Latest news with #WashingtonStateUniversity
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
World's second most consumed beverage faces impacts from climate change
The world's second-most consumed beverage faces a potentially complicated future as climate change increasingly reshapes growing regions of Camellia sinensis - the plant responsible for producing tea. Every day, around 5 billion cups of the beverage are consumed, making it a staple around the globe, but a recent study warns that by 2025, more than half of the world's top 20 tea-producing countries may experience a reduction in land deemed suitable for cultivation. Researchers say that vital growing regions could lose their growing viability due to changing temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns and varying humidity levels. Climate change scenarios suggest that key growing regions may lose their suitability, potentially disrupting livelihoods and economies, for the most consumed beverage behind water. Countries such as Argentina, Malawi and Tanzania are expected to face the most significant losses in suitable tea-growing land, while regions in Turkey, Iran, Thailand and Rwanda may actually experience gains in cultivable terrain, due to evolving climate patterns. According to agricultural experts at Washington State University, optimal conditions for Camellia sinensis growth occur when relative humidity exceeds 75% and annual rainfall ranges between 50 and 100 inches. Some areas in eastern Africa and Asia are experiencing extended drought, with associated changes in humidity values, which impacts production levels. Dozens Of Bottles Of Cherries Found By Archeologists At The Home Of The United States' First President The United States is not considered to be a major producer of tea because of the climate and associated labor costs. Countries such as China, India, Kenya and Sri Lanka are the largest producers of the plant. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, over 60% of global tea is produced by small-scale farms, where the crop serves as the main source of income. The study evaluated nearly two dozen variables in primary growing areas, including precipitation patterns, changes in temperatures and soil acidity. Researchers cautioned that the data was based on a global scale and not meant for localized decision-making, which would require further studies. The drink's popularity stems not only from its cultural importance but also from its health impacts. According to the FAO, tea consumption has increased annually by more than 3%, due to its affordability and accessibility across all income groups. What Season Do Fruits And Vegetables Grow In? Black tea is the most widely consumed variety, followed by green, oolong, white and herbal varieties. Herbal teas are not made exclusively from the Camellia sinensis plant, meaning that more regions participate in the growing of elements such as peppermint and hibiscus. According to health experts at Harvard University, teas are a natural source of caffeine and rich in compounds known as polyphenols. Some studies have suggested that these plant-based nutrients may reduce inflammation and support heart health by reducing cardiovascular disease. The verdict is still out on whether hot teas provide a significant health benefit, as some research has found warm liquids may increase the risk of esophageal and stomach article source: World's second most consumed beverage faces impacts from climate change
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
World's second most consumed beverage faces impacts from climate change
The world's second-most consumed beverage faces a potentially complicated future as climate change increasingly reshapes growing regions of Camellia sinensis - the plant responsible for producing tea. Every day, around 5 billion cups of the beverage are consumed, making it a staple around the globe, but a recent study warns that by 2025, more than half of the world's top 20 tea-producing countries may experience a reduction in land deemed suitable for cultivation. Researchers say that vital growing regions could lose their growing viability due to changing temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns and varying humidity levels. Climate change scenarios suggest that key growing regions may lose their suitability, potentially disrupting livelihoods and economies, for the most consumed beverage behind water. Countries such as Argentina, Malawi and Tanzania are expected to face the most significant losses in suitable tea-growing land, while regions in Turkey, Iran, Thailand and Rwanda may actually experience gains in cultivable terrain, due to evolving climate patterns. According to agricultural experts at Washington State University, optimal conditions for Camellia sinensis growth occur when relative humidity exceeds 75% and annual rainfall ranges between 50 and 100 inches. Some areas in eastern Africa and Asia are experiencing extended drought, with associated changes in humidity values, which impacts production levels. Dozens Of Bottles Of Cherries Found By Archeologists At The Home Of The United States' First President The United States is not considered to be a major producer of tea because of the climate and associated labor costs. Countries such as China, India, Kenya and Sri Lanka are the largest producers of the plant. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, over 60% of global tea is produced by small-scale farms, where the crop serves as the main source of income. The study evaluated nearly two dozen variables in primary growing areas, including precipitation patterns, changes in temperatures and soil acidity. Researchers cautioned that the data was based on a global scale and not meant for localized decision-making, which would require further studies. The drink's popularity stems not only from its cultural importance but also from its health impacts. According to the FAO, tea consumption has increased annually by more than 3%, due to its affordability and accessibility across all income groups. What Season Do Fruits And Vegetables Grow In? Black tea is the most widely consumed variety, followed by green, oolong, white and herbal varieties. Herbal teas are not made exclusively from the Camellia sinensis plant, meaning that more regions participate in the growing of elements such as peppermint and hibiscus. According to health experts at Harvard University, teas are a natural source of caffeine and rich in compounds known as polyphenols. Some studies have suggested that these plant-based nutrients may reduce inflammation and support heart health by reducing cardiovascular disease. The verdict is still out on whether hot teas provide a significant health benefit, as some research has found warm liquids may increase the risk of esophageal and stomach article source: World's second most consumed beverage faces impacts from climate change
Medscape
5 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Prenatal Exposure, Maternal Factors Drive Childhood BMI
Maternal factors, including high maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), high weight gain during pregnancy, and smoking, were associated with an atypically high BMI trajectory in children, based on data from nearly 9500 children. Childhood obesity remains a major risk factor for chronic health complications throughout life, and identifying modifiable early-life factors may help guide interventions and prevention, wrote Chang Liu, PhD, a psychologist at Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, and colleagues. 'This study allowed us to identify children following unhealthy growth trajectories as early as age 3.5 years and identify the point where BMI starts to show rapid changes such as adiposity rebound, creating crucial opportunities for intervention before obesity becomes established,' Liu said in an interview. In a study published in JAMA Network Open , the researchers analyzed data from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort from January 1997 to June 2024. The final study population included 9483 children (approximately half were boys) from 23 longitudinal pediatric cohorts in the United States and Puerto Rico born between 1997 and 2019. The primary outcome was childhood BMI. The researchers categorized the children into two BMI trajectories, typical and atypical, using a novel model based on BMI shifts over time. Children with a typical trajectory (8477 children; 89.4%) showed linear BMI decreases to 6 years of age, followed by linear increases from age 6 to 9 years. Children with an atypical trajectory (10 children; 6%) showed early stable BMI from age 1 to 3.5 years, followed by rapid linear increases from 3.5 to 9 years. The researchers assessed prenatal exposures to smoking, alcohol, and stress (depression or anxiety) as well as maternal characteristics of prepregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain, and child characteristics of preterm birth, birth weight, and breastfeeding. The analysis used a multiphase latent growth mixture model to identify qualitative shifts in BMI during childhood that have not been addressed in previous studies, the researchers noted. At 9 years of age, the atypical group had a mean BMI of 26.2, higher than the 99th percentile. Prenatal smoking, high prepregnancy BMI, high gestational weight gain, and high birth weight were significantly associated with the atypical trajectory. The findings were limited by several factors, including the clinical utility of the researchers' multiphase model, which the researchers described as 'more computationally intensive than traditional methods of identifying abnormal childhood growth patterns.' Other limitations included the use of BMI values that may show variations in levels of adiposity based on age and sex, the lack of control for some social determinants of health, and incomplete data on BMI during school age and some perinatal exposures, the researchers wrote. Implications and Research Gaps Despite these limitations, the study identified factors that increase the risk for childhood obesity, and addressing these factors could help redirect unhealthy BMI trajectories, the researchers concluded. 'Without intervention, children exhibiting high BMI trajectories during childhood are more likely to develop overweight or obesity as adolescents and adults and are at higher risk for a range of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases throughout their lifetimes,' Liu told Medscape Medical News . Although examination of developmental pathways that lead to unhealthy vs healthy BMIs is crucial to identify modifiable early life factors, 'the challenge has been that most previous research couldn't pinpoint exactly when children's growth patterns start going off track,' Liu said. Opportunities for clinicians include helping women of reproductive age achieve healthy weight and smoking cessation before pregnancy, supporting appropriate gestational weight gain during pregnancy, and closely monitoring children who show early signs of non-declining BMI patterns, especially those with identified risk factors, Liu said. Further studies are needed to examine the biological mechanisms linking these early-life factors to different childhood BMI trajectories, Liu told Medscape Medical News . 'Additionally, research is needed to understand how social and environmental factors contribute to the racial and ethnic disparities we observed in growth patterns,' she said. 'Future work should test whether interventions targeting these modifiable factors during critical developmental periods can successfully help children maintain healthier growth trajectories,' Liu added. Expanding Awareness of Obesity Risk Early identification of risk for pediatric obesity can be crucial to minimizing disease morbidity and mortality, said Charles Hannum, MD, a general pediatrician at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, in an interview. The current study not only confirms previously known risks but also adds new information to help pediatricians identify young children who would benefit from a more nuanced approach to growth monitoring and who may also benefit from a more robust prevention strategy for obesity, he said. The data also show how maternal factors and the pregnancy environment influence child health, said Hannum. 'Lastly, this study is from a large, diverse population group, making the study conclusions more generalizable to the population of the United States,' he said. Although some of the study findings were known, such as the association between childhood obesity and prenatal smoking, the current study adds the dimension of how that risk connects to the child's growth trend over time, said Hannum. 'The growth trend is often how pediatricians monitor this risk anecdotally,' he said. The associations between BMI trajectory and modifiable risks are not unexpected, but they help support the assumptions clinicians often make about obesity risk and can inform more focused and individually tailored prevention strategies, he noted. The data can help support both public health initiatives and clinical practice at the individual level, Hannum told Medscape Medical News . For pediatricians, the findings support starting obesity prevention strategies early and monitoring children who have an at-risk BMI trajectory more frequently, he noted. When children do not follow a trajectory of decreased BMI from early to late toddlerhood, even if a BMI is normal, 'we now have evidence that they have an increased risk for developing obesity, and this knowledge may help to prevent some cases of pediatric obesity,' Hannum said. Add More Variables in Further Research The current study's limitations include missing and incomplete data and possible challenges when applying the trajectories to broad, diverse populations, given the complex contributors to pediatric obesity, Hannum told Medscape Medical News . More clarity is also needed on when and how to prioritize prevention strategies in the setting of additional obesity risk factors, Hannum added.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists issue warning after tracking rapid shift in behavior of iconic migratory species: 'I started to investigate what was going on'
Populations of the lesser goldfinch, native to the American Southwest, are traveling northward, likely because of the changing climate and landscape modification, according to a Cornell University writeup published by While they have adapted well to their new habitats, their behavioral changes and invasions into ecosystems that are not native to them could be a cause for concern. A team of researchers from Washington State University and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology studied data to track the lesser goldfinch's movement. When lead writer Mason Maron visited Eastern Washington, Maron noticed flocks of 30-40 goldfinches fluttering around. Per he learned from locals that 10 years ago, there were no lesser goldfinches in the area. "So," Maron said, "I started to investigate what was going on." Maron and the team's study determined that lesser goldfinch populations increased by 110.5% in Washington, 66.3% in Idaho, and 16.9% in Oregon between 2012 and 2022, as stated in the journal Ornithology. "Our results are suggestive of this species being able to pretty rapidly colonize new environments," said co-author Jordan Boersma, per While the impressive way the lesser goldfinch has adapted to new habitats is indicative of its tenacity, it makes the species invasive. As the species eats the food available in their new environments, they disrupt the ecosystems they have invaded. This phenomenon is damaging to other members of the invaded ecosystem while also changing the moving species' behaviors. According to a research article by Florian Ruland and Jonathan Jeschke in the Journal of Animal Ecology, invasive animals in new habitats have to change their behaviors to thrive. The article said that when a species biologically invades an area, it must change its behavior to find food, evade predators, and adapt to new competition. The lesser goldfinch's adaptability is impressive, yet damaging, and the species should not have been left to make these life changes in the first place. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The birds are moving toward areas with higher maximum temperatures and rainfall in response to rising global temperatures. Controversially, some conservationists believe assisted migration, when humans intervene and relocate entire species to new areas, is a viable way to save them. Some states are on board with this belief, but many fear the consequences of introducing potential invaders to other habitats. So, the lesser goldfinch's move north into Eastern Washington to survive is a positive to some, but it could be dangerous. Results from the study on the lesser goldfinch, however, should give researchers more insight to the potential impacts of assisted migration as well as reason to conduct further studies. "Understanding how birds like the lesser goldfinch respond to climate change and urbanization helps us predict how other species might also be impacted," Boersma said. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Apodaca: Remembering those who didn't make it home
Vietnam, 1969. Wallace 'Wally' Ziegler was on his first patrol as an Army medic when his platoon was ambushed. Two soldiers were grievously wounded. Ziegler didn't hesitate. As he worked to stabilize a soldier with a sucking chest wound from a bullet to the lungs, and a jaw that was broken in half, he recalled his extensive medical training. The cricothyrotomy procedure he had practiced on goats restored the soldier's breathing, and he stanched the profuse bleeding from the jaw with bandages. The injured soldier was picked up by a helicopter and Ziegler never saw him again or learned his fate. The young man was the first of many with gruesome injuries that Ziegler treated during the year he spent 'in country.' Many lives were spared due to his cool expertise. A few he could not save. Yet, even as he lugged 80 pounds of medical gear through the jungle on daily patrols, or was awakened by emergency calls from night patrols, he never complained. And in spite of knowing that his platoon could come under fire at any moment and booby traps set by the Viet Cong were everywhere, he never wavered. One more thing he never did: carry a weapon. Ziegler was a conscientious objector. He knew he didn't have it in him to harm another human being, no matter the reason. But he wanted to do his part. While many COs, as they were known, served in far less dangerous assignments, he had no second thoughts about his deployment to a combat zone with a high casualty rate. His fellow soldiers were supportive of his choice. They were all in it together, he said. 'We were all dedicated soldiers. They took great care of me because I took great care of them.' This Memorial Day, as we fire up our grills and enjoy a day of peace and comfort, we should also recognize the holiday's true purpose, to honor and mourn the U.S. military personnel who died in service. Ziegler is one of those who survived to tell us their stories — the ones who can truly understand and appreciate the sacrifices made. 'I think back on the ones we lost,' he said, 'the ones we should honor and remember their loss, which also affected thousands of family members of the fallen.' The chaotic guerrilla warfare in Vietnam was a brutal coming of age for Ziegler after what he describes an almost idyllic childhood in Altadena, with a close-knit family and ice cream trucks rolling down the streets. He loved math and science, and would often help out at his father's veterinary office along with his younger brother. When he was grounded his punishment included cleaning cages. But this picture of suburban contentment changed when he was a sophomore in high school and his mother died. The loss compelled him to assume the role of 'the stoic heart of the family.' A few years later, Ziegler headed to college at Washington State University. But his life took another turn in his second semester when he received his draft notice. During an interview that was part of the CO application process, Ziegler made it clear that he wasn't asking to be kept out of the war. 'I said, 'I will go. I want to go.'' He applied for the U.S. Army Special Forces medical training, which was far more comprehensive than the medical education available in other branches. For the next year-and-a-half he crisscrossed the country to complete all the necessary courses, then he received his orders. He was deployed to Vietnam and assigned to the 173rd Airborne Unit. Ziegler has a multitude of stories from his service there. The time in a rice paddy when a Viet Cong jumped up and started firing down the line of his patrol. The Playboy magazines that someone handed him to use as a makeshift splint for a broken leg. Blown-off limbs. The aftermath of an exploded grenade. A bullet whizzing by his head as he chatted with a guard on night duty. Although he became adept at keeping panic at bay, one unfortunate remnant of his wartime service remains. To this day, he can't sleep more than five or six hours a night. After he left the army, Ziegler traveled for awhile, got married — although the marriage didn't last — and attended medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he stayed for several years. But Southern California beckoned, and eventually he returned and settled in Laguna Beach. He left medicine behind and rekindled his lifelong love of theater. Today, at 77, Ziegler's peaceful life is far removed from his wartime service. As the Artistic and Audience Services Manager at the Laguna Playhouse, where he has held various positions for the past 35 years, his work allows him to split his time between Laguna and his other home in Lake Arrowhead. Playhouse visitors will find him tending bar and greeting guests with a smile; his open, friendly demeanor a fixture at the popular theater. But make no mistake, the tenacious medic who once fought to save lives under the most horrific conditions is still there, still remembering those who didn't make it home. May we all join him in remembrance.
