Good Morning! 🌞

February is like that friend who shows up late to the party and leaves early—but still manages to make an impression. With just 28 (or sometimes 29) days, it’s the only month that actively tries to finish faster than the rest of the year.

But don’t worry, we’re making every day count! Here’s your daily dose of news, insights, and fun to keep things moving.

Earth Sciences

Mysterious Mounds on Mars

A new British study reveals that thousands of clay-rich mounds in Mars’ northern plains were shaped by ancient water, suggesting that this once vast and water-soaked region has largely eroded away. Funded by the UK Space Agency, the research indicates that these mounds—some stretching up to half a kilometer high—are the remnants of a highland landscape roughly the size of the UK, now worn down over billions of years.

Led by Dr. Joe McNeil from London’s Natural History Museum and researchers from The Open University, the team used data from Mars orbiters to analyze how water interacted with rock to form layered clay deposits over millions of years. These layers, sandwiched between older and younger rock, paint a detailed picture of Mars’ geological past. The study also illuminates the boundary between the planet’s northern lowlands and southern highlands, showing how erosion has reshaped the terrain and pushed highlands back by hundreds of kilometers.

According to Dr. McNeil, these mounds hold “the complete history of water in this region” and offer valuable clues about Mars’ capacity to have supported oceans and possibly life. Their findings connect directly to Oxia Planum, where the European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin rover will search for biosignatures in 2028. As Dr. McNeil points out, Mars’ ancient geology could shed light on what early Earth looked like. “The more missions we send to Mars,” he said, “the closer we’ll get to understanding the origins of life on Earth.”

Lifestyle

‘70’ Really is the ‘New 60’

Age-related declines among older adults have slowed significantly, according to a study published in Nature Aging. Researchers from the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at the Mailman School of Public Health report that today’s older adults in England are enjoying better cognitive, physical, psychological, and sensory functioning than their predecessors. This positive trend is largely attributed to improvements in education, nutrition, and sanitation throughout the 20th century, as well as medical advancements such as joint replacements and more effective treatments for chronic conditions.

Drawing on data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, the team focused on functional abilities rather than merely the presence of disease. They found that a 68-year-old born in 1950 functioned comparably to a 62-year-old born a decade earlier, with even greater improvements noted when comparing individuals born in 1950 with those born in 1920. “These improvements were substantial,” said study author Professor John Beard of Columbia University, though he cautioned that rising obesity rates and persistent health disparities could limit future progress. “For many, 70 really may be the new 60, but there’s no guarantee this progress will continue,” Beard added.

Aging expert Jay Olshansky from the University of Illinois praised the findings as “a powerful article,” emphasizing that intrinsic capacity—functional abilities during aging—can be enhanced through medical science. In parallel analysis of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, the researchers observed similar trends, though a shorter follow-up period constrained the scope of conclusions. The study, supported by organizations including the ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research, King’s College London, the National Social Science Foundation of China, and the National Institute on Aging, underscores the need for further research across diverse populations to confirm whether these benefits extend globally.

Environment

Greenspace Planning for Health

Researchers at The University of Queensland are examining how exposure to green spaces can positively affect health outcomes, with the goal of guiding future urban greening policies. A new large-scale study led by PhD candidate Chinonso Odebeatu at UQ’s School of Public Health revealed that people with better access to green spaces are more likely to have sufficient vitamin D levels, a crucial factor in maintaining skeletal, cardiovascular, and metabolic health.

Using data from over 440,000 UK participants, the research team assessed greenspace exposure within 300-meter and 1000-meter radii of each individual’s home and measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). They found that those living closer to green spaces were 36% more likely to maintain adequate vitamin D. “The environment, especially greenspace exposure, influences the amount of vitamin D we get from the sun, regardless of skin color, genetics, or location,” Odebeatu explained, adding that deficiency in this vitamin is linked to serious conditions like osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.

Co-author Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne highlighted that these findings could help shape urban planning policies aimed at promoting outdoor activity and reducing vitamin D deficiency. While excessive sun exposure carries risks, Odebeatu emphasized the value of moderate sunlight—particularly in the morning when UVB rays are weaker—to optimize vitamin D levels safely. Beyond supporting adequate vitamin D, green spaces also provide benefits such as improved air quality, reduced urban heat, and enhanced physical and mental well-being, potentially easing the overall strain on healthcare systems.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I’m clear and touchable, yet hard to hold,
I flow in rivers, oceans, and in cold.
You need me to live, but I’m never still,
What am I?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

I’m short but sweet, a fleeting delight, I play with hearts in the chill of night. I vanish fast, just 29 tall, Or sometimes less—hardly there at all. What am I? — February, Debbie Ettinger got this correct first! ☀️ 

The first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to the email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured