seeking brighter light during the day may be an effective non-pharmacological means of alleviating serious mental health problems. is showing.

The study, led by Associate Professor Sean Kane from the Monash School of Psychological Sciences and the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health in Melbourne, Australia, was published today in the journal Nature Mental Health.

“Our findings have potentially significant societal impact,” said Associate Professor Kane.

“If people understand that light exposure patterns have a huge impact on their mental health, they can take some simple steps to optimize their health. Let in bright light during the day. , it is important to get darkness at night.”

The study’s 86,772 participants, all from UK Biobank, were tested for light exposure, sleep, physical activity and mental health. Associate Professor Kane said the effects of night-time light exposure were independent of demographics, physical activity, season and employment.

“And our findings were consistent when considering shift work, sleep, urban versus rural living, and cardiometabolic health,” he said.

Challenging human biology with modern lighting

Modern, industrialized humanity has literally turned our biological systems upside down. According to Associate Professor Cain, our brains have evolved to function best in bright light during the day and little to no light at night.

“Humans today are challenging this biology, spending about 90% of their days under indoor electric lights that are too dim during the day and too bright at night compared to the natural light-dark cycle. It confuses our bodies and makes us feel sick,” he said.

Reference: “Day and night light exposure is associated with mental illness: an objective light study of over 85,000 people” Angus C. Burns, Daniel P. Windred, Martin K. Rutter, Patrick Olivier, Celine Vetter, Richa Saxena, Jacqueline M Lane, Andrew JK Phillips, Sean W. Kane, October 9, 2023; natural mental health.
DOI: 10.1038/s44220-023-00135-8

Source: scitechdaily.com