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The connection between humanity and the natural world has always been multifaceted. While the early settlers of America instilled a ‘man vs. nature’ mindset, today’s world demands a more nuanced perspective. The impact we have on our environment—and vice versa—can often be ambiguous.
10. Rising Temperatures Fuel Aggression
Numerous studies conducted over decades have consistently shown that violent crime rates tend to be higher closer to the equator, where temperatures are warmer. However, no study has conclusively determined why this happens.
Currently, there are two prominent theories. First, hot weather can cause discomfort and irritation, leading to increased aggression. Second, warmer temperatures encourage people to spend more time outdoors, resulting in more chances for violent encounters.
Researchers from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, using the CLASH (CLimate Aggression and Self-control in Humans) model, propose that it isn’t the heat itself driving aggression, but rather the slight fluctuations in temperature characteristic of these regions.
In areas where people aren’t focused on preparing for future seasons, they are able to concentrate more on the present, leading to a ‘fast life strategy.’ This approach may be reflected in a relaxed attitude toward time, and surprisingly, birth control, which could contribute to reduced self-control and higher rates of violence.
9. Light Pollution Triggers Early Spring in City Areas
Artificial lighting, or light pollution, can be disruptive to natural ecosystems. Over time, the bright lights in urban areas might have gradually misled nearby trees and plants into believing that spring is arriving sooner than it has in the past.
In a 12-year study of four tree species, researchers in the UK found that trees located closer to urban areas, and thus exposed to nighttime light pollution, began budding more than seven days earlier than their rural counterparts. Even after factoring in other variables, such as changes in air temperature, light was pinpointed as a primary contributor.
This shift could create a ripple effect throughout the surrounding ecosystem, causing disruption in budding and pollination cycles, leading to early fruit and leaf drop, and potentially causing confusion among bird and bee populations.
8. Cigarette Butts Pose A Serious Threat To Marine Life
Out of the billions of cigarette butts produced annually, only a small fraction are disposed of properly, and an alarming number of the rest find their way into the ocean. In fact, cigarette butts represent the most common type of trash found in the world's oceans.
Cigarette butts are made up of thousands of tiny plastic particles woven into fibers that break apart in the ocean. One study has shown that the toxic substances in a single butt can contaminate 1 liter (0.26 gallons) of water enough to kill any fish swimming in it.
While some innovative companies are working on creating systems to recycle cigarette butts into safe plastic products, the stigma associated with carcinogens has hindered these efforts from gaining much traction.
7. Human Activity Drives the Evolution of New Species
Hunting, human encroachment on natural habitats, and other environmental changes have caused the extinction of thousands of species over the centuries. However, some human actions can also give rise to new species that would never have existed without us.
A species of underground mosquito native to London, with distinct DNA and breeding patterns compared to regular mosquitoes, originated from insects that took refuge in man-made underground tunnels during the bombings of World War II. Isolated from other mosquitoes, they have become a separate species created through human-induced circumstances.
This phenomenon, known as relocation, is just one of several ways in which new species can arise due to human influence. Hunting is particularly concerning, as it can lead to ‘unnatural selection,’ where hunters eliminate animals with desirable traits, counteracting the natural process of evolution.
6. Exposure to Nature Enhances Mental Well-being
A 2013 study by the University of Essex found that 71 percent of participants experienced a significant reduction in clinical depression scores after taking short walks in nature. In contrast, a control group that walked in a shopping center saw only a 45 percent reduction in depression scores, with 22 percent actually feeling more depressed.
A 2016 University of Southern California study observed that even brief exposure (up to six months) to green spaces within 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) of teenagers’ homes resulted in reduced aggressive behavior. This was consistent across various factors such as age, income, race, and education level.
Interestingly, the study found that both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ neighborhoods exhibited similar benefits. The researchers concluded that adding more greenery to urban areas could lead to a 12 percent reduction in violent and aggressive behavior among California teens.
5. Increased Vegetation Growth Due to Climate Change
The melting of glaciers and the gradual disappearance of long-standing ice shelves, driven by global climate change, has led to an unexpected side effect: in many regions where ice is receding, greenery is emerging in its place.
This decades-long trend, identified by NASA through satellite images, has been observed in almost all areas affected by glacial melt. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory used simulated ‘climate model runs’ to assess whether phenomena like greening were statistically more likely to occur in models that include the effects of greenhouse gases.
Sure enough, the models that included greenhouse gases closely mirrored NASA’s satellite imagery. In addition to receding ice and rising temperatures, it’s highly probable that increased nitrogen in the atmosphere—something plants thrive on—is another significant factor contributing to the changes.
4. People Living in Greener Areas Have Better Health, Even Among the Impoverished
In an encouraging study, researchers at the University of Glasgow found further evidence that exposure to nature benefits human health. Excluding lung cancer, circulatory diseases, and intentional self-harm, they examined the entire working population of England to investigate whether health inequalities tied to income—such as the inability to afford healthcare—are less pronounced in populations living near green spaces.
After accounting for other variables, the results were striking. No other underlying factors were identified, and it was found that lower-income groups living near green spaces experienced better overall health and lower mortality rates.
3. Some Animals Have Learned to Coexist with Humans
The Industrial Revolution and the subsequent surge in human population have had profound effects on animal species diversity. While hunting and fishing have certainly played their part, it’s the changes to habitats and migration patterns that have most harmed many species. However, some animals have managed to adapt and thrive alongside humans, and understanding how they’ve done so could provide valuable insights into mitigating the impact of future population growth.
Take squirrels and crows, for example. These animals have developed new feeding and food storage strategies suited to urban life. A study in the Netherlands found that at least 18 endangered bird species have taken to nesting in business parks, suggesting that these environments could be optimized to attract such species.
Business parks, with their large, flat rooftops, isolation from the hustle and bustle of the city, and quiet nights, offer an ideal habitat for these adaptable city-dwelling animals. They also provide a unique environment to study how such behaviors evolve. Not only do these green spaces benefit the animals, but they also boost the mood of the office workers. In this case, it seems like everyone benefits.
2. Roads Can Have a Positive Effect on Nature
Roads are essential to any society's infrastructure, but their construction in undeveloped areas has often been criticized by environmentalists. While it's true that road building can harm local ecosystems, the key factor is location. A 2013 study by University of Cambridge professor Andrew Balmford suggested that, in some cases, building new roads or upgrading existing ones can actually benefit the surrounding environments.
In particular, roads in undeveloped farming areas can help reduce human encroachment into wilderness spaces. This not only preserves vulnerable plant and animal species but also allows for more efficient movement of people in and out of central areas. Interestingly, this positive effect is more noticeable when the roads serve their intended purpose, as opposed to those built to support farming activities in former mining areas.
1. Mothers Who Live Near Nature Have Larger Babies
A 2014 study from Ben-Gurion University found that mothers who lived in greener environments tended to give birth to babies with significantly higher average birth weights. The research also revealed a marked reduction in the risk of low birth weight, which can cause various long-term health problems. The lowest birth weights were observed in economically disadvantaged areas with little greenery, including places like parks, gardens, and even cemeteries.
