<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grapevines-could-offer-a-breakthrough-alternative-to-plastic-packaging/">Plastic</a> bags are everywhere, and too many slip into rivers and onto beaches. A new analysis finds that policies that either charge a small fee per bag or prohibit them outright cut the share of bags found during shoreline cleanups by 25 to 47 percent.</p>



<p>The study combed through hundreds of city, county, and state rules passed between 2017 and 2023. It matched those policies to more than 45,000 volunteer cleanups across the United States to see what actually changed on the ground.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-ran-the-study">Who ran the study</h2>



<p>The research was coauthored by <a href="https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/ceoe/departments/smsp/faculty/kimberly-oremus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kimberly L. Oremus</a> of the University of Delaware’s School of Marine Science and Policy (<a href="https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/ceoe/departments/smsp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UDEL</a>). </p>



<p>Oremus and her collaborator set out to measure litter, not just shopping behavior, so the results speak to what ends up in nature.</p>



<p>The team relied on citizen science, meaning trained volunteers recorded what they collected during beach, river, and lake cleanups. </p>



<p>They drew on <a href="https://www.coastalcleanupdata.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TIDES</a>, a public database that stores those counts in one place so researchers can analyze patterns across time and place.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-plastic-bag-policies">Studying plastic bag policies</h2>



<p>To isolate the effect of bag policies, the authors used a Difference-in-Differences (<a href="https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research/population-health-methods/difference-difference-estimation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DiD</a>) approach that compares places with and without new laws over the same period. </p>



<p>That design helps rule out unrelated trends that affect everyone, such as national shifts in shopping or packaging.</p>



<p>The headline result is simple. In communities with full bans or fees, the share of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-linked-to-high-blood-pressure-and-heart-problems/">plastic</a> bags in the litter mix fell relative to similar places without policies, and the decline grew in the years after a law took effect.</p>



<p>State level rules tended to be more reliable in the data than city or county policies. Effects looked similar along coasts and rivers, with hints of larger gains along lakes where winds and currents spread litter differently.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-policy-fees-vs-bans">Plastic policy: Fees vs. bans</h2>



<p>Fees change the default at every checkout and discourage taking a bag when you do not need one, which reduces both thin and thicker bag use.</p>



<p>Other <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carrier-bag-charge-summary-of-data-in-england/single-use-plastic-carrier-bags-charge-data-for-england-2024-to-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence</a> points in the same direction outside the United States. England reports an almost 98 percent drop in single use carrier bags at major retailers since its charge began.</p>



<p>Policies that only restrict thin bags often allow thicker <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/agricultural-soil-is-now-the-worlds-biggest-plastic-dumping-ground/">plastic</a> labeled as reusable. </p>



<p>Those partial bans showed the smallest and least precise effects in the analysis, which is consistent with shoppers substituting one kind of plastic for another.</p>



<p>Some states also pass preemption <a href="https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/state-plastic-bag-legislation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">laws</a> that block cities and counties from regulating bags at all. When local governments cannot act, the study’s data suggest statewide policies become especially important.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildlife-and-entanglement">Wildlife and entanglement</h2>



<p>The cleanup records include notes on animals found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-found-in-99-percent-sea-turtles-organ-tissue-reproductive-system/">entangled in debris</a>. </p>



<p>In areas with bag policies, the presence of entangled animals dropped by roughly 30 to 37 percent, although the authors caution that the estimates are imprecise and more data are needed.</p>



<p>That finding aligns with what we know about <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/single-use-plastics-101" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">single-use-plastics</a>. Thin bags linger in water and along shorelines, where they can snag, smother, or be eaten by turtles, birds, and fish.</p>



<p>Many studies track what happens at store checkouts, but fewer track what ends up outdoors. Shoreline cleanups offer a window into that last step in the chain from purchase to pollution.</p>



<p>Across the study period, the share of bags among collected items rose overall, but it rose less where bag laws existed. That pattern is exactly what you want to see if policies are slowing the flow of litter into the environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-plastic-policy-steps">Global plastic policy steps</h2>



<p>A small, universal fee is a simple tool that nudges behavior without banning choices. Full bans can work too, and the analysis shows both approaches reduce the share of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/glass-bottles-contain-more-microplastics-than-plastic-containers/">plastic</a> bags found during cleanups.</p>



<p>The mix of policies should match local conditions. In places with more bag litter to begin with, impacts were largest, so targeting high problem areas with fast action can deliver quick gains.</p>



<p>Plastic bag rules are only one part of the picture. Negotiators from 175 countries are working toward a plastics treaty under <a href="https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNEP</a> that could standardize action on a wider set of products and chemicals.</p>



<p>The study notes that bottles, caps, and other items did not decline when bag policies passed. That is a signal that targeted rules for other single use products would be needed to curb overall litter.</p>



<p>Adopt a modest fee or a full ban that applies across retail and restaurant settings, and keep the text simple so it is easy to enforce. Pair the policy with clear signs at checkout and with retailer reporting that tracks compliance.</p>



<p>Measure results in the same way the researchers did. Recruit volunteers, log items in TIDES, and watch how the litter mix changes year over year so the policy can be adjusted as needed.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp9274" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Studies confirm that a small tax definitely helps curb plastic pollution

Plastic bags are everywhere, and too many slip into rivers and onto beaches. A new analysis finds that policies that either charge a small fee per bag or prohibit them outright cut the share of bags found during shoreline cleanups by 25 to 47 percent. The study combed through hundreds of city, county, and state rules passed between 2017 and 2023. It matched those policies to more than 45,000 volunteer cleanups across the United States to see what actually changed on the ground. Who ran the study...

<p>Climate change brings numerous challenges, with 'managed retreat' emerging as a crucial strategy for adaptation. </p>



<p>As communities worldwide face escalating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seeking-ways-to-prevent-flooding-caused-by-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flooding</a>&nbsp;risks, many are considering or being advised to relocate to safer, more resilient areas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This proactive approach to managing risk is already in action. Flood-prone regions like Louisiana and Alaska are leading the way. Communities are taking decisive steps to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-outrun-the-flood-risks-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protect their futures</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-retreat-from-risk">Strategic retreat from risk</h2>



<p>The concept of managed retreat focuses on strategically retreating from areas at high risk of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aral-sea-dust-emissions-have-doubled-with-major-climate-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate impacts</a>.</p>



<p>“It's retreating from risk, and we hope to provide decision support for the equitable implementation of retreat to build climate resilience,” said Elaina Sutley, associate professor of civil, environmental &amp; architectural engineering at the&nbsp;<a href="https://ku.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Kansas</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-partnership">Global partnership</h2>



<p>Sutley is leading a comprehensive three-year study on managed retreat, valued at approximately $650,000.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This research is titled “Retreating from Risk (RFR): Decision-supports for the equitable implementation of retreat to build <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-yards-promote-climate-resilience-in-urban-areas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate resilience</a>.” </p>



<p>It is part of a collaboration funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a> and Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund.</p>



<p>This initiative is through the 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Competition. Each agency supports scientists at institutions in their respective countries.</p>



<p>“This is multidisciplinary collaboration between partners in the United States, Canada, and Indonesia, who are all faced with flood disasters, whether that's coastal flooding associated with a hurricane or not,” Sutley said.</p>



<p>“Inland flooding, seasonal flooding, and repeated nuisance flooding -- all three of these countries are facing it. Managed retreat has become a somewhat common <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-climate-adaptation-lacks-coordination/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptation strategy</a>, particularly for flooding. The U.S. team will also consider retreating from wildfire disasters.”</p>



<p>The KU-headed partnership extends beyond the <a href="https://ku.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Kansas</a>, involving <a href="https://www.stonybrook.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stony Brook</a> and <a href="https://www.ttu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas Tech</a> universities, as well as researchers abroad. </p>



<p>This collaborative effort aims to develop effective and fair retreat strategies to address various types of flooding and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-want-to-fight-climate-change-more-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate-related risks</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-managed-retreat">Understanding managed retreat</h2>



<p>The focus of this research extends beyond communities grappling with floods and wildfires; it also aims to inform decision-making for those facing a range of recurrent natural disasters.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers are committed to understanding managed-retreat approaches. They are exploring how these methods are considered and implemented in various geographies, cultures, and nations. </p>



<p>By examining global practices, they aim to identify common strategies. They also want to highlight necessary adaptations tailored to specific regional challenges.</p>



<p>This comprehensive analysis will help in developing effective, context-sensitive approaches for communities around the world, enhancing their resilience to various climate-related risks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-respecting-indigenous-knowledge">Respecting indigenous knowledge</h2>



<p>In this extensive effort, the team is deeply committed to seeking and incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices wherever applicable.&nbsp;</p>



<p>They aim to work closely with Indigenous communities, building trust and fostering meaningful partnerships.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By integrating Indigenous perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge, the researchers hope to ensure that their strategies are not only effective but also culturally respectful and inclusive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-barriers-to-managed-retreat">Identifying barriers to managed retreat</h2>



<p>The researchers will also document a range of barriers to adopting managed retreat, including political, financial, cultural, and policy-related challenges.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To gain a comprehensive understanding, data will be collected through a variety of methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and roundtable discussions. </p>



<p>This approach ensures that the research captures diverse perspectives from all levels of decision-making.</p>



<p>The ultimate goal is to provide actionable guidance for communities considering managed retreat as a strategic option.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By examining the nuances and varying viewpoints from different communities and stakeholders, the researchers aim to offer tailored recommendations that address specific needs and concerns, facilitating a more informed and equitable decision-making process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-tools-and-immediate-relevance">Practical tools and immediate relevance</h2>



<p>The findings will be instrumental in guiding policymakers, community leaders, and future research efforts.</p>



<p>The ultimate aim is to develop "contextually relevant decision-support tools" that empower community leaders to effectively engage their constituents on managed retreat strategies.</p>



<p>Given the pressing nature of the managed retreat issue, the research is designed to offer practical and timely guidance.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By studying communities at various stages of addressing this challenge, the researchers seek to understand how managed retreat processes unfold in different contexts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The results are intended to provide both immediate and long-term relevance, ensuring that the recommendations are adaptable to the evolving needs of diverse communities.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Effective 'managed retreat' strategies for climate-threatened areas

Climate change brings numerous challenges, with 'managed retreat' emerging as a...

<p>The story of global reforestation is far from a simple one; it's a complex interplay of local economies, international industries, environmental stewardship, and the incessant forward march of climate change. </p>



<p>Imagine the forests as our planet’s lungs - inhaling carbon dioxide and exhaling oxygen.</p>



<p>But it seems the balance has been off for a while, and our planet is gasping for air. Today, however, a study from <a href="https://duke.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a> breathes new life into this narrative.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-of-reforestation">Power of reforestation</h2>



<p>At the forefront of this research is Jeff Vincent, a professor of forest economics and management at Duke University’s <a href="https://nicholas.duke.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nicholas School of the Environment</a>. </p>



<p>Alongside lead author Jonah Busch, a Climate Economics Fellow at Conservation International, Vincent and his team have advanced a fresh perspective on the cost and impact of reforestation. </p>



<p>Their study reveals fascinating facts about the power of a combined approach to reforestation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reforestation-sites">Reforestation sites</h2>



<p>Simply put, reforestation involves growing back trees on lands where human activity has decimated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-forests-which-tree-species-can-survive-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">original forests</a>.</p>



<p>Presently, most reforestation programs across low- and middle-income countries focus solely on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-planting-campaigns-fall-short-of-successful-reforestation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree planting</a>. </p>



<p>However, this study uncovers that nearly half of all suitable reforestation sites would be more effective in carbon sequestration if forests were allowed to regrow naturally. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-all-about-the-wood">Is it all about the wood?</h2>



<p>"Wood markets are one key to large-scale reforestation," Vincent states. </p>



<p>In fact, the study shows that in more than half the areas studied, timber plantations sequester carbon at a lower cost than naturally regenerated forests. </p>



<p>Could the key to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/success-story-reforestation-has-helped-keep-the-eastern-us-relatively-cool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reversing deforestation</a> lie in our local wood markets?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mix-is-the-trick">Mix is the trick</h2>



<p>According to Vincent, a combination of planted and naturally regenerated forests often offers the best solution for balancing society’s demands on forests. </p>



<p>Yet, Jonah Busch notes that this more biodiversity-rich method of reforestation is enormously underutilized.</p>



<p>To illustrate this, the researchers propose another method to sequester more carbon: replanting some forest regions while allowing nature to do her thing in others. </p>



<p>As it turns out, it's not an 'either-or' situation – a mixed approach offers the most effective strategy to combat climate change. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-paying-for-the-planet-s-lungs">Paying for the planet's lungs</h2>



<p>Companies and organizations seeking to offset their greenhouse gas emissions can help incentivize reforestation through carbon payments. </p>



<p>"Carbon payments can provide a sufficient reforestation incentive on their own in some locations," Vincent explains.</p>



<p>He also adds that the net cost of carbon sequestration could be reduced in other places by income from sustainable wood harvests.</p>



<p>In essence, the total cost of capturing and storing carbon dioxide, minus any benefits gained from the process, can be significantly lowered through projects that generate income from timber sales or wood products.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implementation-of-reforestation">Implementation of reforestation </h2>



<p>Implementing the findings from Duke University’s study requires a coordinated effort among governments, NGOs, and local communities. </p>



<p>Policy frameworks must be developed to support mixed approaches to reforestation, providing guidelines for sustainable forestry and natural regeneration methods. </p>



<p>Furthermore, educational campaigns can raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the necessity of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planting-too-many-trees-could-spoil-the-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maintaining ecological balance</a>. </p>



<p>Engaging local communities in the reforestation process ensures that initiatives are culturally sensitive and economically viable, ultimately leading to more successful outcomes in restoring our planet’s green spaces.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-affecting-reforestation-costs">Factors affecting reforestation costs</h2>



<p>Whether natural growth or planting trees is more cost-effective in a certain location depends on several factors. </p>



<p>These include forest growth rates, proximity to natural seed sources for regeneration and wood-processing mills for plantations, the value of land in its current use, and the costs of each method.</p>



<p>In their study, the team modeled these factors for the two reforestation methods and produced a world map showing the most cost-effective reforestation method by location.</p>



<p>"We hope our map will help governments, companies, and other organizations use their forest restoration budgets more efficiently," Vincent concludes.</p>



<p>And so do we. After all, it's not just about the trees. It's about the air we breathe, the climate we wish to preserve, and the planet we hope to pass onto our children.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02068-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Climate Change</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Planting trees is important, but reforestation can help, too

The story of global reforestation is far from a simple...

<p>Giant plumes of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sahara-desert-dust-storms-carry-harmful-bacteria-and-fungi-around-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sahara Desert dust</a> that blow across the Atlantic can influence weather patterns, suppressing the formation of hurricanes and affecting North American weather. </p>



<p>However, a new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn6106" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science Advances</em></a> has shown that thick dust plumes can also lead to heavier rainfall and more potential destruction from landfalling storms.</p>



<p>“Saharan dust, transported across the Atlantic Ocean by trade winds, is the predominant aerosol type during summer and early fall over the tropical Atlantic,” noted the researchers.</p>



<p>“It can efficiently alter atmospheric radiative fluxes in both shortwave and longwave bands and participate in cloud formation by serving as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and/or ice nuclei (IN).”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saharan-dust-and-hurricane-precipitation-nbsp">Saharan dust and hurricane precipitation<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>The study uncovered a previously unknown relationship between Saharan dust plumes and hurricane precipitation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Study co-author Yuan Wang is an assistant professor of Earth system science at the <a href="https://sustainability.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability</a>.</p>



<p>“Surprisingly, the leading factor controlling hurricane precipitation is not, as traditionally thought, sea surface temperature or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humidity-increases-urban-heat-stress/">humidity</a> in the atmosphere. Instead, it’s Sahara dust,” said Wang.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-and-saharan-dust-nbsp">Climate change and Saharan dust&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Previous research indicates that Saharan dust transport may decline in the coming decades, leading to increased hurricane rainfall due to human-caused <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-earth-energy-imbalance-temperature-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>. </p>



<p>However, there is still uncertainty regarding how climate change will affect Saharan dust outflows and the amount of additional rainfall from future hurricanes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Understanding the complex relationships among Saharan dust, ocean temperatures, and hurricane dynamics is critical for predicting and mitigating climate change impacts.</p>



<p>“Hurricanes are among the most destructive weather phenomena on Earth,” said Wang. Even relatively weak hurricanes can cause significant inland flooding and heavy rains.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropical-cyclone-rainfall">Tropical cyclone rainfall</h2>



<p>The study authors noted that tropical cyclones (TCs) have caused catastrophic damages globally.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“According to global and regional climate models, tropical cyclone rainfall (TCR) is expected to increase with global warming, following the increased water vapor holding capacity in the atmosphere with rising temperature,” wrote the researchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underestimated-weather-source-nbsp">Underestimated weather source&nbsp;</h2>



<p>However, as Wang pointed out, dust has not received enough attention in conventional weather and hurricane predictions. Dust particles can have opposing effects on tropical cyclones.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to Wang, a dust particle can make ice clouds form more efficiently in the core of the hurricane, which can produce more precipitation.</p>



<p>This effect is called microphysical enhancement. However, dust can also block solar radiation and cool sea surface temperatures around the hurricane's core, thereby weakening the tropical cyclone.</p>



<p>To understand these dynamics, Wang and his colleagues developed a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-can-more-accurately-predict-ocean-currents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">machine learning</a> model to predict hurricane rainfall. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dust-optical-depth-nbsp">Dust optical depth<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Using 19 years of meteorological data and hourly satellite precipitation observations, they found that a key predictor of rainfall is dust optical depth, which measures how much light passes through a dusty plume.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts discovered a boomerang-shaped relationship: rainfall increases with dust optical depths between 0.03 and 0.06, then sharply decreases as dust concentration rises further. This means high concentrations of dust shift from enhancing to suppressing rainfall.</p>



<p>“This study uses an XGBoost machine learning model with 19-year meteorological data and hourly satellite precipitation observations to predict TCR for individual storms. The model identifies dust optical depth (DOD) as a key predictor that enhances performance evidently.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saharan-dust-and-tropical-cyclone-rainfall-nbsp">Saharan dust and tropical cyclone rainfall<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>The model also uncovers a nonlinear and boomerang-shape relationship between Saharan dust and TCR, with a TCR peak at 0.06 DOD and a sharp decrease thereafter. This indicates a shift from microphysical enhancement to radiative suppression at high dust concentrations,” the authors explained.</p>



<p>“Normally, when dust loading is low, the microphysical enhancement effect is more pronounced. If dust loading is high, it can more efficiently shield [the ocean] surface from sunlight, and what we call the ‘radiative suppression effect’ will be dominant,” Wang added.</p>



<p>The research highlights not only the power of machine learning algorithms to predict weather patterns, but also the urgent need to consider Saharan dust in hurricane predictions to better understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-">-----</h3>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h--0">-----</h3>

Saharan dust can intensify hurricanes

Giant plumes of Sahara Desert dust that blow across the...

<p>According to the <a href="https://climate.copernicus.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Copernicus Climate Change Service</a> (C3S), our planet has just experienced its hottest day in recorded history. </p>



<p>On July 22, 2024, the daily global average <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/death-valley-may-reach-the-hottest-temperature-ever-recorded-this-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temperature</a> reached a new record high of 17.15°C. This exceeded the previous records of 17.09°C set just one day before on July 21, 2024, and 17.08°C set a year earlier on July 6, 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hottest-day-on-record">Hottest day on record</h2>



<p>Based on preliminary data released by C3S on July 24, 2024, Monday, July 22, marked the hottest day in the ERA5 dataset, which has records dating back to 1940.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While the temperature on July 21, 2024 (17.09ºC) was nearly indistinguishable from the previous record of 17.08ºC reached on July 6, 2023, the new record temperature of 17.15°C on July 22 represents a more significant deviation than typical day-to-day variations.</p>



<p>What stands out even more is the significant difference between the temperatures recorded since July 2023 and those of all previous years. The data can be explored in <a href="https://pulse.climate.copernicus.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate Pulse</a>, the C3S application that provides historical and near-real-time temperature data from the ERA5 reanalysis dataset.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-temperature-record">Global temperature record</h2>



<p>Before July 2023, the previous daily global average temperature record was 16.8°C, set on August 13, 2016. Since July 3, 2023, there have been 58 days that have exceeded that previous record, spread between July and August 2023, and during June and July so far in 2024.</p>



<p>“On July 21st, C3S recorded a new record for the daily global mean temperature. What is truly staggering is how large the difference is between the temperature of the last 13 months and the previous temperature records. We are now in truly uncharted territory and as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tackling-the-dual-crises-of-climate-and-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> keeps warming, we are bound to see new records being broken in future months and years,” said  C3S Director Carlo Buontempo, commenting on the record set on July 21, 2024.</p>



<p>“We now have a new record, and its value is sufficiently large to indicate with some confidence that this has exceeded the record set only last year. The event is still ongoing and it is possible the date of the peak may still change, but our data suggest we may see slightly lower temperatures in the next few days,” he added, following the new record on July 22, 2024</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-the-times">Signs of the times</h2>



<p>Analysis of the years with the highest annual maximum daily global temperatures shows that both 2023 and 2024 have seen annual highs substantially above those recorded in previous years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Another sign of the global warming trend is the fact that the ten years with the highest annual maximum daily average temperatures are the last ten years, from 2015 to 2024.</p>



<p>The difference between the lowest-ranked of those ten years (2015) and the previous record prior to 2023 (August 13, 2016) was 0.2°C. The jump from the 2016 record to 2023 is 0.28°C, and to the new 2024 record is 0.35°C, highlighting how substantial the warmth of 2023 and 2024 is.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forces-behind-the-hottest-day">Forces behind the hottest day</h2>



<p>But what caused this new record global average temperature? The global average temperature tends to reach its annual peak between late June and early August, coinciding with the Northern Hemisphere summer. This is because the seasonal patterns of the Northern Hemisphere drive the overall global temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The large land masses of the Northern Hemisphere warm up faster than the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere can cool down during the Northern summer months.</p>



<p>The global average temperature was already at near-record levels in recent days, slightly below the levels of 2023, after being at record levels for the time of year for more than a year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The analysis suggests that the sudden rise in daily global average temperature is related to much above-average temperatures over large parts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-in-distress-the-escalating-consequences-of-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctica</a>. Such large anomalies are not unusual during the Antarctic winter months and also contributed to the record global temperatures in early July 2023.</p>



<p>What’s more, Antarctic sea ice extent is almost as low as it was at this time last year, leading to much above-average temperatures over parts of the Southern Ocean.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-global-temperatures-nbsp">Record global temperatures&nbsp;</h2>



<p>As the global average temperature was already at near-record levels during the first half of July, close to the temperatures seen at this time of year in 2023, and the global average temperature typically reaches its peak at this time of year, it is not completely unexpected that we are seeing global average temperatures of this magnitude.</p>



<p>We expect the daily global average temperature to peak around July 22 or 23, 2024, and then decrease, but with possible further fluctuations in the coming weeks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As the annual maximum global average temperature typically occurs between late June and early August, these conclusions are preliminary as scientists follow the evolution of the climate in near-real time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In 2023, there was a second peak in the daily global average temperature on August 4 (reaching 17.05°C) that came close to the record set on July 6, 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hottest-year-on-record">Hottest year on record?</h2>



<p>Whether 2024 will likely be the warmest year on record will largely depend on the development and intensity of the next phase of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/el-nino-event-may-push-earth-towards-its-hottest-year-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Niño</a> Southern Oscillation (ENSO) (i.e., when and how strongly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/australian-bushfires-triggered-rare-multi-year-la-nina/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Niña</a> develops). </p>



<p>To date, 2024 has been sufficiently warm for it to be quite possible that the full year will be warmer than 2023, but the exceptional warmth of the last four months of 2023 makes it too early to predict with confidence which year will be the warmer.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-">-----</h3>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h--0">-----</h3>

Earth just experienced its hottest day ever recorded

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), our planet...

<p>Ocean whispers, hums and resonates with its very own concert of life. However, noise pollution from human activities is beginning to override this melodious orchestra, introducing a cacophony of decibels that our marine friends, especially baby oysters, find disturbingly loud.</p>



<p>“The ocean's natural sound is gradually hushing due to habitat loss, leading to a quieter natural environment increasingly drowned out by the crescendo of human-made noise pollution,” explained Dr. Brittany Williams from the <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Adelaide</a>’s Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, and lead author of the research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-baby-oysters-and-noise-from-human-activity">Baby oysters and noise from human activity</h2>



<p>Marine organisms, including the delicate oysters, rely heavily on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-noise-is-getting-louder-what-does-this-mean-for-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean's natural acoustics</a> for their survival. </p>



<p>Like the conductor of an orchestra, these acoustics guide their activities - sense their surroundings, navigate, communicate, avoid predators, find mates and food. </p>



<p>Reliant on these natural acoustic cues, baby oysters specifically settle in environments that resonate with the right note. Unfortunately, this ‘note’ is increasingly being drowned by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noise-pollution-is-increasingly-disrupting-whale-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noises of human activity</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-noise-is-an-unseen-threat-to-oysters">Noise is an unseen threat to oysters</h2>



<p>The humdrum of shipping, machinery, and construction are some of the many human activities that contribute to the rising noise pollution in our oceans. </p>



<p>The concern isn't just about the loudness of these noises, but also the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-kills-ocean-embryos-during-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">significant environmental changes</a> these instigate, impacting both terrestrial and marine animals. </p>



<p>“Noises from shipping, machinery and construction, for example, are pervasive and pose serious environmental change that affects both terrestrial and marine animals,” Dr. Williams pointed out.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-struggles-of-restoring-reefs">Struggles of restoring reefs</h2>



<p>Reefs rehabilitation comes with its own sets of challenges. Our previous understanding of using sound to lure oysters back to restored <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/self-repairing-oyster-reefs-will-help-protect-coastlines/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reefs</a> is now under scrutiny. </p>



<p>“Our previous work demonstrated that novel acoustic technology can bolster oyster recruitment in habitat restoration projects, but this new research indicates potential limitations of this speaker technology,” obscured Dr. Dominic McAfee, another researcher from the University of Adelaide.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-noise-pollution-impact-baby-oysters">Noise pollution impact baby oysters </h2>



<p>In areas heavily polluted with human-made noise, the usage of specialized speaker technology to attract larvae failed. </p>



<p>These noises might effectively cloak the intrinsic sounds of the ocean, creating serious implications for the marine ecosystem vitality and resilience.</p>



<p>“This suggests that noise pollution might cloak the intrinsic sounds of the ocean, potentially exerting profound ramifications on marine ecosystem vitality and resilience," Professor Sean Connell, a co-author of the research at the University of Adelaide and the <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environment Institute</a>, rightly said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-silver-lining">Silver lining</h2>



<p>Despite the challenges, hope swims in the horizon. In areas with lesser anthropogenic noise, the acoustic technology seems to work well, enhancing the process of oyster recruitment which is key to habitat restoration success. </p>



<p> “Where there is little anthropogenic noise, acoustic enrichment appears to enhance the process of recruitment which is key to restoration success," notes Dr. Williams.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-community-engagement">Role of community engagement</h2>



<p>Community involvement is crucial in addressing the challenges posed by noise pollution in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-impacting-marine-life-more-than-we-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine environments</a>. </p>



<p>By raising awareness and encouraging local communities to participate in restoration efforts, we can create a more supportive atmosphere for the oceans' symphony to thrive. </p>



<p>Engaging workshops and educational programs can equip the public with tools to understand the importance of soundscapes in marine ecology, leading to more responsible practices for protecting these vital ecosystems. </p>



<p>As locals become stewards of their coastal environments, their actions can promote a healthier acoustic ecosystem for all marine life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-to-fix-the-issue">Next steps to fix the issue</h2>



<p>To combat the detrimental effects of noise pollution, ongoing research is essential. Scientists are exploring innovative methods to integrate acoustic technologies with natural reef rehabilitation strategies effectively. </p>



<p>Future studies may focus on fine-tuning these technologies to ensure they replicate the acoustic signals prevalent in pristine environments, thus providing optimal cues for marine organisms like oysters. </p>



<p>By understanding the complexities of marine soundscapes further, researchers hope to develop more effective interventions that bridge the gap between natural and artificial acoustic stimuli, ultimately leading to healthier marine ecosystems.</p>



<p>So, are we still in sync with our oceans? Or are we playing an entirely different tune? </p>



<p>With the wall of human-made noise rising, it's an important question to ponder upon. The silent underwater world is being silenced further, and in this quiet, one can hear the plea for harmony!</p>



<p>Let's think about it – for the oysters, for all marine life, and for us.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.0741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.</em></p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Oyster populations are rapidly declining due to ocean noise

Ocean whispers, hums and resonates with its very own concert...

<p>A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07592-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a><em> </em>has found that tree bark surfaces play a crucial role in removing methane gas from the atmosphere.</p>



<p>While scientists have long known that trees have an amazing capacity to sequester carbon dioxide, this research reveals an additional climate benefit: microbes within tree bark can absorb <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/methane-emissions-are-higher-than-previously-estimated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methane</a>, a greenhouse gas more potent in the short term than CO2, from the atmosphere.</p>



<p>“Methane is an important greenhouse gas, but the role of trees in the methane budget remains uncertain,” noted the researchers. “Although it has been shown that wetland and some upland trees can emit soil-derived methane at the stem base, it has also been suggested that upland trees can serve as a net sink for atmospheric methane.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trees-are-more-beneficial-than-expected">Trees are more beneficial than expected</h2>



<p>The international research team, led by the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a>, has now provided clear evidence that microbes in bark or wood remove atmospheric methane on a scale comparable to or greater than that of soil. </p>



<p>The scientists estimate that this newly discovered process makes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-struggling-to-breathe-store-co2-hotter-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trees</a> ten percent more beneficial for the climate overall than previously believed.</p>



<p>Methane is responsible for nearly 30 percent of global warming since pre-industrial times, and its emissions are currently increasing at an unprecedented rate.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Although atmospheric processes remove most methane, experts previously believed that soil bacteria which absorb and break down methane for energy are the only terrestrial methane sink. These new findings, though, unmistakably show that trees are equally or even more significant.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-vital-climate-service-nbsp">A vital climate service&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“The main ways in which we consider the contribution of trees to the environment is through absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, and storing it as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-forests-with-many-tree-species-are-more-effective-at-carbon-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon</a>,” explained lead researcher Vincent Gauci, an expert in biogeochemistry at Birmingham. “These results, however, show a remarkable new way in which trees provide a vital climate service.”</p>



<p>The researchers studied upland tropical, temperate, and boreal forest trees. They measured methane exchange in tropical forests in the Amazon and Panama, temperate broadleaf trees in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK, and boreal coniferous forests in Sweden.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Methane absorption was strongest in tropical forests, likely due to the warm, wet conditions that favor microbial activity. On average, this newly discovered methane absorption adds approximately&nbsp; ten percent to the climate benefit provided by temperate and tropical trees.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-bark-and-methane-removal-nbsp">Tree bark and methane removal&nbsp;</h2>



<p>By examining methane exchange between the atmosphere and tree bark at various heights, the researchers found that while trees might emit a small amount of methane at soil level, they consume methane from the atmosphere a few meters up.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, the team used laser scanning methods to quantify the global forest tree bark surface area. Preliminary calculations indicate that the global contribution of trees to methane removal is between 24.6-49.9 Tg (millions of tons) of methane. This discovery fills a significant gap in understanding global methane sources and sinks.</p>



<p>The tree shape analysis also shows that if all the bark of all the trees worldwide were laid flat, the area would be equal to the Earth's land surface.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Tree woody surfaces add a third dimension to the way life on Earth interacts with the atmosphere, and this third dimension is teeming with life, and with surprises,” said co-author Yadvinder Malhi, a professor of ecosystem science at the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions-nbsp">Future research directions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Professor Gauci and colleagues at Birmingham are now planning a new research program to determine if deforestation has led to increased atmospheric methane concentrations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts also aim to learn more about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-laid-the-foundation-for-early-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbes</a> themselves, the mechanisms they use to absorb methane, and whether this atmospheric methane removal by trees can be enhanced.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-role-of-tree-bark">Surprising role of tree bark</h2>



<p>The implications of this research are profound, suggesting that trees not only help combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide but also by removing methane from the atmosphere.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This dual function underscores the importance of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/market-based-strategies-fall-short-on-forest-conservation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest conservation</a> and reforestation efforts. Planting more trees and protecting existing forests could play a significant role in mitigating climate change and enhancing global biodiversity.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Tree bark removes methane from the atmosphere

A new study published in the journal Nature has found...

<p>In the silent depths beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet, submarine canyons are silently playing a massive part in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-ice-sheet-melting-new-tipping-point-discovered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice sheet's instability</a>. </p>



<p>A captivating new study casts these underwater formations in the role of critical conduits, channeling relatively warm Circumpolar Deep Water up from yawning abyssal depths to the continental shelf. This warmer water then trails to the base of the ice sheet, contributing to its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/this-natural-process-is-making-antarcticas-ice-melt-faster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">slow but steady melting</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-submarine-canyons-and-antarctic-glaciers">Submarine canyons and Antarctic glaciers</h2>



<p>The extensive research, led by the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (<a href="https://www.ogs.it/it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OGS</a>), including experts from the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a>, shines a spotlight on sedimentary bodies within these canyon systems.</p>



<p>These bodies bear the geological traces of persistent bottom currents coursing along these canyons, carrying the ocean's heat like a silent, creeping courier to the Antarctic landmass.</p>



<p>“The intrusion of relatively warm water onto the continental shelf is widely recognised as a threat to the Antarctic ice sheet,” said study lead author Federica Donda, a marine geologist in the OGS Geophysics Department.</p>



<p>“Our endeavor to constrain the extent and long-term persistence of this phenomenon is crucial in deciphering potential responses of the ice sheet to global warming.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-totten-and-ninnis-glaciers">Totten and Ninnis glaciers</h2>



<p>The team's dedication drew them to Totten and Ninnis glaciers, the gatekeepers to the two most significant subglacial features in East Antarctica: Aurora-Sabrina and Wilkes sub-glacial basins.</p>



<p>A goldmine of discovery awaited the team. Their rigorous analysis unearthed dome-shaped sedimentary bodies (or sediment drifts) spanning several thousand meters wide and measuring 40 to 80 meters thick. </p>



<p>The properties of these bodies strongly suggest they were sculpted by bottom currents streaming towards the continental shelf.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-through-the-submarine-canyons">Water through the submarine canyons</h2>



<p>Recent data collected from one of the canyons flowing off Totten Glacier reported currents of about 10 cm/s near the seafloor, a startling discovery at a depth of about 3,500 meters. </p>



<p>This current is part of an oceanic circulation characterized by large cyclonic eddies transporting different water masses, including the warm waters of the Circumpolar Deep Water. A portion of these eddies find their way southward through these canyons, paving easy routes to transport these warmer water masses toward the continent.</p>



<p>“This thickness of the sedimentary bodies identified within the canyons is an indirect testament to the continuation of oceanic heat transfer for at least the past one million years,” noted Donda.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-melting-of-east-antarctic-glaciers">Melting of East Antarctic glaciers</h2>



<p>“Until a few years ago we thought that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet was stable. But the evidence today doesn't just reveal that some East Antarctic glaciers are melting," said Dr. Alessandro Silvano from the University of Southampton. </p>



<p>"We have crucial new insights that there are preferred pathways for warm waters to constantly reach two of the largest glaciers on Earth and melt them from below.”</p>



<p>The East Antarctic ice sheet has recently started piquing the interest of the scientific world, because even a partial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-low-antarctic-sea-ice-and-rapid-melting-pace-stuns-climate-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">melting of this ice giant</a> could drive a significant rise in sea level. </p>



<p>To put this in perspective, the Aurora-Sabrina and Wilkes sub-glacial basins alone bear the equivalent of over 8 meters of global mean sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-global-sea-level-rise">Implications for global sea level rise</h2>



<p>The repercussions of these findings stretch far beyond the icy realms of Antarctica. As the warmer water continues its journey beneath the ice, the gradual melting of glaciers poses a looming threat to global sea levels. </p>



<p>Scientists are increasingly concerned that even a moderate increase in melting could displace millions of people in coastal regions worldwide. </p>



<p>Understanding the dynamics of submarine canyons and their influence on ice sheet stability is vital for modeling future sea-level scenarios and preparing for inevitable environmental changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-in-research">Next steps in research</h2>



<p>The research team underscores the importance of ongoing exploration of Antarctic submarine canyons, advocating for further studies that will enhance our understanding of the region's complex interactions between the ocean and the ice sheet. </p>



<p>Implementing advanced technologies, such as autonomous underwater vehicles and high-resolution sonar mapping, will allow researchers to gather more precise data on ocean currents and temperature variations. </p>



<p>By unveiling more about these critical areas, scientists hope to develop strategies to mitigate the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-days-getting-longer-rotation-slows-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">impacts of climate change</a> and better predict the future of Earth's ice-covered regions.</p>



<p>The findings of this research elevate submarine canyons to a key position in understanding the mechanisms tied to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-ice-shelves-are-fracturing-from-meltwater-weight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice sheet's melting</a>, both in the past and at present. Consequently, this understanding boosts our ability to predict future sea level rise.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50160-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.</em></p>



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Stability of Antarctica is threatened by submarine canyons

In the silent depths beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet, submarine...

<p>It's no secret that volcanoes are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-dormant-volcanoes-are-capable-of-explosive-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unpredictable</a>, often hiding their secrets beneath layers of magma and age-old rock formations. However, an innovative solution to detect volcanic tremors is now in sight, thanks to relentless tenacity, and the power of technology.</p>



<p>The researcher at the helm, making sure we're a step ahead in understanding these fascinating natural phenomena, is Darren Tan, a graduate student researcher at the University of Alaska Fairbanks <a href="https://www.gi.alaska.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Institute</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-volcanic-tremors">Mapping volcanic tremors</h2>



<p>Tan’s exciting breakthrough proposal comes down to this – an automated system that can document and classify the ongoing vibrations in active volcanoes. This system promises to entirely overhaul the long hours currently spent on manual documentation. </p>



<p>The innovative part? It’s built with the might of machine learning - a fascinating domain of artificial intelligence that leans on data to discern patterns and make decisions with the least possible human intervention.</p>



<p>This system will focus on volcanic tremor, a rhythmic seismic signal that escapes from volcanoes and often indicates the underground movement of magma or gas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanic-tremor-earth-s-undercover-rhythm">Volcanic tremor: Earth’s undercover rhythm</h2>



<p>What’s volcanic tremor? It’s not a volcanic earthquake, even though both might seem similar. The volcanic tremor is a sustained ground rumble that can last anywhere from a few seconds to an entire year or even more. It's so subtle that it’s usually detected in spectrograms because of its ever-changing intensity and frequency.</p>



<p>“Volcanic tremor isn’t typically detected or cataloged because it tends to be quite subtle in the seismic data. It doesn’t have the impulsive onset like an earthquake does," explained Tan.</p>



<p>Currently, the Alaska Volcano Observatory, where Tan is affiliated, has manual processes to detect tremor. The seismologists there spend their days scanning spectrograms at 32 volcano-monitoring networks across Alaska to find even the faintest hint of tremor amidst the clear seismic signals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monitoring-volcanic-tremors">Monitoring volcanic tremors</h2>



<p>With 54 volcanoes classified as “historically active” in Alaska alone, such manual efforts can be time-consuming and tedious. </p>



<p>However, with Tan's automatic system, this would be a thing of the past. He used the varied tremor signals from the 2021-2022 eruption of Pavlof Volcano to build a comprehensive dataset of labeled seismic and low-frequency acoustic spectrograms.</p>



<p>The result? Computer models that can detect and classify volcanic tremor in almost real-time. But don't worry, human intervention will still be required to interpret what the automation churns out.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shaking-things-up">Shaking things up</h2>



<p>The research paves the way for a new chapter in volcanic monitoring. “To be able to place our focus on time periods of interest, that is key,” said Tan. “I think that reinvents the way we can monitor long-duration eruptions, because things can get missed when a volcano is active for a year and a half or two years.”</p>



<p>The automated method doesn't only detect tremor; it also contributes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/icelands-volcanic-eruptions-may-continue-for-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forecasting and detecting eruptions</a>, revolutionizing our approach towards these unpredictable giants.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-automation-for-seismic-research">Automation for seismic research</h2>



<p>The implications of Tan's automated system extend far beyond mere efficiency. By significantly reducing the time required for manual detection, researchers can now allocate more resources to analyzing the data and predicting volcanic behaviors. </p>



<p>This paradigm shift in seismic research could result in enhanced risk assessment methodologies, enabling better preparedness for potential <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/popocatepetl-releases-a-blast-of-volcanic-ash/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eruptions</a>. </p>



<p>Moreover, the integration of machine learning can open up new avenues for collaborative research, allowing data from various regions to be shared and compared more easily, leading to a global understanding of volcanic activity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-prospects">Future prospects</h2>



<p>Looking ahead, the application of Tan's system could set a precedent for the monitoring of not only volcanic tremor but also other geological phenomena. </p>



<p>As technology continues to evolve, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-research-enhances-predictions-on-volcanic-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">similar approaches</a> could be used to study earthquakes, landslides, and other natural events, utilizing machine learning and vast datasets to uncover patterns that were previously elusive. </p>



<p>By bridging the gap between advanced technology and the often unpredictable forces of nature, researchers can enhance our ability to predict and respond to environmental changes, ultimately safeguarding communities against geological hazards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-wild-west-of-machine-learning">The Wild West of machine learning</h2>



<p>Tan’s enthusiasm for machine learning is contagious. He dubs it the "Wild West of machine learning," where everyone wants to dip their toes in.</p>



<p>But he warns that it's essential to do so carefully. After all, we're making decisions that will impact global safety responses and scientific understandings.</p>



<p>With Tan’s groundbreaking innovation, the future of volcanic monitoring is surely looking brighter. It's not about predicting the unpredictable; instead, it's about understanding, learning, and being prepared. And that is the heart of true scientific discovery.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024JB029194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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'Volcanic tremors' can now be detected to forecast eruptions

It's no secret that volcanoes are unpredictable, often hiding their...

<p>Trees, those silent, stationary beings we often take for granted are actually on the move. Surprising as it may be, this doesn't mean tree trunks are sprouting legs and trekking uphill. </p>



<p>Instead, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-have-an-amazing-ability-to-adapt-to-new-climates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">entire species</a> of trees in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest are shifting their habitats in response to the ever-looming specter of climate change.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-migration-due-to-climate-change">Tree migration due to climate change</h2>



<p>The recent study was led by Dr. Rodrigo Bergamin, a researcher from the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a>, in collaboration with an international group of scientists.</p>



<p>The team’s findings reveal something we've never seen before; climate change is affecting not just the trees, but the very mix of tree species in the Atlantic Forest, known for its rich variety of life.</p>



<p>“We found that different species are moving in different directions - in lower forests, trees are moving downhill more often than uphill, probably due to factors besides temperature, like competition between species," said Dr. Bergamin.</p>



<p>“However, in the forest higher up in the mountains, most species are moving uphill as temperatures rise and the undergrowth becomes more suited to those trees favoring warm temperatures. This could mean that species needing colder temperatures are at risk of dying out as the world continues to warm.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-tree-species">Different tree species</h2>



<p>To reach this conclusion, the researchers studied 627 tree species across 96 different locations in the Atlantic Forest. They calculated what they call community temperature scores (CTS) to understand the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-struggling-to-breathe-store-co2-hotter-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest's climate patterns</a>.</p>



<p>Interestingly, younger trees in high-altitude forests seem more agile in their migration. The researchers found that young tree groups had more growth than the older ones, and this growth increased over a decade of observing the forest.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-varying-tree-responses-to-climate-change">Varying tree responses to climate change</h2>



<p>Some trees are in a tight spot as the planet heats up. Professor Sandra Müller from the <a href="http://www.ufrgs.br/english/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul</a>, a senior author of the study, raises the alarm. </p>



<p>“Species from higher altitudes are generally more sensitive to temperature and those that need cold are more likely to lose out in competition under warmer temperatures to species that prefer hotter temperatures,” noted Professor Müller.</p>



<p>Consider what this means for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot also known as Mata Atlântica in Portuguese. </p>



<p>This massive forest stretches from Rio Grande do Norte in the north-east to Rio Grande do Sul state in the south and extends inland as far as Paraguay and the Misiones province of Argentina. It houses a vast array of unique species and ecosystems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-biodiversity">Implications for biodiversity</h2>



<p>The shifts in tree species due to climate change have profound implications for biodiversity. </p>



<p>As certain species migrate to more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-still-fighting-climate-change-against-all-odds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suitable habitats</a>, the intricate relationships that have developed over generations - between trees, animals, and other flora - could be disrupted.</p>



<p>This relocation may also lead to the emergence of new species compositions that could struggle to adapt to existing ecological dynamics. Understanding how these changes impact not just the trees but the entire ecosystem is critical for conservation efforts moving forward.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-strategies">Conservation strategies</h2>



<p>In light of these findings, there is an urgent need to reassess conservation strategies aimed at protecting ecosystems like the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. </p>



<p>Efforts must focus on creating adaptive management plans that consider the dynamic nature of species habitats under climate change. Strategies may include protecting critical migration corridors and enhancing the resilience of remaining forests through the restoration of degraded areas. </p>



<p>We must act now to ensure that both trees and the myriad of species that rely on them for survival can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-forests-which-tree-species-can-survive-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">continue to thrive in a warming world</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-at-the-bigger-picture">Looking at the bigger picture</h2>



<p>Of course, the story might not be the same throughout this vast forest. “This study showed what is happening in the South of the Atlantic Forest, but different regions might show other trends," said study co-author Dr. Adriane Esquivel Muelbert. </p>



<p>"We are now bringing together researchers from across the whole biome to create a big picture of how these forests are responding to global change."</p>



<p>Ultimately, trees are responding to a warming climate just like all the other species on this planet. However, we still have a lot to learn before we can fully understand the impact of climate change on trees.</p>



<p>In the meantime, isn't it time we take some serious steps to slow down this relentless march towards a warmer world?</p>



<p>The study is published in the <em><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jvs.13289" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Vegetation Science</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Trees are 'relocating' in a race against global warming

Trees, those silent, stationary beings we often take for granted...

<p>A team of biologists from <a href="https://www.brown.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brown University</a> has recently aimed to understand the impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-how-plants-adapt-to-changing-climates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> on plant species in tropical mountain regions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers discovered that even slight variations in temperature and moisture could have substantial effects, threatening the survival of plants and the ecosystems they support.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plants-in-tropical-mountains-nbsp">Plants in tropical mountains&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Emily Hollenbeck, who conducted this research while earning her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from Brown, conducted extensive experiments in the Monteverde mountain region of Costa Rica.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research revealed that small changes in climate conditions drastically affect the survival of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epiphytes-are-increasingly-threatened-by-forest-disturbances/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">epiphyte species</a>, strengthening concerns about widespread extinctions due to climate change in these areas.</p>



<p>Hollenbeck, passionate about the impact of climate change on tropical forests, spent five years documenting occurrences of epiphyte species across three mountains in Costa Rica and Panama.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropical-plants-struggling-to-survive-nbsp">Tropical plants struggling to survive&nbsp;</h2>



<p>On one mountain, she transplanted plant species to different sites varying in elevation, temperature, and aridity, and observed the effects on the plants.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study, published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49181-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>, found that most epiphyte species struggled to survive outside their native climate ranges. This research highlights the heightened extinction risks from climate change in tropical mountain ecosystems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-natural-world-is-shifting-nbsp">The natural world is shifting&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“It's already obvious to people who live here, even those who aren't biologists, that the natural world has been shifting in striking ways over the last 20 or 30 years in response to climate change,” said Hollenbeck, now president of the <a href="https://www.monteverdeinfo.com/community/monteverde-conservation-league" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monteverde Conservation League</a>, a Costa Rican nonprofit focused on conserving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-ecosystems-at-risk-the-critical-role-of-aquatic-insects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tropical ecosystems</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It felt really important to conduct a very specific, well-controlled scientific study to provide context and evidence to support what we’re seeing.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extinction-risks-are-not-well-understood-nbsp">Extinction risks are not well understood&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Study co-author Dov Sax is a Brown professor of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology who served as Hollenbeck’s dissertation advisor.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Professor Sax noted that while it is well-known that climate change poses extinction risks, the specifics of these dynamics are less understood, especially in tropical mountain regions, which host some of the world's most diverse ecosystems.</p>



<p>According to Sax, most extinction risk estimates are based on statistical models that consider current climate conditions and whether these conditions will exist nearby in the future. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poorly-documented-tropical-plants">Poorly documented tropical plants</h2>



<p>The statistical models work well in regions like the United States and Europe, where species distributions are well-documented, but they are less effective in tropical settings with poorly documented species distributions and unclear tolerance levels to new conditions.</p>



<p>“The field doesn’t have a good handle on just how bad the extinction risk to tropical organisms might be under different levels of climate change,” Sax said. This study directly addresses these limitations for tropical epiphytes in the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama, requiring a significant amount of work.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptable-plants-are-still-vulnerable">Adaptable plants are still vulnerable</h2>



<p>Hollenbeck and Brown research assistants surveyed about 70 epiphyte species across three mountain ranges, transplanting around 1,500 individual plants to various elevations and climates. The plants were monitored every three months over three years.</p>



<p>“We found that these species really are as sensitive to small changes in climate conditions as has been widely feared, and which some previous, much smaller-scale experiments had found in the past,” Sax said. Even the most adaptable plants fared worse than expected, emphasizing their vulnerability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-tipping-point-for-tropical-plants-nbsp">A tipping point for tropical plants&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The study also indicates vastly different outcomes based on temperature scenarios predicted by 2100. Under a low-emission scenario (1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels), most plant species studied will survive.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, under a moderately high-emission scenario (3.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels), 5% to 36% of species may go extinct in the region, with 10% to 55% disappearing from the specific mountain studied.</p>



<p>“It is a little alarming just how close to a threshold or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-tipping-points-report-shows-humanity-on-a-disastrous-trajectory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tipping point</a> we are for these tropical species,” Sax said, noting that Earth’s surface temperature has already increased by one degree Celsius since the pre-industrial era.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“On the one hand, this gives us hope if we really can dramatically slow climate change, but on the other hand it shows just how little additional warming is needed to lead to the massive extinction events that we have feared might occur.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cascading-effects-of-plant-extinctions">Cascading effects of plant extinctions</h2>



<p>Professor Sax added that with moderate warming, a third of all epiphytes could be lost by the century's end, leading to unpredictable and far-reaching effects on the ecosystem and the local economy.</p>



<p>Hollenbeck, living in Costa Rica and involved in teaching science and running research fellowships, described epiphytes as the canaries in a coal mine for tropical forests.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Getting this level of concrete data involved a stupefying amount of fieldwork over a long time and applies to about 70 species of plants,” she said. “But this research just scratches the surface in terms of how climate change is affecting different species.”</p>



<p>This extensive research underscores the urgent need to address climate change to protect vulnerable tropical ecosystems and the myriad species they support.</p>



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Small climate changes have drastic effects on tropical plants

A team of biologists from Brown University has recently aimed...

<p>World leaders must seize a crucial opportunity to develop an integrated approach to tackle climate change and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-biodiversity-crisis-is-actually-worse-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity loss</a>, according to scientists from the <a href="https://www.zsl.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoological Society of London</a> (ZSL) and <a href="https://www.yorku.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">York University</a>. Failure to do so could result in efforts to address one crisis inadvertently hindering progress on the other.</p>



<p>A paper from the international conservation charity ZSL and researchers at York University, titled “The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement need a joint work program for climate, nature, and people,” outlines how a unified program between the <a href="https://unfccc.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change</a> (UNFCCC) and the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/biological-diversity-day/convention" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity</a> (CBD) could be established.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-and-climate-crises-are-intrinsically-linked">Nature and climate crises are intrinsically linked</h2>



<p>The paper emphasizes the necessity of this joint program, highlighting the challenges it must address and offering recommendations for successful implementation. Such a political tool is deemed essential to meet international commitments under both the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.</p>



<p>“We urgently need a global approach that addresses the nature and climate crises together - because they are intrinsically connected,” said co-author Nathalie Pettorelli, a researcher at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“The UNFCCC and CBD are incredible platforms for providing the evidence to, and guiding the way through the changes we need, but higher levels of integration between the biodiversity and climate change agendas are needed to plug implementation gaps.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stabilize-the-climate-to-restore-nature">Stabilize the climate to restore nature</h2>



<p>Pettorelli noted that the upcoming Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC and CBD present a clear policy window for the two conventions to introduce a formal governance structure that brings together ideas, people, organizations and processes necessary for joining the dots on how to both stabilize our climate and recover our nature.</p>



<p>Later this year, world leaders will convene for two global conventions to separately address <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-still-fighting-climate-change-against-all-odds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> and biodiversity loss. In October, the CBD will meet in Columbia for the 16th United Nations Biodiversity conference (COP16). Following this, the UNFCCC will meet in Azerbaijan for the 29th United Nations Climate Change conference (COP29) in November.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bold-and-transformative-action-is-needed">Bold and transformative action is needed</h2>



<p>Nathalie emphasized the importance of this opportunity: “With the closely related policy agendas of the upcoming UNFCCC and CBD's COPs, negotiators have a key opportunity to take coordinated, bold and transformative action to deliver a new, more integrated and coherent approach to addressing the entwined nature and climate crises.”</p>



<p>According to Nathalie, the urgency is such that both conventions need to work together now, and take advantage of the many potential synergies we highlighted between climate change and biodiversity policies to change humanity’s course towards a sustainable future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harmony-between-humans-and-nature">Harmony between humans and nature</h2>



<p>At COP16, government representatives will review the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022, which aims for humanity to live in harmony with nature by 2050.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Goals include halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030. Discussions at COP29 will be critical for progress towards the Paris Agreement's objective of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.</p>



<p>“The world is currently at a crossroads,” said co-author Idil Boran, a researcher at York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. “World leaders have signed international treaties that commit them to take action to address these two crises - but there is currently a massive gap in the tools available to ensure this action is unified.”&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-dual-crises-nbsp">Addressing the dual crises&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Boran said a program is needed to fill these gaps - identifying areas where climate actions may harm biodiversity, providing clear recommendations, and developing methods to monitor progress on shared goals.</p>



<p>Without this program, actions to address one crisis might create setbacks for the other, noted Boran. For instance, replacing natural grasslands with forests might help capture <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-capture-technology-faces-uncertainty-despite-heavy-investment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon </a>dioxide but would harm the ecosystems and wildlife that previously thrived there.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-based-solutions-improve-coastal-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature-based Solutions</a> (NbS) are emphasized as effective strategies that address both climate change and biodiversity loss while benefiting people.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, restoring mangroves helps with carbon storage, protects endangered species like the Bengal tiger and the Philippine cockatoo, and provides resources for local communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-funding-imbalance-for-climate-and-nature-nbsp">Funding imbalance for climate and nature&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The paper also calls for reallocating resources to address the funding imbalance between climate change and biodiversity loss efforts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Pettorelli highlighted the broader need for nature to be central to decision-making, stressing that functioning ecosystems are vital for addressing rapid climate change and essential aspects of human life, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungal-infections-are-threatening-global-food-security/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food security</a> and clean water access.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We need these to be recognized and conservation to receive the resources needed for it to be part of the solution towards tackling climate change and championing human well-being,” she said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-should-guide-our-decisions-nbsp">Science should guide our decisions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>From restoring vast areas of mangrove forests to advocating for urban rewilding to protect against climate change impacts, this call is part of ZSL’s global efforts to push for and implement urgent actions to build a better future for people and the planet. ZSL believes that nature can recover and that conservation driven by science is the most effective approach.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The experts advocate for science to guide all global environmental and biodiversity decisions, aiming to build a healthier future for wildlife, people, and the planet.</p>



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Tackling the dual crises of climate and nature

World leaders must seize a crucial opportunity to develop an...

<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.udel.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Delaware</a> (UD) and the <a href="https://www.anl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Argonne National Laboratory</a> have discovered a chemical reaction that can convert the hard plastic material Styrofoam into PEDOT, a valuable conducting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-polymer-coating-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polymer</a>. </p>



<p>This breakthrough, detailed in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00355" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>JACS Au</em></a>, demonstrates how upgraded plastic waste can be effectively used in functional electronic devices like silicon-based hybrid solar cells and organic electrochemical transistors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-pedot-nbsp">The role of PEDOT&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Led by Laure Kayser, an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UD, the research team sought to synthesize PEDOT from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hungry-bacteria-will-devour-plastic-waste/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic waste</a>. </p>



<p>The collaboration began when Kayser connected with Argonne chemist David Kaphan at a UD research event. The experts hypothesized that PEDOT could be produced by sulfonating polystyrene, a common synthetic plastic found in disposable containers and packing materials.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-striking-the-right-balance">Striking the right balance</h2>



<p>Sulfonation, a process where a hydrogen atom is replaced by sulfonic acid, is used in various products, from dyes to drugs. However, finding the right balance in the reaction - efficient yet gentle enough to avoid damaging the polymer chain - was crucial.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“A reagent that is efficient enough to get really high degrees of functionalization but that doesn’t mess up your polymer chain,” Kayser explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-months-of-trial-and-error">Months of trial and error</h2>



<p>The team initially used a method for sulfonating small molecules, employing 1,3-Disulfonic acid imidazolium chloride ([Dsim]Cl).&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, sulfonating polymers is more complex due to the challenges in separating byproducts and maintaining the polymer’s integrity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This led to months of trial and error to optimize conditions and minimize side reactions, as Kelsey Koutsoukos, a materials science doctoral candidate, noted.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We screened different organic solvents, different molar ratios of the sulfonating agent, and evaluated different temperatures and times to see which conditions were the best for achieving high degrees of sulfonation,” said Koutsoukos.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-converting-plastic-waste-to-electronic-materials">Converting plastic waste to electronic materials </h2>



<p>Ultimately, the researchers identified conditions that achieved high polymer sulfonation with minimal defects and high efficiency using a mild sulfonating agent.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By utilizing waste Styrofoam, their method also represents an efficient way to convert plastic waste into PEDOT. Once produced, the team compared their waste-derived PEDOT with commercially available versions.</p>



<p>“The performance of both types of conductive polymers was comparable, and shows that our method is a very eco-friendly approach for converting polystyrene waste into high-value electronic materials,” said lead author Chun-Yuan Lo, a chemistry doctoral candidate at UD.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Specific analyses conducted at UD included X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), film thickness analysis, and solar cell evaluation, while Argonne’s advanced spectroscopy equipment provided detailed polymer characterization.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-minimizing-waste-generation-nbsp">Minimizing waste generation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>An unexpected discovery was the ability to use stoichiometric ratios during the reaction, minimizing waste generation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Typically, for sulfonation of polystyrene, you have to use an excess of really harsh reagents. Here, being able to use a stoichiometric ratio means that we can minimize the amount of waste being generated,” Koutsoukos explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-electronic-materials-from-trash-nbsp">Making electronic materials from trash&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The research team plans to further explore this finding to fine-tune the degree of sulfonation, impacting the electrical properties of PEDOT. They aim to apply this capability to other applications, such as fuel cells or water filtration devices.</p>



<p>“For the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/graphene-superhighway-allows-electronic-devices-to-use-much-less-power/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electronic devices</a> community, the key takeaway is that you can make electronic materials from trash, and they perform just as well as what you would purchase commercially,” Kayser said. </p>



<p>“For the more traditional polymer scientists, the fact that you can very efficiently and precisely control the degree of sulfonation is going to be of interest to a lot of different communities and applications.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-sustainability-efforts-nbsp">Global sustainability efforts&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The researchers also see significant potential for contributing to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-urgent-plea-sustainable-climate-solutions-save-earth-humanity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global sustainability</a> efforts by converting waste products into valuable materials. </p>



<p>“Many scientists and researchers are working hard on upcycling and recycling efforts, either by chemical or mechanical means, and our study provides another example of how we can address this challenge,” Lo said.</p>



<p>Thus, the study not only demonstrates an innovative method to upcycle Styrofoam into high-value conducting polymers but also underscores the potential for these plastic waste materials to be used in functional electronic devices. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-upgrading-plastic-waste-to-electronics">Upgrading plastic waste to electronics </h2>



<p>This research highlights the environmental benefits and the practical applications of transforming plastic waste into valuable resources.</p>



<p>“A wide range of aromatic plastics were efficiently sulfonated, including expanded polystyrene, obtained from plastic waste packaging. We used this approach to upgrade plastic waste to a conducting polymer containing two-thirds of plastic waste by mass,” noted the researchers.</p>



<p>“This material proved efficient in organic electrochemical transistors and silicon-based hybrid solar cells, highlighting the potential of this sulfonation approach to access high-quality electronics from waste plastics.”</p>



<p>The researchers believe their innovative technique will stimulate interest in developing sustainable approaches toward electronic materials through plastics-to-electronics upgrading.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Plastic waste can be used to make electronic devices

Researchers at the University of Delaware (UD) and the Argonne...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-threat-in-urban-air"><strong>Invisible threat in urban air</strong></h2>



<p>City dwellers face an unseen danger with every breath. New findings from Emory University researchers suggest that fine particulate matter from <a href="http://earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicle emissions may significantly elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease</a>. The study examined brain tissue samples from 224 individuals who had confirmed diagnoses and volunteered their brains for scientific research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-connections-emerge"><strong>Disturbing connections emerge</strong></h2>



<p>Scientists analyzed neuritic plaques — protein clusters that characterize Alzheimer's — while mapping each participant's exposure to PM2.5 particles based on residential location and surrounding traffic density. The correlation proved more alarming than anticipated. Individuals experiencing higher pollution exposure showed nearly double the likelihood of elevated plaque accumulation in brain tissue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-matters"><strong>Timing matters</strong></h2>



<p>The research team discovered that pollution exposure during the final year before death demonstrated the strongest association with brain changes. This timeline suggests relatively rapid impacts from environmental toxins on neural health. The connection remained robust even after accounting for various demographic and health factors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-vulnerability-patterns"><strong>Genetic vulnerability patterns</strong></h2>



<p>Perhaps most concerning, people lacking the APOE gene—which naturally predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's — exhibited more than twice the susceptibility to pollution-related brain damage. Study author Dr. Anke Huels noted this indicates environmental elements like air contamination could trigger the disease in cases where hereditary factors don't explain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-implications"><strong>Public health implications</strong></h2>



<p>These findings, published in <em><a href="https://www.neurology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a></em>, underscore the critical importance of air quality regulations in urban planning. The research suggests that implementing stricter emission controls and promoting alternative transportation could serve as powerful tools in Alzheimer's prevention.</p>



<p>As cities worldwide grapple with growing traffic congestion and aging populations, this study highlights an urgent need for comprehensive approaches to environmental health that protect both our lungs and our minds.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



<p>Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



<p>The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



<p>At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.</p>



<p>"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-astrobiology">Implications for astrobiology</h2>



<p>The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.</p>



<p>The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-earth-became-a-frozen-wasteland">When Earth became a frozen wasteland</h2>



<p>Imagine Earth as a giant snowball, frozen solid from the North Pole to the equator. This wasn't the plot of a science fiction movie – it was our planet's reality 700 million years ago during an extreme ice age that has puzzled scientists for decades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-discovery">The discovery</h2>



<p>Australian researchers from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> have finally cracked one of geology's greatest mysteries: what caused the Sturtian glaciation and why it persisted for an unprecedented 57 million years. This period occurred long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, when no complex plants or multicellular animals existed.</p>



<p>Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz, the study's lead author, describes a world completely unlike today's climate. "Imagine the Earth almost completely frozen over," she explained. "The planet was blanketed in ice from poles to equator, and temperatures plunged."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-combination-of-climate-factors">The combination of climate factors</h2>



<p>The research team discovered that this massive freeze resulted from a "double whammy" of geological events. First, plate tectonic activity reduced volcanic carbon dioxide emissions to historically low levels. Volcanic activity typically releases CO2 into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that keeps Earth warm.</p>



<p>Simultaneously, weathering of volcanic rocks in what is now Canada actively absorbed atmospheric CO2, further reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. When atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped below 200 parts per million – less than half of today's levels – glaciation engulfed the entire planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-climate-implications">Modern climate implications</h2>



<p>Published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a></em>, this research provides crucial insights into Earth's climate system. While geological climate changes occur over millions of years, the study emphasizes that human-induced climate change is happening at a pace ten times faster than previously observed natural changes, highlighting the urgent need to understand our planet's delicate climate balance.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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<p>—–</p>

What caused the planet's longest ice age

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY 57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



<p>Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-rebound-process-through-climate-change">Geological rebound process through climate change</h2>



<p>The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-monitoring-networks">Scientific monitoring networks</h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.</p>



<p>The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-transformation">Coastal Transformation</h2>



<p>This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.</p>



<p>The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.</p>



<p>The full study was recently published in <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a></em>.</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



<p>Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-widespread-ai-anxiety-crisis-among-us">Addressing the widespread 'AI anxiety' crisis among us</h2>



<p>A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.</p>



<p>Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.</p>



<p>Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents".  In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively.   MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.</p>



<p>MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization.  The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-productivity-through-focused-learning">Revolutionary productivity through focused learning</h2>



<p>Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.</p>



<p>Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-well-being-benefits-through-ai-competence">Psychological well-being benefits through AI competence</h2>



<p>The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-replacement-anxiety-to-partnership-confidence">From 'replacement anxiety' to 'partnership confidence'</h2>



<p>Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.</p>



<p>This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-benefits-of-increased-retention">Financial benefits of increased retention</h2>



<p>The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.</p>



<p>PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research documents 20% to 30% improvements in productivity, market speed, and revenue in organizations that attempt systematic AI adoption through comprehensive training.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-advantages-of-ai-enabled-teams">Environmental advantages of AI-enabled teams</h2>



<p>AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.</p>



<p>In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-organizational-advantages">Cumulative organizational advantages</h2>



<p>The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.</p>



<p>As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.</p>



<p>For more on MindStudio's free AI training for companies, visit the website's of MindStudio and Dominnus from the links below.</p>



<p>The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.</p>



<p id="block-9bd989d6-2fd3-4580-957f-6cacce134f08">-----</p>



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<p id="block-43e218f4-0391-477c-8396-eb777c8c80a3">Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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<p>MindStudio.AI: <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.mindstudio.ai</a></p>



<p>Dominnus: <a href="https://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.dominnus.com</a></p>

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-global-food-security">Implications for global food security</h2>



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward">The path forward</h2>



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



<p>Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?</p>



<p>The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What was acid rain?</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The science behind it</strong></h2>



<p>Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.</p>



<p>While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The crisis at its peak</strong></h2>



<p>During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Environmental devastation</strong></h2>



<p>The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.</p>



<p>By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.</p>



<p>Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Economic impact</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The solution: government action and technology</strong></h2>



<p>Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Clean Air Act of 1990</strong></h2>



<p>The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cap-and-trade success</strong></h2>



<p>Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.</p>



<p>The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Technology advances</strong></h2>



<p>Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.</p>



<p>The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today"><strong>Why we don't hear about it today</strong></h2>



<p>Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Success doesn't make news</strong></h2>



<p>There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mission accomplished</strong></h2>



<p>The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone"><strong>Is it really gone?</strong></h2>



<p>The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.</p>



<p>EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What this teaches us</strong></h2>



<p>The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.</p>



<p>Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.</p>



<p>Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.</p>



<p>This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.</p>



<p>Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2>



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.</p>



<p><strong>3. What made the solution successful?</strong> Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.</p>



<p><strong>4. Do other countries have acid rain problems?</strong> Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.</p>



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a></p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

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https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



<p>A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. </p>



<p>Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. </p>



<p>Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. </p>



<p>Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. </p>



<p>The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.</p>



<p>Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.</p>



<p>Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.</p>



<p>This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. </p>



<p>The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

<p>Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. </p>



<p>The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.</p>



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



<p>Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. </p>



<p>Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.</p>



<p>Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. </p>



<p>They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).</p>



<p>Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.</p>



<p>Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.</p>



<p>This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.</p>

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.</p>



<p>“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. </p>



<p>The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.</p>



<p>“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”</p>



<p>The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes the first comprehensive estimate of carbon density in the Saharan, Sahel, and Sudanian zones of Africa. In an effort to measure the amount of carbon stored across these drylands, a team of scientists used high-resolution satellite images and artificial intelligence to map nearly 10 billion individual trees. </p>



<p>"The high spatial resolution (50 cm) combined with AI and field measurements used in this study is key to improving tree inventories in drylands," said Pierre Hiernaux, a French researcher working for NASA. "The ever-increasing availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery will make it possible to assess carbon pools and their dynamics at the individual tree level on a global scale."</p>



<p>"This study is exceptional because it is pioneering a type of approach that will revolutionize the monitoring of trees and forests on a global scale: in the short term, it will be possible to map the world's trees from the centre of the Amazon to our schoolyards," said <a href="https://www.inrae.fr/en">INRAE</a> researcher Jean-Pierre Wigneron.</p>



<p>"Many fields of application will become much more efficient and accurate, such as tracking carbon stocks, biodiversity, monitoring logging and protection against illegal forest degradation, in near real time.”</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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<p>Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.</p>



<p>According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."</p>



<p>Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. </p>



<p>Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> </em>Staff Writer </p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> features a visual dataset of.methane emissions from wetlands across the globe. Atmospheric methane levels have reached record highs in recent years, and wetlands are a major source of these emissions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Methane is an important greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. On a molecule by molecule basis, methane is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the main driver of warming," says NASA.</p>



<p>"Though human activities, including agriculture, oil and natural gas production and use, and waste disposal, collectively contribute the majority of methane to the atmosphere, about a third of total methane emissions comes from wetlands."&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to NASA, understanding methane emissions from wetlands and other natural sources is critically important for scientists and policymakers who are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions from human activities.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.</p>



<p>In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.</p>



<p>The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.</p>



<p>The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.</p>



<p>The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. </p>



<p>Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how record-breaking heat expressed itself around the world in 2022.</p>



<p>Scientists have determined that 2022 was the 5th warmest year since 1880. Furthermore, the last nine consecutive years have been the warmest on record.</p>



<p>From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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<p>Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how  Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.</p>



<p>According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. </p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



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<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.</p>



<p>“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”</p>



<p>The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.</p>



<p>The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.</p>



<p>“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science</em></p>



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<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.</p>



<p>"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.</p>



<p>"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."</p>



<p>"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."</p>



<p>According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.</p>



<p>"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



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<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes how Earth is unique in our solar system for its ability to sustain liquid water on its surface. But now, the water cycle is shifting as the climate warms, and scientists must find ways to predict how these changes will affect water availability.</p>



<p>Overall, 96 percent of Earth's water is saltwater, and nearly all of freshwater is found in ice and groundwater. These sources of water are linked as it passes through solid, liquid and gas phases.</p>



<p>In a warmer climate, the water cycle will be transformed. It will be easier for water to evaporate and form clouds, and storms will become more frequent and intense. Some regions will get too much water, while others will be left without enough water. In addition, soil moisture will be lost - which threatens food security.</p>



<p>Scientists are using satellite data from over the last 40 years to track changes that are happening in the water cycle. This will ultimately help us prepare for extreme events and better manage our water resources, according to ESA.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ESA</em></p>



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<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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Saturn,-,High,Resolution,3d,Images,Presents,Planets,Of,The

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a> features images of Saturn from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. The photographs capture the start of the mysterious "spoke season" on Saturn - when unexplained features appear on its rings. </p>



<p>According to NASA, both the cause of the spokes and their seasonal variability have yet to be fully explained by planetary scientists.</p>



<p>"Like Earth, Saturn is tilted on its axis and therefore has four seasons, though because of Saturn's much larger orbit, each season lasts approximately seven Earth years. Equinox occurs when the rings are tilted edge-on to the Sun," explains NASA.</p>



<p>"The spokes disappear when it is near summer or winter solstice on Saturn. (When the Sun appears to reach either its highest or lowest latitude in the northern or southern hemisphere of a planet.) As the autumnal equinox of Saturn's northern hemisphere on May 6, 2025, draws near, the spokes are expected to become increasingly prominent and observable."</p>



<p>Experts believe that the spokes may be a product of the planet's variable magnetic field. When magnetic fields interact with solar wind, an electrically charged environment is created. This phenomenon is visible on Earth as the northern lights.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Scientists think that the smallest, dust-sized icy ring particles can become charged as well, which temporarily levitates those particles above the rest of the larger icy particles and boulders in the rings," says NASA.</p>



<p>The spokes were first observed in the early 1980s by NASA's Voyager mission. Depending on the angle of the rings, the spokes can appear dark or light.</p>



<p>"Thanks to Hubble's OPAL program, which is building an archive of data on the outer solar system planets, we will have longer dedicated time to study Saturn’s spokes this season than ever before," said NASA senior planetary scientist Amy Simon, head of the Hubble Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program.</p>



<p>"Despite years of excellent observations by the Cassini mission, the precise beginning and duration of the spoke season is still unpredictable, rather like predicting the first storm during hurricane season."</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

[sendtonews key="Ccjk8KEMzv-2550719-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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