Earth’s Future, Now With 8 Billion Humans

Humanity has long been chasing that 8 billion number for our global population. As of November 2022, we have surpassed it with only increasing trends in sight. With such a large international population and growing numbers, what kind of new stressors will be placed on the planet? 

Global warming is already a direct indicator of influence on the planet. Humans have permanently changed how we interact with Earth's natural resources, but now it's clear that the reliance on those resources will be put to the utmost test. Populations will put immense pressure on nature, forcing humans to compete with other wildlife for water, food, and materials.

The problem not only arises with the total size of the global population but also with the rapid timeline to the astronomical number. Global population sizes previously always remained below 1 billion people on the planet at any given time until the late 18th century during the time of Napoleon. Rapid growth began to influence global numbers after the start of the Second World War when more than 1 billion people were added to the global population every 12 to 15 years. Key events spurred rapid growth over the last 300 years, including the industrial revolution, medical discoveries, technology, and global commerce trade. Currently, the human population is more than double what it was in 1970, doubling in just over 50 years.

Population analyses over the last few decades also draw attention to the uneven growth experienced worldwide. China and the USA are two places where population growth has been slowly leveling. At the same time, low-income regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and India are responsible for approximately 70 percent of the world’s population increases. There are difficulties to be faced in both scenarios because with leveling population growth, fewer individuals will support the enormous economies, and exponential growth in developing countries will continue to exacerbate already strained systems. The other caveat to increased global numbers is its likelihood to influence mass migrations and conflicts and further jeopardize at-risk environments. 

Experts are forecasting slower growth trends in the future, even though the population trends have been increasing exponentially. Their conclusions draw from increased knowledge and dispersal of contraceptives and safe sex to lower-income countries. Other factors influencing level growth trends include increased women’s rights worldwide, younger generations waiting to have families, and economic pressures driving living rates through the roof for most high-income countries. These forecasts are good news for slowing global population growth. Still, the world will likely not observe decreases until the latter half of this century, as fertility rates and population deaths will be important contributors to change. 
The urgency to allocate new green energy resources before it is too late is becoming increasingly evident. Experts agree that installing sustainable energy resources for low-income countries will greatly decrease their carbon emissions by supporting increasing population demands. Other changes must also be made in high-income countries responsible for more than double the carbon emissions released by the poorest half of the world.

Autoimmune Diseases Linked to the Black Plague

The Black Death was an unimaginable pandemic that swept through Europe in the mid-1300s, resulting in catastrophic and severe mortality of the global population at the time. The seven-year plague was responsible for up to 200 million deaths, a significantly more significant impact than the current coronavirus pandemic responsible for around less than 6.6 million deaths. Researchers studying gene mutations and modern human DNA recently discovered links between historic Black Death survivors and autoimmune diseases currently affecting millions of people.  

The significance of the Black Death’s impact at the time also coincides with a much smaller global population of around 392 million people, explaining why the plague had such an enormous impact and required centuries for the world to recover from the devastation. The plague was responsible for removing 30 to 60 percent of the European population at the time, meaning many modern humans of European descent originated from the remaining survivors. 

The enormity of the plague’s impact shaped humanity’s evolution, forcing the selection of survivable traits, which the researchers could observe in skeletal remains and descendants of the survivors. DNA analyses from the skeletons of plague survivors discovered genetic mutations that may have been the reason for greater individual survivability. The DNA study published in Nature found a series of mutations around the ERAP2 gene, equating to a 40 percent greater chance of surviving the plague for sampled individuals. 

The ERAP2 gene is responsible for generating proteins that divide and disperse invading microbes to immune system defenses, allowing it to recognize and neutralize invaders effectively. Survivors of the plague had mutations creating a high-functioning version of the gene, allowing their immune systems to overcome any infections by the deadly disease better. These plague-resistant mutations are still prevalent in today’s modern society as they were passed down through generations. However, modern-day humans may be inadvertently affected by those same high-functioning qualities of the mutations.

The massive impact the Black Death had on earlier human populations has continued to affect modern-day society, implicating descendants of survivors with damaging health consequences. Scientists discovered the increased protein production from the high-functioning gene can be linked to various autoimmune disorders like the damaging inflammatory bowel disease called Chrons. Increased protein production by the specific genes consequently has a negative implication forcing the body to damage itself in response to minor microbial invasions or even the lack thereof. The correlation of the plague’s evolutionary impact to modern autoimmune diseases is baffling but will potentially lead to discoveries regarding these diseases’ origins and treatment. 

Human DNA studies are incredibly complex as they attempt to understand many factors like mutations, environmental pressure, survivability, and inheritance. Similar consequences caused by the Black Death are improbable in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Future descendants of covid survivors will not likely need to address mutation complications because of the low significant impact on global populations and the disease’s inability to impact humans over a diverse age spectrum. Coronavirus-19 statistically has the most significant impact on older people, with deaths over 65 accounting for more than 75 percent globally.

Hurricane Ian’s Impact Lingers Amidst Climate Change Implications

Hurricane Ian quickly developed into one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit Florida since 1935, and one of the worst natural disasters in recent years for the United States. Damages from the hurricane are still being evaluated with early estimates totaling more than $60 billion USD alone in damages to infrastructure and properties. This large category 4 hurricane slammed into the Florida coast toward the end of September resulting in significant coastal damages, inland flooding, massive runoff, and large community displacements. Florida experiences many hurricanes each year, but it is now clear that the severity of the storms is increasing as they are exacerbated by the effects of climate change. 

Hurricanes are a natural aspect of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico geography, as conditions in late summer and early fall often generate cyclonic storm cells. A majority of south Florida lies at or below sea level putting many areas at increased risk for minor swells and ocean surges, regardless of storm activities. Florida has invested significant federal and state funds into coastal defense barriers like sea walls, sand dunes, foundation fortifications, and emergency aid response programs. These efforts seem to mitigate many damaging effects, but their effectiveness continues to wane as warming ocean temperatures increase the intensity of these Atlantic storm cells.

Climate change has a variety of negative effects on Earth, specifically intensifying the strength and frequency of destructive storm cell activities. Warmer coastal waters increase surface evaporation, rapidly accelerating hurricane wind speeds and the overall strength of the hurricane. Factors like warming climates, more intense storms, and continued development along the coast of at-risk regions like Florida have also increased the susceptibility of people and infrastructure to extensive storm damage. 

President Joe Biden addressed the nation after surveying the damages of the fierce storm, highlighting its similarities to many other significant natural disasters affecting other regions of the country. He indicated how climate change is responsible for many of the extensive damages caused by this storm, the fires in the midwest, and water shortages on the west coast. The increasing vulnerability of many regions affects more than the durability of the infrastructure, also implicates community health and long-term safety. 

As the aftermath of Hurricane Ian continues to be surveyed, it is clear this storm has impacted a multitude of resources, regions, and people across Florida. Many of Florida’s main waterways are now filled with contaminated pollution as a result of the upstream storm surge inundation and coastal runoff. Organic matter, chemical pollutants, and refuse washed off the land from torrential precipitation leading to additional negative environmental impacts. Environmental scientists suggest the pollution could damage aquatic ecosystems posing short-term dangers to human and resource health, while also subjecting these fragile ecosystems to additional long-term challenges. 
With the increasing intensity and frequency of storms like Hurricane Ian, similar events are likely to become more normal in the future. For at-risk regions, preparing the necessary infrastructure and response teams is vital to adequately handle estimated damages. These damages include factors impacting infrastructure, human health, environmental well-being, and long-term effects. Over the past decade, the United States has already had multiple examples of these effects as climate change continues to increase natural disaster intensities and frequencies.

Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Polarizing Employee Health Risks in America

A new study published by Hinge Health, State of MSK 2022, recently investigated the alarming percentage of American employees experiencing musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and currently seeking treatment. The published study surveyed more than 252 million American citizens, defying the alarming statistic that every 1 in 2 Americans experiences some form of chronic MSK. 

Industries, where employees are constantly exposed to MSK diagnoses include software businesses, utility management, retail, transportation, hospitality, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and more. The most afflicted industries often require employees to conduct hard manual labor or remain inactive in sedentary positions for long periods of the day.

MSK is commonly observed in full-time employees as back, neck, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal pain. These symptoms often accompany the hazards associated with sitting and working at a desk, impacting the employee over long periods. The study also analyzed the economic expenditure on MSK-related inquiries and discovered its national costs have more than doubled over the last decade. The cost to treat MSK is one of the third largest industries in the United States healthcare system, totaling more than $600 billion annually.

The Hinge study also acknowledged that the driving factor behind increasing costs is the undeniable connection between MSK and mental health treatments, as affected employees often use double the average worker’s sick days.  The average worker misses 8.2 days of work, while employees experiencing symptoms of MSK miss up to 13 days annually to deal with their treatment and mental health. The sheer absence of millions of workers for extended durations of time throughout the annual work year alone costs businesses and the greater US economy millions of dollars.

The impacts of MSK are affecting many aspects of employee health and welfare in the United States, as medical costs and health inequities continue to increase. Access to MSK-associated healthcare, medicines, and affordable treatments have continued to drive up prices, far surpassing the economic costs shared by employers to treat other ailments like heart disease ($309 billion), cancer ($243 billion), and diabetes ($188 billion). It is no surprise that medical costs, insurance, and access to treatments have all become a much larger burden on the lower and middle working class of America.

The nuances of MSK and its lack of study have also prevented many employer insurance companies from effectively covering their employee’s risk of MSK exposure and rehabilitation. The lack of understanding has only recently resulted in studies highlighting the close relation to employee mental health and welfare. Chronic pain can often intensify mental challenges resulting in increased anxiety and depression, worsening the MSK symptoms. Many health insurances fail to fill the gap in social and behavioral support needed to recuperate from mental health symptoms associated with the effects of chronic MSK in the workplace. 

Solutions recommended by the Hinge report and other health professionals suggest filling the gaps in coverage by addressing issues with physical recovery, behavioral support, and medical services. Remote care and support are ultimately important in treating the patient’s physical self-care and mental health. With digital accessibility at an all-time high, connecting patients to health professionals is easier than ever, and acquiring the kind of frequent care needed to recover from MSK complications entirely. 

Monkeypox Silently Spreading Around the World

Officials are on high alert as monkeypox outbreaks continue to appear in various parts of the world. These new cases are particularly alarming because of the high transmissibility, and amidst the ongoing covid-19 pandemic still crippling many parts of global society. 

The Monkeypox virus is historically localized to western and central regions in Africa, but scientists think they have traced the current spread to an outbreak in 2017. The World Health Organization has recorded 643 cases in more than a dozen countries. The rapid outbreaks suggest the disease may have undetected transmission, allowing it to spread and appear simultaneously in different locations. The 2017 outbreak resulted in clusters of cases in Singapore, Africa, Israel, and the UK.

Other experts disagree with initial findings stating we do not know how long this virus has spread. Initially, it was thought the disease spread from direct contact with an infected animal like a rodent; however, reports now suggest there are sustained transmission events between humans and back to animals. The rapid transmission between humans and animals contributes to the inconclusive of the outbreak’s origins. If outbreaks continue expanding, it is likely to be transferred from humans into other wildlife populations outside infected regions, resulting in additional undetectable transmissions to larger global populations. 

Most historical breakouts of monkeypox ended after a short period of transmission between humans, while recent cases in new places and populations are cause for concern. The former 2017 cluster was prevalent in men and appeared as lesions on genitalia transmitted through sexual contact. The current outbreak appears as lesions on various parts of the body, and the sexual transmissibility of the disease is inconclusive and not fully understood. This virus is similar to smallpox but much less deadly with treatment. Poverty-stricken areas may experience higher rates of complications resulting in deaths due to the lack of accessible resources. 

The US Centers for Disease Control continues to monitor its spread because it is too early to understand its origins or long-term impacts fully. The response may escalate if it evolves into a human-born pathogen spreading directly to the immunocompromised, young, and elderly, where it will cause the most severe damage. Still, many people following the news coverage and disease investigations feel the stress, as daily life has only recently returned to a sense of normalcy.

If the covid-19 pandemic proved one thing, the world is poorly prepared to deal with any global disease outbreak. Humans have few options to prevent widespread outbreaks of highly transmissible diseases effectively. Officials not wanting a repeat of the global pandemic over the last two years are approaching these cautionary cases with the utmost urgency and attempting to instill measures to prevent another global catastrophe.