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COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of digital fitness solutions, pushing the exercise industry toward a hybrid model. People will still attend brick-and-mortar gyms when the pandemic is over, but digital fitness classes will have increased their foothold in the market.

More people turned to digital fitness solutions when quarantine orders closed fitness centers in March. Companies that had previously made a stir in the digital fitness space experienced a surge of interest at the onset of COVID-19, and businesses that had offered passes to brick-and-mortar fitness studios before COVID-19 shifted to provide access to virtual, pre-recorded, and live studio classes.

For example, according to Evercore ISI analyst Lee Horowitz, Peloton app downloads were five times higher in March than February. Peloton also reported a 77% increase in quarterly revenue at the end of December.

Likewise, Mindbody, a tech platform that connects people to exercise, health, and wellness solutions, launched a proprietary solution to allow users streaming fitness classes to bypass Zoom. According to their research, 46% of survey participants plan to keep taking virtual classes after gyms reopen.

Just as COVID-19 accelerated and forced the adoption of telemedicine in healthcare; it seems that it will also accelerate the adoption of at-home digital fitness.

Of course, the adoption of digital fitness solutions is not surprising. Many experts believed that the future of fitness was headed this way anyway, with pioneering companies like Peloton, MIRROR, Mindbody, Tonal, and NordicTrack paving the way.

Not all fitness centers weathered the pandemic well. Likely, anyone who has a YMCA membership received several emails asking them to donate their membership payments throughout the epidemic.

The YMCA lost $800 million in revenue between April and May. Several branches have shut down, with at least two closures planned for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and more likely to follow.

COVID-19's impact on the YMCA is a major one, as many parents rely on the Y for child care. The YMCA is an essential provider of preschool and before-and-after school child care programs, and a program that offers child care during school breaks.

But, the Y wasn't the only fitness center to take a hit during the quarantine.

Gold's Gym and 24-Hour Fitness suffered severe blows. Both companies filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy between May and June and cited COVID-19 as the reason for their filings. Gold's Gym is likely to close 50% of its nonfranchise locations, and 24-Hour Fitness plans to close about 30% of its studios permanently.

New York Sports Club and other companies also ushered financial concerns during the quarantine.

COVID-19 led to an increase in digital fitness classes. It pushed much of the health and wellness space online, with health coaches, personal trainers, and doctors offering more virtual consultations than before. But, now that gyms have the green light to reopen, what's in store for fitness?

The forced break for gym-goers prompted a variety of responses. Some claim they'll never go back to the gym, and others are delighted to be back now that gyms are open again.

Chances are the future will remain a hybrid of digital and in-person fitness solutions.

Digital classes have made exercise more accessible for many. Yet, there are still certain aspects of in-person fitness that digital fitness has yet to replicate. For instance, despite many strategies to replicate community in online fitness classes, there's still something special about meeting people in-person for a workout, and some things, such as swimming laps, will always be challenging for most people to do at home.

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MultiBrief: How COVID-19 is changing the exercise industry - MultiBriefs Exclusive

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MINNETONKA, Minn. (KAMR/KCIT) According to a study released on July 29, More than two-thirds of Americans surveyed who work out said walking has been their preferred exercise option amid COVID-19, while one in five said that the pandemic has encouraged them to improve their eating habits.

The 2020 UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup Survey, which examines peoples opinions about health topics and preferences, includes key findings such as:

As for job performance among those who said the wellness programs made a positive impact, 54% of employees interviewed said that the initiatives helped reduce stress; 51% said that they improved productivity; 31% said they took fewer sick days. Among employees without access to those programs, 71% said they would be interested in such initiatives if they were offered.

Now is an opportune time for Americans to make an investment in their health, with employers in a crucial role to foster healthy habits among employees in the workplace and while working from home, said Rebecca Madsen, UnitedHealthcare chief consumer officer, The UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup Survey highlights the importance of implementing robust well-being programs that may foster whole-person health, reduce absenteeism and curb care costs.

Complete survey results can be found here.

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Study: Walking ranks as the preferred exercise option for the majority of Americans amid COVID-19 - KAMR - MyHighPlains.com

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Girls on the Run Greater Boston is open for registration.Executive director Olivia Mathews said both in-person and virtual programs are being offered depending on location.She said during the pandemic, getting kids moving is more important than ever."We all know, as grownups, the connection between your physical health and your mental health," Mathews said.Running is typically a big part of the program, but she said empowering girls has always been the main goal."Girls participate twice a week, she said. They go through a very specific curriculum that has been evaluated to be effective at helping them to be confident and have skills to stand up for themselves and what's important."Roopal Patel has been coaching for three years, ever since her daughter Anya got involved."We always start out with kind of a vision (that) we share with them (a) little subject area, Patel said. It could be about friendship. It could be about confidence."Her daughter said the program makes the exercise more fun.I'm running the track, but I'm still having fun and learning new things," she said.With teams in many different communities, this years program will look different depending on local COVID-19 guidelines.Mathews described what the remote option will look like."If you can't get out to run the laps if you have to be in your house, it's five-minute intervals is a lap five minutes of exercise of any kind."The Girls on the Run program begins in the 3rd grade and Mathews said thats intentional."There are statistics that are staggering about how girls self-confidence typically declines starting at age 9, Mathews said. Their physical activity level starts to decline at age 10."Patel said Girls on the Run is not about competition, just encouragement."It's not all of it's about running, Patel said. It's about having fun, being active and being confident in whatever it is that you can do."You can find more information about Girls on the Run Greater Boston here.

Girls on the Run Greater Boston is open for registration.

Executive director Olivia Mathews said both in-person and virtual programs are being offered depending on location.

She said during the pandemic, getting kids moving is more important than ever.

"We all know, as grownups, the connection between your physical health and your mental health," Mathews said.

Running is typically a big part of the program, but she said empowering girls has always been the main goal.

"Girls participate twice a week, she said. They go through a very specific curriculum that has been evaluated to be effective at helping them to be confident and have skills to stand up for themselves and what's important."

Roopal Patel has been coaching for three years, ever since her daughter Anya got involved.

"We always start out with kind of a vision (that) we share with them (a) little subject area, Patel said. It could be about friendship. It could be about confidence."

Her daughter said the program makes the exercise more fun.

I'm running the track, but I'm still having fun and learning new things," she said.

With teams in many different communities, this years program will look different depending on local COVID-19 guidelines.

Mathews described what the remote option will look like.

"If you can't get out to run the laps if you have to be in your house, it's five-minute intervals is a lap five minutes of exercise of any kind."

The Girls on the Run program begins in the 3rd grade and Mathews said thats intentional.

"There are statistics that are staggering about how girls self-confidence typically declines starting at age 9, Mathews said. Their physical activity level starts to decline at age 10."

Patel said Girls on the Run is not about competition, just encouragement.

"It's not all of it's about running, Patel said. It's about having fun, being active and being confident in whatever it is that you can do."

You can find more information about Girls on the Run Greater Boston here.

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5 for Good: Girls on the Run seeks to empower, boost activity during pandemic - WCVB Boston

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Photo credit: NordicTrack; Erica Murphy

From Best Products

There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.

On Trial: NordicTrack RW900 Rowing Machine

Tester: Erica Murphy, a novice rower looking to switch up my exercise routine

The Brief: Over the past year, I've been seeing more and more articles about the full-body benefits of rowing. Because it's a low-impact cardio option, it places less stress on your joints, which means that you can exercise harder and longer than during high-intensity workouts. Even though rowing is low-impact, you can still get all the cardiovascular and fat-burning benefits you'd get from a more strenuous workout. So when I got the chance to test out NordicTrack's RW900, I jumped at the opportunity.

The biggest misconception about rowing is that it's just an upper-body workout. Spoiler alert: You actually use 86% of muscle groups during a rowing workout. Rowing targets quite the array of muscle groups including the shoulders, back, biceps, and core, according to director of iFit training, Mecayla Froerer, NASM CPT. Proper technique during the rowing stroke can really help engage the core muscles, which will in turn help improve posture."

Froerer says that rowing is also a great sport to build strong legs. I can attest: After using the rower a few days in a row, my hamstrings were feeling the burn.

NordicTrack uses iFit for their interactive personal training, and the program features olympic rowers, certified trainers, and more (in total, the program offers access to more than 130 trainers!). Their iFit program is the biggest way that NordicTrack differentiates themselves from the soon-to-be crowded boutique at-home workout space. It offers in-class experiences, but it's the on-location classes that truly make exercising a fun experience.

Want to row in Slovenia's Lake Bled? You can do that. Are you interested in supplementing your rowing workout with a bodyweight segment on the beaches in California? You can do that, too. The locations make every class interesting, and you don't feel like you're working out at home.

Story continues

This also means that you need to give yourself an extra 5 minutes to browse through all the choices, because there are a TON. In addition to studio and on-location rowing classes, iFit also gives you access to warm-up and cool-down plans, yoga classes, HIIT classes, and even running classes. The rower comes with a year-long iFit membership, so you'll have a solid amount of time to try out the various programs and workouts.

Now let's talk about the actual machine.

When fully extended, the rower measures 7 feet, 2.5 inches long. But it was designed with saving space in mind and folds in half for easy storage. When folded, it takes up roughly 3 feet of floor space. If you're wondering how big that really is, it fits in my NYC apartment both extended and folded up. Folding the rower up and down does take some getting used to, so I'd recommend practicing it a few times if you plan on keeping it folded when not in use.

The RW900 comes with a 22-inch HD Smart Touchscreen, and it's just as clear as any other screen I've used on home workout equipment (The Mirror, Peloton, SoulCycle, to name a few.) The screen is adjustable to turn to the right and left, which helps if you're doing a class that's a combination of rowing and HIIT. The screen doesn't tilt up and down it hasn't been a huge issue, but just something to note.

Because this rower does feature a screen to give you access to all that iFit has to offer, the price falls in line with other luxury at-home exercise machines. The RW900, which is the highest-end rower that NordicTrack offers, will set you back roughly $1,800. NordicTrack does offer a payment plan to lower the upfront cost.

Engineered with an inertia-enhanced flywheel, the rowing mechanism is smooth and relatively quiet. It also comes with 26 resistance levels, so you can up the ante as you progress with your rowing abilities.

As far as sound goes, two amplified speakers help crank it up pretty good. But there's also an auxiliary music port for headphones so you won't wake up your neighbors while going all-out at 30 strokes per minute.

Closing Argument: According to Froerer, Rowing is a great form of exercise for people of all ages and can provide a great workout for the novice and pro alike. I started out rowing roughly a month ago and still feel like a novice, but I can tell that my body is getting stronger and more toned, and its a workout Im definitely keeping in my rotation.

Shop RW900

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These LIVESTRONG.com readers all saw results with Noom.

Image Credit: Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

You've heard it a hundred times: Anything that sounds too good to be true when it comes to weight loss probably is. But when every weight-loss program out there promises undeniable results, how do you know which ones are legit and which ones are just marketing spin?

The key is looking at people's real-life experiences, which is why we asked LIVESTRONG.com readers across the Unites States to share the weight-loss approach that worked for them.

One standout? Noom, the psychology-based weight-loss program that emphasizes adjusting habits to help people lose weight and keep it off. Keep reading to hear what three LIVESTRONG.com readers had to say about how this weight-loss approach fit into their lifestyles.

Michele Giannini | Clinton Township, New Jersey

Giannini lost 28 pounds using Noom, which she credits to the psychology behind the program.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

Working long hours in an office environment for over 20 years and having two children, my weight had crept up. I would get inspired and do cleanses or extreme diets that severely restricted one food group. I would lose weight, but always gain it back (and then some) when not adhering to the strict guidelines.

I also enjoyed workouts such as CrossFit or other high-intensity workouts. I'd get really into a program and inevitably get injured. I had a high-stress job and life in general, and I noticed a year or two ago that even my workouts made me feel more stressed. I would get stronger and more fit, but generally not lose weight. Nothing ever felt right long-term. Nothing seemed sustainable.

In February, I saw an ad online for a free trial for Noom. I loved it right off the bat and signed up for a membership. I set my goal at 135 pounds, which was about 22 pounds from where I started. Once I reached that goal, I set another five-pound goal. In total, I've lost about 28 pounds, and my lifetime goal is to maintain within five pounds of my current weight.

The major difference for me was the psychology behind Noom. The articles I'd read daily and the quizzes and self-assessments taught me so much. My thoughts completely changed regarding food and exercise. I learned why I ate the things I ate, and when, and how much. And because I am more concerned with movement over exercise, I'm enjoying walks and other gentler exercises that alleviate my stress rather than add to it. I feel so strong and healthy and I've never received so many compliments. The impact has truly been immeasurable, and I love how I'm now able to inspire others.

Nolan Carlson | West Fargo, North Dakota

Carlson loves that Noom focuses on education around food, not eliminating specific foods from your diet.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

I've tried a number of different diets, but ultimately they've resulted in short-term progress. I was looking for an app-based program so I always had it with me, and when I saw the commercial for Noom I thought I'd give it a try. I've been using it for about two months now, and I've lost 10 pounds.

Noom is different from other diets I've tried because it uses a plan based on caloric density. It doesn't eliminate foods from your diet, but instead educates you on why certain choices are more beneficial for you than others. Noom also gets into the psychology and physiology of dieting and cravings why your body signals you to eat at certain times, and why you feel urges to binge or grab something salty or sweet. Every day has reading lessons to help you make smarter choices, and you have the opportunity to share with a personal coach or a group.

Some of my favorite things about the Noom program are the daily weigh-ins, logging my food and the fact that I can still eat a wide variety of foods without starving myself or being on a non-sustainable diet.

The program works, but it still requires discipline. That's the key to any diet. Any diet is only as good as the person willing to follow it. Much of my lack of progress is a result of me ignoring the lessons Noom has shared.

Loretta Flynn | Warrenton, Virginia

"Noom helped me understand my relationship with food better than any other method Ive tried," says Flynn.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

I've been trying to lose 10 pounds all my life, with limited success. I was looking at weight-loss programs on the internet when COVID-19 first hit in March, and when Noom popped up, it said that they were giving free memberships because they didn't want anyone who was struggling to not have a resource that could help them. Since many people didn't have an income at that time, I thought that was really big of them to do. So I signed up and paid the fee as a donation.

I lost six pounds in my first six weeks of using Noom, and I love it because the sense of humor in the daily readings makes them educational but also entertaining, so you look forward to them. I also love that it doesn't dictate any particular foods. All foods are allowed, they just educate you on which ones are going to be more filling for you, and which ones are going to help you stay on your goal path better. Plus, every once in a while they'll send you a message that says, "You've been working hard, why don't you have a treat today?" Which is really nice, instead of saying, "Cookies are bad, don't eat them."

In fact, it doesn't label any foods as "good" or "bad," which was a huge breakthrough for me. I love potato chips, and Noom would say, "Potato chips are potato chips. They are neither good nor bad. Potato chips have a lot of sodium. Do you want to intake a lot of sodium today?" You can answer that question however you want, without feeling guilty for eating a "bad" food. It takes the emotion out of it.

Overall, Noom is different from other diets I've tried because it's not so much a diet as a journey to understand your eating patterns and how to break them. It challenges you to question why you crave the things you crave, which is important because for sustainable weight loss you need to change your eating habits, and that starts with understating your motivations. If you can identify, "I'm eating this because I'm stressed," the next time you're stressed you might make a different decision about food. Or you might not. But at least you have the information. Noom helped me understand my relationship with food better than any other method I've tried.

Want to try it? Noom gives you the support and tools you need to stay focused on your weight-loss goals. Try Noom today.

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This Is the Weight-Loss Program That Actually Worked for LIVESTRONG.com Readers Across the Country - LIVESTRONG.COM

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Those with an active lifestyle or looking to lose weight or build muscles can benefit from home exercise equipment when they are not doing laps in the pool, running miles outdoors, or working up a sweat in the gym. In todays modern technology, you have various options from a treadmill, elliptical, cable rows, and so on. Those that you think you can only access in the gym are now easily accessible for home use. But if youre on the lookout for a great machine that specifically targets certain physical areas then the V-Form Trainer is for you.

The problem when it comes to home workouts though is the lack of proper guidance. You have to settle for self-motivation or mediocre rehearsed prompts coming from home exercise videos. Whereas in the gym, you have a trainer who checks your form, counts your reps, and gives you a power boost.

This is where advancements in technology come in to make your home fitness journey more interesting, fun, and exciting. Built-in AI or sensors on exercise machines have become useful in the absence of a physical one-on-one trainer. The AI records your progress, monitors your form, and basically acts as your workout guide.

The V-Form Trainer is a smart home gym equipment that provides strength training workouts to help you work on that muscle or tone. Inspired by Leonardo DaVincis drawing of the ideal human physique, it targets certain body areas so you achieve the perfect form.

The V-Form Trainer runs on electricity and only needs four square meters of floor space and easily and neatly stores away. It boasts sleek ergonomic aesthetics with its 55lb carbon fiber platform coupled with a smooth charcoal finish. It features customizable LEDs that respond to your force load.

Forget the dumbbells and other weight training tools that seem more dangerous and unreliable when it comes to home workouts. They scream accidents when you do lifts or bench presses without assistance. The V-Form Trainer takes the hassle and burden out of carrying and weighing metal plates. Instead, automatically adjusted resistance cables provide you with the needed weight at a max load of 200kg (450lb).

This home gym equipment uses an adaptive force algorithm that takes the guesswork out of weight training. The technology manages load so the cables adjust accordingly to your strength capacity and tendencies across the range of movement. This means you still have to exert serious force as the machine encourages you to aim for a harder, stronger, and healthier workout.

All the while, the V-Form Trainer logs your overall performance for comparisons and encouragement. You are always in the know with improvements and achievements.

The V-Form Trainer works with a companion Bluetooth app that syncs with your phone through the machines QR code. It provides access to programs, exercises that target different muscle groups: lifts, presses, curls, squats, and coached sessions and classes. It even offers diet management guides and Core brand classes including V-Flow for recovery, V-Strength, V-Burn, V-Booty, and yoga.

The smart app lets you customize workout plans and provides immersive virtual training sessions, track performance data, and optimize progress. It also lets you share BPs and encourage others on the V-Form Family to hit their goals or top your achievement.

The V-Form Trainer makes bulky, heavy metal bars and plates seem obsolete. Its an intuitive machine that effectively hones your strengths and saves time on changing weights. It provides full-body workouts in a compact size that takes little floor space and minimal tools.

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Getting an internship in college can enhance a students traditional learning experience, according to uindy.edu. Jordan Grino and Aria Warren, two University of Indianapolis alumni who graduated with degrees in exercise science in August, were placed at GiGis Playhouse to intern this past summer. Professor of Exercise Science and Internship Coordinator Jill Dempsey assigned internships, and she placed students where she believed theyd succeed, according to Grino.

[Dempsey] worked like crazy to find places that would accept virtual interns, and since it was so hard to find a place for everyone, she just chose, Grino said. She knows all the students pretty well, so she picked based on what she thought they would like.

GiGis Playhouse is a nonprofit that supports families that have children and adults with Down syndrome, and their mission is to help families network, according to http://www.gigisplayhouse.org. According to their website, this is achieved through educational programs, social skill development programs, and supplemental programs that help develop fine and gross motor skills. This summer, they were online, and that had new challenges for them, Warren said.

It turned out to be all online, and they still had almost all their participants showing up, so it just showed how important GiGis is to them, Warren said. It is really important for them just learning new skills and getting to be around each other and have fun.

Grino said she found numerous ways to implement her exercise science background. She helped with a program called GiGiFIT and created a warm-up routine for them, Grino said.

Warren was involved with GiGis kitchen and helped them make food, according to Warren. She helped them make smoothies and gluten-free recipes, Warren said.

With the GiGis kitchen [program], I used more of our sports nutrition stuff that we do with exercise science think about the different nutrients and stuff they would need, Warren said.

Warren was able to broaden her horizons and help with programs she normally would not have if it werent for GiGis Playhouse, Warren said. Since everything was fully online, they helped with a plethora of activities. Surprisingly enough, Warren said favorite parts of the internship were not even exercise-science related.

Warren got to assist in helping GiGis put on a virtual theater show. The participants worked on facial expressions and practiced how to interact with each other, Warren said. According to Warren, this helped the participants gain a lot of confidence.

The theater program was definitely my favorite, which I was surprised about because I never really have been into theater stuff, but just seeing all the participants gaining confidence in the theater, Warren said. They were so happy to be there, and it impacted all of us.

According to Grino, her favorite activity was the movie club because she had the opportunity to develop with different activities and discussions to lead with the group. During this time, she got a lot of time to talk and have fun with the participants, Grino said.

Overall, their experiences with GiGis Playhouse were positive, Warren said. Even though it wasnt quite what they were expecting, they gained an amazing experience.

I think it was a really good experience for me to have going into physical therapy because Im going to work with people of all different ages and everything, Warren said. I dont know where I want to specialize for sure, but I could definitely see myself doing that in the future.

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Alumni intern remotely at GiGi's Playhouse The Reflector - The Reflector Online

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Scientists have uncovered an enzyme that appears to play a key role in regulating sexual behavior in males. Their new research, published in the journal Endocrinology, found that selectively disrupting the enzyme aromatase in the brains of male mice led to a sharp decrease in sexual behavior.

Over the past 30 years, we have been interested in various roles of aromatase, the enzyme that produces estrogen from testosterone locally in a number of body sites including the brain, explained Serdar Bulun, the chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine.

There have been a number of reports about the function of aromatase in specific brain regions for sexually dimorphic brain development particularly in males during fetal development and early postnatal life; and sparse data also suggested that the aromatization of testosterone to estrogen in the brain might play a role in regulating libido, but this remained as an important question in the adult male.

There was a definitive way to answer this question: to knock out aromatase selectively in the brain and find out if sexual activity or desire changes. This is what we did, Bulun said.

The researchers found that sexual activity in male mice decreased by 50% when they knocked out a single gene responsible for encoding the enzyme, despite the mice having higher levels of blood testosterone levels (compared with control male mice).

Normally, if a male mouse is put with a female one, Bulun said in a news release, it would chase after her and try to have sex with her. If you knock out the aromatase gene in the brain, their sexual activity is significantly reduced. There is less frequency of mating. The male mice are not that interested.

The decreased sexual behavior in male mice was fully restored after the systemic administration of both estradiol and testosterone but not by estradiol or testosterone alone. This indicates that the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in the brain plays an important role in male sexual behavior, the researchers said.

Estrogen and testosterone have been traditionally labeled as female and male sex steroids, respectively. Our findings underscore that this is a superficial characterization. Both steroids serve important roles in both sexes, Bulun told PsyPost.

Testosterone in the brain serves two purposes for sexual desire. As an androgen, it stimulates it. As a further twist, testosterone is also aromatized and thus serves as a precursor for estrogen in the brain.

This additional estrogenic effect in the brain is necessary for achieving full sexual desire. Because males (versus females) have enormously higher levels of blood testosterone, they can concentrate estrogen in certain brain regions much more effectively compared with females. We hope that our findings will help design treatments for the disorders involving sexual desire, Bulun said.

But the researchers still have more to learn about the relationship between aromatase and sexual behavior.

We knocked out aromatase in the entire brain. Aromatase in the adult brain is present in specific locations such as the hypothalamus, amygdala and several other regions. We still need to pinpoint the microscopic brain regions responsible for controlling libido via more refined conditional knockout technology, Bulun explained.

There also remain other key questions. How does estrogen regulate sexual desire? What are the downstream neurotransmitters that mediate this estrogenic effect? How do aromatase-intense regions communicate with the cortex to regulate sexual activity?

The study, Brain Aromatase and the Regulation of Sexual Activity in Male Mice, was authored by David C. Brooks, John S. Coon V., Cihangir M. Ercan, Xia Xu, Hongxin Dong, Jon E. Levine, Serdar E. Bulun, and Hong Zhao.

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New research suggests the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in the brain is crucial for male sexual d ... - PsyPost

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PHILADELPHIA - Exposure to hydraulic fracturing fluid in drinking water has been shown to increase the risk of respiratory problems, premature births, congenital heart defects, and other medical problems. But not all wells are created equal. Since different hydraulic fracturing -- or fracking -- sites use a diverse mix of chemical ingredients, often individuals and researchers are in the dark about the health consequences of living near a particular well.

Now, a new, interactive tool created by Penn Medicine researchers allows community members and scientists to find out which toxins may be lurking in their drinking water as a result of fracking. By typing your ZIP code into the website or accompanying app -- called WellExplorer -- you can view the closest fracking sites in your state, learn which chemicals are used at those sites, and view their levels of toxicity.

In a recent study, published in Database: The Journal of Biological Databases and Curation, the WellExplorer app's creators found, for example, that wells in Alabama use a disproportionately high number of ingredients targeting estrogen pathways, while Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania use a high number of ingredients targeting testosterone pathways. The information found through WellExplorer might be particularly relevant for individuals who use private water wells, which are common in rural Pennsylvania, since homeowners may not be performing rigorous testing for these fracking chemicals, according to the study's principal investigator Mary Regina Boland, PhD, an assistant professor of Informatics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

"The chemical mixtures used in fracking are known to regulate hormonal pathways, including testosterone and estrogen, and can therefore affect human development and reproduction," Boland said. "Knowing about these chemicals is important, not only for researchers who may be studying health outcomes in a community, but also for individuals who may want to learn more about possible health implications based on their proximity to a well. They can then potentially have their water tested."

While FracFocus.org serves as a central registry for fracking chemical disclosures in the United States, the database is not user-friendly for the general public, and it does not contain information about the biological action of the fracking chemicals that it lists. In order to create a tool that could provide more in-depth, functional information for researchers and individuals alike, the Penn researchers first cleaned, shortened, and subsetted the data from FracFocus.org to create two newly usable files that could be in used in WellExplorer website and app.

Because the research team also wanted to provide toxic and biological properties of the ingredients found at these well sites, they integrated data from the Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB). From that database, they compiled information on fracking chemicals' protein targets (and the genes that encode those proteins), toxin mechanisms of actions, and specific protein functions. Moreover, they extracted the toxicity rankings of the top 275 most toxic ingredients from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, as well as a list of ingredients that were food additives as described by Substances Added to Food Inventory. The team then linked all of that information together and created a ZIP Searcher function into their web tool, so that people could easily find their exposure risks to specific chemicals.

"The information had been out there, but it was not all linked together in a way that's easy for regular people to use," Boland said.

However, Boland added that the use of chemicals at a fracking site may not necessarily mean that those chemicals would be present in the water supply, which would be dependent on other factors, such as what type of soil or bedrock is being drilled into, and the depth of both the hydraulic fracturing well and an individual's private well depth. Nonetheless, WellExplorer provides a starting point for residents who may be experiencing symptoms and want to have their water tested.

Beyond information-gathering for individuals, WellExplorer can also be used as an important tool for environmental scientists, epidemiologists, and other researchers to make connections between specific health outcomes and proximity to a specific fracturing well. From a development standpoint, this means that the research team had to be conscious of the two audiences when designing the website and app, said Owen Wetherbee, who aided in the development of WellExplorer while interning in the Boland Lab.

"Nationally, researchers are trying to link fracking to health outcomes, and I believe that a large reason why answering that question is challenging, is because different wells are using different ingredients, and so, the side effects of exposure would be different from place to place," Boland added. "What this app gives you is some information about where to start looking for these answers."

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Is your drinking water toxic? This app may help you find out - Science Codex

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Humans aren't the only species that are preparing for the cold weather - as temperatures begin to ... [+] drop, West Indian manatees make the journey inland to Florida's warm natural springs.

Editors Note: *Due to the current Covid-19 outbreak, the potential complications that may arise from recreational travel should not be taken lightly - it is recommended to thoroughly inspectCDC guidelinesbefore making any travel plans.*

Marked by crisp air and the return of the pumpkin spice latte, the weeks of early autumn are celebrated worldwide as endless opportunities for leaf peeping arise - but theres far more to the season than simply colorful foliage. All throughout the natural world, flora and fauna take notice of the changing temperature, embarking on mass migrations and vibrant blooms that are truly spectacular to behold. For an opportunity to spot creatures from all walks of life, ranging from tiny wildflowers to the largest mammals on earth, take a look at the activities listed below.

The American Oystercatcher is just one of many shorebirds to be encountered on the coast of Cape ... [+] May.

While the historic seaside city of Cape May draws tens of thousands of beachgoers during the summer months, birdwatching fosters a surge in tourism as the weather begins to cool. All throughout October, visitors to the southernmost point of New Jersey can witness hundreds of migratory avian species, ranging from colorful songbirds to sleek raptors. Home to lush wetlands and rolling sand dunes, the pristine South Cape May Meadows are a great destination to view a diverse array of hawk species, while nearby Stone Harbor Point is rife with wading shorebirds, brown pelicans, and the occasional peregrine falcon.

During rutting season, bull elk often engage in physical combat, rushing towards each other and ... [+] slamming their antlers together until one concedes.

While cold weather and crimson foliage are two hallmarks of early autumn, those who live around the Rockies may be familiar with a third - the haunting bugle of a bull elk, ringing out for miles during peak rutting season. This natural phenomenon is marked by a major hormonal change in male elks, with increased testosterone flooding their veins as they battle one another for a chance to mate with the areas most eligible bachelorettes. Theres a wide array of destinations across the Rockies to witness the rut, including Rocky Mountain National Park or the iconic Yellowstone, but wherever you go, just be sure to keep a safe distance - a 700-pound bull elk on a testosterone bender is nothing to mess around with.

While these colorful flowers are often referred to as daisies, this species (Helianthus porteri) is ... [+] actually a relative of the sunflower.

Located just half an hour east of downtown Atlanta, the 40,000-acre Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area has undergone a drastic transformation, with huge swathes of daisies painting the typically-barren granite landscape with a brilliant yellow hue. This year, the preserve is celebrating Septembers Daisy Days with an exciting competition perfectly suited for outdoor adventurers: the Triple Hike Challenge. All throughout the month, visitors are encouraged to scale Stone Mountain, Panola Mountain, and Arabia Mountain, snapping a photo of each one as they reach the summit. Those who complete their mission will receive a special prize to be revealed later, but dont hesitate - this contest ends on the last day of the month.

Massachusetts is a particularly popular destination for whalewatching - this hungry humpback was ... [+] spotted off the coast of Provincetown, a community on the tip of Cape Cod.

A region that was once heavily involved in the whaling industry, New Englands seaside towns and cities have set aside the harpoons in favor of cameras and microphones, offering spectacular excursions to spot some of the oceans most gentle creatures. While peak whale watching season runs from April to October, an autumn visit allows visitors to kill two birds with one stone, immersing themselves in vibrant fall foliage alongside humpbacks, finbacks, minke whales, and right whales. Serious nature enthusiasts should consider a trip to coastal Maine, spending a day on the sea with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co followed by a day of exploring iconic Acadia National Park, one of New Englands most esteemed destinations for leaf peeping.

While one may assume that manatees are related to seals or whales, the closest living relative of ... [+] these gentle creatures is the elephant.

After months spent roaming the coast, the cooling temperatures of early autumn begin to drive manatees back to the rivers of Florida, packing the state with huge populations of these iconic mammals. Manatee viewing season peaks in the dead of winter, but those who get an early start in autumn can spot some of the years early movers without the hassle of huge crowds, providing an intimate viewing experience thats tough to recreate once the season really kicks in. Your best bet for spotting manatees in the early season is Crystal River - this area is rife with natural springs that create a safe haven for the gentle beasts, with year-round populations calling the waterways home.

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5 Natural Wonders Of The US To Experience In Early Autumn - Forbes

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